Building block, and wall or yard edging therefrom

A block suitable for use as edging or wall formation has on one end thereof a conically shaped, hemispherical indentation in the surface thereof, and a corresponding protruding member as a male protrusion thereof. On the other end of the block, the positioning of this corresponding protruding member and indentation are reversed. Thus, the bricks can be laid end to end and supported. The slots in the brick and the top step permit a strong block shape. The lip also permits a stepped portion structure to form a wall having the height of several layers of bricks or blocks.

This invention relates to an interlocking building block, and more 
particularly to an interlocking building block and walls made from a 
plurality thereof in order to form a sea-wall, a border at the edge of a 
lawn or a sidewalk, and similar items. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is critical that a brick or block for forming a wall be simply assembled 
into that wall. Block and brick may be used interchangeably as terms 
herein. It is always desired to design a block that a layman can use. A 
layman must be able to use the block in a simple fashion and achieve the 
same strength and appearance of a wall as a professional can achieve. 
If the block has a complicated structure and is hard to manufacture, it 
follows that the layman cannot use it to build the wall, in a simple 
fashion. It further is clear, that the difficulty of manufacturing 
increases the cost of the block for the consumer. Thus, it is desired to 
simplify this structure while at the same maintaining the necessary 
strength of the wall made from the block. 
If the blocks are used to form an edge or a border for a yard or a 
sidewalk, the edge thus formed from the blocks must have sufficient 
strength to keep natural shifts therein from pushing the blocks along the 
edge thereof out of the way. In this manner, the edge or border can keep 
the desired appearance and strength factors. Such shifts can push aside 
almost any type of edge structure. The brick or block must be shapeable 
into a strong edge form. 
When a sea wall or a retaining wall is desired, the block must have a dual 
function. The wall requires a block with both an end, and a top to bottom 
joining mechanisms. If these joining mechanisms are simply joined, the 
layman can use it to build the wall. This block structure must be 
simplified, while at the same maintaining the necessary strength of the 
wall. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, among the many objects of this invention is to provide an 
interlocking building block and wall. 
A further objective of this invention is to provide a seawall from a 
plurality of an interlocking building block. 
Still a further objective of this invention is to provide a retaining wall 
from a plurality of an interlocking building block. 
Yet a further objective of this invention is to provide a yard border from 
a plurality of an interlocking building block. 
Also an objective of this invention is to provide an interlocking building 
block suitable for simplified assembly. 
Another objective of this invention is to provide a method for building a 
seawall from a plurality of an interlocking building block. 
Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a method for building 
a retaining wall from a plurality of an interlocking building block. 
Still another objective of this invention is to provide a method for 
building a yard border from a plurality of an interlocking building block. 
These and other objectives of this invention are met by providing a 
particular block has on one end thereof a conically shaped, hemispherical 
indentation in the surface thereof, and a corresponding protruding member 
as a male protrusion thereof. On the other end of the block, the 
positioning of this corresponding protruding member and indentation are 
reversed. Thus, the bricks can be laid end to end and supported. The slots 
in the brick and the top step permit a strong block shape. The lip also 
permits a stepped portion structure to form a wall having the height of 
several layers of bricks or blocks.

