Abstract:
Right rectangular parallelepiped construction modules including a system of latitudinal tangs and grooves and inner and outer shoulders which cooperate to interlock stacked or staggered construction modules. The construction modules can also include reliefs in their tops, sides and bottoms for receiving rebar supports, electrical lines, plumbing lines, or other means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to construction, and more particularly to construction modules for the building of walls and other structures. 
     2. Background Information 
     Using building blocks or construction modules to construct structures is an old art dating back to the time before the building of the Great Pyramids. In modern times, the use of such modules is frequently used to construct both buildings and walls, among other types of other structures. One common type of construction module is referred to in the trade as a “cinder block.” These cinder blocks are typically rectangular in shape, having hollow centers. These blocks are typically stacked upward, in a staggered effect and bonded together through the use of mortar. Examples of such a building method can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,567 (Greenberg), showing a masonry fence system. 
     Another example of such a construction module is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,050 (Long). The Long module is a self-aligning and interlocking module. 
     Also shown in the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,987 (Calvin) showing interlocking brick or building block and walls constructed therefrom. The Calvin blocks have flat top and bottom faces which abut adjoining top and bottom faces. 
     Problems with the prior art blocks include the requirement for the use of mortar to properly place the blocks. It is this mortar that holds the blocks together. Such type of attachment to one another is time consuming and does not result in the strength requirements for certain applications. 
     Another disadvantage of the old methods is the failure to include integral channels and reliefs allowing for electrical and plumbing lines to be run closely and flushly against the wall. The present invention solves these problems. 
     Additional, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a construction module in the general form of a right rectangular parallelepiped having a pair of side faces, a pair of end faces, a top face and a bottom face. The top face has latitudinal grooves and the bottom face has latitudinal tangs. These tangs and grooves are able to cooperate when the modules are either stacked or staggered, thereby interlocking the modules together. The tops and bottoms also have inner and outer shoulders which further cooperate to hold the stacked or staggered construction modules together. 
     Attachment together can be further helped through use of a bonding means applied between adjacent blocks. It is preferred that the blocks will further comprise channels for holding quantities of bonding means, thereby assisting in such attachment. 
     Vertical channels exist through the centers of the blocks and half vertical channels exist on the ends. In such an arrangement, when two blocks are butted next to one another, the two half channels ends form a single channel which aligns with other stacked ends, or with center channels of other blocks stacked in a staggered fashion there above. These joints and channels are able to receive attachment means such as rebar or bonding means such as concrete, or other items. It is also envisioned that through the various faces of the modules will be channels for receiving junction boxes, electrical lines, plumbing lines, and other devices. 
     Blocks can be held together through attachment means. The inside channels or channeled blocks may further comprise ledges for assisting in the attachment means and attaching stacked and staggered blocks together. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6A is a side view showing four stacked modules of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6B shows three modules of one embodiment of the present invention in a staggered arrangement. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the modules shown in the FIG. 6A along line  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a partial view as view as noted in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is an environmental view of a plurality of modules of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13A is side view of a re-bar clamp. 
     FIG. 13B is a perspective view of an anchor spanner. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a construction module  10  for building walls and other structures. The invented module  10  is in the general form of a generally right rectangular parallelepiped having a first side face  12 , a second side face  14 , a first end face  16 , and second end face  18 , a top face  20 , and a bottom face  22 . 
     The top faces  20  of the module  10  includes at least one latitudinal groove  24  extending perpendicular to the side faces  12 ,  14  across the top face  20  and parallel to the end faces  16 ,  18 . The bottom face  22  of the module  10  includes at least one matching latitudinal tang  26  extending perpendicular to the side faces  12 ,  14  across the bottom face  22  and parallel to the end faces  16 ,  18 . The tang  26  of a first module  10  is able to be received into the groove  24  of a second module  10 ′, as shown in FIGS. 6 &amp; 7, thereby interfittingly locking plural modules together. 
     The preferred embodiment has two tangs  26  and two grooves  24  located so that adjacent modules  10 ,  10 ′ can either be stacked vertically, one on top of one another, or stacked in a staggered portion so that in a module having two tangs  26 ,  26 ′, a first tang  26  would be received into a groove  24  of a first module  10 ′, and the second tang  26 ′ would be able to be received into the groove  24 ′ of a second module  10 ″. Such stacking is shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The top face  20  further comprises at least one longitudinal inner shoulder  28  extending slightly inwards from one of the side faces. The bottom face  22  further comprises at least one longitudinal outer shoulder  30 , said outer shoulder  30  preferably extending from the side face inward. The inner shoulder  28  receives and interfits with outer shoulder  30  of an adjacent module. Thereby interfittingly locking plural modules together, as shown in FIGS. 7 &amp; 8. 
     It is preferred that the top face  20  comprise two longitudinal inner shoulders  28  and the bottom face  22  comprises a complement of two longitudinal outer shoulders  30 . When plural modules are so stacked, the tangs  26  and grooves  24  and shoulders  28 ,  30  cooperate to inhibit all sliding movement of the modules, either latitudinally or longitudinally. 
     Such interfitting attachments can be further secured through the use of a bonding means applied to the joints between the grooves and tangs and between the inner shoulders and outer shoulders. Additionally, a relief  32  may exist in the inner or outer shoulder and within the ends themselves (relief  34 ) thereby allowing a quantity of bonding means to be applied to the surface thereby increasing the strength of the bonds. Suitable bonding means can be any appropriate material from sealants to adhesives, to mortar, so long as the bonding means is appropriate for holding plural modules together. It is preferred that said bonding means will have elastic properties thereby allowing the structure built to withstand some movement and changes due to environmental conditions. Such a bonding material would also preferably allow for lateral thermal expansion and contraction and provide highly survivable flexibility under natural and extraordinary stresses. Transfer of load carried by such structure is done by space-to-space contact of accurately cast surfaces, and distribution by the elastic nature of the bonding means. Such a wall would also have features of being water resistant. 
