AU2010101180A4

AU2010101180A4 - A Building Element

Info

Publication number: AU2010101180A4
Application number: AU2010101180A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Graham Robert Cohen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-28
Filing date: 2010-10-28
Publication date: 2010-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-28

Description

AUSTRALIA - PATENTS ACT 1990 Complete Specification Invention Title: A Building Element The following statement describes the best manner of performing the invention known to the applicant: TITLE OF THE INVENTION A building element 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a building element and to a method of building. 0 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Bonding building elements together with a settable material such as mortar is a common building method. Bonding between the elements relies on the characteristics of the building elements themselves and the settable material and results from an adhesion between the settable material and the building elements. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a building element that comprises a structural block of the type which is configured for bonding with a settable material to a 0 further, similar structural block, the structural block having a pair of opposed operatively horizontal sides, an operatively front and rear side and a pair of opposed ends, at least one of the sides and ends defining at least one recess to enhance bonding between consecutive sides or ends when the settable material is received between the ends or sides and subsequently sets. The recess may be shaped so that a cross sectional area, in plan, of the recess increases 25 from its associated side or end such that, when the recess is at least partially filled with the settable material, a portion of the structural block serves to lock the settable material in the recess once the settable material has set. In particular, the recess may be shaped to define an opening and an opposed floor, the floor having an area larger than that of the opening. In one embodiment, the recess has a 30 dovetail-like transverse cross-section. The block may have at least one passage extending between the horizontal sides. This serves to reduce weight and improve bonding between courses of the blocks. The recess may, more particularly, but not exclusively, be defined in at least one of the ends.

In one embodiment, the recess may be defined in one end of the block while a number of recesses may be defined in the other end of the block. The number of recesses may be defined as a series of slots or grooves shallower than the recess in the opposite end. The series of grooves may be configured so that, when the block defines a corner of a structure, the grooves have a 5 minimal interference with a rendering process carried out about the corner. The structural block may, in particular, be in the form of a brick. As is known, the various sides of a brick are referred to as a cull, beds, side, end, and face. In particular, one of the ends is a "cull", the other an "end". The horizontal sides are "beds". The front side is a "face" and the rear side a "side". For convenience, this terminology is used in this specification. 0 It is to be appreciated that the use of this terminology is not intended to limit the scope of the summary or the appended claims. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of building which includes the step of: bonding a plurality of the building elements of the first aspect of the invention together 5 with a settable material, such that the settable material is received within the recesses of the building elements. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the preceding paragraphs or the appended claims. 0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment of a building element, in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows a side view of the building element of Figure 1. 25 Figure 3 shows a front view of the building element of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows a side sectioned view of part of two courses of the building elements of Figure 1. Figure 5 shows a plan view of a course of the building elements of Figure 1. Figure 6 shows a plan view of another embodiment of a building element, in accordance 30 with the invention. Figure 7 shows a side view of the building element of Figure 6. Figure 8 shows a front view of the building element of Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of a corner of a structure erected with the building elements of Figure 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates one embodiment of a building element, in accordance with the invention. The building element 10 includes a structural block 12. In this example, the structural block 12 is a brick. However, it is to be understood that the structural block 12 can be in a number of other forms provided they share the characteristic of being configured for use with a 0 settable material such as mortar or cement to be secured to other similar blocks 12. The brick 12 has a cull 14, an end 16, a pair of beds 18, 20, a face 22 and a side 24. In this example, both the cull 14 and the end 16 define a recess 26. However, it is to be understood that either the cull 14 or the end 16 can define the recess to the exclusion of the other, depending on the particular application for the brick 12. 5 The recess 26 has an opening 28 and a floor 30. The floor 30 has a greater area than the opening 28. In particular, the recess 26 has a dovetail-like profile. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, when a number of the bricks 12 are laid along a course, consecutive recesses 26 define a region 32 which is wider than the conventional gap 34 between the end 16 of one brick 12 and the cull 14 of the next brick 12. Furthermore, the shape of the 0 resultant region 32 is such that mortar 36 used to bond the bricks 12 together serves to lock the bricks 12 together once it sets within the region 32. As a result, the integrity of the structure comprising the bricks 12 is enhanced. In this particular example, the brick 12 defines a pair of cylindrical passageways or perforations 38. These serve to enhance bonding between the beds of the bricks and also to 25 reduce the weight of the brick 12 with minimal effect on the structural integrity of the brick 12. Furthermore, they serve to enhance the heating and drying of the brick 12 during fabrication. The brick 12 also defines a pair of slotted perforations 40 that have a transversely elongate profile between the face 22 and side 24. Each of the perforations 40 are aligned with a notch 42 on the face 22 and side 24. The perforations 40 and notches 42 are positioned to 30 facilitate cutting of the brick 12 to suit different applications. For example, the perforations 40 and notches 42 can be positioned to suit a quarter closure, a three-quarter closure or a half. It will be appreciated that for the half one perforation and associated notches can be provided.

As mentioned above, the invention is applicable to a wide variety of structural blocks while still making use of the principles embodied in the recess 26. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the recess 26 can be provided on any side of the structural block if necessary. For example, if a locking effect in a vertical plane is required, the recess 26 can be defined in one 5 or both of the horizontal sides. In another example, the recess 26 can be defined in one or both of the front and rear sides to provide a locking effect between a front row of structural blocks and a back row of structural blocks. In still another example, the recess 26 can be provided in various sides to achieve the locking effect in different planes in combination. In Figures 6 to 9, reference numeral 50 generally indicates another embodiment of a 0 building element, in accordance with the invention. With reference to Figures 1 to 5, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. In this embodiment, the recess 26 is defined in the cull 14. A series of recesses in the form of grooves or channels 52 are defined in the end 16. The channels 52 are shallower than the recess and are significantly narrower than the recess 26. As a result, the channels 52 provide 5 little interference to a rendering process carried out over the end 16. The element 50 is particularly suited for corners of structures as shown in Figure 9. The brick 12 is oriented so that the channels 52 define one of the surfaces of the corner as opposed to the recess 26. It follows that rendering of the corner is facilitated since a renderer is not forced to render over the recess 26. 0 As shown in Figure 9, the structure can be erected using just the elements 50, so that a builder need not select specific bricks for the corner. A resultant region 54 defined by the end and cull of adjacent bricks is such that an improved bond between the bricks is created when compared with conventional bricks. It will of course be appreciated that the structure can be erected using a combination of the elements 10 and 50. 25 At the corner, the end 16 of one of the elements 50 is bonded to a side 24 of another element 50. The channels 52 serve to enhance the bonding between the end 16 and the side 24 by providing added surface area for bonding as can be seen at 56. Throughout the specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprising" and variants thereof such as "comprise" or "comprises" are to be interpreted as 30 including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers. It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A building element that comprises a structural block of the type which is configured for bonding with a settable material to a 5 further, similar structural block, the structural block having a pair of opposed operatively horizontal sides, operatively front and rear sides and a pair of opposed ends, at least one of the sides and ends defining at least one recess to enhance bonding between corresponding sides or ends when the settable material is received between the ends or sides and subsequently sets. 0

2. A building element as claimed in claim 1, in which the recess is shaped so that a cross sectional area of the recess increases from its associated side or end to the opposite side or end such that, when the recess is at least partially filled with the settable material, a portion of the structural block serves to lock the settable material in the recess once the settable material has set. 5

3. A building element as claimed in claim 2, in which the recess is shaped to define an opening and an opposed floor, the floor having an area larger than that of the opening.

4. A building element as claimed in claim 1, in which the recess is defined in at least one of 0 the ends.

5. A building element substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.