45 Degree block

Abstract: A translucent block includes a pair of parallel upper and lower surfaces (18,20) each having a generally pentagonal shape. There are a pair of generally rectangular, nonparallel side faces (22,24) whose planes intersect to form a dihedral angle at 45°. A generally rectangular first opposing end wall (26) is joined to the upper and lower surfaces (18,20) and is perpendicular therewith, and is joined to the side faces proximal to the vertex of the 45° dihedral angle. A second opposing end wall is formed of two equal sections (30,32) joined at an obtuse angle to each other. The vertex (39) of the obtuse angle points away from the first end wall (26), and the sections of the second end wall are parallel to and are joined to the upper and lower surfaces of the block and are joined to the nonparallel side surfaces of the block distal from the 45° dihedral angle. The translucent block can be joined to similar translucent blocks and/or different translucent blocks to form a wide variety of wall structures of 45° angles or combinations thereof, and into a column structure. There is included methods of forming the wall structures and a method of forming a column structure.

Description: This invention relates to a translucent block and, more particularly, to a translucent block having a 45° dihedral angle formed by the projected planes of the side faces of the translucent block which can be utilized with similar translucent blocks and blocks of other shapes to provide various column and wall structures. The invention also includes the method of forming such column and wall structures. The use of translucent block, such as glass block, for exterior and interior applications is well known. Using glass block for various wall structures offers various aesthetic and design features, as well as provides various functional characteristics and advantages over other materials which may be used for similar purposes. For example, glass block structures promote energy conservation through their insulating capability to reduce heat gain or loss and provide thermal efficiencies for energy conservation. Additionally, glass block structures can control light transmission and glare, as well as reduce surface condensation, and draft and noise transmission. Because of their construction, glass block structures offer security advantages as well as maintaining light transmission therethrough. Further, glass block structures have the added advantage of ease of maintenance and installation. U.S. Patent No. Des. 114,085 discloses a corner block configuration having arcuate walls and appears to be formed of two halves having different configurations, one of the halves also has raised linear portions as an exterior design. The angle formed by the side walls appears to be a wider angle than 45°. U.S. Patent No. 2,086,185 discloses an integrally blown hollow glass block of regular hexagonal form. This prior art patent also discloses a masonry structure or wall including the hexagonal glass block positioned with mortar in a configuration where the hexagonal sides would combine to form the exterior surface of the structure or wall. U.S. Patent No. 2,281,524 discloses glass building blocks molded in a single piece and using a socket in socket construction. The disclosed glass block is formed at a 90° angle and has an open bottom. U.S. Patent No. 4,537,001 discloses building elements with sides that have mathematical relations to each other. Among the elements is a block whose upper and lower surfaces have a generally pentagonal shape. U.S. Patent No. 4,636,413 discloses a glass block that has at least approximately the shape of a sector of a circular cylinder, the side faces forming the sector of the circular cylinder and having an axis defined by the side faces of the cylinder including an angle of 45° or 90°. The end wall opposite the 45° or 90° axis is an arcuate end wall and the block is blown in a single piece. U.S. Patent No. 4,651,486 discloses a translucent block having a generally irregular hexagonal configuration which can be utilized with similar translucent blocks and blocks of other shapes to provide various column and wall structures. The method of forming such column and wall structures is also disclosed. U.S. Patent No. 4,719,735 discloses a translucent end cap for use with a translucent glass block. The end cap has top and bottom surfaces parallel to each other. The side surfaces are perpendicular to and joined to the top and bottom surfaces. A raised rear surface portion extends from the side surface to form a protrusion so that the end cap may be secured to an abutting side surface of a translucent glass block. U.S. Patent No. 4,852,321 discloses a translucent end block which may be secured to an exposed top or side abutting surface of a translucent block to provide a wall structure in which the exposed top or side surface of the wall structure does not require wood or similar coverings to form useable top or side surfaces. Accordingly, there remains a need for a translucent block configuration which can be employed as a corner piece for joining translucent block walls at an angle of 45° or larger angles by using a plurality of such blocks for corner sections or can be independently employed to form walls and columns of different configurations. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a block comprising, a pair of parallel upper and lower surfaces each having a generally pentagonal shape, and a pair of generally rectangular opposing side faces which are nonparallel, the projected planes of said side faces intersecting at a 45° dihedral angle, said side faces having a first preselected height and a first preselected width and joined perpendicularly to said upper and said lower surfaces, a generally rectangular first opposing end wall having said first preselected height and a second preselected width and being perpendicular to and joined to said upper and said lower surfaces proximal to said 45° dihedral angle, a second opposing end wall having said first preselected height and a third preselected width and being perpendicularly joined to said upper and said lower surfaces distal from said 45° dihedral angle, said second opposing wall being formed of two generally rectangular wall sections the outer surfaces of which meet to form an obtuse angle therebetween characterised in that said block is translucent and is formed of two identical halves, each said half including one of said pair of side faces, an adjoining half of said first end wall, an adjoining half of said second end wall, each said half of said second end wall being formed by said wall sections respectively, and an adjoining half of said upper and lower surfaces. A translucent block wall structure may be formed incorporating the translucent block as defined in the preceding paragraph, either as a corner piece between adjoining straight wall portions made up of regular sized translucent blocks, or together with similar translucent blocks to form a columnar structure. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a translucent block wall structure having an integrally joined corner section including translucent blocks of the present invention, the extended planes of the side faces of each block in the corner forming a dihedral angle at 45°, and forming a curve in the wall of 45°. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a translucent block of the present invention, the extended planes of the side faces of which form a dihedral angle at 45°. Figure 3 is another perspective view of a translucent block of the present invention, the extended planes of the side faces of which form a dihedral angle at 45°. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing the corner section in figure 1 including the preferred translucent block with the extended planes of its side faces forming a 45° dihedral angle according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a fragmentary, front view showing the corner section of figure 1 including the preferred translucent block with the extended planes of its side faces forming a 45° dihedral angle according to the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a translucent block wall structure have an integrally joined corner section including two translucent blocks of the present invention in each layer, the extended planes of the side faces of each block forming a dihedral angle at 45°, and forming a curve in the wall of 90°. Figure 7 is a fragmentary, top plan view of figure 6 showing a corner section including two of the preferred translucent blocks with the extended planes of each of their side faces forming a 45° dihedral angle according to the present invention, and forming a 90° curve in the wall. Figure 8 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing a corner section including three of the preferred translucent blocks with the extended planes of each of their side faces forming a 45° dihedral angle according to the present invention, and forming a 135° curve in the wall. Figure 9 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing a corner section including four of the preferred translucent blocks with the extended planes of each of their side faces forming a 45° dihedral angle according to the present invention, and forming a 180° curve in the wall. Figure 10 is a schematic top plan view of a layer of a translucent block column structure including the preferred translucent blocks with the extended planes of the side faces of each block forming 45° dihedral angles according to the present invention. Figure 11 is a perspective view of a translucent block column structure including the preferred translucent blocks with the extended planes of the side faces of each block forming 45° dihedral angles according to the present invention. Referring to the drawings, particularly to figures 1 and 6 there is illustrated a translucent block wall structure 10, having at least one layer of translucent block. The layers of translucent block are generally designated by the numeral 12. The translucent block wall structure 10 includes a corner section 14 with conventional, straight translucent block wall sections integrally joined therewith. The corner section 14 is illustrated in greater detail in figures 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. To form the corner section 14, the translucent block wall structure 10 includes a plurality of translucent blocks 16 the extended planes of the side faces 22, 24 of which form a dihedral angle (a) at 45 degrees. One of the blocks 16 is illustrated in greater detail in figures 2 and 3. Block 16 has a pair of parallel upper and lower surfaces 18 and 20 each having a generally pentagonal shape and generally rectangular side faces 22 and 24 which are nonparallel, the projected planes of side faces 22 and 24 intersecting at a 45° dihedral angle as shown as projected angle (a) in figure 4. This configuration provides the desired features which allow the block 16 to be used in numerous ways to provide walls and columns of translucent blocks. The preferred translucent block 16 has an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20 of a generally pentagonal configuration which are identical. The upper surface 18 is shown in figures 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 and the lower surface 20 is indicated in figures 2, 3, 5 although not specifically visible therein. The block 16 also has two side faces 22 and 24 of a generally rectangular configuration of a first preselected height and a first preselected width and forming the side faces 22, 24 of the block 16. Side faces 22 and 24 are nonparallel with each other, the projected planes of the side faces 22 and 24 intersect at a 45 degree dihedral angle (a) as shown in figure 4, side faces 22, 24 are integrally joined to upper surface 18 and lower surface 20 of block 16 and side faces 22, 24 are perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces 18, 20. The preferred block 16 also includes a first end wall 26, and a second end wall 28; the end walls 26 and 28 are of the same first preselected height as the side faces 22 and 