U.S. patent application number 12/659403 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-09 for interlocking blocks for temporary structure.
Invention is credited to Ted Jones.
Application Number | 20100223876 12/659403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42677020 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100223876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Ted |
September 9, 2010 |
Interlocking blocks for temporary structure
Abstract
The building block interlocks with other like blocks by means of
mating tongues and grooves or mating projections and recesses to
form a temporary structure such as a garage or a factory. The block
is hollow and less an opening through which particulate material
may be selectively introduced and extracted from the hollow
interior. The block may be composed of light-weight material such
as polypropylene or other polymeric material so that the block can
be carried and lifted easily by hand when it is empty.
Inventors: |
Jones; Ted; (Oshawa,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC
4000 Legato Road, Suite 310
FAIRFAX
VA
22033
US
|
Family ID: |
42677020 |
Appl. No.: |
12/659403 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/588.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2002/0219 20130101;
E04B 2/12 20130101; E04B 2002/0289 20130101; E04C 1/40 20130101;
E04B 2/08 20130101; E04B 2002/0234 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/588.1 |
International
Class: |
E04C 1/00 20060101
E04C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 9, 2009 |
CA |
2,657,742 |
Claims
1. A plurality of building blocks adapted to interconnect with each
other to form a structure, each said building block being defined
by a plurality of vertical walls; and top and bottom walls and
having a thickness between oppositely facing exterior and interior
surfaces of said walls, said interior surfaces defining a hollow
interior for receipt and containment of particulate material
therein, each said building block further having a first block
connector composed of a vertically extending tongue or groove
formed in at least one said vertical wall, said block connector
being adapted to interconnect with another said block connector in
another said building block disposed beside thereto, said building
block further having at least one opening through which particulate
material may be selectively introduced and extracted from said
hollow interior.
2. The building block of claim 1 wherein said thickness is no
greater than necessary to provide sufficient strength to said
building block to maintain said structure intact when said building
block is filled with said particulate material.
3. The building block of claim 1 wherein each said building block
has a second block connector composed of a projection or a recess
formed in said top wall and said bottom wall, said block connector
being adapted to interconnect with one said block connector in
another said building block disposed above or below thereto
4. The building block of claim 1 wherein each said building block
includes a second block connector composed of a projection or
recess in said top wall, said second block connector being adapted
to interconnect with one said second block connector in another
said building block disposed immediately above said top wall.
5. The building block of claim 1 wherein each said building block
includes a second block connector composed of a projection or
recess in said bottom wall, said second block connector being
adapted to interconnect with one said second block connector in
another said building block disposed immediately beneath said
bottom wall.
6. The building block of claim 1 wherein two said vertical walls
meet at a corner, the exterior surface of both said two vertical
walls being flat.
7. The building block of claim 1 wherein one said vertical surface
has a first block connector white the remaining said vertical walls
are flat.
8. A plurality of building blocks adapted to interconnect with each
other to form a structure, each said building block being defined
by a plurality of vertical walls; and top and bottom walls and
having a thickness between oppositely facing exterior and interior
surfaces of said walls, said interior surfaces defining a hollow
interior for receipt and containment of particulate material
therein, said building block, having at least one. Opening through
which particulate material may be selectively introduced and
extracted from said hollow interior. said top wall having a channel
for receipt of a window frame thereto.
9. The building block of claim 8 further including a first block
connector composed of a vertically extending tongue or groove
formed in said bottom wall, said block connector being adapted to
interconnect with another said block connector in another said
building block disposed beside thereto
10. The building block of claim 1 wherein said two said vertical
walls meet at a corner, the exterior surface of both said two
vertical walls being flat.
11. The building block of claim 1 wherein said tongue and said
groove each have bevelled side walls.
12. The building block of claim 1 wherein said projection and said
recess each have bevelled side walls.
13. The building blocks of claim 1 wherein each said building block
has a removable cap for closing said opening.