     The construction module  10  also preferably comprises a center channel  36  vertically through the center of the module  10  extending from top face  20  to bottom face  22 . Stacked modules will have aligned center channels  36 . This center channel can be used for many purposes, including the insertion of attachment means for attaching modules together or modules to a footer or other means; for inclusion of an insulating material; for receipt of a bonding means, such as concrete; or for other purposes. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each of the end faces  16 ,  18 , preferably also comprise vertical troughs  38  extending within the end face  16 ,  18  from the bottom face  22  to the top face  20 . The troughs  38  of adjacent module ends jointly form end channels  40  extending vertically, as shown in FIG.  6 A. 
     When adjacent modules are stacked in a staggered position, the end channels  40  alternatingly align with the center channels  36  to form joint channels  42  extending vertically through the pieces. An example of this is shown in FIG.  6 B. 
     The side faces  12 ,  14  may further comprise horizontal conduits  44  or vertical conduits  48  extending to said side face. These conduits can be for receiving wiring, plumbing or other materials. Also envisioned is the receipt of an insert, into the conduit. This insert would allow a material such as drywall to be affixed to the stacked modules by a screw extending, for instance, through the drywall and into the insert. These inserts will be rigidly affixed into said conduits, either through dovetailing, friction or through an adhesive or other bonding means. The conduits  44 ,  48  and inserts may be made of a dovetailed type of shape so that the inserts slide into the conduits. 
     Still referring to FIG. 9, a conduit cavity  52  may be found along any of the conduits  44 ,  48 , this cavity  52  extending into the module  10 . Such a cavity  52  would allow receipt of a joint box, for instance. This cavity may extend through the module  10  and into one of the center  36 , end  40 , or joint  42  channels. Such an arrangement allows for wiring and plumbing to be properly and easily extended along the faces of the modules without requiring said wiring, plumbing or other apparatuses to project outwards from the surface of the modules. Also envisioned is a sluice or horizontal relief  62  running though the top  20  of the module  10 , thereby allowing apparatuses such as plumbing or wiring to be laid along the top surfaces of the modules. 
     Also envisioned, as shown in FIG. 11, is the inclusion of joist relief notches  54  extending generally downward from the intersection of the top face  20  and either of the sides. These joist relief notches  54  are for the receipt of standard construction joist members (not shown). Such means would allow the joist members to be attached to a foundation without necessitating the need of some kind of additional joist hanger. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the center channel  36  further comprises an attachment ledge  56  at the top of the center channel  36  for cooperation with an attachment means  58 . Examples of such attachment means  58 , as shown in FIGS. 12,  13 A,  13 B, would include reinforced bar or rebar, and the combination of anchor spanners, anchor nuts and anchor bolts. Such attachment means  58  could be used to rigidly affix modules together. 
     For instance, an anchor bolt  64  could be formed into concrete footer  70 , extending vertically therefrom. The modules could be arranged so that this anchor bolt extends upward through the center channel  36 . An anchor spanner  66  would then be inserted over the top of this anchor bolt  64 , said anchor bolt  64  extending through said anchor spanner  66 . 
     An anchor nut  68  could be attached to the anchor bolt  64  and tightened down, holding the anchor spanner  66  against the attachment ledge  56  at the top of the center channel, thereby fixedly holding the construction module  10  against the footer  70 . This process could be repeated for all such modules attached to the concrete footer. Modules stacked or staggered above said first row of modules could be affixed to one another through use of rebar clamp  72  as shown in FIG. 13A, or other means. Such attachment could be by extending the rebar clamp  72  through one of the joint channels  42  and attaching it. The anchor bolts are preferably threaded. The reinforcing bars are preferably one-half inch round. The anchor spanners are preferably twelve gauge steel. 
     The invented modules can be cast or formed of a variety of materials, for instance, concrete or concrete aggregates such as sand, gravel, Styrofoam beads, inert wastes, etc.; composite materials such as silicates, carbonates or other inert particles with binders; mixtures of natural organic/mineral compounds and fixed with heat and/or chemical processing; mixtures of wastes rendered inert by processes, encapsulating or fixing with heat and/or chemical processing or binders; or, steel, composite or other types of reinforcement cast into blocks. 
     As shown in FIGS. 10A,  10 B and  10 C the side faces  12  (and  14 ) may comprise textures or decorations, for instance they might be formed to look like logs (FIG. 10A) for a mock log cabin construction, designs (FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C) or coated with different types of coatings (not shown). 
     Because the invention might be used for a wide variety of applications, not limited to retaining walls, building walls, columns, foundations, etc., assembly of the invented construction modules into such a structure is done through first establishing a level foundation having embedded vertically extended anchor bolts or other attachments means. A first course of modules would then be set upon this foundation with a bonding means applied between the foundation and the modules and between adjacent modules thereby forming a solid initial wall. Horizontal reinforcing bars could be laid into the horizontal sluice located in the top face of the modules. Anchor spanners and anchor nuts would then be attached to each of the anchor bolts and tightened down so that the anchor spanners fixedly contact the top faces of the modules, capturing the horizontal reinforcing bars, and fixedly holding the modules onto the footer. Reinforcing bar latches could be installed at appropriate locations to retain and secure the horizontal reinforcing bars as well. Bonding means could then be applied at the top of the first course of modules and a mixed course of modules could be applied to the first course, repeating the above procedures throughout the course of the modules in a staggered fashion. 
     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. 
     From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.