Abstract:
The present application discloses curb components that represent various shapes of glass blocks to be used in the construction of a curb for a glass block wall, along with a system and method for laying out the curb components. The curb components can be fitted together to lay out the positioning of glass blocks, such that a user can lay out potential designs for glass block walls prior to constructing the glass block wall. Connection mechanisms are used, which enable a variety of joint sizes, as well as angled joints to be formed.

Description:
FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a system for constructing a curb for a glass block wall. In particular, the present invention can be used to accurately lay out the position of glass blocks, as well as to assist in the design of potential glass block walls.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Glass blocks are widely used in modern architecture and in the construction industry for building structures such as walls, partitions and shower walls. In addition to the regular rectangular shape, glass blocks can have various shapes including 90-degree, 45-degree, and radius (i.e. curved). The various shapes of glass blocks allow for a glass block wall to have hundreds of potential configurations. Glass blocks commonly have peripheral flanges extending outwardly from each side on the front and back surfaces.  
           [0003]    The curb of a glass block wall may be defined as the template or base for the first horizontal row of glass blocks. As glass blocks cannot be cut to fit a particular design and very little adjustment to the joint can be made once construction of the glass block wall has begun, it is essential to correctly lay out the curb. However, it is often difficult for an unskilled laborer to accurately lay out the design of a glass block wall such that the joint size is even and the angles between the blocks are correct.  
           [0004]    As a consequence, there is a need for a system, which enables various designs for a glass block wall to be easily laid out. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system of curb components, which can be used to accurately lay out positions of glass blocks and can be a template for construction.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a system to lay out the position of glass blocks for construction of a glass block wall, comprising a plurality of curb components shaped to represent a floor contacting surface of the glass blocks. Adjacent curb components may be connected to each other using a variety of connecting mechanisms including: connection clips, a ridge and depression system, a sliding socket, or a receptacle and projection system. The curb components are used to lay out the position of the glass blocks, while the connection mechanism is used to lay out the spacing between adjacent glass blocks.  
           [0006]    The curb components may be used to lay out a straight glass block, a 90-degree glass block, a 45-degree glass block, or a radius glass block.  
           [0007]    The connection clips may be shaped like a staple and may lay out a ⅛″, ¼″, ⅜″, or ⅝″ spacing between adjacent glass blocks, as well as allow for the construction of a curved glass block wall design.  
           [0008]    The system may be used to outline a design for a glass block wall by first using the curb components and connecting adjacent curb components with one of the described connecting mechanisms. The curb components may then be secured to the floor. Glass blocks are then placed over the curb components. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example, of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top view of a connection clip;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a top view of two straight block curb components connected by two connection clips;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top view of two straight block curb components connected by variable sized connection clips to enable the construction of a curved wall;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a top view of a 90-degree curb component to represent a 90-degree glass block;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a top view of a 45-degree curb component to represent a 45-degree glass block;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a top view of a radius curb component to represent a radius glass block;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a top view of a two straight block curb components connected using ridges and depressions;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a top view of two straight block curb components connected to form a curved joint using ridges and depressions;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a top view of a two straight curb components and a 90-degree curb component connected using a sliding socket.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a straight curb component and a 90-degree curb component having a projection and receptacle for coupling; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a top view of a 90-degree curb component connected to two straight curb components. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a first embodiment of the curb system is shown. Referring to FIG. 1, a top view of a connection clip  10  is shown. The connection clip  10  is shaped like a staple having a back  12  with two posts  14  extending in the same direction transversely to the back  12  at each end of back  12 . The posts  14  each have a bump  16  that protrudes such that the bumps  16  face each other. The back  12  of the connection clip  10  may come in various lengths including, ⅛″, ¼″, ⅜″, and ⅝″.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of two straight block curb components  18  connected by connection clips  10  is shown. The straight block curb components  18  are connected to the connection clips  10  by a receptacle  20  located at each corner of the straight block curb components  18 . Receptacle  20  has a receptacle bump  21 , which allows the bump  16  (see FIG. 1) of the connection clip  10  to snap together with the receptacle bump  21 . The straight block curb components  18  are used to represent a regular glass block, and may come in various lengths including 4″, 6″ and 8″.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 3, a top view of two straight block curb components  18  with connection clips  10  with differing lengths of back  12  is shown. The use of connection clip  10  with a back  12  on one side of a joint that is longer than the back  12  on a connection clip  10  on the opposite side allows for the layout of a curved wall.  
