US4228628A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Building blocks and connector means therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-09-01
•
Granted: 1980-10-21
•
Expires: 1998-09-01
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a masonwork which consists of stacked building blocks forming several superimposed horizontal courses. The upper sides of blocks in lower courses and the undersides of blocks in the next-higher courses have registering mirror symmetrical sockets in the form of generally hemispherical cavities for reception of spherical connectors. Auxiliary connectors can be provided to couple neighboring blocks of each course to each other; such auxiliary connectors constitute discrete parts having webs received in aligned channels of the respective blocks and end portions which extend into neighboring sockets or blind bores of such blocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Kriemhild Schlomann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:42
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/02; E04B2/04; E04B2/06; E04B2/14; E04B2/26; E04B2002/0202; E04B2002/0243; E04B2002/025; E04B2002/0256; E04B2002/028; E04B2002/0282
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces at least one of which has a recess, and registering sockets in said surfaces; a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks, the weight of said second block being taken up by the surface of said first block; a substantially funnel-shaped inlet in the building block including said one surface for admission of bonding agent into said recess, said inlet extending from said recess to that surface of the respective block which is located opposite said one surface; and hardenable bonding agent filling said recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces at least one of which has a recess, and registering sockets in said surfaces; a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks, the weight of said second block being taken up by the surface of said first block; a substantially funnel-shaped inlet in the building block including said one surface for admission of bonding agent into said recess, said inlet extending from said recess to that surface of the respective block which is located opposite said one surface; and hardenable bonding agent filling said recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said sockets of said one surface form an array of sockets around said inlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet and the sockets of the respective block constitute an array whose components form a predetermined pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of said inlet is sufficiently large to allow for insertion of at least one elongated reinforcing element which is embedded in said agent after filling of said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the depth of at least a portion of said recess is a function of the characteristics of said bonding agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces which have registering grooves together defining a hole for the insertion of cables or the like, and registering sockets, said blocks further having registering through holes which intersect the hole defined by said grooves; and a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks, the weight of said second block being taken up by the surface of said first block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces which have registering grooves together defining a hole for the insertion of cables or the like, and registering sockets, said blocks further having registering through holes which intersect the hole defined by said grooves; and a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks, the weight of said second block being taken up by the surface of said first block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces at least one of which has a recess including at least one substantially star-shaped portion, and registering sockets in said surfaces; hardenable bonding agent filling said recess; and a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks, the weight of said second block being taken up by the surface of said first block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces at least one of which has a recess including at least one substantially star-shaped portion, and registering sockets in said surfaces; hardenable bonding agent filling said recess; and a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks, the weight of said second block being taken up by the surface of said first block.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said recess further includes an additional star-shaped portion, said star-shaped portions having respective prongs and one prong of said star-shaped portion being in communication with a prong of said additional star-shaped portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces and registering sockets in said surfaces; a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks; and means for defining at least in said first block a debris-collecting extension which opens onto a surface of the respective block that bounds the respective socket and is juxtaposed with the respective section of said connector in the assembled condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a masonwork, a combination comprising a first and a superimposed second building block, said blocks having neighboring surfaces and registering sockets in said surfaces; a substantially spherical connector having first and second substantially hemispherical sections which are respectively complementary to and are received in the sockets of said first and second blocks; and means for defining at least in said first block a debris-collecting extension which opens onto a surface of the respective block that bounds the respective socket and is juxtaposed with the respective section of said connector in the assembled condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said blocks has a second surface and an elongated open-ended groove in said second surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said surfaces has a recess and further comprising a hardenable bonding agent filling said recess.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said connector fills only a portion of at least one of said sockets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein the unfilled portions of said sockets have a substantially semicircular outline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said blocks have registering through holes for cables or the like.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein the sockets in said surfaces and said holes constitute an array whose components form a predetermined pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a third building block adjacent to said first building block, said first and third blocks having auxiliary sockets and further comprising an auxiliary connector having portions extending into the auxiliary sockets of said first and third building blocks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first block has a through hole for the laying of cables or the like and said auxiliary socket of said first block has a central symmetry plane including the axis of said hole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said surfaces have registering grooves together defining a hole for the insertion of cables or the like.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said grooves are disposed substantially centrally of the surfaces of said building blocks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a third building block adjacent to said first block and an auxiliary connector having end portions received in the sockets of said first and third building blocks.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said auxiliary connector further includes a flat median portion recessed into said first and third blocks.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said end portions are hemispheres and said sockets for said end portions are bounded by complementary hemispherical surfaces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said first and third blocks have registering shallow channels and said auxiliary connector comprises a flat median portion received in said channels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 23, wherein the longitudinal directions of said channels are at least substantially normal to that edge of said surface of said first block which is adjacent to said third block.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US605468A
Cited
US1087011A
Cited
CH92910A
Cited
US1445901A
Cited
US1534454A
Cited
US1959816A
Cited
US1992785A
Cited
US2061822A
Cited
US2257001A
Cited
AU132346A
Cited
FR948169A
Cited
US2887869A
Cited
FR1242517A
Cited
US3390502A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-04-21 | 1984-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-21 | 1988-04-21 | 1988-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-21 | 1992-04-21 | 1992-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |