Masonry block
AssigneeShoreloc Design Group, Inc.
InventorJason Stell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A masonry block has a front, a back, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side and a second side. The front has a front-top edge and a front-bottom edge. A number of steps (e.g. two steps) that rise above the top surface are setback from the front-top edge by a first setback distance. An equal number of notches are formed/cut into the bottom surface. A first notch of the notches is setback from the front-bottom edge by a second setback distance. When stacked to form a wall, the steps of a lower masonry block interface with the notches of a next higher masonry block and the first setback distance is greater than the second setback distance resulting in an overall setback as defined by a difference between the first setback distance minus the second setback distance.
Claims20
A masonry block comprising:
- a masonry block body having a front, a back, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side and a second side, the front having a front-top edge and a front-bottom edge, the masonry block having an opening formed between the top surface and the bottom surface;
- at least two steps on the top surface rising above the top surface and formed between the opening and the front-top edge, the steps being setback from the front-top edge by a first setback distance;
- an equal number of notches in the bottom surface, a first notch of the notches being setback from the front-bottom edge by a second setback distance;
- whereas when stacked to form a wall, the steps of a lower masonry block interface with the notches of a next higher masonry block;
- and
- whereas the first setback distance is greater than the second setback distance and an overall setback is defined by a difference between the first setback distance minus the second setback distance.
A method of constructing a structure with masonry blocks such that the structure has a fixed setback, the method comprising:
- setting a first layer of the masonry blocks on a footing, the masonry blocks having a front, a back, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side and a second side, the front having a front-top edge and a front-bottom edge, the masonry block having an opening formed between the top surface and the bottom surface;
- setting a subsequent layer of the masonry blocks on top of the first layer of the masonry blocks such that notches in the front bottom edge of each masonry block of the subsequent layer mates with at least two steps on the top surface of the first layer of the masonry blocks, the at least two steps formed on the top surface of the masonry block between the opening and the front-top edge;
- and
- whereas the steps being setback from the front-top edge by a first setback distance and a first notch of the notches being setback from the front-bottom edge by a second setback distance and therefore, the fixed setback is defined by subtracting the first setback distance minus the second setback distance.
A masonry block comprising:
- a masonry block body having a front, a back, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side and a second side, the front having a front-top edge and a front-bottom edge, the masonry block having an opening formed between the top surface and the bottom surface;
- two steps on the top surface of the masonry block rising above the top surface between the opening and the front-top edge, a first step of the two steps being setback from the front-top edge by a first setback distance;
- two notches in the bottom surface of the masonry block, a first notch of the two notches being setback from the front-bottom edge by a second setback distance;
- whereas when stacked to form a wall, the two steps of a lower masonry block interface with the two notches of a next higher masonry block;
- and
- whereas the first setback distance is greater than the second setback distance and an overall setback of the wall is defined by a difference between the first setback distance minus the second setback distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.