US3834100A

US3834100A - Building block

Info

Publication number: US3834100A
Application number: US00215491A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Healey
Original assignee: Harvard Industrial Development Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Harvard Industrial Development Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1971-05-03
Filing date: 1972-01-05
Publication date: 1974-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-10
Also published as: IL37894A0; CA951867A; FR2135119B1; FR2135119A1; DE2165322A1; GB1344684A

Abstract

A building block of hollow box-like form, shaped at its ends and at top and bottom for interfitment with adjacent similar blocks of a course, and with similar blocks of succeeding courses, has its sides interconnected by a cross-member with an enlarged middle portion having an opening formed therethrough from top to bottom, the cross-member being such that in a wall of the blocks, the openings through cross-members of blocks of the courses are vertically aligned and are adapted to receive a vertical reinforcing member.

Description

Unlted States Patent 3,834,100 Healey Sept. 10, 1974 [54] BUILDING BLOCK :l;4g(4),6l2 Hamilllton 521292 ,2 ,849 l W t 52 92 [75] Inventor: Aflhu sephen Healey, Bnsbanei 3,488,881 1/1970 Hdifer 46/23 Austraha 3,668,832 6/1972 Harman 52/592 1 Assigneel g i a a g g p FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS g 5 d z g i 573,944 3/1958 ltaly 52/594 [22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1972 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh [21] APPL NO: 215,491 Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald D. Jeffery 30 Foreign Application Priority Data L 3 1d bl k z f f h d u1 mg 0c 0 00w ox-1eorm,s ape atIs May 3, 1971 Australla 4787/71 ends and at top and bottom for interfitmem with adja [52] U S Cl 52/309 52/589 52/607 cent similar blocks of a course, and with similar blocks [51] m E04c1/10 6 2/20 of succeeding courses, has its sides interconnected by [58] Fieid "52/6O9 606 608 a cross-member with an enlarged middle portion hav- '"Z 6 ing an opening formed therethrough from top to bottom, the cross-member being such that in a wall of the [56] References Cited blocks, the openings through cross-members of blocks of the courses are vertically aligned and are adapted UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ to receive a vertical reinforcing member. 1,080,367 12/1913 Raftis 5 606 1,415,197 5/1922 Sampson 6 Claims, 10 Drawmg Flgul'es BAIENTEB SEP 1 0 I974 SHEET 3 OF 3 This invention relates to building blocks, and it has more particular reference to building blocks of hollow box-like form which may be of moulded plastics and formed at their ends so that adjacent blocks of a course may be interfrtted, and shaped at top and bottom so that blocks of succeeding courses may be interfitted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide blocks of this general character which, though of such open construction that a wall of such blocks may have continuous cavities from top to bottom, are not liable to significant distortion.

Another object of the invention is to provide such building blocks which include means whereby a wall constructed therefrom may be easily and effectively reinforced.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides braodly in a building block including a pair of sides interconnected in spaced substantially parallel arrangement by end sections, each adapted to be interfitted with the opposite end section of a similar block, the top edge portions of the sides being adapted to be interfitted with bottom edge portions of the sides of a similar superimposed block; intermediate positions on the sides being further interconnected by a substantially planar horizontal cross-member with an apertured middle part. Preferably the cross-member is substantially of hollow square form with diagonally opposed corner portions connected to said intermediate positions on said sides. Preferably two such crossmembers are provided in longitudinally spaced arrangement in a standard block at positions one quarter of the length of the side from each end so that when such blocks are interfitted end to end in each of a number of horizontal courses, in bond, the openings through the cross-members of the various courses are aligned vertically to receive vertical reinforcing members. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In order that a preferred embodiment of the invention may be readily understood and carried into practical effect, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a block according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the block,

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the end of the block at the left of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the end of the block at the right of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the block,

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of part of an assembly of blocks and reinforcements to form a wall structure,

block has a pair of parallel sides 11 interconnected by a first end section 12, a second end section 13, an intermediate transverse section 14, and two cross-pieces 15.

Each of the sides 11 is rebated from the outside at the top and at one end to form half-thickness top and

end flashing pieces

16 and 17 respectively, and is rebated from the inside at the bottom and the other end to form bottom and end flashing

pieces

18 and 19 respectively. Each side is reinforced by an inwardly extending flange 20 aligned with a bottom of a top flashing piece 16, and by buttresses 21 extending downwardly from this flange.

The side portions of both

end sections

12 and 13 are inset by the width of the

end flashing pieces

17 and 19, and extend vertically between the top of the bottom flashing pieces 18 and the flange 20.

The middle part of end sectin 12 is an outwardly extending rectangular projection 22, its top level with the top of the block, its bottom level with the top of the bottom flashing pieces 18, and with a rectangular opening 23 therethrough. Two lugs 24 extend downwardly from this end section, to either side of the projection 22.

The middle part of end section 13 is flanked by a pair of upright tongues 25 adapted to be closely fitted to either side of the projection 22 at the opposite end of another similar block, and to be aligned at top and bottom with this projection 22, the end section 13 has a central rectangular opening 26.

The intermediate section 14 has a transverse web 27 interconnecting the flanges 20 of the two sides 11, and from which a flange 28 extends perpendicularly upwards. From the part of the transverse web 27 nearer to end section 13, a partition 29 extends downwardly interconnecting the sides 11 except at their rebated lower parts. Spaced from the side of the partition nearer to the end section 12, flanges 30 extend inwardly from the sides, from the lowermost rebated parts of which they are separated.

Each of the cross-pieces 15 consists for the main part of a substantially planar horizontal hollow square member, from diagonally opposite corners of which integral connecting pieces 31 extend to and are formed integrally with opposed buttresses 21 and flanges 20.

In building a wall structure, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8, a number of half-blocks 10a are provided, each having sides half the length of the sides 11 described but otherwise similar; and end sections similar to the

end sections

12 and 13 before described, and with a single cross-piece 15.

The wall structure also includes pillars, which may suitably be aluminium extrusions, and of which a corner pillar 32 is more particularly shown in FIG. 9, a junction pillar 33 being shown in FIG. 10.

In constructing the wall, a bottom channel or plate 34 is supported horizontally, in any suitable way, for example on a concrete floor slab, and a course of the blocks 10 are laid thereon, end to end, the flanges of the bottom plate 34 being rebated for close engagement within the bottom flashing pieces 18 of the blocks. The blocks are made for close interfitment end to end, flashing pieces 17 at one end of one block 10 fitting closely within flashing pieces 19 at the opposite end of the next block, the rectangular projection 22 at one end of the one block engaging closely between the tongues 25 at the opposite end of the other block.

r The second course of blocks are laid in bond, the bottom flashing pieces 18 of the upper course engaging closely outside the top flashing pieces 16 of the lower course, the partition 29 and the flanges 30 of the intermediate section 14 of each block of the upper course holding between them the interfitted projection 22 and the tongues 25 of mating ends of blocks of the lower course.

The blocks are so made that the hollow squares of the cross-pieces 15 of the courses are aligned one above the other; and tubular reinforcing members or studs 35 are passed down through aligned hollow cross-pieces as shown in FIG. 7, being in any suitable spacing, the tubular studs being passed down also through suitable holes in the bottom plate 34, for example, into a recess formed in the peripheral part of a concrete foundation, into which they are secured by the introduction of concrete to the recess.

The vertically aligned ends of the blocks and halfblocks 103 are engaged, at a corner, with the appropriately profiled side of a comer pillar 32; and a further wall is constructed, as described, for the other side of the corner, the blocks and half-blocks thereof engaging with a second appropriately profiled side of the corner pillar.

