SEISMIC, PRESSURE AND HEAT RESISTANT

WALL

Applicant claims priority of Provisional application Serial Number 60/702,694 filed on July 28, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to building structures, and, in particular, to a building structures made from brick.

Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art various types of building structures have been proposed. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,685,119 to Zschoppe discloses a wall made from bricks having apertures extending through the bricks and pipes inserted into the aperture for support.

U.S. Patent No. 4,878,324 to Rissel discloses a building block for nuclear facilities comprising a metal jacket filled with concrete.

U.S. Patent No. 5,689,929 to Newsom discloses an earthquake and severe weather resistant building blocks which are hollow with frames that form male and female connectors that permit the blocks to be joined.

U.S. Patent No. 4,170,856 to Musser discloses a refractory brick which has a metallic envelope to resist heat induced expansion spalling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to bricks for making a building structure. Each of the bricks has a core preferably made of metal which is embedded in a rubberized casing. Each brick is of no specific size and has a plurality of apertures extending through the brick. Each aperture aligns with an aperture in the core, and the apertures in the core are threaded so a fastener can be placed into the apertures to secure the bricks together.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved building structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved building structure which can be assembled without mortar and can be easily disassembled if required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved building structure which provides superior rigidity and radiation protection.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the bricks of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a partial wall built with bricks of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one type of fastener used with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a partial wall built with bricks of the present invention and including a side support.

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the bricks of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one of the bricks 1 used to build a wall or other

structure. It should be noted while the present invention is described in terms of a wall, the invention could be used with any structure that is commonly built of brick. The bricks of the present invention are designed to be used to build structures in which the bricks are held firmly in place such as walls and barricades. In addition, the bricks can be used to construct vehicle armor. Essentially, the bricks of the present invention are characterized by superior rigidity, flexibility and insulation characteristics necessary to withstand hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, crashes, weapon projectiles, dynamite attacks, heat/cold, noise, and radioactive radiation.

The brick shown in Fig. 1 has the standard dimensions of ordinary brick, although other dimensions could be used without departing from the present invention. Each brick 1 has a core 3 preferably made of metal. While the preferred material of the core is non-magnetic (austenitic grade) stainless steel, other materials could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. The inner core 3 is surrounded with an outer covering 2. The covering 2 is preferably made from a resilient material such as, but not limited to, silicone. The silicone will provide the walls or other structures with flexibility, fire resistance, and both thermal and sound insulation. The inner core may include lead for radiation barrier.

As shown in Fig. 1, each brick has an imaginary center line 4 which separates the brick into equal halves. Each half of the brick has four apertures which extend through the brick. As shown in Fig. 5, the

apertures 5 are separated from adjacent apertures 5 by a distance d, and the apertures 5 are spaced from the edges of the brick by a distance d/2, which is half the distance d. This pattern guarantees that never fewer than four apertures overlap four apertures in an adjacent brick, as will be discussed below.

AU eight apertures 5 are threaded as they extend through the core 3, as shown in Fig. 2. This will allow fasteners 8, 9 to be inserted from opposite ends. Fig. 2 shows a partial starting course of bricks used in building a wall. A bottom beam 6 is used to attach the bricks to the top of a foundation or other supporting structure (not shown). The bottom beam 6 can be made in a length that extends the length of the foundation. Also, the bottom beam will extend far enough beyond the bricks to receive conventional anchor bolts (not shown) placed in the foundation which will secure the bottom beam to the foundation.

Fig. 2 shows a bottom beam 6 with a half brick V on top of the bottom beam 6. A full brick 2 is placed on top to overlap the half brick 2 ¹ and the full brick 2, thereby interlocking the bricks. Even though this is a conventional way to build a wall, the conventional bricks would be secured together with mortar. However, the bricks of the present invention are secured together by a threaded fastener 8 which is threaded into aligned apertures 5 in the bricks. The bottom row of bricks would be attached to a bottom beam 6 by a threaded fastener 9 which is inserted through the bottom beam 6 and into the apertures 5 from the

bottom of the bricks before the bottom beam is secured to the foundation. Fasteners 9 would be spaced along the entire bottom row of bricks. It should be noted that the metallic insert 3 is not shown in Fig. 2 for clarity.

A spring 10 can be inserted between adjacent threaded fasteners to maintain tension between the threaded fasteners and prevent bolts from accidentally loosening. In addition, self retaining bolts, such as the bolt disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,947,668 (which is incorporated by reference) can be used. Also, a similar structure to the structure shown in Fig. 2 can be used to cap the top of the wall. That is, a top beam can be secured to the top row of bricks in the same manner the bottom beam is secured to the bottom row of bricks.

Fig. 3 shows a modification that eliminates the need to thread the apertures 5. In this case the threads of the apertures 5 are eliminated, and an insert 7 is inserted into the unthreaded apertures to receive the threaded fasteners 8, 9. The insert 7 has internal threads 12 to receive the threaded fasteners, and protrusions 11 spaced around the outer periphery of the insert. The protrusions 11 will engage the modified apertures 5 with a tight friction fit to secure the insert firmly in the apertures. It should be noted that while only two protrusions 11 are shown in Fig. 3, any number of protrusions can be used.

Fig. 4 shows another modification that can be used to help support the wall. In this case a vertical side support 12 is an integral part of the

side beamy The side support 12 is an integral part of the side beam. Seams between adjacent bricks can also be sealed with silicone paste. Also, a variation of the wall can be used as a radiation shield by making the core from lead reinforced with the inserts of Fig. 3 containing threads for the fasteners.

Although the SEISMIC, PRESSURE AND HEAT RESISTANT WALL and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.