Abstract: A bent steel insert is provided with top and bottom pairs of abutments for engaging the inside surfaces of top and bottom rows of concrete blocks to center the rows on top of each other. The preferred embodiment is made of a single strip of steel by: bending it adjacent one end at approximately a 90.degree. angle; by doubling it back upon itself to project to the opposite side of the original plane of the strip; and then bending it back again to the original plane to provide top and bottom abutments at one end. The opposite end of the strip is similarly bent to form abutments which are a mirror a image of those previously described to thereby provide pairs of top and bottom abutments for centering building blocks on top of each other.

Abstract: A wall assembly comprising a plurality of building blocks, each of the building blocks have first and second coextensive and parallel wall portions interconnected by a third wall portion, each of the wall portions being provided with grooves therein, and a lattice member comprising parallel and coextensive runner members interconnected by spreader members, the grooves being adapted to receive the lattice member, the lattice member being operative to interconnect and lock together the building blocks to form a wall structure.

Abstract: A fixture for precisely locating the vertical reinforcing steel bars in a hollow block wall at the exact positions specified by the design engineer. The fixture comprises one or more steel wires forming a horizontal supporting structure that is adapted to be laid on the top surfaces of the blocks at various levels as the blocks are being laid. In the preferred form, the horizontal supporting structure is a ladder-like structure made up of two laterally spaced, parallel wires connected together at intervals by cross wires. Certain of the cross wires have circular rings formed therein or attached thereto, and all of the cross wires have downwardly projecting legs that extend down into the cavities of the hollow blocks and engage the inner surfaces thereof to locate the ladder-like structure with respect to the blocks.

Abstract: A plastic or metal web is provided with upper and lower projecting truncated conical members with a surrounding edge band having a thickness equal to the conventional mortar joint between brick or block courses. It is placed on the last laid course with the downwardly extending members frictionally engaging within the apertures in the bricks or blocks. Mortar or other adhesive may be used if desired and the next course is then laid engaging the upwardly projecting members. The spacing of the projecting members is such that the bricks or blocks are aligned spaced and reinforced thus facilitating laying of the bricks or blocks.

Abstract: A wasted spacer member for wall elements consists of cross-shaped and T-shaped members each composed of two elements whose face planes are parallel to each other, and the intersecting point of their arms lies on a common axis perpendicular to the face planes. The two elements of the spacer member are connected to each other by at least one web member of such a length that the distance between the two outer surfaces of the spacer member is less than the thickness of the wall elements and the width or thickness of the arms measured in the planes of the elements corresponds either to the joint width between the individual wall elements or to the joint width plus the sum of the groove depths of two adjacent wall elements.

Abstract: At current high cost of materials and labor, a preferred embodiment of the present invention makes possible easy do-it-yourself erecting of building block walls of proper alignment and of sturdy structure with easy handling materials of a simple nature, including an elongated sheet strip of corrugated cardboard having tar coating upper and lower broad faces of the strip, with length-wise spaced-apart markers indicating consecutive length units, and having on each of lateral side faces the corrugated cardboard series of consecutive openings, with the strip width being less than the width of the blocks under which and above which foundation and/or tiers of blocks are to be mounted such that a groove is formed for each additional tier between that tier and the support foundation or tier therebeneath, into such groove a mortar or other binder composition is insertable to be pressed into the corrugation openings in which the mortar or other binder hardens to set-up securing the mortar or binder against the possibi

Abstract: The building block of the present invention includes a plurality of pins which are arranged in two rows of unequal length with each projecting from a common surface in a plane perpendicular to such surface and a recessed channel on a surface opposite to such surface in alignment with the longer row and of a depth at least equal to the difference between the two rows. The recessed channel of one row of blocks serves as a guide for sliding in the adjacent upper row in forming a wall of such blocks.

Abstract: A series of precast concrete links interconnect the upper ends of vertical wall panels and a precast roof. The links are formed with slots at their longitudinal ends for the reception of specially formed reinforcement members, as required by the design of the building under construction, and some of said links being formed with openings intermediate their ends.

Abstract: A tying device for tying a wood framing structure to a masonry block, brick or concrete surface comprising a clamping and fastening unit which includes a combination clamping and fastening member which in use is disposed outwardly of the masonry or concrete wall and is adapted to be clamped against and to be fastened to the wood framing structure. The new tying device includes a sleeve unit which is adapted to be inserted into either mortar joints or concrete and cooperates with the combination clamping and fastening unit to enable the clamping and fastening member to be moved and adjusted into and out of clamping position against a vertically extending outer wall surface of a masonry or concrete wall surface.