BOND BEAM AND BLOCK JOIST
A building has walls built from blocks with cavities. Roofs and floors are formed from joists extending between walls. Each joist has a vertical plate, an angle piece located on each side of the vertical plate and end plates. The end plates bear on the wall blocks. Pins extend from the end plates into cavities of the wall blocks. Bond beams can be positioned on walls parallel to the joist. Horizontal blocks are laid across the joists to form a roof or floor.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 29/442,161, filed Dec. 26, 2012.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to buildings and structures made from blocks and joists.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is a need in the United States of America and abroad for low cost housing. Traditionally, permanent housing is of stick and frame construction involving the use of lumber, such as 2×4's, to make the walls and larger lumber boards for joists and roofing. This type of construction requires a relatively high level of skill in carpentry and also expensive construction materials.
As an alternative to such construction, concrete or cement block construction has been explored. Cement blocks are relatively low cost and can be made in molds. While previous efforts to use cement blocks have made progress, costs could further be reduced, particularly in constructing horizontal structures such as roofs and floors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA building has at least two parallel walls made of stacked blocks. The blocks have cavities therein, which cavities are aligned vertically. The building has a horizontal roof or floor. Joists span between the two walls, with each joist made from a vertical plate with an upper end portion and at least one angle piece coupled to the upper end portion. Each joist has two ends and a longitudinal direction between the two ends. The angle piece extends laterally from the vertical plate. Each joist has a width which comprises the thickness of the vertical plate and a lateral extension of the angle piece. Each end has a horizontal end plate coupled thereto and extends longitudinally from the respective end. The end plate has a width that is wider than the width of the combined angle piece and the vertical plate. The end plates have at least one pin extending vertically down. The pin is located in a block cavity in the wall. The end plates are located on the respective walls. Horizontal blocks are located on top of the joists, forming a top surface.
In one aspect, the end plate of a first joist on one of the walls abuts the end plate of an adjacent second joist on the one wall.
In another aspect, the at least one angle piece is a first angle piece, further comprising a second angle piece coupled to the vertical plate on each joist extending opposite of the first angle piece.
In another aspect, the joist is shaped like a “T” in transverse cross-section.
In another aspect, the end plates have at least one pin extending vertically up.
In another aspect, the end plates are rectangular.
In another aspect, at least some of the end plates are interior end plates, with each interior end plate having a protrusion and a recess for fitting into another interior end plate with a protrusion and a recess.
In another aspect, the horizontal blocks have cavities therein, with the cavities aligned horizontally.
In another aspect, a bond beam is located along a third wall that is perpendicular to the two walls. The bond beam comprises a horizontal plate located on and extending along the length of the wall. An angle piece is coupled beneath the horizontal plate and pins depending from the horizontal plate and into the cavities of blocks in the third wall. The angle piece is located along an inside of the third wall.
In another aspect, a bond beam is located along a fourth wall that is perpendicular to the two walls. The bond beam comprises a horizontal plate located on and extending along a length of the wall, with pins depending from the horizontal plate into cavities of blocks in the fourth wall. The horizontal plate has two side edges. The angle piece is coupled to an underside of the horizontal plate in proximity to the side edges, with an angle piece located on each side of the fourth wall.
In another aspect, the end plate of a first joist on one of the walls abuts the end plate of an adjacent second joist on the one wall. The at least one angle piece is a first angle piece, further comprising a second angle piece coupled to the vertical plate on each joist extending opposite of the first angle piece. The end plates have at least one pin extending vertically up. The end plates are rectangular. The joist is shaped like a “T” in transverse cross-section.
In
The building can be used for any purpose, such as residential, a place of work, a storage building, etc. In the description herein, like reference numbers indicate like components.
Joists 31 and blocks 25 are used in the floors and roofs, which roofs also serve as ceilings. The joists, which are simple to make, are made from metal plates and angle pieces. Referring to
Vertical pins 43 are coupled to the end plates 39. At least one pin 43 is coupled to the end plate 37. The pin 43 depends down from the end plate so as to engage the support wall, but in the preferred embodiment, the pin extends in both directions from the end plate, namely up and down. In the preferred embodiment, a hole is cut in the end plate and a length of rebar is inserted into the hole partway through and welded in place. As an alternative, a pin could extend up from the end plate with a separate pin extending down. The pins are spaced apart so as to be received by cavities 27 in the cement blocks 25.
