BUILDING BLOCKS AND REAR INTERLOCK CONNECTOR THEREFOR

• US 20150247328A1
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horacio Correia
• Original Assignee: Horacio Correia
• Inventors: CORREIA, Horacio, JEAN, Simon, CORREIA, Liborio
• Granted Patent: US 9,725,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0266 made up of preformed elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/08 by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/32 by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/46 by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0243 Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins or keys
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0252 Dovetail keys
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 1/00 Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings of relatively thin form E04C2/00; structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting E04C3/00, e.g. columns or pillars E04C3/30; manufacture or material of building bricks, stones, or the like B28, C03, C04; paving elements E01C; general building constructions E04B, e.g. walls E04B2/00, floors E04B5/00, roofs E04B7/00, ceilings E04B9/00; roof coverings E04D; coverings for walls or ceilings E04F13/00; floorings E04F15/00; structural elements specially designed for built-in conduit shafts E04F17/00; elements for buildings for particular purposes E04H7/00; special elements for building ovens or furnaces F24B, F27D
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 1/395 for claustra, fences, planting walls, e.g. sound-absorbing pots for vertical horticulture A01G9/022

Abstract

An interlock connector interlocks building blocks that are assembled so as to provide a wall structure. The building blocks have respective front surfaces for defining a front façade of the wall structure and respective rear surfaces with at least one respective horizontal groove. The interlock connector comprises first and second bodies. The first body is inserted in the rear surface horizontal groove of a first building block. The second body is inserted in the rear surface horizontal groove of a second building block adjacent the first building block. Insertion of the first and second bodies in the respective rear surface horizontal grooves of the first and second building blocks provides for interlocking the first and second building blocks.

Claims

1. An interlock connector for interlocking budding blocks for being assembled so as to provide a wall structure, the building blocks having respective front surfaces for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure and having respective rear surfaces with at least one respective horizontal groove, the interlock connector comprising;

a first body for being inserted in the rear surface horizontal groove of a first building block; and

a second body for being inserted in the rear surface horizontal groove of a second building block adjacent the first building block,

wherein insertion of the first and second bodies in the respective rear surface horizontal grooves of the first and second building blocks provides for interlocking the first and second building blocks.

2. An interlock connector according to claim 1, wherein the building blocks are arranged in vertical columns with one of the first or second building blocks being an upper building block and the other of the first or second building blocks being a lower building block, the upper building block resting on the lower budding block.

3. An interlock connector according to claim 2, wherein when the interlock connector is mounted to the upper and lower building blocks, the first and second bodies provide for positioning the upper and lower blocks with respect to each other such that the front faces of the upper and lower blocks are offset with respect to one another.

4. An interlock connector according to claim 1, wherein the first and second building blocks are adjacently spaced apart from each other with each respective rear side surface thereof defining respective interfacing planes.

5. An interlock connector according to claim 1, wherein the first and second bodies are pivotable with respect to each other.

6. An interlock connector according to claim 2, wherein the first and second bodies are pivotable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein when interlock connector is mounted to the upper and lower building blocks in the first position the respective front surfaces of the upper and lower blocks are evenly aligned with respect to one another and wherein when the interlock connector is mounted to the upper and lower building blocks in the second position the respective front faces of the upper and lower blocks are offset with respect to one another.

7. An interlock connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second bodies comprises a top and a bottom portion thereof, the top and bottom portions being pivotable with respect to one another about an eccentric pivot.

8. An interlock connector according to claim 1, further comprising a third body for interconnecting the first and second bodies.

9. An interlock connector according to claim 8, wherein the third body is removably mounted to the first and second bodies.

10. An interlock connector according to claim 9, wherein the first, second and third bodies are similarly constructed.

11. An interlock connector according to claim 8, wherein the third body provides for being connected to a third building block.

12. An interlock connector according to claim 8, wherein the third body provides for being connected to another interlock connector comprising first and second bodies.