24 and have a second and third preselected width. As can best be seen in figure 2 first end wall 26 is generally rectangular and is perpendicular to and joined to the upper surface 18 and the lower surface 20 and is joined to side faces 22, 24. The first end wall 26 is proximal to the 45 degree dihedral angle (a) formed by the projected planes of side faces 22 and 24. The first generally rectangular end wall 26 is bisected into two equal generally rectangular sections along its longitudinal axis, by the bead 38 formed in fusing the halves of the block 16 together. The second end wall 28 is in two equal sections 30 and 32 as can best be seen in figures 3 and 5. Each section 30 and 32 of second end wall 28 has the same first preselected height as side faces 22 and 24 and first end wall 26. Each section 30 and 32 of second end wall 28 forms an obtuse angle, the vertex of which is directed away from the first end wall 26. The equal sections 30, 32 of second end wall 28 are defined medially on the longitudinal axis of end wall 28 by the bead 38 formed in fusing the halves of block 16 together. Additionally, the outer periphery of the side faces 22 and 24 and the upper and lower surfaces 18 and 20 preferably include a raised portion 36 to provide a slightly inward displacement of a substantial portion of the side faces 22, 24 and upper and lower surfaces 18, 20, to permit the joining of any side face 22, 24, or upper surface 18 or lower surface 20 of block 16 with other identical or different blocks in a translucent block structure. Block 16 can be formed from any suitable translucent material such as glass, and can be formed by any conventional glass block molding process known in the art. Block 16 is desirably a hollow glass block and is preferably formed by pressing two halves of block together at appropriate temperature and pressure conditions using known conventional processes and apparatus. Various design configurations can be formed on the surfaces of the glass block 16. Accordingly, as will be further discussed hereinbelow, it is significant that second end wall 28 provides an exterior decorative appearance for the block 16, as generally indicated in figures 3 and 5, which significantly contributes to its overall aesthetic value. The location of the fusion of the two pressed halves of block forming the unitary block 16 is indicated at numeral 38 in figures 2 and 3. Each of the halves of block 16 are identical and include one of the side faces 22, 24 and one half of first end wall 26, and one half of second end wall 28 which is either section 30 or 32 and one half of upper surface 18 and one half of lower surface 20. The preferred block 16 also includes a channel-like spacing 34 located medially along the longitudinal axes of first end wall 26 and second end wall 28. It should be clear from the figures that the preferred block 16 consists of the same function and purpose generally provided by the rounded and right angled corner blocks discussed in the prior art hereinabove. However, since the two halves of block 16 are identical, only one mold must be provided to basically form the identical half while at least two different molds should be required for the two different halves of the prior art corner blocks. The translucent block wall structure 10 also includes a plurality of translucent blocks 40 of a generally rectangular configuration. Blocks 40 can be selected from any number of conventional, generally rectangular translucent block configurations. For example, the blocks 40 have a front face 42 and a rear face 44 which are generally rectangular. The front face 42 is shown in figures 1 and 6 and the rear face 44 is indicated in figures 1 and 6. The faces 42, 44 are substantially identical in appearance. The blocks 40 also have four abutting surfaces 46, 48, 50 and 52 which are generally rectangular as indicated in figures 1 and 6. Because the particular rectangular faces 42, 44 of the block 40 shown in the figures preferably form a square, the abutting surfaces 46, 48, 50, 52 are substantially similar to each other in appearance and configuration. However, because of the method of forming the block 40, in a normal use of any abutting surface to join any other abutting surface, the appearance of the abutting surface is not particularly governed by aesthetic consideration as might the appearance of the faces 42, 44. The blocks 40 would preferably be formed in a similar manner as the blocks 16 and the molding of separate halves thereof would again normally include a decorative design on the interior surfaces of the faces 42, 44 but not on those associated with the abutting surfaces 46, 48, 50, 52. Specifically, in the translucent block wall structure 10, the abutting surfaces 46, 48, 50, 52 of blocks 40 are fixedly joined to adjacent abutting surfaces of adjacent block 40 as indicated in figures 1 and 6. For example, the abutting surfaces can be joined by a suitable bonding material 54, such as a conventional cementitious material or a suitable adhesive material. Referring to figures 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9, there is illustrated a corner section 14 of translucent block in a layer 12 of the translucent block wall structure 10. A block 16 is joined by a suitable bonding material 54 such as mortar, at side faces 22 and 24 to abutting surfaces 46 of adjacent blocks 40. As mentioned here-above, to be properly employed to form the corner section 14, the heights and widths of the side faces 22, 24 and the abutting surfaces 46, 48, 50 and 52 should be substantially the same, or the sum of a combination of the heights and widths of side faces 22, 24 and abutting surfaces 46, 48, 50, 52 should be substantially the same. While figure 4 illustrates the cement or adhesive bonding 54 of the side faces 22, 24 of block 16 to abutting surfaces 46 of two blocks 40 to form a transparent block wall 10 with a 45° curve, corner section 14 of translucent block 16, according to the invention, can be formed by joining two blocks 16 to form a 90° curve in a transparent block wall 10 as illustrated in figure 7. As shown in figure 8, three blocks 16 may be joined in the corner section 14 to make a transparent block wall structure 10 having a 135° curve. As shown in figure 9, four blocks 16 may be joined as a corner section 14 to make a transparent block wall structure 10 having a 180° curve. Consequently the block 16 may be utilised to form a transparent block wall structure 10 having a desired curve of 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, or combinations thereof. It should now be clear that one of the primary features of the present invention includes a configuration having nonparallel side faces the projected planes of which form a dihedral 45° angle capable of being used as a corner section 14 in a transparent block wall structure 10 to make a curve of 45° or any other combination of 45° to provide flexibility in the construction of transparent block wall structures 10. Although the descriptions provided hereinabove are primarily directed to a single layer 12 of blocks 16 and/or blocks 40, it should be clear that any number of types of wall and corner configurations can be provided by employing multiple layers 12 of such blocks 16 in a conventional manner when constructing a wall. Referring to figure 10, a layer of translucent block 56 in a column structure 58 is illustrated from the top in schematic form. The translucent block column structure of the present invention may include any number of layers 56 as may be required to form a column 58, illustrated in figure 11. In order to provide the multiple layers 56 of the column structure 58 as described, the upper surfaces 18 may be joined to the lower surfaces 20 of corresponding blocks 16 with a similar bonding material 54 in order to add sufficient integrity to the column structure 58. In summary, the present invention provides a generally rectangular translucent block, such as a glass block, the nonparallel side faces of which have projected planes forming a dihedral 45° angle, and translucent block wall structures and methods utilising a generally pentagonal translucent block with nonparallel side faces, the projected planes of the side faces forming a dihedral 45° angle, to enhance the uses of translucent block and translucent block structures. Thus, the present invention provides additional functional abilities and versatility for translucent block.

Claims: A block comprising, a pair of parallel upper and lower surfaces (18, 20) each having a generally pentagonal shape, and a pair of generally rectangular opposing side faces (22, 24) which are nonparallel, the projected planes of said side faces (22, 24) intersecting at a 45° dihedral angle, said side faces (22, 24) having a first preselected height and a first preselected width and joined perpendicularly to said upper and said lower surfaces (18, 20), a generally rectangular first opposing end wall (26) having said first preselected height and a second preselected width and being perpendicular to and joined to said upper and said lower surfaces (18, 20) proximal to said 45° dihedral angle, a second opposing end wall (28) having said first preselected height and a third preselected width and being perpendicularly joined to said upper and said lower surfaces (18, 20) distal from said 45° dihedral angle, said second opposing wall (28) being formed of two generally rectangular wall sections (30, 32) the outer surfaces of which meet to form an obtuse angle therebetween characterised in that said block is translucent and is formed of two identical halves, each said half including one of said pair of side faces (22, 24), an adjoining half of said first end wall (26), an adjoining half of said second end wall (28), each said half of said second end wall (28) being formed by said wall sections (30, 32) respectively, and an adjoining half of said upper and lower surfaces (18, 20). A translucent block as in claim 1, wherein said first opposing end wall (26) and said second opposing end wall (28) each have a channel-like spacing (34) medial to the longitudinal axes of said first opposing end wall (26) and said second opposing end wall (28). A translucent block wall structure comprising a first translucent block (16) as claimed in claims 1 or 2 and at least one second translucent block (16/40) to either side thereof, each said second translucent block (16/40) including a pair of parallel top and bottom surfaces (18, 20/48, 52) of identical shape and generally rectangular side faces (22, 24/46, 50) which are joined perpendicularly to said top and said bottom surfaces (18, 20/48, 52), said side faces (22, 24) of said first block (16) being respectively in abutting relationship with a rectangular face (22, 24/46, 50) of a said second block (16/40) to form a horizontal layer of said first and second glass blocks (16/40) in assembly. A translucent block wall structure as claimed in claim 3, further including a plurality of said first blocks (16) and said second blocks (16/40) arranged in a plurality of horizontal layers wherein said upper surface (18) of each of said first blocks (16) is joined to said lower surface (20) of each adjacent said first block (16) thereabove and said top surface (18/48) of each of said second blocks (16/40) is joined to said bottom surface (20/52) of each adjacent said bottom block (16/40) thereabove. A translucent block wall structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said second glass block is identical to each said first glass block (16) so that each of said layers forms a circular array of translucent glass blocks (16) and the structure is a columnar structure (56) with said first opposing end walls (26) forming the interior surface of the columnar structure (56) and said second opposing end wall (28) forming the exterior surface of said columnar structure (56).

Inventors: FLEMING HARRY A JR, FRANCIK CHARLES A, HOCK DONALD E, FLEMING, HARRY A., JR., FRANCIK, CHARLES A., HOCK, DONALD E.
Applicants: PITTSBURGH CORNING CORP, PITTSBURGH CORNING CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04C1
IPC codes: E04B2, E04B1, E04C1