US2163454A - Building wall construction - Google Patents

Description

im@ 2Q? i939 E. E. SUCK y BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1957 :35 invention shown in Figures 1 and 2;

hollow building wall construction having a facprovide an inexpensive and/or practical form of Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,163,454 BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Edwin E. suck, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application August 17, 1937, Serial No. 159,454

Claims.

This invention pertains to building blocks or bricks, and more particularly, to blocks having an opening closed off by a facing member.

In one aspect, my invention pertains t a ing thereon capable of transmitting light.

It has been an object of my invention to pro.- vide a new and improved form of building block,

and especially, to provide a new and improved' vbuildingblock that is capable of transmitting light therethrough.

Another object of my invention has been to hollow building block.

A'further object has been to devise a building block having substantially lthe desired light transmission properties of a glass building block without the disadvantageous features thereof.

A still further object of my invention has been to provide a wall construction that may be employed to take the place of the entire thickness of a building construction including facing members.

. These and many other objects of my, invention will appear to those skilled inthe art from the specification, the drawing, and the appended claims. I

Figure V1 is a side sectional view in elevation of a wall constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 1;-

vFigure 3 is a side View in-` elevation of a block unit such as employed in the embodiment of my Figure 4 'is an end view of the block of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an end sectional view taken along the line V-V ofrFigure' 3; Figure 6 is an end view in perspective showing the inside constructionof a facingmember c'onstruc'ted in accordance with my invention;

Figure 'I is a horizontal sectional view similar to that of Figure 2 through a modified form of block unit constructed in accordance with the principles of' my invention;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figure2 showing a modified-type of facing arrangement; and a Figure 9 is an end sectional view similar to that of'Figure 5 showing?.A modiiiedform of block.

I In. carrying outmy. inventiomI-preferably prothrough. Suitably designed facing members or i manner that I have no need for recessed, offset,

or panelled wall portions. Thus, the wall portions will extend continuously and unbrokenly from one side or end of the block I0 to the other, and no special and/or additional operation is necessary to adapt 'the block to the facing members I5. Y

'I'he facing members or elements I5 are mounted in such a manner that their edge portions are free to expand and contract without hindrance. That is, the adjacent edges of-mounted elements I5 preferably have a spaced-apart relationship with respect toeach other and, of course, are not vconfined by wall portions of the block, itself. It will thus be apparent that the face or panel members I5 of glass or similar construction are located beyond what may be termed load-carrying planes of the block. In other words, the panelelements I5 are mounted beyond limiting or conning Wall portions ofthe block, and for this reason, are protected from the load to which the main wall'portions of suitable ceramic or cementitious or other load-carrying material are subjected. In the form of unit chosen for the purpose of v illustration, the block IB has a-rectang'ular shape bounded by outer wall portions II, and reinforced and joined together by a reinforcing or central partition portion I2. 'I'he block may be made from any suitable material, suchas clay, cement, rubber, plastic, Wood, metal, etc., but is preferably made of a ceramic or cementitious material. `The panel portion I5 in like manner is preferlably pressed out from a suitable plastic or viscous material, such as'glass, transparent rubber, ce1- lulose, etc. Primarily, therefore, the elements I5 are preferably of a character such that at least a portion of the light may be transmitted therethrough. vThat is, vthey are preferably at least translucent and may be transparent.

`been able to provide a building block having a skeleton structure which may be advantageously set in place in a building construction, for example, by reason of its expansion and contraction qualities, and also by reason of its porosity. the'troubles .encountered in mounting all-glass blocks are eliminated. On the other hand, the construction is such that substantially the same light-transmitting ability may be imparted to a block by the utilization of transparent or translucent facing members orl elements. Y

The material used and/orthe structural parts employed in making the body portion of the block I0f'are preferably selected upon consideration of strength, cost, durability, and ease and/or effectiveness of joints. On the other hand, the selection of the material and strucvtural parts of the facing elements I5 is preferably selected from the standpoint of the design and/or light transmission effects desired. The

association of the body portion and facing elements is jsuch that individual deleterious effects A are Vsubstantially eliminated and advantageous features of both are coordinated and enhanced. `The facing elements I5, which are preferably :fof glass construction, -have suitable attaching portions IB extending therefrom, see, for example, Figure 6. The attaching portions I5 may the of continuous, square, rectangular, circular,

oroval shape, corresponding .to the shape of the continuous inner wall portions of the block I0. In 'Figure 6, the portions I6 lcomprise opposite spaced-.apart walls b--b and a-a. However,

suitable spaced-apart lugs or other construcitions may 'fbe employed in this connection. l '-Ihe facing members I5, as shown particularly" in .Figures 2, 5, and '1, are mounted upon edge or ,side faces of the block ID in such a manner that their yedges terminate substantially centrally of the thicknesses of the wall portions II and -I2. In this manner, an effective :seal can be obtainedand any suitable or specially-designed material may be employed for attaching edge portions of the facing members with respect to eachother or for filling up the spacing therebetween. In FigureZ, I have indicated an ordinary form of 'suitable cementitious material 2l as positioned between each block I0 which, of course, comprises, as shown in Figure 3, a pair of windows or openr gs therein. The major portion of the stress and strain of the construction is thus borneby the strong material of the struc. ture I0, rather than by the facing members I5 that ordinarily have the wrong type of expansion and contraction qualities.

