Abstract:
A block system that includes a block with slanted walls on its edges forming longitudinal grooves to receive cement without introducing separations or spaces between abutting blocks. A base alignment tool is used to guide the blocks of the first row to ensure proper alignment. The base alignment includes a longitudinal extending sheet with spaced apart lateral walls for receiving the blocks inbetween. A row leveling tool is used to keep in alignment two blocks in different contiguous rows and separated. An elongated rigid member interconnects two bracing members attached to separated blocks in contiguous row.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a construction block and accessories, and more particularly, to a construction block system that can be readily aligned during installation with predictable dimensions for the resulting structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many designs for construction blocks have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes external longitudinal slanted walls extending horizontally and vertically that avoid the creation of spaces between abutting blocks yet provide grooves or spaces for receiving cement. The conventional block is separated by the cement that is typically used between blocks. And these separations are also responsible for unpredictable overall dimensions of the resulting wall structures. These separations add up and result in misalignment. 
     Once the invention&#39;s blocks are abuttingly positioned, they form a wall. The user incorporates the cementitious compound to the grooves without any additional adjustment. 
     Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 900,753 issued to A. G. Mahler on Oct. 13, 1908 for a building block. Mahler&#39;s block includes end walls with vertically disposed ribs and bosses with tapered side edges on one of the horizontal faces. The outer faces of the ribs form a bonding space between ribs and bosses to receive concrete to bond adjacent horizontal rows. The end walls between ribs and bosses are flat and depressed. However, separations are still formed between abutting blocks. 
     Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,067 issued to Tim Allen Bott on Jul. 4, 2000 for dry stackable block structures. Bott&#39;s stackable block structure system for dry stacking concrete reinforced walls, includes a stretcher block with a recess of triangular cross-section on the bottom surface and disposed intermediate a pair of co-planar, parallelly disposed laterally extending rectangular edge portions. The top surface of the block includes a flat portion in the center and two edge portions forming upwardly converging surfaces of truncated triangular cross-section. Again, separations occur between abutting blocks when cement is applied. 
     Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,958 issued to Gine P. N. Caroti on Sep. 18, 1990 for autofitting building blocks and bricks. Caroti&#39;s building block has a plurality of dihedral projections on the top surface, which mate with a plurality of dihedral recessions on the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes one more recession than the top surface so that a channel is formed between two stacked bricks. Caroti places the grooves in the end walls to form vertical channels. The separations between abutting blocks are also created when cement is applied. 
     These patented blocks differ from the present invention because they do not include external horizontal edge cutouts to receive the cement. This avoids the creation of separations between abutting blocks that contribute to misalignment while still receiving an effective amount of cement in the grooves to keep the blocks together. Also, the present invention includes the use of block accessories, such as the base alignment tool and row leveling tool, that permit a user to keep a wall structure aligned throughout its construction. These features are not suggested in these references. 
     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a construction block system that allows a user to align and level contiguous blocks without separation in-between to form wall structures. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a block that includes external longitudinal edge cutouts for receiving cement without creating a separation between abutting blocks. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a block system that allow a user to readily build wall structures with a consequent saving of time. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a block system that can be readily assembled and disassembled without requiring specialized tools or substantial previous training or experience. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a block system that is inexpensive to manufacture and use and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 represents an isometric view of one of the preferred embodiments for the construction block, used in the system object of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 a  is an end elevational view of the embodiment represented in FIG. 1 for the construction block. 
     FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the base alignment assembly used in the construction block system, including a block (shown in phantom) cooperatively positioned. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a rear isometric view of the row alignment tool used in the construction block system, mounted to a block (shown in phantom). 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a front isometric view of the row alignment assembly used in the construction block system. 
     FIG. 4 a  is an enlarged view of the engaging mechanism used in row alignment assembly taken from FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 a  is an isometric view of the row alignment assembly used in the construction block system, where two alignment members are positioned in different contiguous rows. 
     FIG. 5 b  is an isometric view of the row alignment assembly used in the present construction block system, where the alignment members are positioned in the same row. 
     FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a wall structure being built using the present invention when the blocks are placed over the base alignment assembly, the final cementitious compound has not been applied yet and the row leveling assembly is mounted in two contiguous rows. 
     FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the embodiment for the construction block used for rows other than base row. 
     FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the construction block system including two contiguous abutting block rows, base alignment tool assembly and row leveling tool assembly mounted thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes block  15 , base alignment tool assembly  100 , a row leveling tool assembly  200  and block  315 . 
     Block  15  includes longitudinal walls  20  and  40  and transversal walls  30 ,  50  and  70 . Longitudinal walls  20  and  40  are disposed at a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other and perpendicularly with respect to transversal walls  30 ,  50  and  70 . The disposition of walls  20  and  40 ,  30 ,  50  and  70  defines internal cavities  80  (between walls  30  and  50 ) and  90  (between walls  50  and  70 ). 
     Block  15  has upper edges  21  and  41  of longitudinal walls  20  and  40 , respectively, that terminate with upper slanted walls  22  and  42 . Block  15  also has corner portions  26  and  28  for wall  20  and corners portions  46  and  48  for wall  40 . Walls  20  and  40  also include side edges  34  and  74 , for wall  20 , and side edges  36  and  76 , for wall  40 , that extend perpendicularly from edges  21  and  23 ;  41  and  43 , respectively. Side edges  34 ;  36 ;  74  and  76  include side edge slanted walls  27 ;  29 ;  47  and  49 . Side edge slanted walls  27  and  29  (for wall  20 ) extend vertically adjacent to corner portions  26  and  28 , respectively. In the same way, side edge slanted walls  47  and  49  (for wall  40 ) extend vertically adjacent to corner portions  46  and  48 . Side edge slanted walls  27 ,  29 ,  47  and  49 , form vertical grooves when abutting blocks  15  are positioned in the same row to receive the cementitious substance typically used to keep blocks together. 