Throughout the figures of the drawing, where the same part appears in more 
than one figure of the drawing, the same number is applied thereto. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
This particular block has on one end thereof a conically shaped, 
hemispherical indentation in the surface thereof, and a corresponding 
protruding member as a male protrusion thereof. On the other end of the 
block, the positioning of this corresponding protruding member and 
indentation are reversed. Thus, the bricks can be laid end to end and 
supported. The slots in the brick and the decorative portion of the top 
step permit a strong block. The lip also permits a stepped portion 
structure to form a wall having several levels. In this fashion, the 
desired results can be obtained. 
On the top of the block can be seen a step and the protuberance. Brick and 
block are interchangeable terms for the purpose of this invention. On the 
base of the block can be seen a receiving member for the step portion. On 
the rear and front of the block are situated slots for decorative 
purposes, strength purposes or stabilizing purposes. In this way the soil 
can better grip the block or brick and hold it in place. 
Also the slots in the block are useful. The slot or slots in the front side 
of the block adds to the strength of the block, while simplifying the 
molding and formation of each individual block, so that the block may be 
formed more efficiently and at less cost. The slot on the rear side of the 
block supports the yard edge or sidewalk edge, and adds to block strength 
in addition to permitting the block to be formed more efficiently. 
Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the block 100 has on a first end 120 
thereof a first female, conically-shaped hemispherical indentation 122 in 
the surface thereof, and a corresponding a first male protrusion 124. A 
second end 130 of block 100 is oppositely disposed from first end 120. The 
block 100 has on a second end 130 thereof a second female, 
conically-shaped hemispherical indentation 132 in the surface thereof, and 
a corresponding a second male protrusion 134. 
When a first end 120 of one block 100 is placed adjacent to a second end 
130 of another block 100, the first female, conically-shaped hemispherical 
indentation 122 lines up with and receives the second male protrusion 134. 
Likewise, the first male protrusion 124 is simultaneously received by the 
second female, conically-shaped hemispherical indentation 132. The reverse 
positioning thereof achieves this result. 
This structure is the basis for FIG. 2, which depicts a side view, 
cross-sectional view of seawall 110 formed from a plurality of the 
interlocking building block 100. Bottom slot 162 can receive lip 172 for 
forming seawall 110 and separating a body of water 114 from land 116 by a 
vertical and horizontal stack of block 100. First end 120 combines with 
second end 130 to achieve horizontal stability. Bottom slot 162 and lip 
172 combine to form vertical stability. 
Likewise, FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a yard edging 112 formed in 
a horizontally stable fashion from a plurality of the interlocking 
building block 100. Yard edging 112 separates yard 106 from driveway 104. 
Driveway 104 may also be a sidewalk or similar structure. First end 120 
combines with second end 130 to achieve the horizontal stability required 
for the edging. The below described rear side slot 152 and face slot 142 
add to horizontal stability by permitting earth gripping therein. 
Considering again FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, there is also a face 140 of the block 
100. Within face 140, is at least one face slot 142 perpendicular to both 
first end 120 and second end 130. Three of face slot 142 are preferred. 
Face slot 142 is preferred to a have a semicircular cross-section for ease 
of molding, although other shapes are operable. 
There is rear side 150 of the block 100. Rear side 150 is oppositely 
disposed from face 140. Rear side 150 includes at least one rear side slot 
152. Rear side slot 152 is similar to face slot 142 in purpose and 
structure. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, bottom side 160 of block 100 includes a bottom 
slot 162. Bottom slot 162 can assist the gripping of the ground by the 
block 100 or receive lip 172 for forming seawall 110 or a similar 
structure, such as retaining wall. Bottom slot 162 is similar to face slot 
142, and is substantially centrally located in bottom side 160. 
When considering FIG. 6, top side 170 of block 100 includes a lip 172 
located adjacent to rear side 150. Lip 162 protrudes upwardly out of top 
side 170. Clearly on the generally rectangular solid-based shape of block 
100, top side 170 is oppositely disposed from bottom side 160. 
The various theories for stability for edging and wall stability of block 
100 are postulates only. The walls and edgings may be strong for any 
reason. The first female, conically-shaped hemispherical indentation 122, 
first male protrusion 124, second female, conically-shaped hemispherical 
indentation 132, and second male protrusion 134 may be of any suitable 
shape. Likewise, bottom slot 162, face slot 142, and rear side slot 152 
may be of any suitable shape. 
The first female, conically-shaped hemispherical indentation 122 is 
substantially coaxial with the second male protrusion 134. The first male 
protrusion 124 and second female, conically-shaped hemispherical 
indentation 132 are also coaxial. Lip 162 is generally at an edge of top 
side 170, while bottom slot 162 is usually centrally located. 
This application -- taken as a whole with the specification, claims, 
abstract, and drawings -- provides sufficient information for a person 
having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and 
claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well 
within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that 
person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, 
modifications of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person 
having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are 
clearly covered by this disclosure. 
What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent of the United 
States is: