GB2168733A - Construction brick - Google Patents

Abstract

A construction brick 1 comprises two essentially equal parts, each about the size and shape of a standard house- brick, the parts being staggered longitudinally to give stepped end faces 3 to 5. When placed end to end such bricks have a non-linear joint which inhibits sound transmission. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Construction brick The invention relates to a construction brick which is particularly useful for party and partition walls.

A particular difficulty with party walls is the transmission of sound. Various measures have been proposed for sound insulation but these have often involved the addition of sound-deadening skins to brick or block-built walls. While sound transmission through the bricks or blocks themselves is low, sound travels more readily along paths presented by the gaps between the bricks or blocks. The mortar which nominally fills the gaps often has cavities and in any event is more sound-transmitting than the bricks or blocks.

The present invention seeks to provide a new brick which is particularly suitable for constructing a wall with inherently good sound-insulation properties.

According to the invention there is provided a construction brick of substantially rectilinear form having two opposed major faces, two opposed side faces and two end faces, the end faces each having a step approximately halfway between the side faces, the steps being such that similar bricks may be mated end to end with their side faces in line and a non-linear joint between them. A wall made of such bricks has enhanced sound-insulating properties because sound transmission through the joints is impeded significantly by their non-linearity.

Each end face of the brick has a nose at one side.

The nose will be less than half the width of the brick to allow a tolerance gap at the centre when similar bricks are placed end to end.

The brick may be regarded as comprising two essentially equal parts which are staggered longitudinally to give the stepped end faces. In a preferred embodiment each part is substantially the size and shape of a standard house-brick. To facilitate handling there is preferably a hole or slot at the centre to accommodate the bricklayer's fingers.

Conveniently, this may also serve the function of the frog of a conventional brick, providing a region into which mortar can key.

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brick in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view showing the relationship of adjacent bricks in a course.

Referring to Figure 1 the brick has two major faces 1, two side faces 2 and two end faces 3. The end faces are stepped at 4, each having a nose 5. There is a hole 6 at the centre to accommodate the bricklayer's fingers and thereby facilitate handling.

The hole has the added advantage that it faciiitates cutting the brick in half, should this be necessary.

The overall length of the brick (from end to end) is 9", being composed of two parts 8-5-" long staggered longitudinally by 31'. The width of the brick (from side to side) is 85-". The depth of the brick is 25-". Each nose is 4" wide.

Figure 2 shows how adjacent bricks inter-fit to present a joint 7 which is non-linear, thereby blocking direct sound transmission. Generally, no mortar will be necessary at this joint, although some may be accommodated in the tolerance gap 8. The brick may be used in party walls or load-bearing partitions, where walls of double normal thickness may be built rapidly. Also, the brick lends itself for use as a pavoir. A greater stagger than that illustrated would improve the appearance in this case.

The brick can be made of any convenient or conventional material but is particularly suitable for a lime/cement product made in an autoclave.

In general the invention is not restricted to the details of the embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For example, the degree of stagger may be more 3"; if vertical jointing mortar is considered necessary or desirable, then this dimension would be at least 5".

1. A construction brick of substantially rectilinear form having two opposed major faces, two opposed side faces and two end faces, the end faces each having a step approximately halfway between the side faces, the steps being such that similar bricks may be mated end to end with their side faces in line and a non-linear joint between them.

2. A construction brick as claimed in claim 1 wherein at each end face the protruding part, or nose, defined by the step is less than half the width of the brick to allow a tolerance gap at the centre when similar bricks are placed end to end.

3. A construction brick as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there are two essentially equal parts which are staggered longitudinally to give the stepped end faces, each part being substantially the size and shape of a standard house brick.

4. A construction brick as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is a hole or slot at the centre to accommodate a bricklayer's fingers.

5. A construction brick as claimed in any of the.

preceding claims made of a lime/cement mixture in an autoclave.

6. A construction brick substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Construction brick The invention relates to a construction brick which is particularly useful for party and partition walls. A particular difficulty with party walls is the transmission of sound. Various measures have been proposed for sound insulation but these have often involved the addition of sound-deadening skins to brick or block-built walls. While sound transmission through the bricks or blocks themselves is low, sound travels more readily along paths presented by the gaps between the bricks or blocks. The mortar which nominally fills the gaps often has cavities and in any event is more sound-transmitting than the bricks or blocks. The present invention seeks to provide a new brick which is particularly suitable for constructing a wall with inherently good sound-insulation properties. According to the invention there is provided a construction brick of substantially rectilinear form having two opposed major faces, two opposed side faces and two end faces, the end faces each having a step approximately halfway between the side faces, the steps being such that similar bricks may be mated end to end with their side faces in line and a non-linear joint between them. A wall made of such bricks has enhanced sound-insulating properties because sound transmission through the joints is impeded significantly by their non-linearity. Each end face of the brick has a nose at one side. The nose will be less than half the width of the brick to allow a tolerance gap at the centre when similar bricks are placed end to end. The brick may be regarded as comprising two essentially equal parts which are staggered longitudinally to give the stepped end faces. In a preferred embodiment each part is substantially the size and shape of a standard house-brick. To facilitate handling there is preferably a hole or slot at the centre to accommodate the bricklayer's fingers. Conveniently, this may also serve the function of the frog of a conventional brick, providing a region into which mortar can key. The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brick in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view showing the relationship of adjacent bricks in a course. Referring to Figure 1 the brick has two major faces 1, two side faces 2 and two end faces 3. The end faces are stepped at 4, each having a nose 5. There is a hole 6 at the centre to accommodate the bricklayer's fingers and thereby facilitate handling. The hole has the added advantage that it faciiitates cutting the brick in half, should this be necessary. The overall length of the brick (from end to end) is 9", being composed of two parts 8-5-" long staggered longitudinally by 31'. The width of the brick (from side to side) is 85-". The depth of the brick is 25-". Each nose is 4" wide. Figure 2 shows how adjacent bricks inter-fit to present a joint 7 which is non-linear, thereby blocking direct sound transmission. Generally, no mortar will be necessary at this joint, although some may be accommodated in the tolerance gap 8. The brick may be used in party walls or load-bearing partitions, where walls of double normal thickness may be built rapidly. Also, the brick lends itself for use as a pavoir. A greater stagger than that illustrated would improve the appearance in this case. The brick can be made of any convenient or conventional material but is particularly suitable for a lime/cement product made in an autoclave. In general the invention is not restricted to the details of the embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For example, the degree of stagger may be more 3"; if vertical jointing mortar is considered necessary or desirable, then this dimension would be at least 5". CLAIMS

1. A construction brick of substantially rectilinear form having two opposed major faces, two opposed side faces and two end faces, the end faces each having a step approximately halfway between the side faces, the steps being such that similar bricks may be mated end to end with their side faces in line and a non-linear joint between them.

2. A construction brick as claimed in claim 1 wherein at each end face the protruding part, or nose, defined by the step is less than half the width of the brick to allow a tolerance gap at the centre when similar bricks are placed end to end.

3. A construction brick as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there are two essentially equal parts which are staggered longitudinally to give the stepped end faces, each part being substantially the size and shape of a standard house brick.

4. A construction brick as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is a hole or slot at the centre to accommodate a bricklayer's fingers.

5. A construction brick as claimed in any of the.

preceding claims made of a lime/cement mixture in an autoclave.

6. A construction brick substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.