Building block wall connector strip and method of assembling a block wall utilizing such strip

A connector strip is disclosed for assembling a building wall of glass blocks. The strip includes a longitudinal center section having a pair of oppositely disposed and longitudinally extending grooves dimensioned to receive a centrally located ridge extending peripherally around the outer edge surfaces of a molded building block to which the strip is to be mounted. A flange projects laterally outwardly from each longitudinal edge of the center section. The flanges have outwardly profecting walls and a plurality of laterally extending ribs which project outwardly from the walls. The flanges, walls and ribs define a plurality of open compartments on opposite sides of the flanges. Resiliently compressible material is mounted to the center section which engages with the outer edge surface of the building block to which the strip is to be mounted. A fastener member also is provided for coupling together adjacently positioned connector strips to form a rigid framework for assembling successive rows of blocks into a wall assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a connector strip for assembling a building block 
wall assembly, and to the method of assembling the block wall utilizing 
such strip. 
II. Description of the Prior Art 
Heretofore, it is known to assemble a building block wall assembly 
utilizing a spacer strip positioned between the edge surfaces of 
adjacently positioned blocks and between the opposite or flat faces of 
successive rows of such blocks to form the wall. An example of such a 
spacer fabricating device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,384 dated 
Jun. 20, 1978 issued to Daniel A. Zarrielo. The fabricating device of this 
patent is an elongated corrugated cardboard strip having upper and lower 
surfaces thereof coated with a tar composition. The strips are positioned 
between tiers of building blocks and between the edge surfaces of 
adjoining blocks. The strips are mounted to the respective blocks by means 
of engagement of the tar surfaces of the strips to the adjacent surfaces 
of the blocks. Specifically, by pressing the blocks into the tar 
composition on the surfaces of the associated strips, it is possible to 
align the adjacently positioned blocks and the successive rows or tiers of 
such blocks to form a wall assembly. 
The strips have a width less than the width of the building blocks to which 
said strips are respectively mounted to form a groove or channel between 
the outer edges of adjacently located blocks. A mortar composition is then 
filled within such grooves to anchor the blocks and connector strips in 
place. 
While the fabricating device of the '384 patent satisfactorily performs its 
intended function for building a wall of cinder blocks, there arises a 
need to improve upon such fabricating device when assembling a wall of 
glass blocks. Glass blocks are molded in various sizes and shapes and are 
of styles such as available from Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15239, U.S.A. Typical of such styles is a 6 inch (15.24 
cm) square block having a thickness of 3.875 inches (9.84 cm). As part of 
the molding process, the blocks are formed each having a centrally located 
ridge extending peripherally around the outer edge surfaces thereof. 
Utilizing the fabricating device of the '384 patent to glass blocks of the 
kind described above does not prove entirely satisfactorily in view of the 
ridge formed on the edge surfaces of the block. That is, the relatively 
flat surfaces of the corrugated cardboard strip do not lend themselves to 
providing a secure mounting arrangement to the outer edge surfaces of the 
glass blocks. This, in turn, prevents an accurate alignment of the 
successive rows or tiers of blocks. 
The inventor named herein experimented with modifying the corrugated 
cardboard strip of the '384 patent to include a groove in the flat 
surfaces to accommodate the glass block ridge. While such modified 
corrugated cardboard strips eliminated some of the problems associated 
with using such strips in a glass block wall assembly, the strips still 
were not found to be that effective for anchoring the blocks in place. 
This was primarily due to the flexibility of the strips and to the 
inability of connecting the strips together to form a framework for the 
blocks. 
It has become apparent that a different type of connector strip is needed 
for assembling a block wall structure utilizing glass blocks. The present 
invention improves on the applicant's earlier modifications to the 
corrugated cardboard strip of the '384 patent by providing a rigid 
connector strip which is formed with grooves to accommodate the glass 
block ridge. A fastener element also is provided to couple together 
adjacent segments of adjacently positioned connector strips to form a 
substantially rigid framework for each block which enables rows or tiers 
of such glass blocks to be easily and accurately aligned in place, and be 
firmly anchored to one another. A summary of the features applicable to 
the improved and novel connector strip is hereinafter set forth. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides for a rigid longitudinal connector strip 
formed having a longitudinally extending center section. The center 
section has oppositely disposed outer flat surfaces each of which is 
formed having a longitudinally extending groove centrally located thereon. 
