Wall Block

Abstract

A wall block includes a generally rectangular body including a decorative side that has four edges and five other sides; and a spacer integrated to at least one of i) the decorative side and ii) one of the five other sides that is adjacent the decorative side; the spacer being distanced from at least two adjacent edges of the decorative side so as to create a gap between two adjacent wall blocks when they are abutted. A block wall is constructed using a plurality of such wall blocks.

1 . A wall block comprising:
 a generally rectangular body having a decorative face and five other faces; the generally rectangular body having at least one spacer face, each being one of the five other faces that is adjacent to the decorative face; each spacer face having a peripheral edge; and   at least one spacer, each defined by a depression along a portion of the peripheral edge of the at least one spacer face; the depression yielding a gap between the wall block and another wall block when the at least one spacer face of the wall block is abutted with the other block; wherein the depression extends along full lengths of two faces selected from i) the decorative face and ii) the five other faces that are both adjacent one another and adjacent to the at least one spacer face.   
     
     
         2 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The wall block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the depression has longitudinal and lateral portions of different widths. 
     
     
         4 . The wall block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the depression is generally U-shaped and extends along full lengths of three faces selected from i) the decorative face and ii) the five other faces that are adjacent to the at least one spacer face. 
     
     
         5 . The wall block as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the U-shaped depression defines two longitudinal portions having a first width and a lateral portion that has a second width that is different than the first width. 
     
     
         6 . The wall block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer has a surface that is generally parallel to one of the five other faces that is opposite the at least one spacer face. 
     
     
         7 . The wall block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer face includes two spacer faces and the at least one spacer includes two spacers, each one on a respective spacer face. 
     
     
         8 . The wall block as recited in  claim 1 , which is made of concrete. 
     
     
         9 . The wall block as recited in  claim 8 , which is manufactured by a molding process. 
     
     
         10 . The wall block as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the molding process includes stripping out the wall block from a mold plate or from a molding cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The wall block as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the decorative face has a different color than at least one of the five other faces. 
     
     
         12 . The wall block as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the decorative face has a peripheral edge that is chamfered. 
     
     
         13 . A block wall comprising a plurality of wall blocks as recited in  claim 1 , which are either abutted side-by-side or piled. 
     
     
         14 . The block wall as recited in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the gap is filled with grout. 
     
     
         15 . A wall block comprising:
 a generally rectangular body including a decorative side that has four edges and five other sides; and   at least one spacer, each integrated to one of the five other sides that is adjacent the decorative side; the at least one spacer being distanced from at least two adjacent edges of the decorative side so as to create a gap between two adjacent wall blocks when they are abutted;   
       wherein the at least one spacer includes two spacers, on two adjacent sides, among the five other sides, that are adjacent the decorative side. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The wall block as recited in  claim 15 , wherein wall block is manufactured using a molding process that includes stripping out the wall block from a mold plate or from a molding cavity.