LINK INSERT AND MASONSRY BRICK CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A link insert for interlocking two masonry bricks, The link insert comprising first and second end members and at least one bridging member interconnecting said first and second end members. A central plane passes through the centre of both the first and second end members, with each of the first and second end members having plane symmetry about the central plane, each half of the first and second end members having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within at least one hole in either of the two masonry bricks.

Claims

1. A link insert for interlocking two masonry bricks, said link insert comprising first and second end members and at least one bridging member interconnecting said first and second end members, wherein a first central plane passes through the centre of both said first and second end members, each of said first and second end members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, each half of said first and second end members having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within at least one hole in either of said two masonry bricks.

2. The link insert according to claim 1, wherein each of said masonry bricks is substantially rectangular in shape, having opposed upper and lower faces on either side of a second central plane, opposed sides, and opposed ends, each of said upper and lower faces has at least a first channel disposed longitudinally therein between said opposed ends, and wherein said at least one hole is two spaced apart holes each of which extend between said first channels, and each hole having a tapered bore portion near its open ends at respective said channels.

3. The link insert according to claim 2, wherein said masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in a first row for the purpose of constructing a wall or other structure, said masonry bricks having their respective channel in said upper face aligned, and said link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within respective first channels of said masonry bricks with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said first channels.

4. The link insert according to claim 3, wherein said masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in said first row with other like masonry bricks, said other like bricks similarly removably connected by like link inserts, and a second row of bricks is laid upon said first row of bricks with said link insert and like link inserts disposed therebetween, and the upper halves of said first and second end members of said link insert and like link inserts engaging with holes in the first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks with at least an upper portion of the respective bridging members of said link insert and like link inserts disposed within said first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks.

5. The link insert according to claim 2, wherein each said masonry brick has at least two second channels in each of said upper and lower faces, each second channel orthogonal to said first channel and disposed at a respective said hole, and each said second channel in said upper face allowing for a like masonry brick to be laid orthogonally to said masonry brick, and said link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within said masonry brick and like masonry brick with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said second channel of said masonry brick and the first channel in the upper face of said like brick.

6. The link insert according to claim 1, wherein said link insert is substantially made of plastic, including material which is recycled plastic.

7. The link insert according to claim 6, wherein when either of said first and second end engage and seat within said at least one hole in either of said two masonry bricks, they do so in a tight fit.

8. The link insert according to claim 1, wherein a central member is disposed between said first and second end members, said central member like that of said first and second members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, and each half of said central member having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within said at least one hole in either of said two masonry bricks, and said at least one bridging member is at least first and second bridging members, said first bridging member interconnects said central member to said first end member, and said second bridging member interconnects said central member to said second end member, and said at least first and second bridging members are orthogonally disposed to each other.

9. The link insert according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bridging member is single bridging member.

10. The link insert in according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bridging member has at least one curved side.

11. The link insert according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bridging member has at least one opening therein.

12. A system for constructing walls or other structures, said system using a plurality of link inserts to engage and interconnect with a plurality of masonry bricks, said plurality of link inserts includes at least a first type of link insert; said first type of link insert comprising two end members and at least one bridging member interconnecting said first and second end members, wherein a first central plane passes through the centre of both said first and second end members, each of said first and second end members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, each half of said first and second end members having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within at least one of two spaced apart holes in either of said two masonry bricks; and each of said masonry bricks is substantially rectangular in shape, having opposed upper and lower faces on either side of a second central plane, opposed sides, and opposed ends, each of said upper and lower faces has at least a first channel disposed longitudinally therein between said opposed ends, and wherein said two spaced apart holes extend between said first channels, and each hole having a tapered bore portion near its open ends at respective said channels.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein two of said masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in a first row for the purpose of constructing said wall or other structure, said masonry bricks having their respective channel in said upper face aligned, and said first type of link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within respective first channels of said masonry bricks with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said first channels.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein said two masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in said first row with other like masonry bricks, said other like bricks similarly removably connected by like first type of link inserts, and a second row of bricks is laid upon said first row of bricks with said first type of link insert and like link inserts disposed therebetween, and the upper halves of said first and second end members of said first type of link inserts and like link inserts engaging with holes in the first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks with at least an upper portion of the respective bridging members of said first type of link insert and like link inserts disposed within said first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein each said masonry brick has at least two second channels in each of said upper and lower faces, each second channel orthogonal to said first channel and disposed at a respective said hole, and each said second channel in said upper face allowing for a like masonry brick to be laid orthogonally to said masonry brick, and said first type of link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within said masonry brick and like masonry brick with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said second channel of said masonry brick and the first channel in the upper face of said like brick.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of link inserts includes at least a second type of link insert; and said second type of link insert comprising first and second end members like that of said first type of link insert, and a central member disposed between said first and second end members and at least first and second bridging members, said first bridging member interconnects said central member to said first end member, and said second bridging member interconnects said central member to said second end member, said central member like that of said first and second members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, and each half of said central member having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within said at least one of two spaced apart holes in either of said two masonry bricks, and said at least first and second bridging members are orthogonally disposed to each other.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one bridging member of said first type of link insert is a single bridging member.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one bridging member of said first type of link insert has at least one curved side.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one bridging member of said first type of link insert has at least one opening therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a link insert for interlocking masonry bricks in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the link insert of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of the link insert of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of the link insert of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first embodiment masonry brick for use with the link insert of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the masonry brick of FIG. 5.

