CA2335554A1 - Set of modular components for building transparent walls and walls made thereof - Google Patents
Set of modular components for building transparent walls and walls made thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2335554A1 CA2335554A1 CA002335554A CA2335554A CA2335554A1 CA 2335554 A1 CA2335554 A1 CA 2335554A1 CA 002335554 A CA002335554 A CA 002335554A CA 2335554 A CA2335554 A CA 2335554A CA 2335554 A1 CA2335554 A1 CA 2335554A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- modular
- wall
- section
- blocks
- block
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
- E04C2/54—Slab-like translucent elements
- E04C2/546—Slab-like translucent elements made of glass bricks
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
- E04C1/42—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings of glass or other transparent material
Abstract
Set (100) of modular components for building transparent removable walls (50) comprising at least a hollow modular plastic block component (1) provided on the perimetral sides thereof with male and female detachable coupling means (11, 12, 13), which set (100) preferably further comprises at least one further one-piece angulated plastic block component (16, 17) and/or at least an extruded stiffening metal section (20) and/or a terminating/fastening section (21, 22) for perimetrally terminating the wall (50) and fastening the latter (50) to the room in which said block wall (50) is built. No adhesives are used and the slots between abutting blocks (1, 16, 17) are closed by a removable plastic or metal tape (53) which is preferably colored like said metal sections (20, 21, 22).
Description
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"Set of modular cnnynersts for building trnnsprarcnt walls and walls made tlsereof' 1~'ielti nttlrr. inv .ration 1'hc present invention generally relates to a set of modular wmponents far building removable walls as well as io removable walls made iltereof RCC01'dtng io the preambles of claims 1 and 14.
Rxekgryof,~~he 'revcnlion Modular comp<<ncnts in the form of hollow blocks consisting of two molded plastic halt'-hlncks , for exsntplc Of polycRrbonate, are disclosed in )rl' 0 438 1 l 0 Al , Said blocks of transparent plastic are ofTered as an altemuttive choice to the hollow glass blocks for building wal3s which are similar to the so called glass block v.~alls.
Snap lack assemblies having the double function of spacers and cc>uplins elements for coupling adjacent blocks are provided on the perirnetral sides of said blocks sa that between adjacent blocks an air space is formed which is to be filled with a layer of hooding mortar, After having built the block wall the latter cannot be disassembled.
Therefore, it is not.
possible to reuse the blocks of a built wall to form a new one or' to modify an already built w$11.
No teacluni; i.S given about the fastening of the plastic block wall to the floor, the and th room walls ofihe room in which the plastic block wall is built.
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AMENDED SHEET
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Ll5-!~-5 033 245 discloses building blocks 10 of r,rraldCd plastic; rnatcri;~l prwidcd with detachable soap lock cannectars 40 adjac;enl rrac:h corn er pf the block. in ,Irons details, cacti detachable snap lock GU11r1ectUr 40 includes a central tongue 42 or 43 flanked on both sides by a pair of grooves 44 funrred betwcc;n the tongue and a triangularly shaped spacer 4G rrr a finger 48.
The purpose of said connectors 40 is to assemble the blocks and positively securing the latter in a correct position while maintaining a spaciiy "S"
between assembled blocks, whereby in said spacing "S" - a$cr completion of a wall - an adhesive 38 is applied to form a strong adhesive bead 38 {Figures 6 and Gb) that resembles a typical roorlar joint frorn the uulside. In US-A-5 03~ 245 is ficnhcr dressed that the sealard penetrates opcnin~;s 58 and slots 59 between adjacent ~~looks 1 a and provides an exceptionally strong joint that greatly surpasses;
the htjldint; power of a typical c:err>.ent Ur nrozi,ar ]Umt llUw used with glass blocks or bricks. This means that even if the blocks 10 are provided with detachable sna.n luck comcet.ors, tt~e wall, completed with the Necessary sealant joints cdn not tie disassenobled without. brt;aking the blocks 10 or parts thereof.
Alscr this docr.unent is silent t~boul hciw to fasten the built wall to t.trc flour, ceiling and room walls of the room iu which said wall is built..
WU-A-~'7 34 U.S8 discloses partition structures built by interconnecting plastic bhcks la provided with snap coupling means. The sufifiested snap coupling means are basically formed by' a hook receptacle 24 and a hook 34, rcspectivclp - in a. cowesponding ttumbcr and location along the length of the block side edf;es -, whereby said hook receptacle 24 and hou'k 34 (Fil;urCS. 11 acrd 12) after the interconnection or coupling thereof Figure 13) do not allow a separation of tire blocks, su that a lyarlitiorn structure or wall built up with similar blocks can not be disassembled at all without breaking the blocks or parts thereof.
AMENDED SHEET
.vt~~1~W J2 ~VV1JVV1)LIV t!V ~ a . v As stated nn pate A, lines I3 to 24 " T1e tv~~~o lips 28 aml 38 hold one another a~,d prevent the blocks i 0 from being separalrd from each other. T he blacks l ~
can separate fi-oa~ each other only by permanent invalidation of one the blocks."
'!'lye "disasscmblability concept" is not hravided foj~ in tple stated ohjectS
of WO-A-97 34 058. On page 9, lines Z to ~ is stat.cd "Once the two blocks IO are i~~tercon~,ccicd, the overlap of each first pair of spacing flame 2U with its cor-respoudiitg second pair of spacing flange 30 can be ultrasonically welded or otherwise fastened to further secure adjac;cnt blocks 10 to each other."
It is therefore; obvious that the snap coupling means proposed in WU-A-97 34 ~St3 could not be used ire t~lovks fur building disassemblabte partition structures or walls.
AMENDED SHEET
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~5-~07-2000 ~ 02335554 2000-12-21 tC~gether and are pcrirnetrally provided writh siidinl; coupling means consisting of two longitudinally aligned ribs on each perimetral block side. ~'hc fit is accomplished by means of a Frst abuuinfi movement of one block towards another one, acs drat the coupling ribs of both blocks are consecutively aligned, anti d subsequent sliding movement along the whole length of said ribs.
The vhasen kind of fit pcTmitS on the one hand to eliminate the use of adhesive but rccluire on the otlter hand several disadvantages.
First of X11 a wall built with said blocks does not have -- due to the necessary sliding Glearnes-s -- the necessary stiffness and sirct~th reduired fvr pwlitiun walls in houses, nals, offtccs and So on. Secondly, when disassembling a built wall said coupling ribs tend to brake away especially when, for safety purposes, thin adhcsivc strips ;ane laid betwcctt the blookS, and thirdly a complicated block assemblability is tU
stre,s witch invalves pr2ctical diflicultics and limits in building walls, espcc;ially at tire pcrimctral wall edges. 1'he plxstlc blocks are sold as such so that the wail assembler have to decide, for each wall, how to fasten the block wall to the floor, ceiling and walls crf the rao;n in which the block wall is built.
AMENDED SHEET
A further plastic block is known which consists of two lttalf blocks which arc bonded Bearing in mind that said blocks typically have the form of a quadrangular parallelepiped having a side length of ca. 20 cm, it is not explained how to terminate a wall made of such blocks in connection with the floor, ceiling and walls even if it is obvious that, for example, the top block row of the block wall or a lateral edge thereof could have a distance from the room ceiling or lateral room wall in the range of about 1 to 19,5 cm.
A set of hollow plastic blocks has been disclosed by the inventor in the Italian patent application No. C098A000012, not yet published. The blocks herein disclosed have the configuration of a regular parallelepiped as well as of a parallelepiped having a perimetral chamfered side, which blocks on each perimetral side thereof are provided with detachable snap ft means. More precisely, on the adjacent perimetral block sides said snap coupling means is accomplished as male coupling ribs whereas on the other two adjacent perimetra! block sides the coupling means consists of female coupling ribs.
