Patent ID: 9441370
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: E02D,E04B,E04C

Claim Text:
1. A concrete base block especially adapted to be positioned on the ground with other like base blocks to form a base course for a wall; the base block comprising: (a) a first convex end; (b) an opposite second concave end sized to receive a first convex end of a like-base block; (c) first and second sides extending between the first and second ends, the base block having a length between the first and second ends and a width between the first and second sides, the length being greater than the width, the first and second sides being straight over a majority of the length of the base block; (d) a top face and an opposite bottom face between the first and second ends and the first and second sides; the top face being widest along the portion where the first and second sides are straight, the top face having a generally planar contact surface portion constructed to support a plurality of wall blocks and having no projection extending away from the top face beyond the contact surface portion, the bottom face having a generally planar contact surface constructed to lay flat on the ground and having no projection extending away from the bottom face; (e) at least one core extending through the block from the top face to the bottom face; and (f) at least first and second handholds formed in the block to permit a human to grasp and lift the block, the first and second handholds comprising first and second hand-receiving indents in the bottom face and corresponding first and second sides of the block; the first hand-receiving indent being along the first side of the block and extending into the first side from the bottom face of the block only partially up the first side of the block; the second hand-receiving indent being along the second side of the block and extending into the second side from the bottom face of the block only partially up the second side of the block; each of the first hand-receiving indent and second hand-receiving indent being sized to allow a user to insert at least a few fingers under each of the first and second sides of the base block when the base block is resting on the bottom face on the ground in order to manipulate the base block and move it into proper position in the base course of the wall to be constructed.