Abstract: A retaining wall system is constructed in several distinct layers. Each layer is formed of a side-by-side arrangement of I-shaped subassemblies with backfill chambers defined between each pair of subassemblies. Each subassembly is constructed of generally planar elongated concrete blocks which interconnect to laterally secure the blocks to one another. Interconnections are provided by dovetail joints in which a tongue is vertically slid into a groove to prevent lateral separation. The dovetail elements extend only partially across the face of each block so that the block defining the groove is not excessively weakened by the groove.

Abstract: A novel insulated cementitious building block is disclosed. This block has a substantially larger inside section or segment than the outside section or segment. Positioned between these two sections is a middle portion which houses the insulating material. The middle portion has a sinuous configuration thus holding more insulating material than a linear configuration. Griping holes which are compatible with conventional building blocks are provided which can act as conduits for electrical wires or the like. Also, these holes can later be filled with additional insulation to substantially enhance the insulating properties of the block.

Abstract: An architectural tile is formed of a body portion having securing means extending therefrom. A plurality of tiles are secured together to form a roof or wall covering. The securing means include leg portions which are flexible and guide bars for directing securing means from facing tiles into interlocking positions. The legs are of sufficient length to provide flexibility and to prevent leakage of water into the gaps between adjacent lower tiles. Ridges extend from the lower surfaces of the body portions for spacing an overlapping tile from an overlapped tile to form a shadow line. The body portions may be flat or curved or a combination of flat and curved portions.

Abstract: A structural assembly for producing interconnecting structures which includes a first element which, on each of two transversely extending sides lying opposite each other, is provided with a dovetail joint member and, on each of two longitudinally extending sides lying opposite each other, is provided with three fins which, when viewed from the tip or free end, have a convex portion provided on each side with a corresponding, connection recess so that the space between two adjacent fins is identical in form to the fin in order to permit a toothing to be formed. The structural assembly also includes a second element which is provided with a dovetail joint member on one longitudinally extending side and with three fins on the opposite side, as well as a connecting member which has, on each of two sides lying opposite each other, a dovetail joint member which corresponds to the dovetail joint members of the first element.

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 block able to interlock with a similar building block. The block has a wall portion having a flat outer surface and an inner surface. At least one hollow spaced projection extends from the inner surface. Each projection comprises a narrow portion adjacent the inner surface and a wide portion extending from the narrow portion. The width of the wide portion is substantially equal to the distance between the neighboring narrow portions and the width of the narrow portion is substantially equal to the distance between the neighboring wider portions. The wall portion extends beyond the projections at at least one end of the block by an amount substantially equal to half the width of the block by an amount substantially equal to half the width of a wider portion.

Abstract: A knockdown housing structure formed of a number of wall panels which are interconnected together. The wall panels are slidably interconnected by the use of projecting pins which are slidably received in elongated slots. Pins are formed on one edge of each wall panel for direct engagement in slots formed in one edge of a horizontally adjacent wall panel. Connecting strips having projecting pins are utilized for interconnecting vertically adjacent wall panels. Each of the panels and connecting strips can be slid into place. The projecting pins have enlarged heads and the slots include spaced apart enlarged openings interconnected by a narrow slit. The pins can be inserted in either of the enlarged openings and slid to the narrow slit where the pins are maintained in place.

Abstract: A system of structural blocks comprised of longitudinally extending members having vertical inner and outer faces. The basic structural blocks have webs centered on and projecting away from the inner faces of the blocks and extending from top to bottom of the blocks along one-half their longitudinal extent. Tongue and groove projections and recesses on the inner faces and on the webs mate with corresponding projections and recesses on identical blocks, whereby a plurality of such blocks may be longitudinally, transversely and vertically interlocked together. Corner, jamb, pilaster, beam, junction and web blocks are provided, together with a corresponding series of half height blocks, to interlock with the basic blocks and with each other so as to enable construction of a wide variety of buildings or structures.

Abstract: Building construction formed of structural module elements formed as a rectangular plate and having on the plate a coupling (2) for interconnecting them. The module element has a U-like cross section with two legs (3, 4) and a rib (5) between them, one leg (3) is longer and narrower than the other leg (4) and is connected to the plate surface, and the distance between the legs (3, 4) at the rib (5) is no greater than the least width of the other leg (4). The module elements are parallelly connected to each other by interconnecting the coupling (2) of one module element with the coupling (2) of the adjacent one, whereupon the upwardly or downwardly extending thicker legs (4) of one element are disposed between the downwardly or upwardly extending legs (3, 4) of the other elements.

Abstract: An insulated concrete block assembly which can be laid dry or with mortar joints. The assembly has a pair of standard concrete blocks adhesively bonded to opposite sides of a panel of insulating material and a flat sheet metal tie bridging the panel and having opposite ends adhesively bonded to load carrying surfaces of the blocks. The adhesive bond is stronger than the concrete, so that once made up, the assembly cannot be taken apart without breaking the concrete.

Abstract: A building block to be used in the construction of houses, buildings, gargages, sheds and the like, which is constructed of expanded, polystyrene beads. The building block is to be arranged with other similar building blocks in a vertically orientated, horizontally staggered relationship. Each building block is constructed of two parts which are adhesively secured together in a facing relationship. Each building block includes a pair of vertically aligned openings. When the building block is in the assembled, stacked relationship with other similar building blocks, there are a series of horizontally aligned openings to permit the conducting of rigid reinforcing rods between the blocks. Each building block includes within its upper surface and lower surface interlocking structure which is to interlock with other similar blocks when located in the stacked relationship.

Abstract: An insulating building block made up of an insulating core and two concrete walls is configured such that the core comprises locking protrusions to interlock with preformed cavities in the concrete walls.

Abstract: An insulating building block made up of an insulating core and two concrete walls, each cast over one side of the core. The latter comprises a body having opposed parallel flat outer faces, bound by parallel longitudinal edges and parallel side edges, and having a transverse plane normal to the outer faces centrally between the longitudinal edges. Locking protrusions are formed integrally with the body and project from the outer faces. Each protrusion extends from either side of the transverse plane toward the longitudinal edges and terminates short of the longitudinal edges. The protrusions have outer surfaces and lateral edges tapering inwardly between the outer surfaces and the body outer faces. The protrusion side edges further make angles with the transverse plane suitable to facilitate demolding of the core when the core is molded in two half molds having a closure plane co-planar with the transverse plane, aforesaid.

Abstract: An insulated building component which includes two concrete halves having an insulating layer interposed between them. The insulating layer is made from a material with good compression strength and disallows any direct contact between the top half and the bottom half. The top, bottom, end and side surfaces of the building component are parallel or perpendicular with respect to each other and present similar surfaces to those of a standard building block. A plurality of mated walls extend between top and bottom surfaces of the component and are angled to prevent vertical movement of the half members. The facing surfaces of the half members and the outermost edges of the walls are sloped, oppositely with respect to each other, to prevent width-wise lateral movement of the halves. The insulation layer, while retaining its strength in compression between the two halves, serves to decrease the thermal conductivity of the building component.

Abstract: A building block has an inner and an outer wall defining a cavity therebetween, the two walls being interconnected by two or more webs positioned intermediate the top and bottom of the block to provide upper and lower horizontal channels. The walls at the top each have a longitudinal projection extending along an inner portion which in a building locates the blocks by being positioned in the lower horizontal channel. The block has two end portions which are either both a female recess or a male protrusion so that the block can be reversed if necessary. A building is formed by using a plurality of double-male and double-female blocks and interlocking them together, load being transmitted to below through the outer portions of the inner and outer walls.

Abstract: A building block comprising a pair of plane walls which constitute a front and rear wall thereof, the front and rear walls being formed without connecting bridges or webs therebetween and being maintained in spaced relationship by an insulating material. In one embodiment the block is formed from two block parts, the first block part including the front wall of the block and the second block part including the rear wall of the block, the arrangement of the block parts being such that the parts are maintained spaced apart by a layer of insulating material and the shape of the block parts being such that a portion of one block part projects within the confines of the other block part.

Abstract: A modular element is disclosed which includes a plurality of rib pairs protruding from a surface of a base. Each rib pair includes first and second ribs which extend longitudinally parallel to each other and which are transversely spaced to define therebetween a first groove. Similarly, the rib pairs also longitudinally extend parallel to each other with adjacent rib pairs defining therebetween a second groove. Various relationships among the transverse widths of the first and second ribs, the rib pairs, and the first and second grooves are disclosed to permit mating modular elements to have a plurality of orientations with respect to each other in face-to-face contact. Likewise, relationships among the transverse height of the base, and the transverse height of the modular element, and the transverse widths of the first and second ribs, rib pairs, and first and second grooves are also disclosed to permit mating modular elements to have a plurality of orientations in end-to-face contact.

Abstract: An interlocking building block construction comprising an overlapping masonry block having opposite sides, stepped opposite upper and lower longitudinal faces, and stepped opposite vertical end faces. A plurality of spaced tapered recesses with flat bottom surfaces are located on the upper longitudinal face, and a plurality of correspondingly shaped lugs are formed in the lower longitudinal face. There are two enlarged rectangular openings extending entirely through the block located in the central area of the upper and lower faces between the vertical end faces. A plurality of small apertures are formed in and adjacent to the lugs for receiving pins for interlocking adjacent blocks. Header blocks, pilaster blocks, partition blocks and filler blocks are provided for interlocking assembly with the interlocking building blocks to build walls of a building without the use of grout or cement.

Abstract: Snap-together paneling for use in making walls and corners in the building industry. The paneling includes two inverted wall panels which when snapped together form an inverted wall assembly, and two everted wall panels which when snapped together form an everted wall assembly. The everted wall assembly and inverted wall assembly slidably and lockedly connect together to form a wall. Corner covers are used for forming a corner from the wall assemblies and end covers are used for covering the end of an exposed wall assembly.

Abstract: Novel shapes of refractory jamb bricks are disclosed which are readily removable and replaceable without tearing down and rebuilding the novel jamb structure of a heating wall of a coke oven battery.