Exterior wall structure of a building

Abstract

An exterior wall structure of a building. The exterior wall structure comprises an inner wall and an outer wall that are separated from each other to define a cavity therebetween. The outer wall comprises a plurality of concrete blocks. The exterior wall structure also comprises a connection system interconnecting the inner wall and the outer wall. The connection system comprises a plurality of elongated structural members, each elongated structural member being fastened to the inner wall. The connection system also comprises a plurality of connecting elements, each connecting element being connected to a given one of the elongated structural elements and to a given one of the concrete blocks. Each of the elongated structural members is connected to plural ones of the concrete blocks via plural ones of the connecting elements.

1 . A system for interconnecting an outer wall and an inner wall of an exterior wall structure, the outer wall and the inner wall being separated from each other to define a cavity therebetween, the outer wall comprising a plurality of concrete blocks, said system comprising:
 a plurality of elongated structural members, each elongated structural member being adapted to be fastened to the inner wall; and   a plurality of connecting elements, each connecting element being adapted to be connected to a given one of said elongated structural elements and to a given one of the concrete blocks;   
     wherein each of said elongated structural members is adapted to be connected to plural ones of the concrete blocks via plural ones of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said elongated structural members comprises a first portion adapted to be fastened to the inner wall and a second portion adapted to be connected to given ones of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       3 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first portion and said second portion form an L-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       4 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first portion comprises a first plurality of apertures adapted to receive fasteners for fastening said elongated structural member to the inner wall and said second portion comprises a second plurality of apertures each adapted to receive a portion of a given one of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       5 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said elongated structural members has a length of at least 1 m. 
   
   
       6 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said connecting elements comprises a first portion for connection to a particular one of said elongated structural members and a second portion for connection to a particular one of the concrete blocks. 
   
   
       7 . A system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of said elongated structural members comprises a plurality of apertures, said first portion being insertable into one of the apertures of said particular one of said elongated structural members to connect said connecting element to said particular one of said elongated structural members. 
   
   
       8 . A system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of the concrete blocks comprises a rear surface having at least one groove, said second portion being configured to fit and be retained in one of the at least one groove of the particular one of the concrete blocks to connect said connecting element to the particular one of the concrete blocks. 
   
   
       9 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said connecting elements comprises a rod bent to form a first portion for connection to a particular one of said elongated structural members and a second portion for connection to a particular one of the concrete blocks. 
   
   
       10 . A system for use in constructing an exterior wall structure, the exterior wall structure comprising an inner wall, said system comprising:
 a plurality of concrete blocks adapted to be stacked to erect an outer wall of the exterior wall structure, the outer wall and the inner wall intended to be separated from each other to define a cavity therebetween;   a plurality of elongated structural members, each elongated structural member being adapted to be fastened to the inner wall; and   a plurality of connecting elements, each connecting element being adapted to be connected to a given one of said elongated structural elements and to a given one of said concrete blocks;   
     wherein each of said elongated structural members is adapted to be connected to plural ones of said concrete blocks via plural ones of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       11 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said elongated structural members comprises a first portion adapted to be fastened to the inner wall and a second portion adapted to be connected to given ones of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       12 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said first portion and said second portion form an L-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       13 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said first portion comprises a first plurality of apertures adapted to receive fasteners for fastening said elongated structural member to the inner wall and said second portion comprises a second plurality of apertures each adapted to receive a portion of a given one of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       14 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said elongated structural members has a length of at least 1 m. 
   
   
       15 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said connecting elements comprises a first portion for connection to a particular one of said elongated structural members and a second portion for connection to a particular one of said concrete blocks. 
   
   
       16 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each of said elongated structural members comprises a plurality of apertures, said first portion being insertable into one of the apertures of said particular one of said elongated structural members to connect said connecting element to said particular one of said elongated structural members. 
   
   
       17 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each of said concrete blocks comprises a rear surface having at least one groove, said second portion being configured to fit and be retained in one of the at least one groove of said particular one of said concrete blocks to connect said connecting element to said particular one of said concrete blocks. 
   
   
       18 . A system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one groove comprises a plurality of grooves. 
   
   
       19 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said connecting elements comprises a rod bent to form a first portion for connection to a particular one of said elongated structural members and a second portion for connection to a particular one of said concrete blocks. 
   
   
       20 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said concrete blocks is a dry-cast concrete block and has a front surface comprising at least one portion having a cast texture with a natural stone appearance. 
   
   
       21 . A system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said at least one portion comprises a plurality of portions each having a cast texture with a natural stone appearance. 
   
   
       22 . A system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of portions are separated from each other by at least one depression of said front surface. 
   
   
       23 . A system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein each of said at least one depression serves as a false joint. 
   
   
       24 . A system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said at least one portion is an entirety of said front surface. 
   
   
       25 . A system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein each of said concrete blocks has two lateral surfaces defining a height of said concrete block, and wherein a difference in height between different ones of said concrete blocks is less than 1 mm. 
   
   
       26 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein each of said concrete blocks has two lateral surfaces defining a width of said concrete block, and wherein a difference in width between different ones of said concrete blocks is less than 1 mm. 
   
   
       27 . An exterior wall structure comprising:
 an inner wall;   an outer wall comprising a plurality of concrete blocks, said inner wall and said outer wall being separated from each other to define a cavity therebetween;   a plurality of elongated structural members, each elongated structural member being fastened to said inner wall; and   a plurality of connecting elements, each connecting element being connected to a given one of said elongated structural elements and to a given one of said concrete blocks;   
     wherein each of said elongated structural members is connected to plural ones of said concrete blocks via plural ones of said connecting elements. 
   
   
       28 . A method for use in constructing an exterior wall structure, the exterior wall structure comprising an inner wall, said method comprising:
 securing at least one elongated structural member to the inner wall;   placing a plurality of concrete blocks horizontally adjacent to each other to form a course; and   for each of the concrete blocks, connecting each of at least one connecting element to said concrete block and to one of the at least one elongated structural member secured to the inner wall in alignment with the course.   
   
   
       29 . A plurality of dry-cast concrete blocks for use in constructing an outer wall of an exterior wall structure, the exterior wall structure comprising an inner wall, the outer wall and the inner wall intended to be separated to define a cavity therebetween, each of said dry-cast concrete blocks comprising:
 a front surface comprising at least one portion having a cast texture with a natural stone appearance;   a rear surface defining with said front surface a thickness of said dry-cast concrete block;   two lateral surfaces defining a height of said dry-cast concrete block; and   two lateral surfaces defining a width of said dry-cast concrete block;   
     wherein a difference in height between different ones of said dry-cast concrete blocks is less than 1 mm. 
   
   
       30 . A plurality of dry-cast concrete blocks as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said difference in height is less than about 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       31 . A plurality of dry-cast concrete blocks as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein a difference in width between different ones of said dry-cast concrete blocks is less than 1 mm. 
   
   
       32 . A plurality of dry-cast concrete blocks as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said rear surface has at least one groove enabling said dry-cast concrete block to be connected to the inner wall via a connection system. 
   
   
       33 . A plurality of dry-cast concrete blocks as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said at least one groove comprises a plurality of grooves.