Asymmetric retaining wall block

Abstract

A block suitable for use in a retaining wall, the block has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and opposed sides. The block includes a weakened section that extends substantially from the front to the rear surface, and which is configured and arranged to facilitate splitting the block into two smaller blocks. The weakened section can take the form of one or more slots that are generally situated within the body of the block and one or more grooves located at the front and rear surfaces, respectively. The groove at the front surface of the block is configured and arranged to simulate a joint between two adjacent blocks. Preferably, the front groove is formed by a core that modifies the block as it is removed from the mold in which it was cast. The block may include one or more projections and/or positioning elements that extend from the block in a generally vertical direction, and which are configured and arranged to engage a block in an adjacent course of blocks.

1 . A block suitable for use in constructing a wall, the block comprising: 
 spaced apart top and bottom surfaces defining the height of the block;    a front surface extending in a direction between the top and bottom surfaces;    a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance defining the depth of the block;    a first side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces;    a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the second side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces;    the block further comprising a weakened section located between the front and the rear surfaces, the weakened section configured and arranged to facilitate splitting the block from either one of the front or rear surfaces; and,    a first groove in the front surface extending vertically between the top and bottom surfaces, whereby the first groove may serve to assist in splitting the block and also presents a front surface simulating two separate blocks.    
   
   
       2 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened section comprises a first section that extends in a direction between the front and rear surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The block of  claim 2 , wherein the first section extends along a portion of the bottom surface.  
   
   
       4 . The block of  claim 2 , wherein the first section extends along a portion of the top surface.  
   
   
       5 . The block of  claim 2 , wherein the weakened section further comprises a second section; wherein the first and second sections each have a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are angled with respect to each other  
   
   
       6 . The block of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second sections are in communication with each other.  
   
   
       7 . The block of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second sections form a generally L-shaped opening.  
   
   
       8 . The block of  claim 2 , wherein the weakened section further comprises a notch that extends from the first section to the rear surface of the block.  
   
   
       9 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove is in splitting juxtaposition to the weakened section.  
   
   
       10 . The block of  claim 1 , further comprising a second groove in the rear surface extending vertically between the top and bottom surfaces.  
   
   
       11 . The block of  claim 10 , wherein the second groove is in splitting juxtaposition to the weakened section.  
   
   
       12 . The block of  claim 1 , further comprising a first positioning element, with the first positioning element configured and arranged to engage the rear surface of a block in an adjacent course of blocks.  
   
   
       13 . The block of  claim 12 , further comprising a second positioning element, with the second positioning element configured and arranged to engage the rear surface of a block in an adjacent course of blocks.  
   
   
       14 . The block of  claim 1 , further comprising a first projection, with the first projection configured and arranged to engage a rearwardly facing surface of a block in an adjacent course of blocks.  
   
   
       15 . The block of  claim 14 , further comprising a second projection, with the second projection configured and arranged to engage a rearwardly facing surface of a block in an adjacent course of blocks.  
   
   
       16 . The block of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second projections are spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       17 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface has a roughened texture, and the first groove is so located on the front surface as to present the appearance of tow differently sized blocks.  
   
   
       18 . A block suitable for use in constructing a wall, the block comprising: 
 spaced apart top and bottom surfaces defining the height of the block;    a front surface extending in a direction between the top and bottom surfaces;    a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance defining the depth of the block;    a first side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces, the first side surface comprising a stop surface;    a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the second side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces, the second side surface comprising a stop surface; and,    a pair of spaced apart projections extending from the block in a generally vertical direction with each projection comprising a contacting surface,    wherein the contacting surface of each projection is configured and arranged to engage stop surfaces in an adjacent course of blocks.    
   
   
       19 . The block of  claim 18 , further comprising a weakened section located between the front and rear surfaces and between the spaced apart projections.  
   
   
       20 . The block of  claim 19 , wherein the weakened section is an opening.  
   
   
       21 . The block of  claim 18 , further comprising a first groove in the front surface extending vertically between the top and bottom surfaces, whereby the first groove may serve to assist in splitting the block and also presents a front surface simulating two separate blocks.  
   
   
       22 . The block of  claim 18 , wherein each projection further comprises non-contacting surface spaced from the contacting surface.  
   
   
       23 . The block of  claim 22 , wherein the distance between the contacting and non-contacting surfaces of each of the projections is in the range of around 1 to 8 inches (2.54 to 20.32 cm).  
   
   
       24 . The block of  claim 18 , wherein the spaced apart projections depend from the bottom surface.  
   
   
       25 . A block suitable for use in constructing a wall, the block comprising: 
 spaced apart top and bottom surfaces defining the height of the block;    a front surface extending in a direction between the top and bottom surfaces;    a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance defining the depth of the block;    a first side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces;    a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the second side surface located between top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces; and,    a pair of spaced apart positioning elements extending from the block in a generally vertical direction with each positioning element comprising a contacting surface,    wherein the contacting surface of each positioning element is configured and arranged to engage the rear surface of an adjacent course of blocks.    
   
   
       26 . The block of  claim 25 , further comprising a weakened section located between the front and rear surfaces and between the spaced apart positioning elements.  
   
   
       27 . The block of  claim 25 , wherein the weakened section is an opening.  
   
   
       28 . The block of  claim 25 , further comprising a notch located between the spaced apart projections and extending vertically along the rear surface between the top and bottom surfaces.  
   
   
       29 . The block of  claim 26 , further comprising a notch located between the spaced apart positioning elements and extending vertically along the rear surface between the top and bottom surfaces.  
   
   
       30 . The block of  claim 25 , further comprising a first groove in the front surface extending vertically between the top and bottom surfaces.  
   
   
       31 . A wall comprising: 
 a plurality of blocks arranged in at least two adjacent courses, with each block comprising: 
 spaced apart top and bottom surfaces defining the height of the block;  
 a front surface extending in a direction between the top and bottom surfaces;  
 a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance defining the depth of the block;  
 a first side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces, the first side surface comprising a stop surface;  
 a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the second side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces, the second side surface comprising a stop surface; and,  
 a pair of spaced apart projections extending from the block in a generally vertical direction with each projection comprising a contacting surface,  
   wherein the contacting surface of each projection is configured and arranged to engage stop surfaces in an adjacent course of blocks.    
   
   
       32 . The wall of  claim 31 , wherein at least two of the adjacent courses are vertically aligned.  
   
   
       33 . The wall of  claim 31 , wherein at least two of the adjacent courses are offset along the depth direction.  
   
   
       34 . A method of constructing a wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a plurality of blocks, with each block comprising: spaced apart top and bottom surfaces defining the height of the block; a front surface extending in a direction between the top and bottom surfaces; a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance defining the depth of the block; a first side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces, the first side surface comprising a stop surface; a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the second side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces, the second side surface comprising a stop surface; and, a pair of spaced apart projections extending from the block in a generally vertical direction with each projection comprising a contacting surface, wherein the contacting surface of each projection is configured and arranged to engage stop surfaces in an adjacent course of blocks;    b. positioning a plurality of blocks next to each other to form a first course of blocks; and,    C. positioning a second block on top of the first course of blocks.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of positioning the second block on top of the first course of blocks comprises the steps of: 
 i. setting a front portion of a block on top of a rear portion of the first course of blocks; and,    ii. sliding the block forward until the contacting surface of the projection engages a stop surface in the adjacent course of blocks.    
   
   
       36 . A method of splitting a block, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a plurality of blocks, wherein at least one block comprises:    spaced apart top and bottom surfaces defining the height of the block; a front surface extending in a direction between the top and bottom surfaces; a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance defining the depth of the block; a first side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces; a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the second side surface located between the top and bottom surfaces and between the front and rear surfaces; the block further comprising a weakened section located between the front and the rear surfaces, the weakened section configured and arranged to facilitate splitting the block from either one of the front or rear surfaces; and, a first groove in the front surface extending vertically between the top and bottom surfaces, whereby the first groove may serve to assist in splitting the block and also presents a front surface simulating two separate blocks.    b. positioning a plurality of blocks next to each other to form a first course of blocks;    c. positioning a second block on top of the first course of blocks to form a wall; and,    d. splitting the block that has the weakened section while the block remains in the wall.    
   
   
       37 . A core suitable for use in forming a masonry block, the core comprising: 
 a generally elongate body having a first end and a second end, with the first end configured and arranged to be attached to a support bar, and with the second end configured and arranged to modify a masonry block as it is being removed from a block mold.    
   
   
       38 . The core of  claim 37 , wherein the elongate body has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end of the elongate body further comprises at least one tine with the tine extending outwardly relative to the elongate body.  
   
   
       39 . The core of  claim 38 , wherein the distance in which the tine extends outwardly relative to the elongate body is in the range of about ⅛ to 1 inch (0.57 to 2.54 cm.).  
   
   
       40 . The core of  claim 38 , wherein the tine is generally triangularly shaped and extends outwardly in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.  
   
   
       41 . The core of  claim 38 , wherein the elongate body has an exterior surface that is configured and arranged to modify a masonry block as it is being removed from a block mold.  
   
   
       42 . A core suitable for use in forming a masonry block, the core comprising: 
 a generally elongate body having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, with the first end configured and arranged to be attached to a support bar, and with the exterior surface configured and arranged to modify a masonry block as it is being removed from a block mold.    
   
   
       43 . The core of  claim 42 , wherein the exterior surface comprises at least one channel that extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.  
   
   
       44 . The core of  claim 42 , wherein the elongate body comprises at least two elongate, generally planar surfaces that extend along the length of the elongate body, with the generally planar surfaces angled with respect to each other.  
   
   
       45 . The core of  claim 44 , wherein the angle formed by the at least two elongate generally planar surfaces is in the range of around 30 to 150 degrees.  
   
   
       46 . The core of  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the generally planar surfaces further comprises at least one channel extending at a diagonal thereacross.