EP1383969A1

EP1383969A1 - Building element assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1383969A1
Application number: EP02735515A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Camille Jim Riviere
Original assignee: Riviere Camille Jim
Current assignee: Mandoce Alain; Riviere Camille Jim
Priority date: 2001-04-30
Filing date: 2002-04-26
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Also published as: CA2443804A1; WO2002088481A1; CA2443804C; FR2824092A1; FR2824092B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly of building elements comprising bricks (10), posts (40), sashes, frames (60), tie joists and purlins, each brick (10) being shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped having two substantially planar parallel opposite surfaces (12, 14) forming a wall with specific height and length, separated from four successive sides (16, 18, 20, 22) forming an edge with the brick. The invention is characterised in that one (18) of the sides of the brick (10) comprises a tenon (24) over part of its length, while a mortise (26, 28, 30) is provided in the three other sides (16, 22, 20) over their entire length.

Description

Set of Construction Elements

The present invention relates to a set of construction elements and the method of producing a wall using this set of construction elements.

There is a need on the market for building elements which are easy to implement and economical to make a shed, a bungalow, a low wall or the like, in a very short time, without any specific knowledge, and without using cement or glue.

The construction thus obtained must however have all the required rigidity, and be able to be just as easily demolished and / or be reconstructed elsewhere and / or differently.

These construction elements must also be able to be produced in scale models to determine a construction toy for children.

In the field of construction toys, the document DE-A-198 45 160 is known which describes building blocks of substantially parallelepiped shape having on their lateral faces undercut grooves closed at one end in the axial direction and into which can be inserted a coupling element connecting the blocks two by two. Nothing is provided to lock the blocks one above the other, which implies a construction by successive layers, the layers being unstable with respect to each other.

This drawback is eliminated in the construction set described in document EP-A-0 911 070 which describes cubic building blocks, an orifice being formed on each of the faces of the cube to introduce a connecting pin between two adjacent cubes. A technical problem then arises when the user wishes to install such a cube at a location where the cube must simultaneously accommodate perpendicular pegs between them, that is to say when the user wishes to mount a wall of at least two rows blocks, because he must first complete each row completely, then fix the rows to each other.

Outside the field of games, we know from document EP-A-1050 636 a modular system composed of wooden boards arranged horizontally one on the other and glued together. Such a system gives a massive and definitive character to the construction, and cannot be easily implemented.

We also know the document US-A-5 996 302 which describes a system for assembling a series of wooden planks using mortises and tenons. Locking is ensured by means of dowels making the relatively complex and impractical system except for a very experienced handyman or a man skilled in the woodworking industry.

Document EP-A-0 898 027 also discloses molded building blocks each having on the upper and lower edges a male and female relief respectively intended to favor the installation of a wall. These blocks require the use of a cement between each block.

Document US-A-2688245 shows that it is known to make bricks locking together in position.

The invention is situated in this context and aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, while achieving the goals which have been previously described.

The present invention therefore relates first of all to a set of construction elements comprising bricks, posts, frames, frames, struts and purlins, each brick affecting the. shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having two opposite substantially flat surfaces constituting a wall of a determined height and length, separated by four successive sides forming a slice of the brick, one of the sides of the brick has a tenon on part of its length, while a mortise is made in the other three sides over their entire length, the tenons and mortises on the sides of the brick affecting the shape of dovetails respectively male and female, the locking strips affecting in section the shape of two opposite male dovetails joined by their short sides. This is in accordance with the teaching of document DE-A-1 802 464.

According to the invention, at least one of the opposite surfaces of each brick has, in its lower end, a drip pan and, in its upper end, a partial hollow molding, so that rainwater flowing over the drip pan of a brick fall into the molding of the lower brick.

The presence of drips provided on at least one exterior face makes it possible to prevent runoff from stagnating in the horizontal mortises.

Preferably, the tenon is located on the upper horizontal edge of each brick, which makes it possible to make a wall without having to bury the lower part of the first horizontal row of bricks.

Advantageously, at least one mortise is made over the entire length of the posts, jambs, frames, ties and purlins.

Also preferably, the bricks, posts, jambs, frames, struts and purlins are made of a material chosen from wood and plastic. The invention, according to another aspect, also relates to a method of producing a wall using the construction elements which have just been described.

This process comprises the following stages: a first plurality of bricks are placed horizontally to form the desired length of the wall, so that the tenon of each brick is on the upper edge; one of the strips is introduced vertically into the mortises of two adjacent bricks; a second plurality of bricks is placed horizontally on the first plurality by sliding, making the pins of the first plurality of bricks cooperate with the corresponding mortises of the second plurality of bricks; one of the strips is introduced vertically into the mortises of two adjacent bricks; and so on until the desired height of the wall is obtained; the tenons of the upper bricks are introduced into the mortise of the struts or purlins; the posts and / or frames and / or frames are placed vertically, at each lateral end of the wall, so that the external mortises of the end bricks and the posts, frames or frames are facing each other; one introduces vertically into the external mortises of the end bricks and that of the posts, jambs or frames one of the crimps. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments given without limitation and to which three drawing plates are appended. on which :

Figure 1 shows schematically front view of a brick according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows in perspective the brick of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows, in perspective, the strip according to one invention;

Figure 4 illustrates, in horizontal section, the junction of two laterally adjacent bricks; Figure 5 illustrates, in vertical section, the junction of two bricks placed one above the other;

Figure 6 shows, in horizontal section, a corner post and its junction with the bricks of two walls; Figure 7 illustrates, in horizontal section the junction of a wall and a frame;

Figure 8 illustrates, in horizontal schematic section another embodiment of a junction between two perpendicular walls; and

Figures 9 and 10 show, in vertical section, schematically showing two other preferred embodiments of the drip line.

Referring now to the Figures which have just been succinctly described, the set of construction elements of the invention comprises bricks, posts, jambs, frames, struts and purlins, as well as locking strips . We will speak here of wooden building elements, because the technology used is that of wood, but it is obvious that these elements can also be made of molded or injected plastic, or any other suitable material.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a brick 10 according to the invention. In one embodiment, such a wooden brick has the following dimensions: length 40 cm, height 17 cm, thickness 7 cm. These dimensions make it possible to obtain wooden bricks that can be easily handled by anyone because of their non-crippling weight. These dimensions are not, however, limiting of the invention. It is, moreover, necessary to provide "half-bricks", therefore with a length of 20 cm, to allow mounting a wall with alternating bricks between two adjacent levels.

Each brick 10 assumes the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having two opposite substantially flat parallel surfaces 12, 14. In the examples shown, the brick 10 is intended for the production of a bungalow or equivalent. The outer surface 12, subjected to rain, is therefore slightly different from the inner surface 14, as will be seen later. The two surfaces can, however, both be subjected to weather conditions or not, and therefore be identical. These two opposite surfaces 12, 14 are separated by four successive sides 16, 18, 20 22, forming the edge of the brick 10.

Referring to the construction of a wall, it will be said below that the side 18 is the upper side of the brick 10, the side 22 is the lower side, and the sides 16 and 20 are the lateral sides.

The upper side 18 is provided with a stud 24 which projects therefrom, while a mortise 26, 28, 30 is made in the three other sides, 16, 22, 20 respectively.

The tenon 24 assumes the shape of a male dovetail, while the mortises 26, 28, 30 affect the corresponding shape of female dovetails.

All the mortises of all the elements of the construction assembly described have the same cross-sectional shape, and the studs affect, in cross-section, the complementary shape.

As can be seen in FIG. 6 for a corner post 40, and in FIG. 7 for a frame 60, posts, frames, tie bars and purlins all include at least one mortise 42.

Referring to Figure 5 showing in vertical section the junction of two bricks one on the other, the bricks 10 are arranged one above the other by introducing by cαulissement an upper brick the upper tenon 24 of a lower brick in the mortise 28 of the upper brick. Vertical strength is thus ensured.

The lateral solidity between two adjacent bricks is ensured, as illustrated in FIG. 4 showing schematically in horizontal section two adjacent bricks, by a strip 50, which will be described below in relation to FIG. 3, introduced simultaneously into the mortise 26 of a brick and mortise 30 of the adjacent brick.

Thus each brick of the wall is joined, without glue or cement, to all neighboring bricks in an extremely simple way, which provides maximum resistance for a wall thus formed.

The locking strip 50, as illustrated in perspective in FIG. 3, has a cross-section in the shape of two opposite male dovetails joined by their short sides or, in other words, in the shape of a butterfly. The length of the strip 50 corresponds either to the height of a brick, or to the height of a post, or to that of a jamb or a frame 60.

In addition, it is essential that the surface (s) exposed (s) to rainwater includes (s) a drip line 52 (see Figure 5) in line with the bare in the lower part of the brick 10. In the example shown in FIG. 5, this drip line 52 is set back and has a channel 54 behind it, so as to separate rainwater from the contact zone of two bricks located one above above each other. The channel 54 is formed longitudinally on the lower edge of the brick 10.

In the upper end of the brick, on the wall 12 exposed to rainwater, is made a partial hollow molding 56, intended to receive the water and drain it.

Other Preferred Embodiments of the Teardrop

52 have been shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9, the bare surface of the outer wall 12 projects downward to avoid any rise in humidity towards the mortise 28. The drip line 52 then cooperates directly with the molding in hollow 56 whose depth is provided for this purpose.

The drip line 52 illustrated in Figure 10 is of the same type, but it has a groove 66 on its inner face, so as to form a labyrinth for humidity. We can then provide a rod 68 projecting from the upper molding 56, rod 68 which will cooperate with the groove 66 to further improve the resistance to moisture, and further promote the robustness of the construction.

However, it is not desirable to use the bricks illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 to create the first low row of bricks on a wall if you want to avoid digging a trench on the ground before building the wall. Those skilled in the art will have understood the advantages of the invention and the flexibility of the constructions thus obtained without using any cement or glue.

