Apparatus for construction

Abstract

An apparatus for construction comprising a plurality of blocks 99 having a perforated cellular structure, with at least one column (10, fig 2) adapted to receive a tubular stake; and at least one tubu

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for construction, and an associated system, in particular apparatus for providing a means of construction for buildings; more particularly but not exclusively apparatus providing a simple and robust construction means. Background Many countries in the world are increasingly looking for simple, efficient, sustainable and / or low-skilled means to rapidly or cost-effectively assemble buildings. Construction methods however tend to be resource intensive, time-consuming and requiring of skilled operatives. This can mean it is difficult to assemble buildings in disaster zones at short notice for example. Prior Art KR 101 386 209 (PARK) discloses a connector for assembly of bricks, which enables even unskilled workers to simply and easily assemble and stack bricks using a connector and to assemble and stack the upper, lower, left, and right bricks continuously, simply, quickly, and firmly without using masonry mortar, in assembling and stacking the ocher, clay, cement, plastic, or wood bricks having vertical through holes on both sides thereof. The connector for assembly of bricks of the present invention comprises: a body having a vertical hollow part to insert upper and lower parts thereof into vertical through holes of upper and lower bricks; a pressed member integrated with the body to be elastically pressed into the inner diameter of the vertical through hole; and a ring protrusion integrated with the center part of the outside of the body to divide the body into the upper and lower parts. WO 2007 135 478 (ABELLA) discloses a system of brick and rod for the construction of walls with high resistance to extreme gravitational, lateral, and cyclic forces. This system allows the construction of a wall made of bricks reinforced with a skeleton of rod. The brick of this system is a rectangular block with horizontal and vertical protuberances and cavities which permits horizontal and vertical interlocks with the adjacent bricks of the wall. The brick is also perforated by holes which are aligned with the holes of the vertically adjacent bricks of the wall, thus forming a continuous vertical hole that goes throughout the entire height of the wall. The rod of the system crosses the bricks through the continuous hole of the wall. US 3 430 404 (MUSE) discloses a decorative wall having apertures comprises a plurality of spaced blocks each having two apertures interconnected by resilient plastics or metal sleeves seated in enlarged end portions of the apertures, mortar being poured into the continuous passage thus formed, to give the wall strength. The blocks have a recess in their lower faces. The length of the block is 3 times the width, and the length of the central cavity equals the width to facilitate formation of corners and the termination of the wall. The blocks may be cut into threads parallel with the sides of the recesses for use at termination of wall. The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for construction and a removal tool comprising: a plurality of construction devices comprising orthogonal facing sides surrounding a central body, which central body has a top face and a bottom face and a perforated cellular structure, with at least one through column adapted to receive a tubular stake; and at least one tubular stake; wherein each tubular stake is formed in resiliently deformable material to provide outward forces for securement within the column and a removal tool with a key for placement in the stake that has a resiliently deformable lock for engagement with a catch provided on the stake. In this way in order to construct a construction the devices may be overlaid and the stake placed through the devices so as to form a wall or similar. The structure may furthermore be enabled to be temporary, whereby the stake may be removed, and therefore the devices deconstructed, by insertion of a tool into the stake In some embodiments of the apparatus the device comprises a plurality of columns, which are spaced apart, so as to allow the devices to be staked and / or overlapped, so as to form more robust structures. In some embodiments of the apparatus the columns are cylindrical, for example with a circular or arcuate sectional profile, and an internal lacuna. In some such embodiments the lacuna has a linear form, for example a square internal sectional profile. In some embodiments of the apparatus the device comprises a plurality of braces extending between the faces. Such braces may comprise planar or perforated plates of material extending at an angle from a perimetric side formed by a planar or perforated sidewall, to a central column. In some embodiments of the apparatus such braces extend diagonally from the facing sides towards a central point of the column. In some embodiments the braces may orthogonally subdivide the device, extending orthogonally between the sides. In some embodiments of the apparatus the device comprises a wall termination for a plurality of the braces. In some such embodiments of the apparatus the braces extend beyond the wall termination to provide contact or a plurality of contacts for the stake. For example contact between the outer face of the stake and the device, may be provided by a plurality of longitudinal contacts extending between the faces of the device within the column. In some embodiments of the apparatus the device is formed in a plastics or polymer material. In some embodiments of the apparatus the apparatus comprises one or more catches formed between the device and stake, which may be envisaged to be formed temporarily as required. In some such embodiments of the apparatus the catches comprise holes in the perimetric form of the stake. The apparatus comprises a tool that provides a key for placement in the stake such that the key engages the catch. The key comprises a resiliently deformable lock for engagement with a catch in the stake. For example the key may be envisaged to be inserted into the stake, and the key and catch engaged and the stake removed from the column. In some embodiments the key or tool may be envisaged to deform the stake, so as to aid in release of the stake from the column. In other embodiments it may be envisaged that the resilience holds the stake in the column through a friction fit means, and the key tool grips the stake to allow the stake to slide out of the column. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a construction formed of embodiments of devices according to the present invention, and an embodiment of a stake; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the construction shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the construction shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the construction shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of apparatus 199 for construction generally comprising: a plurality of construction devices 99 comprising orthogonal facing sides surrounding a central body, which body has a top face and bottom face and a perforated cellular structure, with at least one through column 10 adapted to receive a tubular stake 100; and at least one tubular stake 100, wherein the tubular stake comprises a discontinuous perimetric form in resiliently deformable material, so as to provide outward forces for securement within the column 10. With particular reference to the embodiment of the apparatus shown in the Figures the pictured embodiment of the apparatus comprises a plurality of cuboid brick devices, with rectangular footprints, having two opposed long sides, and two opposed short sides. The opposed flat faces are joined by braces 1 extending in the plane of the sides, between the faces. Each face is divided into two square zones, each zone comprised of a central circular column 10 defining a cylindrical hole extending between the faces, with a dividing wall extending between the faces defining the zones. The braces 1 extend towards the centre of the column, extending diagonally inwards from the sides of the device and intersecting a sidewall 2 defining the column 10. The braces extend beyond the wall into the column, so as to give multiple elongate contacts spaced circumferentially around the column. Each of the braces comprises a hollow form formed of two parallel walls, which walls are open at the faces. The dividing wall between the two square zones is also two parallel walls, which are joined to the braces, being open at the faces. The pictured embodiment of the apparatus further comprises a stake 100, which is passed through two columns 10 consecutively so as to join the two devices 99 together. 5 The stake may be passed through one or other of the columns in either of the zones, so as to permit overlapping or staggering of devices, in order to form a stronger construction if required, as shown in the Figures. The stakes 100 comprise elongate cylinders, that are the length of two sides of 10 devices. The perimetric wall of the cylinder is discontinuous at a longitudinal slot 21, wherein the material of the wall is resiliently deformable sufficiently to allow flexure to close the slot 21. This discontinuity allows for flexure in the stake, so as to allow the stake to be 15 inserted into the columns and push against the ends of the braces, wherein the stake may be envisaged to have a diameter at rest that is somewhat larger than that of a LO cylinder defined by the longitudinal ends of the braces 1 within the column 10. CM T— In this way a spring bias may be envisaged to exert against the ends of the braces, 20 keeping the stake within the column. T"“ The pictured embodiment of the stakes 100 further include catches 22 formed by two rectangular holes through opposing circumferential locations in the wall of the stake. These spaces are arranged to provide a location for a key 35 to catch in the stake 25 and thereby allow use of a tool with the key 35 to engage the stake so as to pull the stake from the column 10, and thereby disconnect devices 99. The pictured embodiment of the tool 105 comprises a longitudinal body 32, with an endmost lateral handgrip 33, wherein the body is cylindrical and sized to fit within the 30 inner space of the stake. The distal end of the body from the handgrip comprises two spaced prongs 34. The prongs are spaced on opposite circumferential points. 17 01 25 The prongs comprise bodies formed of short segments of the circumference of the stake wall, which bodies extend longitudinally away from a longer section of the stake formed as a continuous cylinder, terminated by the lateral handgrip. 5 The distal ends of the prongs provide catch engaging arms, which arms are stepped out radially from the prong bodies, continuing in the same plane, with rounded terminal ends, and flat proximal ends, so as to provide the key 35. It is these ends which are arranged to flex and fit into the catches on the stakes. In 10 this way the stakes may be engaged and pulled from the column(s). It may be envisaged that the catch or key may be provided with a profile that urges the diameter of the stake to be contracted during engagement of the key in the catch. 15 For example in the pictured embodiment the proximal ends of the prongs may in use be inclined backwards, either as a design feature, or in use given the prongs may be envisaged to be provided with a splayed aspect. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 20 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for construction and a removal tool comprising: a plurality of construction devices comprising orthogonal facing sides surrounding a central body, which central body has a top face and a bottom face and a perforated cellular structure, with at least one through column adapted to receive a tubular stake; and at least one tubular stake; wherein each tubular stake is formed in resiliently deformable material to provide outward forces for securement within the column and a removal tool with a key for placement in the stake that has a resiliently deformable lock for engagement with a catch provided on the stake.

2. Apparatus for construction according to claim 1 wherein the stake comprises a hollow interior and discontinuous perimeter.

3. Apparatus for construction according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each construction device has two columns.

4. Apparatus for construction according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the columns are cylindrical.

5. Apparatus for construction according to any preceding claim wherein the structure comprises a plurality of braces extending between the faces.

6. Apparatus for construction according to claim 5 wherein the braces extend diagonally from the facing sides towards a central point of the column.

7. Apparatus for construction according to claims 5 or 6 comprising a wall termination for a plurality of the braces.

8. Apparatus for construction according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the braces extend beyond the termination to provide contact for the stake.

9. Apparatus for construction according to any preceding claim wherein the device is formed in a plastics or polymer material.

10. Apparatus for construction according to any preceding claim wherein the catch comprises a hole.

Images