Abstract: A multi-component modular system for use in fabricating wall structures of the type which may be fortified with concrete or other similar materials. The system includes in one embodiment a plurality of identical prefabricated forms, each form comprising an elongated, generally rectangular plastic member having a cavity defined by a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels. One end panel has a pair of opposed, outwardly-facing, L-shaped flanges, and the other end panel has a pair of opposed, inwardly-facing slots sized and shaped to matingly receive the L-shaped flanges. Two or more forms may be interconnected in an end-to-end fashion by inserting the L-shaped flanges of one form into the L-shaped slots of a second form. A plurality of holes are provided on the end panels of the forms to permit concrete to be distributed monolithically between adjacent forms and to accommodate the placement of horizontal reinforcement bars.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for reinforcing a cement block structure having a plurality of vertical cavities therein comprising:providing an access to at least one vertical cavity in the cement block structure large enough to insert a fiber reinforcing element;inserting a fiber reinforcing element through the access such that the element fills the cavity;introducing a slurry of cementitious material into the cavity through the access so that the slurry of cementitious material fills the cavity and infiltrates and encapsulates the fiber reinforcing element; andcuring the cementitious material.

Abstract: A multi-component modular system for use in fabricating wall structures of the type which may be fortified with concrete or other similar materials. The system includes a plurality of plastic prefabricated forms, each form comprising an elongated, generally rectangular member having a cavity defined by a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels. One end panel has a pair of outwardly-facing, L-shaped flanges, and the other end panel has a pair of L-shaped slots sized and shaped to mate with the L-shaped flanges. Two or more forms may be interconnected in an end-to-end fashion by inserting the L-shaped flanges of one form into the L-shaped slots of a second form. A plurality of openings are provided on the end panels of the forms to permit concrete to be distributed monolithically between adjacent forms. Each of the forms may be supported by a strut member which is mountable transversely between the pair of side panels of the form.

Abstract: A formwork includes a plurality of interconnectable disposable formwork elements for the casting of, for instance, foundations, sustaining walls, etc. in concrete and which is cheaper and wherein the formwork operation is rapidly effected, and at the same time it may be done by a person not skilled in the trade. Each formwork element (1) consists of an elongated, thin-walled, cylinder-shaped element, which is provided with coupling members on the neighbor element(s) for the interconnection of adjacent cylinder-shaped formwork elements so that, upon filling of concrete into the interconnected cylinder-shaped formwork elements, a row of fused concrete columns is formed constituting a wall on which the formwork elements may form the external surface(s) or from which the external portions of the formwork elements may be removed.

Abstract: A component (1) and an assembly of components (1) arranged in a running bond coarsing pattern. As a result of this pattern, the assembly forms a space truss load resisting system. The components (1) are of a size consistent with hand insertion within the assembly. The truss chord reinforcing members (2) couple as connections between components (1). These connections provide the gap (37) required between components (1) due to component (1) manufacturing and field erection tolerances. The component (1) could be made from a multiplicity of materials structurally working in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: A building brick includes a through-extending bore of a trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration to ease removal of a building brick from a mold during fabrication. The central bore permits the stacking of the building bricks to include the bottom wall in downward orientation to accommodate a greater quantity of mortar at the base portion thereof for a stable mortar configuration in use. A further embodiment of the invention includes the bottom wall of a concave configuration to assist in the positioning of mortar between adjacent building bricks, as well as a further embodiment including a forward wall flange extending downwardly relative to the concave surface and a second end wall flange to assist in the positioning of mortar between adjacent bricks to secure the mortar in a semi-solid state.

Abstract: A hollow foamed plastic form for concrete has a pair of opposed parallel side walls with planar upper and lower faces, and a pair of opposed end members. Disposed on the upper and lower faces of the side walls are a series of elongated locking members, each composed of a pair of offset ribs having a trapezoidal or rectangular shape.

Abstract: A building element based on plaster which is manufactured by dry mixing sand and plaster, by dampening the mixture, by placing the damp mixture in a mold, and by compressing the mixture in the mold while the plaster hydrates in order to densify the crystal lattice of the plaster. The building element (10) includes self-alignment projections (14) on its top face (12) and a vertical groove (22) at one of its ends for the purpose of casting a liquid sealant, such as plaster.

Abstract: An insulating panel having at least one pair of opposite vertical sides defining opposite vertical interfaces for connection to other similar insulating panels abutting it. One of the opposite vertical interface includes a tongue and groove interlock consisting of at least three rows of aligned tongues and grooves, the three rows including first, second and third row adjacent to each other, the second row extending between the first and third rows, the aligned tongues and grooves of each of the rows being staggered with respect to the tongues and grooves of each adjacent row.

Abstract: A hollow foamed plastic form for concrete has a pair of opposed parallel side walls with planar upper and lower faces, and a pair of opposed end members. Disposed on the upper and lower faces of the side walls are a series of elongated locking members, each composed of a pair of offset ribs having a trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: An approved self-supporting form for use in constructing walls is adapted to be reinforced with cementitious materials poured therein, while securely supporting additional building materials on the outside thereof. The walls of the forms themselves are generally comprised of resilient, insulating materials, such as foamed plastics or the like. An anchored securement member is embedded in the concrete interiorly cured in the forms, and also extends to the exterior of the forms, where it is adapted for receipt of conventional attachment elements such as nails or screws. A plurality of the forms may be used to construct walls, much like conventional building blocks. Then, finishing cladding materials such as panelling, wallboard, or the like may be safely secured to the exterior of the forms with such attachment elements, even if the actual foamed sidewalls of such forms become damaged by heat or the like.

Abstract: A building block having improved insulating characteristics. The block includes two spaced parallel sidewalls formed from concrete or the like. The first sidewall has at least one inwardly extending integral web, having end portions extending parallel to the sidewall. The second sidewall has inwardly extending interlock members which also have end portions extending parallel to the sidewall. When the sidewalls are assembled parallel to each other to form the front and back faces of the building block, the respective end portions overlap in a manner preventing the sidewalls from moving apart along a line perpendicular to the sidewalls. The overlapping end portions are not in contact with each other. At least part of the volume within the block is filled with a highly insulating foam. The foam fills the space between the overlapping end portions and thus provides structural rigidity to the block.

Abstract: A lightweight building element is moulded in the form of a three or four sided shell defining an interior space for receiving a filler material. The element is trapezoidal in at least one elevation so as to be stackable with a plurality of identical elements for ease of transportation. The method of the invention involves laying the elements in courses and then filling the elements from above with a loose relatively heavy filler material such as gravel or sand to form a solid structure.

Abstract: A building construction employing precast concrete slabs and prefabricated steel joists. The concrete slabs include generally parallel core channels extending vertically through the slabs from the lower edge of the slabs to the upper edge of the slabs between the outer and the inner faces of the slabs.

Abstract: A generally U-shaped channel member is positioned on top of the top surface of a plurality of foam plastic blocks in a horizontal wall segment, and vertically aligned concrete confining openings are formed through both the channel member and the plastic blocks. Concrete or the like is poured into the U-shaped channel and is funneled therefrom into the vertical openings. Once the concrete sets as a rigid supporting structure, the U-shaped channel is permanently retained in the wall structure. The U-shaped channel member is employed for attaching means to the exterior of the completed wall structure. Additional horizontal segments of the wall structure are formed by placing another horizontal layer of plastic blocks and a U-shaped channel member on top of the previously completed horizontal segment.

Abstract: A method of achieving earthquake reinforcement in existing buildings by piling hourglass-shaped concrete blocks within a beam pillar frame structure of a wall. The blocks are piled by staggering by half one pitch of the layer of concrete blocks and by filling the whole area within the beam pillar frame. The blocks are provided with stud plates that are welded to supporting bands which are in turn connected to the frame.

Abstract: Improved formwork elements for building purposes. The present invention relates in particular to improved interlocking formwork elements of hollow block configuration produced from a hard foam resin material, and adapted to be filled with concrete to provide a rigid wall or the like having high insulating properties.

