Architectural building block

An architectural building block including a front terminal wall, a rear terminal wall disposed substantially parallel to the front terminal wall, a pair of side walls adjoining the front terminal wall and the rear terminal wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The side walls lean toward one another. The pair of side walls converge from the rear terminal wall to the front terminal wall. The bottom wall is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall, wherein each of the top wall and bottom wall adjoins the front terminal wall, the rear terminal wall and the pair of side walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to architectural building blocks for constructing cylinders and arches. More specifically, the present invention is directed to masonry architectural building blocks for constructing cylinders and arches.

2. Background Art

In fabricating structures composed of curvilinear parts, typically forms are required for concrete pouring as conventional blocks are often unsuitable for constructing such parts as conventional masonry blocks are unsuitable due to their shapes and sizes. On-site constructions of structures using forms often involve significant custom architectural and engineering preparation work, which not only increases the construction cost but also the lead time in completing the construction projects. Even if conventional masonry blocks are used to construct curvilinear parts, sufficient skills are required to custom shape some masonry blocks so that they can fit in with other unmodified blocks to approximate the structural shape to be constructed. Conventional blocks used for curvilinear parts include rectangular and triangular blocks, etc. In many occasions, sufficient skills may also be required to adjust the amount of mortar used between blocks such that curvilinear parts can be constructed. When built without forms or other supporting structures, the use of conventional blocks does not yield uniform, accurate and repeatable arch structures. It may even be impossible to construct a curvilinear structure using conventional blocks if mortar had not been used.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,392,551 to Roe (hereinafter Roe) discloses a wall structure having a series of superposed courses of building blocks, matching keyways in certain adjacent blocks in a course and keys in the keyways locking the adjacent blocks together. Each of the keys extends from one course into and fits snugly within an opening in a block of an adjacent course, thereby locking adjacent courses together against horizontal shifting, and tongue and groove connections inclined to the longitudinal axes of the keys and interlocking blocks of adjacent courses whereby the first named keys and the tongue and groove connections lock the courses against vertical as well as horizontal shifting, the tongues of the tongue and groove connections being each integral with a block. Although a means for interlocking adjacently disposed blocks is provided, Roe fails to disclose building blocks useful for building arches when used in conjunction with only two rebars.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2013/0205705 of Bilka (hereinafter Bilka) discloses a masonry article having one or more sidewalls, top and bottom, and first and second ends configured with a horizontal and vertical locking mechanism, wherein top and bottom includes first axis locking mechanism, wherein the top surface is formed with at least one stepped section having a base that begins with a level footing and the bottom opposite surface formed with at least one other stepped section having a base that begins with a level footing to releasably receive one of the top, and wherein first and second ends include contoured receptacles to releasably receive a matching configured link block having opposite male contour surface to form second axis locking mechanism. Similar to Roe, Bilka fails to disclose building blocks useful for building arches when used in conjunction with only two rebars. Instead, Bilka discloses blocks useful for building cylindrical structures although such structures of Bilka do not contain corrugations and/or ribs that are capable of further resisting against external loading, impacts, high winds, seismic forces, etc.

Thus, there is a need for blocks useful for constructing arches and cylinders that are capable of resisting environmental forces and ones which can be built without using pre-fabricated or in-situ built forms and temporary support structures or scaffolding systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an architectural building block including:

(a) a front terminal wall having a top edge and a bottom edge;

(b) a rear terminal wall having a top edge and a bottom edge, the rear terminal wall is disposed substantially parallel to the front terminal wall, wherein both the front terminal wall and the rear terminal wall define the longitudinal ends of the architectural building block, the width of the top edge of the front terminal wall is less than the width of the top edge of the rear terminal wall and the width of the bottom edge of the front terminal wall is less than the width of the bottom edge of the rear terminal wall;
(c) a pair of side walls adjoining the front terminal wall and the rear terminal wall, wherein the side walls lean toward one another, the pair of side walls converge from the rear terminal wall to the front terminal wall; and
(d) a top wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall, wherein each of the top wall and bottom wall adjoins the front terminal wall, the rear terminal wall and the pair of side walls,
wherein at least one side wall is configured to be positionable so as to mate with a side wall of an adjacently disposed block, whereby curved structures may be constructed from a plurality of such blocks.

In one embodiment, the present block further includes two channels, wherein each of the side walls further includes two halves, each channel extending from one of the side walls to the other one of the side walls, each of the two channels having a width adapted to enable traversal of a rebar and a center having a central axis that is substantially centrally disposed within one of the two halves.

In one embodiment, each of the two channels includes an opening having an outward taper of from about 1 degree to about 5 degrees on each wall of the two channels.

In one embodiment, at least one channel includes an opening through the top wall.

In one embodiment, at least one channel includes an opening through the bottom wall.

In one embodiment, each side wall further includes two halves, one adjacent the front terminal wall and another adjacent the rear terminal wall. Each half includes a depression and a protrusion. The depression is configured in a shape complementary to the protrusion such that when the depression of one block may be mated with the protrusion of an adjacently disposed block.

In one embodiment, the block further includes an orientation marker biasly disposed along the longitudinal direction of the block. In one embodiment, the orientation marker is disposed on a surface of one of the two channels, thereby removing the need for disposing the orientation marker on one of the front and rear terminal walls, the top and bottom walls and the pair of side walls.

An object of the present invention is to provide a block capable of assembly with similar blocks to form arches and cylinders.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a block capable of assembly with similar blocks to form corrugated and/or ribbed structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a block capable for use with one or more rebars.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a block that is of lighter weight than a conventional similarly dimensioned block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a block capable of assembly with similar blocks to form structures having a high-strength axis aligned with the direction in which environmental and man-made forces are applied.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a block capable of assembly with similar blocks with or without mortar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a block capable of assembly with similar blocks with interlocking features.

Whereas there may be many embodiments of the present invention, each embodiment may meet one or more of the foregoing recited objects in any combination. It is not intended that each embodiment will necessarily meet each objective. Thus, having broadly outlined the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated, there are, of course, additional features of the present invention that will be described herein and will form a part of the subject matter of this specification.

PARTS LIST

2—architectural building block4—side wall6—front terminal wall8—rear terminal wall10—top wall12—bottom wall14—reinforcement bar or rebar16—orientation marker18—channel20—length of block22—half of the length of half a block24—width of bottom edge of front terminal wall26—width of top edge of front terminal wall28—width of bottom edge of rear terminal wall29—width of top edge of rear terminal wall30—height of block32—central axis of channel34—top edge of block36—half of a block38—length of a half of a block40—outward taper42—protrusion44—depression46—gasket48—angle50—span of arch52—height of protrusion or depth of depression54—half of height of block

PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

A plurality of the present blocks can be used to build right circular cylinders and cylindrical sections, e.g., arches and arches with more than one center, e.g., ‘vesica piscis’ or gothic arches, etc. As such, this provides extensive design flexibility in the types of structures that may result from such blocks.

Structures, e.g., cylinders and arches, that are formed as a result of the use of the present blocks include corrugations and/or ribs, resulting in greater flexural rigidity and overall strength in the structures. Such structures present greater resistance to external loading, impacts, high winds, seismic forces, etc.

In embodiments of the present blocks having two channels, rebars can be readily used in conjunction with these blocks as the channels serve to locate the blocks around the rebars. In addition, rebars and the present blocks may be arranged in a manner which creates corrugations of the assembled structure. As an example, a rebar may be bent into a curved shape and erected so as to serve as a foundation upon which blocks may be installed. The radius of curvature of the rebar is the radius of the arch. If concrete blocks and steel rebars are used, the assembled structure will possess the high strength of steel reinforced concrete.

As the structures built using the present blocks include corrugations and the individual blocks themselves can include channels, the individual blocks are easier to handle and the assemblies built using the blocks are lighter. Although additional mortar may be used to fill the gaps in the corrugations upon assembling the blocks, the ability to form a structure which can readily receive mortar makes the application of mortar easier and faster as mortar may be sprayed on the structure without concerns of the proper spacing of blocks using mortar and ability of mortar in holding two blocks together. Mortar may also be applied individually on each block while it is being added one-at-a time to an assembly.

In one embodiment, the present blocks are dimensioned to correspond to the modular coordination of design used in U.S. construction, where all materials are based on 4 inch cubic grid. In one embodiment, the present blocks are 8 inches by 16 inches (similar to the ubiquitous concrete blocks used in the U.S. Construction industry). These dimensions allow for a maximum number of blocks to be made per cycle on an existing block machine; a feature which is very important to mold life and throughput for a block manufacturer. This high throughput results in low cost and high performance structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Disclosed herein are embodiments of an architectural building block. The architectural building block includes a front terminal wall, a rear terminal wall, a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall.

FIG. 1is a top front perspective view of a block.FIG. 2is a front elevational view of a block.FIG. 3is a rear elevational view of a block.FIG. 4is a plan view of a block.FIG. 5is a bottom view of a block. The rear terminal wall8is disposed substantially parallel to the front terminal wall6, where both the front terminal wall6and the rear terminal wall8define the longitudinal ends of the architectural building block2. The pair of side walls4adjoins the front terminal wall6and the rear terminal wall8. The side walls4lean toward one another. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, it shall be noted that the pair of side walls4converge from the rear terminal wall8to the front terminal wall6. For clarity, the rear end of the block is referred to as the “thick side” as it is dimensionally more prominent than the front end of block that is referred to as the “thin side” as the block tapers from the rear end to the front end. The bottom wall12is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall10, where each of the top wall10and bottom wall12adjoins the front terminal wall6, the rear terminal wall8and the pair of side walls4. As the length20of the block2is about 16 inches and the height30of the block2is about 8 inches, the block2satisfies the 4 inch cubic grid system. The width of the block2, on average, is about 3 inches. Note that the widths of the top edge and bottom edge of the front and rear terminal walls are unique. The average width is defined as the average of the widths of the top edge and bottom edge of the front and rear terminal walls or dimensions26,24,29and28. When constructed from concrete, a current block2weighs about 28 lbs. A conventional cinder block weighs about 35 lbs in comparison. The present block is therefore lighter weight and easier to handle than a conventional cinder block.

Each side wall4further includes two halves36, both having identical lengths38. In one embodiment, the block further includes two channels18. Each channel18extends from one side wall4to the other side wall4. Each channel18includes a width adapted to enable traversal of a rebar and a central axis32that is substantially centrally disposed within one of the two halves36. In one embodiment, a block further includes an orientation marker biasly disposed along the longitudinal direction of the block2. In one embodiment, the orientation marker16is disposed on a surface of one of the two channels18, thereby removing the need for disposing the orientation marker16on one of the front and rear terminal walls6,8, the top and bottom walls and the pair of side walls4, making a block more aesthetically pleasing and the exposed surfaces featureless. In one embodiment, the orientation marker16is a circle. Referring toFIG. 4, the orientation marker16is disposed at the center of the channel closer to the front terminal wall. The orientation marker16may alternatively be disposed at the center of the channel18closer to the rear terminal wall. An orientation marker aids a user in recognizing one end of the block from the other end of the block. In the embodiment shown, as the orientation marker16is associated with the front end of the block (as the orientation marker is disposed on a surface of the channel18that is closer to this end), the user who picks up a block simply needs to glance at this orientation marker to quickly identify the orientation of the block to avoid errors in installing the block onto rebars. Orientation markers are important to the user especially for blocks that are dimensioned with the thick side only subtly thicker than the thin side.

In one embodiment, the ratio of the width26of the top edge of the front terminal wall to the width24of the bottom edge of the front terminal wall is about 0.82 and the ratio of the width29of the top edge of the rear terminal wall to the width28of the rear terminal wall is about 0.87. In this embodiment, an arch constructed from blocks having such dimensions may span about 10 ft. Therefore, referring toFIG. 21, with the critical dimensions, e.g., width, height and length of each block disclosed elsewhere herein and the dimensions of the front and rear terminal walls, an arch having a span50of 10 ft. can be constructed.

In another embodiment, the ratio of the width26of the top edge of the front terminal wall to the width24of the bottom edge of the front terminal wall is about 0.88 and the ratio of the width29of the top edge of the rear terminal wall to the width28of the rear terminal wall is about 0.90. In this embodiment, an arch constructed from blocks having such dimensions may span about 15 ft.

In yet another embodiment, the ratio of the width26of the top edge of the front terminal wall to the width24of the bottom edge of the front terminal wall is about 0.91 and the ratio of the width29of the top edge of the rear terminal wall to the width28of the rear terminal wall is about 0.92. In this embodiment, an arch constructed from blocks having such dimensions may span about 20 ft.

In yet another embodiment, the ratio of the width26of the top edge of the front terminal wall to the width24of the bottom edge of the front terminal wall is about 0.93 and the ratio of the width29of the top edge of the rear terminal wall to the width28of the rear terminal wall is about 0.94. In this embodiment, an arch constructed from blocks having such dimensions may span about 25 ft.

In yet another embodiment, the ratio of the width26of the top edge of the front terminal wall to the width24of the bottom edge of the front terminal wall is about 0.95 and the ratio of the width29of the top edge of the rear terminal wall to the width28of the rear terminal wall is about 0.96. In this embodiment, an arch constructed from blocks having such dimensions may span about 40 ft.

FIG. 6is a diagram depicting a process of assembling two blocks2onto two rebars14.FIG. 7is a diagram depicting the result of having assembled two blocks2onto two rebars14to form a two-course structure. The obscured block is represented by dotted lines. It shall be noted that the blocks can be installed on rebars14from any one of the two directions, provided that each channel18is aligned with a rebar14. It shall also be noted that the blocks may be assembled such that a side wall of one block is disposed in a complementary and contacting manner with a side wall of adjacently disposed block where the thick side of one block is mated with the thin side of another. In another configuration not shown, the blocks2may be assembled on the rebars14by aligning the channels18of the blocks in a similar manner, resulting in an assembly having a curved configuration as the thick side of one block is stacked atop the thick side of another block. In one embodiment, each of the two channels18includes an opening having an outward taper40of from about 1 degree to about 5 degrees on each wall of the two channels. Such tapers promote mold release and ease rebar installation while not compromising the strength of the block as each channel still contains sufficient materials for a snug fit of the block around a rebar.

FIG. 8is a diagram depicting another process of assembling three blocks onto two rebars.FIG. 9is a diagram depicting the result of having assembled three blocks onto two rebars.FIG. 10is another view of the assembled blocks on rebars ofFIG. 9. Again, the obscured block or rebars are represented by dotted lines. In this embodiment, at least one side wall4is configured to be positionable so as to mate with a side wall4of an adjacently disposed block to result in an assembly having a curving trend toward the direction of the arrow. It shall be noted that the blocks are installed on rebars14from any one of the two directions, provided that each channel18is aligned with a rebar14. In this example, only one of the two channels of a top block is engaged with a rebar14. It shall be noted that the blocks2may be assembled on the rebars14, resulting in an assembly having a curved configuration and the blocks being interlocked. In order to remove a top block, one of the top blocks must be lifted and removed to clear its abutting top block.FIGS. 6-10are used to demonstrate the concepts of assembling blocks, each having a thick side and a thin side and two channels although such assemblies may not have practical uses. In addition, it shall also be appreciated fromFIGS. 6-10that adjacent blocks may generally be stacked perpendicularly or in line.

FIG. 11is a diagram depicting a plurality of blocks2arranged such that at least one side wall of a block complements a side wall of an adjacent block in the longitudinal direction only. Such arrangement enables seven such blocks to be moved on a pallet of a conventional manufacturing line. In a block manufacturing process, it is critical to form blocks having their high-strength axis aligned in a load bearing direction. Materials, e.g., concrete, is an anisotropic material. It has a higher compressive strength in the axis of compaction as blocks are made. Conventional concrete blocks are assembled in a wall with the high-strength axis oriented in the vertical direction. As the lower strength axis is oriented horizontally, i.e., the direction in which environmental forces are most prevalent, the resulting structure is weaker and prone to failure from horizontal impacts and stresses such as those encountered in tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and other extreme loading scenarios. Conversely, the present blocks used for constructing structures are arranged in a manner where the high-strength axis of each block is oriented in the direction substantially parallel to the direction in which environmental forces are prevalent. In constructing a present block, raw material is first placed within a mold cavity. A “shoe,” configured in the external shape of the present block including such features as channels, is then applied atop the raw material, compacting and consolidating the raw material, thereby forming a block having a high-strength axis in the direction in which the compacting action is applied.