The grooves are dimensioned to receive therein a portion of the centrally 
located ridge extending peripherally around the outer edge surfaces of the 
molded glass building block to which said strip is to be mounted. 
A longitudinally extending flange projects laterally outwardly from each of 
the longitudinal edges of the center section. The flanges are centrally 
located along the thickness of the center section and extend for the 
length of the strip. Also, the thickness of the flanges is less than the 
thickness of the center section. The flanges terminate in longitudinally 
extending edges of the strip. 
As was the case with the fabricating device of the '384 patent, the width 
of the instant strip is less than the width of the building block to which 
the strip is to be mounted to locate the longitudinal edges of the flanges 
in contact with marginal edge surfaces of the building block. 
Each of the flanges has a pair of oppositely disposed and longitudinally 
extending walls projecting outwardly from opposite surfaces thereof. The 
walls are centrally located along the width of the flanges, with the walls 
of each pair being aligned in the same plane and extending for the length 
of the strip. 
Each of the flanges also may have a plurality of oppositely disposed and 
laterally extending ribs projecting outwardly from the walls on opposite 
sides of the flanges. The construction is such that the flanges having a 
configuration to permit at least some of the ribs to engage marginal edge 
surfaces of the building block to which the strip is to be mounted. The 
oppositely disposed and laterally extending ribs are arranged in pairs 
aligned in the same plane, with said ribs projecting outwardly of the 
respective walls to the longitudinal edges of the strip. 
Resiliently compressible material also may be mounted to the opposing 
surfaces of the center section on either side of the longitudinally 
extending grooves. The compressible material serves to compensate for 
irregularities in the outer edge surfaces of the block to which said strip 
is to be mounted on either side of the building block ridge. The 
compressible material has an outer surface coated with a pressure 
sensitive adhesive, and is provided with a removable release sheet adapted 
to be removed from the adhesively coated surface when the strip is mounted 
to the block. 
The overall arrangement described above provides for the longitudinal 
flanges, the longitudinal walls, and the lateral ribs to define a 
plurality of open compartments on opposite sides of the flanges which 
compartments extend along the longitudinal edges of the strip. 
The invention further provides for a fastener to couple together adjacent 
segments of adjacently positioned connector strips to from a substantially 
rigid framework to erect a wall of such glass blocks. The fastener also is 
of substantially rigid material and is formed having first and second post 
elements spaced apart from one another by an interconnecting web. The 
posts are sized to be frictionally received in the spaces, respectively, 
between the longitudinal edges of the center section of the connector 
strips and the longitudinal walls on the flanges of the strips. The web 
serves to space the posts apart from one another by a distance 
substantially equal to the lateral distance between the longitudinal edges 
of the center section of the strips. 
Each of the post elements has a pair of oppositely disposed and aligned 
slit openings sized to engage with the flanges of the connector strips for 
coupling together the lateral edges of adjacent segments of the strips. In 
this coupling arrangement, it is necessary for the web segment of the 
fastener to have a pair of oppositely disposed and aligned cut-out notches 
which are located to be in alignment with the longitudinal grooves, 
respectively, of the connector strips when the strips are coupled 
together. 
In another coupling arrangement, the posts may be regarded as having first 
and second oppositely disposed stem portions projecting from opposite 
surfaces, respectively, of the interconnecting web and projecting 
substantially perpendicular to the plane of the web. The first stem 
portion of each post has the slit opening previously referred to which is 
sized to engage with the lateral edges of the flanges, respectively, of 
one of the connector strips. The second stem portion of each post is sized 
to be received in the spaces, respectively, between the longitudinal edges 
of the center section of the other one of the adjacent connector strips 
and the longitudinal walls on the flanges of said other connector strip 
for coupling together the connector strips in a substantially 
perpendicular configuration. 
