Improvements in and relating to Building Blocks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Building Blocks.
I, WILLIAM FISH FOSTER BEVIS, of 23 Cobham Street Gravesend, in the
County of Kent, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of building
blocks, the object of which is to overcome the many known defects and disadvantages
connected with the use of building blocks at present generally used.
According to my invention I use blocks of an L-shape, and insertion or tie
blocks of a plain rectangular shape, the function of these insertion blocks being,
first to bind the front and back portions of a wall together, secondly to regulate
the distance apart of the L-shaped blocks and thus the thickness of the wall, and
thirdly to provide a support for the next layer of blocks. The insertion or tie
blocks are made of a depth equal to the depth of the L-shaped blocks less the
depth of the horizontal flange thereof, and of such a length as will allow the
L-shaped blocks to give the desired thickness to the wall. Instead of allowing
the insertion or tie blocks to regulate the width of the wall by abutting against
the vertical flanges of the L-shaped blocks, the insertion or tie blocks may be
provided with projecting pieces adapted to fit between the horizontal flanges of the
L-shaped blocks.
The insertion or tie blocks are preferably placed between the L-shaped blocks
at the points where the next row of blocks breaks joint.
The end or corner pieces may be of the construction now generally used.
These blocks may be used with ordinary bricks as a face if desired.
1
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Building Blocks.
I, WILLIAM FISH FOSTER BEVIS, of 23, Cobham Street, Gravesend, in the
County of Kent, Manager of Works, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of building
blocks, the object of which is to overcome the many known defects and disadvantages
connected with the use of building blocks at present generally used.
According to my invention I use face blocks of an L-shape, and insertion or tie
blocks of a plain rectangular shape, the function of these blocks being, first to
bind the front and back portions of a wall together, secondly to regulate the
distance apart of the face blocks and thus the thickness of the wall, and thirdly to
provide a support for the next layer of blocks. The tie blocks are made of a

page_text: depth equal to the depth of the face blocks less the depth of the horizontal flange
thereof, and of such a length as will allow the face blocks to give the desired
thickness to the wall. Instead of allowing the tie blocks to regulate the width of
the wall by abutting against the vertical flanges of the face blocks, the insertion
or tie blocks may be provided with projecting pieces adapted to fit between the
horizontal flanges thereof.
The quoins or end blocks are of a similar construction with the ends made solid.
The tie blocks are preferably placed between the face blocks at the points where
the row of blocks breaks joint.
These blocks may be used with ordinary bricks as a face if desired.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figures 1 and 2 are broken views in end elevation and plan respectively of a
wall built with my improved blocks.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of a wall built of bricks and faced with my
improved blocks.
Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of one of the tie blocks.
Figure 6 is a broken view of a wall showing another form of tie block.
Figure 7 is a view in back elevation of a modification of the face blocks.
Figure 8 is a view in sectional plan thereof.
Figure 9 is a view in end elevation of another modification of the face blocks,
and
Figure 10 is a view in end elevation of a modified form of filling block for use
therewith.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the face blocks and B the tie blocks.
When the walls are built entirely of the blocks A and B they are preferably
arranged as shown by Figures 1 and 2. The tie blocks B may be constructed
either with a projecting piece such as b adapted to fit between the horizontal
flanges a of the blocks A or without the said projection as shown by Figure 6.
filling block or piece B' may in some cases be used as shown on the left hand side
of Figures 1 and 2.
A
Walls may be built as shown by Figures 3 and 4 faced on the outside with my
improved blocks and with ordinary bricks C on the inner side, in which case
ordinary bricks are used as ties.
Instead of making the face blocks A of L-shape in cross section as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 they may be made with recesses a', a¹, at the ends to receive the
tie blocks B as shown by Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8 and they may be made with
recesses a² as shown by Figures 7 and 8 to lighten them and save material.
The blocks A are provided with marks preferably taking the shape of small
grooves such as e as shown in Figures 4 and 7 to enable the mason to keep the
joints upright in the alternate courses immediately over one another.
When my improved blocks are intended to be used with brickwork they are
made of such a depth as to provide for the difference between a mason's joint and a
bricklayer's joint, so that a mason laying the blocks for the face of a wall uses his
proper joint while the bricklayer at the back lays the bricks in his own way.
The face blocks and tie or insertion blocks and filling blocks may be made in
any material, but when made of terra cotta I prefer to use the forms illustrated
by Figures 9 and 10 in which the face and filling blocks are formed hollow so as
to save material and allow of them being formed by dies in long or continuous
lengths which are then cut into the desired lengths.
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.) Building blocks of the specific forms herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: (2.) A building block such as A in combination with a tie or insertion block
such as B with or without a projection b, substantially as herein before described
and shown.
(3.) In a building block such as A, the use of a groove such as e, as and for the
purpose set forth.
(4.) The use of a building block such as A in combination with an insertion or
filling piece such as B', as and for the purpose set forth and illustrated by Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
(5.) The use of building blocks such as A to be used as facing blocks for brick-
work having a flange a of such a depth as to allow of a mason's joint in front with
a bricklayer's joint at back, as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 3
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.