Abstract: A crib unit of heavy, rugged character and which is useable in erecting bin wall structures for various purposes such as sea walls, retaining walls, etc. The unit has a pair of spaced side walls with a connector arm extending between the side walls and joined thereto with merger segments, the merger segments being of laterally widening character to effect strengthening of the side walls to render same more resistive to bending. The crib unit when paired with a like unit encloses a bin space having a configuration which facilitates substantially uniformly distributing bin fill pressure acting against the crib unit structure defining the bin.

Abstract: A wall module for use in constructing reinforced concrete buildings includes a plurality of spaced, thin walled tubes and a channel along the upper edge thereof within which concrete may be received to respectively form vertical and horizontal structural supports. A plurality of spaced, vertical support studs disposed on opposite sides of the tubes provide the module with sufficient compressive strength to carry the load of a floor mounted thereabove prior to filling the module with concrete. After the floor has been mounted on the wall modules, concrete is simultaneously poured into the tubes and channel of the module as well as into the space between the module and the floor to provide a continuous concrete connection between the floor and the wall of the resulting structure.

Abstract: Constructing building walls from concrete blocks having flattened rectangular facing members held in parallel spaced relation by integral transverse webs spaced from the ends of the block by a distance equal to one-half the distance between the webs and providing a pair of V-shaped reinforcing of receiving notches having straight sides inclined at an angle of substantially 45.degree.. The blocks are stacked in equally staggered courses to define the wall panel and are held in position by a bonding agent securing the confronting surfaces of the blocks to each other with substantially no space therebetween. Vertical reinforcing rods are positioned in the vertically extending openings provided by the aligned webs of the blocks, and horizontal reinforcing rods are supported in the V-shaped notches, with the shape of the notches causing the rods to settle into desired positions on opposite sides of the vertical reinforcing rods.

Abstract: A set of interlocking building blocks capable of being assembled with each other forming wall structures without requiring mortar or any other binder. The set consists of four types of blocks and one lintel rib which are capable of forming wall structures and openings in said structures that are adapted to cooperate in locking relationship to prevent transverse or longitudinal movement of the blocks relative to one another.

Abstract: A building block and masonry wall constructed therefrom are provided wherein the building block has a pair of spaced opposite generally parallel side walls, spaced top and bottom faces and a pair of end spaces, a pair of spaced apart ribs on said top face, a pair of mating recesses on said bottom face, an intermediate generally centrally extending horizontal groove in each of the top and bottom faces, a pair of narrower grooves, one on either side of said centrally extending groove on each of said top and bottom faces, a pair of spaced ribs on one end, a pair of mating grooves on the other end, an intermediate vertical passage in said block corresponding in width to the widest portion of the central grooves on said top and bottom faces, a pair of vertical passages on each side of said intermediate vertical passage connecting the pair of top and bottom narrower grooves, and a vertical recess in each end intermediate the side walls and having a cross section substantially equal to one half of said intermediate

Abstract: A reinforced insulated wall construction having a core of thermal insulation material which is reinforced by high-slenderness-ratio reinforced concrete columns. High compressive and side-load strengths are achieved by centrally supporting reinforcing members in vertical passageways in the core while the remainder of each passageway is filled with a concrete slurry and by so centrally supporting the members until the slurry hardens into concrete. Further side-load strength enhancement may be achieved by encasing at least a central length portion of each concrete column in a high flexural strength structural tubular casing.

