CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT

Abstract

A construction element includes a frame and a block that slides in the frame when subjected to an external force. The block forms a tenon between two superimposed frames that form mortises. Construction elements fixed together laterally form modules that can be assembled in offset from one level to another to form a wall.

Claims

1. A construction element comprising: a frame comprising a cavity opening through an upper opening and a lower opening, and a block arranged to move in a first direction in the cavity under the action of an external pressure and to remain blocked at least partially in the cavity in the absence of external pressure, wherein an upper end of the block is configured to engage the upper opening of the cavity and is configured to engage the lower opening of the cavity.

2. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein the cavity and the block are configured so that the block enters the cavity through the lower opening and exits through the upper opening.

3. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein a difference, taken in absolute value, between at least one lateral extent of the cavity and a corresponding lateral extent of the block measured when the block is outside the cavity is less than 3 mm.

4. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein a difference, in absolute value, between a width of the cavity and a width of the block measured when the block is outside the cavity is less than 3 mm and/or a difference, in absolute value, between a depth of the cavity and a depth of the block measured when the block is outside the cavity is less than 3 mm.

5. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the block is chamfered and/or corners of the upper end of the block are rounded.

6. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises lateral panels delimiting the cavity laterally, and wherein the block is configured to be in mechanical contact with all the lateral panels of the frame when the block is blocked, at least partially, in the cavity.

7. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein a height of the frame is equal to a height of the block.

8. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is delimited by flat surfaces parallel to the first direction.

9. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein the frame is at least partially made of one of wood and polymer.

10. An assembly comprising a first construction element according to claim 1 and a second construction element according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the second construction element is placed on the frame of the first construction element and the block of the first construction element is mechanically blocked in the cavity of the frame of the first construction element and in the cavity of the frame of the second construction element.

11. A construction module comprising a first construction element according to claim 1 and a second construction element according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the first construction element is laterally fixed to the frame of the second construction element.

12. A construction module comprising a first construction element according to claim 1 and a second construction element according to claim 1 wherein the frame of the first construction element is laterally fixed to the frame of the second construction element, the construction module further comprising a third construction element according to claim 1 laterally fixed to the frame of the second construction element.

13. A wall comprising at least three construction modules according to claim 11, at least a first one of the construction modules comprising: a first block located in a first cavity of the first construction module and in a cavity of a second of the construction modules; and a second block located in a second cavity of the first construction module and in a cavity of a third of the construction modules.

14. A building comprising at least one construction element according to claim 1.

15. A method of constructing one of a wall and a vertical panel, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first frame comprising a cavity opening through an upper opening and a lower opening, providing a second frame comprising a cavity opening through an upper opening and a lower opening, providing a block configured to move in a first direction in the cavity of the first frame under the action of an external pressure and to remain blocked at least partially in the cavity of the first frame in the absence of external pressure, and to move in the first direction in the cavity of the second frame under the action of an external pressure and to remain blocked at least partially in the cavity of the second frame in the absence of external pressure, and engaging the block in the upper opening of the cavity of the first frame and in the lower opening of the cavity of the second frame.

16. A building comprising an assembly according to claim 10.

17. A building comprising a module according to claim 11.

18. A building comprising a module according to claim 12.

19. A building comprising a wall according to claim 13.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0063] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear when reading the following detailed description, for the understanding of which one will refer to the annexed figures among which:

[0064] FIG. 1a is a vertical section of a construction element according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0065] FIG. 1b is a horizontal section of a frame forming part of a construction element according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0066] FIG. 1c is a horizontal section of a block forming part of a construction element according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0067] FIG. 1d is a three-dimensional view of a construction element according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0068] FIG. 2 is a vertical section of an assembly of two construction elements according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0069] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a construction module according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0070] FIG. 4 is a vertical section of a construction module according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0071] FIG. 5a is a vertical section of an assembly according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0072] FIG. 5b is a vertical view of a frame that can be used in the assembly of FIG. 5a,

[0073] FIG. 6 is a vertical view of a wall according to an embodiment of the invention, and

[0074] FIG. 7 is a vertical view of a wall according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a window.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0075] The present invention is described with particular embodiments and references to figures but the invention is not limited by them. The drawings or figures described are only schematic and are not limiting.

[0076] In the context of this document, the terms “first” and “second” serve only to differentiate between the different elements and do not imply any order between these elements.

[0077] In the figures, identical or similar elements may bear the same references.

[0078] FIGS. 1a to 1d illustrate an example of frame 1 and an example of block 2 which may be part of a construction element 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0079] For the purposes of this description, the first direction 101 is preferably considered to be a vertical direction.

[0080] The frame 1 comprises a cavity 22. The cavity 22 passes through the frame 1 between an upper end of the frame 1 and a lower end of the frame 1. The cavity 22 is opened by an upper opening 22a and a lower opening 22b opposite each other.

[0081] The frame 1 comprises lateral panels 23, for example two first panels 1a (front and back panels) and second two panels 1b (left and right panels). It is preferable that the second panels 1b be blocked laterally between the first two panels 1a. This can be seen in FIG. 1b.

[0082] The block 2 is arranged to be mechanically wedged in the cavity 22 when no external pressure is exerted on it, and to move in the first direction 101 when it is subjected to external pressure capable of moving it in the first direction 101.

