GB2411412A

GB2411412A - Construction block having two parts at right angles

Info

Publication number: GB2411412A
Application number: GB0404222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Dalrymple
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-26
Filing date: 2004-02-26
Publication date: 2005-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-26
Also published as: GB2411412B; GB0404222D0

Abstract

A block 10 comprises two parts 11, 12 at right angles to each other having equal thickness, wherein the second part 12 is either the same or half the width of the first part 11 and has a length at least half that of the first part 11. The second part 12 may be at the end of the first part 11 or in the middle forming an "L" or "T" shape (fig 3). Alternatively, two "T" blocks may be integrally joined into an "H" or "I" shape, wherein second parts are longer than the first (fig 5). The block 10 may have protrusions 14 of a uniform size on its top face and recesses on the opposite face which register. The protrusions/recesses may take different forms. The "H" or "I" shaped blocks may not have protrusions on the central part 11. A building structure (fig 2, fig 4, fig 6) comprising block 10 is described and may be mortarless.

Description

2411 41 2 lTnitarv Construction Block for lose in Building Industry and

Building Structure Made Therefrom DESC:RIPrION The present invention relates to a unitary construction block for use in the building and construction industry. The invention also relates to a building structure employing such a unitary block Buildings are commonly constructed from blocks of a parailelopipea form T hey are laid in overlapping patterns or Bonds to reduce weakness in the structure. The blocks have to be cut to size to maintain the parent or bond Mere two walls join at right angles. Since blocks are usually made in uniform sizes' the cutting often has to be done on the building site. Moreover, the use of cut bricks is not always successful in maintaining a unifonn bond or pablum in He bricks of adjoining calls, to He detriment of the appearance of the walls. and sometimes to the detriment of the strerth of the resulting structure.

Where an internal wall of a building secure meets another wall, especially a load- bearing wall, at right angles, strategies are employed to bind and integrate the intend wall into the other wall to provide stability and strength in the resulting structure.

There are well-known techniques to deal with the situations described above.

However, Here is scope for improvement with respect to those situations and others.

An object of the present invention is to provide a building construction block which can be used to provide improvements in building operations and building structures.

The present invention provides a unitary block for use in the building and construction industry. The block of the invention is defined in claim 1 ofthe set of clangs following the description ofthe invenb'on. given below. Preferred and/or optional feats of the invention are defined in the other claims in the set of claims.

The invention As now described with reference to some embodiments thereof which are given by way of illusion and without limiting the invention. The drawings show some embodiments of the invention, and in Be drawings: Figure I provides isometric views of one form of unitary block in the form of an tILlt, Figure 2 is an isometric view of pelt of a building structure incopomung unitary blocks of the type.shovn in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of another forth of unitary block in the form of an "T"; Figure 4 is an isometric view of part of a building construction employing a block of the type depicted in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an isomer view of another forth of unitary blocl; in He form of an THE or nI't; Figure 6 is an isometric view of part of a building construction employing a block of the type shown in figure 5 as a beam.

in Fissure i. the amity block Vindicated Icy reference i us is in She for of an iL, having a first part I I and a second part 19 The second part is at right angles to the first part arm is at one end of the first part. The first and second parts have substannallv the same width and thiclmess but the length of the second past is cllcf m'l' hlrf- leafy r^ f;_f If Tat race t 11' ;G a reasonably efface in bonding Yerticlly-adjacent coupes. However' it has limited strength resist forces acting on the side obuilng structures and lateral strengthening Is usually necessary (e.g., from buttresses $nd/or ties of suitable types).

In Fig a, He block 10 is in He forth of a ''T', having an upright part 1 1 and a eross t Stall__ It_: i__.____t 4 1_ __:_11. . ., T-block 10 and the other Woks show have Mansions 14 which resists m corresponding recesses in verOcally-adjacent blocks. As a result, no mortar or other binder is necessary, and the blocks form a mutually-reinforcing and integral structure of good strength in vertical and horizontal planes. The consuchon depicted in Figure 4 has some or an the the advantages descanted for other constructions disclosed

-

herein.

lleference is now made to Figure 5 Rich is an isometric view of a block I O which is generally in He forth of an "H" or and 'l" (depending upon the relative lengths of its parts) The block 10 composes an upright part I I having a cross-piece t at each end e cross-pies 32 as shown are of substanba33y the same dimensions to each other, but this is not an essential feature' and blocks 10 may have cross-pieces 12 of unequal dimensions itrequired The block 10 of Figure 5 is effecovely two T-blocks ofthe type described with reference to Figure 3 having a common upright part I I integral with' and separating, the two cross pieces 12 The block 10 can be used as a begin in a building When used as a beam in one type of construction (mentioned by way of example), He cross-pieces 12 may form part of two parallel and separated walls (not shown) and the upright part I I may connect the two walls. Ibe upright part I I can serve as a beam to support constnctional parts (not shown) of a balding between the two walls. Then the block I Q is intended for use as a beam, it may be formed Tom reinforced concrete.

