Glass block panel construction and device for use in same

A curved panel having a radius of curvature, comprising:

• a plurality of uniformly spaced glass blocks each having a height, width and thickness and a ridge around its circumference, and
• a plurality of connectors for said blocks, each connector comprising a pair of rigid, interlocked longitudinal members each member abutting the height or width of each of at least two adjacent blocks, the length of each member being less than said height or width and the lateral width of each member being less than the thickness of a block, one member having but two spaced, parallel planar opposite surfaces and the other member having, but two spaced, non-parallel, laterally converging planar opposite surfaces, each member having a longitudinal groove in each surface at least as wide and as deep as the width and the height, respectively, of the ridge on the block, and an open slot perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and extending to the lateral center of the member, each member being interlockably disposed within the slot of the other member, each connector being disposed at an intersection of the corners of and in abutment with a plurality of blocks with each longitudinal groove engaging the ridge on a block and the longitudinal groove in the member of each connector that has the non-parallel surfaces being perpendicular to the radius of curvature of the panel, said connectors being further characterized in that each member of a connector extends no further than the center of a side of a block on which said member abuts.

A method of forming a curved panel having a radius of curvature and being comprised of uniformly spaced glass blocks each having a height, width and thickness and a ridge around its circumference, comprising connecting the blocks by interposing in the space between and in abutment with adjacent blocks a connector comprising a pair of rigid, interlocked elongated members each member abutting the height or width of at least two adjacent blocks, the length of said member being less than said height or width and the lateral width of each member being less than the thickness of the block, one member having but two spaced, planar parallel opposite surfaces and the other member having but two spaced, non-parallel, laterally converging planar opposite surfaces, each member having a longitudinal groove in each surface at least as wide and as deep as the width and height, respectively, of the ridge on the block, and an open slot perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and extending to the lateral center of the member, each member being interlockably disposed within the slot of the other member, each connector being disposed at an intersection of the corners of and in abutment with two or more blocks with each longitudinal groove engaging the ridge on a block and the longitudinal groove in the member of each connector that has non-parallal surfaces being perpendicular to the radius of curvature of the panel, said connector being further characterized in that each member of a connector extends no further than the center of the side of a block on which said member abuts.

A curved panel having a radius of curvature, comprising:

• a plurality of uniformly spaced glass blocks each having a height, width and thickness and a ridge around its circumference, and
• a plurality of connectors for said blocks, each connector comprising a pair of rigid, unitary elongated members each member abutting the height or width of each of at least two adjacent blocks, the length of each member being less than said height or width and the lateral width of each member being less than the thickness of a block, one member having but two spaced, parallel planar opposite surfaces and the other member having but two spaced, non-parallel, laterally converging planar opposite surfaces, each member having a longitudinal groove in each surface at least as wide and as deep as the width and the height, respectively, of the ridge on the block, and each member being integrally molded with the other member to form the connector as a single article, each connector being disposed at an intersection of the corners of and in abutment with a plurality of blocks with each longitudinal groove engaging the ridge on a block and the longitudinal groove in the member of each connector that has the non-parallel surfaces being perpendicular to the radius and arc of curvature of the panel, said connector being further characterized in that each member of a connector extends no further than the center of the side of a block on which said member abuts.