Blockout device

Abstract

A blockout device for at least partially blocking a through cavity of a concrete block and supporting a settable material comprises a frangible region adapted to accommodate conduits of various transverse sizes, by providing an opening the size of which can be adjusted to accommodate a conduit of any of a number of different transverse sizes.

1 . A blockout device, for use with masonry blocks having at least one through cavity, the blockout device comprising:
 at least one blocking region, adapted to extend at least partially across a through cavity of the masonry block in use, to at least partially block the through cavity, and to support a settable material above the block;   the at least one blocking region having a frangible region adapted to accommodate conduits of various transverse sizes, by providing an opening the size of which can be adjusted to accommodate a conduit of any of a number of different transverse sizes.   
     
     
         2 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the size of the opening can be adjusted by breaking or tearing one or more parts of the frangible region. 
     
     
         3 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the size of the opening can be adjusted by forcing said conduit through the frangible region, so that the size of the opening is substantially determined by the transverse size of the conduit forced therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the frangible region provides an array of areas of weakness adapted, in use, to provide an aperture the size of which can be adjusted by breaking, or tearing along, one or more of said areas of weakness. 
     
     
         5 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said frangible region comprises a plurality of lines of weakness provided in the blocking region, forming at least one set of substantially concentric circles. 
     
     
         6 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the frangible region provides an array of perforations, the array comprising a plurality of lines of perforations, and the array being adapted, in use, to provide an aperture the size of which can be adjusted by breaking or tearing along appropriate lines of perforations. 
     
     
         7 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the array of perforations comprises one or both of: at least one curved line of perforations defining a circle; and a plurality of lines of perforations which radiate outwardly relative to a common point and which are angularly spaced apart about that common point. 
     
     
         8 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the array of perforations comprises at least two sets of substantially concentric circles of perforations. 
     
     
         9 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the array of perforations further comprises a plurality of lines of perforations which extend between two or more substantially concentric circles of perforations. 
     
     
         10 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the frangible region is adapted to allow a conduit to pass therethrough, whilst accommodating said conduit sufficiently snugly that in use passage of a settable construction material between the blocking region and the conduit is substantially prevented. 
     
     
         11 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blockout device is be adapted to block out a plurality of masonry block through cavities, and comprises a plurality blocking regions adapted to block respective masonry block through cavities, each blocking region being provided with a frangible region. 
     
     
         12 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the blockout device is provided with a further frangible region adapted to allow a first part of the device, provided with a blocking region, to be separated from a second part of the device provided with a blocking region. 
     
     
         13 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one device support region adapted to be placed upon an upper surface of a masonry block in order to support the blockout device relative to the upper surface;
 wherein at least one said blocking region is connected to at least one intermediate region, the intermediate region being for supporting said blocking region relative to at least one said device support region, wherein the intermediate region is adapted, in use, to extend downwardly from the device support region and at least partially defines at least one boundary of at least one device support region and at least one blocking region.   
     
     
         14 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the frangible region is adapted to provide a plurality of openings, each opening adapted to allow a conduit to pass therethrough, and wherein the frangible region is configured so that the size of each opening is adjustable to accommodate a conduit of any of a number of different transverse sizes. 
     
     
         15 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the blockout device is made from a substantially transparent plastic, such that visibility, from a first side of device, of part of a conduit which is on a second side of the device, is facilitated. 
     
     
         16 . A blockout device, for use with a masonry block having a through cavity in order to at least partially block one or more through cavities of the masonry block, the blockout device comprising:
 at least one device support region adapted to be placed upon an upper surface of the masonry block in order to support the blockout device relative to the upper surface;   at least one blocking region, the or each blocking region being for at least partially blocking a through cavity of said masonry block and for supporting settable building material; and   wherein at least one said blocking region is connected to at least one intermediate region, the intermediate region being for supporting said blocking region relative to at least one said device support region, wherein the intermediate region is adapted, in use, to extend downwardly from the device support region.   
     
     
         17 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least one blocking region is substantially planar, wherein the or each device support region is substantially planar and wherein the plane of at least one blocking region is substantially parallel to a plane of at least one device support region. 
     
     
         18 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein one or more intermediate regions is angled at between 90 and 15 degrees relative to the blocking region. 
     
     
         19 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least one blocking region is configured to provide, in use, at least one aperture through which a conduit can pass from a first side of the device to a second side of the device. 
     
     
         20 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein one or more intermediate regions are adapted to extend, in use, from at least one device support region supported on an upper surface of the block, into a cavity of the block and to assist in locating the device relative to a cavity of a block so that the blocking region is located in the cavity of the block below the top of the cavity, by engaging a part of the block which defines the cavity thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein at least one said blocking region, and its immediately adjacent intermediate region(s) have at least one overall dimension which is substantially equal in size to a corresponding dimension of the cavity of a masonry block of a standard size, thereby assisting in location of the device relative to the block. 
     
     
         22 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the periphery of the device is dimensioned so that the device is adapted to be wedged into the cavity of a standard size masonry block of a second standard size such that the device is oriented substantially parallel to a plane defined by the upper surface of the block. 
     
     
         23 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the device is made from a single piece of plastic. 
     
     
         24 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the blackout device comprises a plurality of blocking regions and is adapted to block out a plurality of masonry block through cavities. 
     
     
         25 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the blockout device comprises two or more discrete blocking regions, each adapted to at least partially block a corresponding masonry block through cavity. 
     
     
         26 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the blockout device is provided with a frangible region adapted to allow a first part of the device, provided with a blocking region, to be separated from a second part of the device provided with a blocking region. 
     
     
         27 . A blockout device, for use with a masonry block having a through cavity, the blockout device comprising a blocking region, for at least partially blocking a through cavity of said masonry block, which is adapted to provide, in use, at least one aperture through which a conduit can pass from a first side of the device to a second side of the device, wherein at least part of the blockout device is made from a substantially transparent plastic, such that visibility, from the first side of device, of part of a conduit which is on the second side of the device, is facilitated. 
     
     
         28 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the device further comprises one or more device support regions adapted to be placed upon an upper surface of a masonry block in order to support the blockout device relative to the upper surface, and one or more. 
     
     
         29 . The blockout device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of blocking regions and is adapted to block out a plurality of masonry block through cavities. 
     
     
         30 . A blockout device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein at least one said device support region comprises the one or more features adapted in use to facilitate securing of at least part of said device support region by a material applied to said support region to secure the device to a masonry block.