GB2353050A

GB2353050A - Building block

Info

Publication number: GB2353050A
Application number: GB9918834A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence Stuart Toms
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-11
Filing date: 1999-08-11
Publication date: 2001-02-14
Also published as: GB9918834D0

Abstract

A hollow building block (16,18), the front (4) of which is formed with an aperture (6) through which a bird may enter the block to nest. One or more such blocks may be built into a wall to provide the wall with a nesting space for birds.

Description

2353050 Building Block The present invention relates to a building block.

A variety of standard-sized building blocks are known for constructing exterior walls. However, other than the further inherent advantages of providing a structure with some degree of thermal insulation and with an aesthetically pleasing appearance, traditional blocks rarely serve any other function.

I have now devised a building block which overcomes this limitation of existing building blocks.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hollow building block, the front of the block being formed with an aperture through which a bird may enter the block to nest.

It will be appreciated that one or more such blocks may be built into a wall to provide the wall with a nesting space for birds, this feature being particularly desirable in inner city areas where traditional nesting sites for birds are nowadays very scarce.

The building block preferably comprises an open-fronted hollow box portion for building into a wall, the front of the hollow box portion being closed by a face plate into which said aperture is formed.

Preferably at least one ventilation hole is formed in the front of the block at its base.

To increase the vertical load-bearing strength of the block, the interior of the block may be provided with one or more reinforcing members or may be formed as a vaulted arch.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a set of blocks for constructing a wall, the set comprising a plurality of blocks of substantially the same exterior size and shape as one another and at least one hollow block of substantially the same exterior size and shape as each of said plurality of blocks or as an arrangement of two or more of said plurality of blocks, the or each hollow block having an aperture formed its front through which a bird may enter the block to nest.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there 2 is provided a method of forming a wall by laying a plurality of blocks of substantially the same exterior size and shape as one another so as to incorporate into the wall at least one hollow block of substantially the same exterior size and shape as each of said plurality of blocks or as an arrangement of two or more of said plurality of blocks, the or each hollow block having an aperture formed in its front through which a bird may enter the block to nest.

I Embodiments of the present invention will now be 10 described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of building block in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section through the building block of Figure 1 along the line A-A' - Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the sealing arrangement for securing a f ace-plate to an open-f ronted hollow box portion of the block of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing two blocks built into a wall; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of building block in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of building block in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a building block is shown in the form of a hollow brick comprising an open-fronted hollow box portion 2, the front of which is closed by a face-plate 4. The face plate 4 is formed with an aperture 6, through which a bird may enter the brick to nest, a plurality of venti lat ion/ drainage holes 8 and a perch 10.

The hollow brick is of substantially the same standard exterior size and shape as a traditional solid brick, so that the hollow brick may be readily incorporated into a wall formed from traditional bricks, to provide the wall with a nesting space for birds.

At least the face plate 4 of the hollow brick is formed with a similar surface appearance and texture to that of a traditional brick, so that the hollow brick will blend in an 3 aesthetically pleasing manner into a wall formed from traditional bricks.

The hollow brick is preferably formed entirely of clay material or of concrete. However, the open-fronted hollow box portion 2 of the brick may be reinforced or substituted by a stronger material such as a plastics or metallic material.

As shown in Figure 3, the f ace-plate 4 of the hollow brick is formed on its rear surface with a rectangular projection 12 whose height and width are slightly less than those of the corresponding opening in the front of the hollow box portion 2 of the brick. A resilient seal, comprising a plurality of rectilinear, forwardly inclined ribs 14, extends around the circumference of the projection 12 and serves to hold the face-plate 4 in place when the projection 12 is pressed into the opening in the front of the hollow box portion 2 of the hollow brick.

Figure 4 shows two hollow bricks 16 and 18 built into a wall of traditional solid bricks 20, the first hollow brick 16 being shown with its respective face plate 4 secured in place, and the second hollow brick 18 being shown with its respective face plate 4 removed.

It will be appreciated that a hollow brick may also be readily incorporated into a wall formed from traditional bricks where the hollow brick is the same size and shape as an arrangement of two or more traditional bricks. Figure 5 shows one such hollow brick which is shaped to resemble an offset arrangement of two traditional bricks, as those bricks might be found in a wall.

Figure 6 shows a further double-height hollow brick whose roof is formed into a vaulted arch 22 to increase the load-bearing strength of the brick. Surface texturing, a portion of which is shown at 24, covers the top, bottom and side surfaces of the brick to key the brick into its surrounding cement or mortar. The preferred pyramidal shape of the texturing shown in Figure 3 also serves to buttress the side walls of the brick against vertical compressive forces.

Also shown in Figure 6 is a lip 26 formed along the lower inside edge of the aperture 6 to prevent small chicks from escaping from the block.

4 Whilst a perch is shown in Figures 1,2,4 and 5 as a rod 10 extending perpendicularly from the front of the brick, the perch may instead be formed as an arcuate ledge so that any excrement passed by a bird resting on the central portion of the ledge will fall clear of the surface of the wall into which the brick is built.

A perch 28 formed as an arcuate ledge is shown in Figures 7 and 8 which also show a hood 30 for preventing rainwater from entering the aperture 6 in the front of the 10 brick.

The building block thus described is readily incorporated into a wall to provide a nesting space for birds.

claims A hollow building block, the front of the block being formed with an aperture through which a bird may enter the block to nest.

Claims

2) A hollow building block as claimed in Claim 1, comprising an

open-fronted hollow box portion for building into a wall, the front of the hollow box portion being closed by a face plate into which said aperture is formed.

3) A hollow building block as claimed in claim 1 or claim 10 2, wherein at least one ventilation hole is formed in the front of the block at its base.

4) A hollow building block as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interior of the block is provided with one or more reinforcing members or may be formed as a vaulted arch.

5) A hollow building block as claimed in any of Claims I to 3, wherein the interior of the block is f ormed as a vaulted arch.

6) A hollow building block substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7) A set of blocks for constructing a wall, the set comprising a plurality of blocks of substantially the same exterior size and shape as one another and at least one hollow block of substantially the same exterior size and shape as each of said plurality of blocks or as an arrangement of two or more of said plurality of blocks, the or each hollow block having an aperture formed its front through which a bird may enter the block to nest.

8) A set of blocks substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9) A method of forming a wall by laying a plurality of 6 blocks of substantially the same exterior size and shape as one another so as to incorporate into the wall at least one hollow block of substantially the same exterior size and shape as each of said plurality of blocks or as an arrangement of two or more of said plurality of blocks, the or each hollow block having an aperture formed in its front through which a bird may enter the block to nest.

10) A method of forming a wall substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings