# US 5,704,177 A · Separation means for glass block wall > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,177 A - Document ID: US5704177A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/590,734 - Filed: 1996-01-24 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1995-01-24 - Inventors: Randolf Andrew Wirkus; Michelle Wirkus - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704177A ## CPC - E04C 1/42: of glass or other transparent material {(panels made of glass bricks E04C2/546)} - 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) ## Abstract A glass block wall 10 having a curved section 11 between a straight block 12 and a straight bull nosed end block 13 employs a lower run of blocks 14 and an upper run of blocks 15 shown in phantom to expose an arrangement 16 of separation means between the runs of blocks. The curved section 11 includes a number of curved separation plates 19, 20 and 21 each formed to the shape of an upper end face of the respective blocks. A corner block 22 has a corresponding plate 21 whereas the plates 19 and 20 are formed to the shape of bend blocks 23 and 24, forming a compound curve in the curved section 11. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A glass block wall comprising: straight and non-straight glass blocks, so the wall has a non-straight section, the glass blocks having opposed side walls and end walls, the end walls of adjacent blocks being placed in confronting relation so the glass blocks are arranged in horizontal runs, separation means positioned between the horizontal runs of glass blocks, the separation means being formed to locate between the confronting end walls of said glass blocks and being adapted to fit between the blocks and locate the blocks in a predetermined spaced relation, each separation means including a plurality of connected together sections, each section having opposite ends and opposite side edges, at least some of said sections being connected together by said connector means so that said sections of said separation means are offset forming the non-straight section of said glass block wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The glass block wall according to claim 1 wherein each glass block has a channel defined by opposed projecting peripheral edges formed in its end walls and each section of the separation means has channel locating means along its edges comprising means operatively locating the edges of the sections of the separation means in the channels in the end walls of the glass blocks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The glass block wall according to claim 2 wherein the sections of the separation means are plates and the means locating the edges of the sections are spaced edge tabs displaced out of the plane of the plates to locate the plates in the channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The glass block wall according to claim 3 wherein the connector means hold the sections together and comprises separate connectors selected from the following: (i) A straight line connector connecting a section of the separation means that is between said non-straight blocks to a section of the separation means that is between adjacent said straight blocks; (ii) An angle type connector employed to connect a said section of the separation means at a predetermined set inclination relative to an adjacent said section of the separation means; or (iii) A hinge type connector which allows pivotal movement between adjacent said sections of the separation means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The glass block wall according to claim 3 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin metal sheet stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The glass block wall according to claim 2 wherein the separation means includes adjustment means to enable the edges of the sections of the separation means to be displaced to bring about adjustment of spacing between the end walls of the glass blocks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The glass block wall according to claim 6 wherein the adjustment means comprises edge tabs projecting from the edges of each section of the separation means onto the projecting peripheral edges of the glass blocks to provide leverable level adjustment tabs so that during assembly of the glass block wall the tabs can be manually raised or lowered to adjust the spacing between the glass blocks at points of tab contact with the projecting peripheral edges of the glass blocks. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The glass block wall according to claim 7 wherein the connector means hold the sections together and comprises separate connectors selected from the following: (i) A straight line connector connecting a section of the separation means that is between said non-straight blocks to a section of the separation means that is between adjacent said straight blocks; (ii) An angle type connector employed to connect a said section of the separation means at a predetermined angle relative to an adjacent said section of the separation means; or (iii) A hinge type connector which allows pivotal movement between adjacent said sections of the separation means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The glass block wall according to claim 7 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin metal sheet stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The glass block wall according to claim 6 wherein the connector means hold the sections together and comprises separate connectors selected from the following: (i) A straight line connector connecting a section of the separation means that is between said non-straight blocks to a section of the separation means that is between adjacent said straight blocks; (ii) An angle type connector employed to connect a said section of the separation means at a predetermined set inclination relative to an adjacent said section of the separation means; or (iii) A hinge type connector which allows pivotal movement between adjacent said sections of the separation means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The glass block wall according to claim 6 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin metal sheet stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The glass block wall according to claim 2 wherein the connector means hold the sections together and comprises separate connectors selected from the following: (i) A straight line connector connecting a section of the separation means that is between said non-straight blocks to a section of the separation means that is between adjacent said straight blocks; (ii) An angle type connector employed to connect a said section of the separation means at a predetermined set inclination relative to an adjacent said section of the separation means; or (iii) A hinge type connector which allows pivotal movement between adjacent said sections of the separation means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The glass block wall according to claim 12 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin metal sheet stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The glass block wall according to claim 1 wherein the separation means includes adjustment means to enable the edges of the sections of the separation means to be displaced to bring about adjustment of spacing between the end walls of the glass blocks. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The glass block wall according to claim 14 wherein the connector means hold the sections together and comprises separate connectors selected from the following: (i) A straight line connector connecting a section of the separation means that is between said non-straight blocks to a section of the separation means that is between adjacent said straight blocks; (ii) An angle type connector employed to connect a said section of the separation means at a predetermined set inclination relative to an adjacent said section of the separation means; or (iii) A hinge type connector which allows pivotal movement between adjacent said sections of the separation means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The glass block wall according to claim 14 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin metal sheet stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The glass block wall according to claim 1 wherein the connector means hold the sections together and comprises separate connectors selected from the following: (i) A straight line connector connecting a section of the separation means that is between said non-straight blocks to a section of the separation means that is between adjacent said straight blocks; (ii) An angle type connector employed to connect a said section of the separation means at a predetermined set inclination relative to an adjacent said section of the separation means; or (iii) A hinge type connector which allows pivotal movement between adjacent said sections of the separation means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The glass block wall according to claim 17 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin metal sheet stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The glass block wall according to claim 1 wherein the connector means includes separate connectors that hold the sections of the separation means together, each connector being a thin sheet metal stamping with at least one male end, the sections of the separation means having a female receiver retaining the male end of the connector, the male end having a region displaced out of the plane of the connector employed to aid alignment of the connector with the receiver.