Concrete masonry hollow block

Abstract

A building block having a body with three sets of opposing outer sides defining thereby a generally rectangular outer shape, the body having at least one passageway having an upper open end at a top of the block and an open lower end at a bottom of the block. An inner part of the block is comprised of a first material, and a second different material surrounds the inner part providing thereby an at least substantially continuous outer surface of said second material. A one side of a one of the sets of opposing sides having at least one protrusion extending outwardly from a planar surface of the side, and at least one cavity in the further opposed side of the same set of opposed sides in a position and of a size to receive and effect an alignment of a further block having the same shape and size of this first defined block, by receiving a or the protrusions into the cavity or cavities.

1 . A building block having a body with three sets of opposing outer sides defining thereby a generally rectangular outer shape,
 the body having at least one passageway having an upper open end at a top of the block and an open lower end at a bottom of the block,   an inner part of the block being of a first material and a second different material from said first material providing a facing on at least selected outer surfaces thereof, and   a one side of a one of the sets of opposing sides having at least one protrusion extending outwardly from a planar surface of the side, and   at least one cavity in the further opposed side of the same set of opposed sides in a position and of a size to receive and effect an alignment of a further block having the same shape and size of this first defined block, by receiving a or the protrusions into the cavity or cavities.   
   
   
       2 . The building block as in  claim 1 , wherein the second material is denser than the first material. 
   
   
       3 . The building block as in  claim 2 , wherein the second material is a cementitious material. 
   
   
       4 . The building block as in  claim 3 , wherein the second material is made from a mix comprising at least in the main, cement, sand and water. 
   
   
       5 . The building block as in  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a mixture of expanded plastic particles and a cementitious binder. 
   
   
       6 . The building block as in  claim 5 , wherein the first material is a mixture including at least in the main, cement, sand, water and expanded polystyrene beads. 
   
   
       7 . The building block as in  claim 6 , wherein the first material includes an additive to ensure that the expanded polystyrene particles or beads are compatible with the wet mixture, and be mixable therewith. 
   
   
       8 . The building block as in  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly extending protrusion extends from an upper face of the block, and the cavity is formed in the bottom or underneath face of the block, and wherein in use, the cavity is adapted to accept an outwardly extending protrusion of a further block for the purpose of joining and causing to be aligned the two building blocks. 
   
   
       9 . The building block as in  claim 1 , wherein one or more slots divide the outwardly extending protrusion, so that a further block can register and, nest therewith in either an overlapping or fully coincident registering position. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The building block as in  claim 9 , wherein the protrusions are orthogonally symmetrical with respect to the b lock. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . The building, block as in  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is defined by a skirt extending around a lower perimeter of the block so as to be integral therewith. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A building block including two oppositely positioned side walls and two oppositely positioned end walls which together define at least one inner passageway extending fully through the block from a bottom to a top of the block,
 an outer uppermost perimeter of the respective walls together all being within a single plane, and a portion of the respective walls behind the upper outer uppermost perimeter being higher than the outer perimeter,   an outer lowermost perimeter of the respective walls together all being within a single plane, and   a portion of the respective walls behind the outer lowermost perimeter being higher than the outer perimeter,   wherein said latter portion is positioned and shaped so that it provides a receiving shape where an identical block, if resting on first said block so as to have aligned outermost side faces, would have its outer lowermost perimeter substantial coincide with the outer uppermost perimeter of the first said block, and   where an inner part of the block is of a first material and there is a second different material from said first material providing a facing on at least selected outer surfaces thereof.   
   
   
       16 . A building block which is of substantively rectangular external shape with two oppositely positioned outer sides, two oppositely positioned outer ends and a top and bottom,
 a hollow passageway extending fully through the block from the top of the block through to the bottom of the block,   a plurality of protrusions each extending above a plane defined by a top of the block,   each protrusion being located so as to have an inner side adjacent or adjoining to extend along a portion of a perimeter at a top of the hollow passageway, and   one or more receiving cavities extending into the planar surface of the bottom of the block, the or each cavity corresponding in shape and location so as to receive a one or more protrusions extending into the bottom surface,   where the respective protrusions and cavity or cavities are in respectively mutually corresponding positions, and   where an inner part of the block is of a first material and there is a second different material from said first material providing a facing on at least selected outer surfaces thereof.   
   
   
       17 . A construction in which a first building block as characterised in any one of  claims 1 ,  15  or  16  directed to a block, wherein the first block is positioned on a second, substantially identical block, the first block having upwardly directed protrusions engaging corresponding cavities within the underneath face of the second block. 
   
   
       18 . The construction as in  claim 17 , wherein the respective blocks are held together by a building adhesive. 
   
   
       19 . An assembly of at least two blocks each of which is characterised as in any one of  claims 1 ,  15  or  16  to a block, where the dimensions and shape of a first of the blocks are substantially identical to the dimensions and shape of a second of the blocks, where the first of the blocks is positioned above and aligned to have a front and rear face of each define a common plane and where the first block with its bottom face is resting on, directly aligned and adhering by a thin adhesive interface extending at least substantially between the two mating faces of the respective blocks. 
   
   
       20 - 22 . (canceled)