Masonry block arrangements; wall units; and, methods

Abstract

Concrete block arrangements are described. The block arrangements are adapted to be interfit, without modification, with at least one, and typically two, additional adjacent concrete blocks in a wall course, with mortarless head joints between the concrete block and the additional concrete block(s). Both stretcher block and corner block versions of the concrete block are described. Also described are: methods of use and assembly; and, resulting wall units.

1 . A concrete block adapted to be interfit, without modification, with at least one additional concrete block in a wall course, with a mortarless head joint between the concrete block and the at least one additional concrete block; the concrete block comprising:
 (a) a concrete block body including: first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; first and second, opposite faces; and, first and second, opposite, block ends;
 (i) the first block end comprising a first member of a first projection/receiver arrangement;
 (A) the first member of the first projection/receiver arrangement comprising a first receiver member;
 (1) the first receiver member comprising a central recessed section positioned between first and second, opposite, ears; the central recessed section and first and second ears defining a u-shaped recess at the first end of the block body; 
 (2) the u-shaped recess extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; 
 (3) the first ear including an inwardly directed first corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the first corner transition portion: being directed toward the second ear; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 (4) the second ear including an inwardly directed second corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the second corner transition portion: being directed toward the first ear; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 
 
   (b) the concrete block body further including a first member of a second projection/receiver comprising one of: a first projection member, and, a second receiver member;
 (i) the first projection member, when present, being at the block second end and comprising a central projection positioned between first and second opposite side recessed sections;
 (A) the first projection member extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces and projecting from a remainder of the block body in a direction away from the first end; and, 
 (B) the first projection member having first and second, opposite, outside corner transition portions adjacent the first and second, opposite, side recessed sections respectively;
 (1) the first outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and 
 (2) the second outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the second face; and, 
 
 
 (ii) the second receiver member, when present, being in the block second face and adjacent to, and spaced from, the block second side sections;
 (A) the second receiver member comprising a central recessed section and opposite first and second side sections;
 (1) the second receiver member extending continuously between the first and second bearing surfaces and including a first inside corner section on the first side section at a location remote from the central recessed section and directed toward the second side section; the first inside corner section extending non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the block second face; and 
 (2) the second side section including a second inside corner section on the second side section at a location remote from the central recessed section, directed toward the first side section and extending non-perpendicular and, non-parallel to the block second face; and, 
 (3) the central recessed section and opposite first and second side sections of the second receiver member defining a u-shaped side recess extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces. 
 
 
   
   
   
       2 . A concrete block according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first member of the second projection/receiver arrangement is the second receiver member of 1(b)(ii) positioned in the second face at a location adjacent the block second end; and,   (b) the concrete block is configured as a corner block with a flat surface at the second end.   
   
   
       3 . A concrete block according to  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the u-shaped side recess of the second receiver member is spaced a distance of at least 2.5 cm and not more than 13 cm from the block second end.   
   
   
       4 . A concrete block according to  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the first side section of the second receiver member includes a first straight, non-beveled, section at least 2.5 cm deep in extension toward the central recessed section; and,   (b) the second side section of the second receiver member includes a first straight, non-beveled, section at least 2.5 cm deep in extension toward the central recessed wall.   
   
   
       5 . A concrete block according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) a distance between the opposite first and second bearing surfaces is within the range of 15 cm to 25 cm, inclusive;   (b) a distance between the opposite block faces is within the distance of 15 cm to 25 cm, inclusive; and,   (c) a total length of the block first side is within the range of 20 cm to 76 cm, inclusive.   
   
   
       6 . A concrete block according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first member of the second projection/receiver arrangement is the first projection member of 1(b)(i); and,   (b) the concrete block is configured as a stretcher block.   
   
   
       7 . A concrete block according to  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the u-shaped recess of the first receiver member has a first recess width; and,   (b) the first projection member has a projection tip with a width corresponding to at least 80% of the first recess width.   
   
   
       8 . A concrete block according to  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the first and second side recessed sections each include a central section extending parallel to one another and each extending perpendicular to the first and second block sides.   
   
   
       9 . A concrete block according to  claim 7  including:
 (a) a core arrangement surrounded by concrete web and extending continuously between the first and second bearing surfaces.   
   
   
       10 . A concrete block according to  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the core arrangement comprises a single core surrounded by concrete block and positioned within a distance of 8 cm of the block second end.   
   
   
       11 . A concrete block according to  claim 10  wherein:
 (a) the core arrangement comprises a plurality of cores, each surrounded by concrete block, and having a total core length, in a direction parallel to the first and second sides, of at least 60% of a length of each of the first and second sides.   
   
   
       12 . A wall section including:
 (a) a block course including first and second stretcher blocks each according to  claim 6  positioned adjacent one another with a mortarless head joint therebetween;
 (i) the first projection member at the second end of the second stretcher block projecting into the first receiver member at the first end of the first block. 
   
   
   
       13 . A wall section including:
 (a) a block course including first and second concrete blocks;
 (i) the first concrete block comprising a corner block according to  claim 2 ; 
 (ii) the second concrete block comprising a stretcher block according to  claim 6 ; 
 (iii) the second concrete block being positioned with the first projection member thereon projecting into one of the first and second receiver members of the first concrete block; and 
 (iv) a head joint between the first and second concrete blocks being mortarless. 
   
   
   
       14 . A concrete block adapted to be interfit, without modification, with at least one additional concrete block in a wall course, with a mortarless head joint between the concrete block and the at least one additional concrete block; the concrete block comprising:
 (a) a concrete stretcher block body including: first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; first and second, opposite, faces; and, first and second, opposite, block ends;
 (i) the first block end comprising a first member of a first projection/receiver arrangement including one of:
 (A) a first receiver member comprising:
 (1) a central recessed section positioned between first and second, opposite, ears; the central recessed section and first and second ears defining a u-shaped recess at the first end of the block body; 
 (2) the u-shaped recess extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; 
 (3) the first ear including an inwardly directed first corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the first corner transition portion: being directed toward the second ear; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 (4) the second ear including an inwardly directed second corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the second corner transition portion: being directed toward the first ear; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 
 (B) a first projection member comprising a central projection positioned between first and second opposite side recessed sections;
 (1) the first projection member extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces and projecting from a remainder of the block body in a direction away from the first end; and, 
 (2) the first projection member having first and second, opposite, outside corner transition portions adjacent the first and second, opposite, side recessed sections respectively; 
  (I) the first outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and 
  (II) the second outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the second face; and, 
 
 
 (ii) the block second end comprising a first member of a second projection/receiver arrangement comprising one of:
 (A) a first receiver member comprising:
 (1) a central recessed section positioned between first and second, opposite, ears; the central recessed section and first and second ears defining a u-shaped recess at the second end of the block body; 
 (2) the u-shaped recess at the second end of the block body extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; 
 (3) the first ear at the second end including an inwardly directed first corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the first corner transition portion: being directed toward the second ear at the second end; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 (4) the second ear at the second end including an inwardly directed second corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the second corner transition portion: being directed toward the first ear at the second end; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 
 (B) a first projection member comprising a central projection positioned between first and second opposite side recessed sections;
 (1) the first projection member extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces and projecting from a remainder of the block body in a direction away from the first end; and, 
 (2) the first projection member having first and second, opposite, outside corner transition portions adjacent the first and second, opposite, side recessed sections respectively; 
  (I) the first outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and 
  (II) the second outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the second face. 
 
 
   
   
   
       15 . A concrete block adapted to be interfit, without modification, with at least one additional concrete block in a wall course, with a mortarless head joint between the concrete block and the at least one additional concrete block; the concrete block comprising:
 (a) a concrete corner block body including: first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; first and second, opposite, faces; and, first and second, opposite, block ends;
 (i) the first block end comprising a first member of a first projection/receiver arrangement comprising one of:
 (A) a first receiver member comprising:
 (1) a central recessed section positioned between first and second, opposite, ears; the central recessed section and first and second ears defining a u-shaped recess at the first end of the block body; 
 (2) the u-shaped recess extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; 
 (3) the first ear including an inwardly directed first corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the first corner transition portion: being directed toward the second ear; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 (4) the second ear including an inwardly directed second corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the second corner transition portion: being directed toward the first ear; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 
 (B) a first projection member comprising a central projection positioned between first and second opposite side recessed sections;
 (1) the first projection member extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces and projecting from a remainder of the block body in a direction away from the second end; and, 
 (2) the first projection member having first and second, opposite, outside corner transition portions adjacent the first and second, opposite, side recessed sections respectively; 
  (I) the first outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and 
  (II) the second outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the second face; and, 
 
 
 (ii) the second block end comprising a flat end surface and including a first member of a second projection/receiver arrangement adjacent to and spaced from the end surface comprising one of:
 (A) a second receiver member comprising a central recessed section positioned between first and second, opposite, side sections; the central recessed section and first and second ears defining a u-shaped recess in the second side and spaced from the flat end surface of the block body;
 (1) the u-shaped recess extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; 
 (2) the first side section including an inwardly directed first corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the first corner transition portion: being directed toward the second side section; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 (3) the second side section including an inwardly directed second corner transition portion remote from the central recessed section; the second corner transition portion: being directed toward the first side section; extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first face; and, extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces; and, 
 
 (B) a second projection member comprising a central projection positioned between first and second opposite side recessed sections;
 (1) the second projection member extending continuously between the first and second, opposite, bearing surfaces and projecting from a remainder of the block body in a direction away from the first face; and, 
 (2) the second projection member having first and second, opposite, outside corner transition portions adjacent the first and second, opposite, side recessed sections respectively; 
  (I) the first outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the second face; and 
  (II) the second outside corner transition portion being outwardly directed and extending non-perpendicular and non-parallel to the second face.