IL322814A - Improved masonry block - Google Patents

Description

Improved Masonry Block FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an innovative masonry block, and in particular to masonry blocks that include sections for thermal and/or acoustic insulation with channels for piping and/or wiring.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMasonry blocks are well known in the art. Cinder blocks, for example, are concrete building blocks with open sections. Thermal insulating masonry blocks are also known in the art, whereby a thermally insulating material is integrated into the masonry block.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention there is provided a building unit for composite masonry, the unit including: a stone-based part including a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bridge portion disposed therebetween; synthetic polymer parts including a top piece, a bottom piece, a front piece and a back piece; and wherein vertical and horizontal conduits traverse the polymer part and the bridge portion.According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below the synthetic polymer parts are formed from thermally insulative material.According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the synthetic polymer parts are formed from acoustically insulative material.According to further features the stone-based part is a single piece formed in a mold or block making machine.According to further features the synthetic polymer parts are made from materials selected from the group including: polyethylene, polyurethane, Polyvinyl Chloride, synthetic resins, rubber, plastic, epoxy, silicone, polystyrene, polypropene, and composites thereof.According to further features the synthetic polymer parts are individually removable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSVarious embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a building unit 100 for composite masonry;FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the composite unit 100;FIG. 3 is a top view of the unit 100;FIG. 4 is a side view of unit 100;FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the stone-based part of the unit, without the modular pieces of synthetic polymer;FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of a cross-section of the building unit 100;FIG. 7 is an example implementation of the building units 100 in a partial structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe principles and operation of masonry block with insulating properties and integrated conduit openings according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a building unit 100 for composite masonry. Composite masonry involves combining traditional masonry materials like brick, concrete blocks, or stone with other materials. In the present invention, the building unit is a composite unit including both concrete (and/or other similar materials) and polyurethane materials. The building unit is alternatively referred to herein as a complex building unit, a composite building unit, a building unit, a specialized masonry unit and variations thereof.Cinder blocks are hollow rectangle-shaped structures usually made of concrete and coal cinders (ash). Concrete blocks are made of water, cement, and aggregate loads, such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone. The main difference between concrete and cinder is their aggregate loads. In the present building units, the cement / concrete / sand / stone material makes up part of the block and a polyurethane (or other polymeric) material makes up part of the block.Conventional cinder / concrete blocks have no thermal and/or acoustic insulation. Furthermore, these regular blocks do not have spaces for infrastructure piping, such as: electricity, gas, water, communications. Usually, a wall or shell of the house is built, using cinder blocks and the like, and then the channels or conduits are drilled out of the cinder or concrete blocks to facilitate piping or different types, such as electricity and communications (internet, telephony, television, cable, etc.). In addition, water and gas piping (and/or any other amenities) are often also added after the shell is completed.The present building unit includes thermal and/or acoustic insulation. Furthermore, the unit includes a synthetic polymeric inner layer which is modular, has holes/passages for infrastructure / utilities.Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the composite unit 100. Figure 3 is a top view of the unit 100. Figure 4 is a side view of unit 100. Figure 5 is a front isometric view of the stone-based part of the unit, without the modular pieces of synthetic polymer.Masonry block / unit 100 includes a stone-based part and synthetic polymer parts. The stone-based part includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bridge portion disposed therebetween. The synthetic polymer parts include a top piece, a bottom piece, a front piece, and a back piece. These pieces are modular and can be moved or removed independently of each other. Both the stone-based part and the polymeric parts have vertical and horizontal conduits that can be lined up to form continuous pathways between parts as well as between units.The building units can have dimensions that are similar to, or the same as, conventional cinder blocks or different therefrom. The concrete / stone part of the unit includes openings 102, which are common to other concrete or cinder blocks. The stone-based part is a single piece formed in a special mold or block making machine. The term ‘stone-based part’ is intended as a generic term to confer any commonly used building composition such as water, cement, and aggregate loads, such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone. Alternatively, or additionally, the composition can include cement and coal cinders, or any other composition known in the art.As can best be seen in Fig. 5, the stone part of the unit includes a first side portion 110, a second side portion 120 and a bridge portion 130 disposed between the two side portions. In the example embodiment depicted in the Figures, the bridge portion connects between side portion at the middle of the facing surfaces 112, 122 of the side portions.Bridge portion 130 includes holes, openings, tunnels, pathways, or conduits 150. There are three vertical conduits 150a depicted in the example embodiment and a single horizontal conduit 150b which traverses the length of the bridge section. The vertical conduits run from top to bottom, bisecting the horizontal conduit. The bridge portion has a height that is approximately one-third of the total height of the unit / block.