The coupling/uncoupling of two blocks can be accomplished on each block perimetral side by means of a simple push/pull coupling/uncoupling action onto the block to be joint to or detached from the other one. The blocks having a chamfered perimetral side allow to built indeed walls containing angulated sectors.
However, also in said document the problem about the terminating/fastening of the block wall in the room housing the latter has not been faced. Moreover, the proposed chamfered blocks require high investments for producing the necessary high number of molds as well as an expensive keeping in stock of said plurality of chamfered blocks.
Summary of the invention The main object of the set of modular components according to the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the known modular blocks and walls built therewith, and to provide a set of modular components enabling a quick building of rectilinear and/or angulated or bent walls by use of only few types of blocks which can be removably assembled, which set of components is adapted to permit the building of very resistant walls without using adhesives, and allows to terminate the free edges of the erected wall as well as a reliable fixing of the block wall in a room in which the latter is built, and this irrespective of the dimensions and embodiments of said block wall.
This object is achieved according to the present invention with a set of modular components for building transparent walls having the features of claims l and 14.
Advantageous embodiments of the set of modular components, the single modular components, and the walls built therewith have the features set forth in the dependent claims.
With the modular set according to the present invention and the walls made thereof several advantages are obtained.
In case of both rectilinear walls and walls with angulated sectors the blocks according to the present invention allow a quick assemblability of the wall starting from the wall bottom upwardly, and a direct coupling of the bottom block row to the floor section as well as of the other wall blocks to the vertical sections, and in case to the ceiling or wall terminating/fastening sections, as well as middle stiffening or reinforcement sections in a number at will, whereby said wall terminating/fastening and/or ceiling sections allow an automatic concealment of the air spaces between the wall top blocks andlor lateral wall edges and the room in which the block wall is built.
Fastening of the proposed sections to the room takes place in a conventional manner, for example by use of screws with plugs and, after fixing, said sections do not require any adjustment work.
The embodiment of the ceiling and /or vertical section with detachable diaphragm with snaply engagement eliminates any need for cutting or adjusting the blocks forming the top block row or a lateral wall edge column or the proposed sections themselves. The provision of said detachable diaphragms also facilitate a disassembling of the wall, whereby both the blocks and the sections themselves can be reused for a further use.
The sections made of metal, preferably light alloy, also impart to the block wall a remarkable stability and have rather narrow sides on sight, so that they do not disturb the generally aesthetic aspect of the blocks wall according to the present invention.
The provision of one-piece angulated blocks which on the perimetral sides thereof are provided with the suggested detachable snap coupling means, allows first to considerably reduce the number of molds with respect to that requested by chamfered blocks with a consequently simplification and a minor space for keeping in stock.
Furthermore, the remarkably resistance and stability of the one-piece angulated blocks impart directly a greater strength or bending resistance to the built walls.
The metal sections according to the present invention can be advantageously produced in several colors in order to make more impressive the aesthetic aspects of the built walls.
It is further stressed that the walls built and assembled without sealants can be at any time easily removed, completed or transformed, for example by forming a door aperture in a previously generally throughout wall or by transforming a partial wall in a generally throughout wall and so on, whereby the terminating sections also allow to fix on the latter the hinges for a door.
A further important advantage due to the fact that no adhesive is used is that the time needed for assembling the wall can be drastically reduced. Another advantage is to be seen in the fact that the concealment of the small abutment slots between adjacent block is easily accomplished by applying on the wall face an adhesive narrow tape at will, for example made of metal or plastic. Said colored tapes substantially contribute to improve the general aesthetic aspect of the wall, and the tape color can advantageously be decided after having built the respective wall. The tape color, that is the tape itself, can also be changed at any time, by substituting an already applied tape.
Besides the particular configuration of the proposed coupling elements, the fact of avoiding the use of adhesives also assures a complete reutilization of the blocks and profiled sections which, after the wall disassembling, are intact and clean because adhesive-free, and therefore immediately ready for a new utilization. The sections made of metal, preferably aluminium alloy, can be cheaply and easily produced by extrusion, and they can be readily fixed in conventional manner by plugs and screws and do not require as well the use either of adhesives or of additional components. The stiffing sections used as vertical sections can as well be used as stringers in order to obtain a greater reinforcement of the wall. The location of said stiffening sections in the wall can be freely chosen and does not require any preliminary accomodation work as the blocks are directly manually fitted into said sections.
Another advantage of the proposed blocks is that along the perimetral air space between adjacent blocks it is possible to lay a small cable as well as small lamps, whereby the latter can also be inserted into the blocks through appropriate holes provided in the perimetral sides thereof This allows to achieve a functional or decorative lighting, for example a zonal one, of the built walls.
Brief Description of the Drawings Farther features, details and advantages of the set of modular components for making transparent removable walls, as well as of the walls built with said modular components according to the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which said set of modular components is shown in a preferred embodiment, which is schematically illustrated on different scales for clarity purposes. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view showing a large side of a modular base block according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the block of Figure 1 with a top detail A
and a bottom detail B of the detachable snap coupling means in a preferred embodiment thereof;
Figure 3 shows both details A and B of the block of Figures 1 and 2 drawn together, on enlarged scale;
Figure 4 shows, on enlarged scale, a detail of the coupling condition of the snap coupling means of two blocks assembled together of Figures 1 to 3;
Figure 4A shows a detail similar to that of Figure 4 with an alternative embodiment of the detachable snap coupling means according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a top plan view on a modular angulated block for forming curved walls, Figures 6, 7 and 8 are elevation views looking generally in the direction of arrows D, B
and C, respectively;
Figure 9 is a top view showing the assembled condition of two angulated blocks according to the Figures 5 to 8, the right hand block being shown with dotted lines;
Figure 10 is a top plan view on a second modular angulated block, and more precisely on a 90° angled block;
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are elevation views of the block of Figure 10 looking generally in the directions of arrows A, B, D and C, respectively;
Figures 15, 16 and 17 are cross-sections through a modular stiffening section, a floor or terminating/fastening section, and a ceiling or terminating/fastening section, respectively;
Figure 18 is an exploded sectional view showing the ceiling or wall terminating/fastening section of Figure 17;
Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 are views showing coupling steps of modular blocks and sections together according to the invention during assembling of walls according to the present invention;
Figures 23 and 24 are schematic front views showing two embodiments of walls according to the invention;
Figures 25, 26 and 27 are top plan views showing further embodiments of walls according to the present invention; and Figure 28 is an elevation view showing an upset U-shaped wall construction according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the Figures equal numerals designate equal parts. The set 100 of modular components comprises, for example, a basis modular block generally designated 1 and shown in Figure 1, which is formed of two hollow abutting half blocks 2 and 3 of plastic, for example of polycarbonate, which are firmly bonded together for example by means of ultrasonic welding or similar as denoted by a seam 4 in Figure 2.
A
through hole avoiding condensate is denoted by 6. The large front sides 7 and 8 can be provided with a finishing or coloring at will. 9 and 10 designate thin perimetral abutting delimitation flanges as best shown in Figure 4. The detachable snap coupling means consists of a couple of profiled ribs 11 on each perimetral block side which define a couple with a male configuration 12 or a couple with a female configuration 13 as shown, for example, at the top and bottom of Figure 2.
In a preferred embodiment a couple of male ribs 12 located in a track-like manner is provided, preferably in the center, in two perimetrically adjacent block sides whereas a couple of female ribs 13, located in a track-like manner as well, is provided, preferably in the middle in the other two perimetrally adjacent sides of block 1.