[0030] FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the masonry brick of FIG. 5.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a schematic end view of the masonry brick of FIG. 5.

[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two masonry bricks of the type shown in FIG. 5 to be connected in end-to-end relationship by a link insert shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 10. is a perspective view of the two masonry bricks of FIG. 9 interlocked by the link insert of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 11 is a schematic elevational view of the two masonry bricks interlocked by the link insert of FIG. 10.

[0035] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of three masonry bricks of the type shown in FIG. 5 interlocked by two link inserts of FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 13 shows the linking insert of FIG. 1 being used to interconnect masonry bricks of the type shown in FIG. 5 disposed orthogonally to each other.

[0037] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a link insert for interlocking masonry bricks in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the link insert of FIG. 14.

[0039] FIG. 16 is a schematic elevation view of the link insert of FIG. 13.

[0040] FIG. 17 is as perspective view of two rows of masonry bricks being used to construct wall using the link inserts of FIGS. 1 and 14 and showing the internal sides of the bricks.

[0041] FIG. 18 is as perspective view of two rows of masonry bricks being used to construct wall using the link inserts of FIGS. 1 and 14 showing the external sides of the bricks.

[0042] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a link insert for interlocking masonry bricks in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 20 is a plan view of the link insert of FIG. 19.

[0044] FIG. 21 is an elevation view of the link insert of FIG. 19.

[0045] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a link insert for interlocking masonry bricks in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a link insert for interlocking masonry bricks in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a link insert for interlocking masonry bricks in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 25 is a perspective of a second embodiment masonry brick for use with the link insert of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0049] FIGS. 1 to 4 depict a first embodiment of a plastic standard link insert 1 of a first type to be used to interlock with masonry bricks 10 for the purpose of constructing walls or other building structures.

[0050] Link insert 1 is preferably constructed from a plastic material or composite plastic material having certain engineering properties, including but not limited to withstanding impact loads, being weatherproof, malleable and to some degree is fire resistant. Suitable plastics include but are not limited to High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which may be recycled plastic, and mixed with other filler products. Link insert 1 is preferably made by injection moulding.

[0051] Link insert 1 has first end member 2 and second end member 3 interconnected by two parallel bridging members 4 integrally formed therewith. First and second end members 2,3 which are similarly shaped are both hollow, and each have a respective central portion 2a, 3a. First and second end members 2,3 each have plane symmetry about a first central plane P.sub.1. Each half of first end member 2 has a tapered form 2t, whilst each half of second end member 3 has a similar tapered form 31. In this embodiment where the link insert 1 is made by injection moulding, bores 5,6 inside the hollow of each of first and second end members 2,3, respectively, has an internal inward draft angle to allow for injection moulding extraction.

[0052] Each of the tapered forms 2.sub.t,3.sub.t of first and second end members 2,3 respectively, are for engaging with a hole 20 in a first embodiment of a masonry brick 10, shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. The tapered forms 2.sub.t,3.sub.t of first and second end members 2,3 are to ensure a tight connection when link insert 1 is firmly seated into either of the two spaced apart holes 20 of masonry brick 10.

