GB2408520A

GB2408520A - Wall construction incorporating sets of bricks of different configurations

Info

Publication number: GB2408520A
Application number: GB0327570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Calvin Jackson
Original assignee: Tarmac Ltd
Current assignee: Tarmac Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-27
Filing date: 2003-11-27
Publication date: 2005-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-27
Also published as: GB2408520B; GB0327570D0

Abstract

A wall construction 10 including a plurality of bricks 12 characterised in that the plurality of bricks includes a plurality of sets of bricks 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, the bricks including a generally planar top or bottom surface 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, the other of the top or bottom surfaces 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d having a non-planar configuration particular to the elements of the set.

Description

Title: Wall Construction

Description of Invention

The present invention relates to a wall construction, particularly, but not exclusively, to a wall construction for decorative uses.

It is known to construct walls from a plurality of irregularly shaped stones, each of which is a different shape to any of the others. Dry stone walls, or stone hedges are examples of such walls constructions, and are viewed by many people as having a particularly attractive appearance.

The construction of such walls is, however, relatively time consuming, and skill is required to ensure that the wall is stable and will maintain its stability over time.

Moreover, whilst sufficient numbers of naturally occurring appropriately sized and shaped stones may be available in some rural locations for the construction of such walls, this may not be the case in other locations, such as a city garden, for example. To manufacture a sufficiently large number of irregularly shaped stones, each of which is different in shape to any of the others, to construct a wall would be extremely costly, since it would be necessary individually to carve such stones from a larger piece of solid material, or where a castable material such as concrete is used, to create a separate mould to form each stone.

According to the invention we provide a wall construction including a plurality of building elements, characterized in that the plurality of building elements includes a plurality of sets of building elements, the building elements of each set being of the same configuration to each other and of different configuration to the building elements of the other sets, wherein the building elements of each set include a generally planar top or bottom surface, the other of the top or bottom surfaces having a non-planar configuration particular to the elements of the set.

By virtue of the provision of a plurality of different configurations of building elements within the wall construction, the wall construction may have a similarly pleasing appearance to a dry stone wall, for example. Moreover, by virtue of the provision of sets of identical building elements, the elements of such a wall construction may more readily be mass produced.

The provision of the non-planar surface at the top or bottom of each building element, may increase the resemblance of the wall construction to a dry stone wall for example, but, because of the provision of the generally planar top or bottom surface on each element, less skill is required to construct such a wall than a conventional dry stone wall.

Preferably some of the elements of each set are arranged in a first orientation with a generally planar top surface, the rest of the elements of the set being arranged in a second orientation with a generally planar bottom surface.

Thus, the irregular character of the wall construction is enhanced, and the wall construction resembles more closely a conventional dry stone wall.

Preferably each building element includes a generally planar side face which in the construction is positioned at a face of the wall. In this case, preferably the generally planar side is generally perpendicular to the generally planar top or bottom surface.

Each building element may include two generally planar side faces which are generally perpendicular to the generally planar top or bottom surface and which, in the construction, are positioned at opposite faces of the wall.

The wall construction may further include a set of building elements in which all the building elements have generally planar and mutually parallel top and bottom surfaces. The provision of such a set of building elements may further increase the ease of assembly of the wall construction.

Preferably fixing means are provided to secure the building elements in the wall construction relative to one another. In this case, the fixing means may include mortar.

Alternatively or additionally, the fixing means may include at least one retainer which engages with and extends between engagement formations provided by adjacent building elements. In this case, each engagement formation may be an aperture which receives a portion of the retainer.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which, FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a side view of a first embodiment of wall construction according to the invention, FIGURE 2 is an illustration of individual building elements of the wall construction shown in Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is an illustration of a side view of a second embodiment of wall construction according to the invention, and FIGURE 4 is an illustration of individual building elements of the wall construction shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a first embodiment wall construction 10 including a plurality of building elements 12. The plurality of building elements 12 includes a plurality of sets of building elements 12, the building elements 12 of each set being of the same configuration to each other and of different configuration to the building elements 12 of the other sets. In this example, the wall construction 10 includes -five sets of substantially identical building elements 12, and one element 12 from each set is illustrated in Figure 2.

In four out of the five sets, each building element 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d includes a generally planar top or bottom surface 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d the other of the top or bottom surfaces having a non-planar configuration 16a, 16b, 16c, 16dparticularto the elements 12a, 12b, 12c, 12doftheset.

