Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Various forms of building blocks heretofore have been provided with
interlocking projections and recesses. However, most of these previously
known forms of building blocks include mating projections and recesses which
may be used to interlock only adjacent staggered courses of blocks and which
are not operative to interlock stacked tiers of blocks while a quantity
thereof are being stored or shipped in a compact state.
Examples of various different forms of building blocks including
some of the general structural and operational features of this instant inven-
tion are disclosed in ~.S. Pat. Nos. 86,961, 253,416, 779,613, 1,833,875,
2,062,851, 2,474,186 and 3,382,632.
The building block of the instant invention includes projections
and recesses which enable longitudinally staggered adjacent courses of blocks
to be interlockingly engaged with each other and yet which further allow ver-
tical tiers of stacked blocks to be interlocking engaged relative to each
other for compact storage and shipment.
The building block additionally is constructed in a manner including
internal reinforcing whereby vertical loads may be tran~ferred directly through
the vertical reinforcing in a wall of stacked staggered courses of block~ and
the reinforcing may also be tubular whereby heating and cooling fluids may be
circulated through a wall constructed of the blocks, Further, some forms of
block reinforcing may al90 be utilized to reinforce cementitious filler
material poured into the b]ock cavitieH ~nd the inter~ittin~ projection~ and
recesses of the block~ mMy be dimenHioll~d to provide a desired thickneHs lflyer
mortar between adjacent block surfaces,
The main object of this invention i~ to provide a univers~lLy usable
building block which may be compactly stored and shipped with vertically
adjacent blocks interlockingly engaged with each other and yet which may be
erected in a wall of longitudinally staggered adjacent courses of blocks
in a manner such that the blocks of adjacent courses are interlocked with
each other.
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Another object of this invention is to provide an improved building
block construction including internal reinforcing.
A further object of this invention, in accordance with the imme-
diately preceding object, is to provide a building block including internal
reinforcing which may function to transfer vertical loads placed upon a wall
of the blocks directly therethrough by the internal block reinforcing.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a building
block including internal reinforcing which may be used to define heating or
cooling fluent passages formed in a wall constructed of the blocks.
A further important object of this invention is to provide a
building block and a companion header block constructed in a manner whereby
the header block and building block may be interfittingly engaged with each
other.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a building
block whose coacting projections and recesses may be dimensioned to define
mortar joints between opposing surfaces of adjacent blocks to be of a pre-
determined thickness.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein
i8 to provide an improved building block in accordance with the preceding
objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of
simple construction and easy to use so as to provide n device thnt wiLl be
economically ~easible, lonK l~ting ~Ind eelat;ivcly trouble Eree ;n oper~tion.
Figure 1 is a EraKmentary perspective view of a wall construction
utilizing interfittingly engageable blocks constructed ;n accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the wall
illustrated in Figure 1 with portions of two of the blocks of the wall being
broken away and illustrated in vertical section;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially
upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of Figure 2;
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Figure ~ is an enlarged top plan view of a block constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the manner
in which tiers of vertically spaced blocks constructed in accordance with the
present invention may be interlockingly engaged with each other;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 comprise fragmentary vertical sectional views of
blocks including projections of slightly different configurations;
Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating
different forms of upper bearing plate equipped vertical reinforcing rods which
may be used in the block;
Figure 11 is a top plan view of a modified form of building block
including cavity seals for sealing cavities between adjacent courses of blocks
and wherein the internal reinforcing of the block may comprising tubular
members;
Figure 12 is an elevational view oE the block illustrated in Figure 11
with portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in vertical section;
Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view illustrat-
ing the mann in which blocks inclusive of the structure illustrated in Figures
10 and 12 may be interfitted relative to each other;
Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially
upon the plane indicated by the section line 14--14 oE Figure 13;
Figure 15 i~ a Er~mcntMry ~op plan vi~w Oe tha cosner port;on Oe
the lower block iLLutrated in Figure 14 and with the face seal ;llustrated
in Figures 11 and 12 removed;
Figure 16 is a top plan view of a modified form of building block
incLuding internal reinforcing which may also serve to reinforce cementitious
filler placed in the block cavities and further including block end openings
through which cementitious fiLler in end adjacent blocks may bridge between
the interiors of the attendant adjacent blocks;
Figure 17 i5 a right side elevational view of the block illustrated
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in Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a respective view of a header or lintel block which
may be used in conjunction with the blocks illustrated in Figures 1-17;
Figure 19 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 19--l9 in Figure
18; and
Figure 20 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the lintel
block illustrated in Flgures 18 and 19.
