An Improved Tie-brick.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1895-4ccepted, 16th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tie-brick.
I, THOMAS ARUNDEL ALDRIDGE of Bradford Villa, Wembdon, Bridgwater in
the County of Somerset, Solicitor, 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 refers to bricks for building and like purposes and is designed to
supply a brick which by means of suitable projections and recesses would so tie or
bind together as to enable a strong wall or arch to be erected without mortar, or
with only a thin layer of cement or tar or other adhesive compound to exclude air
and water.
It is obvious that a brick which is self-binding and which can be erected into
temporary or other buildings without skilled labour, must be extremely useful for
many purposes, and especially so for colonial requirements and occasional uses,
and in the erection of arches, or laying of side walks and for other objects too
numerous to specify..
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which.
Figures 1 and 2 show plan views of the top and bottom of my improved
tie-brick.
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a brick on the line of Figs. 1
and 2.
Fig. 4 shows a segment of an arch partly in section constructed of my bricks.
a, is the body of the brick. b, b₁, are small studs or projections on one side of
the brick to engage with corresponding recesses on the adjoining brick and c, c, are
the recesses to receive the projections b, b'. The dotted semi-circles (Fig. 3) show
a different form or outline of projections b, b, I may sometimes prefer to employ.
Half bricks can be made on the same principle.
It will be seen that the projections b, b, are not all arranged to lie in the same
direction but that the end ones b', are placed transversely to the length of the brick.
The shape and size of these projections and of the recesses may vary but should
have two special characteristics, namely:-
1. That any slip longitudinally or laterally is avoided.
2. That space is left in the recess to allow of cement or the like being added.
For arches, bricks of tapering form to suit the pitch of the arch can be employed
as shewn in Fig. 4.
These can also be made suitable for culverts, drains, chimneys, and tubular
structures of many kinds.
The studs and recesses can also be formed on the sides of the brick if preferred.
The bricks can be easily and cheaply moulded of clay like ordinary bricks and
can be laid in the ordinary manner and will break joint or can be bonded like
ordinary bricks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
A brick of any suitable size or form with projecting studs on one surface and
corresponding recesses on another surface, so arranged that each brick will tie.

page_text: into and bind with its adjoining bricks above and below, or right and left, or in
all four directions and which can be used with or without cement or mortar, as
herein described and set forth.
Dated this 28th day of January 1895
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.