US3512759A - Fence wall construction - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1970 F. D. RESLER FENCE WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 23, 1968 INVENTOR.

FRED D. RESLER BY C.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,512,759 FENCE WALL CONSTRUCTION Frederick D. Resler, 2015 W. Glendale, Phoenix, Ariz. 85021 Filed May 23, 1968, Ser. No. 731,462 Int. Cl. E04h 17/16 US. Cl. 256--19 1 'Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disassemblable and movable fence wall having spaced upright support columns and panels therebetween. The support columns are detachably recessed to foundation piers and the panels are comprised of interlocking blocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to building construction.

In particular, the invention concerns fence wall construction.

In a further aspect, the invention concerns a new and novel fence wall construction unit erected from prefabricated interlocking modules, and is a suitable unit foruse in many non-load-bearing walls or partitions.

The construction of fences is an old and universal art. Fences have utility as restraining walls, securing privacy for enclosures, and providingornarnental decor.

Conventionally, fences are constructed of a variety of materials. Simple utilitarian fences employ upright metal parts to support single strand or woven pattern wire. Wooden fences, such as picket post, grape stake, and other configurations offer more privacy and orna mental effect. The ultimately desirable fence is the cement masonry unit.

Cement masonry unit fences afford total privacy, can incorporate unlimited decorative effects, and are virtually maintenance-free. Regardless of desirability and obvious advantages, however, certain factors inhibit mass employment of cement masonry units.

While most fences may be erected by the home owner of ordinarily manual skill, the cement masonry wall usually requires the services of a contractor. First a proper foundation must be dug, framed, and leveled. This involves the use of a machine trencher or excessive manual preparation. Disposal of the earth from the excavation presents an immediate problem. Concrete, in the quantity required for the foundation, necessitates delivery by a local pre-mix distributor and involves handling and leveling difiiculties.

After the foundation has been prepared, each concrete block must be mortared, set, and leveled. The home owner is pressed to mix bonding mortar as required, transport blocks, and maintain straight level rows as the blocks are laid.

Having surpassed the laborious task of constructing the concrete wall, the builder has a permanent structure. If the structure is damaged, e.g., hit by a motor vehicle, a substantial portion of the labor must be repeated. Further, the wall is a permanent improvement of the home.

Should the owner-builder move, the. labor and cost of SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention, thereice fore, to provide a cement masonry fence wall requiring minimal erection equipment and labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concrete masonry fence wall that may be conveniently dis mantled, moved to a new location, and refabricated.

Afmther object of the invention is the provision of a concrete masonry fence wall specifically providing for ease of repair.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fence wall of the above type which combines functionality, esthetics, and durability, and which provides a construction suitable for non-load-bearing walk or partitions.

To accomplish the desired objectives of my present invention and construct a cement masonry fence wall in accordance. with the preferred embodiment thereof, I first pour a series of spaced subterranean piers. The piers are spaced and dug in a manner analogous to setting conventional fence posts, that is, the spaced locations are set out on the fence line and dug with a manual or motorized post hole digger. After the pier is poured, I emplace and level a base plate atop the. pier at substan tially ground level. The base plate has depending anchor studs and a pair of face mounted threaded receptacles.

Next I provide a series of similar concrete blocks. Each block has a pair of vertically extending cylindrical passages and a vertically extending recess along at least one edge. The blocks are stacked to the desired height upon the base plate and oriented to have aligned passages and recesses. To secure the blocks, a rod, having threaded ends, is passed through the aligned passages and threadedly engaged with the base plate. A threaded fastener is then engaged with the upper end of the rod and tightened to exert a clamping action upon the. base plate to complete the erection of the upright sup-port columns.

The panels between the upright support columns are constructed of interlocking rectangular blocks. Each block has grooves extending along one vertical and one horizontal edge and a mating bevel along one vertical and one horizontal edge. It is particularly noted that each bevel is truncated. To provide alignment for the first row of blocks, an angle iron is placed upon the ground between the upright columns and locationally retained at either end by protruding into the recess along the edge of the support column.

The first row of blocks is placed, grooved edge down, over the upstanding bevel of the angle iron, each block having a bevel-to-groove mate with the adjacent lblock. After the row has been placed, a wedge is placed into the recess to retard horizontal displacement of the blocks. In a similar manner, each row of blocks is emplaced one upon the other and tightened until the desired height is attained.

To insure rigidity and resist wind load and other side forces, a bar is periodically placed between the support columns along the upstanding truncated bevel of one row. The succeeding row of blocks accepts the rod near the apex of the groove thereof without interference of the mating fit of the rows.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the only permanent portion of the structure is the foundation piers; yet the completed fence wall substantially approximates the appearance of a cement masonry unit. The structure therefore readily lends itself to convenient repair of damaged sections, modification of shape or expansion, and removal and subsequent reconstruction. The simplified construction may be accomplished by the home owner with minimal involvement, equipment, or knowledge of concrete masonry procedures.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a fence wall constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in section, taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1, and detailing the upright support columns;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, in section, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and specifically illustrating the interlocking block panel; and

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view, partly in section, showing the manner of tightening the block panel between the upright support columns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate corresponding elements throughout the various figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a presently preferred embodiment of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration and shows two upright support columns and 10a and the wall panel 11 therebetween. Recesses 12 extending vertically along the edges of the support columns 10 and 10a accommodate the ends of the panel 11. It is particularly noted that the recesses 12 extend along opposite sides of the column 10 which is a straight wall support, while the recesses 12 extend adjacent sides of the corner support column 10a.