     Block  15  also includes lower edges  23  and  43  of longitudinal walls  20  and  40 , respectively, that terminate with external longitudinal edge cutouts  24  and  44 . In the preferred embodiment, longitudinal edge cutouts  24  and  44  are at a 90-degree angle with respect to walls  20  and  40 , respectively, as best seen in FIG. 1 a.  Upper slanted walls  22  and  42  of vertically contiguous blocks form longitudinal grooves that receive the cementitious substance when at least two rows of blocks  15  are completed. 
     Transversal walls  30  and  70  include upper edges  31  and  71 , respectively. Upper edge  31  includes upper slanted external wall  32 . Similarly, upper edge  71  includes upper slanted external wall  72 . Upper slanted external wall  32  is sandwiched by corner portions  26  and  46 . Upper slanted external wall  72  is sandwiched by corner portions  28  and  48 . The upper slanted external walls  32  and  72  of contiguous blocks coact with each other and the internal side of corner portions  28  and  48  to define a space for receiving cementitious substances. These corners provide stability and surface to surface abutment for contiguous blocks. 
     Base alignment tool assembly  100  is a base tool for horizontally aligning the lowermost row of blocks  15 . Base alignment tool assembly  100 , also permits a user to level the base when the footing has irregularities. Base alignment tool assembly  100  includes longitudinally extending sheet  120  with lateral walls  126  and  128  perpendicularly mounted to sheet  120 . Walls  126  and  128  are at a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other. Sheet  120  has a cooperative width to receive lower edges  23  and  43  of walls  20  and  40  between lateral walls  126  and  128 . Lateral walls  126  and  128  have substantially outwardly terminations to facilitate the entrance of lower edges  23  and  43  thereinto. Sheet  120  includes through openings  122 , in the preferred embodiment, disposed along the entire length of sheet  120  and through openings  124  with the substantially same shape and dimensions of cavities  80  and  90 , leaving a small clearance for openings  122 . Through openings  122  cooperatively and selectively receive screw members  123  or similar members (such as nails or other fastening members used in the art). Screw members  123  cooperatively anchor base alignment tool assembly  100  to the footing and also level base alignment tool assembly  100  when horizontal alignment is required. 
     Row leveling tool assembly  200  is removably mounted to cavities  80  and  90  of block  15 , to facilitate the vertical and horizontal alignment of the rows, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Row leveling tool assembly  200  includes bracing members  220  and  240 , which are mounted to blocks  15  in contiguous rows and hook members  280  and  290  that are removably mounted to cavities  80  and  90 . Row leveling tool assembly  200  also includes support member  250  and a straight elongated rigid members  260  with cooperative dimensions to be received by bracing members  220  and  240 . In this manner, blocks  15  in contiguous rows, and those in between, are kept in alignment, as seen in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b.  Straight elongated rigid member  260  includes a plurality of openings  262  that receive fastening members  264  therethrough. Additionally, bracing members  220  and  240  includes L-shaped openings  222  and  242  to cooperatively and slidably receive fastening members  264 , mounted straight elongated rigid member  260 , as best seen in FIG. 4 a.  Once a user mounts straight elongated rigid member  260  to bracing members  220  and/or  240 , he/she aligns it with tool assembly  200  by adjusting fastening members  264 . 
     Block  315  is intended to be used in rows other than the base (first laid) row. Block  315  has substantially the same shape and dimensions of block  15 , as shown in FIGS. 6;  7  and  8 , with longitudinal walls  320  and  340  and transversal walls  330 ,  350  and  370 , defining internal cavities  380  (between walls  330  and  350 ) and  390  (between walls  350  and  370 ). Block  315  has upper edges  321  and  341  of longitudinal walls  320  and  340 , respectively, that terminate with upper slanted walls  322  and  342 . Block  315  also has corner portions  326  and  328  for wall  320  and corners portions  346  and  348  for wall  340 . Walls  320  and  340  also include side edges  334  and  374 , for wall  320 , and side edges  336  and  376 , for wall  340 , that extend perpendicularly from edges  321  and  323 ;  341  and  343  respectively. Side edges  334 ;  336 ;  374  and  376  include side edge slanted walls  327 ;  329 ;  347  and  349 . Side edge slanted walls  327  and  329  (for wall  320 ) extend vertically adjacent to corner portions  326  and  328 , respectively. In the same way, side edge slanted walls  347  and  349  (for wall  340 ) extend vertically adjacent to corner portions  346  and  348 . Walls  327 ,  329 ,  347  and  349 , forming vertical grooves when abutting blocks  315  are positioned in the same row to receive a cementitious substance typically used to keep blocks together. Furthermore, block  315  also includes lower edges  323  and  343  of longitudinal walls  320  and  340 , respectively, that terminate with lower slanted walls  324  and  344 . 
     Transversal walls  330  and  370  include upper edges  331  and  371 , respectively. Upper edge  331  includes upper slanted external wall  332 . Similarly, upper edge  371  includes upper slanted external wall  372 . Upper slanted external wall  332  is sandwiched by corner portions  326  and  346 . Upper slanted external wall  372  is sandwiched by corner portions  328  and  348 . 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.