Abstract:
An interlocking building block, to be used in constructing walls and building frames, the building blocks being adapted to be securely engaged without the need to use extra layers of cement. The interlocking building blocks include a series of ridges and channels disposed along the top and bottom surface of the block and at opposite distal ends, which are structured and disposed to be correspondingly fitted with the ridges and channels of adjoining blocks, thereby forming a secure interlocking structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an interlocking building block adapted to be correspondingly engaged with adjoining interlocking building blocks, thereby forming a secure, stable structure which may be quickly erected using smaller than usual quantities of cement. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The standard cinder block has for a long time been the primary building unit in many types of construction. The manner in which the cinder blocks are utilized has remained unchanged over time, and the building steps used today are basically the same as those used years ago. This common practice involves pouring an initial layer of cement wherein the first row of cinder blocks may be embedded. Following this initial base layer, a thin layer of cement must be spread along the top surface and both the left and right side surfaces. This layer of cement must be thin enough to allow the blocks to remain properly leveled and positioned, but must also be thick enough to secure the block as positioned. Finally, an upper layer of cement is laid, and usually, the exterior surface is covered with a layer of cement to provide a stable structure. Unfortunately, the intermediate step of putting a layer of cement between each of the individual blocks can be very time-consuming, costly, and leaves much room for error when constructing a uniformly oriented structure. 
     Other attempts have been made to design an interlocking building block, but as is evidenced by the continued use of a standard shaped cinder block, have not been effectively or widely accepted as beneficial. The two major types of design flaws with prior attempts to build an interlocking building block are either that the block is too difficult and expensive to construct, or that it is too difficult and time-consuming to place. The patents to J. Cook, U.S. Pat. No. 460,177, Vesper, U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,245, Amaral, U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,522, Risi, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,148, and Schwartz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,209, disclose attempts to make an effective and beneficial interlocking building block. The prime difficulty with many of these designs, particularly Cook, Vesper, Amaral, and Risi, et al., involves the lack of positionability of the blocks. All of these designs involve a complex series of interlocking sides and protruding surfaces which allow the blocks to be stacked only in a predetermined orientation by maneuvering the blocks until the plurality of interconnecting parts are engaged. Further, the designs disclosed in Cook and Amaral, have solid faces which do not allow the internal interconnection of the blocks, which is invaluable for wiring and insulating needs. The lack of wide-spread use of these various designs indicates the importance of the particular design characteristics not met by the referenced designs. 
     Applicant&#39;s invention as claimed utilizes interlocking ridges and channels which extend across the entire length of the block, thereby allowing the block to be easily slid into place oriented in any manner with regard to the block&#39;s beneath it. Additionally, applicant&#39;s invention enables the manufacture of a stable structure without the need for excess layers of cement, while assuring that the surfaces of the block, in particular, the exposed surfaces, are as smoothly and uniformly oriented as those of common cinder blocks, which many structures are designed to use. Accordingly, applicant&#39;s invention provides a beneficial improvement in the structure of construction blocks, and utilizes interlocking means which specifically overcome the shortcomings of other types of blocks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards an interlocking building block to be used to more efficiently and effectively construct walls, supports, and other similar structures which normally utilize standard building blocks. The interlocking building block, which is equivalently sized with standard building blocks, is comprised primarily of a rigid solid block designed to be interconnectedly positioned with a like rigid, solid block. Each individual block includes at least one elongate rounded ridge along its top, and at least one elongate rounded channel on its bottom surface. The elongate, rounded ridge along the top surface is specifically designed to be easily and securely fitted within the elongate, rounded channel in the bottom surface of an adjoiningly stacked block, creating a securely stacked structure. The interconnecting block also contains at least one transverse bore through which insulation and wiring may be passed. Additionally, the block contains a rounded, vertical, cutout channel and a rounded, vertical, protruding ridge, both of which extend from the block&#39;s top surface to its bottom surface along different sides of the block. The rounded, vertical, protruding ridge of one block is structured and disposed to be positioned within the rounded, vertical, cutout channel of an adjacently positioned block. 
     There are various different embodiments using the stated design features, each of which is designed to facilitate a particular part of the construction process. In particular, and in addition to the basic design, there are embodiments specifically directed to, provide shorter end blocks when a full-sized block is not needed, provide an easy means of constructing thinner partition walls extending from an exterior frame, provide a facilitated means of constructing doorways, windows and arches, and providing easily made squared and rounded corners. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the standard model of the interlocking building block. 
     FIG. 1A is a top view of the standard model of the interlocking building block. 
     FIG. 1B is an end view of the standard model of the interlocking building block. 
     FIG. 1C is an exploded view of the interlocking arrangement of the standard model of the interlocking building blocks. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shortened standard model of the interlocking building blocks. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a standard model of the interlocking building block having a side protruding ridge for partition extension. 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a narrow partition interlocking building block. 
     FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a shortened, narrow partition interlocking building block. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a door frame, window frame or archway interlocking building block. 
     FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a right side transition block used for changing from the standard model block to the archway type block. 
     FIG. 5B is a left side transition block used for changing from the archway type block back to the standard type block. 
     FIG. 6A is a top view of the archway type interconnecting block. 
     FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the archway type interconnecting block. 
     FIG. 6C is a left side view of the archway type interconnecting block. 
     FIG. 6D is a right side view of the archway type interconnecting block. 
     FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of an archway construction. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a squared corner assembly. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rounded corner assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Depicted throughout FIGS. 1-9 are various embodiments of the applicant&#39;s invention as claimed. Turning to FIG. 1, the standard model of the interlocking building block 10 is comprised primarily of a rectangular block 30 having a front surface 32, a right surface 34, a rear surface 36, a left surface 38, a top surface 40, and a bottom surface 42. Adjacently disposed along the top surface 40 are two transverse bores 60 which pass through the top surface 40 and the bottom surface 42. As best seen in FIG. 1 and IA, there is a vertical, rounded, cutout channel 55 in the left face 38, which extends from the top surface 40 to the bottom surface 42 and is substantially centered between the rear surface 36 and the front surface 32. On said right face 34 is a vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 50 which extends from the top surface 40 to the bottom surface 42 and is also substantially centered between the rear surface 36 and the front surface 32. Extending along the top surface 40 from the left surface 38 to the right surface 34 are two elongate, rounded protruding ridges 45, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 1B, which are positioned on opposite sides of said transverse bores 60. In the bottom surface 42, and extending from the left surface 38 to the right surface 34 are two elongate, rounded, cutout channels 47, which are positioned on opposite sides of said transverse bores 60. As shown in FIG. 1C, the blocks are designed so that the vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 50 on the right surface 34 of one block 30 will engagedly fit within the vertical, rounded, cutout channel 55 in the left surface 38 of a second block 30. Additionally, the elongate, rounded, protruding ridges 45 are structured so as to be securely fitted within the elongate, rounded, cutout channels 47 on the bottom surface 42 of an adjacently stacked block 30. 
     Shown in FIG. 2 is a shortened end block 11, which only includes one transverse bore 60, and has a front surface 32, a top surface 40, a rear surface 36, and a bottom surface 42, which are generally half the length of those in the standard model of the interlocking building block 10. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a second, vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 70 is positioned on the front face 32, extending from the top surface 40 to the bottom surface 42, and substantially centered between the left surface 38 and the right surface 34, thereby forming a standard model interlocking building block with a partition extension, generally indicated as 12. 
     Depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B are partition block 13 and shortened, narrow partition block 14, respectively. The narrow partition block 13, has its left surface 38 and its right surface 34 at generally one-half the width of the left surface 38 and the right surface 34 of the standard model interlocking building block 10. The shortened, narrow partition block 14 has the same sized left surface 38 and right surface 34 as the narrow partition block 13, and further has its front surface 32, top surface 40, rear surface 36, and bottom surface 42 at generally one-half the length of those in the standard model interlocking building block 10. 
     Shown in FIGS. 5, 5A and 5B, are embodiments specifically directed towards facilitating the formation of door frames or archways. The three types of blocks included, are the archway block 15, the right side transition block 16, and the left side transition block 17. The transition blocks 16 and 17 are utilized to enable a builder to use the standard model interlocking building block 10 until a doorway, arch or window is needed. Located on the left surface 38 of the archway block 15 and the right side transition block 16 is a tapered, vertical, rounded, cutout channel 56, located on the right surface 34 of the archway block 15 and the left side transition block 17 is a tapered, vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 51. As best shown in the various views of the archway block 15 of FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, the tapered, vertical, rounded, cutout channel 56 is tapered such that its widest point is at the top surface 40 and its narrowest point is at the bottom surface 42. Additionally, the tapered, vertical, rounded, cutout channel 56 is tapered in width such that its narrowest point is at the left surface 38 and its widest point is within the block 30. The tapered, vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 51 is also tapered such that its widest point is at the top surface 40 and its narrowest point is at the bottom surface 42, and is tapered in cross-sectional width such that a narrowest point is at the right surface 34 and a widest portion is outside the block 30. As detailed in FIG. 7, the tapered, vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 51 is structured so as to be slidably and securely positioned within the tapered, vertical, rounded, cutout channel 56 of an adjacently positioned block 30. 
     Turning to FIG. 8, are a plurality of blocks 18, 19, and 20 designed to facilitate the formation of a squared corner. The first angled corner unit 18, has only one transverse bore 60, and has its right surface 34 angled with relation to its rear surface 36 so as to form a 45° angle 75. This first angled corner unit 18 is designed to be fitted with a second angled corner unit 19 which has its left surface 36 angled with relation to its rear surface 30 to form a 45° angle 75. When fitted together, the first angled corner unit 18 and the second angled corner unit 19 form a 90° corner which may be capped by a squared corner block 20. The squared corner block 20 has its vertical, rounded, protruding ridge 50, located on its front face 32, extending from the top surface 40 to the bottom surface 42 and substantially centered between the left surface 38 and the right surface 34. Additionally, the elongate, rounded, protruding ridges 45, are located on the top surface 40 along a length defined by the rear surface 36 and the right surface 34. The elongate, rounded, cutout channels 47 are located in the bottom surface 42 along a length defined by the rear surface 36 and the right surface 34. Accordingly, the squared corner block 20 may be easily fitted on top of the joined first angled corner unit 18 and second angled corner unit 19. 
     Shown in FIG. 9 is a rounded corner block 21. The rounded corner block 21, has its top surface 40, rear surface 36, bottom surface 42, and front surface 32 substantially curved so as to facilitate the formation of a rounded corner. 
     The various embodiments of applicant&#39;s invention employ the same basic interlocking means, and may be formed of various materials and in various sizes, thereby enabling their use in full scale construction as well as model construction. 
     Now that the invention has been described,