Referring now more specifically to Figures 1-5 of the drawings,
there may be seen a building block referred to in general by the reference
numeral 10. The building block 10 may be formed as a cinder block or as a
concrete block, or the block lO may be constructed of other materials includ-
ing glass and plastic. The block 10 includes top and bottom faces 12 and 14,
front and rear surfaces 16 and 18 and opposite end surfaces 20 and 22. The
top and bottom faces are generally parallel as are the front and rear surfaces
16 and 18 and the opposite end surfaces 20 and 22. The central portion of
the rear marginal edge of the top face 12 includes an upwardly opening recess
24 formed therein which also opens rearwardly through the rear surface 18
and the opposite end~ of the front marginal edge of the top face 12 includes
a pair of corner recesses 26 formed therein which also open horizontally
outwardly of the front face 16 and the opposite end surfaces 20 flnd 22.
It will also be noted that the ~orwnrd mntK;nnt portion of the~
bottom fnce 14 includes opposite end dowttw~.trd corner projections 28 and
that the central portion of the rear surface 18 includes a downward central
section 30.
When a plurality of blocks lO are stacked in vertically registered
positions with the front surfaces 16 thereof facing in the same direct;on,
the downward corner and central projections 28 and 30 of each upper block
lO are received in the recesses 26 and 14, respectively, of the next lower
block 10. In thi~ manner, vertically stacked blocks 10 are keyed together
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for compact storage and shipment in the manner il]ustrated in Figure 5 of
the drawings. However, when the blocks 10 are to be u~ed in the construction
of a wall such as the wall referred to in general by the reference numeral
34 in Figure 1, the blocks 10 in adjacent horizontal courses of blocks 10
are reversed front to rear relative to each other.
At this point, it is pointed out that the recesses 24 are of
substantially twice the plan area of the recesses 26 and, accordingly, while
the corner projections 28 and projections 30 are received in the recesses 26
and 24 when the blocks 10 are vertically stacked in full registered positions,
when the blocks 10 of vertically adjacent courses of blocks are reversed front
to rear relative to each other and relatively staggered in the manner illus-
trated in Figure 1 of the drawings, each corner projection 28 of an upper
block i9 received in one-half of Lhe recesses 24 of adjacent blocks disposed
therebelow and each projection 30 is received in the pair of corner recesses
26 disposed therebelow. In this manner, the blocks 10 of vertically adjacent
courses of blocks may also be interfitted relative to each other when the
blocks of vertically adjacent courses of longitudinally staggered blocks are
reversed relative to each other in front to rear relation.
With attention again invited to Figures 1-5 an~ more particularly
20 to Figures 2, 3 and 4, each front corner portion of each block 10 includeH
a vertically extending reinorcinu mernber 36 emb~dded thf.~eein arltl ext~ndillK
vertically therethrou~h w;th the upper end of encll reinforrin~ member 36
being generally centered in the corresponding recess 26 and terminating up-
wardly flush with the bottom of the corresponding recess 26. The lower ends
of the reinforcing members 36 may extend, for example, approximately 1/16 of
an inch below the lower extremity of the corresponding corner projection 28
so that a small mortar space of substantially 1/16 of an inch will be defined
between the top face 12 of a lower block 10 and the bottom face 14 of an upper
block 10. Also, the extent of the projections 28 lengthwise of the blocks 10
is slightly less than one-half the extent of the recesses 24 longitudinally
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of the blocks 10, whereby the spacing between end opposing bloc~s 10 will also
be approximately 1/16 of an inch. In this manner, a very thin mortar joint
may be used.
If it is desired, however, the lower ends of the reinforcing members
36 may terminate flush with the lower ends of the corner projections 28.
The vertical midportions of the reinforcing members 36 are joined
by a forward mid-heihgt reinforcing member 38 extending and secured therebe-
tween and the rear longitudinal midportion of the block 10 includes a pair
of slightly laterally spaced apart reinforcing members 40. The reinforcing
members 40 terminate upwardly flush with the lower extremities of the recesseY
24 and the lower ends of the reinforcing members 40 may project downwardly
below the lower ends of the projections 30 by approximately 1/16 of an inch.
Accordingly, the 1/16 inch mortar joint between all opposing surfaces of
adjacent blocks is maintained.
Blocks 10 may have a pair of vertically extending openings or voids
42 formed therein and if it i8 desired, vertically adjacent blocks 10 may be
separated by thin mortar joints 44 which do not include portions thereof
disposed between the lower ends of the projections 28 and 30 and the lower
extremities of the recesses 24 and 26, see Figure 6. In addition, the pro-
jections 28 as well as the projections 30 may be bevelle.d in the manner
indicated as at 28' in Figure 8 or otherwise bevelled in the manner indicated
by the reference numeral 28 " in Fi~ure 8. Still Eurther, Figure 8 al~o
illustrates the manner in which the reces~es 26 ~nd 2~ may be bevelled a~
indic~ted at 26 " in Figure 8.
The reinforcing members 40 of the block lO nre connected to the
central portion of the reinforcing member 38 by front to rear extending
reinforcing members 46 extending and secured between the reinforcing memberA
40 and the reinforcing member 38 and in this manner the central web 50 of
the block 10 as well as the front wall thereof is adequately reinforced.
As may be seen from Figure 9, the upper endY of each vertical
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reinforcing member 36 may be provided with a plate 52 secured thereto in anyconvenient manner such as welding and recessed within that portion of block
10 defining the lower extremity of the corresponding recess 26. In addition,
the upper ends of the reinforcing rods 40 may be equipped with similar plates.
A further modification of the block 10 is illustrated in Figure 10
of the drawings in which the lower end of the reinforcing member 36 projects
downwardly below the bottom face 14 and is not embedded within a projection
such as the projection 28. Rather, the lower terminal end 36' of the rein-
forcing member 36 which projects below the bottom face 14 may be weakened
by any suitable means at the plane of the bottom face 14 in order that the
lower terminal end 36' may be laterally deflected and broken from the remain-
ing upper portion of the reinforcing member 36, if desired.
With attention now invited more specifically to Figures 11 through
15 of the drawings, a modified form of building block i8 referred to in
general by the reference numeral 10'. The block 10' is substantially iden-
tical to the block 10, except that the vertical openings or voids 42' formed
therein are of a slightly different shape and the top face 12' of the block
10' includes open frflme resilient seals 56 supported therefrom whereby the
upper and lower ends of the openings or voids 42 of adjacent blocks may be
sealed relative to each oeher. In addition, instead of utilizing solid
reinforcing members which is the reinforcing members 36, 38, 40 and 46, the
block 10' includes tubular reinforcln~ membcrs 36~, 38~, 40' alltl 46' which
are communicated w;th each other. The upper ends of the tubular reinforcing
members 36' include bell ends 49 which open upwsrdly into the corresponding
recess 26' corresponding to the recesses 26 and the lower ends of the tubular
reinforcing members 36' define spigot ends 37 which are downwardly receivable
in a fluid tight manner within the bell ends, see Figure 4 wherein it may be
seen that the bell ends are provided with sealing washers 41 for engagement
with the opposing spigot ends and the bell ends 39 further include mid-height
circumferentially extending ribs 43 for tightly frictionally engaging the
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1253~5S
corresponding spigot ends 37. The bell ends 39 may open upwardly through
plates 52' corresponding to the plates 52 and the spigot ends 38 may open
downwardly through plates 53 carried thereby and abutted against the lower
ends of the projections 28' corresponding to the porjections 28. Of course,
the upper and lower ends of the tubular reinforcing members 40' are fonmed
in the same manner.