[0053] Masonry brick 10, hereinafter referred to as brick 10, is used in place of traditional masonry bricks when building walls or other structures in combination with a plurality of link inserts 1. Brick 10 is preferably constructed from traditional masonry materials such as clay or cement.

[0054] Brick 10, is substantially rectangular in shape, having opposed upper and lower faces 11,12 on either side of a second central plane P.sub.2. Brick 10 also has opposed sides 13,14 and opposed ends 15,16. Both upper and lower faces 11,12 each have a first channel 17 disposed longitudinally therein between opposed ends 15,16. Each of the two holes 20 extend between the first channels 17 in respective upper and lower faces 11,12. Each hole 20 having a tapered bore portion 21 near its open ends at respective first channels 17. Brick 10 also has two shorter second channels 18 in each of upper and lower faces 11,12. Each second channel 18 is orthogonal to first channel 17 and disposed at a respective hole 20.

[0055] Each second channel 18 in upper face 11 allowing for a like masonry brick to be laid orthogonally to masonry brick 10, and link insert 1 removably connected to same by the lower halves of first and second end members 2,3 engaging with holes 20 within masonry brick 10 and the like masonry brick, with at least a lower portion of bridging member 4 lying within second channel 18 of masonry brick 10 and first channel 17 in the upper face of like brick.

[0056] In this first embodiment the overall length of link insert 1 is about 180 mm, and its height about 60 mm. The external central diameter of the first and second members 2,3 is about 53 mm. Each tapered portion 2.sub.t,3.sub.t is about 25 mm long about a 10 mm centre. Each tapered portion 2.sub.t,3.sub.t is at angle of less than ten degrees, and preferably about five degrees. Brick 10 in this embodiment is about 230 mm long, 110 mm wide and 76 mm high.

[0057] To commence construction of a wall or other structure, two bricks 10,10.sub.a are laid end-to-end in a first row as shown in FIG. 9, with each first channel 17 in upper surface 11 of the two respective bricks 10,10.sub.a aligned. A link insert 1 is removably connected to same by the lower halves of first and second end members 2,3 engaging with holes 20 within respective first channels 17 in upper surfaces 11 of the two end-to-end bricks 10,10a with at least a lower portion of the two bridging members 4 lying within first channels 17. Bridging members 4 ensure that the two bricks 10,10.sub.a are tightly connected and aligned as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. To continue to build a wall, additional like bricks 10a are laid end-to-end in the first row, as shown in FIG. 12 along with the above mentioned first laid two bricks 10,10a and these additional like bricks 10.sub.a are similarly removably connected by like link inserts 1.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 13, each second channel 18 in upper face 11 of brick 10, allows for a like brick 10.sub.b to be laid orthogonally (at right angles) to brick 10, and a link insert 1 to be removably connected to same by the lower halves of first and second end members 2,3 engaging with holes 20 within brick 10 and like brick 10, respectively, with at least a lower portion of bridging members 4 lying within second channel 18 of brick 10 and the first channel 17 in the upper face 11 of like brick 10b.

[0059] In a second embodiment, a second type of ninety-degree link insert 100 is shown in FIGS. 14 to 16. Link insert 100 has identical first and second end members 2,3 to that of link insert 1, and which have the same shape and purpose for interconnecting bricks 10. However, in this second embodiment, bridging members 4 of link insert 1 have been replaced by bridging members 4.sub.a,4.sub.b integrally formed with a further central member 15 disposed therebetween. Bridging members 4.sub.a,4.sub.b are at right angles (orthogonal) to each other. Central member 15 is identical in shape and form to first and second end members 2,3. Link insert 100 is used to link bricks 10 together to construct corners, internal walls or two brick thick walls, without obstructing the original structures alignment, orientation, or layering.

[0060] FIGS. 17 and 18 show an example of link inserts 1,100 and bricks 10 being used in a construction system to build a wall using traditional masonry layering techniques. As can be seen in these figures, a second row of bricks 10.sub.d is laid upon the first row of bricks 10,10.sub.a with link insert 1, and like link inserts disposed therebetween, with the upper halves of first and second end members 2,3 of link insert 1 and like link inserts engaging with holes 20 in the first channels 17 of lower surfaces 12 of said second row of bricks 10, with at least an upper portion of bridging members 4 of link insert 1 and like link inserts disposed within first channels 17 of lower faces 12 of the second row of bricks. Link insert 100 is shown linking a brick 10.sub.d of the second row to a brick 10.sub.e of an internal wall disposed orthogonally thereto.