A preferred configuration of said profiled ribs 11 forming the rails of said tracks 12 and 13 and allowing a snap fit or coupling are best shown in the enlarged details A and B of figures 3 and 4. In the shown embodiment said track-like coupling means is advantageously created in the form of rail-like ribs 11 having a flat foot or base portion 11A and a profiled portion 11B allowing a snap engagement and having substantially the form of a half circle or a cam-like projection with rounded corners as shown.
Advantageously said rails or profiled ribs 11 of the male-like track 12 or female-like track 13 have the same contour.
Due to the strip-like configuration of the ribs 11 the latter have a good degree of elasticity which can be easily determined in function of the rib thickness, as well known to those skilled in the art. Also a small thinning at the base of ribs 11 (not shown) would facilitate a hinge-like oscillation of ribs 11 during block assembling/disassembling.
What discussed above with respect to the snap coupling means 12 and 13 also applies obviously for ali the modular block embodiments according to the present invention.
A similar assembling/disassembling snap behaviour may be accomplished with the alternative rib form or contour allowing a detachable fit shown in Figure 4A
in which equal parts or parts equivalent to those shown in Figures 3 and 4 are denoted by equal numerals.
According to the present invention the set 100 of modular components also includes at least a further modular component in the form of an angulated block consisting of two firmly bonded one-piece half blocks, as illustrated for example for the block 16 which has an angle of 90° shown in Figures 10 to 14 or for the block 17 shown in Figures 5 to 9 for building curved walls having a large radius.
To the blocks 16, 17, as well as to other not shown angulated blocks having a different angle, is common the fact that they form a sturdy one-piece component, and he fact that the bending plane 18 in provided in the block center, that is the blocks 16, 17 have a symmetrical form.
On the perimetral sides of the blocks 16 and 17 they are also provided with the above discussed couples of coupling ribs 11 defining said mate 12 and female 13 detachable snap coupling means.
More particularly, the angulated block 17 has a bending angle of 176°
and a general taper of 4° as shown in Figure 9, whereby the assembling of these blocks allows to build a curved wall having a radius R of 2866 mm, Figure 26.
Due to its configuration, the modular angulated block 16 of 90° has the large front sides broken down and defined by both surfaces 7, 7A and 8, 8A, respectively.
Moreover, the angulated blocks 16 and 17 have the further features inferable from the modular block 1.
According to the present invention the set 100 of modular components besides the modular blocks 1, 16, 17 may additionally include stiffening sections and/or terminating/fastening sections for perimetral terminating and/or fastening of the built wall in the room housing the latter, whereby said sections are illustrated in cross-section and in walls of Figures 1 S to 26.
Said sections are, for example, a stiffening section 20 which can be used as a vertical section andlor a stringer, incorporated in a wall 50 of blocks 1, 16 and 17 or similar blocks, a floor fastening or wall terminating section 21, and a ceiling or composite wall terminating/fastening section 22, figure 15 to 18.
The stiffening section 20, Figure 1 S, has a double track-like snap fit configuration with opposite tracks 12, 13 and connecting end flanges 24 which project outwardly forming closure flanges 25. As best shown in Figure 1 S, each track rail 11 is formed and profiled like the above said coupling ribs 11 and represent male 12 and female detachable snap coupling tracks as described hereinabove. Due to sturdiness purposes, section 20 is formed, in the shown example, as a box section, whereby the thickness S
of the chamber 23 can be of the same order of magnitude of the abutment grooves of the known glass-block walls, for example of 17 mm. Said chamber 23 is further delimited by the walls 27 and 29.
The floor section 21, Figure 16, has a base side 27 and a track-like configuration 12 with male rails 11 allowing a detachable snap coupling as discussed above.
Due to sturdiness purposes also section 21 has a box-like configuration with a thickness S of the chamber 23 corresponding to the thickness S of the chamber 23 of said stiffening section 20. Projecting closure flanges are denoted by 26.
Said flanges 26 preferably represent a projection of end connection flanges 28. The chamber 23 is further delimited by the walls 27 and 29.
The composite ceiling and wall terminating/fastening section 22 is formed by a base body 31 having a substantially L-shaped cross-section, whereby on the one wing 32 is provided a positioning flange 33 and on the other wing 34 is provided an open seat 35.
Said composite section 22 also includes a removable diaphragm-like strip 36 having an internal stop and positioning flange 37 which, in the shown example, has a chamfered free end 38. In the assembled condition the strip end 39 near the flange 37 rests against the free end 40 of the seat 35 whereas the flange 37 rests against the bent end 41 of said seat 35 and with its free end partially extends parallel to the opening 42 of said seat 3 5 .
Retaining of the diaphragm 36 in said base body 30 takes place with a plurality of clip-like springs 45 which are bent as shown in Figures 17 and 18 and housed in section seat 35. Said springs, which can have a length of for example 3 cm and are snaply inserted into said seat 35 with a distance from each other of, for example, 25-30 cm, have opposite active ends 46, 47 between which the flange 37 is inserted and elastically retained. The correct positioning is facilitated by the stop 48 acting as a positioning stop which should be surpassed by the spring end 47 when disassembling the composite section 22. In an alternative embodiment said spring 45 can also be produced as a bar spring of metal or plastic.
The length of the wings 32 and 36 of said composite section 22 is, in the shown example, of 80 mm and allows to practically conceal in a sure manner the air spaces formed between the top edge of the built wall and the room ceiling as well as between a wall lateral block column or wall edge and the adjacent room wall, respectively. .
As inferable from the drawings, said proposed sections 20, 21 and 22 have large surfaces or zones allowing an easy access for drilling holes for screws to be screwed in fastening plugs or the like.
In Figure 19 is illustrated the position of two blocks 1 before coupling the latter on a stiffening sections 20 which can be used as a vertical section or a stringer, whereby from Figure 19 it is also inferable that after assembling the perimetral abutting block flanges 10 will be in an abutment alignment with said closure flange 25 of section 20.
In figure 20 is shown a pre-fitting position between a block 1 of a bottom block row of a wall and a floor section 21, which can also be used as a wall terminating section terminating a free edge of a wall 50, for example in case of a door aperture, Figure 23, and in this case to said section 21 can be fixed the door hinges (not shown).
In case of curved walls, Figure 26, the floor section 21 will be preliminarly bent.
Bending of section 21 can be carried out without problems by using conventional section bending machines.
Figure 21 shows a floor section 21 and two blocks 1 already coupled therewith and a block 1 before carrying out the coupling thereof. The coupling movements are indicated by the arrows V (vertical movement) and O (horizontal movement).
Even if per se indifferent, it is easier to first carry out the vertical coupling between section 21 and block 1 by moving the latter according arrow V and then, by sliding the block 1 along the section 21 according to arrow O, to accomplish the coupling between the blocks.
Due to the smoothness of the surfaces of ribs 11 of the extruded section 21 and the elasticity thereof, the sliding movement of block 1 takes place without any difficulties.
Figure 22 shows how with the ceiling or composite section 22 it is possible to conceal without problems an air space Z formed between the top row of blocks 1 of the wall 50 and the ceiling of the room housing said wall S0. In the same manner it is obviously possible to bridge a similar air space between a lateral wall edge or column of blocks I
of a wall 50 and the adjacent wall of the room housing said wall 50.
Building steps for mounting a block wall according to the present invention.
Example 1: Example of a partition wall filling the whole cross-section of the room housing said partition wall, Figure 23.
