Retaining wall block and mold

Abstract

A retaining wall block is disclosed that has a body. The body has a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a front side, and a rear side. The top has a first surface and a second surface adjacent the first surface. The first surface of the top is a first distance higher than the second surface of the top. The bottom has a first surface and a second surface. The second surface of the bottom is a second distance lower than the first surface of the bottom. The first and second distances are substantially similar. The first end has a top portion that extends a third distance beyond a bottom portion. The second end has a bottom portion that extends a fourth distance beyond a top portion. The third and fourth distances are substantially similar.

1 . A concrete block for retaining walls comprising:
 a body having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a front side and a rear side,   the top having a first surface and a second surface adjacent the first surface, the first surface of the top being a first distance higher than the second surface of the top;   the bottom having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the bottom being adjacent the second surface of the bottom, the second surface of the bottom being a second distance lower than the first surface of the bottom;   the first distance and the second distance being substantially similar distances,   the first end of the body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the first end extending a third distance beyond the bottom portion of the first end;   the second end of the body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the second end extending a fourth distance beyond the top portion of the second end;   the third and fourth distances being substantially similar distances, the top portion of the first end and the top portion of the second end having substantially similar heights and the bottom portion of the first end and the bottom portion of the second end having substantially similar heights.   
   
   
       2 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the front side has a texture configured to simulate one of a plurality of ledge stones, a plurality of cobblestones, and a plurality of bricks. 
   
   
       3 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the concrete block is formed by wet casting cement. 
   
   
       4 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the front side has a length and the rear side has a length, the first end and second end both being angled as each end extends from the front side to the rear side such that the length of the front side is longer than the length of the rear side. 
   
   
       5 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the second surface of the bottom has a first angled portion adjacent the first end and a second angled portion adjacent the second end. 
   
   
       6 . The concrete block of  claim 1  further comprising a light fixture housing attached to the body such that the light fixture housing is integral with the body. 
   
   
       7 . The concrete block of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tube attached to the body such that the at least one tube is integral with the body, the at least one tube extending from the rear side to the front side of the block. 
   
   
       8 . The concrete block of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one tube has a front end adjacent the front side of the body and a rear end adjacent the rear end of the body, the at least one tube extending on a downward angle such that the rear end is located above the front end. 
   
   
       9 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the first distance is 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches and the second distance is 0.25 to 0.75 inches 
   
   
       10 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the third distance is 0.75 inches to 1.25 inches and the fourth distance is 0.75 inches to 1.25 inches. 
   
   
       11 . The concrete block of  claim 1  wherein the top surface of the body is sloped from the rear side of the body to the front side of the body about a first grade and the bottom surface of the body is sloped from the back side of the body to the front side of the body about a substantially similar second grade. 
   
   
       12 . The concrete block of  claim 11  wherein the first grade is 1 to 3 degrees and the second grade is 1 to 3 degrees. 
   
   
       13 . A mold for a concrete block comprising a frame, a moveable insert, and a movable cover, the mold being adjustable from a molding position to an extraction position;
 the frame having an end, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the first side, second side, third side and fourth side attached to the end and extending from the end, the end having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the first side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the second side having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the third side having an interior surface and an exterior surface and the fourth side having an interior surface and an exterior surface;   the moveable insert sized and configured to fit within the frame adjacent the interior surface of the first side when the mold is in the molding position, the moveable insert having a first side and a second side, the first side of the insert facing the interior surface of the first side of the frame when the mold is in the molding position and the second side of the insert facing the interior surface of the second side of the frame when the mold is in the molding position;   the interior surface of the third side of the frame extending away from the end at an angle, the interior surface of the third side of the frame having a first portion adjacent the first side of the frame and a second portion adjacent the second side of the frame, the first portion of the interior surface of the third side of the frame extending towards the fourth side of the frame more than the second portion such that a first lip is formed between the first and second portions of the interior surface of the third side of the frame;   the interior surface of the fourth side of the frame extending away from the interior surface of the end at an angle, the interior surface of the fourth side of the frame having a first portion adjacent the first side of the frame and a second portion adjacent the second side of the frame, the second portion of the fourth side of the frame extending towards the third side of the frame more than the first portion of the fourth side of the frame such that a first lip is formed between the first and second portions of the interior surface of the fourth side of the frame;   the first portion of the interior surface of the third side of the frame and the second portion of the interior surface of the fourth side of the frame having substantially similar lengths and widths, the second portion of the interior surface of the third side of the frame and the first portion of the interior surface of the fourth side of the frame having substantially similar lengths and widths, the first lip of the third side of the frame and the first lip of the fourth side of the frame having substantially similar lengths and widths;   the interior surface of the second side of the frame having a first section and a second section, the first section of the interior surface of the second side of the frame being adjacent the end and extending further toward the first side of the frame than the second section of the interior surface of the second side of the frame such that a first lip is formed between the first and second sections of the interior surface of the second side of the frame;   the second side of the insert having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces of the second side of the insert defining a first lip between the first and second surfaces, the first lip of the insert extending from the first surface of the second side of the insert to the second surface of the second side of the insert such that the second surface extends further toward the second side of the frame than the first surface when mold is in the molding position, the first surface of the insert being located on the second side of the insert such that the first surface of the insert is closer to the end than the second surface of the insert when the mold is in the molding position;   the moveable cover being moveably or removably connected to the first side, second side, third side and fourth side when the mold is in the molding position; and   wherein the moveable cover is moved away from the first side, second side, third side and fourth side of the frame when the mold is placed in the extraction position and the moveable insert is moved away from the end of the frame when the mold is placed in the extraction position.   
   