[0061] The design of brick 10 with its first and second channels 17,18 ensures that linking inserts 1, 100 that are used to construct a wall or other structure by interconnecting rows of bricks 10 are enclosed therein.

[0062] Preferably side 14 of brick 10 would be the front display surface that would be for example on the exterior of a building. However, either side 13,14 of brick 10 can be used as the display surface.

[0063] FIGS. 19 to 21 shows a third embodiment of curved link insert 1.sub.c. In general terms curved link insert 1c is the same as the first embodiment link insert 1 in function and use and has similar first and second end members 2,3. However the bridging members 4.sub.c therebetween have a curved side design to increase the durability of the insert.

[0064] In the abovementioned embodiments link insert 1 has two (twin) parallel bridging members 4, ninety-degree link insert 100 has two (twin) bridging members 4.sub.b, and curved link insert 1.sub.C has two (twin) curved bridging members 4.sub.c. However, in alternative embodiments, all these link inserts could use a single bridging member to replace the twin bridging members. One such example is link insert Is shown as a fourth embodiment in FIG. 22, which has a single bridging member 4.sub.s interconnecting first and second end members 2,3.

[0065] In alternative embodiments, the link inserts of the present invention may include openings (or holes) therein for tying or hooking the link insert to cavity hooks or other internal cavity structures. FIG. 23 depicts one such fifth embodiment of a link insert 200 which is like the fourth embodiment link insert 1.sub.s s with a single bridging member 4.sub.s, however a single opening 25 is disposed within bridging member 4.sub.s for tying or hooking purposes. FIG. 24 depicts a sixth embodiment of a link insert 300 which similarly has a single bridging member 4.sub.t. However, in this embodiment a rail 26 is integrally formed with bridging member 4.sub.t and carries a plurality of openings (holes) 27 for tying or hooking purposes.

[0066] FIG. 25 depicts a second embodiment of a masonry brick 110, which like brick 10 of the first embodiment, has opposed upper and lower faces 11,12, opposed sides 13,14 and opposed ends 15,16. It also has first and second channels 17,18 and holes 20. However, masonry brick 110 additionally has longitudinal grooves 19 parallel to first channels 17 in upper and lower faces 11,12. Where such masonry bricks 110 are laid in a row in end-to-end relationship, these grooves 19 allow for a seal (not shown) to be used therewith and running there along, for waterproofing and/or weatherproofing, and/or for preventing ingress of insects and bugs in certain environments.

[0067] In both first and second embodiments of masonry bricks 10,110 first and second channels 17,18 are shown with square corner edges, however in other not shown embodiments the square corner edges of these channels 17,18 could be replaced by tapered edges.

[0068] For certain wall and other structure construction requirements, masonry bricks 10, 110 may be cut in half at right angles to central plane P.sub.2 and used as a half brick, and still be able to be connected to masonry bricks 10, 110 using any of the abovementioned link inserts 1,100, 1c, 1s, 200,300. There are several advantages associated with using abovementioned link inserts 1,100, 1c, 1s, 200,300 with masonry bricks 10, 110. Firstly, walls and other structures can be built either permanently or temporarily with out the use of mortar, and secondly the walls constructed are able to carry much greater loads than with the earlier admitted prior art. Furthermore, whilst the link inserts can be made using plastics or plastic composites and various fillers as standard component, the composition may be varied to suit a particular engineering characteristic, such as malleability for fitting of inserts, or increased fire resistance for use in environments with higher risks of fire. Whilst sizing and tolerances may be standardised for universal fitting, the sizing of link inserts and their tapered ends, may vary depending on the size of the bricks, and whether the bricks are made of clay or concrete, and whether the wall or other structure to be built is for permanent or temporary use.

[0069] Whilst the link inserts 1,100, 1c, 1s, 200,300 have end members 2,3 with tapered portions 2.sub.t,3.sub.t of less than ten degrees, they could significantly be different in angle, say a taper of less than forty-five degrees (not shown). Should the taper of 2.sub.t,3.sub.t, be changed as such, the taper in the holes in the masonry bricks in which they engage would also have to be modified to receive them.

[0070] While various embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.