After having fastened the floor section 21, the ceiling section 22 and both wall composite sections 22 (one of which could also be formed by a floor section 21 ) by means of conventional plugs and screws the first row of blocks 1 is snaply fitted into said floor section 21 and laterally into the terminating and fastening sections 22. From the combined sections 22 is previously removed the diaphragm-like strip 36.
The required vertical sections 21 defining the door aperture and the vertical reinforcing sections 20 are also mounted and then is laid the second row of blocks 1 and so on up to the top row. During the assembling of said wall 50 the door lintel 20 as well as other stringers or reinforcing sections 20 are incorporated. After building the wall 50 the composite sections 22 will be closed by snaply applying the diaphragms 36.
Example 2: Example of a partition partial wall with a through aperture therein, Figure 24.
Also in this case, after having fastened in a room the floor section 21, the ceiling section 22 and a wall terminating section 21 (on the left of Figure 24)(or alternatively a further composite section 22) the first row of blocks 1 incorporating the reinforcement section 20 will be laid. The reinforcement stringer 20 as well as the terminating sections 21 defining the aperture 52 are then inserted in the corresponding blocks 1 of the wall 50 during gradually growing of the latter.
Lastly, the wall terminating section 21 (on the right of Figure 24) is applied for terminating the free lateral edge of the wall 50.
Example 3: Curved walls and walls with angulated sections, Figures 26 and 25.
As the angulated blocks 16, 17 are provided with male and female coupling means 12, 13 which are equal to the coupling means of the modular blocks 1, the coupling operations of said angulated blocks 16 and 17 together as well as with the rectilinear modular blocks 1 or the different sections 20, 21 and 22 are carried out as above described, and also the building of the respectively desired wall SO will take place as set forth hereinabove.
When the wall 50 is built, without any use of adhesives, the wall abutting grooves between the coupled blocks 1, 16 and 17 will be concealed by applying a removable adhesive tape 53 of metal or plastic (Figure 4) which are preferably colored and are for example at first applied along the horizontal grooves and then along the vertical ones with overlappings at the crossing points thereof.
According to the present invention also the proposed modular sections 20, 21, 22 are colored, so that it is possible to create pleasant chromatic aspects in the walls 50, for example with a desired tonality contrast between the block color and the color of the modular sections and the one of the groove covering tapes.
The disassembling of a wall 50 built with modular blocks and sections of sets according to the present invention takes place in reverse order of the above described operations, which leads to the complete reutilization of the removed blocks and sections for building a new wall or modify an already built wall.
Bearing in mind the above stated teachings for building the .wall embodiments of Figures 23 to 26 it is easily possible to build other wall embodiments incorporating the concepts of the present invention as further shown for example in Figure 27, in which also a half circular covering is made of blocks 17, and in Figure 28, where the wall has curved and angulated sectors.
From the above structural and functional description it is inferable that with the sets of modular components for building disassemblable/transformable/integrable walls according to the present invention it is possible to efficiently achieve the above stated object and to obtain the advantages set forth hereinabove.
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Lvcn if preferably made of polycarbona:e, the blocks acct~rtling to llte py'rsenl invention can practically bu prcrduar~ti of any transparent, half luster, translucid yr apaduc plastic and with large front sides having any ~'scushing whereas also the aluminium sections cao be produe~:d of any material and with any ~e~metric configuration at will, without leaving the scope ~f the prt;aent invent ion.
A ~e single modular block and section components lay ut lht: starve of the present invention, and said compo»ettts could be freely cocnmemialize~i in packages containing either equal or mixed modular compomnts for building andl~r c:ory~leting andlor modifying walls or wall sectors.
,~~'he rnvdular cmnpvnertts having a confil,~uration as set forth in one or mare of the fctlcrwiy cl~irns may Im Irac;kect in groups of ecludl or mixed cx~mponents~
AMENDED SHEET
"Set of modular cnnynersts for building trnnsprarcnt walls and walls made tlsereof' 1~'ielti nttlrr. inv .ration 1'hc present invention generally relates to a set of modular wmponents far building removable walls as well as io removable walls made iltereof RCC01'dtng io the preambles of claims 1 and 14.
Rxekgryof,~~he 'revcnlion Modular comp<<ncnts in the form of hollow blocks consisting of two molded plastic halt'-hlncks , for exsntplc Of polycRrbonate, are disclosed in )rl' 0 438 1 l 0 Al , Said blocks of transparent plastic are ofTered as an altemuttive choice to the hollow glass blocks for building wal3s which are similar to the so called glass block v.~alls.
Snap lack assemblies having the double function of spacers and cc>uplins elements for coupling adjacent blocks are provided on the perirnetral sides of said blocks sa that between adjacent blocks an air space is formed which is to be filled with a layer of hooding mortar, After having built the block wall the latter cannot be disassembled.
Therefore, it is not.
possible to reuse the blocks of a built wall to form a new one or' to modify an already built w$11.
No teacluni; i.S given about the fastening of the plastic block wall to the floor, the and th room walls ofihe room in which the plastic block wall is built.
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AMENDED SHEET
. v r ~ L.a f1 itla:L:\'t.(y~IV ll0 ~ 7J' ! - V ~ Z I ~ .Sd ~ TJJ G JV17 t VJJ.i~1-~. Tv ~.n .~vw a r.r... ., r ~5-07-2000 ~ 02335554 2000-12-21 EP 009904281 lA
Ll5-!~-5 033 245 discloses building blocks 10 of r,rraldCd plastic; rnatcri;~l prwidcd with detachable soap lock cannectars 40 adjac;enl rrac:h corn er pf the block. in ,Irons details, cacti detachable snap lock GU11r1ectUr 40 includes a central tongue 42 or 43 flanked on both sides by a pair of grooves 44 funrred betwcc;n the tongue and a triangularly shaped spacer 4G rrr a finger 48.
The purpose of said connectors 40 is to assemble the blocks and positively securing the latter in a correct position while maintaining a spaciiy "S"
between assembled blocks, whereby in said spacing "S" - a$cr completion of a wall - an adhesive 38 is applied to form a strong adhesive bead 38 {Figures 6 and Gb) that resembles a typical roorlar joint frorn the uulside. In US-A-5 03~ 245 is ficnhcr dressed that the sealard penetrates opcnin~;s 58 and slots 59 between adjacent ~~looks 1 a and provides an exceptionally strong joint that greatly surpasses;
the htjldint; power of a typical c:err>.ent Ur nrozi,ar ]Umt llUw used with glass blocks or bricks. This means that even if the blocks 10 are provided with detachable sna.n luck comcet.ors, tt~e wall, completed with the Necessary sealant joints cdn not tie disassenobled without. brt;aking the blocks 10 or parts thereof.
Alscr this docr.unent is silent t~boul hciw to fasten the built wall to t.trc flour, ceiling and room walls of the room iu which said wall is built..
WU-A-~'7 34 U.S8 discloses partition structures built by interconnecting plastic bhcks la provided with snap coupling means. The sufifiested snap coupling means are basically formed by' a hook receptacle 24 and a hook 34, rcspectivclp - in a. cowesponding ttumbcr and location along the length of the block side edf;es -, whereby said hook receptacle 24 and hou'k 34 (Fil;urCS. 11 acrd 12) after the interconnection or coupling thereof Figure 13) do not allow a separation of tire blocks, su that a lyarlitiorn structure or wall built up with similar blocks can not be disassembled at all without breaking the blocks or parts thereof.
AMENDED SHEET
.vt~~1~W J2 ~VV1JVV1)LIV t!V ~ a . v As stated nn pate A, lines I3 to 24 " T1e tv~~~o lips 28 aml 38 hold one another a~,d prevent the blocks i 0 from being separalrd from each other. T he blacks l ~
can separate fi-oa~ each other only by permanent invalidation of one the blocks."