By virtue of the provision of the non-planar surface at the top or bottom of each building element, the wall construction may have a similarly pleasing appearance to a dry stone wall, but, because of the provision of a generally planar top or bottom surface on each element, requires less skill to construct than a conventional dry stone wall. Moreover, by virtue of the provision of sets of identical building elements, the elements of such a wall construction may more readily be mass produced.

For elements 12a of the first set, the non-planar surface 16a results from a thickened portion of the element 12a which is located towards an end of the element 12a, the remainder of the surface being generally planar and parallel to the generally planar surface 14. For elements 12b of the second set, the non planar surface 16b results from a thickened portion of the element 12b which is located generally centrally of the element 12b, the thickness of the element 12b decreasing towards its ends. For elements 12c of the third set, the thickness of IS the element 12c increases gradually from a first end of the element 12c towards the centre of the element 12c, whereupon the thickness of the element 12c decreases relatively sharply for a short distance, before gradually increasing again towards an opposite end of the element 12. The distances between the ends ofthe elements 12a, 12b, 12c ofthe first three sets are generally similar.

The building elements 12d of the fourth set are thicker than those in the other sets, and over approximately half the element 12d, the top and bottom surfaces are generally parallel, the thickness over the remaining portion of the element 12d increasing towards an end of the element 12d.

It will, however, be appreciated that the above building elements 12 are described by way of example only, and the non-planar surfaces 16 of the building elements 12 may take any other appropriate form.

In the fifth set, each building element 12e has generally planar and mutually parallel top and bottom surfaces 14e, 16e. The inclusion of such a regularly shaped building element 12e may assist in simplifying assembly ofthe wall construction 10, but is not necessary, and all building elements 12 in the wall construction 10 may include a non-planar top or bottom surface 16.

In this example, each building element 12 includes two generally planar side faces 18 which in the wall construction 10 are positioned at opposite faces of the wall construction 10. Thus, each building element 12 extends through the entire thickness of the wall construction 10.

It would be possible, however, for only one side face 18 of each building element 12 to be positioned at a face of the wall construction 10, and the wall construction may, for example, be "double-skinned", i.e. two building elements 12 deep, a side face 18 of a first building element 12 being positioned at one face of the wall construction 10, and a side face 18 of a second building element 12 being positioned at the opposite face 18 of the wall construction 10.

Alternatively, the wall construction 10 may be used to clad an existing wall in order to provide the existing wall with an attractive dry stone wall appearance.

This may be achieved by arranging the side faces 18 of all building elements at one face ofthe wall construction 10 adjacent a face ofthe existing wall.

In this example, the side faces 18 are generally parallel to one another, and the irregularities in the non-plan r surfaces 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d extend across the entire depth of the elements 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d such that the cross section through each building element 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d does not very from one side face 18 to the other.

It would be possible to enhance the irregular appearance of the wall construction 10, by configuring the building elements 12 such that the side faces 18 are non-planar and/or oriented at an angle of less or more than 90 to the generally planar top or bottom surface 14.

Within the wall construction 10, some ofthe elements 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of each of the first, second, third and fourth sets are arranged in a first orientation with a generally planar top surface 14, i.e. with the non-planar surface 16 arranged vertically below the generally planar surface 14, the rest of the elements 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the set being arranged in a second orientation with a generally planar bottom surface 14, i.e. with the non-planar surface 16 arranged vertically above the generally planar surface 14. In addition, building elements 12 from the same set are not positioned in the same orientation directly adjacent one another, and the positioning of building elements 12 from the same set directly adjacent one another is generally avoided.

Thus, the irregular character of the wall construction 10 is enhanced, and the wall construction 10 resembles more closely a natural dry stone wall.

Whilst the building elements 12 may simply be balanced on one another as in a conventional dry stone wall, in this example, fixing means is provided to secure the building elements 12 in the wall construction 10 relative to one another. In this example, on assembly of the wall construction 10, mortar is used to cement each building element 12 to an adjacent building element 12, but an adhesive may be used instead of mortar.

Alternatively or additionally, retainers, preferably made from plastic, which engage with and extend between engagement formations provided by adjacent building elements 12 may be used. The engagement formations are preferably provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the building elements 12.

