Masonry Block System

Abstract

A masonry block system that includes a stretcher block and a half block, each block having connector means for interlocking with an adjacent block, the blocks being constructed in a such a manner as to enable quick and easy assembly of a building structure.

Claims

1: A masonry block comprising: A block that is substantially rectangular having four sides, the four sides of the block having two wall faces, a first end face having a male connector and female connector, a second end face having a male connector and a female connector, a top face and a bottom face, wherein the male connector is adapted to mate with the female connector of an adjacent block, and the female connector is adapted to mate with the male connector of the adjacent block, the wall faces being faces of the block that are visible when a wall is constructed, the upper face and a lower face of the block being open; a plurality of chambers within the block that are bounded by an outer web and separated by an inner web.

2: The masonry block of claim 1 wherein the masonry block is precision ground to a predetermined height.

3: The masonry block of claim 2, wherein the plurality of chambers includes four chambers, each of the four chambers being substantially rectangular.

4: The masonry block of claim 3, wherein the four chambers include two large chambers and two narrow chambers.

5: The masonry block of claim 4 further comprising a notch in an upper corner of each end face for receiving a line pin.

6: The masonry block of claim 5 further comprising one or more chamber notches located inside one or more of the chambers.

7: The masonry block of claim 2, wherein the plurality of chambers includes two chambers, each of the two chambers being substantially rectangular.

8: The masonry block of claim 7 further comprising a notch in an upper corner of each end face for receiving a line pin.

9: The masonry block of claim 8 further comprising one or more chamber notches located inside one or more of the chambers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stretcher block according to the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the stretcher block.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a front end view of the stretcher block.

[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial top view of the stretcher block.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the half block according to the invention.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a top view of the half block.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a front end view of the half block.

[0015] FIG. 8 is an enlarged top view of a partial top view of the half block.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a top view of a wall constructed of the blocks.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a partial wall constructed from the blocks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0019] The invention is a masonry block 100 for building masonry block walls. The masonry block 100 is constructed to receive insulation materials, reinforcing materials, and utilities. The insulation material may be in any suitable form, for example, a rigid foam block, batting, or spray foam insulation. The utilities include the types of wires, cables and piping that are common in most building structures. The common reinforcing means are reinforcing bars or rebar.

[0020] The term masonry block 100 is a general term for the block according to the invention and includes a stretcher block 120 and a half block 140 that fit together to form a wall 160. Incorporated into each block 100 are one or more chambers 200 for receiving insulation and reinforcing bars (rebar), among other things, as well as a connector means 300 for mating adjacent blocks with each other. The general shape of the blocks 100 is rectangular, whereby the generally rectangular outer perimeter has one or more indentations and/or protrusions on one or more of the faces of the particular block. Each block has two wall faces 102 that form opposite sides of the block and are the faces of the block that are visible on the two faces of a wall, and each block has a first end face 104 and a second end face 106, a top face 110, and a bottom face 112. Elements that are functionally identical in the various blocks 120 and 140 retain the same reference designation.

[0021] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the stretcher block 120. The wall faces 102 are mirror-reverse images of each other and, thus, one reference designation shall be used to indicate one or both of the wall faces. The connector means 300 on the stretcher block includes a male connector 302 and female connector 304 on each end face 104, 106. When two stretcher blocks 120 are assembled adjacent to one another on a row, the male connector 302 on the first end face 104 mates with the female connector 304 on the second end face 106 of the adjacent block.

[0022] The stretcher block 120 includes a plurality of chambers 200. More particularly, the block 120 includes two large chambers 220 and two narrow chambers 240, the chambers being bounded by an outer web 260 and separated by an inner web 280. The large chambers 220 are ideal for the insertion of insulation, with chamber notches 207 provided inside of the large chambers 220 to help secure insulation inside of the chambers 220, and well as for the insertion for reinforcing means such as rebar. The narrow chambers are particularly well suited for utilities such as electrical wiring. The wall face 102 that is adjacent to the narrow chamber 240 may also be cut away, after which a conventional electrical box, which typically has a depth of 2 inches or 2 inches, may be inserted in the narrow chamber 240 in such a manner that the outer edge of the electrical box is flush with an inside wall of a building.

[0023] Small notches 205 are provided in the upper corner of each face 104, 106 of the block 100, which allow for the insertion of line pins (not shown). After a course of blocks 100 has been put in place, and/or during the laying of a course of blocks 100, a range line may be hooked to each pin to ensure the wall is kept straight.

[0024] The stretcher block 120 may be constructed in any suitable size, however, a block that is roughly eight inches in width, eight inches in height, and sixteen inches in length is particularly useful for constructing a strong wall with insulation and reinforcing supports. In this example, the large chambers 220 may be approximately 6.5 inches in length and 3 inches in width while the narrow chambers 240 may be approximately 6.5 inches in length and 1 inch in width. This size of block is also particularly suitable for use with other conventional building materials such as conventional siding and insulation.

[0025] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the half block 140. This block is often used as an end block, in place of the full-size stretcher block 120, so that the blocks 100 may be laid on bond relative to the previously laid course of blocks 100. The construction of this half block 140 is very similar to that of the stretcher block 120, in that it has the wall faces 102, 104, recesses 220 and connectors. The difference being that it has two chambers rather than four, and is roughly half as long as the stretcher block. As with the other blocks, the chambers 220, 240, are open passages through the block 140.

[0026] The stretcher block 120 and the half block 140 are each precision ground, meaning that the top face 110 of each block 120, 140, is ground to precise dimensions so that the height of each block 120, 140, in a set of blocks is the same. For example, a set of stretcher blocks 120 that are to be used for a given building may be ground to the precise height of 8 inches, with a length of 16 inches and a depth of 8 inches, while a set of half blocks 140 may also be ground to a precise height of 8 inches, a length of 8 inches, and a depth of 8 inches.

[0027] Ensuring that the blocks 100 have the same height and the same depth, in addition to the connection means 300, allows for easy construction compared to the conventional blocks because a wall may be constructed using conventional masonry adhesive rather than mortar, which is a significantly faster and easier method of adhering one row of blocks to another.

[0028] More specifically, the method of constructing a wall using the precision ground block includes the following: 1) leveling the ground where the wall is to be constructed; 2) laying a length of wall, with the connection means 300 interlocking between each adjacent block; 3) laying a line of masonry adhesive along the top face 110 of each block in the line; 4) inserting line pins into the notches 205; 5) running a line through the line pins and checking to see that the line of blocks is straight; 6) repeating the process for each layer of blocks until the desired wall height is achieved. As previously mentioned, it is a good practice to use horizontally laid rebar at various spots along the wall. To do this, a notch is ground into the top face 110 of each block in the layer, often along the inner web 280, the rebar is put in place in the notch and then covered by grout to seal it in. Precast concrete lintels may be incorporated as desired to provide support over openings such as doors and windows. Using the blocks 100 with this method allows, for example, for the construction of a block shed that is approximately 10 feet in length, 8 feet in width and 8 feet in height a single day of work to construct using only two masonry workers. Of course, the blocks are also suitable for use with other structures, but in any case they may be laid and assembled in a safe and reliable manner in significantly less time than with conventional blocks.

[0029] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a course of a wall constructed with the building blocks 100 according to the invention. Stretcher blocks 120 and/or half blocks 140 are interconnected with each other. In the embodiment shown, the wall includes a first wall and a second wall that extends at a 90-degree angle to the first wall. It is preferable if vertical rebar is placed every four feet and horizontal rebar is similarly placed every four feet.

[0030] It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the masonry block system may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.