BUILDING BLOCK FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING
The invention is related to a building block for use in interlocking with a plurality of similar building blocks for constructing a building. The building block includes a front face, a rear face, an upper face, a lower face, a first end and a second end. The building block also includes at least one substantially vertical hollow (web) and at least one substantially horizontal channel, wherein the at least one horizontal channel is disposed along one of the upper face and the lower face. In addition, each of the first end and the second end includes at least one header face, wherein at least one the header face can be one of a substantially planar face, a male header face and a female header face. Each of the male header face and the female header face includes one or more patterns for interlocking.
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The invention generally relates to a building block for use in construction. More specifically, the invention relates to a building block for use in interlocking with similar blocks for constructing a building.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBuilding blocks are widely used in the building and construction industry. The building blocks are mainly used as load-bearing and non-load bearing materials, wherein they are laid on stack or running bond using cementitious materials. This is due to properties of the building blocks such as, but not limited to, high strength, toughness, stability and high chemical durability. Interlocking building blocks are used in constructing buildings, due to numerous advantages over conventional building blocks.
The building blocks are produced using different process. Modern clay blocks are formed using processes such as, but not limited to, soft mud process, dry press, and extrusion. The dry press method is similar to mud blocks but starts with a much thicker clay mix and therefore it forms more accurate, sharper-edged blocks.
Currently, the blocks are manufactured using a fixed set of materials which are expensive. The processes used in manufacturing the blocks are also rigid and there is little scope for changing the processes. For some applications, the properties of the block may not satisfy all the requirements.
Currently, assembling interlocking building blocks requires significant amount of effort. There are also several design issues which hinders the assembly of the interlocking building blocks. Also the interlocking building blocks need extra support such as, an adhesive and a rebar for strengthening the construction. Also, the usability of the interlocking blocks is limited due to the inefficient designing of male and female interconnects to interlock a plurality of interlocking blocks.
Therefore, there is a need to develop an interlocking block, which is functional, easy to construct and cost effective.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONBefore describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in different aspects of a building block for use in constructing a building. Accordingly, the different aspects have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, the invention provides details regarding the structure of a building block for use in interlocking with a plurality of similar building blocks for constructing a building.
Referring to the figures and in particular to
Building block 100 further includes an upper face and a lower face such as an upper face 106 and a lower face 108 as shown in
In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, building block 100 includes at least one substantially vertical hollow (web) such as, but not limited to, a vertical hollow (web) 110a and a vertical hollow (web) 110b. Further, the at least one substantially vertical hollow (web) extends from the upper face to the lower face of building block 100 as shown in
Building block 100 further includes at least one substantially horizontal channel such as, but not limited to, a horizontal channel 112. Horizontal channel 112 is disposed along at least one of the upper face and the lower face of building block 100. The at least one substantially horizontal channel can be designed as one or more structures such as, a concave structure, a concave polygonal structure and the like. Variations in design of the at least one substantially horizontal channel would be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one substantially horizontal channel has a concave structure as shown in
Building block 100 further includes a first end and a second end (not numbered in figures). At least one of the first end and the second end includes at least one header face. The header face is one of a substantially planar face, a male header face such as a male header face 126 and a female header face such as a female header face 128. Each of the first end and the second end can include one or more header faces. For example, the first end can include one male header face and the second end includes one female header face as shown in
In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, when a first building block and a second building block similar to building block 100 are mated adjacent to each other the interlocking bond is formed. Precisely, when the male header face of the first building block is mated with the female header face of the second building block, the interlocking bond is formed due to the complementary nature of the patterns between the male header face and the female header face. In an exemplary embodiment, the interlocking bond is formed when contact surfaces such as central contact surface 130, first contact surface 132 and second contact surface 134 of the male header face mate with grooves such as central groove 136, first groove 138 and second groove 140 of the female header face. In an exemplary embodiment, interlocking the plurality of building blocks similar to building block 100 forms a network of vertical and horizontal channels (described in conjunction with the description of
Building block 100 as illustrated in
In another instance, building block 100 can be designed to be used at one or more three way (T) intersections while constructing the building. For example, building block 100 is designed as a T-block that can be used at the one or more T intersections as shown in
In yet another instance, building block 100 can be designed to be used at one or more four way intersections while constructing the building. For example, building block 100 can be designed as a cross block to be used at the one or more four way intersection as illustrated in
In still another instance, building block 100 can be designed to be used at one or more connecting points during the construction of the building. In an example, building block 100 is designed as a connecting block to be used at one or more connecting points. The one or more connecting points include, but not limited to, gaps of different dimensions at points of termination while constructing the building. Turning now to
Building block 100 can also be designed to be an end block (not illustrated in figures), wherein one of the first end and the second end includes a header face that is a substantially planar face. Further, in such a design one of the upper face and lower face can be a substantially planar face. In addition, in such a design only one of the upper face and the lower face includes the substantially hollow (web) channel. Numerous variations in design of building block 100 are possible and as such those variations would be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In accordance with various embodiments, building block 100 can be produced using one or more of materials such as, but are not limited to, natural raw materials, recycled materials, polymers, clay, sand-cement, concrete, silica-lime, geopolymer and composite materials. Further, in accordance with various embodiments, building block 100 is produced using techniques such as, but are not limited to, uniaxially cold pressing, biaxial cold pressing, dry pressing, semi-dry pressing, compacting, cold isostatic pressing, hot pressing, extrusion molding, injection molding, compression molding, gel casting, slip casting and tape casting.
Various embodiments of the invention described different structural aspects of a building block for use in constructing a building wall. The building block offers a convenient way to construct buildings and structures. The building blocks interlock with a plurality of similar building blocks and create a strong bond without using cementitious materials. The plurality of building blocks when assembled, readily form a network of vertical and horizontal channels for installing reinforcements such as electrical conduits and water pipes. The building blocks can be manufactured using a variety of materials which enables a user to use an appropriate material according to a desired application, thereby reducing cost of the structure.
Those skilled in the art will realize that the above recognized advantages and other advantages described herein are merely exemplary and are not meant to be a complete rendering of all of the advantages of the various embodiments of the invention.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Claims
1. A building block for use in interlocking with a plurality of similar building blocks for constructing a building, the building block comprising:
- a front face;
- a rear face;
- an upper face;
- a lower face;
- at least one substantially vertical hollow;
- at least one substantially horizontal channel disposed along at least one of the upper face and the lower face;
- a first end, an entirety of the first end comprising a solid surface forming a male header face; and
- a second end, the entire second end comprising a solid surface forming a female header face;
- wherein the male header face comprises a first stepped pattern projecting outwards at the first end,
- wherein the female header face comprises a second stepped pattern projecting inwards at the second end,
- wherein the second stepped pattern is substantially complementary to the first stepped pattern,
- wherein the male header face of the building block is designed for interlocking with a female header face of a cooperating interlocking building block without forming a vertical opening between the male header face and the female header face, and
- wherein the cooperating interlocking building block is substantially similar to the building block.
2. The building block of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially vertical hollow is substantially cuboidal and extends from the upper face to the lower face of the building block.
3. The building block of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially horizontal channel is substantially concave.
4. The building block of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially horizontal channel is disposed substantially at a central portion of at least one of the upper face and the lower face.
5. The building block of claim 1, wherein the building block and the plurality of similar building blocks are designed to interlock to form a network of vertical and horizontal channels.
6. The building block claim 5, wherein at least one of the vertical and horizontal channels is designed to be used for addition of at least one of a plurality of water pipes and a plurality of electrical conduits.
7. The building block of claim 1, wherein the building block is at least one of an end block, a T-block, a cross block, a corner block and a connecting block.
8. The building block of claim 7, wherein the building block is a corner block and the first end of the corner block is substantially perpendicular to the second end of the corner block.
9. The building block of claim 7, wherein the building block is a T-block and at least one of the first end and the second end of the T-block comprises two header faces, wherein each of the two header faces is a female header face.
10. The building block of claim 7, wherein the building block is a cross block and at least one of the first end and the second end of the cross block comprises three header faces, wherein each of the three header faces is a female header face.
11. The building block of claim 7, wherein the building block is a connecting block and each of the first end and the second end of the connecting block comprises one header face, wherein the header face is one of a male header face and a female header face.
12. The building block of claim 1, wherein the building block is designed to be interlocked with the plurality of similar building blocks to form a building wall.
13. The building block of claim 12, wherein the building block and the plurality of similar building blocks are designed to be used for constructing one of a stacking bond and a running bond by using at least one of polymer based cementitious materials, and geopolymer based cementitious materials.
14. The building block of claim 12, wherein the building block and the plurality of similar building blocks are designed to be used for constructing one of a stacking bond and a running bond without using at least one of polymer based cementitious materials and geopolymer based cementitious materials.
15. The building block of claim 1, wherein each of the male header face and the female header face of the building blocks comprises a complementary stepped pattern for interlocking with a complementary header face.
16. The building block of claim 1, wherein the building block is produced using one of natural raw materials, waste-derived materials, polymers, clay, sand-cement, concrete, silica-lime, or a geopolymer.
17. The building block of claim 1, wherein the building block is produced by using at least one of uniaxially cold pressing, biaxial cold pressing, dry pressing, semi-dry pressing, compacting, cold isostatic pressing, hot pressing, extrusion molding, injection molding, compression molding, gel casting, slip casting and tape casting.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 11, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2014
Applicants: UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PERLIS (Arau), KING ABDUL AZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Riyadh)
Inventors: Mohammed A. Binhussain (Riyadh), Abdulaziz Adel Kurdi (Riyadh), Mohammed Abdullah Muhawes (Riyadh), Bader Saad Alnasban Saad Alnasban (Riyadh), Bader Zaid Bin Juwayr Zaid Bin Juwayr (Riyadh), Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah (Arau), Mohammad Tamizi Selimin (Arau)
Application Number: 13/763,810
International Classification: E04C 1/39 (20060101); E04C 1/40 (20060101);