Patent Application
20230078431
The invention concerns a building system for building a structure such as a dwelling, garage, shop, school, hall or the like comprising a number of interconnecting components whose assembly is dictated by their size and shape, the invention extends to components of said building system; a kit of parts thereof; and a method for building dwellings, garages, shops, schools, halls or the like.
Working with traditional building bricks is becoming increasingly out-dated. In some parts of the world, such as Africa, there are many issues surrounding the production of such building bricks and their sustainability. Moreover, it is often the case that most traditional bricks produced in Africa are not regulated this, in turn, creates a series of problems with regards to the longevity of construction projects. Furthermore, the production of bricks requires the use of wood burning ovens, and so has contributed to deforestation and environmental damage.
An alternative to traditional bricks is Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks [ISSB]. They do not involve heating to increase their strength and so their environmental impact is less destructive. Additionally, ISSBs are produced in a mould under pressure, therefore, their quality is consistent. Finally, ISSBs are constructed to be interlocking, thus, they do not require mortar to act as a bonding agent between adjacent bricks, resulting in huge savings on cement.
ISSBs are also favoured because 100% of their production materials can be sourced locally, indeed, approximately 90% of their production materials can be extracted locally from the region where the building project is located. Further, due to their interlocking design, ISSBs are very easy to use; one can become proficient in the use of ISSBs after a single day of induction. Therefore, their use can create an unprecedented amount of job opportunities for local unskilled workers.
The Malay Soil Block (MYSB) is another type of interlocking soil block. It is widely used in Asia and is starting to be used in Africa. It is like ISSBs, especially with regard to mix, design and material composition. However, compared to ISSBs, the MYSB only interlocks on the top and on the bottom, whereas the ISSB interlocks on all sides, making it more versatile and effective for modular construction. Secondly, the MYSB is hollow. Thus, additional concrete and steel is required to increase strength and stability. This negates the material savings made from removing mortar due to the higher cost of concrete and steel. Lastly, ISSBs have been proven and tested by UN habitat, making them the most reliable construction product.
The building system herein described has been designed for use with ISSBs, though it can be used with any soil block or a suitably fashioned building component. We believe that when soil blocks are used with our building system productivity will be improved and the quality and consistency of the final product will improve significantly.
Accordingly, we herein disclose a building system for use with ISSBs, or the like, which minimises environmental impact, makes use of local resources and provides job opportunities for local, unskilled workers.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a building system comprising:
In a preferred embodiment said building system further comprises at least one and ideally a plurality of ground engaging stake(s) at least one of which has, at an upper part thereof, a rectilinear cross-section, at least one side of which is provided with a protrusion or indentation for receiving a mating member, notably this stake has no central channel.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention said stakes may be of uniform cross-section along their length, or the upper part may be as claimed and the lower part tapered to assist in ground penetration.
Preferably, the protrusions or indentations of said stakes or ground engaging elongate members or upstanding members are dovetailed to assist in mating.
Most ideally said stakes, at said upper part thereof, are square-sectioned and have a dovetailed protrusion or indentation, ideally an indentation, provided on one, two, three or each side(s) of the square-section. These stakes provide the ground engaging corner features in a building.
In a preferred embodiment said ground engaging elongate members have at least one protrusion or indentation at each end for mating with two spatially remote stakes. These ground engaging elongate members provide the elongate supports on which walls are built using ISSBs.
More preferably still, said channel in said stake is centrally or substantially centrally provided and ideally each channel is square-sectioned with a protrusion or indentation, on one, two, three or each side of the square-section. In this arrangement, the upstanding member that mates with said channel is also square-sectioned and it has a corresponding protrusion or indentation, on one, two, three or each side of its square-section. More particularly, where said channel has a protrusion or indentation, on one, two, three or each side of its square-section said upstanding member is fashioned in a complementary manner.
For example, a channel provided with a protrusion on a first side is used with an upstanding member having a complementary indentation on one of its sides;
In all the above examples, said channels and said upstanding members are fashioned to have a complementary cross-section whereby they can mate theretogether.
In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts comprising a selected number and combination of the afore stakes, ground engaging elongate members, upstanding members and capping members for the purpose of building a particular sized and shaped structure.
In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a component of the afore building system in accordance with any aspect or embodiment of the invention, or as herein described, comprising a component selected from one or more of the following:
In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for building a structure such as a dwelling, garage, shop or the like comprising:
Preferred features of each aspect of the invention may be as described in connection with any of the other aspects.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, mean “including but not limited to” and do not exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
All references, including any patent or patent application, cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. Further, no admission is made that any of the prior art constitutes part of the common general knowledge in the art.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following examples. Generally speaking, the invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims and drawings). Thus, features, integers, characteristics, compounds or chemical moieties described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein, unless incompatible therewith.
Moreover, unless stated otherwise, any feature disclosed herein may be replaced by an alternative feature serving the same or a similar purpose.
The Invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the Examples below and to the following Figures wherein:
Referring now to the figures and, firstly, to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that whilst stakes A-D are described having regard to a central channel having at least one protrusion on at least one side these stakes may, instead, have at least one indentation that extends inwardly with respect to the centre of each channel. The purpose of the channel and its protrusions/indentations is to securing mating engagement with a complimentarily fashioned member.
