A paver system comprising a plurality of paver pieces and at least one substrate. Each of the paver pieces has a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the paver pieces is configured for mating with the upper surface of the substrate, whereby paver pieces coupled to the substrate are prevented from moving laterally.
1. A paver system of preassembled units comprising:
a plurality of paver pieces, each of the paver pieces comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;
at least one substrate supporting the plurality of paver pieces with their top surfaces in a closely spaced relationship substantially in a common plane, the paver pieces covering substantially the entire substrate and wherein the substrate further includes lift apertures for receiving the tongs of a pallet lifter;
wherein the paver pieces include a coupling feature formed at the bottom surface and the substrate includes an upper surface formed with a complementary coupling feature, the paver pieces mating with the substrate via the coupling feature and the complementary coupling feature to form a paver system with column support providing substantially uniform compressive strength across the paver piece top surfaces, whereby the paver pieces preassembled on the substrate in mating relationship are prevented from moving laterally and the combined preassembled paver pieces and substrate may be placed as a unit in final position on a base surface.
2. The paver system of claim 1 , further comprising paver pieces that span between the at least one substrate and an adjacent substrate and couple to each of the at least one substrate and the adjacent substrate to provide lateral stability for adjacent substrates.
3. The paver system of claim 1 wherein the coupling feature of the paver pieces comprises recesses and the complementary coupling feature of the substrate comprises protrusions, the recesses being adapted to receive the protrusions.
4. The paver system of claim 1 wherein the coupling feature of the paver pieces comprises protrusions and the complementary coupling feature of the substrate comprises recesses, the recesses being adapted to receive the protrusions.
5. The paver system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is sufficiently flexible to contour to a graded surface.
6. The paver system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially rigid.
7. The paver system of claim 1 , wherein the paver pieces comprise a composite containing from 50% to 99% by weight of rubber and from 1% to 50% by weight of plastic.
8. The paver system of claim 7 , wherein the rubber is recycled tire material.
9. The paver system of claim 7 , wherein the plastic is high density polyethylene.
10. The paver system of claim 7 , wherein the plastic is polypropylene.
11. The paver system of claim 7 , wherein the composite further comprises one or more additives.
12. The paver system of claim 11 , wherein the additive is a colorant.
13. The paver system of claim 1 , wherein the paver pieces comprise a composite containing from 1% to 99% by weight of plastic and 1% to 10% by weight of fluorescent material, whereby the paver pieces have light-sink capabilities.
14. The paver system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the paver pieces or the substrate is configured to receive a delivery element.
15. The paver system of claim 14 , wherein the delivery element is selected from the group consisting of a heat fluid delivery element, an electrical resistance heating element, an electrical element, and a light delivery element.
16. The paver system of claim 14 , wherein conduits for receiving the delivery element are formed between adjacent paver pieces.
17. The paver system of claim 14 , wherein conduits for receiving the delivery element are formed between paver pieces and the substrate.
18. The paver system of claim 1 , wherein one of the paver pieces or the substrate comprises drainage paths.
19. The paver system of claim 1 , further comprising conduits for receiving heating or cooling delivery elements in heat transfer contact with the paver system, said column support providing energy transfer paths between the delivery elements and the paver piece top surfaces.