Improvements in Blocks or Bricks suitable for Use in the Construction of Ceilings and Roofs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blocks or Bricks suitable for Use in the
Construction of Ceilings and Roofs.
I, OTTO FÖRSTER, of Schönebeck a.d. Elbe, Germany, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has reference to the construction of blocks or bricks (hereinafter
called blocks) designed, when arranged in rows or series, to form fireproof and
fungus-proof ceilings and roofs.
With roofs as heretofore constructed, that is to say, with ordinary building
bricks it has been necessary to give a certain amount of rise to the roof in order to
prevent it from falling in.
Now according to the present invention each block is formed with abutments at
its upper and lower halves respectively, these abutments being oppositely inclined
as hereinafter described so that a ceiling or roof constructed of such blocks is
self-supporting, and can be constructed quite flat, that is to say, without
any rise.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a roof constructed with blocks
according to my invention and arranged between two T-girders.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line A-B of Fig. 1 showing, to a larger
scale, one form of block according to this invention.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a modified form of block.
As will be seen each block, excepting the end ones, has at its half inclined
surfaces a a' against which bears the correspondingly inclined surface a' of the
next adjacent blocks. Each block has further at its lower half downwardly
inclined surfaces b b which are adapted to bear against the corresponding bearing
surface b b¹ of the next adjacent block.
The inclined surfaces a a¹ or bb', may be arranged on the two sides of each
block either parallel with each other as in Fig. 2, or oppositely inclined to each
other as in Fig. 3 so as to form in the one case a block having a lateral projecting
portion or abutment on the upper half of one side and on the lower half of the
opposite side, whilst in the other case the said projecting portions or abutments are
on the same half of the block.
As will be seen the pair of inclined surfaces a, b, a¹ b', of each block are connected
by intermediate inclined surfaces d d' that abut against the corresponding surfaces
of the adjacent blocks.
It will thus be seen that the blocks are different from others which are con-
structed on the principle of a mere interlocking of a tongue and groove in that
my construction with oppositely directed abutments, enables the blocks to be laid
to form a straight or flat ceiling or roof. The blocks may be formed with holes c
running in the direction of their length, with the object of effecting a reduction in
the weight of the roof, and also of providing air-insulation.
The advantages which accrue from the use of these improved blocks in the
construction of ceilings or roofs consist, in addition to a great saving in cost, also
in affording security against fire and against the formation of fungus.
Moreover ceilings or roofs so constructed are advantageous from a hygienic
and sanitary point of view, by reason of dispensing with intermediate or false
roofing

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Blocks suitable for the construction of fireproof and fungus proof ceilings
and roofs such blocks being formed respectively at the upper and lower halves
with parallel or with oppositely directed inclined abutments or bearing surfaces a a¹
and bb as herein before described with reference respectively to and shown in
Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3 of the drawings annexed, whether or not such blocks be
provided with holes c for passage of air.
Dated this 28th day of March 1896.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.