GB2411413A

GB2411413A - Double- and single-width building block with protrusions/recesses for registration with blocks above and below

Info

Publication number: GB2411413A
Application number: GB0404224A
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: GB0404224D0; GB2411413B

Abstract

A double-width building block 13 has protrusions/recesses 14 on the upper face which register with protrusions/recesses in the underside of an overlying block 15. The protrusions 14 may be in a line between the centreline and one side of the block and single-width blocks 15 may overlie the double-width block having recesses for engagement with the protrusions. Alternatively the double-width blocks 13 may overlie other double-width blocks (11, fig 1) which have protrusions formed along the centreline of the upper face. The shape of the protrusions may vary but are preferably frusto-pyramidal, the block composition may also vary. Facing, such as plasterboard, may be applied to the blocks. A wall is preferably assembled without mortar or other binder.

Description

1 241 1413 BLOCKERS FOR I7SE TN THE IlUILDIG INl)llSTRY DESCRlPTlON The

present invention relates to blocks for use in the building and construction industries and to structures, such as walls and buildings formed from such blocks.

Walls and buildings are usually constructed from bricks or blocks of uniform size laid in courses' end a hinder (such as mortar or cement) is used to bind the bricks or blowfly into a rind and integral unitary structure. Often, the lower part of a wall is thicker than the upper part so that the lower part has the strength to support the load imposed by andfor from the upper part. The thicker lower part of the wall can also provide greater thermal insulation than the thinner upper part.

The upper part of the wall usually has a width equal to the bricks or blocks from which it is formed. There is thus a "step" at the top part of the lower wall and the lower part of the upper wall. lithe space above the step can be filled, at least in part, with decorative and/or protective materials andJor thermal insulation. Often, the space is filled with a weatherproof cladding.

The construction of a wall of the type described involves the use of skilled labor able to lay the courses of bricks or blocks and their binder (e.g., mortar) accurately. The use of skilled labor and binder is a significant factor in the cost of such construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and means for constructing a wall of the type described above.

The present invention provides a unitary block as specified in claim 1 of the set of claims following this description. The other claims of the set of claims den ne optional and/or preferred features of the invention.

The protrusions and/or recesses of the blocks interlock blocks laid in one course with blocks laid in courses immediately above and/or below without the need for a binder such as mortar or cement. The need for skilled labor when making constructions from said blocks is reduced. Moreover, there is no need to use a binder. {construction costs (and construction times) are thereby reduced.

Reference is made to the drawings which show non-limiting embodiments of the invention by way of example and in which: Figure I shows an array of blocks forming the lower part of a wall; and Figure 2 shows the lower part of Fig. I and a block which forms part of the upper part of the wall.

In Fig. I., a lower part 10 of a wall is formed from courses of two types of block.

The louver course is formed from blocks I I which have twice the width of the upper part of the wall (referred to with reference to Fig. 2. The blocks 11 are of parallelopiped formand have frusto-pyramidical protrusions 12 formed in the centerline of their top [aces. The next upper course of blocks shown in Fig. I is formed from blocks 13 of the same width as the blocks 11. The blocks l] hare recesses (not visible in the drawings) in their bottom faces in which the protrusions t, are received. The recesses are preferably frusto pyramidical so that they receive and register with the protrusions 12 to interlock the blocks}3 and the blocks 11 firmly together to form an integral rigid interlocked structure without the need to employ a binder such as mortar or cement between the blocks.

The blocks 13 are formed with frusto-pyramidical protrusions 14 on their upper faces. The protrusions 14 are in a line between the centerline of the blocks 13 and one side of their upper faces. The protrusions 14 are smaller than the protrusions 12 so that the blocks 13 can have (e.g.) four protrusions 14 whereas the blocks 11 may have a smaller number of protrusions 12 (e.g. , two protrusions J2) on their upper faces.

Fig. 2 shows a wall construction comprising the two lower courses shown in Fig. i and an illustrative single block 15 of an upper course of similar blocks 15 laid on the top face of the blocks 13 of the lower course. The block 15 has a width which is half the width of the blocks 11 and 13. It is laid on the upper block 13 with one vertical side face 16 aligned with the vertical side [ace-e on one side of the blocks 13 and 11. The other vertical face 17 of the block 15 is aligned with the centerline of the block 13 so that the courses of blocks 13 and 15 form a "step" where they meet. The block IS has recesses (not visible) in its underside in which the protrusions 14 of the blocks 13 are received and registered so that the blocks 15 and 14 are rigidly interlocked and integrated without the need to employ a binder (such as mortar or cement) between the blocks. The upper face of the block 15 is formed with frusto- pyramidical protrusicos 18 which are intended to register in recesses (not shown) of blocks (not shown) in the next higher course of blocks.

The courses of blocks 15 form a portion of an upper part of the wall construction (not shown) which has a width half that of the lower part of the wall construction. The lower part has the thickness and strength to support the upper part. The upper part is adequately thick and strong since it bears less loading than the lower part. The region of the wall above the 'istep" can be faced or filled with a decorative and/or protective andfor insulating facing. It may be faced with building board, fiberboard, Cardboard, plasterboard, wood, plastics, cement, clay, cinder, plaster, pebbledasb, render, insulation board' mock Tudor effect, (inter alla), and any combination of the foregoing.

The protrusions shown in Figs. I and 2 are of frusto-pyramidical form.

However, they may take other suitable forms which impart a sound interlock between adjacent blocks, and they may be regular polygonal (including triangular), (trust - )conicai, pyramidical, part-spherical, cruciform, inter alla.