FIGS. 12-18depict a series of steps in which a basic block assembly is built.FIG. 12is a top perspective view depicting one block having been laid down in anticipation of subsequent addition of additional blocks.FIG. 13is a top perspective view depicting one additional block having been laid down in addition to the first block shown inFIG. 12. The second block is aligned generally in the same direction as the first block and placed with its bottom wall abutting the rear half of the top wall of the first block.FIG. 14is a top perspective view depicting one additional block having been laid down in addition to the first and second blocks shown inFIG. 13. Again, the third block is aligned generally in the same direction as the first or second block and placed with its bottom wall abutting the rear half of the top wall of the second block.FIG. 15is a top perspective view depicting one additional block having been laid down in addition to the first, second and third blocks shown inFIG. 14. The fourth block is orientated such that its top wall is facing the same direction as the front terminal walls of the two blocks upon which the fourth block is disposed and disposed atop the abutting halves of their side walls.FIG. 16is a top perspective view depicting one additional block having been laid down in addition to the blocks shown inFIG. 15. The fifth block is orientated such that its top wall is facing the same direction as the front terminal walls of the two blocks upon which the fifth block is disposed and disposed atop the abutting halves of their side walls.FIG. 17is a top perspective view depicting one additional block having been laid down in addition to the blocks shown inFIG. 16. The sixth block is orientated in the same orientation as any one of blocks not in the course directly below it but the second course below it.FIG. 18is another view of the blocks ofFIG. 17shown installed around four rebars14and the general trend of the resultant block assembly curving towards one direction as angle48is non-zero.

FIG. 19is a perspective view of a single-wythed arched structure built with a plurality of present blocks.FIG. 20is a front elevational view of an arched structure built with a plurality of present blocks. It shall be noted that the arched structure is a composite of basic assemblies depicted inFIG. 18.FIG. 21is a single-wythed side elevational view of an arched structure built with a plurality of present blocks.FIG. 22is a side elevational view of a single-wythed double-centered arch structure built with a plurality of present blocks. Arch structures of various spans may be constructed from blocks having different block dimensions.

FIG. 23is a perspective view of a single-wythed cylindrical structure built with a plurality of present blocks.FIG. 24is a side elevational view of another single-wythed arched structure built with a plurality of present blocks. In this example, a vesica piscis or gothic arch is depicted. It shall be noted therefore that a plurality of the present blocks can be used to form various arches, thereby providing extensive design flexibility. The blocks used to build cylinders and arches are assembled in a manner that creates corrugations or ribs in the assembled cylinder or arch, resulting in greater flexural rigidity, overall strength and lower weight. An arch configured with corrugations or ribs, is much stronger and has greater resistance to external loading, impacts, high winds, seismic forces, etc. per unit weight.

FIG. 25is a side elevational view of another arched structure built with a plurality of present blocks, depicting a double wythe52configuration. Arches or any size can be built with these blocks as construction using blocks is scalable. An arch twice as large as a structure constructed with a single wythe requires walls twice as thick, i.e., another wythe is required to create a wall twice as thick. If an additional wythe is used, a wall three times as thick or an arch that is three times larger than the single wythe arch can be created. This feature adds to the design flexibility of the present block by allowing any size structure to be built.

FIG. 26depicts a block having a channel opening on the top wall10and a channel opening on the bottom wall12. In this embodiment, the center of each channel18is unchanged when compared to the channels18shown inFIG. 1. In constructing structures from a plurality of the present blocks, as the rebars are typically laid down prior to the assembly of the blocks, there may be instances where such configuration will ease the assembly due to the location of the openings of the channels18.FIG. 27depicts a block having two channels with their openings disposed on the bottom wall12. In this embodiment, as the channels18are disposed with their openings on the bottom wall12, the channels18are formed on more prominent portions of the block, i.e., bottom of the block, thereby decreasing the amount of material used in forming the block if compared to a block shown inFIG. 1. The use of less material does not affect the integrity of the block when compared to the block shown inFIG. 1as the channels are formed on the more prominent portions of the block, i.e., portions with larger wall areas. However, in certain manufacturing processes, this configuration may not be preferable as core pullers may be required to remove materials to form the channels in contrast to forming channels from molds, without having an additional step of removing material from an already formed block.FIG. 28depicts a block2having no channels18. In this embodiment, no rebars may be used to engage this block directly. However, with the aid of mortar and suitable scaffolding, curvilinear structures may be constructed from a plurality of such blocks.

