AU720155B2 - Spacer for glass blocks - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0011I Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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Name of Applicant: JED CHRISTOPHER FRIESEN Actual Inventors: Jed Christopher Friesen and Bohumir Cervenka Address for service in Australia: CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia Invention Title: SPACER FOR GLASS BLOCKS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of perform-ing it known to us SPACER FOR GLASS BLOCKS The present invention relates to a spacer for spacing glass blocks in a wall formed from such blocks.

There are a variety of different spacers for glass blocks. U.S. Patent No. 4,114,337 issued to Neuhardt discloses use of a plate located at either end of the spacer and attached to locating arms of the spacer by a .9ooo.

S" frangible connector. Although the plates are a much more reliable means of positioning the spacer since they depend *upon the face edge and exterior faces of the wall which are accurately located, removing the plates themselves without 15 dislodging or damaging the joint is difficult. Because the faces and face edges are used to accurately position the spacer, the crossed arms are necessarily positioned close [.to the face. Thus, there is 1/8 of an inch or less from the crossed arms in which to rework the mortar. Any pieces 20 or splinters left from twisting off a tapered interconnecting member affixing respective plates to the crossed arms will interfere with the proper re-working of the mortar along the joints.

U.S. Patent No. 5,146,725 issued to Bruce et al.

discloses a spacer which is positioned by engagement of a central groove with the central bead of the glass blocks.

Since the central beads are irregular and unreliable as a positioning reference, this kind of spacer can not be accurately positioned in all cases.

U.S. Patent No. 4,774,793 issued to Mayer discloses a spacer for glass block walls or panels which fits into the channel between the two face edges. However, the channels of glass blocks are not fabricated to any standard but can vary significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer. At present there are no less than eight manufacturers selling glass blocks in the United States.

Thus, the spacing between blocks using the spacers of Mayer will not always meet the accepted industry standard spacing of 1/4 inch (0.64 cm).

5 U.S. Patent Nos. 5,119,567 and 5,191,718 also disclose the use of locating plates at either end of the spacer. However, it is necessary to straighten wires which are initially bent to hold the spacer members together.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to straighten the S 20 wire sufficiently to allow it to be pulled through the spacer members when taking off the latter. The plates are intrusive and their removal often causes movement of the blocks and disturbance of the mortar.

U.S. Patent No. 5,224,314 issued to Chen discloses circular disks affixed by a frangible connection to crossed locating arms at either end of the spacer. The disks have a radially disposed rectangular elongate twisting bar which serves as a means by which a user can grip the disk and rotate it until the frangible connection shears off. However, the location and size of the twisting bar makes it difficult for a user to grip the bar and to rotate the disk without applying a translational force to the spacer, causing it to move and disrupt the integrity of the joint. Moreover, the frangible connection has a tendency to be difficult to break and to leave splinters when it is removed which extend into the outer area of the mortar.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved spacer for constructing a wall with glass blocks. It is a further object to provide a spacer with plate that can be easily removed after the wall is formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a spacer for use in spacing S 15 adjacent end surfaces and top and bottom surfaces of glass blocks in forming a mortared wall of such blocks, comprising a first set of crossed arms having an arm .:for vertical disposition in the wall between the adjacent end surfaces and an arm for horizontal disposition between top and bottom surfaces of adjacent glass blocks; a second set of crossed arms having an arm for vertical disposition in the wall between the adjacent end surfaces and an arm for horizontal disposition between top and bottom surfaces of adjacent glass blocks, wherein at least portions of the arm for vertical disposition of the first set of crossed arms is thicker than the arm for vertical disposition of the second set of crossed arms so as to position adjacent blocks at a slight angle and allow the formation of a curved wall, a connecting bar REO:FPH:#31591.div 8 June 1999 having a first end affixed to the first set of crossed arms and a second end affixed to the second set of crossed arms, a first plate affixed to but spaced away from an intersection of the first set of crossed arms, a second plate affixed to but spaced away from an intersection of the second set of crossed arms wherein the second plate is smaller than the first plate so as to accommodate the concavity of the curved wall, and a pair of tapered interconnecting members connecting the plates to corresponding ones of the crossed arms wherein the joint between a narrow end of each of the tapered interconnecting members and an associated one of the crossed arms is frangible.

10 Preferably the tapered interconnecting member has its narrow end joined to an associated one of said crossed arms. A joint between a narrow end of each of the tapered interconnecting members and associated ones of the crossed arms is serrated.

Advantageously, one arm of each of the crossed arms is an I-beam and each S 15 of the tapered interconnecting members is joined to a central web of an associated one of the I-beams. The use of an I-beam provides a recess from ooo• o• REO:FPH:#31591.div 8 June 1999 the outer face of each of the crossed arms within which to join the narrow end of the tapered interconnecting member to respective crossed arms so that any splinters or pieces left from twisting off the plates is recessed within the sides of the I-beam. This feature avoids the splinter or piece from projecting into the area of the joint that is reworked.

The spacer may be injection molded as a single piece.

