A building element comprising handles on its transverse faces.
The construction element with central grooves and grip handles addresses the challenges of handling and installing heavy concrete blocks, improving safety, precision, and mechanical properties, resulting in more efficient construction processes.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022005935
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-17
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-06-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing concrete construction blocks are heavy, difficult to handle, and require additional measures for safe handling and installation, which can lead to injuries and inefficiencies in construction processes.
A construction element with a globally parallelepiped shape featuring central grooves on its transverse faces and grip handles within these grooves, which facilitate handling and precise positioning, while also improving the block's compression resistance and flatness.
The construction element enhances handling safety and precision, reduces the risk of injury, and improves the mechanical resistance and flatness of the blocks, leading to more efficient and reliable construction processes.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Construction element comprising gripping handles on its transverse faces FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of construction.
[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a construction element, for the construction of residential, industrial or agricultural buildings in particular. PRIOR ART SOLUTIONS
[0003] Among all the known building blocks, the concrete block or manufactured concrete block (abbreviated BBM), commonly referred to as "concrete block", is a molded masonry element, in the shape of a parallelepiped, which can be solid, perforated or hollow. Although it is one of the cheapest building materials on the market, it has low thermal resistance compared to the standards currently imposed for building construction. It is therefore necessary to cover it with a layer of thermal insulation.
[0004] In order to improve the insulating properties of building blocks, the Applicant proposed in patent FR 3 023 859 B1 a solid concrete block comprising internal cells in which an insulating material in the form of foam is integrated.
[0005] Solid concrete blocks are denser and heavier than hollow concrete blocks. They are mainly used for the foundation of the base of a building (a house for example) to support the structure of the latter. They therefore make it possible to respond to significant mechanical constraints.
[0006] To ensure a joint-free installation of mortar between adjacent blocks, it has been proposed to provide the latter with assembly means at the end of the block, such as male and female elements which alone ensure stability between the blocks. These blocks are positioned by sliding one block vertically against another so as to couple the assembly means.
[0007] Concrete blocks are, however, heavy and difficult to handle when they are being laid on site (but also during their manufacture, transport and storage). They are often uncomfortable to handle and when one block has to be fitted from above with another during installation on site, there is a possibility of injury by trapping fingers, or even the hand, if you are careless.
[0008] To overcome these drawbacks, it has been proposed to provide finger holes in the concrete walls of the blocks to facilitate their handling. It has also been observed on site that the installers were providing holes in the insulating material of the insulating blocks to facilitate their gripping, which is of course not sa- satisfactory. Statement of the invention
[0009] The invention does not pose these problems linked to the building blocks of the prior art.Indeed, the invention relates to a construction element comprising a structure of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape having two longitudinal faces, two transverse faces connecting the longitudinal faces, a substantially planar upper face and a lower face, the transverse faces each comprising an end surface having means for fitting with an end surface of another juxtaposed construction element, characterized in that each end surface comprises a central groove extending between the upper face and the lower face of said construction element, and a gripping handle extending in the bottom of each central groove, the internal surface of the gripping handle being oriented towards the central groove and the external surface of the gripping handle extending in the plane of said upper face of the construction element.
[0010] These two gripping handles thus facilitate the handling of the building block and allow more precise and simpler positioning of the latter than in the prior art.
[0011] The invention thus makes the block grippable, while allowing the interlocking from above and the joining of the transverse faces of two blocks.
[0012] Furthermore, the fact that the external wall of these handles extends in the plane of the upper face of the building block improves the flatness of the longitudinal faces of this block. The handle in fact plays a sort of "bracing" role with respect to the parallel longitudinal faces at the outlet of the press where the concrete is in the visco-plastic phase. This aspect is important since the longitudinal faces of the blocks of the invention, which therefore exhibit less deformation than the blocks of the prior art, constitute, once laid, the faces of the wall which receive the finishing coating.
[0013] The construction element may be of a solid, single-piece structure or may have one or more cells in which one or more filling materials (an insulating material, for example) are arranged or not.
[0014] The construction element can therefore be a hollow block with open or semi-open cells (only one end opening onto the upper or lower face of the block).
[0015] This construction element can also be manufactured industrially.
[0016] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the width of the handle defined between the bottom wall of the groove and the free edge of the handle being less than the depth of the groove defined between the bottom wall of the groove and the end surface of the face corresponding cross-section.
[0017] The free edge of the handle is set back from the end surface of the transverse wall, the
[0018] handle extending across the width of the groove.
[0019] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the internal surface of the gripping handle being inclined, the thickness of the gripping handle at the bottom of the groove being greater than the thickness of the handle at its free edge.
[0020] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the means for fitting an end surface comprising a male element and a female element extending on either side of the central groove.
[0021] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said structure comprises at least one internal cell opening on only one of the upper and lower faces of the construction element.
[0022] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said structure comprises at least one internal cell opening onto the two upper and lower faces of the construction element.
[0023] The building block is of solid, perforated or semi-perforated structure.
[0024] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said at least one interior cell is filled with at least one thermal insulation element.
[0025] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the groove is of semi-octagonal section and the grip handle is of semi-hexagonal section.
[0026] The shape of the groove and the handles further improves the compressive strength of the building block. The inventors have indeed carried out tests and this improvement in compressive strength has been observed.
[0027] During the tests carried out by the inventors, it was found in one case that the manufacture of the molded block requires 12% less concrete while offering a compressive strength equal to or even greater than another type of building block. The handle of a particular shape housed in the groove of also particular shape stabilizes the structure when it is stressed in compression, in the same way as honeycomb shapes. LIST OF FIGURES
[0028] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of two preferred embodiments, given as simple illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings, among which:
[0029] - [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a construction element according to a first embodiment of the invention, taking the form of a hollow building block which can receive a filling material or not;
[0030] - [Fig.2] is a perspective view of another construction element according to a second embodiment of the invention of the invention which is a solid block;
[0031] - [Fig.3] is a detailed view of the junction between two construction elements of the type of that represented in [Fig.l];
[0032] - [Fig.4] is a partial top view of the building element of [Fig.l] showing the grip handle located at one side end of this element;
[0033] - [Fig.5] is a sectional view along axis AA of [Fig.4]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The invention relates to a construction element, in the form of a building block for example, intended for example for the modular construction of a building wall by stacking rows of blocks. This construction element is manufactured by molding consisting in particular of injecting concrete inside a mold to obtain at least one block in the shape of a parallelepiped.
[0035] In the embodiment of [Fig.l], the construction element 1 is a block of rectangular parallelepiped shape with six faces and has two longitudinal faces 11, 12 parallel and substantially planar, two transverse faces 13, 14, as well as an upper face 15 and a lower face 16. A central partition 17 connects the transverse walls 13, 14 and defines with the latter as well as with the longitudinal walls 11, 12 two internal cells or recesses 18 of rectangular shape and which are open or not.
[0036] Although this is not shown, the two cells 18 are intended or not to be filled with at least one filling material, which may be for example an insulating material in the form of a mineral foam obtained from a cement grout and a foaming agent in particular (the filling material may be concrete or any other material, insulating or not, in alternative embodiments).
[0037] The construction element 1 comprises a framework based on heavy, common or light aggregate concrete (in which conventional aggregates such as sand and gravel have been replaced by naturally light and insulating materials, such as pumice stone, expanded slate or expanded clay, for example).
[0038] L denotes the length of this construction element 1, E its thickness and H its height.
[0039] In the embodiment of [Fig. 2], the construction element 1' is a block of rectangular parallelepiped shape and has two parallel and substantially planar longitudinal faces 11', 12', two transverse faces 13', 14', as well as an upper face 15' and a lower face 16'. This construction element is solid. The construction element 1' is made of heavy, common or light aggregate concrete (in which conventional aggregates such as sand and gravel have been replaced by naturally light and insulating materials, such as pumice stone, expanded slate or expanded clay, for example).
[0040] In each of these embodiments, and in particular the first, the transverse faces 13, 14 have an end surface shaped in such a way that a transverse face 13 of the construction element 1 fits from above into a transverse face 14 of another construction element 1. This is illustrated in the view of [Fig. 3],
[0041] Thus, the transverse faces 13, 14 of the construction element 1 are cut out and each have assembly or fitting means 131, 132 and 141, 142 respectively to another construction element 1.
[0042] In the illustrated embodiments, the assembly system comprises a male part 141 (a tongue 131, 141 extending over the height H) and a female part 142 (a complementary shaped interlocking groove 132, 142 extending over the height H) on the transverse faces 13, 14 of the construction element 1 having the same substantially trapezoidal section shape.
[0043] The male part 131 and the female part 132 are able to cooperate respectively with the female part 142 and the male part 141 of the adjacent construction element 1 ([Fig.3]). The stability of the assembly of the construction elements between them is ensured by the vertical male and female interlockings located at the ends of the block.
[0044] The transverse faces 13, 14 of the construction element 1 also each comprise a central groove or notch 133, 143 extending between the upper face and the lower face, over the entire height H of the construction element, a gripping handle 20 extending at the bottom of each groove 133, 143 between the lateral edges of the latter.
[0045] Each handle 20 comprises an internal surface 202 oriented towards the central groove 133, 143 and whose surface is inclined, and a flat external surface 201 extending in the plane of the upper face 15.
[0046] As seen in [Fig.4], each vertical groove 133, 143 extends between a male element and a female element from the abutment surface towards the inside of the construction element 1. The bottom surface 143C is connected to two edge surfaces 143A opposite and perpendicular to the bottom surface 143C by two inclined surfaces 143B. The handle 20 extends at the bottom of the groove from the bottom surface 143C against the opposite side surfaces 143A. The width of the handle 20 is less than the depth of the groove 133, 143, its free edge 20A being located at the junction between the edge surfaces 143A and the inclined surfaces 143B. The free edge 20A of the handle 20 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal faces 11, 12 of the construction element 1 and parallel to the bottom surface 143C. The groove 133, 143 is open at the lower face 16 and partially open at the the upper face 15 where the handle 20 extends.
[0047] The same applies to the embodiment of [Fig.2], the construction element comprising two grooves 133', 143' in each of which a handle 20' is provided on the side of the upper face 15'.
[0048] In the sectional view AA of [Fig.5], the internal wall of the handle 20 is inclined, the thickness of the handle 20 at the bottom of the groove (here equal to 22mm) being greater than the thickness of the handle (here equal to 18mm) on the free edge of the latter. This allows easy sliding and removal of the fingers of the installer once the construction element 1 is installed.
[0049] In the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the construction element 1 comprises two opening cells 18. It is noted that the construction block 1 may comprise one or more than two opening cells or not.
[0050] Thus, the handles 20 for gripping the construction element 1 are arranged at the lateral ends of the upper face 15 in the plane of the latter for assisted two-handed gripping of the construction element 1.
[0051] The gripping handles 20 are at the bottom of the block during manufacture (otherwise it would not be possible to unmold). When installed, the handles are at the top of the blocks.
[0052] The gripping handles 20 facilitate the handling of the construction element 1 on the one hand and on the other hand facilitate its installation because they allow the male and female parts of the construction element being installed to be adjusted onto the female and male parts respectively of the construction element already installed. This nesting is done by lifting the construction element above the construction element already installed using the two handles and by sliding the male and female parts of the construction element to be installed vertically downwards onto the female and male parts respectively of the construction element already installed.
[0053] The width of the handle 20 defined between the bottom wall of the groove and the free edge 20A of the handle 20 is less than the depth of the groove 133, 143 defined between the bottom wall of the groove and the end surface of the corresponding transverse face 13, 14.
[0054] It is therefore understood that when two identical construction elements 1 are juxtaposed, the grooves 133, 143 of the two joined elements form a hollow (with a width equal to 26 mm in the example of [Fig. 3]) for the passage of the fingers of the installer who slides one construction element up and down against the other. Due to the compactness of the handles 20, the installer cannot therefore trap his fingers during this operation and can release them from the handle 20 once the construction element is placed against another.
[0055] In the embodiments presented here, the groove 133, 143 is of semi-octagonal section and the gripping handle 20 is of semi-hexagonal section. Others However, shapes are possible.
[0056] Surprisingly, due to the implementation of these handles 20 on each side of the construction element 1, the mechanical resistance to compression of the construction element 1 is improved as is the flatness of the longitudinal faces. It has in fact been found that the handles 20 in fact play the role of “bracing” with respect to the longitudinal faces of the block at the outlet of the press where the concrete is in the viscoplastic phase.
[0057] Thus, the construction element according to the invention offers numerous advantages which have been validated by tests.
[0058] The construction element of the invention is suitable for different types of construction, such as for example individual houses and collective housing.
[0059] In another embodiment, not illustrated, the construction element comprises a first assembly means on one transverse face and a second assembly means on the other transverse face, the first assembly means and the second assembly means being adapted to couple with each other in order to assemble the construction elements to each other.
[0060] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments described and shown because various modifications can be made thereto without departing from its scope. The shape of the building block is not limited to that illustrated in the embodiments described previously. Other shapes can indeed be envisaged. Several recesses can be provided in the frame and several separate insulating elements can be inserted therein.
Claims
Claims
1. Construction element (1) comprising a structure of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape having two substantially planar longitudinal faces (11, 12), two transverse faces (13, 14) connecting the longitudinal faces (11, 12), an upper face (15) and a lower face (16) which are substantially planar, the transverse faces (13, 14) each comprising an end surface having means (131, 132, 141, 142) for fitting with an end surface of another juxtaposed construction element, characterized in that each end surface comprises a central groove (133, 143) extending between the upper face (15) and the lower face (16) of said construction element (1), and a gripping handle (20) extending in the bottom of each central groove (133, 143), the internal surface (202) of the gripping handle (20) being oriented towards the side of the central groove (133,143) and the external surface (201) of the gripping handle (20) extending in the plane of said upper face (15) of the construction element (1), the central groove (133, 143) being of semi-octagonal section and the gripping handle (20) being of semi-hexagonal section.,
2. Construction element (1) according to claim 1, the width of the gripping handle (20) defined between the bottom wall of the central groove (133, 143) and the free edge (20A) of the gripping handle (20) being less than the depth of the central groove (133, 143) defined between the bottom wall of the central groove (133, 143) and the end surface of the corresponding transverse face.
3. Construction element (1) according to claim 2, the internal surface (202) of the gripping handle (20) being inclined, the thickness of the gripping handle (20) at the bottom of the central groove (133, 143) being greater than the thickness of the gripping handle (20) at its free edge (20A).
4. Construction element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, the means for fitting an end surface comprising a male element and a female element extending on either side of the central groove.
5. Construction element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said structure comprises at least one internal cell (18) opening on only one of the upper faces (15) and in- lower (16) of the construction element.
6. Construction element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said structure comprises at least one internal cell (18) opening on the two upper (15) and lower (16) faces of the construction element (1).
7. Construction element according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said at least one internal cell (18) is filled with at least one thermal insulation element.