Improved Forms of Building Blocks, and Method of using same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1896
Improved Forms of Building Blocks, and Method of using same.
We, CHARLES CRAIG and GEORGE KERR CRAIG, Contractors, both of Sacriston,
in the County of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to certain new or improved forms of bricks stones or
blocks for building constructions and in the method of setting same in use.
The object is to prevent the entry and saturation of water into the bed joints of.
walls and the like.
According to one form the bricks or blocks are moulded or made with a pro-
jecting lip or nose along the lower side of the outer face only for plain surfaces
and along the two lower sides for angled or corner work, thus forming a recessed
bed behind the projecting part or parts. The outer face is inclined at a suitable
angle from base inwardly to the top.
In using such blocks the method is as follows. The bed recesses of one course
are placed upon the flat tops of blocks of the next lower course, the projections
overhanging the faces and forming a "dreeped" or "clinkerbuilt" surface with
the outer arrises in a continuous plumb line and the same result is effected at
This construction affords a neat appearance and prevents drip of
water upon the face arriving at and saturating the beds.
In a modified construction the blocks are made rectangular in cross-section
and formed with a square or similar projection along the base and a corresponding
rebate along the upper line of the front side. When built together the lower
projections of the upper blocks fit well into the upper rebates of the lower blocks
in front of the main bed recess forming a flat surface. In both cases the blocks
are set in the usual mortar or cement.
In manufacturing such blocks in order to obtain fine sharp arrises to these
projecting lips and recesses the bricks are dressed. This may be effected by
making or moulding them rather larger than the required finished' size and while
more or less "green" removing by hand or by a suitable machine all superfluous
material thus producing clean sharp edges.
Dated this 10th dow of Narambo 1000

page_text: Improved Forms of Building Blocks, and Method of using same.
We, CHARLES CRAIG and GEORGE KERR CRAIG, Contractors both of Sacriston,
in the County of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to certain new or improved forms of bricks, stones, or
blocks for building constructions and in the method of setting same in use.
The object is to prevent the entry and saturation of water into the bed joints of
walls and the like.
According to one form the bricks or blocks are moulded or made with a pro-
jecting lip or nose along the lower side of the outer face only for plane surfaces,
and along the two lower sides for angled or corner work, thus forming a recessed
bed behind the projecting part or parts. The outer face is inclined at a suitable
angle from base inwardly to the top.
In using such blocks the method is as follows. The bed recesses of one course
are placed upon the flat tops of blocks of the next lower course, the projections
overhanging the faces and forming a äreeped" or "clinkerbuilt" surface with
the outer arrises in a continuous plumb line and the same result is effected at
the corners.
In a modified construction the blocks are made rectangular in cross-section
and formed with a square or similar projection along the base and a corresponding
rebate along the upper line of the front side. When built together the lower
projections of the upper blocks fit well into the upper rebates of the lower blocks
in front of the main bed recess forming a flat surface.
In both cases the blocks are set in the usual mortar or cement, and in order
to prevent saturation of water into the vertical joints we may dowel the bricks
together in the known way, or similarly, we may angle the ends of the bricks
so as to obviate any straight joint through which water could permeate or pass.
We may also provide in the bricks recesses for receiving mortar to form keys
between the bed joints all as hereinafter fully set forth.
In further description of our invention we will refer to the accompanying
drawings which show two preferred forms of bricks or blocks.
Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a wall; Figure 2 is a plan of the top blocks;
Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 1-1 in Figures 1 and 2 and Figure 4 a
similar view on the line 2-2 in Figure 2, representing the "clinkerbuilt" or
"dreeped" form.
Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 7;
Figure 6 is a plan of the top blocks; Figure 7 is a cross section on the line 4-4
in Figures 5 and 6 and Figure 8 is an end view partly in section taken at the
vertical joint of two of the blocks, illustrating the modified construction.
Referring first to the form of our invention represented in Figures 1 to 4, A are
the bricks or blocks of which the face of the wall is built; they are each made
with an upwardly and inwardly inclined or "dreeped" face, the lowest side of
which is continued below the bottom or base of the block so as to form a ledge
or lip B adapted to depend over and cover the upper edge of the next block below,
so that water dripping from the faces of the blocks is unable to creep between
the joints and saturate the beds. The thickness of the ledges or lips B and the
inclination or "dreep
are so proportioned that the outer arrises are all contained
in the same vertical plane. The corner blocks C have two adjacent faces
"

page_text: "dreeped" or inclined and provided with lips or ledges B as shown on the right
of Figures 1 and 2; thus the arrises of the ledges B continue unbroken at the
corner from one side to the other of the wall. This construction affords a neat
and attractive appearance.
Suitable recesses, such as D, may be cut at one or more of the inner sides of
the blocks adapted to receive the mortar or cement, which, when set, is thereby
assisted to secure the blocks in place.
In order to better prevent the entry of moisture into the vertical joints of
a wall constructed with our blocks, we find it advantageous to form each block
with a rebate at one vertical edge of the end face as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4
and a ledge or projection E at the opposite edge, so that the projection E may
lie snugly in the rebate of the next adjacent block thus constituting a step or
broken joint and preventing the passage of wet and saturation of moisture, or
this may be accomplished, instead, by dowelling as described below.
Referring now to Figures 5 to 8, it will be seen that the blocks A are rectangular
in horizontal section and each has a depending ledge or lip B at its lowest face
edge and adjacent to its top face edge a rebate adapted to receive and fit the
lip of the block next above. In the corner blocks C the rebate and lip are
continued on the adjacent face of the block.
To obviate the entry of water at the vertical joints, each block may be made
with a projection E and corresponding rebate as before described, or each block
may be provided with a vertical groove at one or at each end as illustrated, into
which a key or tongue G of slate, metal or other suitable material is inserted
forming the usual dowel, but this forms no part of our present invention.
This form of wall resembles the ordinary wall built with rectangular bricks
or blocks, but possesses the advantage of dryness, since the entrance of water is
effectually resisted by the lips B and tongues G.
Recesses D may also be provided at one or more of the inner sides of the blocks
or bricks as in those first described for more efficiently bonding the blocks to each
other.
In addition to the prevention of dampness, the lips, rebates, tongues and grooves
also serve to bond the blocks more firmly -together and so increase the stability
of the structure.
In either form of block, the under side of the lowest course is as illustrated,
made flat as usual.
In producing these blocks in order to obtain sharp arrises to the projecting
lips and rebates the blocks or bricks are dressed. This may be done by making
or moulding them rather larger than the required finished size and while "
green
or practically so, removing by hand or a suitable machine all superfluous material
thus obtaining clean sharp edges.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A building block having its face inclined inwardly towards the top and
provided at the lowest side or edge of such face with a lip or ledge adapted to cover
the uppermost edge of the face of the block next below as and for the purpose
described.
2. A building block with a vertical face having a depending ledge or lip at its
lowest edge adapted to fit into a corresponding rebate in the block next below
and a rebate at its uppermost edge adapted to receive the depending ledge or lip
of the block next above as and for the purpose described.
3. The method of constructing walls or wall facings in which blocks are used
which have depending lips or ledges at their outer side lowest edges adapted to
cover the uppermost edges of the blocks next below or to fit into rebates formed
at the said uppermost edges substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 4. A building block having an inclined face and depending lip or ledge or
having a depending lip or ledge at one edge and a rebate at the opposite edge
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or to Figures 5 to 8
respectively of the accompanying drawings for the purpose set forth.
5. The several constructions of building blocks as described and illustrated in 5
the drawings and adapted for use in the manner set forth.
For the Applicants,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
3 St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.