A wall system or structure includes a lintel supported wall and footings for locating the lintel above ground. Tensioning rods extend upwardly from each footing for directly engaging an end of the wall and for securing a post to the footing, which post includes a slot for engaging the vertical edge of the wall. A plate resting on each footing may be used to support an end of the lintel above ground. Tensioning rods extend vertically from within the lintel upwardly into the wall.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional application of an application entitled “LINTEL SUPPORTED MASONRY WALL SYSTEM AND METHOD” filed Oct. 28, 2003 and assigned Ser. No. 10/695,233, disclosing an invention made by the present inventors. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a masonry wall system and, more particularly, to an above ground lentil supported masonry wall having post tensioning elements.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     The use of masonry walls is well known in the prior art. The significant pressures exerted by heaving soil due to freezing and melting of water requires prior art masonry walls to incorporate a significant amount of steel in the form of reinforcing bars extending through the voids or cells in the masonry block and into a foundation or a footer. A variety of other techniques have also been used in the prior art in an attempt to strengthen the wall and to provide sufficient resistance to the pressure caused by the soil pressing against the bottom of the wall; these techniques are usually complicated and are always expensive. Some prior art techniques have incorporated post tensioning rods wherein courses of block have been compressed with respect to each other and the compressed courses are then secured in some manner to a foundation. These latter techniques usually require expensive installation provisions for appropriately supporting the compressed courses on the designated foundation or footing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention incorporates a masonry wall structure that utilizes a foundation or footing for supporting a lentil upon which the courses of masonry block are built. Post tensioning rods are imbedded in concrete within the lentil and extend upwardly essentially vertically from the lentil. A plurality of courses of masonry block are then placed on the lentil with the respective post tensioning rods extending through the cells therein and beyond the next to the top course of the masonry blocks. Clamping plates extend across the cells of selected masonry blocks in the next to the top course of blocks and include an opening therein to permit the passage of the threaded end of a respective post tensioning rod. The end of each of the post tensioning rods receive a nut which is placed on the rod and threaded to engage the clamping plate and a predetermined tension is placed on the respective post tensioning rod. A top course of masonry blocks is laid with the cells therein receiving the threaded rod ends engaging the nuts and the cells are filled with grout. A column or post of H-shaped blocks defining slots on opposed sides and having an internal vertical space extends upwardly from a corresponding foundation or footing. Alternatively, such a post may be constructed of other blocks, bricks, etc. to define the slots and the vertical space. Post tensioning rods extend from within the footing upwardly through the center cells of the H blocks and is secured to the top of the post by a nut bearing against a clamping plate to post tension each post. For cost reasons or other considerations, rebar extending from the footing and grouted within the vertical space may be used in place of the tensioning rods. The lintel and lintel supported wall extend from within the laterally oriented slots in opposing relationship of adjacent posts. If the footing is at ground level, a starter course of masonry or plate is placed thereon to support the lintel above ground and the post extends upwardly therefrom. In an alternate embodiment, each lintel supported wall rests upon the footing or upon a plate on the footing and a post tensioning rod extends from within the footing upwardly through the end of the wall and is secured by a nut and clamping plate.  
         [0007]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an above ground block or brick wall.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an above ground lintel for supporting a block or brick wall between adjacent posts.  
         [0009]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an above ground lintel supported block or brick wall having tensioning rods extending upwardly from within the lintel.  
         [0010]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lintel supported block or brick wall disposed between posts constructed of H blocks and nesting within the opposing slots of adjacent posts that accommodate vertical movement of the lintel supported wall.  
         [0011]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a lintel supported block or brick wall secured to a footing at opposed ends by tension rods extending from within the footing and upwardly through a significant height of the wall.  
         [0012]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of lintel supported wall sections each end of which is supported by a footing to locate the lintel above ground.  
         [0013]     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for constructing an above ground block or brick wall supported at the opposed ends by a footing and in slidable engagement with slots disposed in columns extending from the footings.  
