Block, block system and method of making a block
AssigneeKeystone Retaining Wall Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. MacDonald, Thomas S. Riccobene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A block, block system and method of making a wall block. A block with multiple embodiments of a visually exposed surface having three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints that can be used to construct a patio, wall, fence or the like; the multiple embodiments creating a more random and natural appearance. A mold box having a moveable liner and a stripper shoe that impart three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints onto an exposed surface of a block. The moveable liner and stripper shoe also impart a parting line onto the exposed surface of the block.
Claims21
(canceled)
A method to produce blocks, the method comprising:
- positioning a production pallet beneath a mold box to enclose a bottom of a mold cavity. wherein the mold box includes opposed side walls and opposed front and rear walls which together form a perimeter of the mold cavity shaped to form a block, the mold cavity having an open top and an open bottom;
- depositing block forming material into the mold cavity;
- and
- compressing the block forming material within the mold cavity to form a block by lowering a stripper shoe to enclose the open top of the mold cavity, wherein, in an installed orientation, the block includes an outward-facing front face that is adjacent to a top irregular surface and to first and second irregular side surfaces, the stripper shoe having an irregular molding surface shaped for forming the top irregular surface of the block and contoured molding surfaces shaped for forming a first portion of the outward-facing front face and a first portion of the first and second irregular side surfaces of the block, wherein a transition between the first portion of the outward-facing front face and the first portion of the first and second irregular side surfaces of the block formed by the stripper shoe and the remaining portions of the outward-facing front face and the second irregular side surfaces of the block is an irregular and non-linear;
- and
- removing the block forming material from the at least one mold cavity after moving the front wall to the retracted position.
A mold assembly for producing one or more blocks having a block body including opposed front and rear faces, opposed first and second side surfaces, and opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom planar surfaces, the front face and the first and second side faces each having a respective first portion adjacent the top surface and a respective second portion adjacent the bottom surface, the mold assembly comprising:
- a stripper shoe;
- and
- a mold box including first and second opposed side walls and opposed front and rear walls which together form a perimeter of a mold cavity shaped to form a block during a block forming process, the mold cavity having an open top and an open bottom, wherein a production pallet encloses the open bottom of the mold cavity during a block forming process, the stripper shoe enclosing at least a portion of the open top of the mold cavity during a block forming process, wherein the stripper shoe is configured to compress the block forming material within the mold cavity to form a block when lowered to enclose the open top of the mold cavity, wherein, in an installed orientation, the block includes an outward-facing front face that is adjacent to a top irregular surface and to first and second irregular side surfaces, the stripper shoe having an irregular molding surface shaped for forming the top irregular surface of the block and contoured molding surfaces shaped for forming a first portion of the outward-facing front face and a first portion of the first and second irregular side surfaces of the block, wherein a transition between the first portion of the outward-facing front face and the first portion of the first and second irregular side surfaces of the block formed by the stripper shoe and the remaining portions of the outward-facing front face and the second irregular side surfaces of the block is an irregular and non-linear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.