The recesses with which the protrusions engage preferably have a form similar to the protrusions so that the latter engage with the former.

The blocks may have protrusions on their lower faces and recesses on their upper faces instead of the arrangement described so far.

The blocks may be formed (e.g., by moulding) from any suitable material, such as concrete' cement, cinders, mud, other aggregate' a combination of two or more of the foregoing (inter alla).

Features described in connection with any embodiment of the invention may be employed on any other embo<liment, if feasible, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A unitary block for use m the building and construction industry which has a width at least double the width of a wall constructed Tom singlewidth blocks, said unitary block having protrusions andlor recesses in its upper face to register and engage with recesses andior protrusions in the underside of one or more single-vidth blocks laid on We unitary block.

2. The unitary block of claim I wherein the protrusions andlor recesses are in a line generally between the centerline and one side of the upper face to register and engage with recesses anchor protrusions of single width blocks laid on the upper face of the unitary block between the center line and the said one side thereof.

3. The unitary block of claim 1 or claim 2 having protrusions on its upper tace and recesses on its underside.

4. The uniter, block of any of claims I to 3 wherein the protrusions andlor recesses are all of similar form.

S. The unitary block of any of claims I to 4 wherein the protrusions and. ''or recesses each have a forth selected from: regular polygon, (frusto-) conical. tErusto-) pyramdical, part-spherical' cruciform.

6. The unitary block of any of claims I to 5 formed at least in apert from one or more of the following: concrete, cement. cinders, mud, other aggregate, a combinatoin of To or more of the foregoing.

7. A building construction comprising a course of unitary blocks according to any of claims I to 6 and a course of single width blocks laid on the course of unitary blocks' said single width blocks having recesses Andover protrusions in their undersides which register and engage with protrusions and/or recesesin the upper faces of the unitary blocks.

8. The construction of claim 7 wherein the course of unitary blocks is laid on a lower course of blacks having the same width as the unitary blocks' the blocks of the louver course having protrusions angler recesses on their upper faces which register and engage with recesses andlor protrusions on the underside of the said unitary blocks.

9. The construction of claim wherein the protrusions andlor recesses on the upper faces of Me blocks of the lower course are substantially in a line along the centerline of the lower course, and the recesses andlor protrusions on the underside of the unitary blocks are substantially in a line along the centerline of the course of unitary blocks.

I 0. The construction of any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the single width blocks form or provide at least part of an inner or outer facing or structure of the construction.

1 1. 1 he construction of any of claim 7 to 10 wherein there is no mortar, cement or Other binder between the courses.

1 ? The construction of claim 1 Q or claim 1 1 comprising an outer or inner facing which is laid on or supported by the upper face of the course of unitary blocks and optionally spaced apart from vertical faces of the single math blocks.

13. The construction of claim 1 ? wherein the said outer or inner facing is formed of one or more of the following: building board, fiber board, hardboard, plasterboard, wood, plastics' cement, clay, cinder, plaster, pebtedash, rendering, insulation board' a combination of one or more of the foregoing.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. buildhg construction comprishg a course of solid unitary single-width parallelopiped blocks laid on a lower course of solid unitary blocks having a width at least double the width of the single-width blocks, the said blocks he the lower course having protrusions and/or recesses on their upper faces which register he and engage with recesses and/or protrusions of the said single-width blocks, wherein the protrusions and/or recesses on the upper faces of the blocks of the lower course are in a line between the ceuterlhe ol'the blocks ol'the lower course and one side of'their upper faces and register with and engage with recesses and/or protrusions of single-width blocks laid on the said upper traces between the centerline thereof and the said one side thereof'.

2. The construction of claim I wherein blocks of the lower course have protrusions on their upper faces and recesses on their undersides.

3. 'I'he construction of claim I or claim 2 wherein the protrusions and/or recesses are all of similar form.

4. The construction of any of claims I to 3 wherein the protrusions and/or recesses eac have a form selected from: regular polygon, (frusto-) conical, (t'rusto-) pyramidical, (part- spherical, cruciform.

5. The construction of any of claims I to 4 wherein the blocks are formed at least in part from one or more of the following: concrete, cinders, mud, other aggregate, a combination comprising two or more of'the l'oregohg.

6. The construction of' any of'clahns I to S wherein the said lower course of blocks is laid on another course of unitary solid blocks of the same width as the blocks of the lower course, the undersides of the blocks of the lower course having recesses and/or protrusions which register with and engage with protrusions and/or recesses of blocks of the said other course.

7. 'I'he construction of any of claims I to 6 wherein' the single-width blocks t'onn or provide at Icast part of an inner or outer t'achg or structure of the construction.

X. 'I'he construction of any of'claims I to 7 comprising an outer or inner facing which is laid on or supported by the upper faces of the blocks of the said lower course, and optionally spaced apart from vertical faces of the single-width blocks.

9. 'I'he construction of claim 8 wherein the said outer or ember facing is formed of one or more of the following: building board, fiber board, hardboard, plasterboard, wood, plastics, cement, clay, chider, plaster, pebbledash, rendering, insulation board, a combination ozone or more ofthe foregoing.

10. The construction of any of claims I to 9 wherein the course of singlewidth unitary blocks t'orms a portion of an upper part of a wall having a width which is half that of the width of the lower part of the wall.

I 1. The construction of any of claims I to I () wherein there is no mortar, cement or other binder between at least the courses of singlewidth blocks and the said lower course of blocks.

12. 'I'he construction of any of'claims I to i O wherein there is no mortar, cement or other binder between the courses.

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