Column block

Abstract

A building material apparatus forms a shaped structure about and protects a support. A plurality of blocks are stackable in vertical and horizontal positions such that the blocks stack vertically adjacent for a length of the column and horizontally adjacent for a perimeter of the column. The blocks are made of a material which may be restored to an original condition after being damaged. An inner surface of each block is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column such that the inner surface substantially abuts the column. A plurality of reinforcing members supports the blocks. The reinforcing members have a length based on the vertical length formed by the blocks and are disposed in between discontinuous surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks. An adhesive material securely joins the plurality of blocks to the reinforcing members.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A building material apparatus for forming a shaped structure about a column, comprising: 
 a plurality of blocks operably stackable in vertical and horizontal positions such that the blocks stack vertically adjacent for a length of the column and horizontally adjacent for a perimeter of the column, said blocks each having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side and a second side disposed between said inner surface and said outer surface and the top surface and the bottom surface, said blocks made of a material which may be restored to an original condition after being damaged;    wherein said inner surface is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column such that the inner surface substantially abuts the column;    wherein said first side and said second side each have a discontinuous surface;    a plurality of reinforcing members operably supporting said plurality of blocks, said reinforcing members having a length based on said vertical length formed by the blocks and disposed in between said discontinuous surfaces of said horizontally adjacent blocks; and    an adhesive material for securely joining the plurality of blocks at the first side and the second side to the reinforcing members and the top surface and the bottom surface.    
     
     
         2 . The building material apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said discontinuous surface is defined by a cavity and a planar portion.  
     
     
         3 . The building material apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said cavity is a substantially semicircular shape.  
     
     
         4 . The building material of  claim 2  wherein each cavity supports a reinforcing member.  
     
     
         5 . A building material apparatus for forming a column shaped structure about a support, comprising: 
 a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side and a second side disposed between said inner surface, said outer surface, said top surface and said bottom surface whereby a block is formed;    said top surface sized and shaped to abut an adjacent block bottom surface and said bottom surface sized and shaped to abut an adjacent block top surface of vertically adjacent blocks;    said first side sized and shaped to abut a second side of said horizontally adjacent block and said second side sized and shaped to abut a first side of said horizontally adjacent blocks; and    said inner surface sized and shaped to abut said support.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further includes reinforcing members disposed between said horizontally adjacent blocks.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first side and the second side each have a discontinuous surface.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the discontinuous surface is defined by a cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first side of one block and the second side of one of the horizontally adjacent blocks are positioned such that the cavities are juxtaposed for supporting said reinforcing member.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further includes adhesive material disposed between said blocks at the first sides, the second sides, the top surfaces and the bottom surfaces.  
     
     
         11 . A building method for arranging a plurality of shaped blocks to form a protective structure about a support, comprising: 
 placing a plurality of shaped blocks in a horizontal and vertical series such that a desired portion of the support is surrounded, said shaped blocks having an original surface appearance;    positioning at least one of the reinforcing members in a vertical position between said horizontally adjacent blocks, said reinforcing member having a length which extends a length of the blocks vertically positioned;    disposing an adhesive deformable material operably securing said plurality of blocks and reinforcing members to each other, said adhesive deformable material located between said first side and said second side and said top surface and bottom surface; and    repairing said shaped blocks which become damaged such that said original surface appearance is restored.