'!'lye "disasscmblability concept" is not hravided foj~ in tple stated ohjectS
of WO-A-97 34 058. On page 9, lines Z to ~ is stat.cd "Once the two blocks IO are i~~tercon~,ccicd, the overlap of each first pair of spacing flame 2U with its cor-respoudiitg second pair of spacing flange 30 can be ultrasonically welded or otherwise fastened to further secure adjac;cnt blocks 10 to each other."
It is therefore; obvious that the snap coupling means proposed in WU-A-97 34 ~St3 could not be used ire t~lovks fur building disassemblabte partition structures or walls.
AMENDED SHEET
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~y~ ~ .......-.... .. _.
~5-~07-2000 ~ 02335554 2000-12-21 tC~gether and are pcrirnetrally provided writh siidinl; coupling means consisting of two longitudinally aligned ribs on each perimetral block side. ~'hc fit is accomplished by means of a Frst abuuinfi movement of one block towards another one, acs drat the coupling ribs of both blocks are consecutively aligned, anti d subsequent sliding movement along the whole length of said ribs.
The vhasen kind of fit pcTmitS on the one hand to eliminate the use of adhesive but rccluire on the otlter hand several disadvantages.
First of X11 a wall built with said blocks does not have -- due to the necessary sliding Glearnes-s -- the necessary stiffness and sirct~th reduired fvr pwlitiun walls in houses, nals, offtccs and So on. Secondly, when disassembling a built wall said coupling ribs tend to brake away especially when, for safety purposes, thin adhcsivc strips ;ane laid betwcctt the blookS, and thirdly a complicated block assemblability is tU
stre,s witch invalves pr2ctical diflicultics and limits in building walls, espcc;ially at tire pcrimctral wall edges. 1'he plxstlc blocks are sold as such so that the wail assembler have to decide, for each wall, how to fasten the block wall to the floor, ceiling and walls crf the rao;n in which the block wall is built.
AMENDED SHEET
A further plastic block is known which consists of two lttalf blocks which arc bonded Bearing in mind that said blocks typically have the form of a quadrangular parallelepiped having a side length of ca. 20 cm, it is not explained how to terminate a wall made of such blocks in connection with the floor, ceiling and walls even if it is obvious that, for example, the top block row of the block wall or a lateral edge thereof could have a distance from the room ceiling or lateral room wall in the range of about 1 to 19,5 cm.
A set of hollow plastic blocks has been disclosed by the inventor in the Italian patent application No. C098A000012, not yet published. The blocks herein disclosed have the configuration of a regular parallelepiped as well as of a parallelepiped having a perimetral chamfered side, which blocks on each perimetral side thereof are provided with detachable snap ft means. More precisely, on the adjacent perimetral block sides said snap coupling means is accomplished as male coupling ribs whereas on the other two adjacent perimetra! block sides the coupling means consists of female coupling ribs.
The coupling/uncoupling of two blocks can be accomplished on each block perimetral side by means of a simple push/pull coupling/uncoupling action onto the block to be joint to or detached from the other one. The blocks having a chamfered perimetral side allow to built indeed walls containing angulated sectors.
However, also in said document the problem about the terminating/fastening of the block wall in the room housing the latter has not been faced. Moreover, the proposed chamfered blocks require high investments for producing the necessary high number of molds as well as an expensive keeping in stock of said plurality of chamfered blocks.
Summary of the invention The main object of the set of modular components according to the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the known modular blocks and walls built therewith, and to provide a set of modular components enabling a quick building of rectilinear and/or angulated or bent walls by use of only few types of blocks which can be removably assembled, which set of components is adapted to permit the building of very resistant walls without using adhesives, and allows to terminate the free edges of the erected wall as well as a reliable fixing of the block wall in a room in which the latter is built, and this irrespective of the dimensions and embodiments of said block wall.
This object is achieved according to the present invention with a set of modular components for building transparent walls having the features of claims l and 14.
Advantageous embodiments of the set of modular components, the single modular components, and the walls built therewith have the features set forth in the dependent claims.
With the modular set according to the present invention and the walls made thereof several advantages are obtained.
In case of both rectilinear walls and walls with angulated sectors the blocks according to the present invention allow a quick assemblability of the wall starting from the wall bottom upwardly, and a direct coupling of the bottom block row to the floor section as well as of the other wall blocks to the vertical sections, and in case to the ceiling or wall terminating/fastening sections, as well as middle stiffening or reinforcement sections in a number at will, whereby said wall terminating/fastening and/or ceiling sections allow an automatic concealment of the air spaces between the wall top blocks andlor lateral wall edges and the room in which the block wall is built.
Fastening of the proposed sections to the room takes place in a conventional manner, for example by use of screws with plugs and, after fixing, said sections do not require any adjustment work.
The embodiment of the ceiling and /or vertical section with detachable diaphragm with snaply engagement eliminates any need for cutting or adjusting the blocks forming the top block row or a lateral wall edge column or the proposed sections themselves. The provision of said detachable diaphragms also facilitate a disassembling of the wall, whereby both the blocks and the sections themselves can be reused for a further use.
The sections made of metal, preferably light alloy, also impart to the block wall a remarkable stability and have rather narrow sides on sight, so that they do not disturb the generally aesthetic aspect of the blocks wall according to the present invention.
The provision of one-piece angulated blocks which on the perimetral sides thereof are provided with the suggested detachable snap coupling means, allows first to considerably reduce the number of molds with respect to that requested by chamfered blocks with a consequently simplification and a minor space for keeping in stock.
Furthermore, the remarkably resistance and stability of the one-piece angulated blocks impart directly a greater strength or bending resistance to the built walls.
The metal sections according to the present invention can be advantageously produced in several colors in order to make more impressive the aesthetic aspects of the built walls.
It is further stressed that the walls built and assembled without sealants can be at any time easily removed, completed or transformed, for example by forming a door aperture in a previously generally throughout wall or by transforming a partial wall in a generally throughout wall and so on, whereby the terminating sections also allow to fix on the latter the hinges for a door.
A further important advantage due to the fact that no adhesive is used is that the time needed for assembling the wall can be drastically reduced. Another advantage is to be seen in the fact that the concealment of the small abutment slots between adjacent block is easily accomplished by applying on the wall face an adhesive narrow tape at will, for example made of metal or plastic. Said colored tapes substantially contribute to improve the general aesthetic aspect of the wall, and the tape color can advantageously be decided after having built the respective wall. The tape color, that is the tape itself, can also be changed at any time, by substituting an already applied tape.
Besides the particular configuration of the proposed coupling elements, the fact of avoiding the use of adhesives also assures a complete reutilization of the blocks and profiled sections which, after the wall disassembling, are intact and clean because adhesive-free, and therefore immediately ready for a new utilization. The sections made of metal, preferably aluminium alloy, can be cheaply and easily produced by extrusion, and they can be readily fixed in conventional manner by plugs and screws and do not require as well the use either of adhesives or of additional components. The stiffing sections used as vertical sections can as well be used as stringers in order to obtain a greater reinforcement of the wall. The location of said stiffening sections in the wall can be freely chosen and does not require any preliminary accomodation work as the blocks are directly manually fitted into said sections.
Another advantage of the proposed blocks is that along the perimetral air space between adjacent blocks it is possible to lay a small cable as well as small lamps, whereby the latter can also be inserted into the blocks through appropriate holes provided in the perimetral sides thereof This allows to achieve a functional or decorative lighting, for example a zonal one, of the built walls.
