GB2111554A - Construction of block - Google Patents

Abstract

A block 10 for closing the cavity at the eaves of a building having a sloping roof has a substantially constant cross-section with a planar bottom face 11 and a top face 12 having an upstanding inner edge 13 and a bevelled outer edge 14 spaced from the inner edge 13 by a planar surface 15 parallel to the face 11. The inner and outer side faces 22 and 23 of the block 10 are perpendicular to the bottom face 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Construction of block This invention relates to a construction of block and, in particular, to a block for use in closing the cavity at the top of an external wall of a building having a sloping roof.

Conventionally builders have had to improvise when closing off the cavity at the eaves of a building having a sloping roof. For example, many builders shape 4" solid blocks for this purpose by providing a bevelled edge on the external face of block against which the diagonal roof trusses rest.

This block shaping is time consuming and furthermore the wall plate on which the horizontal roof trusses rest is conventionally placed with its innermost faces substantially flush with the internal wall of the building. In order to provide a surface to which plaster can bind it is necessary to cover said innermost face of the wall plate with a layer of expanded metal or plasterboard. Even with the metal layer a hairline crack frequently develops at the junction between the biocks forming the wall and the expanded metal. Conventional ceilings are normally formed by securing plasterboard approximately 1 3 mm in thickness to the horizontal trusses of the roof and then applying a layer of plaster, approximate 7 mm in thickness, giving a total ceiling thickness of approximately 20 mm. The wall plate on the other hand is approximately 44 mm in thickness.

Accordingly, it is not generally possible with conventional building techniques to achieve continuity in the internal plastering of a building to the level of the ceiling.

It is appropriate to mention that there are in fact two different size wallplates currently in use in house-building namely first the 75 x 44 mm wallplate mentioned above and second a 100 x 75 mm wallplate. Our comments above are made in relation to the first size wallplate though except for the stated dimensions the comments are equally applicable to the second size wall plate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a block which can be used to close the cavity at the eaves in a building having a sloping roof and which will overcome the above disadvantages presently being experienced in the building trade.

Accordingly, the invention provides a block for closing the cavity at the eaves of a building having a sloping roof, the block having a substantially constant cross-section with a planar bottom face and a top face having an upstanding inner edge and a bevelled outer edge spaced from the inner edge by a planar surface.

Preferably, the block is made of concrete.

Further, the ratio of the length of the block to the width of the block is preferably no greater than 2 :1, most preferably about 1.75:1.

The inner side face of the block is intended to be substantially flush with the internal wall of a building. Whether the outer side face of the block is flush with the external wall of the building is determined by the width of the wall.

The invention will be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a block according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a section through a construction of building at the level of the eaves employing a block according to the invention; and Fig. 3 is a section through an alternative construction of building at the level of the eaves employing a block according to the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an elongated block 10 having a substantially constant cross-section along its length, the block being 440 mm long and 250 mm wide and integrally cast from concrete. The block 10 has a planar bottom face 11 and a top face 12 which comprises a longitudinal upstanding inner edge 13 of rectangular, preferably square, crosssection (40 x 40 mm) and an opposite longitudinal bevelled out edge 14 spaced from the upstanding edge 13 by a planar surface 1 5 which is 145 mm in width. The bevelled edge 14 is inclined downwardly at an angle of approximately 30 to the surface 15, the latter being parallel to the bottom face 11 which is disposed substantially horizontally in use as shown in Figures 2 and 3.The inner and outer longitudinal side faces 22 and 23 respectively of the block are perpendicular to the bottom face 11.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the block 10 is shown in situ at the eaves 1 6 of a building having a sloping roof, indicated generally at 17.

The block 10 bridges inner and outer leaves 1 8 and 19, respectively, of a cavity wall 20 of the building and is bedded thereon by means of a layer of mortar 21. The inner side face 22 of the block 10 is substantially flush with the inner surface of leaf 1 8 and the outer sideface 23 of the block 10 is flush with the outer surface of the leaf 19. The lower face of a diagonal truss 24 of the roof 17 complements the bevelled edge 14 of the block 10 and may, in the ideal condition, rest against or lightly engage the said edge 14 as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Further the lower face of a horizontal truss 25 complements the upstanding edge 13.

In Fig. 3 the block 10 is shown in situ at the eaves of a building having a sloping roof, indicated generally at 17, but wherein the outer side face 23 of the block 10 is not flush with the outer surface of the leaf 19 of the cavity wall 20. The cavity wall 20 includes a layer of insulating material 40 mm in thickness. All other parts of this building are identical to the building of Fig. 2 and like parts have been give the same reference numeral.

It will be appreciated that as the inner side face 22 of the block 10 provides a continuous surface with the innermost surface of the leaf 1 8, the inner wall 28 of the buildings depicted in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings may be readily plastered to ceiling level.

Furthermore, the provision of a ready-made closer block in accordance with the invention reduces the time and expense involved in erecting a sloping roof for a building.

The embodiment described above has particular application with a wallplate 26 having dimensions 75 x 44 mm. If the wallplate 26 is of the dimensions 100 x 75 mm then the crosssection of the upstanding inner edge 1 3 is rectangular and of dimensions 70 x 60 mm and the planar surface 1 5 is 125 mm in width.

Claims (7)

1. A block for closing the cavity at the eaves of a building having a sloping roof, the block having a substantially constant cross-section with a planar bottom face and a top face having an upstanding inner edge and a bevelled outer edge spaced from the inner edge by a planar surface.

2. A block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the planar surface of the top face is substantially parallel to the planar bottom face, and wherein at least the inner side face of the block is substantially perpendicular to the planar bottom face.

3. A block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upstanding inner edge of the top face has a rectangular cross-section.

4. A block as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the bevelled outer edge is downwardly inclined at an angle of approximately 300 to the planar surface of the top face.

5.A block as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ratio of the length of the block in the direction of constant cross-section to the width of the block is approximately 1.75:1.

6. A block as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the block is made of concrete.

7. A block as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.