With attention invited more speifically to Figures 16 and 17 of the
drawings, there will be seen a third Eorm of building block referred to in
general by the reference numeral 10 " . The building block 10 " includes
projections and recesses corresponding to the projections 28, 30 and recesses
24, 26 and reinforcing members 38 " and 46 " corresponding to the reinforcing
members 38 and 46. However, the reinforcing members 38 " include front to
rear extending cross pieces 60 projecting forwardly through the front surface
16 " in the form of upwardly opening hooks and projecting horizontally rear-
wardly through the front wall of the block 10 " and terminating rearwardly
adjacent the centers of the corresponding vertically extending block openings
or cavities. In this manner, the openings or cavities may be filled with
cementitious material or the like and such cementitious material may be rein-
forced by the rearwardly projecting portions of the cross pieces 60. In
addition, the reinforcing members 46 " include a cross piece 62 extending
longitudinally of the block 10 " and which project ;nto the vertically
extending opening~ or cavities o the ~lock 10' alld whoH~ opp~ite elltl~
may also be embedded in cementitiou~ materiAI ugetl to ~ill the openings or
voids. Further, the end walls 64 of the block 10 " may have mid-height open-
ings 66 formed therethrough whose inner ends open into the corresponding
vertical openings or cavities and which thereby enable a cylindrical rod of
cementitious material to connect cementitious filler portions disposed in
the vertical openings or cavities in adjacent block ends.
With attention now invited more specifically to Figures 18, 19 and
20, an upper lintel block or header is referred to in general by the reference
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numeral 70. The header 70 is in the form of an upwardly opening U-shaped
channel member and opposite longitudinal sides of the undersurface of the
lintel block 70 include longitudinally staggered downward projections 71
which are receivable in the recesses 24 and 26 of blocks disposed immediately
therebeneath. The lintel block 70 includes central longitudinally extending
reinforcing members 72 which may be embedded in cementitious material used to
fill the interiors of the channel-shaped lintel blocks 70 and the latter addi-
tionally include opposite side longitudinally extending reinforcing members
74 extending between adjacent upright reinforcing members 76 which project
upwardly through the projections 71 and have lateral integral arm portions
78 from which the corresponding reinforcing members 72 are supported. Accord-
ingly, it may be seen that the lintel block 70 may be supported atop the
uppermost course of blocks 10. Also, it is to be noted that the lower ends
of the reinforcing members 76 may project slightly below the lower ends of
the corresponding projections 71.
When the tubular reinforcing members illustrated in Figures 10-15
are used, heating or cooling liquids may be circulated through these tubular
reinforcing members, as desired, to heat or cool the associated wall. It i9
also to be noted that the various vertical reinforcing members act to transfer
a vertical loading on the upper portion of the wall 34 directly downwardly
therethrough to the footing of the wall. In this maQIler~ the wall 34 include~
considerably greater load be~lring capacity th~.tlt A ~imilar wall constructed
without the utilization of vertically extending reinforc;ng members embedded
in the individual blocks of the wall.
The amount the vertical reinforcing members project downwardly from
corresponding projections determines the vertical thickness of the mortar
joints between adjacent horizontal courses of blocks 10. In addition, the
longitudinal extent of the projections 28 longitudinally of the blocks 10
determines the mortar joint spacing between adjacent block ends.
