US2560731A

US2560731A - Hollow and channel building block

Info

Publication number: US2560731A
Application number: US23267A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-04-26
Filing date: 1948-04-26
Publication date: 1951-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-17

Description

July 17, 1951 w. H. MILLER 2,550,731

HOLLOW AND CHANNEL BUILDING BLOCK Filed April 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Walter H. Miller .BDT I 9 July 17, 1951 w MILLER 2,560,731

HOLLOW AND CHANNEL BUILDING BLOCK Filed April 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T I 2 ig. 3 8 26 y? 24 b /2 I9 20 /2 2/ x /7 20 I8 22 Q 5 q 29 33 I a 22 i \{6 Q Fig 4. (Tj\ 34 I 6 Q B 32 "Z ?9 I a 0 a /3 I2 a o l9 /'6 [4 Q /3 a a 2 Y 2o 0 20 Q 0 0 a .0 a Q 0 y l8 0 a o /////77 r 3 v a a o a Inventor o o a n 0 34 0 0 i 32 a 2/ Walter H. Mlller 9 gziff m Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLLOW enm z smme nLocK Walter H. Miller, Decatur, Ga. Application April 26, 1948, Serial No. 23,267

4 Claims.

1 n This invention relates to the broad class of concrete structures and masonry walls of the types commonly known as dry walls, and has to do with, on the one hand, a speed wall and man.-

ner of constructing same and, in addition, comprehends certain new and useful improvements in I novel dry wall units, such as tiles for back-up purposes and bricks for facing and equivalent purposes.

An object of the invention, cardinal in importance, is to provide a one-piece duplex unit, of

the two-in-one variety, characterized by duplicate bricks which are connected with one another by frangible connecting walls, which may be severed by the mason, on the job, and then conveniently laid in the wall, the unification of parts serving to simplify manufacturing, while reducing costs and appreciably saving time and labor, in that both bricks may be handled at one and the same time. I

More particularly, novelty is predicated upon the duplicated bricks interconnected, in spaced superposed parallelism, by readily separable walls, the unit being such that it includes handle means on its top and duplicate handle means on its bottom, making it convenient for the mason to conveniently and accessibly grasp said handle means to facilitate the-steps of separating the individual bricks, and then, locating and bonding same in the wall. v

A further novel phase of the invention invokes the stated duplicate bricks initially unified in a duplex wall unit, which may be conveniently stacked, expeditiously handled by all concerned, and which may be manufactured to minimize the likelihood of warping of portions of same, and in which the several jointing walls, which are centrally severable, divide themselves into flangelike mortar baliies which serve advantageously in a manner to be hereinafter more explicitly described.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wall-constructing brick, either as an individual article ready for use, or as a component of the stated dual unit, said brick being characterized by hollow parallel wall sections for load supporting purposes, connected by web means, the latter including a centrally located divider or partition which defines trapping and drainage gutters and whose accessibleedge portion has longitudinal beads defining practical and convenient hand-holds or hand-grips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brick of the sort above mentioned, with a partition in the space between the wall sections more specifically described.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vida. a brick embodying principal components constituting the stated wall sections and gutter deflning'web means adjoining the sections, the web means having the'centralized partition providing the stated abutment, and said web means also having, on its opposite side, and in alignment with the partition,- a line-up and positioning rib, the rib on one brick matching and coinciding with the abutment .on the next-below brick to facilitate piloting the bricks into location in proper courses and tiers for ready mortar bonding.

An additional object of the invention has to do with a wall constructing brick, wherein hollow wall sections are interconnected by the stated web means, with or without the partitions and constituting mortar baflies, the respective partsembodying hollow body or wall sections connected by the stated web means, the, web means having outstanding partitions providing abutments and hand-holds, and inwardly projecting opposed ribs providing the locating and positioning members,

and the upper inner corner portions, forming the outer bounds of the gutters, having angular rooves or rabbets providing the aforementioned ledges.

Other'objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pre-formed duplex hollow wall unit, manufactured to include the features and advantages. of my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation, showing the unit separated into individual bricks or tiles.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, showin the manner in which the bricks are laid in wall and showing how the drainage gutters may be used to accommodate wooden or equivalent strips or rounds for nailing a plate in position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view, showing the invention used as a backup tile in a wall construction and showing how the drop flanges, which serve as the mortarbaffies, accommodate anchors for furrlng strips.

