Multi-use building block and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9482002-B2
Application number	US-201414891011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	May 15, 2013
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A multi-use block ( 170 ) including a block body ( 172 ) having at least a first leg ( 192 ). The blocks ( 170 ) can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block ( 170 ) can be of a variety of materials, including concrete. It is used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use of the block ( 170 ) are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A building block comprising:
(a) an elongate body having opposite first and second sides, opposite first and second end faces extending between the first and second sides, and opposite first and second bearing faces extending between the first and second sides and the first and second end faces;
(i) the first bearing face being an upper face in use;
(ii) the first bearing face having a contact surface portion;
(iii) the second bearing face having a contact surface portion;
(A) the contact surface portion of the first bearing face and the contact surface portion of the second bearing face being substantially parallel to each other;
(b) the first side of the body defining a leg extending therefrom;
(i) the leg having a first leg side, an opposite second leg side, and a leg end face extending between the first leg side and second leg side;
(ii) the first side of the body having a first portion extending between the first end face and the first leg side;
(A) the first portion being angled at a first extension angle away from the second side of the body, as the first portion extends from the first leg side to the first end face, the first extension angle being non-zero;
(iii) the first side of the body having a second portion extending between the second end face and the second leg side;
(A) the second portion being angled at a second extension angle away from the second side of the body, as the second portion extends from the second leg side to the second end face, the second extension angle being non-zero;
(iv) the leg having a center plane that is substantially orthogonal to the first and second bearing faces, the center plane bisecting the leg;
(v) the first leg side diverging from the second leg side as the first leg side extends away from the first portion of the first side of the body;
(A) the first leg side extending away from the first portion at a third extension angle relative to the center plane, the third extension angle being non-zero;
(vi) the second leg side diverging from the first leg side as the second leg side extends away from the second portion of the first side of the body;
(B) the second leg side extending away from the second portion at a fourth extension angle, the fourth extension angle being non-zero;
(vii) the leg end face having a first leg end face section and second leg end face section;
(i) the first leg end face section being angled toward the second side at a fifth extension angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the leg center plane, the first leg end face section extending between the leg center plane and first leg side; and
(ii) the second leg end face section being angled toward the second side at a sixth extension angle relative to the plane orthogonal to the leg center plane, the second leg end face section extending between the leg center plane and the second leg side;
wherein the second extension angle, third extension angle, fourth extension angle, and fifth extension angle are within plus or minus five degrees of each other.

2. The block of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the block is made of dry cast concrete and the second side of the body is a split face.

3. The block of claim 2 wherein:
(a) the first end face of the body is a split face.

4. The block of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the second end face is angled at a non-zero angle in a direction toward the first end face, as the second end face extends from the second side of the body to the first side of the body.

5. The block of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the first extension angle, second extension angle, third extension angle, fourth extension angle, fifth extension angle and sixth extension angle are each less than 10 degrees.

6. The block of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the first extension angle, second extension angle, third extension angle, fourth extension angle, fifth extension angle and sixth extension angle are each within plus or minus 1 degree of each other.

7. The block of claim 1 , wherein the block is made from dry cast concrete.

8. A free standing wall comprising:
(a) a plurality of the block according to claim 1 arranged in multiple courses;
(i) each course comprising the blocks being in two rows, with the blocks in each row laid end to end with the second side of each block forming a portion of an exposed face of the wall, and the leg of each block in a first of the rows being between adjacent legs of two blocks in a second of the rows.

9. A column comprising: (a) a plurality of the block according to claim 1 arranged in multiple courses; (i) each course comprising four of the blocks arranged in a rectangle with the second side of each block and an end of an adjacent block forming a side of the column.

10. The column of claim 9 wherein:
(a) the leg end face of each block is angled to match an extension angle of one of the first or second leg sides of an adjacent block, whereby the blocks are locked together to resist lateral movement of each of the blocks in the course.

11. The column of claim 10 wherein: (a) the blocks in one of the courses of blocks are rotated 90 degrees around the vertical axis of the column from the blocks in an adjacent course.

12. The column according to claim 10 , wherein:
(a) the second side of one of the blocks, and the first end face of an adjacent block each has a split face and forms a side of the column.

13. A building block comprising:
(a) an elongate body having opposite first and second sides, opposite first and second end faces extending between the first and second sides, and opposite first and second bearing faces extending between the first and second sides and the first and second end faces;
(i) the first bearing face being an upper face in use;
(ii) the first bearing face having a contact surface portion;
(iii) the second bearing face having a contact surface portion;
(A) the contact surface portion of the first bearing face and the contact surface portion of the second bearing face being substantially parallel to each other;
(b) the first side of the body defining a leg extending therefrom;
(i) the leg having a first leg side, an opposite second leg side, and a leg end face extending between the first leg side and second leg side;
(ii) the first side of the body having a first portion extending between the first end face and the first leg side;
(A) the first portion being angled at a non-zero first extension angle away from the second side of the body;
(iii) the first side of the body having a second portion extending between the second end face and the second leg side;
(A) the second portion being angled at a non-zero second extension angle away from the second side of the body;
(iv) the leg having a leg plane that is substantially orthogonal to the contact surface portion of the first bearing face and the contact surface portion of the second bearing face;
(v) the first leg side diverging from the second leg side as the first leg side extends away from the first portion of the first side of the body;
(A) the first leg side extending away from the first portion at a non-zero third extension angle relative to the leg plane;
(vi) the second leg side diverging from the first leg side as the second leg side extends away from the second portion of the first side of the body;
(A) the second leg side extending away from the second portion at a non-zero fourth extension angle;
(vii) the leg end face having a first leg end face section and second leg end face section;
(i) the first leg end face section being angled toward the second side at a non-zero fifth extension angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the leg plane, the first leg end face

Assignees

• Anchor Wall Syst

Inventors

• Johnson Jay J
• Burnquist Robert B
• Bennett Steven Paul

Classifications

• E02D17/205

  with modular blocks, e.g. pre-fabricated · CPC title

• E04B2002/0202

  Details of connections · CPC title

• E04B2002/0228

  with tongues next to each other on one end surface and grooves next to each other on opposite end surface · CPC title

• E04B2002/0265

  Building elements for making arcuate walls · CPC title

• E04C3/34

  of concrete other stone-like material, with or without permanent form elements, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. metal coverings (E04C3/36 takes precedence) · CPC title