The joist 31 of
In addition to the joist 31, bond beams are provided. On exterior walls, the bond beam 51 of
Another bond beam 51A is shown in
In use, the building is built block 25 by block. When the top row of blocks is put on the walls, the roof can now be added. As shown in
The ends of the plates 53 of the bond beams 51 can be unnotched, as shown in
Before laying up the beams and joists, mortar can be added to the cavities 27 of the blocks. The pins 43 are then set into wet mortar, which mortar hardens.
Thus, when the bond beams and joists are all laid up, the joists and bond beams are parallel to one another. The bond beams 51, 51A overlay the parallel walls. The non-parallel, or perpendicular walls, are overlaid by the plates 37, 37A.
While the end plates 37, 37A contact one another, the joists and beams are separated from each other by gaps (see
To lay the roof, a row of blocks 61 (see
In the same manner that the roof is built, the floor can be laid by putting blocks on top of the joists. The foundation is made such that there is an interior row of blocks along the floor level, which blocks are used to support the bond beams 51 and end plates 37.
Once the blocks are laid down, a waterproof layer is applied to the roofing blocks. For example, rolled roof covering can be applied. The roof is now complete. The horizontal structures of the roof and even the floor need not be truly horizontal. For example, the roof can have some pitch to shed water. Inside the building, the ceiling is the underside of the roof. If desired, a suspended ceiling can be built.
Thus, the joists and beams provide a simple low cost way to roof and floor a building. No special carpentry skills are needed, particularly with the joists and beams already cut to length and welded. Also, mortar between the blocks is not required, further simplifying construction. The use of the pin anchors in the ends of the joists and beams and the walls form a sturdy structure.
The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A building having at least two parallel walls made of stacked blocks, the blocks having cavities therein, which cavities are aligned vertically, the building having a horizontal roof or floor, comprising:
- a) joists spanning between the two walls, with each joist made from a vertical plate with an upper portion and at least one angle piece, the angle piece having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the upper portion of the vertical plate, the second portion extending laterally from the first portion and the vertical plate, the vertical plate having a thickness, each joist having two ends and having a longitudinal direction between the two ends, each joist having a width which comprises the thickness of the vertical plate and a lateral extension of the angle piece;
- b) each end having a horizontal end plate coupled thereto and extending longitudinally from the respective end, the end plate having a width that is wider than the width of the combined angle piece and the vertical plate;
- c) one of the joists is a first joist, another of the joists being a second joist that is adjacent to the first joist, the end plates of the first joist being separate from the end plates of the second joist;
- d) each of the end plates having at least one pin extending vertically down, the pin located in a block cavity in the wall, the end plates located on the respective walls;
- e) horizontal blocks located on top of the joists, the angle piece and the end plates forming a top surface.
2. The building of claim 1, wherein the end plate of the first joist on one of the walls abuts the end plate of the second joist on the one wall.
3. The building of claim 1, wherein the at least one angle piece is a first angle piece, further comprising a second angle piece coupled to the vertical plate on each joist extending opposite of the first angle piece.
4. The building of claim 1, wherein the joist is shaped like a “T” in transverse cross-section.
5. The building of claim 1, further comprising the end plates having at least one pin extending vertically up.
6. The building of claim 1, wherein the end plates are rectangular.
7. The building of claim 1, wherein at least some of the end plates are interior end plates, with each interior end plate having a protrusion and a recess for fitting into another interior end plate with a protrusion and a recess, wherein the protrusion of one interior end plate is received in the recess of the other interior end plate.
8. The building of claim 1, wherein the horizontal blocks have cavities therein, with cavities aligned horizontally.
9. The building of claim 1, further comprising a bond beam located along a third wall that is perpendicular to the two walls, the third wall comprising blocks with cavities, the bond beam comprising a horizontal plate located on and extending along the length of the third wall, the horizontal plate having a side edge that projects laterally of the third wall, and with pins depending from the horizontal plate and into the cavities of blocks in the third wall, an angle piece located along an inside of the third wall and coupled beneath the horizontal plate.
10. The building of claim 9, further comprising a bond beam located along a third wall that is perpendicular to the two walls, the bond beam comprising a horizontal plate located on and extending along a length of the third wall, with pins depending from the horizontal plate into cavities of blocks in the third wall, the horizontal plate having two side edges that project laterally of the third wall, with an angle piece located on each side of the third wall, the angle piece coupled to an underside of the horizontal plate in proximity to the side edges.
