Link insert and masonsry brick construction system

Abstract

A link insert for interlocking two masonry bricks, The link insert comprising first and second end members and at least one bridging member interconnecting said first and second end members. A central plane passes through the centre of both the first and second end members, with each of the first and second end members having plane symmetry about the central plane, each half of the first and second end members having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within at least one hole in either of the two masonry bricks.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A link insert for interlocking two masonry bricks, said link insert comprising first and second end members and at least one bridging member interconnecting said first and second end members, wherein a first central plane passes through the centre of both said first and second end members, each of said first and second end members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, each half of said first and second end members having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within at least one hole in either of said two masonry bricks. 
     
     
         2 . The link insert according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said masonry bricks is substantially rectangular in shape, having opposed upper and lower faces on either side of a second central plane, opposed sides, and opposed ends, each of said upper and lower faces has at least a first channel disposed longitudinally therein between said opposed ends, and wherein said at least one hole is two spaced apart holes each of which extend between said first channels, and each hole having a tapered bore portion near its open ends at respective said channels. 
     
     
         3 . The link insert according to  claim 2 , wherein said masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in a first row for the purpose of constructing a wall or other structure, said masonry bricks having their respective channel in said upper face aligned, and said link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within respective first channels of said masonry bricks with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said first channels. 
     
     
         4 . The link insert according to  claim 3 , wherein said masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in said first row with other like masonry bricks, said other like bricks similarly removably connected by like link inserts, and a second row of bricks is laid upon said first row of bricks with said link insert and like link inserts disposed therebetween, and the upper halves of said first and second end members of said link insert and like link inserts engaging with holes in the first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks with at least an upper portion of the respective bridging members of said link insert and like link inserts disposed within said first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks. 
     
     
         5 . The link insert according to  claim 2 , wherein each said masonry brick has at least two second channels in each of said upper and lower faces, each second channel orthogonal to said first channel and disposed at a respective said hole, and each said second channel in said upper face allowing for a like masonry brick to be laid orthogonally to said masonry brick, and said link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within said masonry brick and like masonry brick with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said second channel of said masonry brick and the first channel in the upper face of said like brick. 
     
     
         6 . The link insert according to  claim 1 , wherein said link insert is substantially made of plastic, including material which is recycled plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The link insert according to  claim 6 , wherein when either of said first and second end engage and seat within said at least one hole in either of said two masonry bricks, they do so in a tight fit. 
     
     
         8 . The link insert according to  claim 1 , wherein a central member is disposed between said first and second end members, said central member like that of said first and second members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, and each half of said central member having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within said at least one hole in either of said two masonry bricks, and said at least one bridging member is at least first and second bridging members, said first bridging member interconnects said central member to said first end member, and said second bridging member interconnects said central member to said second end member, and said at least first and second bridging members are orthogonally disposed to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The link insert according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bridging member is single bridging member. 
     
     
         10 . The link insert in according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bridging member has at least one curved side. 
     
     
         11 . The link insert according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bridging member has at least one opening therein. 
     
     
         12 . A system for constructing walls or other structures, said system using a plurality of link inserts to engage and interconnect with a plurality of masonry bricks, said plurality of link inserts includes at least a first type of link insert;
 said first type of link insert comprising two end members and at least one bridging member interconnecting said first and second end members, wherein a first central plane passes through the centre of both said first and second end members, each of said first and second end members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, each half of said first and second end members having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within at least one of two spaced apart holes in either of said two masonry bricks; and   each of said masonry bricks is substantially rectangular in shape, having opposed upper and lower faces on either side of a second central plane, opposed sides, and opposed ends, each of said upper and lower faces has at least a first channel disposed longitudinally therein between said opposed ends, and wherein said two spaced apart holes extend between said first channels, and each hole having a tapered bore portion near its open ends at respective said channels.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein two of said masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in a first row for the purpose of constructing said wall or other structure, said masonry bricks having their respective channel in said upper face aligned, and said first type of link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within respective first channels of said masonry bricks with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said first channels. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein said two masonry bricks are laid end-to-end in said first row with other like masonry bricks, said other like bricks similarly removably connected by like first type of link inserts, and a second row of bricks is laid upon said first row of bricks with said first type of link insert and like link inserts disposed therebetween, and the upper halves of said first and second end members of said first type of link inserts and like link inserts engaging with holes in the first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks with at least an upper portion of the respective bridging members of said first type of link insert and like link inserts disposed within said first channels of the lower faces of said second row of masonry bricks. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein each said masonry brick has at least two second channels in each of said upper and lower faces, each second channel orthogonal to said first channel and disposed at a respective said hole, and each said second channel in said upper face allowing for a like masonry brick to be laid orthogonally to said masonry brick, and said first type of link insert removably connected to same by the lower halves of said first and second end members engaging with holes within said masonry brick and like masonry brick with at least a lower portion of said bridging member lying within said second channel of said masonry brick and the first channel in the upper face of said like brick.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of link inserts includes at least a second type of link insert; and
 said second type of link insert comprising first and second end members like that of said first type of link insert, and a central member disposed between said first and second end members and at least first and second bridging members, said first bridging member interconnects said central member to said first end member, and said second bridging member interconnects said central member to said second end member, said central member like that of said first and second members having plane symmetry about said first central plane, and each half of said central member having a substantially tapered form to engage and seat within said at least one of two spaced apart holes in either of said two masonry bricks, and said at least first and second bridging members are orthogonally disposed to each other.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one bridging member of said first type of link insert is a single bridging member. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one bridging member of said first type of link insert has at least one curved side. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one bridging member of said first type of link insert has at least one opening therein.