GB2272920A

GB2272920A - Component for constructing pier in wall

Info

Publication number: GB2272920A
Application number: GB9324287A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew John Morse; Peter James Britton
Original assignee: ECC Construction Materials Ltd
Current assignee: Camas UK Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-26
Filing date: 1993-11-25
Publication date: 1994-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-25
Also published as: GB2272920B; GB9324287D0; GB9224816D0

Abstract

A moulded column or pier walling component 10 may be formed of concrete with a substantially square configuration. The length of side substantially corresponds to the length of one and a half conventional blocks and the height substantially corresponds to the height of a conventional block, with the component 10 being profiled during moulding to have side edges simulating faces 26 of blocks spaced by mortar gaps 28. Centrally along one side edge, the component 10 is formed with a cut-out 24. In use, one section of a first course 30 of blocks is laid, and a component 10 is positioned with an end block 31 of the section partly locating in the cut-out 24. The first course of blocks continues from the opposite side edge of the component 10, and, in the next course of blocks, a second component 10 is positioned on top of the first component 10 but turned through 180 DEG . Further courses of blocks and further components 10 are then similarly laid until the walling is completed with an interlinked pier formed by the components 10. End-or corner-pieces may be similarly construed. <IMAGE>

Description

Construction Comrv,iaiiL This invention relates to a construction component, particularly a component used in the construction of a column or pier in walling, and the method of constructing such walling.

The construction of garden walling having a pier on the end of the wall, at a corner of the wall, or at an intermediate location on the wall, in proper alignment with the wall, is a skilled job. Also it is generally necessary, in view of the height of the pier relative to the cross-section, to provide internal reinforcement. While it has previously been proposed to construct columns from precast concrete units with profiled outer edges, which are bonded together to provide stability, it has still been found necessary to provide metal reinforcement.

According to the present invention there is provided a construction component having opposed faces and a peripheral edge therebetween the peripheral edge having an inwardly extending recess within which can locate another element in the construction, the peripheral edge, at other than the recess, being profiled whereby to correspond to the outer appearance on the other element.

The recess may be complementary in shape to the configuration of an end part of the element. Preferably the opposed faces are such that at least one thereof can abut a corresponding face of another component in a construction whereby the adjacent components have a substantially parallel relation. The opposed faces may be substantially planar.

Preferably the component is formed of a moulded cementitious material such as concrete. The component may have a substantially rectangular, preferably square, configuration, with the recess formed by a cut-out on one side edge.

Preferably also, the component has a length of side substantially corresponding to the length of one and a half conventional blocks and a height substantially corresponding to the height of a conventional block. The profile on the peripheral edge may simulate the profile of conventional building components, such as bricks, blocks or stone.

The present invention also provides a method of constructing walling, the method comprising laying a first layer of construction elements, positioning a construction component as described in either of the two preceding paragraphs with an end part of one of the elements locating in the recess, whereby the component forms a part of the layer but protrudes to either side thereof, and similarly laying further layers and positioning further components with faces of adjacent ones of the components in abutment, until the components form a column in the walling.

Preferably the components are positioned at one end of the walling with the respective ones of the components in the same orientation. Alternatively, the or other of the components may be positioned at an intermediate location in the walling with alternate components turned through 1800, or the or others of the components may be positioned at a corner location in the walling with alternate components turned through 900.

The elements may be formed of a moulded cementitious material, and may have peripheral edges profiled to simulate the profile of conventional building components, such as bricks, blocks or stone.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a construction component according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows the construction component of Fig. 1 in use during construction of walling; and Fig. (a) to Fig. 3(c) show diagrammatically different arrangements of walling.

Referring to the drawings, a component 10 for use in the construction of a column or pier in walling, as hereinafter described, has a substantially square configuration, with side edges 12-18 between opposed faces 20,22. The component 10 has a length of side substantially corresponding to the length of one and a half conventional blocks and a height substantially corresponding to the height of a conventional block.

The component 10 is formed of a moulded cementitious material such as concrete and, during moulding, colour may be introduced to provide a desired colour in the formed component.

Substantially centrally along the side edge 12, the component 10 is formed with a recess in the form of a cut-out 24, the latter extending inwardly of the component 10 over a distance less than half the side length, and having a width substantially corresponding to the width of a conventional block. Along the side edges, apart from the edge of the cut-out 24, the component 10 is profiled during moulding to simulate faces 26 of blocks spaced by mortar gaps 28. The opposed faces 20,22 are substantially planar.

