GB2099032A - Building blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

Upper and lower building blocks with front projection 21, 22 and at least a lower rear projection 32 are arranged to touch at the front but not at the rear where there is a gap 35. The gap 35 allows the blocks to be relatively tilted so as to level them whilst projection 32 assists in retaining mortar. An upper rear projection 31 may be provided. Mutually engaging surfaces of the front projections 21, 22 slope forwardly and downwardly. The top and bottom surfaces of the building blocks may have further intermediate projections (53, Figs. 9, 10 not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building blocks The present invention relates to building blocks, such as bricks for use in building architectural structures.

From our earlier British Patent Specification 1402 991 it is known to provide building blocks having projections such that the blocks touch at their front and rear edges. The blocks are stated to be largely self-levelling, and do not readily permit a bricklayer to level the blocks himself.

According to the present invention there is provided a building block having substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces extending between front and rear surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces having first and second projections respectively which extend along or adjacent to the edges of the front surfaces, and at least the bottom surface having a further projection which extends along or adjacent to the edge of the rear surface, the size of the further projection being such that, when a said brick is laid upon another said brick, the second projection of one of the bricks rests upon the first projection of the other brick or an adjacent part of the other brick, and the further projection does not touch the other brick.

The first projection is preferably in the form of a nib portion which, in use, is arranged to be positioned behind the second projection of an adjacent brick. The side surfaces of the adjacent first and second projections may be arranged to slope forwardly and downwardly, and they may engage each other.

The front surface of the brick may slope downwardly to resemble a tile.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a brick in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an underneath plan view of the brick shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a side view of the brick of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a side view of two bricks according to the present invention in an overlying disposition; Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of part of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a side view of a brick in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 shows a side view of a brick in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 shows a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 7;; Fig. 9 shows a side view of a brick in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 shows a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 shows a modification of part of a brick in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5, there is shown a brick 10 having a front surface 11, a rear surface 12, a top surface 13, a bottom surface 15 and side surfaces 16. Adjacent to the front edge of the top surface 1 3 there is provided a projecting nib 21.

The nib has a front and rear sloping side surfaces 23, 24. Between nib 21 and the front edge the surface 14 of the brick is higher than the rest of the top surface 13.

At the front edge of the bottom surface 1 5 there is provided a projecting portion 22 having a rear sloping side surface 26. When one brick 10 is placed on another, see Fig. 4, the projection 22 is arranged to rest on the surface 14 of the brick below, with the sloping side surfaces 23, 26 of projections 21,22 touching see Fig. 5. There is a narrow gap 28 between nib 21 and the lower surface 1 5 of the upper brick and a wider gap 29 between surface 1 3 and the rest of surface 1 5.

The provision of gap 28 ensures that, even if nib 21 is made slightly too large during manufacture, the weight of an upper brick is still carried solely by surface 14 of the lower brick. Thus the risk of nib 21 being damaged by an overload is substantially reduced.

At the rear edge of the top and bottom surfaces 1 3, 1 5 there are provided respective projections 31,32. Projections 31, 32 are smaller than projections 21, 22 so that when two bricks are superimposed, respective projections 31,32 face each other but are separated by a gap 35.

As seen particularly in Fig. 2, the side surfaces 1 6 are formed with channels having sloping side surfaces 1 7 leading to flat surfaces 18. When the bricks are laid side by side, adjacent surfaces 1 8 and 1 9 may touch to enable the bricks to be selfpositioning, the channels permitting mortar to be inserted between the rest of the side surfaces. The touching of surfaces 18 prevents mortar inserted in the channels from escaping at the rear of the bricks.

The front 11 of the brick 10 slopes downwards to resemble hanging tiling. To this end a groove 41 is provided in the front surface to imitate the join between two adjacent tiles. Corner grooves 42 are also provided.

An advantage of the building blocks described above is that when the blocks are being laid, projections 31, 32 assist in retaining the mortar in gap 29 between vertically adjacent blocks whilst permitting the bricklayer to achieve exact levelling of the brick. This is more acceptable to skilled bricklayers than self-levelling bricks. In addition the blocks may be laid using conventional bricklaying tools. Furthermore, the mortar in gap 29 extends into gap 28 to provide a wider and firmer joint.

As shown projection 31, 32 are of the same size; in modifications they may be of differing sizes.

In a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 only the bottom surface is provided with a projection 32, and projection 31 is omitted.

Because surface 1 3 is below surface 14, projection 32 may extend to the level of projection 22, or even beyond, and still not touch the top surface 13 of the brick below, when laid.

In a third embodiment, Fig. 7, the projection 32 is separated by a groove 51 from the rest of the bottom surface of the brick. A top projection 31 may be provided if desired. In a modification, Fig. 8, the groove 51 may extend along a substantial part of the bottom surface.

In a fourth embodiment, Fig. 9, the top and bottom surfaces are provided with one or more further projections 52, 53 which permit inserted mortar to provide better grip between the bricks.

The projections may be of square, saw-tooth, Fig.

10, or other shape. In a modification only one of the upper and lower surfaces is provided with further projections.

Fig. 11 shows a modification of the upper surface 14 adjacent nib 21 in which a groove 61 is provided at this point, which serves to restrict the entry of moisture between the bricks.

Various further modifications may be made to the bricks described above. For example projections 31, 32 may have sloping sides, or they may be rounded. Similarly the surfaces 1 8, 1 9 could also be rounded. It may be arranged that facing side surfaces 18 at the rear of two adjacent bricks do not touch. Also, more than one channel may be provided at the sides of the bricks. In another modification, projection 22 may rest directly on the top of nib portion 21.

Although the brick has been shown having a front resembling plain tiles, other possibilities are possible. For example the bricks could be decorated with a design such as a fish-tail pattern, formed by suitably moulding the front of the brick.

Claims (13)

1. A building block having substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces extending between front and rear surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces having first and second projections respectively which extend along or adjacent to the edges of the front surfaces, and at least the bottom surface having a further projection which extends along or adjacent to the edge of the rear surface, the size of the further projection being such that, when a said brick is laid upon another said brick, the second projection of one of the bricks rests upon the first projection of the other brick or an adjacent part of the other brick, and the further projection does not touch the other brick.

2. A building block according to claim 1 wherein the first projection is in the form of a nib portion which, in use, is arranged to be positioned behind the second projection of an adjacent brick.

3. A building block according to claim 2 wherein a groove is provided between the nib portion and the rest of the top surface.

4. A building block according to any preceding claim wherein the front and rear surfaces of the first and second projections which are arranged to be adjacent in use, slope forwardly and downwardly.

5. A building block according to any preceding claim wherein the top surface also has a projection extending along or adjacent to the edge of the rear surface.

6. A building block according to claim 5 wherein the projections on the top and bottom surfaces and extending along or adjacent to the edge of the rear surface are of substantially the same size.

7. A building block according to claim 5 wherein the projections on the top and bottom surfaces and extending along or adjacent to the edge of the rear surface are of differing sizes.

8. A building block according to any preceding claim wherein the side surfaces are provided with channeis.

9. A building block according to any preceding claim wherein the projection on the bottom surface which extends along or adjacent to the edge of the rear surface is separated by a groove from the rest of the bottom surface.

10. A building block according to any preceding claim wherein the top and/or bottom surfaces are provided with a plurality of intermediate projections.

11. A building block according to claim 10 wherein the intermediate projections are rectangular in cross-section.

12. A building block according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the intermediate projections are triangular in cross-section.

13. A building block substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 or Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings.