Building block system

Abstract

An interlocking concrete block for forming horizontal wall-channels for reinforcement of block walls of dry-stack, vertically-offset, double-wythe construction. The block has an outer block wall on one side and a head portion extending to the opposed side. The head portion has a connecting portion which interfits with a receptacle of a similar block. The block has a channel extending generally parallel to the outer block wall. In a block wall, two vertically-adjacent series of the blocks form a horizontal wall channel which can hold a reinforcing bar and in-filled concrete, for horizontal reinforcement of the wall.

1 . A block ( 10 ) for use in interlocking with other similar blocks in forming a substantially horizontal channel ( 52 ) in a building wall ( 54 ), the block comprising:
 a top surface ( 12 );   a bottom surface ( 14 );   an outer block wall ( 16 ) defining a first side surface ( 17 ) of the block;   an interlocking section for attachment to the interlocking section of a cooperating interlocking block whose first side surface is opposite to the first side surface of the block; and   a channel ( 26 ) open to the block top surface ( 12 ) extending generally parallel to the outer block wall and having two opposed channel side walls ( 28 ,  30 ) and a channel bottom wall ( 32 ).   
   
   
       2 . A block ( 10 ) for use in interlocking with other similar blocks in forming a substantially horizontal channel ( 52 ) in a building wall ( 54 ), the block comprising:
 a top surface ( 12 );   a bottom surface ( 14 );   an outer block wall ( 16 ) defining a first side surface ( 17 ) of the block;   a head portion ( 18 ) extending from the outer block wall towards an opposed, second side surface ( 20 );   the head portion defining at least one connecting portion ( 22 );   at least one receptacle ( 24 ) substantially matching in shape the connecting portion ( 22 ) for receiving in interlocking relationship the connecting portion of a cooperating interlocking block whose first side surface is opposite to the first side surface ( 17 ) of the block ( 10 ); and   a channel ( 26 ) open to the block top surface ( 12 ) extending generally parallel to the outer block wall and having two opposed channel side walls ( 28 ,  30 ) and a channel bottom wall ( 32 ).   
   
   
       3 . A block ( 10 ) for use in interlocking with other similar blocks in forming a substantially horizontal channel ( 52 ) in a building wall ( 54 ), the block comprising:
 a top surface ( 12 );   a bottom surface ( 14 );   an outer block wall ( 16 ) defining a first side surface ( 17 ) of the block;   a head portion ( 18 ) extending from the outer block wall toward an opposed, second side surface ( 20 );   two connecting portions ( 22 ) each on a respective side of the head portion;   two abutment portions ( 36 ) each at a respective end of the outer block wall and each defining a respective abutment shoulder ( 38 );   a central groove ( 40 ) in the head portion at a position thereon opposite to the outer block wall ( 16 ), the groove at opposite ends thereof defining two inwardly facing shoulders ( 42 ) each for engaging and retaining the abutment portion of a respective one of two abutting blocks such that the abutment portions ( 36 ) are retained end to end within the central groove ( 40 );   wherein there is defined between the abutment portion and the connecting portion a receptacle ( 24 ) substantially matching in shape the connecting portion ( 22 ) for receiving in interlocking relationship the connecting portion of a cooperating interlocking block; and   wherein the block defines a channel ( 26 ) open to the block top surface ( 12 ) extending substantially parallel to the outer block wall ( 16 ) and having two opposed channel side walls ( 28 ,  30 ) and a channel bottom wall ( 32 ).   
   
   
       4 . A block according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  wherein the channel bottom wall ( 32 ) is spaced from the block bottom surface ( 14 ) by a distance that is greater than the distance between the channel bottom wall and the block top surface ( 12 ). 
   
   
       5 . A block according to any one of  claims 1 - 4  wherein the block defines a hole ( 34 ) extending therethrough generally perpendicular to the block bottom surface. 
   