The facing elements I5 may be mounted in position before or after the wall construction has been assembled; and if desired, they may be merely frictionally held in position or may be further attached by some suitable cement. I prefer to employ the cement adjacent the flange I5, in order that each individual element I5 may be readily removed from the building block construction, if necessary, by mdividually breaking it. Adjacent edges .of the facing elements v'II material, such as a bituminous asphaltic composition, as set forth in my copendingapplication Serial No. 119,785, entitled "Building blocks and procedure for making them.

By means of the present construction, l,I can also stagger one block with reference to another, see Figure 1. It is, of course, apparent that a much better bond between blocks is thus vmade possible. The corner portions of the wall may be .left blank or may be taken care yof by a specially designed form yof block, such as III', see Figure 2. The block I0 has a portion of its outside wall LI cut away, leaving only a narrow rim portion I3. The back of .the block, which is to lie adjacent an nend wall of an adjacent block I0, is closed off, -see the :numeral 2M, vand is beveled to connect with the partition portion I2'. It is, of course, apparent that yan ordinary form of block .Ill `may be employed instead of the block I0 and .in such case a ,portion of the wall II 'will face outwardly.

Since in an ordinary construction, the builder may wish to provide Iopaque wall portions, .I con' template either :providing .hollow fblock with front be imposed upon the opaque as well as upon the transparent or translucent elements I5 or upon the side or end facing walls of the block if the elements I5 are omitted.

In Figure 7, I have shown a modified construction which provides a very effective form of block. One or more of the facing elements I5 may be provided with a cup-shaped element i1 for closing it off and providing one or more air spaces to improve the insulating qualities of the block I0. The cup-shaped element I1 has suitably extending fianges IB corresponding to the flanges I6; the flanges ISand I8 are preferably fused together and slid into a cooperative relationship with the side walls of the block III, as a unit. See the fusing method set forth in my copending application above-mentioned. ever, it will be apparent that the members I] and I5 may be mounted individually and cemented in position, and that any suitable number of members I5 may be provided in each opening. For example, each of the oppositefacing members I5 may be provided with sealing-off elements I'I.

\ Although I preferably make the facing elements I5 in such a manner that one or vmore may be mounted on the same block and the same side of the block, it will be apparent that larger elements may be employed. For example, one element can be used to cover all of the openings in aI given block, or all of the openings or part of the openings of adjacent blocks of. a wall construction. See, for example, Figure 8. Here, the

ment is employed, I preferably eliminate one set of projecting portions a-a, see Figure 6 of the drawing. Of course, it will be apparent that the size of the facing element I5 or I5b will dependl upon questions of practicability and also upon' the type of design desired. I prefer the smaller elements, since the can be readily pressed intoform and can be casi and' quickly detached and l.replaced Vwhen desired; they alsov are readily adaptable'to design requirements.

kIn Figure 9,- I have shown a block 20 whose as shown, or if desired, maybe provided on the inner wall portions 2l' and/or 22 ofthe block. If desired,-the opaque wall portion 22 may be 'provided with any suitable configuration 23.

1 Where blocks I0 or 20 having double air spaces are used, suchas shown in Figure '7 of the drawv/in'g'ythey are particularly suitable to take the place of a complete wall structure of a building. In other words, the facing elements I5'take the '-place'of inner and other facing members of an lordinary'construction and may have any suitable design or inlay, as desired. 'I'he block portion i0 has suitable depth, air space characteristics, as

well'as strength such`that it can take the place 'ofa skeleton framework, sheathing, and other members employed in an ordinary construction. In this manner, I have been able to provide a -very'inexpensive but practical form of block that eliminates the complicated and extensive structure ofan ordinary building and that may alsotake the place of ordinary windows if, for example,'the building is to be air-conditioned. Bricks and other suitable building materlalsmay be employed to build up the wall construction and the openings therein; the facing 4members are then mounted over the openings 'and over and4 upon the wall construction.` f

In referring* to side or end portions of the block'in the specification and claims, I include both terms broadly and interchangeably as portions of the block. The block of my invention may be said to have a composite construction.

Although I have shown preferred forms of my invention for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other suitable arrangements may be employed and that various modiflcations, substitutions, additions,

and/or subtractions, may also be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A building block having wall portions of a suitable load-carrying type of material, and a facing element of glass or similar material having a panel portion mounted upon surface portions -of`a side of the block, said panel portion being located beyond confining load-carrying portions of the block.

