Building blocks with integrated assembling design

Abstract

A new building material made of chopped straw, cement, mortar cement or lime combined together with a bonding agent is pressed into building blocks of different sizes and shapes. The blocks come in different sizes and shapes to serve different building needs and/or to fit an integrated assembly system. The blocks are interlocked or fitted to correspond to specific requirements. Depending on the proportions of the elements and the pressure exercised to make the blocks, the density can be controlled to increase either the insulation value or the structural value. The grooves, which are part of the interlocking system, can also be filled with concrete either vertically or horizontally or both to create a stronger structure calibrated according to additional structural needs. The resulting concrete structure can also be reinforced with steel rod to further increase its strength. This building material is highly adaptable and environmentally friendly.

1 . A building material for the construction of building blocks, the building material comprising: chopped straw; Portland cement; mortar cement or lime; and a bonding agent comprising a polymer emulsion, wherein the straw comprises the hulk of the volume of the building material.  
   
   
       2 . A building material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the straw is chopped in lengths substantially between 50 mm and 100 mm.  
   
   
       3 . A building material as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the straw comprises cereal straw.  
   
   
       4 . A building material as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the cereal straw is selected from the group of wheat, rye, barley, oats and rice.  
   
   
       5 . A building material as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bonding agent further comprises at least one of: mortar cement and lime.  
   
   
       6 . A building block formed of the building material as claimed in  claim 1 , the building block having a generally solid rectangular exterior configuration.  
   
   
       7 . A building block as claimed in  claim 6 , the building block comprising: 
 a front face;    a rear face opposite the front face;    a top surface adjacent to the front face arid the rear face, the top surface having a horizontal groove substantially parallel to the front face;    a bottom surface adjacent to the front face and the rear face, and opposite the top surface;    a first end face adjacent to: the front face; the rear face; the top surface; and the bottom surface, the first end face having a vertical groove substantially parallel to the front face; and    a second end face adjacent to: the front face; the rear face; the top surface; and the bottom surface, the second end facing being opposite the first end face.    
   
   
       8 . A building block as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second end face has a vertical groove, substantially parallel to the front face.  
   
   
       9 . A building block as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second end face has a vertical tongue, substantially parallel to the front face, the vertical tongue configured to mate with a corresponding vertical groove of an adjacent similar building block.  
   
   
       10 . A building block as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the bottom surface is substantially flat.  
   
   
       11 . A building block as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the bottom surface has a horizontal tongue substantially parallel to the front face, the horizontal tongue configured to mate with a corresponding horizontal groove of an adjacent similar building block below.  
   
   
       12 . A building block system comprising a plurality of building blocks of  claim 7 , the building blocks selected from one or more of: a first block having a horizontal groove on a top surface, a flat bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical groove; a second block having a horizontal groove on a top surface, a flat bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical tongue; a third block having a horizontal groove on a top surface, a horizontal tongue on a bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical groove; a fourth block having a horizontal groove on a top surface, a horizontal tongue on a bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical tongue, the system permitting building of a wall by stacking courses of blocks selected from the first block, second block, third block and fourth block such that blocks can be selected to mate vertical tongues with corresponding vertical grooves or to arrange facing vertical grooves of adjacent blocks to allow for filling the resulting cavity with reinforcing concrete, as required.  
   
   
       13 . A building block system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the blocks can be selected to mate horizontal tongues of blocks in a second course with corresponding horizontal grooves of blocks in a first course or to allow filling the continuous horizontal groove formed by the horizontal grooves of adjacent blocks in the first course with reinforcing concrete and subsequently stacking a second course of blocks with flat bottom surfaces, as required.  
   
   
       14 . A method of constructing a wall of a plurality of courses of building blocks of  claim 7 , the blocks selected from a set of blocks wherein: a fit block has a horizontal groove on a top surface, a flat bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical groove; a second block has a horizontal groove on a top surface, a flat bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical tongue; a third block has a horizontal groove on a top surface, a horizontal tongue on a bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical groove; a fourth block has a horizontal groove on a top surface, a horizontal tongue on a bottom surface, a first end face having a vertical groove and a second end face having a vertical tongue, the method comprising steps of: 
 laying a first course of blocks having a flat bottom surface, end-to-end such that where a reinforcing column is not required, adjacent blocks arm selected to mate a vertical groove of one block with a corresponding vertical tongue of an adjacent block; or where a reinforcing column is required, adjacent blocks are selected to present facing vertical grooves to form a vertical cavity between the adjacent blocks;    filling any vertical cavity in the first course with reinforcing concrete;    where horizontal reinforcement is not required, laying a subsequent course of blocks having horizontal tongues to mate with the horizontal grooves of the preceding course below; or where horizontal reinforcement is required, filling we continuous horizontal groove formed by the horizontal grooves of adjacent blocks of the preceding course below with reinforcing concrete and laying a subsequent course of blocks with flat bottom surfaces, end to end; and    filling any vertical cavities in the subsequent course with reinforcing concrete.    
   
   
       15 . A method of constructing a wall as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a step of gluing adjacent blocks together with a mortar slurry.  
   
   
       16 . A method of constructing a wail as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a step of gluing adjacent blocks together with grout.  
   
   
       17 . A method of constructing a wall as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the vertical spaces of each course align with the vertical spaces of the preceding course below.  
   
   
       18 . A method of constructing a wall as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a step of placing reinforcing rods in reinforcing concrete in the aligned vertical spaces.  
   
   
       19 . A method of constructing a wall as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a step of placing reinforcing rods in the reinforcing concrete in the continuous horizontal groove.  
   
   
       20 . A method of constructing a wall as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a step of applying a finish coat directly to the wall, the finish coat selected from the group of mortar, stucco and plaster.