The bridge portion is located in the middle third of the block, sandwiched between the first and second side portions.The synthetic polymer parts are modular pieces fit on top of, underneath, and on the sides of the bridge section. In the example embodiment depicted in the Figures, the modular pieces include: a top or upper piece 210, a bottom or lower piece 220, a front piece 230 and a back piece 240. In example embodiments, the synthetic polymer parts are formed from thermally insulative material. In example embodiments, the synthetic polymer parts are formed from acoustically insulative material. In example embodiments, the synthetic polymer parts are made from materials selected from the group including: polyethylene, polyurethane, Polyvinyl Chloride, synthetic resins, rubber, plastic, epoxy, silicone, polystyrene, polypropene, composites, and combinations thereof.The top and bottom pieces 210, 220 are the same length as the side sections. These pieces include three vertical conduits or openings 250a and a single horizontal conduit or opening 250b. Like the bridge conduits, the horizontal conduit 250b traverses the length of the top or bottom piece and the vertical conduits run from top to bottom, bisecting the horizontal conduit. When in place, the vertical conduits 250a of the top and bottom pieces align with the vertical conduits 150a of the bridge section 130.The top and bottom pieces have side protrusions 215 that run vertically down the sides of the pieces. In the example embodiment, there are two vertical protrusions on each side of each of the top and bottom pieces. The protrusions, exemplarily, have a half-moon shape. The facing surfaces 112 and 122 of the first and second side portions include corresponding grooves 115 into which the protrusions can slide. In preferred embodiments, there is a snug fit between the protrusions and the grooves, such that friction between the parts immobilizes the top and bottom pieces and secures them in place. When removing the pieces, sufficient force needs to be exerted on the top or bottom piece to overcome the friction fit.The top piece 210 has a flat upper surface, that, when inserted in place, lies flush with the upper surfaces of the first and second side portions, forming a substantially uninterrupted upper surface. On the bottom surface of the top piece, there is a half- moon shaped groove 218 that runs the length of the piece.The bottom piece 220 has a flat lower surface, that, when inserted in place, lies flush with the lower surfaces of the first and second side portions, forming a substantially uninterrupted lower surface. On the top surface of the bottom piece, there is a half-moon shaped groove 228 that runs the length of the piece.It is of course made clear that here and elsewhere herein, the terms top, bottom, upper, lower, front, and back are merely descriptive terms used to orientate the reader to best understand the description. At the same time, these relative terms apply as labels to the parts when viewed in the depicted orientation, which coincides with their units most common orientation in use.The front and back pieces 230 and 240 are identical pieces and the following description applies to both pieces equally. The front and back pieces have the same horizontal cross-sectional dimensions as the bridge portion except for top and bottom protrusions 238 that correspond to the 218 and 228. Therefore, after the top and bottom pieces are set in place, the front and back pieces fit snugly, preferably with a friction fit, in the space defined by the first and second side portions 110, 120, the bridge portion 130 and the top and bottom pieces 210, 220. The front and back pieces each have a single horizontal opening 250b, that, when in place, aligns with the horizontal pathway 150b of the bridge portion.Figure 6 is a cutaway view of a cross-section of the building unit 100. Horizontal pipes, tubes, conduits 150b and 250b are visible, as are vertical pipes, tubes, conduits 150a and 250a. Solid material of the stone-based part of the building unit have been made transparent for increased clarity.Figure 7 illustrates an example implementation of the building units 100 in a partial structure. The blocks 100 are adapted to laid in horizontal and/or vertical alignment, or at least placed such that the vertical and/or horizontal pathways line up. In the Figure, a vertical vector or axis X indicates a pathway that traverses vertical conduits 250a (and 150a, although not shown) in two building units 100. As can be seen, the conduits line up, even though the units are not stacked directly on top of each other but rather in the staggered fashion well known in construction. Similarly, a horizontal vector or axis ¥ indicates a pathway that traverses horizontal conduits 250b (and 150b, although not shown) in three building units 100.Cables, pipes, wires and the like can be thread through the horizontal and/or vertical pathways without the need for drilling into the blocks. The instant system saves time, effort, energy, and cost both during initial building stages as well as later renovations or modifications to the structures. The complex or composite building units also add thermal and/or acoustic insulation when using appropriate materials.

As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub—combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Claims (7)

ר WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. A building unit for composite masonry, the unit comprising:a stone-based part including a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bridge portion disposed therebetween;synthetic polymer parts including a top piece, a bottom piece, a front piece and a back piece; andwherein vertical and horizontal conduits traverse the polymer parts and the bridge portion.

2. The building unit of claim 1, wherein the synthetic polymer parts are formed from thermally insulative material.

3. The building unit of claim 1, wherein the synthetic polymer parts are formed from acoustically insulative material.

4. The building unit of claim 1, wherein the stone-based part is a single piece formed in a mold or block making machine.

5. The building unit of claim 1, wherein the synthetic polymer parts are made from materials selected from the group including: polyethylene, polyurethane, Polyvinyl Chloride, synthetic resins, rubber, plastic, epoxy, silicone, polystyrene, polypropene, composites, and combinations thereof.

6. The building unit of claim 1, wherein the synthetic polymer parts are individually movable or removable.

7. A building method, comprising:providing a plurality of building units according to claim 1;horizontally aligning the horizontal conduits of adjacently positioned building units of the plurality of building units to form horizontal pathways;vertically aligning the vertical conduits of building units of the plurality of building units position on top of each other to form vertical pathways; andthreading wires, cables, or tubes through the vertical pathways or horizontal pathways or both.