Modular superblock interlocking building system

Abstract

A system of interlocking construction blocks comprising mating interlocking protrusions and openings with interior openings in the blocks creating passageways through assembled arrays of blocks for conduits and wiring to pass.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to construction materials and in particular to a system of interlocking modular blocks for stronger structures with built-in passageways for utility conduits and wiring to be used in constructing entire structures.

2. Description of Related Art

Several attempts have been made in the past to reduce ever increasing construction labor costs. Laying blocks constitute a big portion of the direct labor cost. The need for a sturdy structure limits the economic steps that may be taken to reduce cost. The previous construction block systems could not route wires or conduits up and or around corners.

It is worthwhile noting the approach take by Ernest A. Rabassa U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,431 was close to a workable solution but his design lacked a method for routing wires and conduits around and up corners and the “column interlocking block and corner interlocking block” in this patent would have been difficult to cast or mold. The present invention addresses short comings of the original column blocks and corner blocks of the “block interlocking blocks” of U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,431.

Other patents for interlocking building blocks provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem of building a sturdy and economical wall structure. Refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,314,431; 2,392,551; 2,291,712; 2,544,983 and 1,430,431. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

The present application provides an improvement over in part over patents in several countries in Central and South America, namely:

• (a) El Salvador, No. 128, Book 15, Nov. 22, 1977.
• (b) Dominican Republic, No. 1105, Jun. 11, 1964
• (c) Venezuela, No. 2199, Nov. 21, 1975.
• (d) Ecuador, No. 5, May 17, 1976
• (e) Honduras, No. 2.172, Nov. 29, 1976.
• (1) Panama, No. 32123, Apr. 14, 1975.
• (g) Nicaragua, No. 2163521, Feb. 28, 1975.

What is needed is a system comprising new interlocking block types with built-in passageways for utility conduits and wiring and a new method of fabricating structures using the blocks that will interlock-and cooperate with each other forming stronger wall structures with minimum labor.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a system comprising three new interlocking building blocks to greatly strengthen corners where more then two walls intersect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system comprising six different block types with built-in passageways for utility conduits and wiring and a new method of fabricating structures using the blocks that will interlock and cooperate with each other forming stronger wall structures with minimum labor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a column block, corner column blocks and T column blocks with an opening on the top of the blocks to route electrical wiring and conduits to the standard block above by chiseling a two inch opening on the bottom of the longitudinal horizontal opening of a Standard Block.

The invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by the invention.

In brief, a system of interlocking modular blocks are structured to be interlocked to form various structural features having great strength and ease of fabrication qualities with built-in passageways for conduits, wiring, cement and reinforcing bars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard block interlocking block of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of two stacked standard blocks of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tie beam block interlocking block of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a stacked standard block and tie beam block of the present invention interlocked together in a stacked relationship for a typical application;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a top of a column block interlocking block of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bottom of the column block interlocking block of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a top of a T column block interlocking block of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bottom of the T column block interlocking block of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cube block interlocking block of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a 2 by 4 board used as lintel rib in conjunction with two cube blocks;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a top of a corner column block interlocking block of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a bottom of the corner column block interlocking block of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13-17 are perspective views of various assemblies of the interlocking blocks of the present invention stacked and locked together in various combinations to create different structures and structural components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The modular interlocking block system of the present invention provides a number of interlocking blocks structured to be interlocked to form various structural features having great strength and ease of fabrication qualities with built-in passageways for conduits, wiring, cement and reinforcing bars.

Referring now to FIG. 1, where the Standard Block interlocking block 20A is shown, it is seen that it has, a substantially rectangular shape block 24 with a longitudinal trapezoidal built-in protrusion 21 along the center of it's upper side. The Standard Block interlocking block 21 also has a longitudinal trapezoid slot 22, between two bottom longitudinal legs 25A and 25B, which is capable of receiving the top protrusion 21 from another standard block 20A to interlock the blocks when the blocks are staggered or aligned in abutting rows as shown in FIG. 2. A center longitudinal opening 23 provides a channel for conduits and wires 50, as shown in FIG. 2, when a number of standard blocks are aligned to form a wall.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a Column Block interlocking block 20C has the same overall dimensions as Standard Block 20A without the longitudinal protrusion along the center of top. FIG. 5 shows the cable and conduit routing opening 19B on the top of the Column Block interlocking block 20C. FIG. 6 show the bottom view of the Column Block interlocking block 20C with the lower respective partial longitudinal trapezoidal slot 18 molded in the same half of the block in communication with the conduit routing opening 19B, the partial longitudinal slot 18 receives the top longitudinal protrusion 21 from a Standard Block interlocking block 20A to interlock the two blocks. The other half of the Column Block interlocking block 20C is provided with a vertical column opening 19A from the top to the bottom, through which vertical column opening 19A mortar may be poured reinforced with iron rods CC+ROD which extend all the way down to the foundation.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, a Corner Column Block interlocking block 20F has an elongated rectangular box portion 24 the same overall dimensions as a Column Block interlocking block 20A with the addition of a second column block 24A extending at a right angle sharing the common opening 19B through which mortar may be poured reinforced with iron rods CCB+ROD which extend all the way down to the foundation. FIG. 12 shows the bottom view of the Corner Column Block interlocking block 20F with the lower respective partial longitudinal trapezoidal slot 18 molded in the same half of both part of the block for receiving the top longitudinal protrusion 21 from a Standard Block interlocking block 20A to interlock the two blocks.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a T Column Block interlocking block 20D has the same overall dimensions as a Corner Column Block interlocking block 20F with the addition of a third column block 24B extending at a right angle from the rectangular box portion 24 and extending straight from the second column block portion 24A, and sharing the common opening 19B through which mortar may be poured reinforced with iron rods TCB+ROD which extend all the way down to the foundation. FIG. 8 show the bottom view of the T Column Block interlocking block 20D with the lower respective partial longitudinal trapezoidal slot 18 molded in the same half of all three parts of the block for receiving the top longitudinal protrusion 21 from one or more Standard Block interlocking blocks 20A to interlock the blocks.

