GB2369133A

GB2369133A - Building block

Info

Publication number: GB2369133A
Application number: GB0124278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Kenworthy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-10
Filing date: 2001-10-10
Publication date: 2002-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-10
Also published as: GB0024823D0; GB2369133B; GB0124278D0

Abstract

A building block 1 comprises a body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral wall extending between the two surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces comprise mutually engageable formations 2,3 enabling the formations 2 on the top surface of a first building block to engage the formations 3 on the bottom surface of a second similar building block. The peripheral wall includes a convex portion and a concave portion, each having a similar radius of curvature, enabling the convex portion of the peripheral wall of a first building block to be received by the concave portion of the peripheral wall of a second similar building block.

Description

BUILDING BLOCK

The present invention relates to a building block.

Many types of building block are known. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative building block, embodiments of which can be used to construct curved or unusual shaped structures and embodiments of which may be used to construct structures using little or no adhesive or the like between the blocks.

According to the present invention there is provided a building block comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral wall extending between the two surfaces wherein the top and bottom surfaces respectively comprise at least one mutually engageable formation so that the formation (s) on the top surface can be engaged with the formation (s) on the bottom surface of another similar building block, and wherein the peripheral wall includes a convex portion and a concave portion each portion having a similar radius of curvature to enable the convex portion of the peripheral wall to be received into the concave portion of the peripheral wall of another similar building block.

Provision of convex and concave portions of the peripheral wall enables blocks to be placed in contact adjacent each other extending at a range-of different angles to each other. The provision of mutually engageable formations enables blocks to be stacked on one another and to engage with each other reducing or eliminating the need for adhesive or the

like between stacked blocks.

In one embodiment the building block comprises a body of generally cylindrical shape having a concave cut-out portion in its curved peripheral wall.

In another embodiment the building block has the shape of two generally cylindrical bodies each having a concave cut-out portion in its curved peripheral wall where a convex portion of the peripheral wall of one body opposite to its concave cut-out portion is received into the concave cut-out portion of the other body. Such blocks are convenient for constructing straight walls.

In yet another embodiment the building block comprises a body having the shape of three partially merged cylindrical bodies, each cylindrical body having an axis of rotation, the axes of all three bodies being substantially parallel, the axes of the first and second bodies each intersecting a first straight line and the axes of the second and third bodies intersecting a second straight line, the second straight line lying at right angles to the first straight line, and the first and third bodies having concave cut-out portions directed in mutually substantially orthogonal directions.

The engageable formations may comprise a lug on one surface and an aperture receiving a lug in another surface of the block. The lug is preferably substantially circular in cross-section. The aperture is also preferably substantially circular. Preferably, the lug of substantially circular

cross-section and aperture of substantially circular cross-section are centred about the centre of curvature of the convex portion of the peripheral wall. Where at least part of the building block comprises a cylindrical or part cylindrical body, the lug and aperture are preferably disposed substantially centrally about an axis of rotation of the cylindrical body. Other than where the engageable formations are present the top and bottom surfaces are preferably substantially flat.

The building block is preferably unitarily formed. The building block may be formed from concrete, stone or the like. Other materials may, however, be used, for example plastic.

The building block may have an aperture extending therethrough and the aperture may extend between top and bottom surfaces of the building block.

Although building blocks according to the invention are primarily intended for building purposes it will be appreciated that they may have other uses and may, for example, be used as a toy if made from suitable material and of suitable size.

I n order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows two views of a building block according to the invention ;

Figure 2 shows two views of another building block according to the invention ; Figure 3 shows two views of a building block which may be used in constructions made using building blocks according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a schematic partially transparent view of another embodiment of a building block according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a joining piece which may be used in structures formed by building blocks according to the invention; and Figure 7 shows a stud which may be used in structures made with building blocks according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 a building block 1 according to the invention is moulded in one piece from concrete or a like material. The peripheral wall of the building block is generally shaped like a figure of eight with a curved portion removed from part edge thereof leaving a concave arcuate surface, or cut-out portion. Another way of describing the shape of the building block is that it is comprised of two generally cylindrical bodies each of which have a segment removed from the curved surface thereof leaving a concave arcuate surface where a convex surface of one of the blocks opposite to its concave surface is received into the cut-out region of the other block to form a double cylindrical shape. On the top surface of the

block, visible mainly in the left hand view of Figure 1, there are formed two generally cylindrical protrusions or lugs 2 each extending generally centrally about the rotational axis of a respective cylindrical part of the block. On the opposite, bottom, surface of the block there are formed two substantially circular apertures 3 located in positions corresponding to those of the lugs 2 and arranged to snugly receive the lugs 2 of another similar block.

Figure 2 shows two views of a block similar to that shown in Figure 1, save for inclusion of an additional cylindrical part with a concave cut-out portion. The three cylindrical portions comprised in the block are arranged generally in an L-shape and the concave portions of two of the blocks are directed in substantially mutually orthogonal directions. Each cylindrical portion includes a lug 2 and corresponding aperture 3.

Figure 3 shows two views of a block comprising a generally cylindrical body having a lug 2 of generally cylindrical form projecting generally from the centre of one flat face thereof and a substantially circular aperture 3 formed in a corresponding position in the opposite flat face thereof.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the building block of Figure 1. The block differs to that shown in Figure 1 in that the substantially circular apertures 3 formed in one flat face of the block extend throughout the majority of the depth of the block and communicate with a substantially circular aperture of smaller diameter 4 extending through the

remainder of the block and through lugs 2 protruding from the opposite flat face of the block. Both apertures are substantially circular in cross-section and, as with all of the types of block shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lugs are sized to be received snugly into the apertures 2.

Figure 6 shows a connecting piece comprising two lugs 2 extending from opposite sides respectively of a disc shaped portion 5. Figure 7 shows a stud comprising a lug 2 and a ground engaging spike 6 extending from opposite sides respectively of a disc shaped portion 5. Both the connecting piece and stud are moulded in one piece from plastics material.

The disc shaped portion of each component acts to limit travel of the lug 2 into the aperture of a building block. The lug 2 of each component tapers slightly away from the disc shaped portion. The ground engaging spike 6 of the stud is cross-shaped in cross-section whereas the lug is solid and substantially circular in cross-section. The lug 2 could, however, also be cross-shaped in cross-section, as could the two lugs 2 of the connecting piece.

The building blocks of Figures 1 to 5 may be used to construct walls and the like. Blocks may be stacked one on another such that the lug (s) of one block are received into the apertures of another. Blocks may be placed side-tb-side such that the convex surface of one cylindrical portion of one block is received into the concave cut-out portion of another block. The adjacent surfaces of two blocks are generally arcuate in shape and of

substantially the same radius of curvature so that the blocks may be placed side-to-side extending at a range of different angles to each other.

It is intended that the form of block shown in Figures 1,4 and 5 are used primarily to build structures with the types of block shown in Figures 2 and 3 used where required.

Provision of the interlocking lugs and apertures significantly aids in locking blocks together thereby reducing the amount of cement, mortar or adhesive required between the blocks as compared to conventional building blocks. With the type of blocks shown in Figure 5 cement, mortar or the like may be poured into the apertures extending through each block and allowed to set to assist in locking a stack of blocks together.

The connector shown in Figure 6 may be used to engage two blocks when the apertures of each block are adjacent each other, one lug being inserted into the aperture of each block. The stud shown in Figure 7 is used to engage a block placed on the ground. The ground engaging spike 6 is inserted into the ground until the disc 5 lies flush with the surface of the ground. A block is then placed onto the ground such that the lug 2 is received into the aperture 3 of the block.

Figure 8 shows a wall comprising two portions extending substantially at right angles to each other formed from blocks of the type illustrated in Figures 1 or 4 and 5 and 3. The blocks of the type shown in Figure 3 are cross-hatched for identification.

Blocks of the type comprising two cylindrical portions are in side-byside in rows stacked one on another. The blocks are staggered so that each block in a row other than the first row extends over a gap between two blocks in the row beneath so that there is no continuous vertical line of weakness. As such each block in a row over the first row engages two blocks in the row below, and any row above, locking those two blocks together. This significantly improves the strength of the structure over a similar structure made with conventional building blocks. It is because the double cylindrical blocks are staggered that single cylindrical blocks of the type shown in Figure 3 are required to complete the structure. Concrete, mortar, adhesive or the like may be disposed between the blocks if desired. Where blocks of the type shown in Figures 4 and 5 are used with apertures extending therethrough concrete, mortar or the like may be poured into the open apertures of the blocks in the top row to fill the apertures extending through each block stacked beneath it. Alternatively rods or the like may be inserted into the apertures.

Figure 9 shows a partially exploded view of a more complicated structure including single, double and triple cylindrical blocks marked A, B and C respectively for identification purposes.

- The above embodiments are described by way of example only.

Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. A building block comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral wall extending between the two surfaces wherein the top and bottom surfaces respectively comprise at least one mutually engageable formation so that the formation (s) on the top surface can be engaged with the formation (s) on the bottom surface of another similar building block, and wherein the peripheral wall includes a convex portion and a concave portion each portion having a similar radius of curvature to enable the convex portion of the peripheral wall to be received into the concave portion of the peripheral wall of another similar building block.

2. A building block as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body of generally cylindrical shape having a concave cut-out portion in its curved peripheral wall.

3. A building block as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body having the shape of two generally cylindrical bodies of the type claimed in claim 2 where a convex portion of the peripheral wall of one body opposite to its concave cut-out portion is received into the concave cut-out portion of the other body.

4."A building block as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body having the shape of three partially merged cylindrical bodies, each cylindrical body having an axis of rotation, the axes of all three bodies being

substantially parallel, the axes of the first and second bodies each intersecting a first straight line and the axes of the second and third bodies intersecting a second straight line, the second straight line lying at right angles to the first straight line, and the first and third bodies having concave cut-out portions directed in mutually substantially orthogonal directions.

5. A building block as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engageable formations comprise a lug on one surface and an aperture for receiving a lug in another surface of the block.

6. A building block as claimed in claim 5 wherein the lug is substantially circular in cross-section.

7. A building block as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lug and aperture are centred about the centre of curvature of the convex portion of the peripheral wall.

8. A building block as claimed in claim 7 wherein the at least one part of the building block comprises a cylindrical or part cylindrical body and the lug and aperture are each disposed substantially centrally about an axis of rotation of the cylindrical body.

9. A building block as claimed in any preceding claim which is unitarily formed.

10. A building block as claimed in any preceding claim formed from concrete, stone or the like.

11. A building block as claimed in any preceding claim having an aperture extending therethrough.

12. A building block as claimed in claim 11 wherein the aperture extends between the top and bottom surfaces thereof.

13. A building block substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 or 2 or 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A structure comprising building blocks substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 and/or 2 and/or 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings including one or more of a building block, joining piece or stud substantially as herein described with reference to figures 3,6 and 7 respectively of the accompanying drawings.