In order to construct walling having an intermediate pier, a first section of a first course 30 of blocks is laid at the required location and a component 10 is positioned at the end of the section with an end block 31 of the latter partly locating in the cut-out 24, as shown in Fig. 2. The component 10 thereby provides a continuation of the course of blocks and protrudes to either side of the course. The first course of blocks continues from the opposite side edge 16 of the component 10, abutting against the face 26 thereof. The next course of blocks is then partly laid at said other side of the component 10 with an end block 32 extending over the component 10.A second component 10 is then positioned on top of the first component 10, with the top face 20 of the latter abutting the lower face 22 of the second component 10, and an end part of the block 32 locating in the cut-out 24 of the latter, i.e. the second component 10 is turned through 1800 relative to the first component 10, The second course of blocks is then continued at the opposite side 16 of the second component 10, abutting the outer face 26 thereof. Further courses of blocks and further construction components 10 are then similarly laid until the walling is completed with an interlinked pier formed by the components 10. Such an intermediate pier is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3(c).

In an alternative arrangement, where the pier is required to be at the end of the walling, the first course of blocks can be laid as described in relation to Fig. 2 with the first construction component 10 similarly located. No further part of the course is built at the opposite side of the component 10, and the second component 10 is laid in the same orientation as the first component 10, as are the other components 10 subsequently laid one above the other to form the pier.

Such an end pier is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3(a).

The construction component 10 can also be used to construct a corner pier as shown in Fig. 3(b). In this arrangement alternate ones of the components 10 are turned through 90 relative to one another as required.

The interlinking construction of the pier with traditional blocks facilitates the building of the walling in a proper alignment, and the configuration of the construction component provides sufficient weight and structural stability to a pier of given size, thereby obviating or mitigating the need to add steel reinforcement. The pier will require less mortar jointing than one built with individual blocks. As an alternative, the pier can be left unpointed to simulate dry stone walling. The invention enables conventional style piers to be built without cutting and with much greater ease than with traditional methods.

It should be appreciated that the walling can be constructed from other types of blocks or bricks. The walling can also be constructed using precast concrete units profiled to simulate more than one course of walling blocks, bricks, or stone, and having a stepped configuration, whereby adjacent units can have end parts overlapping, and the end parts can overlie the construction components as necessary.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the construction component may have other than a square configuration, such as any other rectangular configuration or a circular configuration. Where weight of component is not critical, the component may have material removed from a central area. The edge profile may be other than that described and shown, the requirement being normally to correspond to the external appearance of the walling.

Claims

1. A construction component having opposed faces and a peripheral edge therebetween the peripheral edge having an inwardly extending recess within which can locate another element in the construction, the peripheral edge, at other than the recess, being profiled whereby to correspond to the outer appearance on the other element.

2. A component according to Claim 1, wherein the recess is complementary in shape to the configuration of an end part of the element.

3. A component according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the opposed faces are such that at least one thereof can abut a corresponding face of another component in a construction whereby the adjacent components have a substantially parallel relation.

4. A component according to Claim 3, wherein the opposed faces are substantially planar.

5. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the component is formed of a moulded cementitious material.

6. A component according to Claim 5, wherein the material is concrete.

7. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the component has a substantially rectangular configuration, with the recess formed by a cut-out on one side edge.

8. A component according to Claim 7, wherein the component has a square configuration.

9. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the component has a length of side substantially corresponding to the length of one and a half conventional blocks and a height substantially corresponding to the height of a conventional block.

10. A component according to Claim 9, wherein the profile on the peripheral edge simulates the profile of conventional building components.

11. A component according to Claim 10, wherein the profile is coloured to simulate the conventional building components.

12. A method of constructing walling, the method comprising laying a first layer of construction elements, positioning a construction component as described in any of the preceding Claims with an end part of one of the elements locating in the recess, whereby the component forms a part of the layer but protrudes to either side thereof, and similarly laying further layers and positioning further components with faces of adjacent ones of the components in abutment, until the components form a column in the walling.

13. A method according to Claim 12, wherein the components are positioned at one end of the walling with the respective ones of the components in the same orientation.

14. A method according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the or others of the components are positioned at an intermediate location in the walling with alternate components turned through 180 .

15. A method according to any of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the or others of the components are positioned at a corner location in the walling with alternate components turned through 900.

16. A method according to any of Claims 12 to 15, wherein the elements are formed of a moulded cementitious material.

17. A method according to Claim 16, wherein the elements have peripheral edges profiled in simulate at least one course of bricks.

18. A construction component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of constructing walling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.