Wall block and wall block system

Abstract

A wall block, wall block system and method of making a wall block. The wall block including at least one core extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the at least one core having opposed front and rear surfaces and first and second side surfaces the wall block also including at least one pin hole opening onto the top surface of the block and extending at least a portion of the distance from the top surface to the bottom surface. The at least one pin hole may open onto at least a portion of at least one surface of the at least one core. The block may be provided with channels; the pin hole, channels and core may all be formed in a mold box by a single forming member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall block comprising:
 a block body having opposed front and rear faces, opposed first and second side walls, and opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces;   at least one core extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the at least one core having opposed front and rear surfaces and opposed first and second side surfaces, the front surface of the core being positioned in closer proximity to the front face of the block body than the rear surface of the core, the front, rear, first side and second side surfaces of the core being substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the block body; and   at least one pin hole positioned laterally to at least one of the surfaces of the at least one core, the at least one pin hole opening onto the top surface of the block body and extending at least a portion of the distance from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block body, the at least one pin hole having a core slot, the core slot opening onto at least a portion of at least one surface of the at least one core, the core slot extending at least a portion of the distance from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block body along the at least one surface of the at least one core.   
     
     
         2 . The wall block of  claim 1  wherein the at least one core is two cores having opposed front and rear surfaces and opposed first and second side surfaces, the first core being positioned in proximity to the front face of the block body and the second core being positioned in proximity to the rear face of the block body. 
     
     
         3 . The wall block of  claim 2  wherein the at least one pin hole is at least two pin holes. 
     
     
         4 . The wall block of  claim 3  wherein the core slot of each pin hole opens onto the front surface of the second core. 
     
     
         5 . The wall block of  claim 3  wherein the core slot of one pin hole opens onto the front surface of the second core and the core slot of the second pin hole opens onto the rear surface of the first core. 
     
     
         6 . The wall block of  claim 3  wherein the core slot of each pin hole opens onto the rear surface of the first core. 
     
     
         7 . The wall block of  claim 6  wherein the two pin holes open onto the top and bottom surface of the block body, extending the entire distance from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block body. 
     
     
         8 . The wall block of  claim 7  wherein the core slots of each pin hole open onto the top and bottom surfaces, extending the entire distance along the rear surface of the core from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block body. 
     
     
         9 . The wall block of  claim 3  wherein the top surface has an elongate channel extending from the first side wall to the second side wall of the block body. 
     
     
         10 . The wall block of  claim 9  wherein the at least two pin holes and the first core are open to the elongate channel. 
     
     
         11 . The wall block of  claim 3  wherein the top surface has a first and a second elongate channel, the first elongate channel extending from the first side surface of the first core to the first side wall of the block body and the second elongate channel extending from the second side surface of the first core to the second side wall of the block body. 
     
     
         12 . The wall block of  claim 1  wherein the front face has an angular surface that is adjacent and non-orthogonal to the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The wall block of  claim 12  wherein the front face has a first side angular surface adjacent and non-orthogonal to the first side wall of the block body and a second side angular surface adjacent and non-orthogonal to the second side wall of the block body. 
     
     
         14 . A wall block comprising:
 a block body having opposed front and rear faces, opposed first and second side walls, and opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces;   at least one core extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the at least one core having opposed front and rear surfaces and opposed first and second side surfaces, the front surface of the core being positioned in closer proximity to the front face of the block body than the rear surface of the core and the first side surface of the core being positioned in closer proximity to the first side wall of the block body than the second side surface of the core;   at least one pin hole positioned laterally to at least one of the surfaces of the at least one core, the at least one pin hole opening onto the top surface of the block body and extending at least a portion of the distance from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block body, the at least one pin hole having a core slot, the core slot opening onto at least a portion of at least one surface of the at least one core; and   at least a first and a second elongate channel, the first elongate channel extending from the first side surface of the at least one core to the first side wall of the block body and the second elongate channel extending from the second side surface of the at least one core to the second side wall of the block body.   
     
     
         15 . The wall block of  claim 14  wherein the at least one core is two cores having opposed front and rear surfaces and opposed first and second side surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The wall block of  claim 15  wherein the top surface has first, second, third and fourth elongate channels, the first elongate channel extending from the first side surface of the first core to the first side wall of the block body, the second elongate channel extending from the second side surface of the first core to the second side wall of the block body, the third elongate channel extending from the first side surface of the second core to the first side wall of the block body and the fourth elongate channel extending from the second side surface of the second core to the second side wall of the block body. 
     
     
         17 . The wall block of  claim 14  wherein the at least one pin hole is two pin holes, the core slot of the first and second pin hole opening into the rear surface of the first core. 
     
     
         18 . The wall block of  claim 17  wherein the two pin holes extend from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         19 . The wall block of  claim 14  wherein the at least two pin holes is four pin holes, the third and fourth pin holes being closed to the at least one core. 
     
     
         20 . The wall block of  claim 19  wherein the third pin hole is positioned lateral to the first side surface of the at least one core and is open to a bottom surface of the first elongate channel and the fourth pin hole is positioned lateral to the second side surface of the at least one core and is open to a bottom surface of the second elongate channel.