14. The building blocks of claim 1 wherein the angle between said
top wall and said bottom wall is approximately 45 degrees.
15. A plurality of building blocks adapted to interconnect with
each other to form a structure, each said building block having a
hollow interior and being defined by vertical walls composed of a
pair of oppositely facing side walls and a pair of oppositely
facing end walls; and, top and bottom walls; each said building
block further having a pair of first block connectors formed in a
pair of oppositely facing said vertical walls, each said first
block connector being composed of a vertically extending tongue or
groove and being adapted to interconnect with one said first block
connector in another said building block disposed adjacent to said
each building block; said top wall having at least one opening
through which particulate material may be selectively introduced
and extracted from said hollow interior.
16. The building blocks of claim 15 wherein each said wall has a
thickness between oppositely facing exterior and interior surfaces
of said wall, said interior surfaces defining a hollow interior for
receipt and containment of particulate material therein, said
thickness being no greater than necessary to provide sufficient
strength to said building block to maintain said structure intact
when said building block is filled with said particulate
material.
17. The building blocks of claim 15 wherein each said building
block includes a second block connector composed of a projection or
recess in said top wall, said second block connector being adapted
to interconnect with one said second block connector in another
said building block disposed immediately above said top wail.
18. The building blocks of claim 15 wherein each said building
block includes a second block connector composed of a projection or
recess in said bottom wall, said second block connector being
adapted to interconnect with one said second block connector in
another said building block disposed immediately beneath said
bottom wall.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to building blocks for temporary
structures and more particularly to building blocks which can be
rapidly assembled at a location where there is a need fur a
temporary structure and afterward, when the need has passed, can as
rapidly be dismantled. Once dismantled, the blocks can be shipped
at relatively low cost to a new location and reused.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When a disaster occurs such as a hurricane or a fire, there
are often injuries and loss of life as well as damage and
destruction of buildings. Many buildings such as houses, schools
and factories must be rebuilt quickly to avoid a prolonged
disruption in the lives of the survivors However, in most cases,
existing structures are not rebuilt quickly. Rather, there are
usually long delays before new structures are constructed and ready
for occupancy.
[0003] I have invented building blocks which are suitable for use
in temporary structures. The blocks are composed of lightweight
material such as polypropylene or other polymeric material so that
the blocks can be carried and lifted easily by hand. A crane or
other machine for transporting and lifting the blocks into position
is not required.
[0004] The blocks interlock to form the shell of a complete
structure. Mortar or other bonding material is not required to hold
the blocks in place. The blocks can be assembled into a structure
quickly and later dismantled for use elsewhere with a minimum of
delay and cost.
[0005] The blocks arc hollow to minimize their weight. The hollow
interior of the blocks may be filled in the course of construction
with a variety of materials. The interior may for example be filled
with particles of insulating material or it may be filled with
sand. Sand serves to increase the weight of the blocks and to
increase the stability of the structure. Afterward, when the blocks
are disconnected as the structure is being dismantled, the
insulating material or sand can be poured out of the blocks in
order to decrease their weight and to make them easier to
handle.
