Interlocking glass block system

• US 5,367,846 A
• Filed: 06/14/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth F. Jr. Vonroenn
• Original Assignee: Kenneth F. Jr. Vonroenn
• Inventors: vonRoenn, Kenneth F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, KEVIN DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US08/075,726
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 52/306, 52/307, 52/308, 52/426, 52/427, 52/428, 52/580, 52/603, 52/586.1, 52/586.2
• US Class Current: 52/308
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 1/42 of glass or other transparent material panels made of glass bricks E04C2/546

Abstract

A glass construction block comprising a plurality of glass members, each of which has a front wall, a rear wall and a plurality of side walls. A frame surrounds the glass members and is secured to the glass members spacing the glass members apart from each other while holding the glass members in a static position. The frame defines a channel member with side walls which extend inward from the outer side edge of the glass members terminating in a bottom wall and has flange portions which extend outward and are secured to the side walls. The blocks are assembled as a wall system by fitting a positive rib placed into the channel member into the channel member of an adjacent block. The two are adjoined with a void between the edges of the blocks which is then filled with a sealant.

Claims

1. A glass construction block comprising a plurality of glass members, each glass member comprising a front wall, a rear wall and a plurality of side walls, a frame means surrounding the side walls of said glass members and secured to said glass members spacing said glass members apart from each other, said frame means defining a channel member with side walls and flange portions which extend outward from said channel member side walls over said glass member side walls, said flange portions being secured to said glass member side walls, said frame means including a rib locking member which fits into said channel member, extends outward past said flange portions, and is secured to said channel member, said rib locking member being substantially "C" shaped and defining a channel on one of its sides which can receive and hold adhesive.

2. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange portions are secured to said glass member by silicone.

3. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame member is aluminum.

4. A glass block as claimed in claim 3 wherein said aluminum frame member is anodized in a color.

5. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame member is Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene.

6. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said glass block has a square configuration.

7. A glass block as claimed in claim 6 wherein said square dimensions range from 6 to 12 inches.

8. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said glass block has a rectangular configuration.

9. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said glass block has a hexagonal configuration.

10. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said glass block has a triangular configuration.

11. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame means includes spacer bars on each flange portion positioned each side of said channel member.

12. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange portions are thicker than side walls of said channel member.

13. A glass block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said glass members are cast glass.

14. A glass construction block comprising a plurality of glass members secured to a single piece frame assembly and spaced apart by said frame assembly to form an air space between said glass members, each glass member comprising a front wall and a back wall and a plurality of side walls, said frame assembly surrounding the side walls of said glass members, said frame assembly defining a channel member with side walls which extend inward into a chamber formed by the back walls of said glass members and a surface of said frame assembly, said side walls terminate in a bottom wall forming the floor of a channel, flange portions extend outward from said channel member side walls to fit over said glass members side walls while not extending past the glass members side walls, said flange portions being secured to said glass members side walls and are constructed of a thicker cross-section than the bottom wall forming the floor of the channel, a protruding rib locking member fits into and is secured in a channel formed in said channel member, said protruding rib locking member projecting outward past the side wall on one half of the sides of said glass members, said flange portions being secured to side wall surfaces of said glass members with securing means.

15. A glass construction block comprising a plurality of angularly configured glass members held in place and spaced apart by a frame assembly, each angularly configured glass member comprising a front wall and a back wall and a plurality of side walls, said frame assembly surrounding the side walls of said glass members and is secured to the side walls of said glass members, said frame assembly defining a channel which runs along its length, said channel being formed by side walls which extend inward toward the center axis of said glass members and a bottom wall connected to said channel member side walls, said frame assembly defining flange portions which are secured to said glass members side walls and extend outward from said channel over said glass members side walls a distance not greater than the width of said glass members said walls, spacer block means secured to said flange portions, said spacer block means transferring the weight of glass blocks to the side wall surface of the glass member when the blocks are assembled together, open linear protruding rib members secured in said channel on at least two of said glass member side walls and extending therefrom for seating engagement with channels on adjacent glass construction blocks.

16. A glass construction block as claimed in claim 15 wherein said channel and said protruding rib members have a rectangular cross section and said flange portions have spacer blocks secured to their outer surface.

17. A glass block wall comprising;

a. a plurality of glass blocks, each of said glass blocks comprising angularly configured glass members held in place and spaced apart by a frame assembly, each angularly configured glass member comprising a front wall and a back wall and a plurality of side walls, said frame assembly surrounding the side walls of said glass members and secured to the side walls of said glass members, said frame assembly defining a channel which runs along its length, said channel being formed by side walls which extend inward toward the center axis of said glass members and a bottom wall connected to said channel member side walls, said frame assembly further defining flange portions which are secured to said glass members side walls and extend outward from said channel over said glass members side walls, a protruding rib member is secured in said channel on at least one of said glass member side walls, said protruding rib member comprising a base member defining a channel and leg flange portions extending away from said base member,

b. said glass blocks being laid in a plurality of courses with locking ribs of two adjacent sides of one block being inserted into the channels of the channel member on two adjacent sides of the adjacent block to interlock the same together on two adjacent sides with spaces therebetween, and

c. said spaces between said interconnected blocks being sealed with securing means.

18. A glass block wall as claimed in claim 17 wherein said securing means is silicone.

22. A glass block wall as claimed in claim 17 wherein said plurality of glass blocks are of different sizes.

23. A glass block wall as claimed in claim 17 wherein said plurality of glass blocks are laid in courses which are offset.

19. A glass block wall as claimed in claim wherein said rib member is an inverted block "C" shape cross section and is cut to a length which is slightly shorter then the side length of the glass members.

20. A glass block wall as claimed in claim 19 wherein said rib member inverted block "C" shape cross section has the stem of the "C" formed with a channel.

21. A glass block wall as claimed in claim 19 wherein said rib member is cut to a length which is about 1/4 inch shorter than the side lengths of the glass members.