Abstract: There is described a building block set which comprises at least two block types formed by base blocks and/or joined base blocks comprised of a united combination of identical or different base blocks, a first base block having a portion in the shape of a straight rectangle parallelepiped which is extended at the one end thereof by two flanges each extending in the extension of a side surface or said portion over a distance substantially equal to a fraction of the length of said portion, the parallelepiped-shaped portion having a hollow volume extending through the block over the whole height thereof, a second base block the horizontal cross-section of which is fork-shaped, particularly U-shaped, the flange length of said second block being substantially equal to the flange length of the first base block, the tolerances allowed for the above-defined lengths and distances being substantially equal to the thickness of the walls of the parallelepiped-shaped portion, the lower and upper edges of each block type b

Abstract: A hollow building-block-type module for a wall construction that utilizes a plurality of such modules laid up with mortared joints in staggered courses and with horizontal and vertical reinforcing bars embedded in concrete poured into the spaces or voids within the hollow blocks. The module comprises parallel side walls joined by vertical webs to define an integral void between adjacent webs of the module and voids between adjacent webs of abutting modules. The voids in each course are vertically aligned in stacks with voids of other courses and the webs are provided with notches for locating the horizontal reinforcing bars away from an adjacent side wall. The module also has lips projecting inwardly from the side walls defining an integral void so that a vertical rod inserted in a stack of voids between a side wall and the horizontal reinforcing bars is also spaced away from the interior surface of the respective side walls of the vertically aligned voids.

Abstract: T-shaped building blocks are assembled in a wall structure in horizontal courses of blocks, with alternate ones of the blocks in each course facing opposite directions and with the main body sections of each block overlying the main body sections of the next adjacent blocks. The blocks in the first course are placed on a footing, U-shaped clips tie the overlying portions of the main body sections of the blocks together to form rigid wall sections, and the wall sections are leveled by inserting wedges beneath the bottom course of blocks. Mortar is poured into the vertical openings of the bottom course of blocks to rigidly mount the blocks on the footing. As the wall increases in height, vertical tie rods are inserted internally through the course of blocks to tie the blocks in adjacent courses together. Insulation is placed in the vertical openings in the blocks to reduce the passage of heat and moisture through the blocks in the wall structure.

Abstract: Method and means for constructing a cement block wall without mortar in which standard blocks can be used. Interengaging means, having rectangular flanges, engage cells of upper course blocks and cells of lower course blocks therebelow. Blocks can be abutted or separated by interposed members made of plastic or the like that extend to edges and have the appearance of mortar points, which are integrated with said interengaging means.

Abstract: A building construction modular system utilizing interlocking building blocks made of aggregate material and having opposite side faces vertically and horizontally offset from the main body portion of the block. A structure, such as a wall, is erected by laying superimposed horizontal courses of vertically interlocked blocks, the blocks of a course being interlockingly supported by the blocks of the subjacent course. Each block element is provided with a vertically disposed passage or aperture and with a vertically directed recess at each lateral end of the block where it interlocks with an adjoining block element and the integrally formed transverse walls joining the side faces of each block are appropriately apertured such that, after the wall has been erected, cement is poured into the block structure from the tops of the blocks on the upper course, so as to flow vertically and horizontally through the passages and apertures within the blocks.

Abstract: Lightweight building structures constructed by assembling a plurality of building blocks in contiguous end to end relationship. The blocks have spaced apart and parallel opposite longitudinal walls and opposite transverse members integrally connecting said walls so as to define a substantially rectangular inner space. The top of the transverse members of at least a portion of the blocks are at a lower level than the tops of the longitudinal walls so that horizontally extending reinforcing bars may be positioned therein. Vertically extending reinforcing bars which may be surrounded by reinforcing loops are also positioned within the inner spaces defined by the contiguous blocks. Mortar is charged to the inner spaces defined by contiguous blocks to unite the blocks and reinforcing members. V-shaped vertical edges are provided on the longitudinal walls of a block to provide stronger joints between blocks.

Abstract: A three-cavity, horizontal-beam-forming building block, or distribution block, with two-fold rotational symmetry about a vertical center line, has the opposite ends of each longitudinal sidewall complementarily tongued and grooved, and four like transverse webs extending above the sidewall top coplanar margins in end-beveled projections; a web face spacing (of 1:4:2:4:1) defining a slot-like narrow middle cavity, adjacent thereto, equal larger bottom-closed cavities as cells of twice slot size, and end recesses of half-slot size; and like horizontal-reinforcing-bar-locating, paired bar notches in each web top to a depth below the sidewall top margins enabling horizontal bar embedment by mortar filled to the sidewall tops.