Patent Publication Number: US-10760242-B2

Title: Blocks, block systems and methods of making blocks

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/793,265, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/051,055, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/120,438, filed Feb. 25, 2015, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to blocks, edger blocks, retaining walls, walls and fences constructed from the blocks. This invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the block and the methods of constructing structures with the blocks. This invention also relates to mold boxes, mold liners and stripper shoes used in the manufacture of the blocks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Retaining walls, walls, and fences are used in various landscaping projects and are available in a wide variety of styles. Numerous methods and materials exist for the construction of patios, fences, edgers, walls and retaining walls. Such methods include the use of natural stone, poured concrete, precast panels, masonry, and landscape timbers or railroad ties. 
     In recent years, segmental concrete wall and landscaping units, which may be laid, positioned or dry stacked without the use of mortar or other complex securing means, have become widely accepted in the construction of patios, fences, walls and retaining walls. Such patio, wall and landscaping units have gained popularity because they are mass produced and, consequently, relatively inexpensive. They are structurally sound, easy and relatively inexpensive to install, and couple the durability of concrete with the attractiveness of various architectural finishes. 
     In the manufacture of patio, wall and landscaping blocks and other kinds of blocks made from concrete, it is common to use a mold that forms a block module which is then split to form two or more blocks. In another method, blocks are individually formed in a mold and the surfaces are textured by the mold and the removal of the mold exposes these surfaces. Another known method of creating a block having an irregular or textured surface is to form the block in a mold box that has been provided with a sidewall liner or stripper shoe shaped to impart the irregular or textured surface on the block during the block molding process. 
     In the construction of a wall or fence the aesthetic design of the individual block units and the overall visually pleasing aesthetic appearance of the patio, wall or fence is very desirable. Blocks that have a desirable texture or pattern create an exposed surface of a patio, wall or fence that is visually appealing. Such blocks are commonly made in a block machine which includes a mold assembly comprising one or more mold cavities. A texture or pattern may be imparted to a surface of the block by a stripper shoe or side liner of the mold assembly. For example, if the exposed surface of the block is formed at the top of the mold cavity a texture or pattern may be imparted to the block surface by a stripper shoe and if the exposed surface of the block is formed at a side of the mold cavity the texture or pattern may be imparted to the block surface by a side liner of the mold. Typically, the blocks are formed of a moldable material comprising dry cast concrete. The use of dry cast concrete presents some issues for prior art mold assemblies when making blocks having a textured or patterned surface. If the pattern is to be impressed on a block surface by a side liner of the mold assembly the patterned surface may sag when the dry cast concrete is discharged from the mold if the pattern includes contours which leave part of the surface unsupported. If the pattern is to be formed on a block surface by the stripper shoe the patterned surface may not properly release from the stripper shoe if the pattern does not have a sufficient release taper or heated shoes. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a block having a desired texture or pattern on an exposed surface and a mold assembly capable of making the block while overcoming the problems of prior art mold assemblies. 
     It would further be desirable to provide a block having a desired texture or pattern on an exposed surface that could be used in the construction of walls that are straight, irregularly contoured, convexly curved or concavely curved. It would further be desirable to provide the same block with the ability to be used in the construction of the main building courses of the structure and as a capping or finishing course of the structure constructed with the block. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein are various wall blocks and block systems used to construct a wall or other desired structure having a straight and/or irregular or curved contour. The blocks may be configured to be used in both the main building courses of the structure and the capping or finishing course of the structure. Also disclosed herein are mold assemblies for producing the blocks. The front faces of the blocks may be molded with compound features that enhances the three dimensionality of the front face. The blocks, block systems, mold assemblies and methods disclosed herein are not intended to be limited to a particular size, shape or feature and, as such, the blocks, block systems, mold assemblies and methods may contain any or all features disclosed herein. Further, the concepts and features disclosed herein are equally applicable to blocks formed from a dry cast or a wet cast process. Additionally, the following summary is intended only as a broad overview and is not intended to identify or limit critical features of the inventions disclosed herein. 
     A wall block including a block body having opposed front and rear faces, opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, and opposed first and second side walls. The wall block being further configured to have any or all additional features described herein. 