11. The building of claim 1, wherein:
- a) the end plate of the first joist on one of the walls abuts the end plate of the second joist on the one wall;
- b) the at least one angle piece is a first angle piece, further comprising a second angle piece coupled to the vertical plate on each joist extending opposite of the first angle piece;
- c) the joist is shaped like a “T” in transverse cross-section;
- d) the end plates having at least one pin extending vertically up;
- e) the end plates are rectangular.
12. The building of claim 1 wherein the two walls have respective inside surfaces, the ends of the joists being located between the inside surfaces, the end plates extending past the inside surfaces to bear on horizontal surfaces on the walls.
13. The building of claim 1 wherein the respective end plate has a top surface that is planar with a top surface of the respective angle piece second portion.
14. The building of claim 13 wherein the vertical plate of each joist has a notch in the upper end at each end, the respective end plate located in the respective notch.
15. The building of claim 9 further comprising horizontal blocks located on top of the bond beam.
16. The building of claim 10 further comprising horizontal blocks located on top of the bond beam.
17. The building of claim 9 further comprising a second bond beam located along a fourth wall that is perpendicular to the two walls, the second bond beam comprising a horizontal plate located on and extending along a length of the fourth wall, with pins depending from the horizontal plate into cavities of blocks in the fourth wall, the horizontal plate having two side edges that project laterally of the fourth wall, with an angle piece located on each side of the fourth wall, the angle piece coupled to an underside of the horizontal plate in proximity to the side edges.
18. The building of claim 17 further comprising horizontal blocks located on top of the first and second bond beams.
19. A building having at least two parallel walls made of stacked blocks, the blocks having cavities therein, which cavities are aligned vertically, the building having a horizontal roof or floor, comprising:
- a) joists spanning between the two walls, with each joist made from at least one angle piece, the angle piece having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portion extending laterally from the vertical portion, the vertical portion depending down from the horizontal portion, each joist having two ends and having a longitudinal direction between the two ends, each joist having a width which comprises the lateral extension of the horizontal portion;
- b) each end having a horizontal end plate coupled thereto and extending longitudinally from the respective end, the end plate having a width that is wider than the width of the joist;
- c) one of the joists is a first joist, another of the joists being a second joist that is adjacent to the first joist, the end plates of the first joist being separate from the end plates of the second joist;
- d) each of the end plates having at least one pin extending vertically down, the pin located in a block cavity in the wall, the end plates located on the respective walls;
- e) horizontal blocks located on top of the horizontal portions of the first and second joists and the end plates forming a top surface, each of the horizontal blocks having ends and sides, with the distance between the ends being a horizontal block length and the distance between the sides being a horizontal block width, the horizontal block length being greater than the horizontal block width, the horizontal blocks arranged in an end-to-end manner so that one of the ends of one of the horizontal blocks contacts an adjacent horizontal block.
20. The building of claim 19, wherein the end plate of the first joist on one of the walls abuts the end plate of the second joist on the one wall.
21. The building of claim 19 wherein the two walls have respective inside surfaces, the ends of the joists being located between the inside surfaces, the end plates extending past the inside surfaces to bear on horizontal surfaces on the walls.
22. The building of claim 19 wherein the respective end plate has a top surface that is planar with a top surface of the respective angle piece horizontal portion.
23. The building of claim 22 wherein the vertical portion of each angle piece has a notch in the upper end at each end, the respective end plate located in the respective notch.
24. The building of claim 19 wherein the horizontal blocks interlock with adjacent horizontal blocks on the horizontal block ends and the horizontal block sides.
25. The building of claim 24 wherein the horizontal blocks contact adjacent horizontal blocks without mortar.
26. The building of claim 19, further comprising a bond beam located along a third wall that is perpendicular to the two walls, the bond beam comprising a horizontal plate located on and extending along a length of the third wall, with pins depending from the horizontal plate into cavities of blocks in the third wall, the horizontal plate having two side edges that project laterally of the third wall, with an angle piece located on each side of the third wall, the angle piece coupled to an underside of the horizontal plate in proximity to the side edges.
27. The building of claim 26 further comprising a second bond beam located along a fourth wall that is perpendicular to the two walls, the second bond beam comprising a horizontal plate located on and extending along a length of the fourth wall, with pins depending from the horizontal plate into cavities of blocks in the fourth wall, the horizontal plate having two side edges that project laterally of the fourth wall, with an angle piece located on each side of the fourth wall, the angle piece coupled to an underside of the horizontal plate in proximity to the side edges.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 26, 2014
Inventor: Douglas Edwards (Gainesville, TX)
Application Number: 13/967,087
International Classification: E04B 1/38 (20060101); E04B 1/04 (20060101);