Interlocking masonry wall block

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interlocking masonry wall block having an open core and spaced projections that enable stacked blocks to be interlocked, setback and staggered to form a stable gravity-type retaining wall that is particularly suited for landscaping applications. The open core extends completely through the block from top to bottom. The block is formed by front, rear and opposed side walls, each having parallel inside and outside surfaces. One projection extends from the lower surface of each side wall. The front of each projection is forward the inside surface of the front wall to provide the setback when stacked on other like-shaped blocks. Each block is stacked in a staggered manner atop two other blocks. One projection of each block is received by the open core of one of the two lower blocks. The projections abut the inside surface of the front wall of the lower blocks to interlock the blocks together. The block has a preferably trapezoidal shape with a wider front wall to help accommodate the formation of serpentine walls. The block can be used to make serpentine walls with straight and curved portions with a relatively constant pitch.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A masonry wall block for stacking atop other like-shaped blocks, the masonry wall block comprising: 
 a main body having a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls, each of said walls having inside and outside surfaces and upper and lower surfaces, said inside surfaces of said walls forming an open core, said upper surfaces of said walls forming an upper surface of said main body, and said lower surfaces of said walls forming a lower surface of said main body, said upper and lower surfaces of said main body being substantially parallel;    first and second spaced apart, projections extending from said lower surface of said main body, said first projection extending from said lower surface of said first side wall and said second projection extending from said lower surface of said second side wall, each of said projections being located on opposite sides of said open core, and each of said projections having a portion with a front surface located between said inside and outside surfaces of said front wall to define a setback dimension; and,    wherein said block is adapted to be stacked in a staggered relationship atop first and second lower like-shaped blocks, said first projection of said block being received by said open core of said first lower like-shaped block, and said second projection of said block being received by said open core of said second lower like-shaped block, said front surface of each of said projections of said block being adapted to abuttingly engage said inside surface of said front wall of its respective lower like-shaped block, and said block being positioned rearwardly of said lower like-shaped blocks an amount equal to said setback dimension when in said abutting engagement with said lower like-shaped blocks.    
     
     
         2 . The masonry wall block of  claim 1 , and wherein each of said projections has a second portion with a rear surface located between said inner surfaces of said front and rear walls, each of said projections having a thickness dimension greater then its said setback dimension.  
     
     
         3 . The masonry wall block of  claim 2  and wherein said setback dimension is less than half said thickness dimension.  
     
     
         4 . The masonry wall block of  claim 1  and wherein said abutting engagement forms an interlock between said block and the first and second lower like-shape block, said interlock preventing said block from being pushed forward relative to said lower like-shaped blocks.  
     
     
         5 . The masonry wall block of  claim 1 , and wherein said block has a predetermined width dimension between said outside surfaces of said first and second side walls, said open core has a predetermined width dimension between said inside surfaces of said first and second side walls, and each of said projections has opposed side surfaces and a predetermined width dimension between said opposed side surfaces, and wherein said width dimension of each of said projections is less than one tenth of said width dimension of said block, and said width dimension of said open core is at least half said width dimension of said block, and wherein said block is able to be staggered various amounts atop said lower like-shaped blocks.  
     
     
         6 . The masonry wall block of  claim 5  and wherein said width dimension of each of said projections is about one seventh that of said width dimension of said open core.  
     
     
         7 . The masonry wall block of  claim 5  and wherein said like-shaped blocks are adapted to be offset to form a gap between said side walls of said like-shaped blocks.  
     
     
         8 . The masonry wall block of  claim 1 , and wherein said inside and outside surfaces of said front, rear and opposed side walls are substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower surfaces.  
     
     
         9 . The masonry wall block of  claim 8 , and wherein said inside and outside surfaces of said front wall are substantially parallel, said inside and outside surfaces of said rear wall are sustantially parallel, said inside and outside surfaces of said first side wall are substantially parallel, and said inside and outside surfaces of said second side wall are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         10 . The masonry wall block of  claim 9 , and wherein said front surface of each of said projections is substantially parallel to said inner surface of said front wall.  
     
     
         11 . The masonry wall block of  claim 1 , and wherein said block is adapted for use with a plurality of other like-shaped blocks to form a multi-course wall having a serpentine shape with gradually increasing curved portions.