Referringnow to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals and referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 and initially to Figure 1, the pre-formed unit, which may be visualized either as a block, rectangular tile or special brick assembly, is a one-piece structure and characterized by parts which may be conveniently referred to as individual bricks I and 8 respectively. These bricks are interconnected, in vertically spaced superposed parallelism, by spaced parallel connecting walls 9 and I0, each wall having its central opposite sides fashioned with score lines, which may take the form of relatively deep grooves H and which serve to render said walls frangible and thus, severable into flanges l2. Not only do these portions or flanges serve as components of the connecting walls, but they also serve as mortar baffles in a manner to be hereinafter described. Inasmuch as the respective bricks l and 8 are identical in construction, and despite the fact that they are shown connected into single block form in Figure 1, it is thought that it will clarify matters to refer to the identical elements and features by like reference numerals. It follows that each brick comprises a pair of principal substantive or body members which are conveniently referred to as hollow wall sections l 3 and i4, and these have their inner opposed faces connected by web means 15. The web means is provided with a longitudinal central riser l6, which may be conveniently described either as a divider or partition. This divides the brick centrally to define substantially semi-circular drainage and condensation gutters I1 and I8, which are commonly found in so-called dry wall tiles and bricks. The outer crown edge of the partition is linearly straight and flat, as at l9, and provides a line-up and load equalizing abutment. The edge portions are formed into beads 20 which, in conjunction with the spaces provided by the gutters and partition, define novel, well-balanced hand-grips or hand-holds. Thus, the brick, as far as described, may be considered as novel and embodying hollow rectangular wall sections l3 and i4 connected in spaced parallel relation by curvate webs, the webs defining substantially semi-circular gutters and the gutters being separated by the partition, and the partition serving as a hand-hold and also as abutment means. Along the outer boundaries of the gutters, the sections l3 and M are grooved or formed with rabbets 2|, which define mortar spaces and, also, ledges. It will be observed that the so-called top and bottom sides of the wall sections [3 and M are provided with

channels

22 and 23, which serve as mortar accommodating key-ways. Referring to Figure 2 and to the structure beneath the web means, it will be seenthat a runner or rib 24 is provided, and this constitutes a line-up, self-levelling and locatingielement which facilitates finding the correct position of the brick in the wall and assisting in guiding, gaging, laying and bonding the brick. The crown portion of the rib is substantially v-shaped and the vertex is rounded, as at 25,

to'rest as a fulcrumming pilot on the abutment surface l9.

Novelty is asserted to exist, not only in the twin unit of Figure l and the individual bricks 1 and 8 in Figure 2, but additional novelty resides in the structures depicted in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3, for example, it will be seen that either brick is used, so that the gutters in the uppermost brick may serve to accommodate wooden rounds 26, which are slipped endwise into the gutters and which have flattened portions to accommodate nails' 21, which serve to hold in place a wooden or equivalent joist supporting plate 28. Thus, novelty may reside in a wall construction having dry wall gutter means, wherein the latter serves to accommodate anchoring strips for nailing a plate or the like, in place.

Further novelty is seen in Figure 4, wherein the improved bricks are used in the capacity of back-up tiles. Here, the outer or facing bricks (standard bricks) are denoted by the numerals 29, and the bricks 1 and 8 are denoted by the same numerals already used in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The numerals 30 designate furring strips carrying wallboard or the like 3|, and provided with metal anchoring brackets having end portions 32 secured in place and having twisted reaches or limbs 33, interposed between the bricks and having downturned terminals or hooks 84 secured in the stated rabbets or against the ledges 2|.

The manner in which the bricks are assembled or laid in the wall is not new, and the mortar application procedure is customary, except that it will be seen that when each brick is laid, the fulcrumming vertex 25 rests upon the baffle surface I!) of the partition, and thus permits the mason to readily locate the position of the brick to be laid, and to line it up properly, after which the mortar is pressed into place and the brick is levelled up, during which procedure, the apron flanges l2 bridge the bonding spaces and thus serve as baffles, in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The width of the rib gages the size of the mortar joints as same will be pressed down firmly on the underlying abutment of the partition. This also levels the unit in the wall, as the rib rests directly on the partition and the latter supports part of the load, and the mortar baffles come into place and provide effective bonds. The wood nailing means eliminates the boring of holes in plates and, also, eliminates the use of toggle bolts and the like at door and window lambs. The mortar bafile means insures a tighter mortar joint and eliminates needless tooling of the mortar joints. The self-levelling and line-up means eliminates the use of a masons line for each course of brick. After the first course is laid, it is necessary only to have a line several courses above the first one to insure a plumb and straight wall.

