Patent ID: 8201376
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: E04B,E04C

Abstract:
1. A masonry block and hardware set for use in dry stack construction of walls and columns, comprising: a plurality of wall units; a plurality of corner units; a plurality of end units wherein each of said wall, corner, and end units have a top surface with a depression that is brought into substantial alignment when an adjoining block at the same level or in the same course is abutted with the respective unit, and further wherein when any two of said units are adjoined, said units create a vertically oriented space for accommodating clamping hardware, and further wherein each of said end and corner units include an alignment slot to align said end units and said corner units in relation to adjoining wall units; wherein each of said wall units, said end units, and said corner units include a bottom side, a front face, a back side, at least one wing portion, and at least one female concavity for receiving a wing portion of an adjoining block, wherein when any two of said units are abutted so as to bring a wing element into mating engagement with a concavity in an adjoining unit, said abutted units define a vertically disposed hole for passing a vertically disposed anchor bolt connected to ground or a poured-in place footing; wherein each of said wall units, said end units, and said corner units include a rectangular depression in said top surface in a rear area of said wing portion, such that when any two of said units are abutted so as to bring a wing element into mating engagement with a concavity in an adjoining unit, said abutted units define a recessed platform for accommodating a square bolt plate having holes for disposing said bolt plate over an anchor bolt; hardware received in the aligned depressions and in the vertically oriented space for clamping the units in place as wall construction proceeds, wherein the clamping provides a downwardly directed compressive force and lateral rigidity; wherein said hardware includes anchor bolts, bond straps, bolt plates, and tie straps; wherein said bolt plates include medial bolt plates for positioning on and between wall units or wall and end units, and corner bolt plates for positioning on and between corner units and wall units; wherein said medial bolt plates comprise a generally planar square metal plate having one unthreaded hole and one threaded hole; and wherein said corner bolt plates comprise a generally planar square metal plate with a center hole and diagonal cut slots defining frangible lines which facilitate breaking the plates in half to form two discrete right triangle halves, each of said halves including two pre-drilled holes for passing bolts, crimps and diagonal cuts at the vertices to form tabs that enable easy bending of the vertices for insertion into said alignment slots of said corner units.