Brief Description of the Drawings Farther features, details and advantages of the set of modular components for making transparent removable walls, as well as of the walls built with said modular components according to the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which said set of modular components is shown in a preferred embodiment, which is schematically illustrated on different scales for clarity purposes. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view showing a large side of a modular base block according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the block of Figure 1 with a top detail A
and a bottom detail B of the detachable snap coupling means in a preferred embodiment thereof;
Figure 3 shows both details A and B of the block of Figures 1 and 2 drawn together, on enlarged scale;
Figure 4 shows, on enlarged scale, a detail of the coupling condition of the snap coupling means of two blocks assembled together of Figures 1 to 3;
Figure 4A shows a detail similar to that of Figure 4 with an alternative embodiment of the detachable snap coupling means according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a top plan view on a modular angulated block for forming curved walls, Figures 6, 7 and 8 are elevation views looking generally in the direction of arrows D, B
and C, respectively;
Figure 9 is a top view showing the assembled condition of two angulated blocks according to the Figures 5 to 8, the right hand block being shown with dotted lines;
Figure 10 is a top plan view on a second modular angulated block, and more precisely on a 90° angled block;
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are elevation views of the block of Figure 10 looking generally in the directions of arrows A, B, D and C, respectively;
Figures 15, 16 and 17 are cross-sections through a modular stiffening section, a floor or terminating/fastening section, and a ceiling or terminating/fastening section, respectively;
Figure 18 is an exploded sectional view showing the ceiling or wall terminating/fastening section of Figure 17;
Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 are views showing coupling steps of modular blocks and sections together according to the invention during assembling of walls according to the present invention;
Figures 23 and 24 are schematic front views showing two embodiments of walls according to the invention;
Figures 25, 26 and 27 are top plan views showing further embodiments of walls according to the present invention; and Figure 28 is an elevation view showing an upset U-shaped wall construction according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the Figures equal numerals designate equal parts. The set 100 of modular components comprises, for example, a basis modular block generally designated 1 and shown in Figure 1, which is formed of two hollow abutting half blocks 2 and 3 of plastic, for example of polycarbonate, which are firmly bonded together for example by means of ultrasonic welding or similar as denoted by a seam 4 in Figure 2.
A
through hole avoiding condensate is denoted by 6. The large front sides 7 and 8 can be provided with a finishing or coloring at will. 9 and 10 designate thin perimetral abutting delimitation flanges as best shown in Figure 4. The detachable snap coupling means consists of a couple of profiled ribs 11 on each perimetral block side which define a couple with a male configuration 12 or a couple with a female configuration 13 as shown, for example, at the top and bottom of Figure 2.
In a preferred embodiment a couple of male ribs 12 located in a track-like manner is provided, preferably in the center, in two perimetrically adjacent block sides whereas a couple of female ribs 13, located in a track-like manner as well, is provided, preferably in the middle in the other two perimetrally adjacent sides of block 1.
A preferred configuration of said profiled ribs 11 forming the rails of said tracks 12 and 13 and allowing a snap fit or coupling are best shown in the enlarged details A and B of figures 3 and 4. In the shown embodiment said track-like coupling means is advantageously created in the form of rail-like ribs 11 having a flat foot or base portion 11A and a profiled portion 11B allowing a snap engagement and having substantially the form of a half circle or a cam-like projection with rounded corners as shown.
Advantageously said rails or profiled ribs 11 of the male-like track 12 or female-like track 13 have the same contour.
Due to the strip-like configuration of the ribs 11 the latter have a good degree of elasticity which can be easily determined in function of the rib thickness, as well known to those skilled in the art. Also a small thinning at the base of ribs 11 (not shown) would facilitate a hinge-like oscillation of ribs 11 during block assembling/disassembling.
What discussed above with respect to the snap coupling means 12 and 13 also applies obviously for ali the modular block embodiments according to the present invention.
A similar assembling/disassembling snap behaviour may be accomplished with the alternative rib form or contour allowing a detachable fit shown in Figure 4A
in which equal parts or parts equivalent to those shown in Figures 3 and 4 are denoted by equal numerals.
According to the present invention the set 100 of modular components also includes at least a further modular component in the form of an angulated block consisting of two firmly bonded one-piece half blocks, as illustrated for example for the block 16 which has an angle of 90° shown in Figures 10 to 14 or for the block 17 shown in Figures 5 to 9 for building curved walls having a large radius.
To the blocks 16, 17, as well as to other not shown angulated blocks having a different angle, is common the fact that they form a sturdy one-piece component, and he fact that the bending plane 18 in provided in the block center, that is the blocks 16, 17 have a symmetrical form.
On the perimetral sides of the blocks 16 and 17 they are also provided with the above discussed couples of coupling ribs 11 defining said mate 12 and female 13 detachable snap coupling means.
More particularly, the angulated block 17 has a bending angle of 176°
and a general taper of 4° as shown in Figure 9, whereby the assembling of these blocks allows to build a curved wall having a radius R of 2866 mm, Figure 26.
Due to its configuration, the modular angulated block 16 of 90° has the large front sides broken down and defined by both surfaces 7, 7A and 8, 8A, respectively.
Moreover, the angulated blocks 16 and 17 have the further features inferable from the modular block 1.
According to the present invention the set 100 of modular components besides the modular blocks 1, 16, 17 may additionally include stiffening sections and/or terminating/fastening sections for perimetral terminating and/or fastening of the built wall in the room housing the latter, whereby said sections are illustrated in cross-section and in walls of Figures 1 S to 26.
Said sections are, for example, a stiffening section 20 which can be used as a vertical section andlor a stringer, incorporated in a wall 50 of blocks 1, 16 and 17 or similar blocks, a floor fastening or wall terminating section 21, and a ceiling or composite wall terminating/fastening section 22, figure 15 to 18.
The stiffening section 20, Figure 1 S, has a double track-like snap fit configuration with opposite tracks 12, 13 and connecting end flanges 24 which project outwardly forming closure flanges 25. As best shown in Figure 1 S, each track rail 11 is formed and profiled like the above said coupling ribs 11 and represent male 12 and female detachable snap coupling tracks as described hereinabove. Due to sturdiness purposes, section 20 is formed, in the shown example, as a box section, whereby the thickness S
of the chamber 23 can be of the same order of magnitude of the abutment grooves of the known glass-block walls, for example of 17 mm. Said chamber 23 is further delimited by the walls 27 and 29.
The floor section 21, Figure 16, has a base side 27 and a track-like configuration 12 with male rails 11 allowing a detachable snap coupling as discussed above.
Due to sturdiness purposes also section 21 has a box-like configuration with a thickness S of the chamber 23 corresponding to the thickness S of the chamber 23 of said stiffening section 20. Projecting closure flanges are denoted by 26.
Said flanges 26 preferably represent a projection of end connection flanges 28. The chamber 23 is further delimited by the walls 27 and 29.
The composite ceiling and wall terminating/fastening section 22 is formed by a base body 31 having a substantially L-shaped cross-section, whereby on the one wing 32 is provided a positioning flange 33 and on the other wing 34 is provided an open seat 35.
Said composite section 22 also includes a removable diaphragm-like strip 36 having an internal stop and positioning flange 37 which, in the shown example, has a chamfered free end 38. In the assembled condition the strip end 39 near the flange 37 rests against the free end 40 of the seat 35 whereas the flange 37 rests against the bent end 41 of said seat 35 and with its free end partially extends parallel to the opening 42 of said seat 3 5 .