     The wall block may be configured such that the first and second side walls may each have a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face, the first and second portions of the first and second side walls may be vertically planar. The first portion of the first side wall and the first portion of the second side wall may be orthogonal to the rear surface and the second portion of the first side wall and the second portion of the second side wall may be non-orthogonal to the rear surface. 
     The wall block may be alternatively configured such that the first side wall has a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face, the first and second portions of the first side wall are vertically planar. The first portion of the first side wall and the second side wall may be orthogonal to the rear surface and the second portion of the first side wall may be non-orthogonal to the rear surface. 
     The wall block may be optionally configured such that the first and second side walls have a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face, the first and second portions of the first and second side walls are vertically planar. The vertically planar first portion of the first side wall may be parallel to the vertically planar first portion of the second side wall and the vertically planar second portion of the first side wall may converge towards the vertically planar second portion of the second side wall from the front face toward the rear face of the block body. 
     The wall block may be optionally configured such that the first side wall of the wall block has a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face, the first and second portions of the first side wall being vertically planar. The vertically planar first portion of the first side wall may be parallel to the vertically planar second side wall and the vertically planar second portion of the first side wall may converge towards the vertically planar second side wall from the front face toward the rear face of the block body. 
     The wall block may be alternatively configured such that the first side wall may have a groove and the second side wall may have a projection. The groove of the first side wall may have a vertically planar surface that converges into the block body at an angle from the front face toward the rear face of and the projection of the second side wall may have a vertically planar surface that extends outward from the block body at an angle. The vertically planar surface of the groove may be parallel to the vertically planar surface of the projection. 
     The wall block may be alternatively configured such that the bottom surface may have at least a first groove. The at least one groove of the bottom surface may extend a depth into the block body from a position along the first side wall to a position along the rear face, the at least one groove of the bottom surface converging from the first side wall towards the second side wall. 
     A block system including a plurality of blocks having a block body with opposed front and rear faces, opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, and opposed first and second side walls. The block system being further configured to have any or all additional features described herein. 
     The block system may be configured such that the first and second side walls of the plurality of blocks each have a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face. The first and second portions of the first and second side walls may be vertically planar, the vertically planar first portion of the first side wall may be parallel to the vertically planar first portion of the second side wall and the vertically planar second portion of the first side wall may converge towards the vertically planar second portion of the second side wall from the front face toward the rear face of the block body. The front face may have a first undercut portion adjacent the top surface and a second undercut portion adjacent the bottom surface, the first and second undercut portions may be separated by a molded surface having an irregular contour which is non-planar horizontally and vertically. The blocks may be configured such that when the blocks are stacked in at least first and second courses to form a wall having a vertical configuration or a setback from course to course, in a top view of the wall the top planar surface of blocks in the first course may not be exposed. 
     The block system may be optionally configured such that the first and second side walls of the plurality of wall blocks each have a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face, the first and second portions of the first and second side walls may be vertically planar. The vertically planar first portion of the first side wall may be adjacent the bottom surface and parallel to the vertically planar first portion of the second side wall adjacent the bottom surface and the vertically planar second portion of the first side wall may be adjacent to the top surface and may converge towards the vertically planar second portion of the second side wall adjacent the top surface. The blocks may be configured such that when the blocks are stacked with the top surface facing upward the upper surface of the block has a trapezoidal shape and such that when the blocks are stacked with the bottom surface facing upward the upper surface of the block has a rectangular shape. 
     A mold assembly for producing wall blocks having a block body with opposed front and rear faces, opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, and opposed first and second side surfaces. The mold assembly being further configured to mold any or all additional features described herein. 
