A construction element

Abstract

 A construction element, suitable for making a construction or a portion thereof, such as a house, a wall, a roof, a kennel and the like, comprises positioning and connecting means suitable for positioning said construction element relative to a further construction element and for joining it thereto, and restraining means, distinct from said positioning and connecting means, suitable for stably attaching said construction element to said further construction element.

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is a construction element.

[0002] Specifically, the present invention refers to a group of construction elements which may be easily associated to one another to make a construction or a portion thereof, for example walls, roofs, rooms for storing work tools, kennels for animals, small houses and the like.

[0003] Construction elements intended for being associated so as to obtain small constructions are known.

[0004] Generally, such known elements are used for children's games or for building small-sized constructions.

[0005] Known construction elements consist of a block, for example shaped as a parallelepiped, exhibiting an upper face provided with protruding connecting elements and a bottom face provided with holes for seating the connecting elements of another block.

[0006] However such connecting elements do not allow stable constructions to be made.

[0007] There exists therefore the need of providing for modular construction elements having a reciprocal system of connection which should ensure a high stability of the construction that can be made.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to produce a construction element which should overcome the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0009] such object is achieved by a construction element in accordance with claim 1. The dependent claims describe embodiment variations.

[0010] The features and advantages of the construction element according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an example of embodiment, given by way of a non-limiting example, in accordance with the attached drawings, wherein:

[0011] - figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a construction element according to a first embodiment;

[0012] - figures 2a to 2c respectively show a top view, a front cross-section view and a side cross-section view of the construction element of figure 1;

[0013] - figure 3 shows an axonometric view of a restraining element;

[0014] - figure 4 shows an axonometric view of a construction element according to a further embodiment;

[0015] - figure 5 shows an axonometric view of a construction element according to a further embodiment;

[0016] - figure 6 shows an axonometric view of a construction element according to a further embodiment;

[0017] - figures 7a, 7b, 7c show views of a construction element according to a further embodiment;

[0018] - figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 show an axonometric view of construction elements according to further embodiments, and

[0019] - figures 13 and 14 show examples of embodiments of constructions which can be made using the construction elements according to the present invention.

[0020] With reference to the attached figures, reference numeral 1a globally indicates a parallelepiped construction element according to the present invention.

[0021] In a first embodiment, said construction element 1a comprises an element body 2 consisting of a block shaped as a parallelepiped (figure 1).

[0022] Said element body 2 comprises an upper wall 4 and an annular side wall 6.

[0023] At least one projection 8, preferably circular, protrudes from said upper wall 4. Preferably, eight projections 8, arranged on two parallel rows, protrude from said upper wall 4.

[0024] At least one tubular portion 10 protrudes from the bottom of said upper wall 4, that is, inside said side wall 6. Preferably, three tubular portions 10 protrude from said upper wall 4, inside said side wall 6.

[0025] The tubular portions 10 are arranged inside said side wall 6 so that between said tubular portions and said wall, spaces suitable for seating said projections 8 are obtained.

[0026] . Said projections 8 and said spaces produce connecting and positioning means suitable for positioning said construction element 1a relative to another construction element and for connecting it thereto.

[0027] . The upper wall 4 exhibits at least one through hole 11 in communication with a respective tubular portion 10.

[0028] . Preferably, the side wall 6 exhibits a slot 14, preferably rectangular shaped, on at least one face.

[0029] . Preferably, moreover, the side wall 6 exhibits on at least one face a through aperture 16.

[0030] . Preferably, the upper wall 4 exhibits, along the peripheral edge, at least one slot 18, preferably through.

[0031] . The construction element 1a can be associated with a restraining element 20 (figure 3).

[0032] . Said restraining element 20, preferably of a cylindrical shape, is suitable for being fitted into said tubular portion 10 of the construction element 1a.

[0033] . The restraining element 20 comprises a portion 22 axially delimited by an upper base 24 and by a lower base 26.

[0034] . The restraining element 20 further comprises a restraining portion 28, protruding from said upper base 24 and preferably threaded, and having such length as to protrude, when the restraining element 20 is inserted into the tubular portion 10 of the construction element through the through hole 11.

[0035] . The restraining element 20 further comprises a restraining seat, preferably obtaine3d in the lower base 26, suitable for seating, at least partially, the restraining portion 28 of a further restraining element associated with a further construction element.

[0036] . It should be noted that said holes 11, passing through the upper wall 4 of the construction element, create a means of restraint, distinct from said positioning and connecting means, suitable for firmly attaching said construction element to said further construction element.

[0037] . Preferably, said construction element comprises means for obtaining an attachment to a further construction element.

[0038] . Preferably, said means of attachment comprises a slot, preferably obtained on said side wall 6, suitable for holding a washer.

[0039] . In a further embodiment variation, the construction element 1b has a rounded shape, that is, the side wall 6 is at least partially rounded (figure 4).

[0040] . In yet another embodiment, the construction element 1c is step-shaped (figure 5).

[0041] . Preferably, in said embodiment, the construction element 1c comprises an element body 2 comprising a first upper wall 104a and a second upper wall 104b, arranged step-wise, connected to one another by a vertical wall 132.

[0042] . Furthermore, said element body 2 comprises a connecting wall 134, connected to said second upper wall 104b.

[0043] . Furthermore, said element body 2 comprises at least one perforated plate 136.

[0044] . Preferably, said element body 2 comprises at least one perforated plate 136 protruding from said first upper wall 104a, that is, out of the plane containing said upper wall, facing the same side as said upper vertical wall 132.

[0045] . Preferably, moreover, said element body 2 comprises at least one perforated plate 136 projecting from said connecting wall 134, on the same plane containing said connecting wall.

[0046] . The step-shaped construction element 1 can be associated to an expanding restraining element 1020 (figure 6).

[0047] . Said restraining element 1020 comprises an expandable tubular portion 1022 and an expansion pin 1024, which can be inserted into said expandable tubular portion 1022 to expand it radially.

[0048] . Said restraining element 1020 can be inserted into the perforated plate 136 of a construction element and into the perforated plate of a further construction element so as to attach the first one to the second one.

[0049] . Preferably, said expandable tubular portion 1022 is connected to said expansion pin 1024 by a tang 1026, so as to keep the two portions of the restraining element 1020 together even when they are heaped up in bulk.

[0050] . In a further embodiment, the construction element 1c is sloping-shaped (figures 7a - 7c).

[0051] . In other words, in said embodiment, the upper wall 4 is inclined, that is, not perpendicular, relative to the side wall 6 of the element body 2.

[0052] . Preferably, said upper wall 4 has no through holes or apertures.

[0053] . In said embodiment, the element body comprises, arranged along the peripheral edge of the side wall 6, at least one tongue 140, suitable for being inserted, preferably snap-wise, into the slot 18 of a further construction element.

[0054] . In a further embodiment, the construction element 1d is pyramid-shaped (figure 8).

[0055] . In other words, in said embodiment, said upper wall 4 comprises a plurality of segment portions 142 converging towards a vertex 144, so as to form a pyramid shape.

[0056] . Preferably, said upper wall 4 has no through holes or apertures.

[0057] . In said embodiment, the element body 2 comprises, arranged along the peripheral edge of the side wall 6, at least one tongue 140, suitable for being inserted, preferably snap-wise, into the slot 18 of a further construction element.

[0058] . In a further embodiment, said construction element 1e is shaped like a sloping parallelepiped (figure 9).

[0059] . In other words, in said embodiment, the side wall 6 is at least partially inclined relative to the upper wall 4, that is, not orthogonal to it.

[0060] . In further embodiments, the construction element 1f is shaped like a covering (figures 10, 11 and 12).

[0061] . In other word, in said embodiments, the upper wall 4 has no holes or apertures.

[0062] . The construction elements according to the present invention are suitable for building a construction or a portion thereof, for example a house 150, a wall 160, a roof 170 and the like (figures 13 and 14).

