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US5003746A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Arcuate and curvilinear assemblies comprising tandemly arranged building blocks having degrees of rotation

Assignee: Structural Block Systems Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-31
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Granted: 1991-04-02
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Expires: 2010-05-31
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Abstract

Abstract The invention features repeating building block units of generally rectilinear shape, which have arcuate mating end wall surfaces that are rotatable with respect to each other. Curvilinear surfaces of varying degrees of arc can be formed from a tandem array of the block units, such that assemblies of many different shapes can be fabricated.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arthur Wilston

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 21:38
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/02; E04B2/14; E04B2/16; E04B2/18; A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/04; A63H33/042; A63H33/06; A63H33/08; E04B2002/0202; E04B2002/0204; E04B2002/0213; E04B2002/0256; E04B2002/0263

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 217 words
A wall assembly comprising a plurality of repeating building blocks successively arranged in a tandem array within a row, said wall assembly comprising a number of rows, each stacked one above another, said tandem arrays within each row facing in an opposite direction with respect to an adjacent row stacked above and below thereto, for the purpose of enhancing lateral forces such as those produced during an earthquake, each building block of said array being generally rectilinear with the exception of two oppositely disposed distal end walls having arcuate, circumferential male and female mating surfaces, respectively, each arcuate, circumferential male and female mating surface having a radial diameter almost equal to a width of said block to further enhance resistance to said lateral forces, each end wall being rotatively engageable with an arcuate mating end wall of an adjacent block of said assembly at any desired angle of rotation within a limited range of arc defined by circumferential end abutments terminating said arcuate mating surfaces of said mating end walls, each male end wall having means defining a hole for receiving vertical reinforcement, each hole being in registry with a hole of a block of an adjacent row stacked above and below thereto, said vertical reinforcement still further enhancing said wall assembly to resist lateral earthquake forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 217 words
A wall assembly comprising a plurality of repeating building blocks successively arranged in a tandem array within a row, said wall assembly comprising a number of rows, each stacked one above another, said tandem arrays within each row facing in an opposite direction with respect to an adjacent row stacked above and below thereto, for the purpose of enhancing lateral forces such as those produced during an earthquake, each building block of said array being generally rectilinear with the exception of two oppositely disposed distal end walls having arcuate, circumferential male and female mating surfaces, respectively, each arcuate, circumferential male and female mating surface having a radial diameter almost equal to a width of said block to further enhance resistance to said lateral forces, each end wall being rotatively engageable with an arcuate mating end wall of an adjacent block of said assembly at any desired angle of rotation within a limited range of arc defined by circumferential end abutments terminating said arcuate mating surfaces of said mating end walls, each male end wall having means defining a hole for receiving vertical reinforcement, each hole being in registry with a hole of a block of an adjacent row stacked above and below thereto, said vertical reinforcement still further enhancing said wall assembly to resist lateral earthquake forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 1, wherein said arcuate end walls are approximately semi-circular in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 1, having means defining a first aperture within a mid-portion thereof for receipt of a reinforcement plug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 3, further comprising a reinforcement plug disposed in said aperture, said reinforcement plug having means defining a lattice network of grooves for receipt of at least one reinforcing rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 3, wherein said reinforcement plug has a substantially circular cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 3, wherein said reinforcement plug has a lip limiting its depth within said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 6, wherein said reinforcement plug has oppositely tapered surfaces disposed about said lip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 3, wherein said reinforcement plug has a tapered surface about is circumference for ease of insertion into the aperture of said building block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The building blocks of said assembly of claim 3, having means defining a second aperture adjacent said first aperture and disposed within a male surfaced end wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The building block of claim 1, in combination with a mating corner block having a perpendicular corner shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The wall assembly of claim 1, in combination with mating corner blocks for forming perpendicular end walls.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1958799A Cited
US2780150A Cited
US2877506A Cited
US3102367A Cited
DE2239988A1 Cited
US4183454A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-04-01 1994-10-01 1995-04-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-04-01 1998-10-01 1999-04-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-04-01 2002-10-01 2003-04-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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