FIG. 2 specifically illustrates the elements of the upright support column 10. A foundation pier 13 is poured beneath the earth level 14. A base plate 17 having depending anchor studs 18 is emplaced and leveled atop the pier 13. Threaded receptacles, here shown as nuts 19, are Welded or otherwise fastened to the face of the base plate 17. Alternately, the receptacles could be threaded holes tapped directly into the base plate.

Concrete blocks 20, stacked upon the base plate 17, create the upright support column to the desired height. A recess 12 extends vertically along the edge of each block 20 while two vertical cylindrical passages 22 extend therethrough. The recesses 12 and the passages 22 of each block 20 are in substantial alignment. Two rods 23, having threaded ends, pass through the passages 22 and engage the nuts 19. A second pair of nuts 24 engage the upper ends of the rods 23 to locationally secure the blocks 20 and complete the upright support columns. Attention is directed to the fact that the corner support column 10a is similar to the support column 10, heretofore described in detail, except for the location of one vertical recess and that an end support column would be void of one recess.

FIG. 3 details the wall panel 11 formed of interlocking rectangular blocks 27. Each block 27 has a groove 28 extending along the lower edge and a truncated bevel 29 extending along the upper edge. An angle iron 30 placed upon the ground level 14 engages at either end into the recesses 12, and forms a mating guide for the groove 28 of the first row of blocks 27. Thereafter, the blocks are placed one upon another to the desired height; the top row of blocks 27a have a fiat upper edge to provide a finished appearance. A supporting rod 31 is periodically placed upon a row of blocks 27 in the cavity provided by the truncated bevel 29 to re-enforce the wall.

Not specifically herein illustrated in the drawings, but to be understood by those skilled in the art, each block 27 has one grooved vertical edge and one beveled vertical edge analogous to the grooved edge 28 and the beveled edge 29, respectively, to provide columnar interlocking. Also, as seen in FIG. 1, alternate rows of blocks are started with a half block to increase strength of the panel 11, and provide a realistic cement masonry unit appearance.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred mode of tightening the rows of blocks 27 between the upright support columns 10. A pair of wedges 32 and 33 are placed in the recess 12 between the column block 20 and the panel block 27. Downward pressure upon the wedge 32 forces the row of blocks together and jointly against the opposite support column 10.

It is mentioned that, alternately, instead of using base plate 17, anchor studs 18 and nuts 19, rods 23 may be set and anchored directly in concrete pier 13 and rods 23 will then be threaded only at the top.

Various other changes in the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to persons skilled in the art having regard for the disclosure hereof. It is obvious that the upright support columns, for example, could be prefabricated of a single casting to replace the built-up block construction. The same analogy applies to the wall panels. While specifically described as a concrete masonry unit in the foregoing disclosure, a person possessing ordinary skill could foresee the use of extruded metal, molded resins, or other materials to achieve decorative effect. Similarly, the described concrete blocks could be embossed or filigreed for heightened decor.

To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.

Having fully described and disclosed the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, I claim:

1. A prefabricated wall construction unit adapted to be assembled without the use of bonding material and further adapted for expedient assembly and disassembly, said wall construction unit comprising:

(a) A pair of upright columns, each said upright column comprising:

(1) a subterranean foundation;

(2) a first block supported by said foundation and having means defining a vertically extending pas sage therethrough and means defining a vertically extending recess along one vertical edge thereof:

(3) a second block supported by said first block and having means defining a vertically extending passage therethrough and means defining a vertically extending recess along one vertical edge thereof, the passage and the recess of said second block being in substantial alignment, respectively, with the passage and the recess of said first block; and

(4) a rod having a lower end and an upper end, said lower end being secured to said foundation and extending therefrom upwardly through the said passages in said first and second blocks, and means engaging said upper end to retain said blocks upon said foundation; and

(b) A panel extending between said upright columns and having the vertical edges thereof capable of locational retention within the said vertically extending recesses of said blocks, said panel comprising a plurality of adjacent blocks, each said adjacent block having a groove extending along one horizontal edge and along one vertical edge and a bevel extending along one horizontal edge and along one vertical edge, each said bevel being adapted to mate with each said groove to interlock each said adjacent block with another said adjacent block; and

(c) An elongate base plate extending between said upright columns, said base plate having a longitudinal upright bevel capable of engaging the groove along the lower edge of the lowermost of said adjacent blocks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gerber 256-19 5 Liebau.

Liebau 256-19 Klein et a1. 256-19 Dodson 52-593 X Dillon 256-19 Breakey v- 52593 X Heeren 52-593 X Abbott 52593 X Bridwell 256-19 Nofziger 256-19 X Schueren 256-19 DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner

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