[0006] Plugs are provided to close the openings through which the
insulating material or sand is introduced into the interior of the
blocks and openings are provided in the side walls of the blocks to
which straps for drywall may be attached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Briefly, the building block of my invention is adapted to
interconnect with other like blocks to form a structure. Each
building block is defined by a plurality of vertical walls; and top
and bottom walls and has a thickness between oppositely facing
exterior and interior surfaces of the walls. The interior surfaces
define a hollow interior for, receipt and containment of
particulate material therein. Each building block further has a
first block connector composed of a vertically extending tongue or
groove formed in at least one vertical wall. The block connector is
adapted to interconnect with another like block connector in
another building block disposed beside it and is provided with at
least one opening through which particulate material may be
selectively introduced and extracted from the hollow interior.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The building blocks of the invention are described with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of block for use in the front,
rear and side walls of a building;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the block of FIG. 1 in which
an end wall is removed to expose the interior of the block;
[0011] FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan and a side elevation, respectively,
of the building block of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a block for use at the
corner of a structure having front, rear and side walls composed of
the building blocks illustrated in the previous drawing;
[0013] FIGS. 6 and 7 are a plan and a side elevation, respectively,
of the building block of FIG. 5;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a variation of block 5;
[0015] FIGS. 9 and 10 are a plan and a side elevation,
respectively, of the building block of FIG. 8;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a roof block for use at the
roof of a structure having front, rear and side walls composed of
the building blocks illustrated in FIGS. 1-4;
[0017] FIGS. 12 and 13 are a plan and a side elevation,
respectively, of the roof block of. FIG. 11;
[0018] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second variation of a
block for use at the corner of a structure;
[0019] FIGS. 15 is a plan view of a variation of the building block
of FIG. 11;
[0020] FIG. 15a is a plan view of the building Nook of FIG. 14;
[0021] FIG. 16 is a plan view of another variation of the block of
FIG. 14;
[0022] FIGS. 17 and 18 are elevations of the blocks of FIGS. 14 and
16, respectively;
[0023] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a block for use as an upper
channel of a window frame;
[0024] FIGS. 20 and 21 are an end view and a plan view of the block
of FIG. 19;
[0025] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a block for use as a lower
channel of a window frame;
[0026] FIG. 22a is an end view of the block of FIG. 22;
[0027] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a block used as a left
channel of a window frame;
[0028] FIG. 23a is a view of the bottom wall of the block of FIG.
23;
[0029] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a block used as a right
channel of a window frame;
[0030] FIG. 24a is a view of the bottom wall of the block of FIG.
24; and
[0031] FIG. 25 is an elevation of the block of FIG. 24.
[0032] Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the
description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the building block of the
invention, generally 10, has a hollow interior 12 and has a
plurality of vertical walls composed of a pair of oppositely facing
rectangular front and back side walls 14, 16 respectively and
oppositely facing rectangular end walls 18a,b. The block is
enclosed by rectangular top and bottom walls 20, 22. respectively
.
[0034] Selective vertical walls have first block connectors in the
form of either a tongue or a groove which mates with the tongue.
End wall 18b, for example, has a first block connector in the form
of a vertically extending tongue 30 and the other end wall 18a has
a first block connector in the form of a vertically extending
groove 32. The tongue is adapted to interconnect with a groove in
an end of a second identical building block (not illustrated)
placed adjacent to end 18b of the subject building block and groove
32 is adapted to interconnect with a tongue in an end wall of a
third identical building block (not illustrated) placed adjacent to
the other end wall of the subject building block
[0035] The top and bottom walls have second block connectors in the
form of either a projection of a recess which mates with the
projection In FIGS. 1-4, a pair of spaced apart rectangular
projections 36a,b extends upward from the top wall 20 of the
building block and a pair of rectangular recesses 38a,b extends
inward from bottom wall 22. The projections are received in
recesses in the bottom wall of an identical fourth building block
(not illustrated) placed on top of the subject building block while
the recesses receive projections in an identical building block
(not illustrated) immediately below the subject building block.
Each projection has an opening 40 in its upper wall for
introduction and removal of insulating material, sand or other
particulate material in the hollow interior 12 of the building
block. The opening may be closed by a cap (not illustrated) to
prevent moisture from entering the interior of the block.
[0036] Openings 41 are formed in side wall 14 to facilitate
attachment of straps to which dry wall or wooden panels can be
attached.
[0037] The thickness of the vertical and the top and bottom walls
of the building block should preferably be no more than that
necessary to provide sufficient strength to maintain a structure in
which the build block is a part intact. Thicker walls will not only
add to the cost of construction of the block but also to its
overall weight. A heavier block will lack the advantage of a
lighter block as a structure is being assembled such as ease of
handling and lower cost but will lack the advantage of ease of
handling while the structure is being disassembled after it is no
longer required.