In addition, a direction is thus given to each brick thanks to the upper tenon 24 and to the molding assembly 56 - drip line 52.

To make a wall, a method is implemented comprising the following steps: a first plurality of bricks 10 are placed horizontally to form the desired length of the wall, so that the pin 24 of each brick is on the upper edge; one of the strips 50 is introduced vertically into the mortises 26, 30 of two adjacent bricks; a second plurality of bricks 10 is placed horizontally on the first plurality by sliding, making the pins 24 of the first plurality of bricks cooperate with the corresponding mortises 28 of the second plurality of bricks; one of the strips 50 is introduced vertically into the mortises 26, 30 of two adjacent bricks; and so on until the desired height of the wall is obtained; the pins 24 of the upper bricks are introduced into the mortise of the frames 42, ties or purlins; vertically, at each lateral end of the wall, the posts 40 and / or jambs and / or frames 60, so that the external mortises 26, 30 of the end bricks and posts 50 or jambs or frames 60 are opposite; one introduces vertically into the external mortises 26, 30 end bricks and that of the posts, jambs or frames one of the strips 50.

The simplicity of the process is therefore very clear.

Although one has represented and described what are currently considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that a person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the outer surface 12 of each wooden brick can be favorably treated to withstand the weather, and the inner surface 14 can carry moldings or decorative grooves.

Also, with reference to FIG. 8, where 1 is shown, in horizontal schematic section another embodiment of a junction between two perpendicular walls made of bricks 10, it is possible to provide "interior" walls resting on an "exterior" wall. Thus, a half-post can first be fixed to a wall by any suitable means, such as dowels, nails or screws. Preferably, these dowels, nails or screws are introduced through the mortise 42 of the half-posts so as not to be visible. The perpendicular wall is then mounted as indicated above, and a locking strip 50 is introduced vertically into the facing mortises. Many variants can therefore be implemented in the context of the present invention.

As will be seen, the elements described can be easily standardized for easy marketing, but without standardizing the constructions obtained with these elements.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S

1 - Set of building elements comprising bricks (10), posts (40), frames, frames (60), girders and purlins, and locking strips (50) of said elements between them, each brick (10) affecting the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having two substantially flat parallel opposite surfaces (12, 14) constituting a wall of a determined height and length, separated by four successive sides (16, 18, 20, 22) forming a slice of said brick, one (18) of said sides of said brick (10) has a tenon (24) over part of its length, while a mortise (26, 28, 30) is made in the three other so-called sides (16, 22, 20) over their entire length, the so-called tenon (24) and mortise (26, 28, 30) on the sides of the said brick affecting the shape of dovetails respectively male and female , the said locking strips (50) affecting in section the shape of two opposite male dovetails are connected by their shorter sides, characterized in that at least one of said opposite surfaces (12, 14) of each block comprises, in its lower end, a drip edge (52) and, in its upper end a partial molding hollow (56), so that rainwater flowing over the drip line (52) of a brick falls into the molding (56) of the lower brick.

2 - assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the drip pan (52) is chosen from a recessed drip pan and a drip pan projecting from the brick (10) downwards.

3 - assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a channel (54) is formed longitudinally on the lower edge of the brick (10).

4 - assembly according to claim 2 wherein the drip tray (52) protrudes from the brick down, characterized in that the drip tray (52) has a groove (66) on its inner face, so as to form a labyrinth for 1 ' humidity .

5 - An assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that a rod (68) projects from the upper molding (56), said rod (68) cooperating with said groove (66).

6 - An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pin (24) is located on the upper horizontal edge of each brick.

7 - assembly of building elements according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one mortise is made over the entire length of said posts (40), jambs, frames (60), ties and purlins.

8 - assembly of building elements according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said bricks (10), posts (50), jambs, frames (60), braces and purlins, and locking strips (50 ), are made of a material chosen from wood and plastic.

9 - Process for producing a wall using the construction elements according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps: a first plurality of bricks (10) are placed horizontally to form the desired length of the wall, so that the post (24) of each brick is on the upper edge; one of the said strips (50) is introduced vertically into the mortises (26, 30) of two adjacent bricks; a second plurality of bricks (10) are arranged horizontally on said first plurality by sliding, by making the pins (24) of said first plurality of bricks cooperate with the corresponding mortises (28) of the second plurality of bricks; one of the said strips (50) is introduced vertically into the mortises (26, 30) of two adjacent bricks; and so on until the desired height of the wall is obtained; the tenons (24) of the upper bricks are introduced into the mortise of said struts or purlins; vertically, at each lateral end of said wall, the posts (40), jambs and / or frames

(60), so that the external mortises (26;

30) end bricks and said posts (40), jambs or frames (60) are facing each other; one introduces vertically into the external mortises (26; 30) end bricks and that of the said posts, jambs or uprights one of the said strips (50).

10 - Method for producing a junction between two perpendicular walls obtained by the implementation of the method according to claim 4, characterized in that a half-post (62) is first fixed to a wall by an appropriate means (64), the perpendicular wall then being mounted, and a locking strip (50) being finally introduced vertically into the facing mortises.