         [0014]     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing post tensioning rods to anchor a lintel supported block or brick wall above ground.  
         [0015]     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a lintel supported wall attached to a footing at each opposed end by post tensioning rods.  
         [0016]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the invention proceeds.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lintel supported block or brick wall system;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  3 - 3 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of the wall and the upper end of a post tensioning rod;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates the bottom block of a wall supporting post;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates a method for filling the cells in the top course of the wall;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates slabs above the cells of the top course of the wall;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates the ladder wire between courses of the wall;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the concrete filled lintel; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  illustrates a variant structure for supporting the end of a block or brick wall on a footing.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an above ground block or brick wall system  10 . The wall system or structure provides walls supported by post assemblies  12  at each end of each wall section, which post assemblies support bottom edge  14  of wall  16  above ground at a predetermined height. Such above ground support accommodates heaving of the ground due to freezing, melting permafrost, flooding and other phenomena that may occur. Moreover, the growth of roots of trees planted close to wall  16  will have little, if any, tendency to raise and crack a section of the wall.  
         [0029]     Below ground foundations or footings  20 ,  22  support plates  24 ,  26  upon which posts  28 ,  30 , respectively, are built. Preferably, these posts are of blocks known as H blocks and are commercially available from various sources. The posts also may be columns built in the conventional manner to provide vertical slots on opposed sides and a vertical space extending therethrough. A lintel  32  is supported by plates  24 ,  26  and nests within vertical slots  52 ,  54  formed in each of posts  28 ,  30 . A plurality of courses of blocks are built upon the lintel and also extend into the slots of the posts. As illustrated, wall  16  may include post tensioning rods to greatly enhance the structural strength of the wall.  
         [0030]     Referring jointly to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , details of post  28  will be described. As footing  20  is poured into a pre-excavated hole  34  in ground  36 , lower ends  38  of a pair of tensioning rods  40  are placed therein to extend upwardly essentially vertically. After curing of footing  20 , apertured plate  24  is placed thereupon with tensioning rods  40  extending through the aperture; plates of this type are commercially available; these plates may also be referred to as a starter course of masonry blocks. Thereafter, a plurality of commercially available H blocks  42  are laid in the conventional manner to form post  28 . The center cell of the H block is filled with grout to encapsulate tensioning rods  40  except for the threaded upper ends thereof extending above the next to the top H block. A clamping plate or plates  44  is brought into penetrable engagement with threaded ends  46  of the tensioning rods and nuts  48  are brought into threaded engagement with the ends to bear against the clamping plate and thereby place tensioning rods  40  in tension to greatly enhance the strength and robustness of posts  28 / 30 . A top H block  50  is laid and the center cell may be filled in the conventional manner. As particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , posts  28 / 30  define a pair of opposed vertically extending slots  52 ,  54 . For cost and/or engineering considerations, conventional rebars or rods extending from within the footing into the posts and grouted may be used in place of the tensioning rods.  
