IES20000175A2

IES20000175A2 - Stone effect building block

Info

Publication number: IES20000175A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: James Glackin
Original assignee: James Glackin
Priority date: 2000-03-06
Filing date: 2000-03-06
Publication date: 2001-09-19
Also published as: GB2361487B; GB0105481D0; GB2361487A

Abstract

Building block (1) is of a cruciform shape formed by cuboid projections (2,3,4,5). A stone effect finish is provided on the front face of the block (1). A number of blocks (1) can interlink together and can be used to build a structure having a stone finish.

Description

This present invention relates to a building block with a stone effect cladding. '.......— At present persons wishing to have a stone effect appearance on a wall or building must have the wall Or building built of stone. This requires that a skilled stone mason be employed to construct the structure. This method is expensive in respect of the cost of the stones required and the employment of a skilled stone mason.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a building block which comprises a main body having a major front face and a major rear face and a plurality of minor faces, wherein cuboid projections extend from the minor faces of the block, the block having a stone effect finish on the front major face.

Advantageously, the block has a cruciform shape formed by the cuboid projections extending from the minor faces of the main body. Conveniently, the building block has a shape which allows the block to be inter-linked with like blocks so as to form a wall having a stone-effect appearance. Preferably, the block is constructed from concrete.

Advantageously the blocks are universally shaped allowing for assembly in any order. Conveniently the blocks are of a size similar to that of a conventional concrete block. The size and weight of the blocks of the invention allow for their use in a conventional way and do not require any special devices during their use. Preferably on at least one major face of the block a stone effect facade is present. This stone effect is applied during the manufacturing procedure and becomes an integral part of the building block.

Conveniently when the stone effect building block of the invention is used in conjunction 30 with other blocks of the same type give a stone effect surface which has no noticeable joints. Preferably the stone effect cladding is derived from slices of stone. These slices of stone are conveniently positioned onto the snrfpr.R nf the building blocks during the INT Cl — Fty c . t leg.

IE000175 -2construction of the block. The block is preferably made using a mould. Conveniently concrete is poured into the mould and on top of this concrete is positioned the slices of stone. The concrete when set will give a rigid shape to the block and also holds the stone effect cladding in place.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building block.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a number of building blocks, as in Figure 1, assembled together to form a structure.

In reference to Figure 1, the building block comprises of a main structure 1 preferably constructed from concrete. Extending from the main structure 1 are four extensions 2,3,4 and 5. Extensions 2 and 4 are of similar dimensions to each other. Accordingly, extensions 3 and 5 also have similar dimension to each other. As illustrated in Figure 1 a side of the block is covered by an arrangement of stones. The visible part of the stone is derived from a slice of a complete stone. The slices of stone are positioned in a random arrangement. The blocks are constructed into a structure as illustrated in figure 2. The blocks are used in a conventional way and form a structure which has a stone look finish.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modification and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

MACLACHLAN&DONALDSON, Applicant’s Agents, Merrion Square,

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A building block comprising a main body having a major front face, a major rear face and a plurality of minor faces between the major faces, wherein cuboid projections extend from the minor faces of the block, the block having a stone effect finish on the front major face.

2. A building block as claimed in claim 1, in which the block is of a cruciform shape formed by the cuboid projections extending from the minor faces of the main body, optionally the block has a shape which allows it to be inter-linked with like blocks so as to form a structure having a stone-effect appearance and optionally the block is constructed from concrete.

3. A building block as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which is of a size similar to that of a conventional concrete block, the size and weight of the block allowing for its use in a conventional manner not requiring any special devices during its use, optionally, a stone effect facasde is provided on a major face of the block, optionally the stone effect is applied during the manufacturing process and becomes an integral part of the building block.

4. A building block as claimed in Claim 3, in which the stone effect facade comprises slices of stone; optionally the block is manufactured using a mould and by pouring concrete into the mould and by positioning the slices of stone on the concrete, the concrete when set giving a rigid shape to the block and also holding the stone slices in place.

5. A building block as substantially as herein described with reference to an as shown in the accompanying drawings.