CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS

BLOC DE MACONNERIE EN BETON

English Abstract

The present invention is a building block preferably made
of concrete wherein each block overlaps an adjoining block in
a vertical and horizontal direction. The block also has
grooves and channels for drainage of moisture.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A building component comprising a generally rectangular block having front
and rear
panels, an upper and lower surface, and end panels, said front and rear panels
extending past
one end panel, and said front and rear panels being recessed below said upper
surface and
extending below said lower surface, wherein said front and rear panels overlap
an adjoining
block when the blocks are abutting horizontally, and said front and rear
panels overlap an
adjoining block when the blocks are stacked vertically, each said end panel
being provided
with at least one vertically extending channels alignable from block to block
in a course of
blocks, for accepting a sealing material therein.
2. A building component according to claim 1, wherein said block is made of
concrete.
3. A building component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said upper surface
has a
series of indentations.
4. A building component according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said block has
hollow
portions extending through said block from its upper to its lower surface.
5. A building component according to any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein said end
surfaces
have channels of differing widths.
6. A building component according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein said
rear panel
has a recess therein corresponding to the width of said end surface.
7. A building component according to claim 6, wherein said recess in said rear
panel has
channels therein.
8. A building component according to claim 7, wherein said one end surface
extends
beyond said rear panel and overlaps an adjoining block when said blocks are
abutting
horizontally.

