Building block

Abstract

A building block comprising a front panel and a rear panel together with spacer means adapted to space the front panel from the rear panel to create a cavity there between characterised in that said building block further comprises means to allow a filling material to flow such that, in use, said filling material can pass through the building block in both horizontal and vertical directions.

1 . A building block comprising a front panel and a rear panel together with a spacer to span the front panel from the rear panel to create a cavity therebetween, said building block further comprising means to allow a filling material to flow through the cavity such that, in use, said filling material can pass through the building block in both horizontal and vertical directions, said building block further comprising interlocking means to join adjacent blocks together to form a mortar-less joint, wherein an outward face of at least one of the front or rear panels comprises a finished surface such that, in use, the finished surface does not require further finishing, including further rendering or tiling.  
   
   
       2 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein the said spacer means comprises passageways in said means to space the front panel from the rear panel.  
   
   
       3 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein the building block is adapted to allow the cavity of one building block to be open to the cavity of an abutting building block in both vertical and horizontal axes.  
   
   
       4 . A building block according to  claim 1 , wherein the building block is further adapted to permit reinforcing bars to pass through the cavity.  
   
   
       5 . A building block according to  claim 4  wherein the reinforcing bars pass through the cavity in both a vertical and horizontal direction.  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein said interlocking means comprises a projecting rim on adjacent sides of each panel and corresponding recessed shoulders on opposing adjacent sides of each panel whereby the projecting rims on one block engage with the recessed shoulders on abutting blocks.  
   
   
       8 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein, in use, said interlocking means are substantially fluid tight.  
   
   
       9 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein said building block is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       10 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein said building block further comprises an insulation layer.  
   
   
       11 . A building block according to  claim 10  wherein said insulation layer is on the front panel.  
   
   
       12 . A building block according to  claim 1 , wherein said building block is used to build a structure by laying rows of blocks one above another and pouring a filling material into the cavity formed between said front and said rear faces of the blocks.  
   
   
       13 . A building block according to  claim 12  wherein horizontal reinforcing bars are laid in the cavity of each row before the next row is formed.  
   
   
       14 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein said filling material is concrete.  
   
   
       15 . A building block according to  claim 14  wherein when said concrete is poured into said cavity it forms a substantially continuous concrete membrane between said front and said rear panels.  
   
   
       16 . A building block according to  claim 12 , wherein said structure is a wall.  
   
   
       17 . A building block according to  claim 12 , wherein said structure is a swimming pool.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A building block according to  claim 1 , wherein said outward face of said front panel comprises a pool wall finish.  
   
   
       20 . A building block according to  claim 19  wherein said pool wall finish comprises one or more tile shapes wherein said tile shapes are so sized, shaped and configured so as to abut against tile shapes on an adjacent abutting block to create a continuous tile effect.  
   
   
       21 . A building block according to  claim 19  wherein said pool wall finish is a smooth face suitable for taking a pool liner.  
   
   
       22 . A building block according to  claim 1 , wherein said outward face of said rear panel is adapted to comprise a brick or stone effect.  
   
   
       23 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein said building block further incorporates drainage channels.  
   
   
       24 . A building block according to  claim 1  wherein said building block is manufactured out of a cement based material such as pumice, marblite and resin concrete.  
   
   
       25 . A building block according to  claim 1 , wherein said building block is manufactured out of a non-cement based material including plastics, wood, metal, fibreglass, stainless steel, ceramic tile, chipboard, MDF (hardboard), solid marble or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       26 - 51 . (canceled)  
   
   
       52 . A kit for constructing a building block according to  claim 1 , comprising a front panel, a rear panel and means to space the front panel from the rear panel to create a cavity therebetween, whereby said front panel, said rear panel and said spacer means are formed separately and can be assembled to form a building block.  
   
   
       53 . A kit for constructing a building block according to  claim 52  wherein said front panel and said rear panel are constructed out of different materials.  
   
   
       54 . A kit for constructing a building block according to  claim 52 , wherein said spacer means has interchangeable end fittings appropriate to the front and rear faces.  
   
   
       55 . A kit for constructing a building block according to  claim 52 , wherein said spacer means is attached to said front and rear panels by clipping, screwing or gluing.  
   
   
       56 . A structure comprising building blocks according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       57 . A method of forming a structure wherein the improvement comprises using building blocks according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       58 . A structure according to  claim 56  wherein said structure is a wall.  
   
   
       59 . A structure according to  claim 56  wherein said structure is a swimming pool.  
   
   
       60 - 62 . (canceled)  
   
   
       63 . The structure of  claim 59 , wherein said interlocking means stops water seeping between adjacent blocks as defined by  claim 1  when the swimming pool is filled with water.  
   
   
       64 . A building block according to  claim 10 , wherein the insulation layer is on the rear panel.