2. A buildingblock having spaced-apart wall portions of a suitable load-carrying type of material terminating in an opening adjacent a side thereof, a facing element of glassor similar material having a panel portion mounted over the opening and upon outer surface portions of a side of the block, said panel portion being located tions of the block.

said attaching projections being adapted to con operatively engage inner portions of said walls in such a manner that structural strain and load will be borne by said wall portions and that said panel portion .will be protected with respect thereto. f Y

5. In a substantially hollow building blockv having substantially continuous inner walls of uniform dimension along the opening therein, a

`facing element having a panel portion and attaching portions thereon, said attaching portions being adapted to cooperatively engage innerlportions of said continuous walls and to hold said panel portion over the opening in said block andv upon outer faceportionsvof said walls, said panel portion V-being located vbeyond load-carrying por- 6. In a substantially hollow building block having at leastI one lateral` light passage extending elements mounted over said openings and upon opposite faces of said block, said facing elements on one face of the block having a spaced-apart relationship with respect to adjacent elements on the same face, said facing elements having edge portions located beyond confining loadcarrying portions of the block.

8. A building block having a pair of light passages extending therethrough and a partition vmember separating said passages, a pair of at least translucenty facing elements having panel portions mounted over the passages on each side face of said block, said panel portions on one face of said block having a spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other and terminating substantially centrally of the block adjacent the thickness of said partition, saidpanel portions being located beyond confining load-carrying portions of the block. l

9. A building block having atleast one passageway therethrough at least substantially surrounded by wall portions, said passage terminating adjacent opposite faces of said block, a transparent facing Ielement having a'panel portion, attaching portions extending from said panel portion, said panel portion being mounted over said passageway and upon an outer face of said block, said panel portion being located beyond load-carrying portions of the block,

10. A building block of ceramic or' cementitious material having a passageway extending therethrough from one face to another face thereof, and means closing off said passageway and extending inwardly thereof from a face of said block, and means associated with said first-mentioned means and providing a sealed air space with said closing-off means within vsaid block that is independent of wall portions of said block.

1l.. In a-substantially hollow building block having at least one chamber therein and terminating adjacent opposite ,face portions thereof,

facing elements mounted over said chamber and upon opposite faces of said block, and an additional element mounted within said chamber'in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to said facing elements and providing a pair of air spaces in said block.

12. In a substantially hollow building block having at least one chambertherein and terminating adjacent opposite face portions thereof, facing elements mounted over said chamber and upon opposite faces of said block, and an additional element mounted within said chamber in a portions and upon the adjacent face of said block,

and means providing a reflecting surface within the spaced-apart portions of said block, said panel portion being located beyond load-carrying portions of the block.

14. In a substantially hollow building block of vementitious. ceramic, or other suitable loadcarrying opaque material, at least one passageway in said block,a partition in said passageway, l

a side portion of said block being left open, a support portion extending about said last-mentioned :side portion of said block, and4 facing elements having panel portions mounted over said passageway upon outer faces of said element and said lsupport portion and closing oif said open wall portion of said block, said panel portions being located beyond load-carrying portions of the block. y

15. In a buildingl wall construction, va pair of blocks mounted in an adjacent and staggered relationship with respect to each other, each of said blocks being of substantially hollow construction and having an air space therein, and at least translucent means positioned on opposite outer faces of said blocks adjacent said air spaces, said means having panel means positioned beyond load-carrying portions of the block.

16. In a complete wall structure for a building construction, a plurality of adjacently-positioned blocks mounted in a substantially staggered rela- 4tionship with. respect to l each. other, ,each `of ysaid blocks having at leastione passagewaythereinextending through opposite faces thereof yfrom an inner portion of the building toanfouter portion thereof, and transparent facingA elements mount-r ed upon outer faces of Jsaid blocks; and over the passageways therein, said facing ,elements terminating substantially adjacent wall thickness portions of said blocks, and means holding said facing members in position with respectto said blocks and said blocks in position with respect to each other,v said facing elements having panel y portions positioned beyond load-carrying portions of the block.

17. In a building wall having load-suplgiortinge side wall portions and openings therebetween, a panel of glass or similar material covering the openings. said panel having means inter-fitting with said side 'wall portions and mounting said panel upon a plane representing outersurface portions of a side of the building wall,l saidpanel beingV positioned beyond load-carrying portions of the wall.

18. In a building wall having. load-supporting structural side wall portions and an opening ex, i

tending from one face thereof to another face thereof betweensaid side wall portions, a glass facing member having a panel portion mounted over the opening and upon outer face portions of said side wall portions, said facing member having means intertting with said side wall portions and positioning said panel portion beyond load-carrying portions of the wall.

19. In a building wall as defined in claim 17, means of glass or other suitable` materalvcooperating with said interiitting means and said panel to provide a closed-off air space with said panel.

-20. In a building block as dened in claim 1, means cooperating with said facing element to vprovide a closed-off .air space within the block.

EDWIN E. SLICK.

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