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US 2007/0175150 A1Published application
Wall system
OwnerRaymond Priceinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to decorative and structural blocks designed to be installed as skirting structures for buildings, elevated structures and structural elements such as posts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system that uses specifically designed and manufactured masonry blocks that are used in conjunction with specifically designed support beams and/or brackets to provide durable, attractive, easy to assemble surfaces or skirting structures. The blocks are shaped to be stacked in vertically independent, self-supporting columns, strengthened and linked together by specially shaped, lightweight, lateral support beams positioned between adjacent columns, and which may be attached directly or indirectly to a sub-structure.
Claims22
A system for cladding a vertical support post, the system comprising:
- a plurality of beams, with each beam comprising:
- an elongate web;
- and,
- a first pair of elongate ribs integrally formed with and extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions;
- and,
- a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks comprising:
- an angularly segmented front face;
- an angularly segmented rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block;
- first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side surface extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam;
- wherein said blocks are arranged into a plurality of columns about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;
- and,
- wherein said beams are positioned between said side surfaces of adjacent columns such that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;
- whereby vertically adjacent blocks are arranged into columns and stabilized, and adjacent columns are operatively connected to each other to form a cladding structure for the support post.
12 more elements
A system for cladding a vertical support post, the system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of beams, with each beam comprising:
- an elongate web;
- and,
- a first pair of elongate ribs integrally formed with and extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions;
- a plurality of blocks arranged in columns, each of said blocks comprising:
- a front face;
- a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block;
- first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam;
- and,
- at least one bracket comprising a beam connecting portion and a support beam attaching portion;
- wherein said blocks are arranged into a plurality of columns about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;
- wherein said beams are positioned between said side surfaces of adjacent columns such that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;
- wherein portions of at least one of the beams is slidingly connected to said support beam attaching portion of said bracket;
- and,
- wherein said bracket is attached to the support post;
- whereby vertically adjacent blocks are arranged into stabilized columns, adjacent columns are operatively connected to each other to form a cladding structure, and the cladding structure is connected to the support post.
15 more elements
A system for cladding a vertical, load bearing support post of an elevated structure, the system comprising:
- a plurality of beams, with each beam comprising:
- an elongate web;
- and,
- a first pair of elongate ribs integrally formed with and extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions;
- a plurality of composite masonry blocks arranged in columns, each of said blocks comprising:
- a front face;
- a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block;
- first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam;
- and,
- a bracket comprising a beam connecting portion and a support beam attaching portion;
- wherein said blocks are arranged into a plurality of columns about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;
- wherein said beams are positioned between said side surfaces of adjacent columns such that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;
- wherein portions of at least one of the beams is slidingly connected to said bracket;
- and,
- wherein said bracket is attached to the support post;
- whereby vertically adjacent blocks are arranged into stabilized columns, adjacent columns are operatively connected to each other to form a cladding structure, and the cladding structure is connected to the support post.
15 more elements
The system of claim 20, wherein at least one composite masonry block comprises an angularly segmented front face.
A method of cladding a vertical, load bearing support post of an elevated structure, the method comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of blocks, with each block comprising:
- an angularly segmented front face;
- an angularly segmented rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block;
- and, first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side surface extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess located between the front and rear surfaces;
- b. providing at least one beam, with the beam comprising an elongate web and a first pair of elongate ribs integrally formed with and extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions;
- c. arranging the blocks about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;
- d. positioning the beam so that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;
- and,
- e. connecting at least one beam to the support post.
8 more elements
A method of cladding a vertical, load bearing support post of an elevated structure, the method comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of blocks, with each block comprising:
- an angularly segmented front face;
- an angularly segmented rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block;
- and, first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side surface extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess located between the front and rear surfaces;
- b. arranging the blocks in a first horizontal course about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;
- and,
- c. securing a second horizontal course of blocks to the first horizontal course of blocks.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.