   
       6 . A building wall ( 54 ) comprising: a plurality of interlocking blocks ( 1 ), at least some of the blocks each comprising: a top surface ( 12 ); a bottom surface ( 14 ); an outer block wall ( 16 ) defining a first side surface ( 17 ) of the block; a head portion ( 18 ) extending from the outer block wall toward an opposed, second side surface ( 20 ); a connecting portion ( 22 ) on the head portion;
 two abutment portions ( 36 ) each at a respective end of the outer block wall ( 16 ); a receptacle ( 24 ) substantially matching in shape the connecting portion; a channel ( 26 ) open to the block top surface ( 12 ) extending substantially parallel to the outer block wall and having two opposed channel side walls ( 28 ,  30 ) and a channel bottom wall ( 32 );   the blocks being arranged to define a first series ( 44 ) of the blocks in which the first side surface ( 17 ) of each of the first series of blocks is arranged to form a first vertical side surface ( 46 ) of the wall, and a second series ( 48 ) of the blocks in which the first side surface ( 17 ) of each of the second series of blocks is arranged to form a second vertical side surface ( 50 ) of the wall opposite to the first vertical side surface ( 46 );   the blocks being interlocked such that: two abutment portions ( 36 ) each of a respective one of two adjacent blocks of the second series ( 48 ) are positioned end to end; two abutment portions each of a respective one of two adjacent blocks of the first series are positioned end to end ; the receptacle ( 24 ) of each of the first series of blocks receives in interlocking relationship a respective connecting portion ( 22 ) of the second series of blocks; the receptacle of each of the second series of blocks receives in interlocking relationship a respective connecting portion of the first series of blocks; the channel bottom wall ( 32 ) of each of the blocks of the first series is spaced from and opposite to the channel bottom wall of a respective one of the blocks of the second series; and the channels ( 26 ) of the blocks of the first series and of the second series together form a wall channel ( 52 ) extending generally horizontally through the building wall ( 54 ).   
   
   
       7 . A building wall ( 54 ) comprising: a plurality of interlocking blocks ( 10 ), at least some of the blocks each comprising: a top surface ( 12 ); a bottom surface ( 14 ); an outer block wall ( 16 ) defining a first side surface ( 17 ) of the block; a head portion ( 18 ) extending from the outer block wall toward an opposed, second side surface ( 20 ); two connecting portions ( 22 ) each on a respective side of the head portion; two abutment portions ( 36 ) each at a respective end of the outer block wall ( 16 ) and each defining a respective abutment shoulder ( 38 ) on a face of the outer block wall opposite to the first side surface thereof; two receptacles ( 24 ) each arranged between a respective one of the abutment portions ( 36 ) and a respective one of the connecting portions ( 22 ); a central groove ( 40 ) in the head portion at a position thereon opposite to the outer block wall, the groove at opposite ends thereof defining two inwardly facing opposed shoulders ( 42 ); and a channel ( 26 ) open to the block top surface ( 12 ) extending substantially parallel to the outer block wall and having two opposed channel side walls ( 28 ,  30 ) and a channel bottom wall ( 32 );
 the blocks being arranged to define a first series ( 44 ) of the blocks in which the first side surface ( 17 ) of each of the first series of blocks is arranged to form a first vertical side surface ( 46 ) of the wall and a second series ( 48 ) of the blocks in which the first side surface ( 17 ) of each of the second series of blocks is arranged to form a second vertical side surface ( 50 ) of the wall opposite to the first vertical side surface ( 46 );   the blocks being interlocked such that: two abutment portions ( 36 ) each of a respective one of two adjacent blocks of the second series ( 48 ) fit into the central groove ( 40 ) in an opposed one of the blocks of the first series ( 44 ) such that the abutment portions are retained end to end within the central groove; two abutment portions each of a respective one of two adjacent blocks of the first series fit into the single central groove in an opposed one of the blocks of the second series such that the abutment portions are retained end to end within the single groove; each receptacle ( 24 ) of each of the first series of blocks receives in interlocking relationship a respective one of the connecting portions ( 22 ) of the second series of blocks; each receptacle of each of the second series of blocks receives in interlocking relationship a respective one of the connecting portions of the first series of blocks; the channel bottom wall ( 32 ) of each of the blocks of the first series is spaced from and opposite to the channel bottom wall of a respective one of the blocks of the second series; and wherein the channels ( 26 ) of the blocks of the first series and of the second series together form a wall channel ( 52 ) extending generally horizontally through the building wall ( 54 ).   
   
   
       8 . A building wall according to  claim 6  or  7  further comprising a reinforcing member ( 58 ) extending through the wall channel ( 52 ). 
   
   
       9 . A building wall according to  claim 8  further comprising mortar in said wall channel.