Blocks and block forming apparatus and method

A face form for use in a concrete block form for creating a desired shape on the face of a block, the face form comprising:

• (a) a bottom surface textured to the desired shape;
• (b) a wall coupled to the bottom surface, the wall comprising first and second end walls coupled to first and second side walls such that the first and second end walls are substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls;
• and
• (c) a first anchor rail projecting from the first side wall and a second anchor rail projecting from the second side wall, wherein the first and second anchor rails are configured so as to be capable of being slidably received by a concrete block form to thereby retain the face form in the concrete block form.

A block form for forming retaining wall blocks comprising:

• (a) a bottom surface configured for slidably receiving a face form, the bottom surface having a first edge and an oppositely disposed second edge;
• (b) a first anchor rail clamp coupled to the first edge of the bottom surface, and a second anchor rail clamp coupled to the second edge of the bottom surface wherein the first and second anchor rail clamps are configured to slidably receive a face form and retain such a face form adjacent the bottom surface, wherein the area between the bottom surface and the first and second anchor rail clamps comprises a face form receiving area;
• and
• (c) a generally upright four sided enclosure comprising first and second side walls and first and second end walls, wherein the four sided enclosure is configured to be combined with the bottom surface and a face form to form an enclosed space for receipt of moldable concrete, and wherein at least one of the first and second side walls and first and second end walls is configured to be movable from its upright position to a position in which the face form receiving area is accessible for sliding receipt of a face form.

A block form for forming retaining wall blocks comprising:

• (a) a supporting structure;
• (b) at least four safety stops attached to the supporting structure;
• (c) a bottom surface coupled to the supporting structure;
• (d) four hinged doors having a molding position in which the four hinged doors form a molding cavity between the four hinged doors and the bottom surface, each hinged door having two hinge arms hingedly connected to the supporting structure and each hinge arm having a lower edge which faces the supporting structure;
• and
• (e) wherein the lower edge of at least one hinge arm from each door has a stop engaging surface substantially aligned with one of the at least four safety stops wherein each of the four hinged doors has an open position that is different from the molding position in which rotation of each of the four hinged doors is stopped by the engagement of the respective stop engaging surface with the respective safety stop.

A block form for forming retaining wall blocks comprising:

• (a) a supporting structure;
• (b) a substantially horizontal bottom surface coupled to the supporting structure;
• (c) four hinged doors having a molding position in which the four hinged doors form a molding cavity between the four hinged doors and the bottom surface, each hinged door having a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom of each hinged door has two hinge arms hingedly connected to the supporting structure, and wherein a first hinged door of the four hinged doors is adjacent and substantially perpendicular to a second hinged door of the four hinged doors;
• (d) a first member coupled to the top of the first hinged door and a second member coupled to the top of the second hinged door, wherein the first member defines a first hole and the second member defines a second hole;
• and
• (e) a safety latch comprising first and second substantially parallel rods connected by a connecting section, wherein the safety latch is configured to fit into the first and second holes of the first and second members when in the molding position by positioning of the first rod into the first hole and the second rod into the second hole, wherein the first and second hinged doors are held in substantially the molding position.

A method of molding retaining wall blocks comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a block form comprising:
• (i) a supporting structure;
• (ii) a bottom surface secured to the supporting structure;
• (iii) first, second, third and fourth hinged doors having a molding position in which the first, second, third and fourth hinged doors form a molding cavity with the bottom surface, each hinged door having a top and bottom, wherein the bottom of each hinged door has two hinge arms hingedly connected to the supporting structure, and wherein the first hinged door is adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the second hinged door and the third door is adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the second hinged door, and wherein the fourth hinged door is adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the third hinged door and the first hinged door, and wherein each of the hinged doors has an inside surface and an outside surface;
• (iv) at least one locking mechanism coupled to two or more of the hinged doors, the at least one locking mechanism having an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the first, second, third and fourth hinged doors are maintained in their molding position when the at least one locking mechanism is in its locked position;
• (b) rotating the first hinged door and second hinged door into substantially the molding position;
• (c) removably securing the first hinged door to the second hinged door so as to maintain the first and second hinged doors in the molding position;
• (d) rotating the third and fourth hinged doors into substantially the molding position;
• (e) moving the at least one locking mechanism into its locked position;
• and
• (f) pouring moldable concrete into the molding cavity.

A block form for forming retaining wall blocks comprising:

• (a) a supporting structure;
• (b) a substantially horizontal bottom surface coupled to the supporting structure;
• (c) four hinged doors having a molding position in which the four hinged doors form a molding cavity between the four hinged doors and the bottom surface, each hinged door having a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom of each hinged door has two hinge arms hingedly connected to the supporting structure, and wherein a first hinged door of the four hinged doors is adjacent and substantially perpendicular to a second hinged door of the four hinged doors;
• (d) a first protrusion coupled to the first hinged door, the first protrusion having a substantially planar first prying surface;
• and
• (e) a second protrusion coupled to the second hinged door, the second protrusion having a substantially planar second prying surface wherein the first and second prying surfaces form a gap of between 0.1 inches and 2.0 inches when the first and second hinged doors are in the molding position.

A method of using a face form for forming two blocks of reversed front surface ornamentation, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a block form comprising:
• (i) a supporting structure;
• (ii) a substantially horizontal bottom surface secured to the supporting structure;
• (iii) four hinged doors having a molding position in which the four hinged doors form a molding cavity between the four hinged doors and the bottom surface, each hinged door having a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom of each hinged door has two hinge arms hingedly connected to the supporting structure, and wherein a first hinged door of the four hinged doors is adjacent and substantially perpendicular to a second hinged door of the four hinged doors;
• (b) providing a face form in a first orientation on the bottom surface of the block form;
• (c) pouring moldable concrete into the block form to form a first block;
• (d) removing the first formed block from the block form;
• (e) slidably removing the face form from the block form;
• (f) slidably inserting the face form along the bottom surface of the block form in a second orientation relative to the bottom surface;
• and
• (g) pouring moldable concrete into the block form to form a second block.