         [0024]    The curb components may come in various shapes corresponding to different shapes of glass blocks. Referring to FIG. 4, a top view of a 90-degree curb component  22  corresponding to a 90-degree glass block is shown. Referring to FIG. 5, a top view of a 45-degree curb component  24  corresponding to a 45-degree glass block is shown. Referring to FIG. 6, a top view of a radius curb component  26  corresponding to a radius block is shown. As shown in FIGS. 4-6 each of the curb components  22 ,  24 , and  26  have receptacles  20  located at each corner of the respective curb component, with receptacle bumps  21  to engage the bump  16  of connection clip  10  as shown with the straight block curb components  18  in FIGS. 2-3. The connection clip  10  enables the curb components  18 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  to be snapped together such that the spacing between the glass blocks is established by the width of the connection clips  10 . Although, the connection clips  10  are described as snapping into the receptacles  20  of the curb components, other methods of fitting the connection clips with the curb components may be used. Further, although a receptacle  20  is located at each corner of the curb components  18 ,  22 ,  24  and  26 , more or less than four receptacles  20 , as well as other locations for the receptacles  20 , may be used.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 7, a top view of two straight block curb components  40  connected using a joint formed from ridges and depressions is shown. More specifically, each straight block curb component  40  has a horizontal tab containing depressions  44  extending from each corner on one side, and horizontal tabs containing ridges  42  extending from each corner on another side. The ridges  42  of a first curb component connect with the depressions  44  of an adjacent curb component to provide joints with fixed variations of adjustable width. Referring to FIG. 8, an angled or curved joint may be formed by connecting the ridges  42  and depressions  44  closer together on one side of the joint than the opposite side of the joint.  
         [0026]    Although three depressions are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, any number of depressions may be used to provide any number of variable widths.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 9, a top view of two straight curb components  50  and a 90-degree curb component  52  is shown. Each curb component has a concave edge  54  and a convex edge  56 . The concave edge  54  of one curb components fits along the convex edge  56  of another curb component to form a sliding socket. The joint may be adjusted to form various angles by positioning the concave edge  54  relative to the convex edge  56 .  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 10 a perspective view of a straight block curb component  58  and a 90-degree curb component  60  is shown. In this embodiment each curb component includes a projection  62  on one side and a receptacle  64  on the other side. The projection  62  of one curb component fits together with the receptacle  64  of another curb component to form a fitted socket.  
         [0029]    Advantageously, the curb components  18 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  40 ,  50 ,  52 ,  58  and  60  described in FIGS. 2-10 may be used to mirror the glass blocks that they represent such that a user may easily experiment with various designs for a potential glass block wall.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS. 2-10, in order to assemble the glass block wall, the curb components may be secured to the floor. Mounting slots  15  may be found on the curb components  18 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  40 ,  50 ,  52 ,  58  and  60 , which allow for a screw to attach the respective curb component to the floor.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows a top view of a 90-degree curb component  22  connected to two straight curb components  18  with connection clips  10 . After the curb components  18  and  22  and connection clips  10  have been snapped together, they may be fastened to the floor using screws in mounting slots  15 . The glass block wall may then be constructed on top of the curb components  18  and  22 . The peripheral flange  32  of the 90-degree glass block  28  fits over the 90-degree curb component  22 , while the peripheral flanges  32  of the regular, rectangular glass blocks  30  fit over the straight curb components  18 .  
         [0032]    As seen in FIG. 11, the curb components  18 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  40 ,  50 ,  52 ,  58  and  60  can be designed to fit within the raised peripheral flange  32  formed around the face of the respective glass blocks, such that when the representative glass block is positioned upon the curb component, the curb component is hidden from sight. Alternatively, the curb components  18 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  40 ,  50 ,  52 ,  58  and  60  can be designed to fit flush with the peripheral flange of the respective glass block or to protrude.  
         [0033]    Various designs of glass block walls can be laid out by positioning various shapes of curb components, and by using the connection mechanisms. The curb components can be used in the construction of a glass block wall for showers, partitions, or other applications.  
         [0034]    Accordingly, while this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.