TO cross-pieces 12 have protrusions 14 on their upper faces (as shown) and may have corresponding recesses on their undersides to receive and register with protrusions on blocks in the next lower course. Lee protrusions 14 are of flus pynmidical form (or fi usto-conical forms, although other protrusions (and corresponding recesses) having other forms may be used The upright part 11 of block 10 may have protrusions 14 (not shown) to register with recesses in blocks laid on the upright part 1 1 if required.

Figure 6, the block 10 of Figure 5 is shown employed as a beam between two walls The cross pieces 12 form respective parts of the walls. The upright part I I can serve to support a load, such as a wall (not shown), acting at least pardy between the walls. Lee cross pieces 12 are formed on Heir top faces with protrusions and may be formed on Heir undersides with corresponding recesses (not shown). The walls are constructed of blocks 25 having protrusions on their upper faces and recesses on their undersides. The protrusions 14 of the cross pieces 12 engage Ruth recesses of the blocks 25 to form an integral structure of high strength. The upright part 11 is shown wnth no protrusions 14. However, it may be provided with protrusions in order to end with recesses in blocks laid or mounted on the upright part 11.

The blocks of He invention may be fanned by moulding and firing claybased brick compositions or from moulded ashicement and/or clinkerlcement compositions andfor concrete Munich may be reinforced concrete).

The blocks of the invention are each described above as having a first part of equal width to the width of the second part. It is within the scpe of He invention Cat the first and second pasts may be of unequal widths. For example, in the block 10 described with reference to Figures 3 and 4' the width Bathe cross piece 12 may be twice the width of the upright 11. A block having such relative dimensions would be s usefi1 in situations where the cross piece 1 9 is employed to form part of a load- beanng wall or an external wall of a building, and the ups I I forms either part of a buttress of the ioad-bearing or extenal wall, or the upright I I forms part of a non-load bearing wan such as an internal partitioning wall of a building. A cross piece 12 which has twice the width of the Wright 1 1 may have different protrusions to those of the upright 11. They may be different in terms of sme and/or shape andlor number andJor spacing. There may be two for more) rows of protrusions on fee cross piece t' instead of one row. Similar con-sidemnons may apply to the forth andfor provision of recesses in Me blocks. Similar considerations may be applied to blocks of Me types described with reference to the other Figures herein The prQhUSnS On one Ark Ma hlk envy in roves on an Mia Arc of another block. Lee engagement is that of a protrusion received in a recess. There is no significant elastic engagement such as that involved when joining toy building blocks made from plastics material. The latter enables joined toy blocks to be inverted without separating. However, engaged blocks of the invention would usually separate Men inverted aimless some binding agent were presentio maintain the engagement of the blocks Features shown and/or described in relation to one embodiment may be used in any over embedment, if feasible, without departing from the invention h

Claims

CLAIMS: ] . . A mitarv block for use in the huildin, andior construction

industry which comprises a first put having a length 1, width w, and thickness t, and a second part bsving substantially the same thickness t as the fim part and either the same wink TV or sannaJiy halfthe width of the first wherein the second part is substantially at right angles to the f irst part: and has a lend Rich is either subsfannally half the led of the first part or more than half the length of the firm part.

2. The block of claim 1 wherein Me second part ix at one end of the first part so that the block has substantially the form of an 1'.

3. The block of claim I Herein He second part is substantially half-way along the length ot He first part so Hat the blocl; has substantially the forth of a T. 4. The block of claim 3 wherein the first part has substantially the same width as the second part A. The block of claim 3 Therein the first part has a width which is substantially twice the uric of the second part G. A Litany block according to any one of claims 3 to 5 comprising two Ts and wherein the reechve seed parts are common lo, and smiled and integral vth5 both Is so that the block has substantially the form of an or an 'I'.

7. The block of claim 6 Herein the unified second parts are longer Han the first parts whereby the block can be used as a beam In Rich He set park serve to support loads acting at least in party between the first parts.