The connector strips and the associated fasteners permit the user to 
assemble successive rows of blocks in which each block is set-off from the 
next adjacent block by a framework of such connector strips. That is, 
interengaging or interlocking connector strips are mounted to all four 
edge surfaces of each block during the assembly operation. After the wall 
is assembled, the spacing between the outer edges, respectively, of 
adjacently located blocks and the adjacent longitudinally extending walls 
of the associated strips defines a plurality of channels which include the 
open compartments formed by the laterally projecting ribs. A binder 
composition is then applied within the channels to anchor the blocks and 
the associated connector strips in place. 
There is, thus, provided a novel connector strip for assembling a building 
wall of glass blocks which is relatively simple in nature, and which can 
be used by a person with little or no special training in the art of 
assembling building block wall assemblies. 
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become 
more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description 
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 3, numeral 10 
represents a longitudinal connector strip constructed in accordance with 
the present invention. Except as noted hereinafter, strip 10 is 
substantially rigid and is molded of polyethylene or polypropylene 
material. 
Strip 10 is formed having a longitudinally extending center section 12 
having a first outer surface 14 and a second oppositely disposed outer 
surface 16 spaced apart from one another by a predetermined thickness. 
Center section 12 terminates in first and second longitudinally extending 
edges 18 and 20, respectively. 
A longitudinally extending groove 22 is formed in surface 14 and a similar 
groove 24 is formed in surface 16. Grooves 22 and 24 are centrally located 
on said respective surfaces and have dimensions to receive therein a 
portion of a centrally located ridge extending peripherally around the 
outer edge surfaces of a molded building block to which strip 10 is to be 
mounted as hereinafter described. 
Projecting laterally outwardly from the longitudinal edges 18 and 20 of 
center section 12 are first and second longitudinally extending flanges 
represented generally by numerals 26 and 28, respectively. Flanges 26 and 
28 are centrally located along the thickness of center section 12 and 
extend for the length of strip 10. Flanges 26 and 28 each have a thickness 
less than the thickness of center section 12, and terminate in first and 
second longitudinally extending edges 30 and 32, respectively, of strip 
10. 
As will become hereinafter apparent, the width of strip 10 is less than the 
width of the building block to which said strip to be mounted to locate 
the longitudinal edges 30 and 32 of flanges 26 and 28, respectively, in 
contact with marginal edge surfaces of the building block. 
Flanges 26 and 28 each have a pair of oppositely disposed and 
longitudinally extending walls 34 and 36 projecting outwardly from 
opposite surfaces, respectively, thereof. Walls 34 and 36 are centrally 
located along the width of the respective flanges 26 and 28. The walls 34 
and 36 of each pair are aligned in the same plane and extend for the 
length of connector strip 10. The spaces between the longitudinal edge 18 
of center section 12 and the adjacent flange walls 34 and 36 are 
represented by numeral 27 whereas the spaces between the longitudinal edge 
20 of center section 12 and the adjacent flange walls 34 and 36 are 
represented by numeral 29. 
It is preferred that flanges 26 and 28 also be formed each having a 
plurality of oppositely disposed and laterally extending ribs 38 
projecting outwardly from walls 34 and 36 on opposite sides of said 
flanges. The configuration of flanges 26 and 28 is such as to permit at 
least some of ribs 38 to engage marginal edge surfaces of the building 
block to which strip 10 is to be mounted as hereinafter described. The 
oppositely disposed and laterally extending ribs 38 are arranged in pairs 
aligned in the same plane, with the plurality of pairs of such ribs spaced 
apart from one another over the length of strip 10. Ribs 38 project 
outwardly of walls 34 and 36 to the longitudinal edges 30 and 32, 
respectively, of strip 10. In the configuration thus described, the 
longitudinal flanges 26 and 28, each with their associated longitudinal 
walls 34 and 36 and lateral ribs 38, define a plurality of open 
compartments 40 on either side of flanges 26 and 28 extending along the 
longitudinal edges 30 and 32, respectively, of strip 10. 
The surfaces 14 and 16 of center section 12 are formed having a plurality 
of spaced-apart openings 42 extending longitudinally the length of strip 
10. Openings 42 are substantially rectangular in configuration and 
alternate in their placement along surfaces 14 and 16. That is, the 
openings 42 are sequentially placed along said surfaces such that an 
opening on surface 14 is followed by an opening on surface 16 and the 
pattern thus repeated alternating between such surfaces. Openings 42 are 
provided to reduce the weight of strip 10 and to facilitate the molding 
procedure of such strip. 