[0063] . For example, to build a wall 160, a plurality of parallelepiped-shaped construction elements 1 is joined together.

[0064] . The restraining elements 20 are inserted into the tubular portion 10, protruding from the upper wall 4a of the element body 2.

[0065] . A restraining element may then be firmly joined to another restraining element inserted in a further construction element 1. In other words, said construction elements can be firmly piled on top of each other.

[0066] . To build portions of wall that can be rotated relative to each other, rounded construction elements 1 are used.

[0067] . To make the roof 170, a loft structure is made by joining step-shaped construction elements 1 and/or sloping parallelepiped construction elements 1 to each other.

[0068] . Specifically, the parallelepiped construction elements 1 and the step-shaped construction elements 1 are joined together by bringing the perforated plates 136 projecting from the vertical wall 134 of the step-shaped construction element 1b close to the respective apertures 16 of the parallelepiped construction element 1a and attaching them to each other through said restraining element 1020.

[0069] . Preferably, the loft structure is strengthened by bars, in aluminium for example, suitable for traversing said through slots 14 of the side wall 6.

[0070] . Moreover, a sloping may be made by joining said sloping construction elements 1c and/or said pyramid-shaped construction elements 1d to the elements used to build the loft.

[0071] . Innovatively, the construction element according to the present invention exhibits a reciprocal connecting system which ensures high stability of the construction made.

[0072] . Advantageously, moreover, such connecting system is releasable, so as to disassemble and reassemble the construction at will.

[0073] . Advantageously, moreover, the construction elements can be reciprocally positioned in a secure manner.

[0074] . According to a further advantageous aspect thereof, the construction elements limit or eliminate entirely any infiltration of water inside the construction.

[0075] . Advantageously, moreover, said construction elements produce a construction which can be reinforced using additional bars.

[0076] . It is clear that a man skilled in the art may make numerous variations and modifications to the construction element as described above to meet contingent and specific requirements, all of which however fall within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A construction element (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) suitable for making a construction or a portion thereof, such as a house, a wall, a roof, a kennel and the like, comprising:

- an element body (2);

- positioning and connecting means suitable for positioning said construction element relative to a further construction element and for joining it thereto;
said construction element being characterised in that the construction element further comprises,

- restraining means, distinct from said positioning and connecting means, suitable for stably fixing said construction element to said further construction element.

2. A construction element according to claim 1, wherein said restraining means comprise at least one hole (11) or an aperture (16) suitable for being passed through by at least one portion (28, 1022) of a restraining element.

3. A construction element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said restraining means comprise at least one slot (18) suitable for seating a respective tongue (140) of said further construction element.

4. A construction element according to claim 3, wherein said slot (18) goes through an upper wall (4) of said element body (2).

5. A construction element according to claim 4, wherein said slot (18) is arranged along the peripheral edge of said upper wall (4).

6. A construction element according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said restraining means comprise at least one slot (14) suitable for being passed through by a reinforcement bar.

7. A construction element according to claim 6, wherein said slot (14) goes through a side wall (6) of said construction element.

8. A construction element according to claim 7, wherein said positioning and connecting means comprise a space, inside a side wall (6) of said element body (2), suitable for joining with positioning and connecting means of said further construction element.

9. A construction element according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said positioning and connecting means comprise at least one projection (8) protruding from an upper wall (6) of said element body (2).

10. A construction element according to any one of the previous claims, comprising means of attachment.

11. Construction element according to claim 10, wherein said means of attachment comprise a cut, obtained on a side wall (6) of said element body (2), suitable for seating a washer.

12. A construction element (1a) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said element body (2) is shaped as a parallelepiped.

13. A construction element (1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, shaped as a rounded parallelepiped.

14. A construction element (1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, shaped as a step.

15. A construction element (1d) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, shaped as a slope.

16. A construction element (1e) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, shaped as a pyramid.

17. A construction element (1e) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, shaped as a sloping parallelepiped.

18. A construction or portion of a construction, such as a house, a roof, a wall, a kennel and the like, comprising at least one construction element made in accordance with any one of the previous claims.

Drawing