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US 9,068,342 B2Granted
Masonry unit systems and methods
AssigneeConcrete Products Group LLC
InventorCanan D'Avela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments of masonry blocks can be used to form a wall system that provides an improved resistance to moisture penetration that might otherwise advance to an interior surface of the wall. In particular embodiments, some or all of the masonry blocks in the wall system may be equipped with one or more moisture drainage elements formed in a surface of the respective masonry block.
Claims19
A method of controlling moisture penetration through a masonry wall, comprising:
- receiving moisture along a top surface of a masonry block in a masonry wall, the moisture advancing along the top surface from an exterior face of the masonry wall in a direction toward an interior face of the masonry wall;
- diverting the moisture to drain generally vertically down one or more interior hollow cores of the masonry block, the masonry block comprising one or more moisture drainage elements positioned in the top surface of the masonry block, each of the moisture drainage elements comprising at least one downwardly slanted surface extending toward an adjacent one of the interior hollow cores of the masonry block when the blocks are assembled into a wall structure, wherein the masonry block includes an upper rim perimeter defined by uppermost exterior edges of four exterior sides of the masonry block, and wherein the one or more moisture drainage elements are spaced inwardly from the upper rim perimeter such that the upper rim perimeter has a generally continuous elevation;
- and
- directing the moisture that drained down the hollow core of the masonry block to exit at a location that is exterior to the exterior face of the masonry wall.
1 more element
A method of controlling moisture penetration through a masonry wall, comprising:
- receiving moisture along a top surface of a masonry block in a masonry wall, the moisture advancing along the top surface from an exterior face of the masonry wall in a direction toward an interior face of the masonry wall;
- diverting the moisture to drain generally vertically down one or more interior hollow cores of the masonry block, the masonry block comprising one or more moisture drainage elements formed in the top surface of the masonry block, each of the moisture drainage elements comprising at least one downwardly slanted surface extending toward an adjacent one of the interior hollow cores of the masonry block when the blocks are assembled into a wall structure, wherein the top surface of the masonry block is circumscribed by an upper rim perimeter defined by uppermost exterior edges of four exterior sides of the masonry block, wherein each respective moisture drainage element of the one or more moisture drainage elements is spaced inwardly away from the upper rim perimeter of the top surface of the masonry block such that the entire upper rim perimeter the masonry block is defined by four coplanar edges;
- and
- directing the moisture that drained down the hollow core of the masonry block to exit at a location that is exterior to the exterior face of the masonry wall.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.