Mounted to surfaces 14 and 16 of center section 12 is a resiliently 
compressible material 44 made of foam or rubber or the like. Compressible 
material 44 extends for the length of strip 10 and is positioned in 
overlying relation to the openings 42. The outer surface of material 44 is 
coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive 46. A release sheet 48 is 
mounted to the adhesive surface 46 and is adapted to be removed therefrom 
when strip 10 is mounted to the building block. The compressible material 
44 is used to take into account irregularities in the outer edge surfaces 
of the block as hereinafter described. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7-9, there is shown a fastener member represented 
generally by the numeral 50 for coupling together adjacent segments of 
adjacently positioned connector strips 10. Fastener 50 is made of 
substantially rigid plastic, as is strip 10, and is formed having a first 
post element 52 and a second post element 54 spaced apart from one another 
by an interconnecting web 56. The web 56 serves to space apart posts 52 
and 54 by a distance substantially equal to the lateral distance between 
the longitudinal edges 18 and 20 of strip center section 12. 
Web 56 also is formed having a pair of oppositely disposed and aligned 
cut-out notches 58 and 60. As will become hereinafter apparent, notches 58 
and 60 are located to be in alignment with the longitudinal grooves 22 and 
24, respectively, of strip center section 12 when adjacent strips 10 are 
coupled together. 
Post 52 may be regarded as defining a pair of oppositely disposed stem 
portions 62 and 64 projecting from opposite surfaces, respectively, of web 
56. Post 54 similarly defines a pair of oppositely disposed stem portions 
66 and 68 which also project from opposite surfaces, respectively, of web 
56. The configuration is such that stem portions 62, 64, 66 and 68 project 
in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of web 56. 
Each of the stem portions 62, 64, 66 and 68 is formed having a slit opening 
70 whereby the slits 70 in post 52 and the slits 70 in post 54 are sized 
to frictionally engage with the lateral edges of the flanges 26 and 28, 
respectively, of adjacently positioned connector strips 10 for coupling 
together the lateral edges of adjacent segments of said strips as 
hereinafter noted. In yet another coupling arrangement, corresponding stem 
portions of fastener posts 52 and 54, such as stem portions 62 and 66, may 
be employed to engage with the lateral flange edges of one strip while 
corresponding stem portions 64 and 68 are sized to be frictionally 
received in the spaces 27 and 29, respectively, between the longitudinal 
edges 18 and 20 of the center section 12 of an adjacent strip 10 and the 
flange walls 34 and/or 36 of said adjacent strip for coupling together the 
connector strips 10 in a substantially perpendicular configuration. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the glass block is represented by numeral 72 having 
outer edge surfaces 74. A centrally located ridge 76 extends peripherally 
around the outer edge surfaces of the block. If strips 10 are regarded as 
being disposed in horizontal and vertical positions, the elongated 
horizontal strips 10 may be formed in 3 foot (91.44 cm) lengths so as to 
span or cover a plurality of adjacently positioned blocks 72. Where 
necessary, a plurality of such horizontally disposed strips 10 may be 
coupled together in edge-to-edge relation by fastener member 50. In such 
event, the slit openings 70 engage the lateral edges of the respective 
flanges of the adjacently positioned strips whereby notches 58 and 60 of 
fastener 50 are located in alignment with the grooves 22 and 24, 
respectively, of said strips. 
The invention further provides for a vertically orientated connector strip 
10 to be disposed between adjacent blocks 72. These so-called vertical 
strips are of a length slightly less than the height of the block. Here, 
again, the same kind of fastener member 50 is used to couple a vertically 
oriented strip to a horizontally oriented strip. In this arrangement, 
corresponding stem portions on one side of fastener 50 engage the lateral 
flange edges of the vertical strip while the opposite corresponding stem 
portions are received in the spaces of the horizontal strip formed between 
the longitudinal edges of the center section and the flange walls. The end 
result is to form a substantially rigid framework around each block with 
the horizontally and vertically oriented connector strips coupled together 
by the fastener members. 
