US20090301020A1

US20090301020A1 - Unit for block walls and walls incorporating the unit

Info

Publication number: US20090301020A1
Application number: US12/157,506
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R. Belliveau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-10
Filing date: 2008-06-10
Publication date: 2009-12-10

Abstract

A unit for block walls and block walls assembled from said units. The units have top and bottom surfaces joined by spaced-apart planar abutment surfaces that form equal dihedral angles such that when two units are abutted at their base surfaces, they form in side view a hexagonal array that is self aligning and mutually supporting. Fractional units can be provided at ends of the wall which carry only a single abutment surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The economical construction of block walls, and block units comprising the walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Walls built from rectangular blocks are usually made of concrete (cinder) and assembled in place by masons skilled in the art of mortar application and accurate placement of block units so that when the mortar hardens, the units are correctly placed and a suitably aligned and a flat-surfaced wall results. These skills are attained by long practice and command a considerable labor price.
It is an object of this invention to provide units which require no mortar between them, which are substantially self-aligning, and which when assembled are in mutual support of one another. These can be quickly assembled by common laborers, or even by a homeowner who is able to handle the units. The cost of the resulting wall is remarkably decreased because of the elimination of skilled labor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A unit for a wall according to this invention forms, in side view, a trapezoid which when assembled, base-to-base, with a like unit forms in side view a hexagonal pattern, preferably a regular hexagon but in any event, a hexagon in which opposite sides are parallel in pairs. Such pairs of units are central in the side view of the assembled wall. At the ends of the walls, fractional units provide for a straight vertical end when one is required.
Also, at the bottom and top of the assembled wall, the units are arranged so as to present a continuous upper and lower-base surface. In plan view, these units are preferably rectangular. This is usually necessary in a masonry wall.
All of the units are pierced so that when the units are assembled, a continuous passage from top to bottom is created through them into which concrete can be poured, preferably with a reinforcement rod inside to strengthen the wall against side loads, bowing and tipping.
The abutting surfaces of the units are preferably planar. When these planar surfaces are in abutment, the units will necessarily be in correct alignment without requiring skill in placing them.
The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wall comprising units and fractional units according to the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the wall taken at line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a fractional unit;

FIG. 4 is an end view taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view taken at line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an entire unit;

FIG. 7 is a top view taken at line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view taken at line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a right hand side view taken at line 9-9 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of an optional base for use with the wall of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For convenience in discussion, wall 20 in FIG. 1 comprises three vertical central columns 21,22,23, and six horizontal rows 25,26,27,28 29,30. Vertical end columns 35 and 36 abut the assembled central columns.
The assembled wall has a flat top surface 37 and a flat bottom surface 38. Assembled passages 40,41,42,43,44 extend between the top and bottom surfaces.
If desired, a flat base 45 (FIG. 10) can be placed where the wall is to be built. Studs 46,47,48,49,50 project upwardly into respective passages to locate the bottom unit. Only studs will be needed for most indoor work. They are preferably square shaped and hollow so as to fit closer in a passage or passages, and to receive concrete and reinforcement when they are used.
For outdoor work, posts 51,52,53,54,55 can be pressed into the ground to stabilize the base. Instead of a separate base, the wall can be built atop a subgrade poured concrete wall.
Wall 20 is comprised of an assembled group of units and fractional units. Fractional units are provided when an end support is desired for an assembly of units. For example. columns 35 and 36 respectively abut the edges of columns 21 and 23.
An entire unit is shown in detail in FIGS. 6-9, illustrating unit 60 at the top of column 22. Each entire unit has a base surface 61, a top surface 62 and two abutment surfaces 63,64. Passage 65 extends between the top and base surfaces. Side surface 66 and 67 join the base, top and abutment surfaces to form a closed structure.
The unit is a regular trapezoid in side view. The abutment surfaces make equal angles with the base surfaces. Importantly to this invention, when the base surfaces of two units are pressed together as units 60 and unit 70 in column 22, they form in side view a hexagon, preferably (but not necessarily) a regular hexagon as shown in FIG. 1. All sides of the hexagon are equal, and the dihedral angles formed by the intersecting surfaces are all equal, in this case 120 degrees but the angles could be greater or less than 120 degrees for design purposes but the 120 degree angle is functionally the strongest.
Should the length of the base and top surfaces be equally lengthened, the angles will remain the same, but the hexagon will not be regular. Still the unit will function well, but without the benefits of the regularity.
The fractional units, such as fractional unit 71 in column 35 are pentagonal in side view, being a unit cut short at one end to form a planar end surface 75 to form the end of the wall.
As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, fractional unit 71 has a base surface 72 a top surface 73 an abutment surface 74 and an end surface 75. A passage 76 passes between the top and bottom surfaces. The dihedral angles between the abutment surface and the top and bottom surfaces are identical to those in the full unit.
It will be observed that the units and fractional units are alternated in their column. Accordingly the planar abutment surfaces can fit together only when the units are correctly aligned. To rotate one relative to the other results in a force that will separate them. The unit is therefore self-aligning. In addition the columns are mutually supporting. The downward weight of the units is transmitted through their adjoining surfaces to their neighbors.
The angularity of the abutment surfaces results in resolved forces both downward and sideward. This sideward component adds rigidity to the wall that a simple stack of rectangularly-faced blocks inherently cannot have.
Accordingly a wall as shown can readily be formed in a straight configuration, relying on the plane-to-plane abutment of the abutment surfaces and of mutually abutting pairs of top surfaces and bottom surfaces.
It is evident that the dihedral angles must be identical for both abutment surfaces, and that when two blocks are assembled as shown, opposite sides of the hexagon must be parallel.
This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the description, which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A unit for assembly to form a mortarless block wall, said unit comprises a solid body having for its outer surfaces a base surface, two side surfaces, a top surface and two abutment surfaces, said base surface and top surface being parallel to one another said side surfaces being parallel to one another, the abutment surfaces forming equal dihedral angles with the base surface and with the top surface, whereby when stacked to form a column, with base surfaces in contiguity with one another, the view of the pair from the side is hexagonal.

2. A unit according to claim 1 in which said dihedral angles between the base surface and the abutment surface is 60 degrees.

3. A unit according to claim 1 in which said side view is a regular hexagon.

4. A fractional unit for completion of a wall comprising a plurality of columns according to claim 1, in which said fractional unit has only one abutment surface, the other end of said fractional unit being planar and normal to the base surface, the top surface, and the side surface.

5. A unit according to claim 1 in which a passage extends between the top surface and base surface to pass a reinforcement and also contain cement to reinforce a column of said units with the passages aligned.

6. A mortarless wall comprising a plurality of vertical columns of units according to claim 1, with adjacent units alternately disposed, with pairs of abutting top surfaces and pairs of abutting base surfaces, and with abutment surfaces of each column abutting abutment surfaces of its neighboring columns,

7. A mortarless wall according to claim 6 in which a stack of fractional units abut an end one of said stacks of units to finish the end of the wall.

8. In combination a mortarless wall according to claim 6 and a base support, said base support having upright studs to align passages of respective in each vertical columns.