00.0.: The distance between the plate members corresponds to a thickness of the wall of glass blocks. An exterior envelope, defined by the arms in cross section, is 15 rectangular.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention itself, however, as well as other features and advantages thereof, will be best understood by 20 reference to the detailed description which follows, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an end view of an alternative spacer design used for forming curved walls; FIG. 2 is a top view of the spacer of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the spacer of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top view of the spacer of FIG. 1 used in forming a curved wall; and FIG. 5 is a variant of the spacer showing the tapered interconnecting member having a serrated joint to the crossed arms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS :.thrReferring to Figures i, 2, 3 and 4 there is shown a glass brick spacer for forming curved Swalls which consists of parallel arms 50 and 52 interconnected by connecting bar 40. I-beam arms 38 and 42 pass perpendicularly through the center of and are affixed to respective arms 50 and 52. Arm 50 is thicker than arm 52 and arm 38 is longer than arm 42. Rectangular plates 34 and 48 are affixed to respective I-beam arms 38 and 42 by means of tapered interconnecting members 36 and 46 with the narrow end affixed to a central web 53 of associated I-beam arms 38 and 42. Plate 34 is larger than plate 48.

Outwardly projecting vane elements 30 and 51 extend across respective plates 34 and 48. As shown in Figure 4, the thicker arm 50 results in a wider spacing between glass blocks at that position than at the position of thinner arm 52. The smaller plate 48 accommodates the slight concavity of the wall surface 68. A larger plate 34 is permitted by the convex curvature of wall surface 60. Arms 38 and 42 are tapered so as to follow the direction of metal strips 62 and 66. In this case, connecting bar 40 is aligned with the tapered interconnecting members 36 and 46.

The spacer is installed with the arms 38 and 42 resting atop the face edges of the glass blocks with the arms 50 and 52 being vertically oriented. The arms 50 and 52 are positioned between the glass blocks. Theplates 34 and 48 abut the outside of the blocks so as to maintain the S alignment of the spacer 10. The arms 50 and 52 separate the blocks from one another based upon contact with face edges which are accurately formed. Although not shown, mortar is applied to the blocks along all of the joints.

15 Once the wall is complete and before the mortar is set, the e 9.

plates 34 and 48 are removed by gripping the vane elements 30 and 51 and twisting about tapered interconnecting members 36 and 46 until the joint between the latter and arms 50 and 52 breaks. Plates 34 and 48, vane elements and 51 and tapered interconnecting members 36 and 46 can then be removed and the remaining portion of the spacer reworked with mortar. Because the vane elements 30 and 51 extend across the plates 34 and 48 in line with tapered interconnecting members 36 and 46, an even torque about interconnecting members 36 and 46 is applied thereby avoiding the tendency of moving the spacer and glass blocks and disturbing the joint. Often splinters of material are left protruding from arms 50 and 52 left from tapered interconnecting members 36 and 46. Such splinters usually extend out into the joint area where reworking is required and disturb such reworking. They cannot often be effectively covered by the required subsequent joint filling operation. An applicator must then perform additional steps to eliminate the splinter. One way of reducing the problem of splinters is to utilize I-beam arms 38 and 42 so that the joint is recessed into the arms thereby minimizing any protrusion.

ease*: Referring to Figure 5 there is shown an alternative construction of the tapered interconnecting member 36 (or 46) in which joint 23 is serrated so that *9 upon twisting plate 34 (or 48) the joint 23 breaks without leaving any splinters or protruding portions of tapered "•interconnecting member 36 (or 46). The serrated edge of :..-Figure 5 is seen to have a plurality of holes in each Vrooo region to enhance the weakening of the joint. It can be seen that any splinter that may be left would be within the o 20 recess of I-beam arm 38 (or 42).

Accordingly, while this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

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Claims (8)

1. A spacer for use in spacing adjacent end surfaces and top and bottom surfaces of glass blocks in forming a mortared wall of such blocks, comprising: a first set of crossed arms having an arm for vertical disposition in said wall between adjacent end surfaces and an arm for horizontal disposition between top and bottom surfaces of adjacent glass blocks; a second set of crossed arms having an arm for vertical disposition in said wall between the adjacent end surfaces and an arm for horizontal disposition between top and bottom surfaces of adjacent glass blocks wherein at least portions 10 of said arm for vertical disposition of said first set of crossed arms is thicker than said arm for vertical disposition of said second set of crossed arms so as to position S. adjacent blocks at a slight angle and allow the formation of a curved wall; a connecting bar having a first end affixed to said first set of crossed arms and a second end affixed to said second set of crossed arms; 15 a first plate affixed to but spaced away from an intersection of said first set of crossed arms; a second plate affixed to but spaced away from an intersection of said second set of crossed arms and wherein said second plate is smaller than said first plate so as to accommodate the concavity of said curved wall; and a pair of tapered interconnecting members connecting said plates to corresponding ones of said crossed arms wherein a joint between a narrow end of each of said tapered interconnecting members and an associated one of said crossed arms is frangible.

2. A spacer according to claim 1, wherein said joint is serrated. REO:FPH:#31591 .div 8 June 1999

3. A spacer according to claim 1, each of said arms for vertical disposition of said first and second set of crossed arms is in the shape of an I-beam in cross- section.

4. A spacer according to claim 3, wherein said joints between a narrow end of each of said tapered interconnecting members and respective arms for vertical disposition is with a central web of said arms.

A spacer according to claim 1, including an elongated projecting vane element extending across each of said plates through an axis of said interconnecting members so as to permit a user to twist said plates until the frangible joints are 10 sheared without imparting any translational forces to said spacer and wall.

6. A spacer according to claim 1, wherein said spacer is injection moulded as a single piece.

7. A spacer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the a accompanying drawings. DATED:

8 June 1999 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: 20 JED CHRISTOPHER FRIESEN REO:FPH:#31591 .div 8 June 1999