     The mold assembly may be configured such that the first and second side surfaces of the block produced in the mold each have a first portion extending from the front face to the rear face and a second portion extending from the front face to the rear face, the first and second portions of the first and second side surfaces may be vertically planar. The first portion of the first side surface and the first portion of the second side surface may be orthogonal to the rear surface and the second portion of the first side surface and the second portion of the second side surface may be non-orthogonal to the rear surface. The mold assembly may include a production pallet; a stripper shoe; and a mold box including first and second opposed side walls that are moveable from a disengaged mold stripping position to an engaged molding position during a block forming process, and opposed front and rear walls which together with the first and second side walls form a perimeter of at least one mold cavity shaped to form a block during a block forming process. The mold box may have an open top and an open bottom with the production pallet enclosing the open bottom of the mold box during a block forming process. The stripper shoe may enclose at least a portion of the open top of the mold box during a block forming process and may have a contoured molding surface shaped for forming at least a portion of the front face of a block. The moveable first and second opposed side walls may have an angular planar molding surface that converges from the mold cavity top toward the mold cavity bottom, and the moveable first and second side wall may have a vertically planar molding surface that is parallel to the front and rear wall of the mold cavity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8  are perspective, front, back, side, top side perspective, bottom side perspective, top and bottom views, respectively, of an embodiment of a block. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the block body and removed wing portions of the block embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are top and bottom views of an alternate embodiment of the block of  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are side cross sectional views of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 8  showing the depth of the front face from a point along the top edge and bottom edge. 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are side cross sectional views of the downward slope and upslope of the front face from a point along the top edge and bottom edge. 
         FIG. 16  is a vertical projection on the plane of the bottom surface showing the relative horizontal positions of irregular top edge  172 , irregular bottom edge  173  and an outermost extending surface of the front face  104 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top plan view of a partial wall constructed of blocks  100 . 
         FIGS. 18 to 22  are front views of alternate embodiments of the front face and side edges of the block embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
         FIGS. 23, 24 and 25  are partial front views of adjacent blocks  100  in a course of blocks forming a wall showing alternate side configurations and false joint configurations. 
         FIG. 26  is a partial front view of two blocks  100  positioned side-by-side as they would be placed in a course of a wall constructed with the blocks showing a connecting side configuration. 
         FIGS. 27, 28 and 29  are partial front views of adjacent blocks  100  in a course of blocks forming a wall showing alternate side configurations. 
         FIGS. 30, 31 and 32  are perspective, side and front views of alternate second bock embodiment  200 . 
         FIGS. 33, 34 and 35  are perspective, side and front views of an alternate embodiment of block  200 . 
         FIGS. 36, 37 and 38  are perspective, side and front views of an alternate embodiment of block  200 . 
         FIGS. 39, 40 and 41  are top, rear and side perspective views of third bock embodiment  300 . 
         FIGS. 42, 43 and 44  are side perspective views of alternate projection embodiments of the blocks of the present invention. 
         FIG. 45  is a side perspective view of an alternate groove embodiment of the blocks of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 46 and 47  are top and rear views of an alternate embodiment of block  300 . 
         FIGS. 48 and 49  are top and rear views of alternate fourth bock embodiment  400 . 
         FIGS. 50 and 51  are perspective views of a wall constructed with the blocks of  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
         FIG. 52  is a partial front view of two blocks  100  positioned side-by-side as they would be placed in a course of a convex wall constructed with the blocks of  FIGS. 1 to 8  showing the side configuration with wing portions removed. 
         FIG. 53  is a partial front view of two blocks  100  positioned side-by-side as they would be placed in a course of a convex wall constructed with the blocks of  FIGS. 1 to 8  showing the side configuration with a first block having the bottom surface facing downward and the bottom surface of the second adjacent block facing upward. 
         FIG. 54  is a perspective view of a wall constructed with the wall blocks of  FIGS. 1 to 8  having the capping or uppermost layer with the bottom surface of block  100  facing upward such that the bottom surface of block  100  of the capping or uppermost layer forms a continuous surface having no gaps between the blocks. 
         FIGS. 55 to 58  are perspective, front, side and top views of an alternate block embodiment comprising a separate capping block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 59  is a top view of a mold box for molding blocks of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 60 and 61  are rear and front cross-sectional views, respectively of a mold cavity for making the blocks of  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
         FIGS. 62 to 65  are front, side, cross-sectional front and cross-sectional side views of a forming stripper shoe of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 66, 67 and 69  are rear cross-sectional views and  FIG. 68  is a cross-sectional side view of a mold cavity shown during different stages of the molding process. 
         FIG. 70  is an exploded perspective view of moveable side liners, channel forming member for making blocks  200 . 
         FIG. 71  is a front cross-sectional side view of a mold cavity for making blocks  300 . 
         FIG. 72  is a cross-sectional side view of a mold assembly and mold cavity. 
         FIG. 73  shows a mold box for making the blocks of the present invention. 
         FIG. 74  shows multiple mold cavities for making blocks  400 . 
