Improvements in Building Bricks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Building Bricks.
I, OSCAR KLEINBERGER, of 411-415 North 8th Street, in the City of St. Louis
and State of Missouri, United States of America, Cloak Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in building bricks, and it has for its
object to construct the brick in such a manner that when laid in a wall, whether
it be an outside wall or an inside partition, the bricks will tie themselves together
in such a way that the wall cannot be sprung outward nor cracked under ordinary
circumstances, and whereby furthermore the wall will stand even in the presence
of intense heat. Another object of the invention is to so construct the brick that
a greater or a less amount of bedding, such as mortar or cement, may be used in
laying the brick, and whereby further even when the bricks are brought face to
face at their margins there will be room for sufficient cement or mortar to firmly
hold the bricks in position, and whereby the improved tie forming a portion of
the brick will act as well under such circumstances as when only pencillings, or a
bed of mortar is made to intervene the bricks.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the
several parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a corner of a building constructed
with the improved bricks;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a series of bricks laid to break joints; and
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of
Figure 2.
In carrying out the invention the brick may be made of a material from which
it is customary to manufacture bricks, or it may be constructed of any material
found most desirable in practice. The brick A is of the usual form of a building
brick and is preferably of the same dimensions throughout, although it may be
larger or smaller if specially desired. The brick is provided with a depression 10
in both its upper and its lower faces, the depressions being somewhat similar in
contour to the brick itself, whereby the brick is provided at both its top and its
bottom surfaces with a raised margin 11, the margin being flat and rectangular in
cross section when the brick is of this form.
U pon both the upper and the lower faces of the brick, in the depression 10, one
or more, preferably two nipples 12 are formed integral with or attached to the
body of the brick at each end. These nipples are arranged diagonally with
respect to a line drawn transversely through the brick, but the nipples upon the
same side are also preferably in alignment, or parallel to a line drawn longitudinally
through the brick, and the corresponding nipples upon both faces are in vertical
alignment, one being immediately beneath the other. These nipples are ordinarily
made to extend a slight distance above the plane of the margin 11 of the brick,
and are arranged in contact with projecting portions 11 of the margin but they
may be spaced from the margin and made flush therewith, or even be below the
plane thereof if occasion may demand.

page_text: Under such an arrangement it is evident that when the bricks are placed
together in a manner to break joints, the nipples upon one end of the under face
of the upper brick will be located between the nipples on the corresponding
end of the upper face of the lower brick, and that there will be sufficient space
between the nipples to permit the bricks to be moved end wise or sidewise as
may be required; and it is likewise evident that the cement or mortar bed 13
in which the bricks are laid may be made as deep as desired, or as shallow as
may be required, since even when the margins of the brick are brought in
contact there will be sufficient quantity of cementing material between them, as
is clearly shown in Figure 3, while the nipples will effectually prevent a sliding
movement.
Since the nipples extend beyond the flat surfaces of the bricks, when one brick
is placed upon another, the nipples will bury themselves in the cement or mortar
within the recesses of the bricks, and form a wall or arch, so solid and strong
that a brick cannot be removed without breaking it to pieces.
It will be seen by reference to Figure 3 that the bricks practically interlock
whereby an exceedingly strong bond is obtained.
The improved construction of the bricks affords such a strong bond that iron
bands or ties such as are usually employed in the construction of buildings, are
dispensable. Furthermore, as the marginal portions rest directly upon each
other, without any mortar intervening between them, the mortar cannot be washed
out or otherwise injured by rain, etc.
Walls constructed with the improved nipple brick will therefore be much
stronger than ordinary brick walls, and the slipping of one brick on the other is
practically impossible. These advantages will be especially valuable in the con-
struction of chimneys and arches. Furthermore, the outer surface of the walls
will be continuous and perfectly smooth, instead of being broken by strips of
mortar as in ordinary brick walls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A brick having its upper and lower surfaces provided with recesses and
projections or nipples extending outwardly from said recesses, substantially as
described.
2. A brick having its upper and lower surfaces recessed within marginal
lines and projections or nipples extending outwardly from the said recesses beyond
the plane of the marginal portion of the brick, substantially as described.
3. A brick having its upper and lower surfaces provided with recesses and
projections or nipples extending outwardly from said recesses, the nipples being in
parallel diagonal or oblique lines whereby two bricks may be so placed together
that the nipples of one brick will be arranged in lines oppositely inclined to those
of the other brick, and in longitudinal alignment with the nipples of said other
brick so that the bricks will interlock, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of March 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.