Description

2165628
CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of building
components, and, in particular, concrete blocks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are a variety of types of concrete blocks used
today to build structures. The concrete blocks presently
available have a number of significant disadvantages. They
are difficult to lay correctly and can only be dry stacked up
to a certain level with safety. They require concrete or
mortar to bond the blocks together. Interlocking stacking
blocks generally have intricate shapes which are not readily
replicated in simply concrete moulds and can be expensive to
manufacture.
Therefore, there is a need for a concrete block which
interlocks in a simple manner, is easy to use and install and
inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. There is also a need
for a concrete blocks which uses less mortar and concrete to
bond the blocks together.
SU1~IARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
building component which has increased stability when
stacked, improved drainage and greater prevention of moisture
seeping into a structure.
Therefore, there is provided a building component
comprising a generally rectangular block having front and rear
panels, an upper and lower surface and end surfaces, wherein
said block overlaps abutting blocks when said blocks are
abutting in an horizontal and/or vertical arrangement.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a building component comprising a generally
rectangular block having front and rear panels, an upper and
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2165628
lower surface, and end surfaces, said front and rear panels
extending past one end panel, and said front and rear panels
being recessed below said upper surface and extending below said
lower surface, wherein said front and rear panels overlap an
adjoining block when the blocks are abutting horizontally, and
said front and rear panels overlap an adjoining block when the
blocks are stacked vertically.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
building component comprising a generally rectangular block
having front and rear panels, an upper and lower surface, and end
panels, said front and rear panels extending past one end panel,
and said front and rear panels being recessed below said upper
surface and extending below said lower surface, wherein said
front and rear panels overlap an adjoining block when the blocks
are abutting horizontally, and said front and rear panels overlap
an adjoining block when the blocks are stacked vertically, each
said end panel being provided with at least one vertically
extending channels alignable from block to block in a course of
blocks, for accepting a sealing material therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described and may be better understood when read in conjunction
with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the block of
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the block of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an end view of the block of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a corner block of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a plan view of a horizontal arrangement of the
blocks of Figures 1 and 4;
Figure 6 is an ane view of the blocks of Figure 1 stacked
vertically;
Figure 7 is a plan view of the blocks of Figure 1 abutting
horizontally; and
Figure 8 is a front view of the blocks of Figure 1 in
successive horizontal courses forming a wall.
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2165628
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the block of the present
invention is made of concrete and generally rectangular in
shape having an upper surface 3, lower surface 5, end surfaces
7, 9, front panel 13 and rear panel 11 and having hollow
sections 15 in the centre portion thereof as are commonly
found in concrete building blocks.
The ends of the front and rear panels 13, 11 extend
beyond one end surface 7 of the block forming projections 25.
These projections 25 overlap the opposite end 9 of an abutting
block when placed in a horizontal row as shown in Figures 5
and 7. Shown in Figure 1, the rear panel 11 has a solid face.
The front panel 13 may be divided into sections by a series
of parallel vertical grooves 27 running the height of the
front panel 13. This arrangement, depicted in Figure 2 and
8 allows for increased drainage and generally aesthetic
purposes. The front and rear panels may have different
styles.
The front and rear panels 13, 11 also extend downwardly
below the lower surface 5 of the block 1 forming projecting
flanges 29. The front and rear panels 13, 11 are also
recessed below the upper surface 3 of the block 1. This
arrangement allows the lower extent of one block la to overlap
the upper extent of a second block lb when the blocks are
stacked vertically as shown in Figure 6. The overlapping
arrangement of the blocks la, lb helps to prevent
precipitation from seeping in between the blocks la, lb
thereby substantially preventing moisture from entering a
structure.
Referring to Figures 3 and 6, the end surfaces 7, 9 of
the block 1 have channels 17, 18 recessed therein. The end
surfaces 7, 9 may have a number of larger channels 17. These
channels 17 collect any moisture which may enter the block 1
and channel it down to prevent further penetration of the
moisture into the structure. They may also have smaller
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2165628
channels 18 for receiving and holding mortar 19 and concrete
to help cement the blocks together. The channels 17, 18
extend for the height of the end surfaces 7, 9 of the block
1 in a parallel formation.
The upper surface 3 of the blocks 1 have a number of
indentations 4 therein. The block 1 may have hollow sections
extending through its height as are commonly found in
concrete blocks. In Figures 1, 4, 5 and 7, four hollow
portions 15 are shown, however, various arrangements may be
10 utilized. The hollow portions 15, large channels 17 in the
end panels 7, 9 and the indentations 4 reduce the cost of
manufacture and weight of the blocks 1.
The arrangement of the blocks 1 when stacked horizontally
and vertically are shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. In Figure 6,
15 the lower projecting flanges 29 of the front and rear panels
13, 11 of the upper block la overlap the upper edge of the
lower block lb where the front and rear panels 13, 11 of the
lower block lb are recessed. In Figure 7, projections 25 at
the end of the front and side panels 13, 11 of the blocks lc
overlap the outside of the end surface 9 of the abutting block
ld.
Figure 8 shows the blocks 1 in successive horizontal
arrangements forming a wall. The lower flanges 29 of the
blocks 1 overlap the upper edge ( shown in dotted lines ) of the
blocks 1 in a lower row. The flanges 25 also overlap the end
panels 9 of abutting blocks 1 in a horizontal row. The
vertical grooves 27 of the front panels 13 of the blocks 1 are
generally in alignment to provide drainage.
In Figure 5 is shown the horizontal arrangement of the
blocks 1 at a corner. The corner piece 2 in Figure 4 has a
number of channels 17, 18 in one end similar to the block 1
in Figure 1. However, its other end 8 is generally flat and
may have a series of parallel vertical grooves 27 similar to
the front panel 13. A portion 12 of the rear panel 11 is
recessed causing the end panel 8 of the corner block 2 to
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2165628
project beyond the rear panel 11. This recessed portion 12
has a number of channels 18 for holding mortar for binding to
an abutting block 1. The recessed portion 12 in the rear
panel 11 corresponds in size to the end panel 9 of a block 1
and receives and retains an end panel 9 of the abutting block
1 in a horizontal configuration. The front and rear panel 13,
11 and end panel 8 of the corner block 2 are recessed from its
upper surface 3 and extend beyond the lower surface 5 in
projecting flanges similar to those utilized in the block 1.
The projecting flanges overlap the upper edge of an adjoining
lower block 2 when the blocks 2 are stacked vertically.
While the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by
someone skilled in the art that modifications and alterations
may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Therefore, it is intended that the foregoing description will
not be limiting in any way.
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Representative Drawing