In practice, it is understood that the faces of the bricks 6 and I may be scored or the texture may be a smooth finish for ornamental results or whatever is required in a given job.

The bricks are eight inches square and two and a quarter inches in vertical thickness or height. The space between the respective bricks 1 and 8 is one and one-eighth inches. If desired, the

surfaces

35 and 36 in Figure 2 provide additional curvate surfaces, to facilitate drainage of condensation. In fact, by placing the runner or rib 24 on the bottom of the brick 1 in Figure 2, it coacts with the surfaces 36 and the baille flanges l2 in defining additional channels. In other words, I have channels in the top of the brick and channels in the bottom of the brick.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in coniunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty suflicient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A wall building brick comprising spaced parallel duplicate wall facing, load bearing and distributing sections, the latter being hollow and the top and bottom sides of said sections having mortar receiving and bonding channels, a horizontal web connecting said sections together, said web having a vertically upstanding partition midway between said sections defining drainage gutters, the outer crown edge of said partition being fiat from end to end and serving as a load bearing and levelling abutment, said partition being formed along opposite vertical faces with outstanding longitudinally extending beads functioning as finger-grips, the inward upper corner portions bordering said sections being longitudinally rabbeted and providing clearance ledges, the underside of said web having a laterally depending longitudinally extending positioning, spacing, levelling and line-up rib, the latter being midway in respect to said sections and directly beneath said partition.

2. A wall building brick comprising spaced parallel duplicate wall facing, load bearing and distributing sections, the latter being hollow and the top and bottom sides of said sections having mortar receiving and bonding channels, a horizontal web connecting said sections together, said web having a vertically upstanding partition midway between said sections defining drainage gutters, the outer crown edge of said partition being fiat from end to end and serving as a load bearing and levelling abutment, said partition being formed along opposite vertical faces with outstanding longitudinally extending beads functioning as finger-grips, the inward upper corner portions bordering said sections being longitudinally rabbeted and providing clearance ledges, the underside of said web having a laterally depending longitudinally extending positioning, spacing, levelling and line-up rib, the latter being midway in respect to said sections and directly beneath said partition, said sections being further provided on their undersides with depending longitudinal flanges spaced inwardly from the vertical outer faces of said sections and spaced outwardly from and situated parallel to said rib and serving as mortar baiiies.

3; A wall building brick comprising a onepiece body comprising a horizontal web provided along opposite longitudinal edge portions with integral duplicate load supporting and bonding sections and provided intermediate said sections with a lateral longitudinally extending partition defining, between itself and said sections, 'open ended drainage gutters, the latter being substantially semi-circular in cross-section, the opposite longitudinal surfaces of said partition being concaved and merging into the web and forming portions of said gutters, and, in addi tion, providing bead-like finger-grips with the result that said partition may function as a handhold, the outer crown edge of said partition being Wide and flat and providing a foundational abutment flush with the top surfaces of said bonding sections, the upper inward corner portions of said sections, opposite to the flat crown edge of said partition being rabbeted and providing mortar baiiie flange clearance and accommodating ledges, and said sections also having, on their bottom sides, spaced parallel depending bathe-flanges, the latter directly underneath of said ledges.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, together with a rib depending from said web directly beneath said partition, said rib being a pilot, mortar space gaging and load supporting member and having its lowermost edge portion terminating on a plane above the lower edges of said bafiieflanges.

- WALTER H. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 822,510 Davidson June 5, 1906 830,094 Momsen Sept. 4, 1906 1,125,908 Lyle Jan. 19, 1915 1,323,513 Whitacre Dec. 2, 1919 1,347,533 Cooper July 27, 1920 1,377,572 Fiske May 10, 1921 1,380,821 Martin June 7, 1921 1,456,048 Barr May 22, 1923 1,502,327 Luce July 29, 1924 1,618,281 Greene Feb. 22, 1927 1,668,348 Anderson May 1, 1928 1,866,129 'Raftis July 5, 1932 2,021,133 Munson Nov. 19, 1935 2,049,907 Hess Aug. 4, 1936 2,054,679 Nelson Sept. 15, 1936 2,090,285 Christie et a1 Aug. 17, 1937 2,154,213 Noce Apr. 11, 1939 2,162,417 ,Breakey June 13, 1939