Ventilated Building Block With Sloped Wall For Airflow And Rain Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing concrete ventilating blocks do not effectively allow horizontal air circulation while preventing rain and ensuring privacy in wall constructions.

Innovation Solution

A building block design featuring an elongated center portion with perpendicular side walls, a vertical wall, and a sloped wall extending between a thicker bottom and thinner top, allowing for horizontal ventilation, rain prevention, and privacy through alternating block orientation in wall construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vertical passages are used in ventilating blocks, then vertical ventilation is achieved, but horizontal air circulation is not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehorizontal air circulationVSAvoidblock structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The block is divided into multiple functional zones: a vertical passage for vertical ventilation and horizontal passages for horizontal air circulation. The passage system is segmented into different orientations to serve different ventilation needs simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from purely vertical passage configuration to a three-dimensional passage system that includes both vertical and horizontal components. This dimensional expansion enables air to circulate in multiple directions through the block structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If open passages are provided for ventilation, then air circulation is improved, but rain penetration through the wall increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair circulationVSAvoidrain penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A weather resistive layer is introduced as an intermediary element within the wall assembly. This layer acts as a mediator that allows air to pass through the ventilation passages while blocking rain and other precipitation from entering the building interior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the wall assembly have different permeability characteristics. The ventilation passages are designed to be air-permeable while the weather resistive layer provides rain-blocking capability. This local differentiation of material properties enables simultaneous air circulation and rain protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If vertical ventilation passages are used, then ventilation is achieved, but privacy enhancement is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveventilationVSAvoidprivacy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wall assembly is segmented into multiple layers including an outer wall, weather resistive layer, and inner wall. This segmentation creates distinct functional zones that can be configured to provide both ventilation and privacy protection through the alternating block orientation and aperture positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the traditional approach by using alternating block orientations where blocks are inverted and reversed relative to each other. This inversion pattern creates aperture configurations that provide ventilation while blocking direct line-of-sight views, thereby enhancing privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If alternating blocks are stacked inverted and reversed, then privacy and rain protection are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy and rain protectionVSAvoidblock stacking

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The block design incorporates multi-functionality with a single standardized unit that can be stacked in alternating inverted and reversed orientations. This universal block design achieves privacy and rain protection through the systematic alternation pattern without requiring different block types or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7997893B2Mold for ventilated building block

Publication Date: 2011.08.16 LEE LUM MARK E

AI summary

A building block for a ventilated wall includes an elongated center portion flanked by a pair of substantially parallel side walls oriented substantially perpendicularly to the center portion. The center portion has a first vertical wall and a second sloped wall, the second sloped wall extending between a relatively thicker bottom wall of the center portion and a relatively thinner top wall of the center portion. The first wall is co-planar with first edges of the side walls. A stacked arrangement of such blocks, where adjacent blocks are inverted and reversed, establishes front-to-back air passages that do not provide a sight line, and which prevent rain from passing through. A mold assembly for manufacturing the blocks is also disclosed.