[0083] The block 2 has an upper end 25 and a lower end 26. Preferably, the upper end 25 of the block 2 is arranged to be engaged, according to the first direction 101, in the upper opening 22a and the lower opening 22b of the cavity 22. The upper end 25 of the block 2 can thus engage in the upper opening 22a of the cavity of a first frame 1 and in the lower opening 22b of the cavity of a second frame 1, identical to the first frame 1, and located above the first frame 1.

[0084] More preferably, the entire block 2 can be inserted into the cavity 22 following the upper end 25 of the block 2. Preferably, the block 2 has a chamfer 21 on one edge of its upper end 25, so that it can be easily inserted into the frame 1.

[0085] Preferably, the block 2 is slidable in the frame 1 in the first direction 101, and its dimensions are chosen so that, in the absence of pressure, the block 2 is mechanically blocked in the frame 1.

[0086] Preferably, the frame 1 and the block 2 are of square horizontal section, but it could have another shape while remaining within the purpose of the invention.

[0087] FIG. 1a shows the block 2 partially inserted in the cavity 22 of the frame 1, so that it protrudes from the cavity 22 at its upper end 25. This figure illustrates the height 51 of the frame 1 and the height 52 of the block 2.

[0088] FIG. 1b illustrates the width 53 of the cavity 22 and the depth 55. FIG. 1c makes it possible, in particular, to illustrate the width 54 of the block 2 and its depth 56.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows two stacked construction elements 10. The block 2 of the lower construction element 10 is partially engaged, with its upper end 25, in the frame 1 of the upper construction element 10. The construction elements 10 are assembled by interlocking one on top of the other, offsetting the block 2 with respect to the frame 1, so that the block 2 is partially received in two frames located one on top of the other.

[0090] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate construction modules 100 according to embodiments of the invention. The construction module 100 comprises several construction elements 10 according to the invention, for example two construction elements 10 for the module 100 illustrated in FIG. 3 and three construction elements 10 for the module 100 illustrated in FIG. 4. The construction elements 10 are preferably fixed together via a lateral panel at a junction 3 between two frames 1, so that they are at the same height. Preferably, a single plate forms the front panels 1a of the frames 1 of several construction elements 10 and a single plate forms the rear panels 1a of the frames 1 of several construction elements. Preferably, the blocks 2 of the different construction elements can be moved independently.

[0091] FIG. 5a shows a possible assembly with a construction element 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. This assembly is in particular advantageous for forming the lowest level of a wall. For example, this assembly may comprise base blocks 8, a hermetic layer 7, a board 5 and construction elements 10.

[0092] The base blocks 8 are for example Ytong blocks aligned in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5a. The sealing layer 7 is for e.g. made of an EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) foil. The board 5, which can be called a wall plate, is preferably fixed by means for fixing or screws 9 to the base blocks 8. The construction elements 10, with a frame 1 where the second panels 1b are shortened as shown in FIG. 5b, are arranged so that the board 5 is engaged between the first panels 1a and preferably abuts against the lower ends of the second panels 1b. Means for fixing or screws 6 may be used to fix the first panels 1a to the board 5.

[0093] FIG. 5b illustrates the frame 1 whose second panels 1b are shorter than the first panels 1a, so as to create a passage 16 arranged to receive at least the upper part of the board 5.

[0094] FIG. 6 illustrates a wall 200 comprising modules 100, 100a, 100b, 100c according to the embodiment of the invention and uprights 4. For reasons of clarity, only certain blocks are shown. They are shown as dotted lines to indicate that they are hidden inside the modules.

[0095] The modules 100 are preferably arranged vertically offset so that a first part of an upper module rests on a first lower module and a second part of an upper module rests on a second lower module. In addition, this allows first 120 and second 130 blocks belonging to a first module 100a to be located partially in the first module 100a and partially in a second module 100b and third module 100c, respectively. This results in a mechanical coupling between the second 100b and third 100c modules via the first 100a module.

[0096] At the top of the wall 200, for example, it is possible to cut off the upper ends of the protruding blocks, or to provide blocks of lower height, in order to finish the wall with a horizontal surface.

[0097] The uprights 4, which can also be called rafters, are fixed, for example screwed or nailed, to several superimposed construction elements.

[0098] FIG. 7 shows a part of wall comprising a window 11. The window 11 is a part of open wall. It is delimited, for example, by a lower board 14 at the bottom, an upper board 15 at the top and lateral construction elements 10. The upper board 15 preferably rests on second panels 1b of two of these lateral construction elements, which can be called first lateral construction elements 10c. The wall also comprises a lintel 12 located above the tureen board 15 and these first lateral construction elements 10c. The lintel 12 is a construction module in which central construction elements 10a have their second two panels 1b shorter than their first two panels 1a, and end construction elements 10b have one of their second two panels 1b shorter than their first two panels 1a. The blocks 2 of the first lateral construction elements 10c are partially inserted into the cavities of the end construction elements 10b.

[0099] In other words, the invention relates to a construction element 10 comprising a frame 1 and a block 2 that can slide in the frame 1 when subjected to an external force. The block 2 can thus form a tenon between two superimposed frames 1 forming mortises. Construction elements 10 fixed together laterally form modules 100 that can be assembled offset from one level to the other to form a wall.

[0100] The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which are of purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. Generally speaking, the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and/or described above. The use of the verbs “comprise”, “include”, “consist”, or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, can in no way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned. The use of the indefinite article “a”, “an”, “one”, or the definite article “the”, to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The reference numbers in claims do not limit their scope.