         FIG. 75  shows a mold cavity for making an embodiment of blocks of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 76 and 77  are top and bottom views of a block made from the mold cavity of  FIG. 75 . 
         FIG. 78  shows a mold cavity for making the blocks of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 79 and 80  are views of an embodiment of blocks made from the mold cavity of  FIG. 78 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In this application, the term “block” refers to bricks, blocks, stones, or other three dimensional objects that can be used in the construction of walls, retaining walls, columns or other structures, including interior and exterior structures and including load bearing and non-load bearing structures. Therefore, although all of the block embodiments described herein are directed to wall blocks it should be understood that the inventive concepts included herein apply to all types of blocks and are not limited to wall blocks. 
     In forming a wall, one row of blocks is laid down, forming a course. A second course is laid on top of this by positioning the lower surface of one block on the upper surface of another block. It should be understood that lower surface and upper surface may refer to either the top surface or bottom surface of the block such that whichever surface is facing downward becomes the lower surface and whichever surface is facing upward becomes the upper surface. The blocks may or may not be provided with pin holes and pin receiving cavities. The blocks may or may not also be provided with a receiving channel. The location, shape, and size of the optional pin holes, pin receiving cavities, and receiving channels are selected to maximize the strength of the block, as described by reference to the drawings. It should be understood, however, that use of a pin connection system or clip connection system for the blocks is not limiting and other types of connection methods are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of a wall block which can be used to construct walls, including retaining walls. Specifically,  FIGS. 1 to 8  show a first embodiment of the block,  FIGS. 30 to 38  show a second embodiment of the block,  FIGS. 39 to 41  show a third embodiment of the block and  FIGS. 48 and 49  show a fourth embodiment of the block. Also disclosed herein are mold systems and methods of making the block embodiments in mold cavities with the front face of the blocks positioned at the top of the mold cavities and the rear face of the blocks positioned at the bottom of the mold cavities.  FIGS. 59 to 75 and 78  show various molds and molding surfaces used to form the block embodiments 
     The first embodiment of the wall block is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 8  which are perspective, front, back, side, top side perspective, bottom side perspective, top and bottom views, respectively, of a block  100 . As will be described in more detail hereafter  FIGS. 9 to 29  show various features and alternative configurations of block  100 . Block  100  is made of a rugged, weather resistant material; preferably (and typically) zero-slump molded concrete. Other suitable materials include wet-cast concrete, plastic, concrete with fiber reinforcing, composite polymers, and any other moldable material. Block  100  has parallel top surface  102  and bottom surface  103 , front face  104 , rear face  105  and compound first and second side wall surfaces  106  and  107 . Front face  104  and rear face  105  extend from top face  102  to bottom face  103 . 
     Side walls  106  and  107 , shown in detail in side and side perspective views in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , extend from top surface  102  to bottom surface  103 , and each have an angular planar surface  121  that converges from front face  104  toward rear face  105 . Angular planar surfaces  121  are non-orthogonal to front face  104  and rear face  105  and are orthogonal to top surface  102 . As shown in the top view of block  100  in  FIG. 7 , the convergent angular planar surfaces  121  of side walls  106  and  107  give top surface  102  a trapezoidal shape such that the width (as measured from side surface to side surface) of top surface  102  toward front face  104  is greater than the width of top surface  102  toward rear face  105 . As such, the total surface area of top surface  102  is trapezoidal. Side walls  106  and  107  also each have vertical planar surface  122  extending from front face  104  to rear face  105 , the vertical planar surface  122  of side wall  106  being parallel to the vertical planar surface  122  of side wall  107 . Vertical planar surfaces  122  of side walls  106  and  107  are generally orthogonal to rear face  105  and may also be orthogonal to front face  104 . Vertical planar surfaces  122  are also orthogonal to bottom surface  103 . As can be seen in the bottom view of block  100  in  FIG. 8 , parallel vertical planar surfaces  122  of side walls  106  and  107  give bottom surface  103  a rectangular shape such that the width (as measured from side surface to side surface) of bottom surface  103  toward front face  104  is substantially equal to the width of bottom surface  103  at rear face  105 . As such, the total surface area of bottom surface  103  is rectangular. As can be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the total surface area of the trapezoidal top surface is less than the total surface area of the rectangular bottom surface. 