8. The block Disclaim- or claim Limed Dom rein-forced concrete.

9 The block of any Gene of elahns 1 to 8 having protrusions He face and/or recesses on the opposite face, the said faces being substantially horizontal when He block is disposed for use, protrusions and recesses being adapted to register with recesses and protrusions online horizontal faces unblocks Hutting He top and/or underside faces M the frst-mentioned block.

10. The block of claim-9 wherem the protrusions and recesses have each forms selected from regular polygonal (frusto-)pyramidic (frusto-)conic part- spherical' and cnueiform.

1 1. The block of claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the protrusions and recesses are of substantially uniform size.

12. The block of any of claims g to I i as appended to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein there are no protrusions and/or recesses on at least part of the lend of the unified and integral second p- 13. The block of any one of claims 1 to 12 formed from material comprising at least one of cement, clay, cinders' concrete, mud' other aggregate, and any combination thereof.

4 Me blat of any c,ne of claims to '3 having one c,r more of the following dimensions: width at least I I.)Scm.5 inches); length at least 45 cm (18 inches); thickness, at least 29.Scm (9 inches).

15. A building structure having a wall part comprising unity blocks as in any one of claim I to 14 wherein any L-shaped block is located ate and fonns' a substantially rigtt-arled corners any T-shaped block as located between ends of a wall so as to form at least part of a wall anchor a buttress substantially at right angles to the first-mentioned wall part and any H-shaped or I-shaped block as in claim 6 or cladn 7 (or any claim dependent thereon) has a first part expending lengthwise of the wall past and its second part extending at right angles to the wall past so as to serve as a beam to support loads acting on the second part:.

16. The structure of claim 14 wherein there is no mortar or cement or other binder between one unitary block and another smithy block which registers therewith Mom above or below.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A solid unitary block for use in the building industry and/or construction industry, the block having straight sides and comprising a first part having a length 1, width w, and thickness I, and a second part having substantially the same thickness t as the first part and either the same width w or substantially half the width of the first part, the second part being substantially at right angles to the first part and having a length which is either substantially half the length of the first part or more than half the length of the first part, the block having integral protrusions on one face and/or recesses on the opposite face, the said faces being substantially horizontal when the block is disposed for use, protrusions and recesses being adapted to register with recesses and protrusions on the horizontal faces of blocks abutting the top and/or underside faces of the first-mentioned block.

2. The block of claim I wherein the second part is at one end of the first part so that the block has substantially the form of an 'L'.

3. The block of claim I wherein the second part is substantially half-way along the length of the first part so that the block has substantially the form of a 'T'.

4. The block of claim 3 wherein the first part has substantially the same width as the second part.

5. The block of claim 3 wherein the first part has a width which is substantially twice the width of the second part.

6. A unitary block according to any one of claims 3 to 5 comprising two 'T's and wherein the respective second parts are common to, and unified and integral with, both 'T's so that the block has substantially the form of an 'H' or an 'I'.

7. The block of claim 6 wherein the unified second parts are longer than the first parts whereby the block can be used as a beam in which the second parts serve to support loads acting, at least in part, between the first parts.

8. The block of claim 6 or claim 7 form from reinforced concrete.

9. The block of any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the protrusions and recesses each have forms selected from regular polygonal, (frusto-)pyramidical, (frusto-) conical, part- spherical, and cruciform.

10. The block of any of claims I to 9 wherein the protrusions and recesses are of substantially uniform size.

1 1. The block of claim 6 or claim 7 or any other claim as appended to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein there are no protrusions and/or recesses on at least part of the length of the unified and integral second parts. q

12. The block of any preceding claim formed from material comprising at least one of cement, clay, cinders, concrete, mud, other aggregate, and any combination thereof.

13. l he block of any preceding claim having one or more of the following dimensions: width, at least 11.25 cm (4.5 inch); length, at least 45 cm (I X inch); thickness, at least 22.5 cm (9 inch).

14. A building structure having a wall part comprising unitary blocks as in any one of claims I to 13 wherein any L-shaped block is located at, and forms, a substantially right-angled corner; any T-shaped block is located between ends of a wall so as to form at least part of a wall and/or buttress extending substantially at right angles to the first- mentioned wall part, and any H-shaped or l-shaped block as in claim 6 or claim 7 (or any claim as dependent thereon) has a first part extending lengthwise of the wall part and its second part extending at right angles to the wall part so as to serve as a beam to support loads acting on the second part.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein there is no mortar or cement or other binder between one unitary block and another unitary block which registers therewith from above or below.