Masonry units and structures formed therefrom

Abstract

A masonry unit for constructing built structures includes a rectangular shaped base having a front edge and a rear edge. The front edge and the rear edge each include a recess formed therein configured for disposal of a vertically disposed reinforcing material. A pair of spaced apart sidewalls extends perpendicularly from the base and along a length of the base. The sidewalls and the base together define a cavity configured for disposal of a fill material. A pair of spaced apart bridges is supported on the base configured for disposal of lengths of a horizontally disposed reinforcing material. The bridges extend transversely between the sidewalls and each have a height less than a height of the sidewalls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A masonry unit for constructing built structures, the masonry unit comprising:
 a rectangular shaped base having a front edge and a rear edge, the front edge and the rear edge each including a recess formed therein configured for disposal of a vertically disposed reinforcing material;   a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending perpendicularly from the base and along a length of the base, the sidewalls and the base together defining a cavity configured for disposal of a fill material; and   a pair of spaced apart bridges supported on the base configured for disposal of lengths of horizontally disposed reinforcing materials, the bridges extending transversely between the sidewalls and each having a height less than a height of the sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The masonry unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the recesses have a semi-circular profile. 
     
     
         3 . The masonry unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a first bridge of the pair of spaced apart bridges is adjacent a first recess of the recesses and a second bridge of the pair of spaced apart bridges is adjacent a second recess of the recesses. 
     
     
         4 . The masonry unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the first recess occupies an entire area defined between the sidewalls, the first bridge, and the front edge, and the second recess occupies an entire area defined between the sidewalls, the second bridge, and the rear edge. 
     
     
         5 . The masonry unit according to  claim 1 , wherein each sidewall includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surfaces being disposed in parallel relation to one another and the inner surfaces being angled relative to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The masonry unit according to  claim 1 , wherein each bridge has an upper surface that defines a pair of spaced apart grooves each configured for disposal of reinforcing material. 
     
     
         7 . The masonry unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the spaced apart grooves have a semi-circular configuration. 
     
     
         8 . A masonry structure, comprising:
 a plurality of masonry units, each masonry unit including:
 a rectangular shaped base having a front edge and a rear edge, the front edge and the rear edge each including a recess formed therein; 
 a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending perpendicularly from the base and along a length of the base, the sidewalls and the base together defining a cavity configured for disposal of a fill material; and 
 a pair of spaced apart bridges supported on the base, the bridges extending transversely between the sidewalls and each having a height less than a height of the sidewalls, wherein the masonry units are disposed adjacent to one another such that the front and rear edges of adjacent masonry units are in abutting engagement and form an enclosed passageway defined by the recesses of two adjacent masonry units; 
   a plurality of first reinforcing bars arranged in parallel to one another to form a cage, the cage being supported by the bridges of the masonry units and disposed in the cavities of the masonry units; and   at least one second reinforcing bar disposed in the enclosed passageway of two adjacent masonry units.   
     
     
         9 . The masonry structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of first reinforcing bars and the at least one second reinforcing bar are perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The masonry structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the cage includes a plurality of box-like straps that surrounds the plurality of first reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         11 . The masonry structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the cage includes a plurality of hooks connecting each first reinforcing bar of the plurality of first reinforcing bars to the straps. 
     
     
         12 . The masonry structure according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of stacked rows of cinder blocks forming at least one wall, wherein the plurality of masonry units cap the at least one wall such that the enclosed passageway of each pair of adjacent masonry units is in coaxial alignment with holes of the cinder blocks. 
     
     
         13 . The masonry structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the recesses of each masonry unit has a semi-circular profile. 
     
     
         14 . The masonry structure according to  claim 8 , wherein a first bridge of the pair of spaced apart bridges of each masonry unit is adjacent a first recess of the recesses of each masonry unit and a second bridge of the pair of spaced apart bridges of each masonry unit is adjacent a second recess of the recesses of each masonry unit. 
     
     
         15 . The masonry structure according to  claim 14 , wherein the first recess of each masonry unit occupies an entire area defined between the sidewalls, the first bridge, and the front edge of each masonry unit, and the second recess of each masonry unit occupies an entire area defined between the sidewalls, the second bridge, and the rear edge of each masonry unit. 
     
     
         16 . The masonry structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the bridges of each masonry unit have an upper surface that defines a pair of spaced apart grooves each configured for disposal of one of the plurality of first reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         17 . The masonry structure according to  claim 16 , wherein the spaced apart grooves of the bridges of each masonry unit have a semi-circular configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A concrete building block for constructing built structures, the concrete building block comprising:
 a rectangular shaped base having a front edge and a rear edge, the front edge and the rear edge each including a recess formed therein configured for disposal of a vertically disposed reinforcing bar, each recess having a semi-circular profile;   a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending perpendicularly from the base and along a length of the base, the sidewalls and the base together defining a cavity configured for disposal of a fill material; and   a pair of spaced apart trapezoidal-shaped bridges supported on the base and configured for disposal of lengths of horizontally disposed reinforcing bars, the bridges extending transversely between the sidewalls and each having a height less than a height of the sidewalls.   
     
     
         19 . The concrete building block according to  claim 18 , wherein a first bridge of the pair of spaced apart bridges is adjacent a first recess of the recesses and a second bridge of the pair of spaced apart bridges is adjacent a second recess of the recesses. 
     
     
         20 . The concrete building block according to  claim 18 , wherein each bridge has an upper surface that defines a pair of spaced apart grooves each configured for disposal of one of the horizontally disposed reinforcing bars.