Concrete block for forming columns

Abstract

A modular post block may include a core through the block body and three interlocking portions disposed on the inner perimeter surface of each block that project outward from one of the bottom surface or the top surface of each block. First and second interlocking portions are disposed on one surface of the inner perimeter and third interlocking portion is disposed on the opposite side. Blocks can be stacked in a column by horizontally rotating each successive block 180 degrees. Interlocking portions of a first block then project into the core of a second block and the third interlocking portion of the first block fits at least partially between two interlocking portions of the adjacent second block.

1 . A concrete block for constructing a vertical column of blocks, the block comprising: 
 a top surface;    a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface and defining a thickness of the block;    a first side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the first side surface having a decorative texture;    a second side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the second side surface having a recess defined therein;    a third side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the third side surface opposing the first side surface;    a fourth side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the fourth side surface opposing the second side surface;    an inner perimeter surface defining a core within the block, the core extending through the entire thickness of the block from the top surface through the bottom surface; and    first, second and third interlocking portions, each extending beyond one of the top surface or bottom surface of the block, the first and second interlocking portions generally located on opposite portions of the inner perimeter surface of the block from the third interlocking portion.    
   
   
       2 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises an open area bounded by the inner perimeter surface that is at least 80% as large as a block area defined by the area bounded by the first, second and third side surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , wherein the third side surface has a decorative texture.  
   
   
       4 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth side surface has a decorative texture.  
   
   
       5 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth side surfaces have decorative textures.  
   
   
       6 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , wherein the third side surface has a recess defined therein.  
   
   
       7 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth side surface has a recess defined therein.  
   
   
       8 . The concrete block of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement bar slot defined in the block body.  
   
   
       9 . A concrete block for constructing a vertical column of blocks, the block comprising: 
 a block body comprising: 
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface and defining a thickness of the block;  
 a first side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the first side surface having a decorative texture;  
 a second side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the second side surface having a recess defined therein;  
 a third side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the third side surface opposing the first side surface;  
 a fourth side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the fourth side surface opposing the second side surface;  
 an inner perimeter surface defining a core within the block, the core extending through the entire thickness of the block from the top surface through the bottom surface; and  
 means for interlocking the block body with a second block in an adjacent course.  
   
   
   
       10 . A concrete block for constructing a vertical column of blocks, the block comprising: 
 a block body comprising: 
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface and defining a thickness of the block;  
 a first side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the first side surface having a decorative texture;  
 a second side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the second side surface having a recess defined therein;  
 a third side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the third side surface opposing the first side surface;  
 a fourth side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the fourth side surface opposing the second side surface;  
 an inner perimeter surface defining a core within the block, the core extending through the entire thickness of the block from the top surface through the bottom surface, the core bound by each of the first, second, third and fourth side surfaces; and  
 at least three interlocking portions extending beyond one of the top surface or bottom surface of the block, the at least three portions configured to interlock the block with an adjacently stacked second block that is horizontally rotated by 180 degrees.  
   
   
   
       11 . The concrete block of  claim 10 , wherein the at least three interlocking portions comprise first and second interlocking portions generally located on opposite portions of the inner perimeter surface of the block from a third interlocking portion.  
   
   
       12 . The concrete block of  claim 10 , further comprising a reinforcement bar slot defined in the block body.  
   
   
       13 . The concrete block of  claim 10 , wherein the core comprises an open area bounded by the inner perimeter surface that is at least 80% as large as a block area defined by the area bounded by the first, second and third side surfaces.  
   
   
       14 . The concrete block of  claim 13 , wherein the core comprises an open area bounded by the inner perimeter surface that is at least 85% as large as a block area defined by the area bounded by the first, second and third side surfaces.  
   
   
       15 . A column of concrete blocks comprising: 
 a first block;    a second block stacked upon the first block,    wherein each of the first and second blocks comprises: 
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface and defining a thickness of the block;  
 a first, second, third and fourth side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;  
 an inner perimeter surface defining a core within the block, the core extending through the entire thickness of the block from the top surface through the bottom surface; and  
 first, second and third interlocking portions, each extending beyond one of the top surface or bottom surface of the block, and  
   wherein the first and second interlocking portions of the first block extend at least partially into the core of the second block and the third interlocking portion of the second block is located partially between the first and second interlocking portions of the first block when the second block is rotated 180 degrees in a horizontal plane with respect to the first block.    
   
   
       16 . The column of concrete blocks of  claim 15 , further comprising a reinforcement member disposed vertically in the cores of the first and second blocks.  
   
   
       17 . The column of concrete blocks of  claim 15 , further comprising a cap block disposed on the column of blocks.  
   
   
       18 . The column of concrete blocks of  claim 17 , wherein the cap block comprises the shape of a four sided pyramid.  
   
   
       19 . A method of stacking concrete blocks to form a column of concrete blocks, each block comprising a top surface; a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface and defining a thickness of the block; a first, second, third and fourth side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; an inner perimeter surface defining a core within the block, the core extending through the entire thickness of the block from the top surface through the bottom surface; first, second and third interlocking portions, each extending beyond one of the top surface or bottom surface of the block, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing a first block;    stacking a second block on the first block by rotating the second block by one-half horizontal turn; and    interlocking the first and second blocks together by introducing the third interlocking portion of the first block at least partially into a space defined between the first and second interlocking portions of the second block.    
   
   
       20 . The method of stacking of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of interlocking the first and second blocks together by partially capturing the third interlocking portion of the second block between first and second interlocking portions of the first block.