Patent ID: 8601759
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
1. A block building system for building a wall structure, the system comprising: (a) a plurality of pre-formed blocks configured to be stacked vertically upon one another to form the wall structure, each block comprising at least one frustum-shaped protrusion extending vertically upwards from a top surface of the block, a horizontal channel formed in a bottom surface of the block and extending at least partially into an interior of the block, and at least one aperture extending vertically through the interior of the block; (b) at least one base track having a C-shaped vertical cross-section, the base track being sized and configured to engage the horizontal channel formed in the blocks; (c) a plurality of T-shaped reinforcement members each comprising a horizontal base that is sized and configured to fit within the C-shaped cross-section of the base track, and further comprising a vertically extending rod portion that is sized and configured to pass through the at least one aperture formed in each block, the vertically extending rod portion comprise a plurality of first notches along a longitudinal axis thereof; (d) a plurality of rod-shaped extension members sized and configured to pass through the at least one aperture formed in each block, each extension member comprising a plurality of second notches configured to interlock with the plurality of first notches of each T-shaped reinforcement member; and (e) a plurality of securing members operative to secure the extension members to the T-shaped reinforcement members, the securing member being a collet having a vertically oriented through hole, the vertically oriented through hole being sufficiently narrow to maintain the notch of the vertically extending rod portion of the T-shaped reinforcement member in an interlocked position with the notch of the extension member when both the vertically extending rod portion of the T-shaped reinforcement member and the extension member are axially offset from each other and received in the vertically oriented through hole of the collet.