Spacer system for glass block walls

Abstract

This application discloses a system and method for assembling glass block walls from straight and non-straight glass blocks using horizontal and vertical spacers. The horizontal spacer is shaped to fit a top or bottom surface of the glass block and has elongated tabs and receiving holes, which extend from opposing sides. The elongated tabs engage the receiving holes of adjacent horizontal spacers. The vertical spacers are positioned on a side surface of the glass block, and have a shape and a thickness that corresponds to the vertical space between adjacent glass blocks and engage the side surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system of spacers for assembling a glass block wall from a combination of non-straight and straight glass blocks, said system comprising: 
 a) horizontal spacers for positioning on one of a top and a bottom surface of said glass blocks, said horizontal spacers including: 
 i) a main portion shaped to match said one of said top and said bottom surface and to engage said surface;  
 ii) a first elongated tab extending from a first edge of said main portion, operative to engage a first adjacent horizontal spacer mounted on a first adjacent glass block; and  
 iii) a second elongated tab extending from a second edge of said main portion different from said first edge and operative to engage a second adjacent horizontal spacer mounted on a second adjacent glass block; and  
   b) vertical spacers for positioning on a side surface of said glass blocks, said vertical spacers having a shape and a thickness that corresponds to the vertical space between adjacent glass blocks and to engage said side surface.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs include barbs.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second adjacent horizontal spacers are straight horizontal spacers.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said non-straight glass blocks include non-straight glass blocks of the following shapes: 90-degree, 45-degree, and radius.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said main portion of said horizontal spacers is formed from two identical pieces.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of said two identical pieces further includes a plurality of male and female parts operative to guide said two identical pieces into opposed alignment.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein one of said identical pieces is operative to space a bottom row of said glass blocks.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs are perpendicular to said first and second edges, respectively.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs are insertable to an adjustable depth into receiving holes of said first and second adjacent horizontal spacers, respectively.  
     
     
         10 . A system of spacers for assembling a glass block wall from a combination of non-straight and straight glass blocks, said system comprising: 
 a) horizontal spacers for positioning on one of a top and a bottom surface of said glass blocks, said horizontal spacers including: 
 i) a main portion shaped to match said one of said top and said bottom surface and to engage said surface;  
 ii) a first elongated tab extending from a first edge of said main portion, operative to engage a first adjacent horizontal spacer mounted on a first adjacent glass block;  
 iii) a first receiving hole located at said first edge of said main portion proximate said first elongated tab and operative to engage an elongated tab on said first adjacent horizontal spacer;  
 iv) a second elongated tab extending from a second edge of said main portion different from said first edge and operative to engage a second adjacent horizontal spacer mounted on a second adjacent glass block; and  
   v) a second receiving hole located at said second edge proximate said second elongated tab and operative to engage an elongated tab on said second adjacent horizontal spacer; and    b) vertical spacers for positioning on a side surface of said glass blocks, said vertical spacers having a shape and a thickness that corresponds to the vertical space between adjacent glass blocks and to engage said side surface.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs include barbs.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second adjacent horizontal spacers are selected from the group consisting of a horizontal spacer, and a straight horizontal spacer.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said non-straight glass blocks include non-straight glass blocks of the following shapes: 90-degree, 45-degree, and radius.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said main portion is formed from two identical pieces, each of said identical pieces containing an indent such that said two indents combine to form one of said receiving holes when said two identical pieces are joined together.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of said two identical pieces further includes a plurality of male and female parts operative to guide said two identical pieces into opposed alignment.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one of said identical pieces is operative to space a bottom row of said glass blocks.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs are perpendicular to said first and second edges, respectively.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs are insertable to an adjustable depth into receiving holes of said first and second adjacent horizontal spacers, respectively.  
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a glass block wall from a combination of non-straight and straight glass blocks, said system comprising: 
 a) inserting horizontal spacers into horizontal spaces between adjacent glass blocks, said horizontal spacers being positioned on one of a top and a bottom surface of said glass blocks, and said horizontal spacers including: 
 i) a main portion shaped to match said one of said top and said bottom surface and to engage said surface;  
 ii) a first elongated tab extending from a first edge of said main portion, operative to engage a first adjacent horizontal spacer mounted on a first adjacent glass block; and  
 iii) a second elongated tab extending from a second edge of said main portion non-adjacent to said first edge operative to engage a second adjacent horizontal spacer mounted on a second adjacent glass block;  
   b) inserting vertical spacers into vertical spaces between adjacent glass blocks, said vertical spacers being positioned on a side surface of said glass blocks, said vertical spacers having a shape and a thickness that corresponds to the vertical space between adjacent glass blocks and to engage said side surface; and    c) applying a bonding agent in said horizontal spaces and in said vertical spacers to secure said glass blocks.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said horizontal spacers further include: 
 a) a first receiving hole located at said first edge of said main portion proximate said first elongated tab and operative to engage an elongated tab on said first adjacent horizontal spacer; and    b) a second receiving hole located at said second edge proximate said second elongated tab and operative to engage an elongated tab on said second adjacent horizontal spacer.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs include barbs.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said main portions of said horizontal spacers are sized to fit one of the following: a straight glass block, a 90-degree glass block, a 45-degree glass block, and a radius glass block.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said main portion is formed from two identical pieces, each of said identical pieces containing an indent such that said two indents combine to form one of said receiving holes when said two identical pieces are joined together.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each of said two identical pieces further includes a plurality of male and female parts operative to guide said two identical pieces into opposed alignment.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said first and second elongated tabs are perpendicular to said first and second edges, respectively.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein first and second elongated tabs are insertably adjustable into receiving holes of said first and second adjacent horizontal spacers, respectively