When mounting the connector strips 10 to the respective blocks 72, it will 
be appreciated that the release sheet 48 is first removed from the 
adhesive surface 46 of the compressible material 44. The strip is then 
positioned on the edge surface 74 of block 72 with the block ridge 76 
received in the central groove 22 or 24, as the case may be, of strip 
center section 12. This serves to locate the compressible material 44, 
which is positioned on either side of the groove, in engagement with the 
outer edge surfaces of the block on either side of the block ridge. The 
strip is firmly mounted to the block without undue play by reason of the 
compressible material 44 which takes into account any irregularities or 
unevenness in the edge surfaces of the block. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a building wall represented generally by numeral 78 
assembled from the components of FIG. 1. In assembling building wall 78 it 
may be assumed that an opening has been formed in the structure which is 
to contain the rows or tiers of glass blocks 72. The size of the opening 
can be predetermined from the dimensions of the blocks. Also, once the 
height of the block is known, the so-called vertical strips that make-up 
the framework between adjacent blocks can be cut to be of a length 
slightly less than the block height. The width of the strip is selected to 
be less than the width of the block thereby to locate the flange ribs in 
contact with marginal edge surfaces of the block. The arrangement is such 
that the longitudinal flanges, the longitudinal walls and the lateral ribs 
define a plurality of open compartments on opposite sides of the flanges 
extending along the longitudinal edges of the strip. 
For example, where the width of the block is 3.125 inches (7.94 cm), the 
width of the strip may be 2.624 inches (6.67 cm). The width of the center 
section is 1.313 inches (3.34 cm) and the height or thickness of the 
center section is 0.470 inches (1.19 cm). The thickness of the flanges and 
of the compressible material on the center section is 0.0625 inches (0.159 
cm). The height of each flange wall is 0.125 inches (0.318 cm). The length 
of the fastener member is 1.890 inches (4.80 cm). The length of the web 
interconnecting the posts is 1.320 inches (3.35 cm) and the width is 0.470 
inches (1.19 cm). The thickness is 0.080 inches (2.03 cm). The height of 
the posts is 0.520 inches (1.32 cm) and the thickness is 0.331 inches 
(0.84 cm). These dimensions are purely illustrative and are not to be 
deemed limitations on the invention. 
It is preferred that the connector strips be used to form the perimeter of 
the wall opening on all four sides. The first row of blocks is then 
mounted to the strips which form the floor as base of the opening. 
Alternatively, the size of the opening could be selected so that the outer 
edge surfaces of blocks form the perimeter for the opening. However, the 
use of connector strips to form the perimeter of the opening will result 
in a more sturdy framework. 
As previously noted, vertical connector strips are positioned between the 
adjacent blocks in a row. After the first row of blocks is in place, 
horizontal connector strips are placed on top of the row. Fastener members 
are employed to couple the vertical strips sandwiched between a row of 
blocks to the horizontal strips positioned above and below said row. The 
procedure then is repeated for assembling successive rows of blocks. 
The uppermost row of blocks is positioned in place by using a flat edge 
tool to displace the blocks slightly downwardly from the row of connector 
strips which defines the upper framework for the opening. There is still 
sufficient play, at this point in the wall assembly, to position the top 
row of blocks in place. 
With the wall thus assembled, the blocks will have an outer peripheral edge 
laterally spaced from the longitudinally extending edges of the associated 
connector strips mounted thereon. The spacing between the outer edges, 
respectively, of adjacently located blocks and the adjacent longitudinally 
extending walls of the associated strips defines a plurality of channels 
which encompass the compartments formed, in part, by the laterally 
projecting ribs of the connector strips. A binder composition, such as 
mortar 80, is applied within the channels to anchor the blocks and 
associated connector strips in place wherein the compartments define 
multiple surfaces for receiving the binder composition. 
There is thus provided a novel connector strip which, in combination with 
an interlocking fastener member, provides a framework for firmly and 
securely assembling a glass block building wall in which the blocks and 
the associated connector strips are anchored in place with a binder 
composition. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described 
in detail, it will be readily understood and appreciated that numerous 
omissions, changes and additions may be made without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the invention.