In order to maintain the irregular, dry stone wall appearance of the wall construction 10, where such retainers are used, it would be necessary to ensure that adjacent building elements 12 can be connected in a plurality of different relative positions and orientations. To achieve this it is possible to provide a plurality of engagement formations on the top and bottom surfaces of each building element 12. A user may thus select a particular combination of engagement formations to ensure that the building elements 12 occupy desired irregular positions within the wall construction 10.

The engagement formations are preferably apertures in the top and bottom surfaces of the building elements 12, the apertures being adapted to receive a portion of a retainer in an interference fit. In this case, the retainer may be a generally cylindrical peg.

The use of such fasteners without mortar would enable a user to dismantle the wall construction 10 relatively easily, and reassemble the wall construction 10 with a different arrangement of building elements 12 if desired.

Preferably the building elements 12 are moulded from a gettable material such as concrete.

A second embodiment of wall construction 10' is illustrated in Figure 3.

This embodiment includes four sets of substantially identical building elements 12, one element 12 from each set being illustrated in Figure 4. In two out of the four sets, each building element 12a', 12b' includes a generally planar top or bottom surface 14a', 14b', the other of the top or bottom surfaces having a non planar configuration 16a', 16b' particular to the elements 12a', 12b' of the set.

For elements 12a' of a first set, the non-planar surface 16a' results from a IS thickened portion of the element 12a' which is located at an end of the element 12a', the remainder of the surface being generally planar and parallel to the generally planar surface 14. For elements 12b' of a second set, the non-planar surface 16b' results from a thickened portion of the element 12b' which is located generally centrally of the element 12b'. the remainder of the surface being generally planar and parallel to the generally planar surface 14b'.

In the third and fourth sets, each building element 12c', 12d' has generally planar and mutually parallel top and bottom surfaces 14c', 16c', 14d', led'. The building elements 12c' in the third set are, however, approximately half as long and twice as thick as the building elements 12d' in the fourth set.

Again, in this example, each building element 12' includes two generally planar side faces 18' which in the wall construction 10' are positioned at opposite faces of the wall construction 10'. Thus, each building element 12' extends through the entire thickness of the wall construction 10'.

Moreover, the side faces 18' are generally parallel to one another, and the irregularities in the non-planar surfaces 16a', 16b' extend across the entire depth of the elements 12a', 12b' such that the cross-section through each building element 12a', 12b' does not vary from one side face 18 to the other.

These features may, however, be varied as described above with reference to the first embodiment of the invention.

It can be seen from Figures 3 and 4 that all the surfaces of the building elements 12' are smooth and joined at right angles and form sharp corners. It would be possible, however, to enhance the natural and irregular appearance of lO the wall construction 10' by rounding and/or roughening the corners, edges and faces of the elements 12', so that each has a more natural appearance and resembles more closely natural or rough cut stone.

The building elements 12' may be joined in the wall construction 10' as described above in relation to the first embodiment of the invention.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A wall construction including a plurality of building elements, characterised in that the plurality of building elements includes a plurality of sets of building elements, the building elements of each set being of the same configuration to each other and of different configuration to the building elements of the other sets, and including a generally planar top or bottom surface, the other of the top or bottom surfaces having a non-planar configuration particular to the elements of the set.

2. A wall construction according to claim 1 wherein some of the elements of each set are arranged in a first orientation with a generally planar top surface, the rest of the elements of the set being arranged in a second orientation with a generally planar bottom surface.

3. A wall construction according to any preceding claim wherein each building element includes a generally planar side face which in the construction is positioned at a face of the wall.

4. A wall construction according to claim 3 wherein the generally planar side is generally perpendicular to the generally planar top or bottom surface.

5. A wall construction according to any preceding claim wherein Each building element includes two generally planar side faces which are generally perpendicular to the generally planar top or bottom surface and which, in the construction, are positioned at opposite faces of the wall.

6. A wall construction according to any preceding claim further including a set of building elements in which all the building elements have generally planar and mutually parallel top and bottom surfaces.

7. A wall construction according to any preceding claim wherein fixing means are provided to secure the building elements in the wall construction relative to one another.

8. A wall construction according to claim 7 wherein the fixing means includes mortar.

9. A wall construction according to claim 7 or wherein the fixing means includes at least one retainer which engages with and extends between engagement formations provided by adjacent building elements.

10. A wall construction according to claim 9 wherein each engagement formation is an aperture which receives a portion of the retainer.

11. A wall construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.