Masonry block wall system

Abstract

A masonry block includes a set of block members each having opposing end faces, an outer face and an inner face opposite of the outer face, a top face and a slot that includes a first portion at least partially coextensive with the top face and a second portion transverse to the first portion which is at least partially coextensive with the opposing end faces of the set of block members. The set of block members are supported on a self-supporting wall frame.

1 . A masonry block, comprising:
 a set of block members each having opposing end faces, an outer face and an inner face extending between said opposing end faces, a top face and a slot that includes a first portion at least partially coextensive with said top face and a second portion transverse to said first portion which is at least partially coextensive with said opposing end faces.   
   
   
       2 . The masonry block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said slots is continuous and said first portion includes a horizontal portion and said second portion includes a vertical portion, said horizontal portion coextensive with a length of said set of block members and extending along said top face and said vertical portion coextensive with a height of said set of block members and extending along said opposing end faces. 
   
   
       3 . The masonry block as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said vertical portion of each of said slots is offset from said horizontal portion in a direction towards at least one of said outer faces and said inner faces of said set of block members. 
   
   
       4 . The masonry block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one cross member extends between said set of block members. 
   
   
       5 . The masonry block as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one cross member comprises a first material and said set of block members comprise a second material different from said first material. 
   
   
       6 . The masonry block as recited in  claim 1 , comprising at least one depression positioned adjacent to each of said slots and an insert receivable within each of said at least one depression. 
   
   
       7 . A wall system, comprising:
 a bracket assembly which establishes a self-supporting wall frame; and   at least one block member supported on said self-supporting wall frame and having an outer face and an inner face, wherein said a least one block member includes a slot cooperative to locate said at least one block member on said self-supporting wall frame, said slot at least partially coextensive with a portion of said at least one block member which is between said outer face and said inner face.   
   
   
       8 . The wall system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said bracket assembly includes a wall component and a plurality of ledger clips attached to said wall component, wherein said plurality of ledger clips extend horizontally across said wall component to establish a plurality of rows of said self-supporting wall frame. 
   
   
       9 . The wall system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said ledger clips comprise a z-shape, said ledger clips including at least one leg member for receiving said slot of said at least one block member to secure said at least one block member to said self-supporting wall frame. 
   
   
       10 . The wall system as recited in  claim 7 , comprising a plurality of block members and wherein said bracket assembly includes a plurality of vertical bars positioned between horizontally adjacent block members of said plurality of block members. 
   
   
       11 . The wall system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said bracket assembly includes a plurality of bracket members, wherein each of said plurality of bracket members includes a first sheet portion, a second sheet portion transverse to said first sheet portion and a third sheet portion transverse to said second sheet portion and parallel to said first sheet portion. 
   
   
       12 . The wall system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said second sheet portion of each of said plurality of bracket members includes at least one fin received by said slot to secure said at least one block member to said self-supporting wall frame. 
   
   
       13 . The wall system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said bracket assembly includes at least one horizontal reinforcement member to provide support to said plurality of bracket members. 
   
   
       14 . The wall system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said bracket assembly comprises a first material and said at least one block member comprises a second material different from said first material. 
   
   
       15 . A method of constructing a wall system, comprising:
 (a) installing bracket members onto a pre-existing wall; and   (b) attaching block members to the bracket members.   
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , comprising performing the following steps prior to said step (a):
 installing sheathing over the pre-existing wall; and   installing building wrap over the sheathing.   
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the pre-existing wall includes a plurality of vertically extending stud members and the bracket members include a plurality of ledger clips, said step (a) comprising:
 attaching the plurality of ledger clips horizontally across the plurality of vertically extending stud members to establish a plurality of rows for positioning the block members.   
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said step (b) comprises:
 positioning a leg member of one of the bracket members within a slot of one of the block members; and   positioning a bottom face of the block member which receives the leg member against a portion of an adjacent row of the bracket members; and   applying an adhesive adjacent to the bottom face of the block member positioned against the portion of the adjacent row of the bracket members.   
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , comprising the step of:
 (c) installing a vertical bar between horizontally adjacent block members subsequent to at least two of the block members being attached to the bracket members.   
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , comprising the step of:
 (d) applying mortar to each of a plurality of horizontal joints and vertical joints between the block members of the wall system.