When it is required that an internal wall should extend perpendicularly from the main wall, there is provided a junction pillar 33, having, as shown in FIG. 10, opposite sides profiled to engage with the appropriate ends of blocks and half-blocks, and having a third side profiled to engage with the ends of blocks and halfblocks commencing the internal wall.

The blocks of a wall are capped by a capping channel 36, the downwardly extending flanges of which are re bated from inside so as to be capable of engaging over the top flashing pieces 16 of the blocks and half-blocks of the upper course, the intermediate part of the capping channel being apertured for the passage of the tubular studs 35. These, extending above the capping channel 36, being capable of carrying a roof structure as indicated at 37.

A wall constructed as described and illustrated will be found to be particularly strong owing to the anchoring of the tubular studs to both sides of each of the blocks through the apertured cross-pieces of which the studs pass. These cross-pieces have a degree of resilient flexibility, and so the wall structure will not be liable to undue stresses, consequent on minor irregularities in its assembly.

The wall structure may be readily dismantled if and when required. Alternatively, the wall may be stabilized and insulated in situ by filling it, before the application of the capping channel, with material such as polyurethane foam, the tubular studs then being firmly embedded and become permanent reinforcements in the wall, The use of the pillars obviates the necessity for the use of angled blocks, T-plan blocks and the like, and such pillars are of neat and attractive appearance.

Building blocks according to the invention will be found to be very effective in achieving the objects for which they have been devised. It will, of course, be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention herein described may be subject to many minor modifications of constructional detail and design, which will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A building block formed of polymeric material including a pair of sides interconnected in spaced, substantially parallel arrangement by end sections, each end section being adapted to be interfitted with the opposite end section of a similar block, the top edge portions of the sides being adapted to be interfitted with bottom edge portions of the sides of a similar superimposed block; a transversely extending cross-member interconnecting said sides intermediate the ends and adjacent the tops thereof, said cross-member being substantially planar and relatively thin in vertical crosssection relative to the depth of said block and formed with an aperture in the middle part thereof, with the space between said sides being otherwise substantially uninterrupted from top to bottom in the region of such cross-member, the relatively thin construction of said cross-member rendering the same resiliently flexible thereby adapting said block to the insertion of anchoring means through superimposed rows of said blocks even when said apertures in such superimposed rows of blocks are not precisely aligned.

2. A building block according to claim 1 wherein said middle part of said cross-member is substantially of hollow square form, its diagonally opposed corner portions being connected to said intermediate positions on said sides.

3. A building block according to claim 1 wherein said sides are interconnected by two of said cross-members spaced apart and connected to the sides at positions one quarter the length of the sides from each end.

4. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the sides of the block are formed with normally vertical flashing pieces, those of one end of the block being adapted to be closely fitted within the flashing pieces at the opposite end of a similar block.

5. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the top and bottom edge portions of the sides are shaped to form normally horizontal flashing pieces, those of the top of the block being adapted to be closely fitted within those of the bottom of a similar superimposed block.

6. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the sides are further interconnected by an intermediate transverse section having longitudinally spaced members at the bottom thereof to receive closely and hold together the upper parts of interfitted end sections of two similar blocks.

Claims

1. A building block formed of polymeric material including a pair of sides interconnected in spaced, substantially parallel arrangement by end sections, each end section being adapted to be interfitted with the opposite end section of a similar block, the top edge portions of the sides being adapted to be interfitted with bottom edge portions of the sides of a similar superimposed block; a transversely extending cross-member interconnecting said sides intermediate the ends and adjacent the tops thereof, said cross-member being substantially planar and relatively thin in vertical cross-section relative to the depth of said block and formed with an aperture in the middle part thereof, with the space between said sides being otherwise substantially uninterrupted from top to bottom in the region of such crossmember, the relatively thin construCtion of said cross-member rendering the same resiliently flexible thereby adapting said block to the insertion of anchoring means through superimposed rows of said blocks even when said apertures in such superimposed rows of blocks are not precisely aligned.