# US 2008/0184650 A1 · Insulated block with non-linearthermal paths for building energy efficient buildings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0184650 A1 - Document ID: US20080184650A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/765,319 - Filed: 2007-06-19 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-19 - Inventors: Scott Fischer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080184650A1 ## CPC - E04C 1/397: {serving for locating conduits (E04C1/392 takes precedence)} - B28B 7/0097: {Press moulds; Press-mould and press-ram assemblies} - B28B 7/24: Unitary mould structures with a plurality of moulding spaces {, e.g. moulds divided into multiple moulding spaces by integratable partitions, mould part structures providing a number of moulding spaces in mutual co-operation (assemblies of individually complete moulds B28B7/26)} - B28B 23/0025: {with installation or service material, e.g. tubes for electricity or water} - E04B 2/54: the walls being characterised by fillings in all cavities in order to form a wall construction - E04B 2/8629: {with both form leaves and spacers being monolithic} - E04B 2002/0291: {loose material} - Y02A 30/00: Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation - Y02B 30/90: Passive houses; Double facade technology - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract According to one aspect of the invention, a block for building construction is provided. The block includes: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) non-linear thermal paths of the body material across the block by offsetting and restricting the cross webbing of the block; and (c) at least two cavities in the block. According to another aspect, a block for building construction is provided, wherein the block includes: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) at least two cavities in the block; and wherein the block has nominal dimensions of 6″×6″×24″. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A block for building construction, the block comprising: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) non-linear thermal paths of the body material across the block by offsetting and restricting the cross webbing of the block; and (c) at least two cavities in the block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, wherein the block has nominal dimensions of 6″×6″×24″. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic material is a cement-based mix. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, wherein the cavities of the block are open to a face of the block, whereby the cavities can be substantially filled with an insulating material to form an insulated concrete block. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The block according to claim 4, further comprising an insulating material positioned in the cavities of the block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The block according to claim 5, wherein the insulating material is an insulating foam material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The block according to claim 6, wherein the insulating foam material is in the form of one or more inserts of a size and shape adapted to fit within the cavities of the block or the foam material is spray filled into the cavities of the block. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The block according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the insulating foam inserts spans across more than one block, whereby any small gap between two adjacent blocks in a wall are insulated to help insulate the wall of blocks. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The block according to claim 6, wherein the insulating foam comprises an insulating material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene and polyurethane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cavities of the block allows for rebar to be positioned through the block, whereby, when a plurality of the blocks are stacked to define a wall, at least one rebar can be positioned through adjacent blocks to reinforce the wall of block. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The block according to claim 10, wherein at least one rebar can be positioned through adjacent blocks in the wall of the blocks in a vertical orientation and at least one rebar can be positioned through adjacent blocks in the wall of blocks in a horizontal orientation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cavities thereof allows electrical conduit to be positioned through the block, whereby, when a plurality of blocks are stacked to define a wall, at least one electrical conduit can be positioned through adjacent blocks for servicing an electrical junction box or outlet positioned in a cut-out made in a face of the block. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-finish on at least one of the faces of the block. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-insulated foam material in the cavities of the block. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The block according to claim 14, wherein the cross webbing of the block is restricted to about one-half of the dimension of one of the shorter nominal dimensions of the block. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical sealant groove in a middle rib of the head of the block. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The block according to claim 16, wherein the vertical sealant groove in a middle rib of the head of the block is V-shaped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, further comprising a horizontal sealant groove in the top of a middle rib of the block. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The block according to claim 18, wherein the horizontal sealant groove in the top of a middle rib of the block is V-shaped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The block according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical ground-screw clearance groove in a middle portion of a middle rib of the block to provide clearance for an electrical ground screw in the back side of an electrical outlet box positioned in the block. ### Claim 21 A mold for manufacturing a block, wherein the block comprises: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) non-linear thermal paths of the body material across the block by offsetting and restricting the cross webbing of the block; and (c) at least two cavities in the block; and wherein the mold comprises: (a) a mold box adapted for receiving and molding an inorganic material on a manufacturing pallet into the form of at least one of the block; and (b) a plunger head adapted for compacting and vibrating the inorganic material in the mold box, and after the inorganic material is sufficiently set, pushing the molded inorganic material through the bottom of the mold box as the mold box is raised off the manufacturing pallet. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The mold according to claim 21, wherein the block has overall dimensions of about 6″×6″×24″ whereby three (3) blocks can be simultaneously molded on a typical manufacturing pallet that is 26″×18″. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The mold according to claim 21, wherein the mold box does not have core bars across the top, whereby the block can be molded in the mold box sideways to the direction of normal raking across the top of the mold box without interference by any core bars. ### Claim 24 A wall system for a building construction comprising a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks comprises: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) non-linear thermal paths of the body material across the block by offsetting and restricting the cross webbing of the block; and (c) at least two cavities in the block. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The wall system according to claim 24, wherein the blocks have nominal dimensions of about 6″×6″×24″. ### Claim 26 A building comprising a plurality of walls wherein at least one of the walls comprises a plurality of blocks, and wherein each of the blocks comprises: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) non-linear thermal paths of the body material across the block by offsetting and restricting the cross webbing of the block; and (e) at least two cavities in the block. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The building according to claim 26, wherein the block has nominal dimensions of about 6″×6″×24″, whereby three (3) blocks can be simultaneously molded on a typical molding pallet that is 26″×18″. ### Claim 28 A block for building construction, the block comprising: a molded body formed of an inorganic material, wherein the molded body defines (a) a rectangular-box shape; (b) at least two cavities in the block; and wherein the block has nominal dimensions of 6″×6″×24″.