Retaining of the diaphragm 36 in said base body 30 takes place with a plurality of clip-like springs 45 which are bent as shown in Figures 17 and 18 and housed in section seat 35. Said springs, which can have a length of for example 3 cm and are snaply inserted into said seat 35 with a distance from each other of, for example, 25-30 cm, have opposite active ends 46, 47 between which the flange 37 is inserted and elastically retained. The correct positioning is facilitated by the stop 48 acting as a positioning stop which should be surpassed by the spring end 47 when disassembling the composite section 22. In an alternative embodiment said spring 45 can also be produced as a bar spring of metal or plastic.
The length of the wings 32 and 36 of said composite section 22 is, in the shown example, of 80 mm and allows to practically conceal in a sure manner the air spaces formed between the top edge of the built wall and the room ceiling as well as between a wall lateral block column or wall edge and the adjacent room wall, respectively. .
As inferable from the drawings, said proposed sections 20, 21 and 22 have large surfaces or zones allowing an easy access for drilling holes for screws to be screwed in fastening plugs or the like.
In Figure 19 is illustrated the position of two blocks 1 before coupling the latter on a stiffening sections 20 which can be used as a vertical section or a stringer, whereby from Figure 19 it is also inferable that after assembling the perimetral abutting block flanges 10 will be in an abutment alignment with said closure flange 25 of section 20.
In figure 20 is shown a pre-fitting position between a block 1 of a bottom block row of a wall and a floor section 21, which can also be used as a wall terminating section terminating a free edge of a wall 50, for example in case of a door aperture, Figure 23, and in this case to said section 21 can be fixed the door hinges (not shown).
In case of curved walls, Figure 26, the floor section 21 will be preliminarly bent.
Bending of section 21 can be carried out without problems by using conventional section bending machines.
Figure 21 shows a floor section 21 and two blocks 1 already coupled therewith and a block 1 before carrying out the coupling thereof. The coupling movements are indicated by the arrows V (vertical movement) and O (horizontal movement).
Even if per se indifferent, it is easier to first carry out the vertical coupling between section 21 and block 1 by moving the latter according arrow V and then, by sliding the block 1 along the section 21 according to arrow O, to accomplish the coupling between the blocks.
Due to the smoothness of the surfaces of ribs 11 of the extruded section 21 and the elasticity thereof, the sliding movement of block 1 takes place without any difficulties.
Figure 22 shows how with the ceiling or composite section 22 it is possible to conceal without problems an air space Z formed between the top row of blocks 1 of the wall 50 and the ceiling of the room housing said wall S0. In the same manner it is obviously possible to bridge a similar air space between a lateral wall edge or column of blocks I
of a wall 50 and the adjacent wall of the room housing said wall 50.
Building steps for mounting a block wall according to the present invention.
Example 1: Example of a partition wall filling the whole cross-section of the room housing said partition wall, Figure 23.
After having fastened the floor section 21, the ceiling section 22 and both wall composite sections 22 (one of which could also be formed by a floor section 21 ) by means of conventional plugs and screws the first row of blocks 1 is snaply fitted into said floor section 21 and laterally into the terminating and fastening sections 22. From the combined sections 22 is previously removed the diaphragm-like strip 36.
The required vertical sections 21 defining the door aperture and the vertical reinforcing sections 20 are also mounted and then is laid the second row of blocks 1 and so on up to the top row. During the assembling of said wall 50 the door lintel 20 as well as other stringers or reinforcing sections 20 are incorporated. After building the wall 50 the composite sections 22 will be closed by snaply applying the diaphragms 36.
Example 2: Example of a partition partial wall with a through aperture therein, Figure 24.
Also in this case, after having fastened in a room the floor section 21, the ceiling section 22 and a wall terminating section 21 (on the left of Figure 24)(or alternatively a further composite section 22) the first row of blocks 1 incorporating the reinforcement section 20 will be laid. The reinforcement stringer 20 as well as the terminating sections 21 defining the aperture 52 are then inserted in the corresponding blocks 1 of the wall 50 during gradually growing of the latter.
Lastly, the wall terminating section 21 (on the right of Figure 24) is applied for terminating the free lateral edge of the wall 50.
Example 3: Curved walls and walls with angulated sections, Figures 26 and 25.
As the angulated blocks 16, 17 are provided with male and female coupling means 12, 13 which are equal to the coupling means of the modular blocks 1, the coupling operations of said angulated blocks 16 and 17 together as well as with the rectilinear modular blocks 1 or the different sections 20, 21 and 22 are carried out as above described, and also the building of the respectively desired wall SO will take place as set forth hereinabove.
When the wall 50 is built, without any use of adhesives, the wall abutting grooves between the coupled blocks 1, 16 and 17 will be concealed by applying a removable adhesive tape 53 of metal or plastic (Figure 4) which are preferably colored and are for example at first applied along the horizontal grooves and then along the vertical ones with overlappings at the crossing points thereof.
According to the present invention also the proposed modular sections 20, 21, 22 are colored, so that it is possible to create pleasant chromatic aspects in the walls 50, for example with a desired tonality contrast between the block color and the color of the modular sections and the one of the groove covering tapes.
The disassembling of a wall 50 built with modular blocks and sections of sets according to the present invention takes place in reverse order of the above described operations, which leads to the complete reutilization of the removed blocks and sections for building a new wall or modify an already built wall.
Bearing in mind the above stated teachings for building the .wall embodiments of Figures 23 to 26 it is easily possible to build other wall embodiments incorporating the concepts of the present invention as further shown for example in Figure 27, in which also a half circular covering is made of blocks 17, and in Figure 28, where the wall has curved and angulated sectors.
From the above structural and functional description it is inferable that with the sets of modular components for building disassemblable/transformable/integrable walls according to the present invention it is possible to efficiently achieve the above stated object and to obtain the advantages set forth hereinabove.
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Lvcn if preferably made of polycarbona:e, the blocks acct~rtling to llte py'rsenl invention can practically bu prcrduar~ti of any transparent, half luster, translucid yr apaduc plastic and with large front sides having any ~'scushing whereas also the aluminium sections cao be produe~:d of any material and with any ~e~metric configuration at will, without leaving the scope ~f the prt;aent invent ion.
A ~e single modular block and section components lay ut lht: starve of the present invention, and said compo»ettts could be freely cocnmemialize~i in packages containing either equal or mixed modular compomnts for building andl~r c:ory~leting andlor modifying walls or wall sectors.
,~~'he rnvdular cmnpvnertts having a confil,~uration as set forth in one or mare of the fctlcrwiy cl~irns may Im Irac;kect in groups of ecludl or mixed cx~mponents~
AMENDED SHEET
Claims (15)
1. Set of modular components for building disassemblable walls comprising at least a plastic hollow modular block provided on its perimetral sides with male and female detachable snap coupling means as well as with perimetrical spacing flanges characterized in that it further comprises:
a) at least a further one-piece angulated modular block (16, 17), and the detachable snap coupling means (11, 12, l3) provided on said modular blocks (1, 16, 17) are accomplished like a track {12, 13) formed by two rail-like profiled ribs (11) which extend for a middle portion of each perimetrical sides and have such an elasticity and a configuration that they allow a braking-free assembling/disassembling of the blocks (1, 16, 17), and/or b) at least a stiffening metal section (20) and/or a terminating/fastening section (21, 22) for the perimetral sides of the wall (50) to be built in a room, which sections (20, 21, 22) are provided with detachable male and female snap coupling means (11, 12, l3) similarly accomplished like a track (12, 13) formed by two rail-like profiled ribs (11) which are adapted to operatively mate with said detachable snap coupling means (11, 12, 13) of said block modular components (1, 16, 17).
