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.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

The building blocks of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of block for use in the front, rear and side walls of a building;

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;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan and a side elevation, respectively, of the building block of FIGS. 1 and 2;

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;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a plan and a side elevation, respectively, of the building block of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a variation of block 5;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a plan and a side elevation, respectively, of the building block of FIG. 8;

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;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are a plan and a side elevation, respectively, of the roof block of. FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second variation of a block for use at the corner of a structure;

FIGS. 15 is a plan view of a variation of the building block of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15a is a plan view of the building Nook of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of another variation of the block of FIG. 14;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are elevations of the blocks of FIGS. 14 and 16, respectively;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a block for use as an upper channel of a window frame;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are an end view and a plan view of the block of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a block for use as a lower channel of a window frame;

FIG. 22a is an end view of the block of FIG. 22;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a block used as a left channel of a window frame;

FIG. 23a is a view of the bottom wall of the block of FIG. 23;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a block used as a right channel of a window frame;

FIG. 24a is a view of the bottom wall of the block of FIG. 24; and

FIG. 25 is an elevation of the block of FIG. 24.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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 .

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

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.

Openings 41 are formed in side wall 14 to facilitate attachment of straps to which dry wall or wooden panels can be attached.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.