# US 2014/0150361 A1 · Building block with insulating core > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150361 A1 - Document ID: US20140150361A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/093,286 - Filed: 2013-11-29 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: 8168202 Canada Inc. - Applicants: 8168202 Canada Inc. - Inventors: Charles CASTONGUAY; Julie CASTONGUAY; Jean-Luc GRONDIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150361A1 ## CPC - E04C 1/40: built-up from parts of different materials, e.g. composed of layers of different materials or stones with filling material or with insulating inserts - E04B 2/18: by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails - E04B 2/26: the walls being characterised by fillings in all cavities in order to form a wall construction - E04C 1/397: {serving for locating conduits (E04C1/392 takes precedence)} - E04C 1/41: composed of insulating material and load-bearing concrete, stone or stone-like material - E04B 2002/0213: {of round shape} - E04B 2002/023: {with rabbets, e.g. stepped} - E04B 2002/0247: {Strips or bars} - 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) - 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}) ## Abstract An insulated core for a building block for a building wall, the block has spaced apart parallel face shells with the insulating core filling the space between the parallel face shells. The insulating core defines spaced apart parallel surfaces for engaging the respective face shells. The insulating core is provided with channels such that when the block forms part of a wall with other blocks, the channels form intersecting uninterrupted passageways for receiving elongated reinforcing members and grout to provide a reinforcing structure to the wall. A method of preparing a structural insulating wall for buildings and an insulating core including a metal connecting bar with lateral wings provided within at least one male interlocking member to provide a thermal break are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a block for a building wall and having spaced apart parallel face shells, an insulating core defining two spaced apart parallel surfaces each capable of engaging a respective one of the face shells, the insulating core having channels defined therein such that when the block forms part of a wall with other blocks, the channels cooperate with corresponding channels of the other blocks to form intersecting, uninterrupted passageways configured to receive elongated reinforcing members and grout to provide a reinforcing structure to the wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The insulating core as defined in claim 1, wherein the channels include at least one first channel having an axis parallel to the surfaces and at least one second channel having an axis parallel to the surfaces and normal to the first channel axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The insulating core as defined in claim 2, wherein the insulating core includes at least a base forming a wall defining one of the surfaces, from which projections extend normal to the base to the other of the outer surfaces, the projections defining at least the first and second channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The insulating core as defined in claim 3, wherein the base defines an outer one of the surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The insulating core as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one first channel includes a central channel central to the block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A block having an insulating core as defined in claim 5, the block comprising: a top plane, a bottom plane and a pair of spaced apart end planes normal to the parallel face shells; the at least one first channel includes a respective concave channel extending from each of the end planes in the insulating core; and the at least one second channel includes a respective concave channel portion extending from each of the top and bottom planes in the insulating core. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The block as defined in claim 6, wherein the axes of the first channels are equally spaced apart. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The block as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one first channels consists in three first channels and the at least one second channels consists in two second channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A block having an insulating core as defined in claim 2, the block comprising: a top plane, a bottom plane and a pair of spaced apart end planes normal to the parallel face shells; the insulating core including a solid core with a respective base defining each of the surfaces engaging the face shells; the at least one first channel includes a central cylindrical bore defined through the core and a respective first concave semi-cylindrical depression formed from each end plane, with the axes of the bore and of each first depression being parallel to one another; and the at least one second channel includes a respective second concave semi-circular depression formed from each of the top and bottom planes, the axes of the second depressions being parallel to one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) A block having an insulating core as defined in claim 4, wherein one of the face shell is engaged by the base at the outer one of the surfaces and another one of the face shells is engaged by free ends of the projections defining an inner one of the surfaces, the projections including two identical projections with multi-faceted surfaces defining the at least one first channel including a central first channel between the two projections and defining the at least one second channel intersecting with and normal to the central first channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The block as defined in claim 10 wherein the block has a top plane, a bottom plane and a pair of spaced apart end planes normal to the parallel face shells, the at least one first channel including a respective additional first channel formed between each of the projections and an adjacent one of the end planes, the at least one second channels including a respective second channel formed between the projections and each one of the top and bottom planes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A building wall constructed with blocks each as defined in claim 7, wherein the axes of the first channels of adjacent ones of the blocks are aligned to form vertical passageways and the axes of the second channels of adjacent ones of the blocks are aligned to form horizontal passageways. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The building wall as defined in claim 12, wherein reinforcing rods with grout are provided in at least selected ones of the vertical passageways. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The building wall as defined in claim 13, wherein utility components are provided in at least some of the vertical passageways free of the reinforcing rods and grout. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The building wall as defined in claim 13, wherein reinforcing rods and grout are provided in selected ones of the horizontal passageways and are attached to the reinforcing rods extending in the vertical passageways. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The building wall as defined in claim 15, wherein caps are provided to close the passageways free of the reinforcing rods and grout. ### Claim 17 A block for a building wall, the block having spaced apart parallel face shells and an insulating core defining spaced apart parallel outer and inner surfaces each engaging a respective one of the face shells, the insulating core including male interlocking members protruding from the outer and inner surfaces and received in complementary female interlocking members defined in the face shells, the insulating core including a metal connecting bar with lateral wings provided within at least one of the male interlocking members such that a thermal break is provided between the connecting bar and the face shells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The block as defined in claim 17, wherein the male interlocking members on the insulating core and the complementary female interlocking members on the face shells have a dovetail configuration. ### Claim 19 A method of preparing a structural insulating wall for buildings comprising the steps of manufacturing discrete interlocking building blocks each having face shells parallel and spaced apart with an insulating core therebetween, forming first and second intersecting channels within each core; assembling the wall with the discrete blocks while aligning the first channels to form vertical passageways and the second channels to form horizontal passageways in the wall, passing reinforcing rods and pouring grout through selected ones of the passageways while leaving other ones of the passageways void. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method as defined in claim 19, wherein one or more of electrical wiring, telecommunications conduits and plumbing is provided in the ones of the passageways that are void. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The insulating core as defined in claim 1, wherein the insulating core is made of a foam material having one of male and female interlocking members to connect with complementary members on the face shells. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A block having an insulating core as defined in claim 21, wherein the insulating core includes male interlocking members while the face shells have the complementary female interlocking members and a metal connecting bar is provided in the insulating core with lateral wings provided within at least one of the male interlocking member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 4) The insulating core as defined in claim 4, wherein the insulating core has a top surface on the base wherein at least one drainage channel is provided in the top surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The insulating core as defined in claim 23, wherein an end surface at the base is provided with an additional drainage channel in communication with the at least one drainage channel of the top surface.