[0038] As a structure is being constructed the blocks will be
filled so that the filling, if it is strong in compression, such as
compacted sand, will add strength to the block. If the filling is
weak in compression such as insulating chips, it will also be light
weight and will not add appreciably to the overall weight of the
structure. In such case, the walls of the block need. not be strong
enough to support the weight of much more than the weight of block
above it.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 5-7, a corner building block,
generally 42, has a vertically extending tongue 44 on one end wall
46a. The other end wall 46b is flat. A vertically extending groove
50 is formed on one side wall 52a while the other oppositely facing
side wall 52b is flat. Projections and recesses, 56, 58
respectively, identical to those in the building block of FIGS. 1-4
are formed on the top and bottom walls, respectively, of the corner
building block.
[0040] The flat walls 46h and 52h of the corner building block
define the exterior faces of the corner of a structure. The tongue
and groove 44, 50 in the oppositely facing walls 46a and 52a fit
into conforming grove and tongue, respectively, of adjacent
non-corner building blocks in the same course as the just-described
block 42.
[0041] The corner building block of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, generally
60, is the same as corner block 42 except that a groove 62 is
substituted for tongue 44 of block 42 and a tongue 62 is
substituted for groove 50 of block 42. Corner block 60 is adapted
for use at an end of a course of blocks where corner block 42 is at
the opposite end.
[0042] With reference to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the roof block,
generally 70, is hollow and bas front and back side. walls 72a,b,
top and bottom walls 76 and 78 and a single end wall 80. The slope
of the top wall 76 is the same as the slope of the roof of building
in which the roof block is located. In the drawing, the slope is
approximately 45 degrees, which is the angle between the top and
bottom walls.
[0043] A pair of rectangular recess 82 is formed in the bottom wall
for receipt of the projection of the building block on which the
roof block is seated. An opening (not illustrated) is formed in the
top wall through which particulate material is introduced into the
hollow interior of the block. A hollow 84 is provided on the front
wall of the block to which a strap may be attached.
[0044] With reference to FIGS. 14, 15a and 17, the end block,
generally 90, has a hollow interior, front and back side walls
92a,b, top and bottom walls 96, 98 having a projection and recess
100, 102, respectively, for the same purpose as the projections and
recesses described above. A vertically extending groove 104 is
formed in one end wall while the other end wall 106 as well as the
front and back walls of the end block are flat.
[0045] The corner block of FIG. 15 has a tongue 107 where wall 92a
of the block of FIG. 14 is flat, otherwise it is the same as the
block of FIG. 14. The corner blocks of FIGS. 16 and 18 have a
tongue 112 where the block of FIG. 14 has a groove 104.
[0046] With reference to FIGS. 19-21, the window block, generally
120, has a longitudinally extending channel 122 in its bottom wall
for receipt of the upper portion of a window frame or sash. A pair
of projections 124 in its top wall have openings for introduction
of particulate. material. The lower window block illustrated in
FIGS. 22 and 22a has a channel 126 for receipt of the lower portion
of a window frame. The left and right portions of a window frame
are received in channels 130, 132 of window blocks 134 and 136
respectively. A groove and a tongue 140, 142 are formed on the side
of blocks 130, 132 respectively for attachment to adjacent building
blocks.
[0047] While the building blocks depicted in FIGS. 22 to 25 lack
recesses and projections they all have hollow interiors and have
openings (not illustrated) through which particulate material may
be selectively introduced and extracted from their interiors
[0048] It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be
made in the structure of the building blocks described and
illustrated herein without departing from the scope and put view of
the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example the
side walls of the tongues and grooves may be bevelled for a more
secure fit between the two. Likewise the side walls of the
projections and recesses may be bevelled for the same reason.
* * * * *