   
       14 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the frame is a unitary structure. 
   
   
       15 . The mold of  claim 13  further comprising at least one form attached to one of the cover and the interior surface of the end. 
   
   
       16 . The mold of  claim 15  wherein each form is removably connected to at least one of the cover or interior surface of the end when the mold is in the molding position. 
   
   
       17 . The mold of  claim 15  wherein the at least one form is configured to provide a textured surface that provides an appearance of one of a plurality of ledge stones, a plurality of bricks, and a plurality of cobblestones. 
   
   
       18 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the interior surface of the third side is angled at 45 to 112 degrees relative to the interior surface of the end of the frame and the fourth side is angled at 45 to 112 degrees relative to the interior surface of the end of the frame. 
   
   
       19 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the first lip of the third side extends 0.75 to 1.25 inches between the first portion and the second portion of the interior surface of the third side and the first lip of the fourth side extends 0.75 to 1.25 inches between the first portion and the second portion of the interior surface of the fourth side. 
   
   
       20 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the first lip of the second side of the frame extends 0.25 to 0.75 inches between the first section and the second section of the interior surface of the second side and the first lip of the second side of the insert extends 0.25 to 0.75 inches between the first surface and the second surface of the second side of the insert. 
   
   
       21 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein at least one of the frame, insert and cover is comprised of at least one material selected from the group consisting of plastics, metals, and wood. 
   
   
       22 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the moveable insert is further comprised of a third side and a fourth side and the interior surface of the third side of the frame is further comprised of a groove sized and configured to receive the third side of the moveable insert adjacent the first side of the frame and the interior surface of the fourth side of the frame is further comprised of a groove sized and configured to receive the fourth side of the moveable insert adjacent the first side of the frame. 
   
   
       23 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the insert is further comprised of a first thickness and a second thickness, the first thickness of the insert being narrower than the second thickness, the first thickness being located adjacent the first surface of the second side of the insert and the second thickness being located away from the first thickness such that the first thickness is closer to the end of the frame than the second thickness when the mold is in the molding position. 
   
   
       24 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the first lip of the insert has a first angled portion, a second angled portion and a middle portion between the first and second angled portions, the first angled portion extending from the middle portion of the first surface of the insert toward the third side of the frame and the second angled portion extending from the middle portion of the first surface of the insert toward the fourth side of the frame when the mold is in the molding position. 
   
   
       25 . The mold of  claim 23  wherein the first angled portion of the first lip of the insert extends along an angle of 3 to 15 degrees relative to the middle portion of the first lip of the insert and the second angled portion of the first lip of the insert extends along an angle of 3 to 15 degrees relative to the middle portion of the first lip of the insert. 
   
   
       26 . The mold of  claim 13  wherein the interior surface of the second side of the frame is sloped in a direction away from the end of the frame along a first grade and the first and second surfaces of the second side of the insert are sloped in a direction that is away from the end of the frame when the mold is in the molding position, the slope of the first and second surfaces of the second side of the insert being sloped along a second grade that is substantially similar to the first grade. 
   
   
       27 . The mold of  claim 26  wherein the first grade is 1 to 3 degrees and the second grade is 1 to 3 degrees.