Stakes A-D are typically used to anchor the upstanding members of
Referring now to
Elongate ground engaging member A has a flat upper surface on which there is provided, at either end, upstanding supports [6] terminating inwardly of said member in a well [7]. Supports [6] are sized and shaped to engage with soil blocks [8], described below.
Elongate ground engaging member B has a flat uninterrupted upper surface.
Elongate ground engaging member C has a flat upper surface on which there is provided a single upstanding support [6] that runs the entire length of the upper surface. Supports [6] is sized and shaped to engage with soil blocks [8], described below.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Upstanding member A comprises parts [17-19] wherein part [18] is sandwiched between parts [17] and [19] and whilst having the same width is of a shorter length and a greater depth, this means that when parts [17-19] are brought theretogether and aligned on one side, part [18] projects out from parts [17] and [19] along its entire length thus creating a square-sectioned member with a protrusion along one side. This is best seen from the plan/top view. However, given member [18] is shorter in length than members [17] and [19] there is an end (shown as upper in the figure) of the assembled structure that comprises an inner channel.
Upstanding member B comprises parts [17-19] wherein part [18] is sandwiched between parts [17] and [19] and whilst having the same width is of a shorter length and a greater depth, this means that when parts [17-19] are brought theretogether and aligned on one side, part [18] projects out from parts [17] and [19] along its entire length. However, in addition, parts [17] and [19] also have an upstanding ridge along their opposing outer sides. Thus, the assembled structure creates a square-sectioned member with a protrusion along three of its four sides. This is best seen from the plan/top view. However, given member [18] is shorter in length than members [17] and [19] there is an end (shown as upper in the figure) of the assembled structure that comprises an inner channel.
Upstanding member C comprises parts [17-19] wherein part [18] is sandwiched between parts [17] and [19] and whilst having the same width is of a shorter length and a greater depth, this means that when parts [17-19] are brought theretogether and aligned on one side, part [18] projects out from parts [17] and [19] along its entire length. However, in addition, one of parts [17] and
also has an upstanding ridge along its outer side. Thus, the assembled structure creates a square-sectioned member with a protrusion along two adjacent sides of its four sides. This is best seen from the plan/top view. Moreover, given member [18] is shorter in length than members [17] and [19] there is an end (shown as upper in the figure) of the assembled structure that comprises an inner channel.
Upstanding member D comprises parts [17-19] wherein part [18] is sandwiched between parts [17] and [19] and whilst having the same width is of a shorter length and a greater depth, this means that when parts [17-19] are brought theretogether and part [18] is positioned evenly between parts [17] and [19], part [18] projects out from parts [17] and [19] along its entire length on both sides creating a square-sectioned member with a protrusion along two opposing sides. This is best seen from the plan/top view. Moreover, given member [18] is shorter in length than members [17] and [19] there is an end (shown as upper in the figure) of the assembled structure that comprises an inner channel.
Upstanding member E comprises parts [17-19] wherein part [18] is sandwiched between parts [17] and [19] and whilst having the same width is of a longer length and a shorter depth, this means that when parts [17-19] are brought theretogether and aligned on one side, part [18] sits inwardly from parts [17] and [19] along its entire length thus creating a channel resulting in a square-sectioned member with an indentation along one side. This is best seen from the plan/top view. Moreover, given member [18] is longer in length than members [17] and [19] there is an end (shown as upper in the figure) of the assembled structure that comprises an extension, best seen in the perspective view.
Upstanding member F comprises parts [17-19] wherein part [18] is sandwiched between parts [17] and [19] and whilst having the same rectangular cross-sectional shape as parts [17] and [19] is positioned between same so that its longest edge is rotated by 90° and also so that it protrudes from an upper end of the assembled structure, this means that when parts [17-19] are brought theretogether part [18] sits inwardly from parts [17] and [19] along its entire length thus creating two opposing channels resulting in a square-sectioned member with two indentations or channels along two opposing sides. This is best seen from the plan/top view. Moreover, given member [18] is made to protrude from an upper end of the assembled structure the upper end comprises an inner extension or protrusion and the lower end an indentation, best seen in the perspective view.
Although upstanding members A-F have been described having regard to three parts, those skilled in the art will appreciate these members can be made as a single integral component.
Referring now to
Upstanding member A whose cross-sectional profile is complementary with the channel in stake A is then inserted in said channel. At its upper end it may be sealed using a sealing member [21] whose cross-sectional profile is the same as inner part [18] but its length corresponds with that of the upper inner channel of upstanding member A. Sealing member [21] is used when a single storey construction is to be built.
It can be seen in
Once the wall parts have been built, upstanding members with side indentations [22] can be used to cap the side of a wall thus provided a partition on which a door may be hung. Alternatively, at suitably spaced positions in a long wall a number of upstanding members, with indentations on opposing sides [23], may be used to add intermediate structural support.
It can be seen in
Finally, as shown in
To complete the structure, it can be seen in
For the purpose of development, it is possible to increase the height of this structure, at the time it is being built or at some point thereafter, this involves using the building system to add additional upstanding members. Specifically, as shown in
In this way the building system provides for the addition of further floors. The components and techniques described above for the single storey version are then reused until the final structure is complete as shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001437.9 | Feb 2020 | GB | national |
This is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/GB2021/050192, filed Jan. 28, 2021, which was published in English under PCT Article 21(2), which in turn claims the benefit of GB Application No. 2001437.9, filed Feb. 3, 2020, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2021/050192 | 1/28/2021 | WO |