13. An interlock connector according to claim 8, further comprising a fourth interlock connector body connected to at least one of the upper and lower connector bodies.

14. A kit for building a wall structure comprising:

at least two building blocks for being assembled so as to provide the wall structure, the building blocks having respective front surfaces for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure and having respective rear surfaces with at least one respective horizontal groove; and

at least one interlock connector as defined in claim 1;

wherein insertion of the first and second bodies in the respective rear surface horizontal grooves of the first and second building blocks provides for interlocking the first and second building blocks.

16. A wall structure comprising:

at least two building blocks being assembled so as to provide the wall structure, the building blocks having respective front surfaces for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure and having respective rear surfaces with at least one respective horizontal groove; and

at least one interlock connector as defined in claim 1;

wherein of the first and second bodies in the respective rear surface horizontal grooves of the first and second building blocks provides for interlocking the first and second building blocks.

19. A method of building a wall structure comprising:

providing at least two building blocks having respective front surfaces for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure and having respective rear surfaces with at least one respective horizontal groove;

assembling the at least two building blocks so as to provide the wall structure;

providing at least one interlock connector as defined in claim 1; and

mounting the at least one interlock connector to the at least two assembled building blocks by inserting the first and second bodies in respective rear surface horizontal grooves of the first and second building blocks provides for interlocking the first and second building blocks.

15. A kit for building a wall structure comprising:

at least two building blocks for being assembled in order to provide a wall structure, the building block comprising top and bottom surfaces, opposite lateral surfaces, a front surface for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure, and a rear surface comprising an upper horizontal groove positioned at least near the top surface and a lower horizontal groove positioned at least near the bottom surface, the upper and lower horizontal grooves respectively extending towards each of the opposite lateral surfaces; and

at least one interlock connector for being received by at least one of the upper and lower horizontal grooves,

wherein when stacking a plurality of the building blocks in a vertical column the distance between the upper and lower horizontal grooves of a given block is similar to;

(a) the distance between the upper horizontal groove of the given block and the lower horizontal groove of an upper block of the vertical column stacked directly on the given block; and

(b) the distance between the lower horizontal groove of the given block and a lower block of the vertical column on which the given block is stacked directly on.

17. A wall structure comprising:

at least two building blocks being assembled in order to provide a wall structure, the building block comprising top and bottom surfaces, opposite lateral surfaces, a front surface for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure, and a rear surface comprising an upper horizontal groove positioned at least near the top surface and a lower horizontal groove positioned at least near the bottom surface, the upper and lower horizontal grooves respectively extending towards each of the opposite lateral surfaces; and

at least one interlock connector being received by at least on of the upper and lower horizontal grooves,

wherein when a plurality of the building blocks are stacked in a vertical column the distance between the upper and lower horizontal grooves of a given block is similar to;

(a) the distance between the upper horizontal groove of the given block and the lower horizontal groove of an upper block of the vertical column stacked directly on the given block; and

(b) the distance between the lower horizontal groove of the given block and a lower block of the vertical column on which the given block is stacked directly on.

18. A building block for being assembled with like building blocks in order to provide a wall structure, the building block comprising:

top and bottom surfaces;

opposite lateral surfaces;

a front surface for defining a front faç

ade of the wall structure; and

a rear surface comprising an upper horizontal groove positioned at least near the top surface and a lower horizontal groove positioned at least near the bottom surface, the upper and lower horizontal grooves respectively extending towards each of the opposite lateral surfaces and providing for receiving respective interlock connectors, each of the respective interlock connectors being mounted to another respective building block,

wherein when stacking a plurality of the building blocks in a vertical column the distance between the upper and lower horizontal grooves of a given block is similar to;

(a) the distance between the upper horizontal groove of the given block and the lower horizontal groove of an upper block of the vertical column stacked directly on the given block; and

(b) the distance between the lower horizontal groove of the given block and a lower block of the vertical column on which the given block is stacked directly on.