         [0031]     Referring jointly to  FIGS. 3, 4 ,  5  and  9 , the structure and construction of wall  16  will be described. Lintel  32  is known in the trade as a galvanized box lintel; a particularly suitable version is sold by Power Steel and Wire, Inc.. This lintel is, in cross section, like the letter C lying on its back with the ends folded back upon themselves, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 9 . After the lintel is placed upon plates  24 ,  26  of posts  28 ,  30  within slots  52 ,  54  (see  FIG. 1 ), lower ends  58  of tensioning rods  60  are placed within the lintel. Ends  58  of the tensioning rods may be bent back upon themselves, as illustrated, to receive one or more longitudinally extending rebars  62 . Thereafter, lintel  32  is filled with grout in the conventional manner to encapsulate ends  58  of the tensioning rods and any rebars  62  placed therein. During curing of the grout, the tensioning rods are maintained essentially vertical. Furthermore, the longitudinal placing of the tensioning rods along the lintel is dimensioned to coincide with the voids or cells in the blocks forming the courses of wall  16 . After curing of grout  64  within lintel  32 , courses of concrete masonry units (CMU) are laid in the conventional manner. Each of the courses extends into slots  52 ,  54  of posts  28 ,  30 . After all but the top course of CMU's or blocks  66  have been laid, a clamping plate  70  is laid thereon in penetrable engagement with threaded end  72  of each tensioning rod  60 . Thereafter, a nut  74  is threadedly engaged with the end and bears against the clamping plate to bring the tensioning rod into tension. Top course  76  is then laid in the conventional manner. Cells  78  therein may be covered by a plurality of plates  80 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, paper  82  may be placed within each cell not having a plate associated therewith to serve in the manner of a dam, as shown in  FIG. 6 , and grout  84  is placed thereabove and even with the top of top course  76 . Other conventional methods for closing any open cells may be employed. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a wire ladder  86  may be placed on top of each course, as is conventional to further add to the robustness and structural strength of wall  16 . Bricks of conventional material which have passageways extending therethrough are commercially available; it is to be understood that such bricks could be used in place of the CMU's for each course or for certain of the courses. Blocks of other materials, including man made materials, meeting engineering and cost constraints could also be used.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 10  there is illustrated an alternate wall system  100  embodying wall  16  and supporting same. Footings  20  are poured in the conventional manner. Before the footings set, tensioning rods  102 ,  104 , spaced apart from one another, are set and extend vertically upwardly. After the footings cure, a starter course of masonry block(s) or plates  106  are mounted thereon with the tensioning rods extending through passageways therein.  
         [0033]     Wall  16  is built as set forth above. That is, lintel  32  is laid upon plates  106  and tensioning rods  60  set in grout therein and extend upwardly therefrom. Furthermore, tensioning rods  102 ,  104  extend through the aperture or opening in the lintel. Thereafter, blocks  66  are laid in the conventional manner with tension rods  60  and  102 ,  104  extending therethrough. Each of these tensioning rods is anchored by a clamping plate in penetrable engagement with the respective threaded end  1   10 . A nut  112  is brought into threaded engagement with each threaded end for placing the respective tensioning rod in tension. Top course  76  is added in the conventional manner.  
         [0034]     By inspection of  FIG. 10 , it will be evident that posts  28 ,  30  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are not used. Instead, tensioning rods  102 ,  104  serve the purpose of anchoring each end of wall  16  to its respective footing  20 . Furthermore, plates  106  maintain lintel  32  above ground.  
         [0035]     By using both tensioning rods  60  within wall  60  and tensioning rods  102 ,  104  at the respective ends of the wall, the wall is maintained in significant compression. Such compression adds very measurably to the structural rigidity and robustness of the wall. Furthermore, tensioning rods  102 ,  104  are a significant factor to resist tilting of the wall due to externally imposed forces. As tensioning rods  102 ,  104  serve the function of posts  28 ,  30  (see  FIG. 1 ), they permit elimination of the material and labor costs attendant such posts for a considerable overall savings in the building of wall structure or system  100 .  
         [0036]     Where the strength resulting from use of tensioning rods is not necessary, rebars or like rods could be used as substitutes for the tensioning rods in the embodiments described above.  
         [0037]     The robustness of wall  60  has a further subtle, but important attribute. When the ground heaves to an extent sufficient to contact the underside of lintel  32 , forces are imposed on the lintel and the wall extending upwardly therefrom. These forces may be sufficient to stress the wall sufficiently to compromise its integrity unless the stresses are relieved. As is evident from the above description, wall  60  is located with opposed slots of the posts but it is not mechanically attached to the slots. Accordingly, the wall can rise within the slots in the posts at opposed ends upon an application of a lifting force on the lintel. Thereby, the stresses due to heaving of the ground sufficient to contact the lintel can and are relieved by a resulting upward sliding of the wall and the integrity of the wall structure will not be compromised.