US2259778A - Building block - Google Patents

Description

0. 21, 1941. EQT. PUTNAM I BUILDING B LOCK Filed May 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnocmor [ELE T PUT/VAN.

Gttorneg Oct. 21, 1941. E. T. PUTNAM ,2

BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventor EELE v7. Pu NAM.

C(ttonieg Patented Oct. 21, 1941 Erle- T. Putnam,

Detroit, Mich.,

assignor to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application May 27, 1939, SerialiNo. 276,190

Claims.

The present invention relates broadly tothe construction of walls, such as the exterior orinterior walls of buildings, and more particularly to an improved building unit for use in the construction of such walls.

The building unit herein provided; consists briefly of a composite block comprising a body portion preferably formed from a suitable cementitious material and an ornamental facing therefor, consisting preferably of a sheet or plate of opaque structural glass. The ornamental face plate is secured to the body portion by an in terposed layer of adhesive material and also by mechanical fastening means, in the form of. meta1 frame members or holders, engaging both the ornamental face plateand body portion.

An important object of the invention is the provision, in a building block of this character, of improved. mechanical fastening means for securing the glass or other ornamental face plate to the body portion in a manner to. firmly lock the said facing and body portion together, whereby all danger of the, facing. becoming accidentally displaced will be eliminated.

Another important object of. the invention. is the provision of mechanical fastening means having portions engaging the body portion of the block and other portions engaging the edges of the face plate, and. ornamental metallic molding or edging strips associated with. the mechanical fastening means and overlying. the outer surface of the face plate to present a neat, attractive finish around the periphery of the block.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a metallic. molding or edging for the face plate and cushioning means arranged between said metallic molding or edging and the edges of said face plate to exert a yielding pressure upon the latter, whereby to protect said edges from chipping. or spelling during and after the setting of the block inthe wall.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

Fig. l is a front elevation of a portion of a wall constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the glass or other ornamental face plates. and v the metal frame members associated therewith, the face plate being" partially broken away to more clearly show the frame members;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional' view through the wall taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective sectional view of a portion of one of the metal frame members.

With reference now to the drawings, there is disclosed in Fig. 3 a rear or foundation wall A and a front or exterior wall B constructed of improved building blocks provided by the present invention. While the rear wall A is shown as consisting of conventional bricks or blocks 5 laid in theusual manner with mortar 6 the said wall may obviously be of any other desired construction.

The building blocks used in constructing the wall B may be of any desired contour but as shown in Fig. 1, the said blocks-designated in their entirety by the numeral 1, are rectangular. This is of course the most conventional shape, although they may obviously be of any particular shape or shapes desired. Each building block 1 is of a composite construction comprising a body portion 8 preferably formed of a suitable cementitious material, such as, for example, concrete, l-laydite, gypsum, or the like, and an ornamental facin 9, preferably consisting of a sheet or plate of opaque structural glass, although ceramic tile or face plates of other materials may be used in some cases. Therefore, while the face plate will be hereinafter referred to as being of glass, it will be understood that a face plate of any desired satisfactory material may be employed without departing from the invention.

The face plate 9 covers substantially the entire front surface of the body portion 8 and interposed between the said facing and body portion is a relatively thick, substantially uniform layer of adhesive material It, preferably an asphaltic mastic cement. This layer of adhesive material serves not only to bind the facing to the body portion but also permits relative expansion and contraction between the two without danger of the face plate becoming broken. The layer of adhesive material also serves to cushion the face plate against. shock and blows thereby increasing its resistance to breakage.

Arranged at each edge of the face plate 9 is a metal frame. member or holder H of the construction. shown in Fig. 4 and these frame members or holders cooperate to form a frame which preferably extends entirely around the perimeter of the block for mechanically securing the face plate to thebody portion. Each of the frame members l-I may consist of a single length of metal shaped to provide a longitudinally extending channel portion [2 which, as illustrated in Fig. 3, is received directly behind the face plate 9. The outer wall I3- of the channel portion l2 constitutes a shoulder which abuts the rear surface of the face plate andextending forwardly from said shoulder, and at substantially right angles thereto, is a flange l4 terminating in an inwardly directed lip l5. The shoulder 13,

flange I4, and lip I5 cooperate to form a longitudinally extending channel I6 which is disposed opposite to and faces the respective edge I! of the face plate.

As will be seen in Fig. 3, the width of the channel I6 of the metal frame member is relatively greater than the thickness of the face plate 9 so that the inturned lip I5 overlies the outer ;sur-' face plate 9 is laid horizontally on a support and one of the metal frame members I I positioned at each side of the face plate so that the outer shoulder I3 of the channel portion I2 rests upon the rear surface of said face plate. Before the metal frame members are associated with the face plate, however, the cushioning strips 2| are face of the face plate and is spaced therefrom.

The inner wall I8 of the channel portion I2 of the metal frame member is provided at its inner end with a rearwardly extending, relatively wide, flat bearing portion I9 terminating in an angular flange 29 which is embedded in the body portion 8.

The edges II of the glass face plate 9 are preferably cut square with the opposite surfaces of said face plate and arranged around said edges are strips 2| of suitable resilient cushioning material, such as asphalt impregnated cork, although they may be of rubber, rubber composition, etc. The strips of cushioning material 2I are received within'the channels I6 of the metal frame members II and serve to protect the edges of the face plate and to act as a cushion to prevent chipping or spalling of said edges during-the setting of the block in place in the wall. The cushioning strips 2I are preferably though not necessarily secured to the edges of the faceplate by a suitable adhesive. While .the cushioning material has been referred to as consisting of a plurality of strips, it will be obvious that a single strip may be wrapped around the edges of the faceplate if desired. i

Carried by each metal frame member II is an ornamental molding or edging strip. 22 comprising a relatively wide, flat base portion 23 covering the flange I4 of the frame member and provided along its inner edge with an inturned lip 24 engaging the inner surrface of the shoulder I3. The outer edge portion of the molding or edging 22 is bent inwardly as at 25 to cover the outer surface of the lip I5 of the frame member and is then bent back upon itself over the outer edge of said lip as at 26 to form a bead 2]. The portion 26 of the molding or edging is received between the face plate 9 and the lip I5 of the metal frame member. p

The ornamental molding or edging strips 22 are preferably of stainless steel, although they may be of aluminum or any other suitable metal. The frame members I I may be of. a relatively cheaper metal such as, for example, cadmium plated iron; Also, due, to the provision ofthe ornamental molding or edging 22, the surfaces of the metal frame members II need not be finished. The metallic molding formed by the strips 22 will not only present an ornamental edge of neat, attractive appearance aroundthe perimeter of the block, but will also cooperate with the lips I5 of the frame members to prevent accidental displacement of the facing. Since the lips I5 of the metal frame members as well as the metallic edging overlie the ;outer surface of the face plate, the said face plate will be effectively held in proper position at all times. The appearance of the wall may; also be enhanced by the use of colored metallic molding strips 22 to provide a colored edging around the block whichharmonizes with the color of the glass facing. The metal frame members and metallic molding or edging strips are preferably mitered at the corners of the block as indicated at 28 (Fig. 1). I

In the manufacture ,of the block], theglass applied to the edges I! of the facing and, likewise, the desired molding strips 22 are associated with the metal frame members. Clamping means are provided for holding the metal frame members in proper position, with the flanges I4 thereof in firm, snug engagement with the cushioning strips 2I The mastic or other adhesive material III, in a semi-liquid state, is'then poured upon the back of the face plate to cover substantially the entire surface thereof and to form a layer of the desired thickness. The cement or other plastic material forming the body portion 8 is then deposited on top of the layer of mastic too-over the same and to completely fill .the space defined by the frame members. A mold can be built up around the frame members to permit the molded body portion 8 to be made relatively thicker than the width of the said frame members as shown in Fig. 3, and when this is done, the flanges 20 of said frame members will befirmly embedded in the body portion, After the bodyportion has set, the mold and clamping, means are removed and the block is readyfor. use.

In constructing the ,wall, B,fthe, blocks I are laid up in courses in muchthe same manner as cut stone, granite, or terra-cotta. The blocks arepreferably mechanically anchored tothe rear or foundation wall A in any suitable manner, and likewise, there is preferably interposed between the twov walls a layer of mortar 29. In setting the blocks one upon the other, a layer of mortar is interposed between the bearing portions I9 of the frame membersof vertically adjacent blocks and also between the body portions of the blocks, inwardly ,of said metal portions, as indicated at 3 9 in Fig. 3 .This layerof mortar will serve to maintainthe glass. face plates of vertically adjacent blocks spaced from one another so that no load of the Wall will be placed upon said facings. The mortar 39 is adapted to terminateinwardly of the channel portions I2 of l the frame vmembers atsubstantially the point 3| and arranged within the mating channel portions I2 of adjacent frame members and also between the molding strips 22 is a suitablepointing or caulking material 32 which is adapted to remain more or less plastic. This pointing or caulking material is preferably inserted after the blocks have been set and the layer of mortar 30 hardened.

By laying up the blocks I in this manner, the structural load of the wall will be supported entirely by the body portions 8 of the blocks, with none of the load being placed upon the glass face plates. In other words, the load of one block is transferred directly to the bodyportion of the next lower block through the bed of mortar 3D and each body portion takes the full strain of the blocks above it. Since, when the blocks are laid in this manner, it is impossible for the vertically adjacent face plates to engage one another, the strain upon the said face plates will be reduced to a minimum, thereby eliminating breakage and chipping thereof.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the portions 26 of the edging strips 22 are not pressed tightly against the inner surfaces of the lips I5 ofthe metal frame members II, but instead have their free edges spaced slightly therefrom. The advantage of this arrangement is that it takes care of any variations in the thickness of the face plates. That is to say, if the face plate were relatively thicker than is shown in Fig. 3, the portions 26 of the edging strips 22 could be pressed more tightly against the lips l of the metal frame members I I. On the other hand, if the face plate were relatively thinner than is shown in Fig. 3, the portions 26 of the edging strips could be spaced a correspondingly greater distance from the lips I5. The edging strips 22 are preferably formed of spring metal so that the portions 26 thereof exert a yielding pressure upon the face plate.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A building block of the character described, comprising a body portion formed from a cementitious material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material interposed between said face plate and body portion, mechanical fastening means for securing said face plate to said body portion including metal frame members arranged at the edges of the block and each having a portion embedded in said body portion; a shoulder engaging the rear surface of said face plate and a i flange extending forwardly from said shoulder and terminating in a lip overlying the outer surface of said face plate in spaced relation thereto and cooperating with said flange and shoulder to form a channel opposite the edge of said face plate, cushioning material disposed in said channel and engaging the edge of said face plate, and metallic molding strips fitting over the channels of said frame members and each including a portion engaging said shoulder and another portion covering said lip and being bent upon itself over said lip and disposed between said lip and face plate.

2. A building block of the character described,

comprising a body portion formed from a cemena titious material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material interposed between said face plate and body portion, mechanical fastening means for securing said face plate to said body portion including metal frame members arranged at the edges of the block and each having a portion embedded in said body portion; a shoulder engaging the rear surface of said face plate and a flange extending forwardly from said shoulder and terminating in a lip overlying the outer surface of said face plate and cooperating with said flange and shoulder to form a channel opposite the edge of said face plate, cushioning material disposed in said channel and engaging the edge of said face plate, and metallic molding strips fitting over the channels of said frame members and each including a portion engaging said shoulder and another portion covering said lip.

3. A building block of the character described, comprising a body portion formed from a cementitious material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material interposed between said face plate and body portion, mechanical fastening means for securing said face plate to said body portion including metal frame members secured to the edges of the body portion and each comprising an outwardly facing channel portion disposed in back of said face plate and having a shoulder engaging the rear surface of said face plate and a forwardly directed flange disposed opposite the edge of said face plate and terminating in a lip overlying the outer surface thereof and cooperating with said flange and shoulder to form a channel portion opposite the edge of said face plate, cushioning material disposed in said second-mentioned channel portion and engaging the edge of said face plate, and a metallic molding strip fitting over the said second-mentioned channel portion and having a part thereof received within said first-named channel portion and engaging the shoulder thereof and another part covering said lip.

4. A building block of the character described, comprising a body portion formed from a cementitious material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material interposed between said face plate and body portion, mechanical fastening means for securing said face plate to said body portion including metal frame members secured to the edges of the body portion and each comprising an outwardly facing channel portion disposed in back of said face plate and having a shoulder engaging the rear surface of said face plate and a forwardly directed flange disposed opposite the edge of said face plate and terminating in a lip overlying the outer surface thereof in spaced relation thereto and cooperating with said flange and shoulder to form a channel portion opposite the edge of said face plate, cushioning material disposed in said second-mentioned channel portion and engaging the edge of said face plate, and a metallic molding strip fitting over the said second-mentioned channel portion and having a part thereof received within said first-named channel portion and engaging the shoulder thereof and another part covering said lip and being bent upon itself over said lip and disposed between said lip and face plate.

5. A building block of the character described, comprising a body portion formed from a cementitious material, a face plate covering a surface of the body portion, a layer of adhesive material interposed between said face plate and body portion, mechanical fastening means for securing said face plate to said body portion including metal frame members arranged at the edges of the block and each having a portion embedded in said body portion; an outwardly facing channel portion disposed in back of said face plate and having a shoulder engaging the rear surface thereof and an inwardly facing channel portion opposite the edge of said face plate and including a lip overlying the outer surface thereof, cushioning material disposed in said secondmentioned channel portion and engaging the edge of said face plate, and a metallic molding strip fitting over the said second-mentioned channel portion and having a part thereof disposed in said first-named channel portion and engaging the shoulder thereof and another part covering the lip of said second-mentioned channel portion.

ERLE T. PUTNAM.

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