Claims
a) at least a further one-piece angulated modular block (16, 17), and the detachable snap coupling means (11, 12, l3) provided on said modular blocks (1, 16, 17) are accomplished like a track {12, 13) formed by two rail-like profiled ribs (11) which extend for a middle portion of each perimetrical sides and have such an elasticity and a configuration that they allow a braking-free assembling/disassembling of the blocks (1, 16, 17), and/or b) at least a stiffening metal section (20) and/or a terminating/fastening section (21, 22) for the perimetral sides of the wall (50) to be built in a room, which sections (20, 21, 22) are provided with detachable male and female snap coupling means (11, 12, l3) similarly accomplished like a track (12, 13) formed by two rail-like profiled ribs (11) which are adapted to operatively mate with said detachable snap coupling means (11, 12, 13) of said block modular components (1, 16, 17).
Claims
2. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one further angulated modular component (16) has an angle of 90°.
3. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one further angulated modular component (17) has an angle which is slight smaller than 180°, for example of 176°.
4. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one further angulated modular component (17) has an angle in the range of 178° and 90°.
5. Set of modular components according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said male and female rib-like snap coupling means consists of ribs having a strip-like foot portion (11A) and an adjacent integral profiled strip-like portion (11B).
6. Set of modular components according to claim 5, characterized in that said profiled strip-like portions (11B) have the same contour.
7. Set of modular components according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the male ribs have a substantially circular or oval contour (11B) whereas the female ribs have a hollow substantially half circular contour.
8. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening section (20) used as a vertical section or a stringer has a double track configuration (12, 13) in the form of opposite tracks (12, 13) with abutment edge flanges (25), whereby each track (12, 13) consists of two rails (11) which are configured and disposed like the profiled coupling male (12) and female (13) ribs (11) of the modular block components (1, 16, 17).
9. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor or terminating section (21) has a bottom side (27), preferably in the form of a box section, provided with a track-like configuration and projecting abutment flanges (26), whereby the track rails (11) are configured and disposed like the couple of male (11) and female (13) coupling ribs of the modular blocks (1, 16, 17)
10. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that the ceiling or wall terminating/fastening section (22) is a composite section having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and consisting of a base body (31) having a substantially L-shaped cross-section, a removable diaphragm-like strip (36), and a positioning and/or fixing elastic means (45), whereby the length of the wings (32, 36) of said composite section (22) allows to conceal the air spaces formed between the top block row or a lateral wall edge and the ceiling or wall of the room in which a block wall (50) is built.
11. Set of modular components according to claim 10, characterized in that the diaphragm-like strip (36) has an inner positioning flange (37) which, in the assembled condition, rests onto a counter-flange (41) of the base body (31) and at the same time it is latchable between opposite ends (46, 47) of one or more latching springs (45) housed in an appropriate open seat (35) provided in the base body (31) of said section (22).
12. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that said floor or terminating section (21) as well as said ceiling or wall section (22) are provided with large surfaces enabling an easy access for drilling holes therein for fixing screws.
13. Set of modular components according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises removable adhesive plastic or metal tapes (53) for concealing the perimetral slots formed between abutting blocky (1, 16, 17).
14. Wall made of plastic modular hollow blocks, characterized in that it is built with modular block components (1, 16, 17) and/or floor sections (21) and/or wall terminating/fastening sections (22) and/or stiffening sections (20) according to one or more of claims 1 to 13.
15. Hollow plastic modular blocks and/or modular extruded sections for making walls (50), wherein said modular components (1, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22) have a configuration as set forth in one or more of the claims 1 to 13, and wherein said components (1, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22) are packed in groups of equal or mixed components (1, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22).
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT98CO000012 IT1305841B1 (en) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-06-22 | Set of modular components for building transparent removable walls having transparent plastic blocks |
| ITCO98A000012 | 1998-06-22 | ||
| IT1998CO000019 IT1305845B1 (en) | 1998-10-30 | 1998-10-30 | Set of modular components for building transparent removable walls having transparent plastic blocks |
| ITCO98A000019 | 1998-10-30 | ||
| PCT/EP1999/004281 WO1999067476A1 (en) | 1998-06-22 | 1999-06-20 | Set of modular components for building transparent walls and walls made thereof |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2335554A1 true CA2335554A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 |
Family
ID=26330478
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002335554A Abandoned CA2335554A1 (en) | 1998-06-22 | 1999-06-20 | Set of modular components for building transparent walls and walls made thereof |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1105590B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2002519542A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1306594A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE355425T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4614099A (en) |
| BR (2) | BR9907919A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2335554A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69935340D1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL140231A0 (en) |
| MX (1) | MXPA00012640A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999067476A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2398304A (en) * | 2003-02-11 | 2004-08-18 | James Mcerlean | Building blocks and system of constructing a wall |
| US8641494B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2014-02-04 | Silenceair International Pty Limited | Ventilation device and frame system |
| ITMI20051586A1 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2007-02-23 | Moretti Internat S R L | BLOCK IN SYNTHETIC MATERIAL FOR THE FORMATION OF GLASS-CEMENT TYPE WALLS AS DIVIDING WALLS SHOWER AND SIMILAR WALLS |
| WO2008075121A1 (en) * | 2006-12-19 | 2008-06-26 | Brickgel Llc | Modular building element comprising a frame and oppositely disposed panels |
| NZ596288A (en) * | 2011-11-30 | 2014-02-28 | Michael Hebden Bennett | Modular hollow block structure |
| JP7194961B2 (en) * | 2018-05-21 | 2022-12-23 | ビニフレーム工業株式会社 | Extruded shape and handrail made of the extruded shape |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5261205A (en) * | 1986-10-30 | 1993-11-16 | Sandor Frederick J | Methods and apparatus for fabricating plastic block panels |
| US5033245A (en) | 1990-01-16 | 1991-07-23 | Glass Alternatives Corp. | Architectural building block |
| US5038542A (en) | 1990-01-16 | 1991-08-13 | Glass Alternatives Corp. | Architectural building block herewith |
| US5910086A (en) * | 1996-03-11 | 1999-06-08 | Fisher; Myles | Construction block structure |
-
1999
- 1999-06-20 IL IL14023199A patent/IL140231A0/en unknown
- 1999-06-20 CA CA002335554A patent/CA2335554A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-06-20 EP EP99929290A patent/EP1105590B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-06-20 MX MXPA00012640A patent/MXPA00012640A/en unknown
- 1999-06-20 BR BR9907919-4A patent/BR9907919A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-06-20 AU AU46140/99A patent/AU4614099A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-06-20 JP JP2000556112A patent/JP2002519542A/en active Pending
- 1999-06-20 DE DE69935340T patent/DE69935340D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-06-20 BR BR9911989-7A patent/BR9911989A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1999-06-20 CN CN99807697.XA patent/CN1306594A/en active Pending
- 1999-06-20 WO PCT/EP1999/004281 patent/WO1999067476A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1999-06-20 AT AT99929290T patent/ATE355425T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2002519542A (en) | 2002-07-02 |
| AU4614099A (en) | 2000-01-10 |
| DE69935340D1 (en) | 2007-04-12 |
| WO1999067476A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 |
| EP1105590A1 (en) | 2001-06-13 |
| IL140231A0 (en) | 2002-02-10 |
| MXPA00012640A (en) | 2002-05-08 |
| BR9907919A (en) | 2004-02-10 |
| CN1306594A (en) | 2001-08-01 |
| ATE355425T1 (en) | 2006-03-15 |
| BR9911989A (en) | 2002-06-18 |
| EP1105590B1 (en) | 2007-02-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20030620 |