In FIG. 10, a wooden 2 by 4 board 40 is used as a lintel rib in conjunction with two Cube Blocks 20E as a procedural change to the original use of cement and iron rod shaped into an elongated trapezoidal cross-section. Producing a cement and steal rod lintel for door or window openings is too complicated a process for the scope of simplified construction.

In FIG. 3, a Beam Block interlocking block 20B is the same overall size as the Standard Block interlocking block 20A and has a longitudinal trapezoid bottom slot 22, between two bottom longitudinal legs 25A and 25B, which is capable of receiving the top protrusion 21 from a Standard Block interlocking block 20A to interlock the blocks, is shown in FIG. 4. The Beam Block interlocking block 20B also has a larger top longitudinal rectangular slot 28 between two top longitudinal arms 26A and 26B along its length.

In FIG. 14, a constructed intersection of four walls, 8 feet high, made with Corner Column Blocks interlocking blocks 20F and interlocking Standard Block interlocking blocks 20A, is three times stronger for West walls, two times stronger for South walls and approximately 1.6 times stronger for North and East walls compared to using Column Blocks interlocking blocks 20C, as shown in FIG. 13.

The Corner Column Block interlocking block 20F connects with Standard Block interlocking blocks 20A in six places for West walls compared to two places using Column Block interlocking blocks 20C, as shown in FIG. 13.

The Corner Column Block interlocking block 20F connects with Standard Block interlocking blocks in six places for South walls Compared to three places using Column Block interlocking blocks 20C, as shown in FIG. 13.

The Corner Column Block interlocking block 20F connects with Standard Block interlocking blocks in five places for North and East walls compared to three places using Column Block interlocking blocks, as shown in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15-17 are perspective views of various assemblies 30C-30G of the interlocking blocks of the present invention stacked and locked together in various combinations to create different structures and structural components, including structures with windows 61 and frames 60 and doors 62.

In practice, the interlocking blocks of the present invention are assembled quickly and easily in interlocking assemblies to form different structures with built-in passageways for conduits, wires, cement, and reinforcing bars.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. An improved system of interlocking modular construction blocks, the system comprising:

a standard interlocking modular block comprising an elongated rectangular block body having a top elongated protrusion along a top center of the length of the rectangular block, the ridge having a trapezoidal cross-section tapering to a top edge and the rectangular block body having a bottom longitudinal trapezoidal slot along the length of the rectangular block in a center of a bottom edge, the trapezoidal slot wider along the bottom edge so that it can mate with a top elongated protrusion of another standard interlocking modular block to interlock the standard interlocking modular blocks with one on top of the other, the top elongated protrusion being shorter than the depth of the bottom trapezoidal slot so that a space between a top of the elongated protrusion and a top inner surface of the trapezoidal slot forms a passageway for conduits and wiring;

a series of interlocking modular blocks for mating with at least one of the standard interlocking modular blocks, each of the interlocking modular blocks of the series comprising a rectangular block body having-the same overall dimensions as the standard interlocking modular block and a similar size trapezoidal slot along at least a portion of a center of a bottom edge for mating with at least a portion of a top elongated protrusion of a standard interlocking modular block to interlock therewith, each of the interlocking modular blocks of the series further comprising a first vertical opening through the rectangular block body to form a passageway therethrough for conduits and wiring and a second vertical opening through the rectangular block body to form a passageway therethrough for receiving reinforcing bars and cement.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the series comprises a column interlocking modular block comprising an overall rectangular block configuration the some size as the standard interlocking modular block and the bottom trapezoidal slot along half of a bottom of the column interlocking modular block for mating with a portion of a top elongated protrusion of a standard interlocking modular block to interlock therewith.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the series comprises a corner column interlocking modular block comprising an overall rectangular block configuration the some size as the standard interlocking modular block and the bottom trapezoidal slot along half of a bottom of the column interlocking modular block and further comprising a second rectangular block configuration extending at a right angle to the rectangular block configuration and sharing the second vertical opening, the second block configuration further having a third vertical opening therethrough to form a passageway for conduits and wiring and a second bottom trapezoidal slot along half of a bottom of the second rectangular block configuration column interlocking modular block for mating with at least a portion of a top elongated protrusion of another standard interlocking modular block to interlock.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the series comprises a T column interlocking modular block comprising an overall rectangular block configuration the some size as the standard interlocking modular block and the bottom trapezoidal slot along half of a bottom of the column interlocking modular block and further comprising a second rectangular block configuration extending at a right angle to the rectangular block configuration and sharing the second vertical opening, the second block configuration further having a third vertical opening therethrough to form a passageway for conduits and wiring and a second bottom trapezoidal slot along half of a bottom of the second rectangular block configuration for mating with at least a portion of a top elongated protrusion of another standard interlocking modular block to interlock therewith, and a third block configuration extending at a right angle to the rectangular block configuration and extending straight from the second rectangular block configuration and sharing the second vertical opening, the third block configuration further having a fourth vertical opening therethrough to form a passageway for conduits and wiring and a third bottom trapezoidal slot along half of a bottom of the third rectangular block configuration for mating with at least a portion of a top elongated protrusion of another standard interlocking modular block to interlock therewith.