Suitable materials for constructing the present block include, but not limited to, concrete, cinders, vitrified ceramic, glass, plastic, wood pulp, cardboard, fiberglass, epoxy composite, metal, construction foam, tamped earth, boron, borides, and any combinations thereof. The decision to select a material lies in such factors as the manufacturing costs, material costs, ease of construction, availability of materials, ease of use of the resultant blocks, required strength of the resultant blocks, maintenance requirement of the resultant blocks, etc.

FIG. 29is a top front perspective view of a block having protrusions and depressions useful for creating interlocks of multiple blocks.FIG. 30is a front elevational view of a block ofFIG. 29.FIG. 31is a rear elevational view of a block ofFIG. 29.FIG. 32is a plan view of a block ofFIG. 29.FIG. 33is a bottom view of a block ofFIG. 29.FIG. 34is a side elevational view of a block ofFIG. 29.FIG. 35is a side elevational view of a block ofFIG. 29. Each side wall further includes two halves, one of which is adjacent the front terminal wall6and the other of which is adjacent the rear terminal wall8. In this embodiment, each half includes a depression and a protrusion where the depression44is configured in a shape complementary to a protrusion42on an abutting block. In one embodiment, the depth52of a depression44or the height52of the protrusion is about 1 inch.

FIGS. 36-42depict a series of steps in which a basic assembly is built with a plurality of blocks having interlocking features shown inFIG. 29.FIG. 36is a top perspective view of the one block having been laid down in anticipation of subsequent addition of additional blocks.FIG. 37is a top perspective view of the one additional block having been laid down in addition to the first block shown inFIG. 36. The second block is aligned generally in the same direction as the first block and placed with its bottom wall abutting the rear half of the top wall of the first block.FIG. 38is a top perspective view of the one additional block having been laid down in addition to the first and second blocks shown inFIG. 37. Again, the third block is aligned generally in the same direction as the first or second block and placed with its bottom wall abutting the rear half of the top wall of the second block.FIG. 39is a top perspective view of one additional block having been laid down in addition to the first, second and third blocks shown inFIG. 38. The fourth block is orientated such that its top wall is facing the same direction as the front terminal walls of the two blocks upon which the fourth block is disposed and disposed atop the abutting halves of their side walls. It shall be noted that when disposed atop one or more blocks, the depression44of a block is mated with a protrusion42of the block below it. Its protrusion42is mated with a depression44of the block below it.FIG. 40is a top perspective view of the one additional block having been laid down in addition to the blocks shown inFIG. 39.

The fifth block is orientated such that its top wall is facing the same direction as the front terminal walls of the two blocks upon which the fifth block is disposed and disposed atop the abutting halves of their side walls.FIG. 41is a top perspective view of the one additional block having been laid down in addition to the blocks shown inFIG. 40. The sixth block is orientated in the same orientation as any one of blocks not in the course directly below it but the second course below it.FIG. 42is another view of the blocks ofFIG. 41shown installed around four rebars14and the general trend of the resultant block assembly curving towards one direction as angle48is non-zero.

FIG. 43is a perspective view of an assembly of blocks depicting the use of a gasket46in providing a toughened, crack-resistant block assembly. Structures built with the present blocks can be assembled with or without mortar. Gaskets46may also be used between blocks to prevent relative movements between adjacently disposed blocks and to cushion impacts imparted by one block on adjacently disposed blocks. In one embodiment, gaskets shaped according to side walls are used to avoid interferences of gaskets with rebars as such gaskets include suitable openings to accommodate rebars. Suitable materials for gaskets include, but not limited to, rubber and plastic.

The detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present disclosed embodiments may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice aspects of the present invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. The various embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, with the full scope of equivalents to which they may be entitled. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive, and that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Combinations of the above embodiments and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon studying the above description. The scope of the present disclosed embodiments includes any other applications in which embodiments of the above structures and fabrication methods are used. The scope of the embodiments should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.