     Side walls  106  and  107  also have horizontal planar surface  123  that extends from angular planar surface  121  to vertical planar surface  122 ; horizontal planar surface  123  being parallel to the horizontal planar surfaces of top surface  102  and bottom surface  103 . In  FIGS. 1 to 8 , angular planar surfaces  121  are shown as extending more than half the height or distance of side walls  106  and  107  from the top surface toward the bottom surface and vertical planar surfaces  122  are shown as extending less than half the height or distance of side walls  106  and  107  from the bottom surface toward the top surface. It should be understood that the dimensions of angular planar surfaces  121  and vertical planar surface  122  are not limiting and can be any desired dimension and, as such, the angular planar surfaces and vertical planar surfaces could each extend half the height or distance of side walls  106  and  107 . 
     The blocks illustrated in the  FIGS. 1 to 8  may have various dimensions. In one embodiment block  100  has a height (i.e., the distance between surfaces  102  and  103 ) of about 4 inches (102 mm), a body length (i.e., the distance from side wall  106  to side wall  107 ) of about 12 inches (304 mm) and a width (i.e., the distance from front face  104  to rear face  105 ) of about 7 inches (178 mm) It should be understood, however, that regular or commercial building blocks may be much larger (or smaller) and are included within the scope of this invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows block body  120  formed from top surface  102 , bottom surface  103 , front face  104 , rear face  105  and angular planar surfaces  121  of side walls  106  and  107 .  FIGS. 7 and 9  show horizontal planar surface  123  of side wall  106 , the area of bottom surface  103  located directly below horizontal planar surface  123  and vertical planar surface  122  of side wall  106  form side wing  116 . Horizontal planar surface  123  of side wall  107 , the area of bottom surface  103  located directly below horizontal planar surface  123  and vertical planar surface  122  of side wall  107  form side wing  117 . One or both of side wings  116  and  117  may be cut, broken or in some other way generally removed from block body  120  during construction of a wall or other structure when necessary or desired and as discussed further below. Side wings  116  and  117  may be molded with breakaway groove  119 , as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , that aids in removing side wings  116  and  117  from block body  120  and also helps provide for cleaner and more controlled break. Removing at least one of side wings  116  and/or  117  from block body  120  allows block  100  to be used in the construction of convex shaped portions of walls or other structures. 
     It should be understood that block  100  may be molded without one or both wings  116 , and  117 . With this configuration of block  100 , one or both of side wall surfaces  106 / 107  would extend substantially vertically between the top and bottom surfaces of block  100  and intersect the rear face at an angle which is not orthogonal. 
     An alternate configuration of block  100  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Features of this configuration which are the same or substantially the same as in block  100  are identified by the same reference numerals used to describe block  100 . Features which are different from block  100  are described below and are identified with different reference numerals.  FIGS. 10 and 11  show block  100   a  which has a structure similar to block  100  except that side wall surface  106   a  extends substantially vertically between the top surface  102   a  and bottom surface  103  of block  100   a . This side wall surface  106   a  intersects rear face  105   a  at an angle which is orthogonal to the rear face. Side wall surface  106   a  of block  100   a  may be molded with a similar texture or pattern as the front face of block  100  by a side liner that imparts the texture or pattern onto side surface  106   a . The texture or pattern that is molded onto the front face and side surface  106   a  may have any desired texture or pattern and be may substantially similar to any of the textures or patterns disclosed herein. Further, the texture or pattern that is molded onto the front face and side surface  106   a  gives a texture or pattern on two surfaces of the block and, as such, allows block  100   a  to be used as a corner block in the construction of a wall or structure having a corner with two visual or exposed surfaces.  FIG. 11  illustrates the positioning of the angular surface  121  and break-away wing  117  relative to the bottom surface of block  100   a.    
     As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  front face  104  has an irregularly contoured surface extending from top surface  102  to bottom surface  103  and from side wall  106  to side wall  107 . The compound shape of front face  104  has areas that protrude outward from top and bottom surfaces  102  and  103 , respectively, in a direction generally away from block body  120  and additionally may have areas that extend into the block body  120  towards rear surface  105  of the block. It should be understood that front face  104  could have any shape, pattern or texture as desired and could be substantially flat or planar. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the forming stripper shoe that molds front face  104  may also create an irregular contoured front edge  172  along top surface  102 . Edge  172  separates top surface  102  from front face  104 . Edge  172  lies in the same horizontal plane as top surface  102  but its distance from rear face  105  varies such that edge  172  lies in more than one vertical plane. It should be understood that edge  172  is not limiting and could have any desired contour and could, for example, be in the same horizontal plane and same vertical plane. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the forming stripper shoe that molds front face  104  may also create an irregular contoured edge  173  along bottom surface  103 . Edge  173  is the boundary separating bottom surface  103  from front face  104 . Edge  173  lies in the same horizontal plane as bottom surface  103  but its distance from the rear face  105  varies such that edge  173  lies in more than one vertical plane. It should be understood that the shape of edge  173  is not limiting and could have any desired contour. 
     The forming stripper shoe also creates irregularly contoured ends or edges  176  and  177  which are the junctions of side wall  106  and front face  104  and side wall  107  and front face  104 , respectively. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , edges  176  and  177  extend from top surface  102  to bottom surface  103 . Edges  176  and  177  may have various irregular contours or shapes and may follow the irregular contour of the side ends of front face  104 . The forming stripper shoe may be additionally configured to impart a desired texture onto portions of side walls  106  and  107  in the mold cavity. Thus, the irregularly textured surface of front face  104  adjacent side walls  106  and  107  can form a continuous irregularly textured contoured area that includes a portion of the side wall, the side edge, and the front side end of the front face. Additionally and/or alternatively, if the side ends of front face  104  are substantially planar, vertical edges  176  and  177  may be substantially planar as seen in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . The distance of edges  176  and  177  to the rear face and to one another may vary between the top and bottom surfaces depending upon the contour of the edges. It should be understood that edges  176  and  177  are not limiting and could have any desired contour. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , front face  104  has shaped areas  181 ,  182  and  183  that are three dimensional and are molded to have the irregular appearance of natural stone. The multiple shaped areas with natural stone-like appearance are molded onto the block by a forming stripper shoe during the molding process and are designed to have degrees of sloping that will allow the molded front face to be stripped from the forming stripper shoe after completion of the molding process. Shaped areas  181 ,  182  and  183  may be positioned lower than/beneath upward facing top surface  102  and/or higher than/above bottom surface  103 . Shaped areas  181 ,  182  and  183  may extend outwardly from top surface  102  and bottom surface  103  and may have irregular sloping surfaces. Each shaped area may have an irregularly contoured surface that gives a more pleasing visual aesthetic as well as more accurately imitates the irregular contoured surfaces of natural stone. Any of the shaped areas could also be molded to have inward extending fissure surfaces to mimic natural stone. Other three dimensional surface detail may be molded into any of the shaped areas, including chips, notches grooves, false joints to further add contour and additional dimension and to also create further shadowing across the front surface of the block. It should be understood that front face  104  could have any desired number of shaped areas and that the shaped areas could be any desired size or shape. Additionally, the shaped areas may have surfaces that extend outward (or project inward) from the top and bottom surfaces at any desired dimension or angle. 
     Shaped areas  181  and  182  are separated by valley or joint  184 . Shaped areas  182  and  183  are separated by valley or joint  185 . Valleys  184  and  185  may extend into the block body any dimension desired. For example, valleys  184  and  185  may extend into the block body at varying dimensions along front face  104  and may extend into the block body up to ⅔rds or more of the unit height of the block as installed (the distance from top surface  102  to bottom surface  103 ). It should be understood that this value is not limiting and thus valleys  184  and  185  may extend into the block body at any dimension as desired. Valley or joint  184  has an angular slope from the bottom surface of the block towards the top surface and could have any degree of slope as desired. The slope of valley or joint  184  creates further shadowing effects towards the bottom surface of the block that enhances the visual aesthetic of the block and gives the block a more natural stone-like appearance. Valley or joint  185  has a slope that may angle away from the angular slope of valley  184  from the bottom surface to the top surface. Valleys  184  and  185  each have a width that can widen and narrow along its irregular angular contour. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the lower portion of valley  184  flares out or widens towards the bottom surface of block  100 . Additionally, the upper portion of valley also widens or flares towards the parting line of the front face. This type of contour projects a shadowing effect on the front surface of the block that enhances the three dimensional aesthetic of the block; giving block a more natural stone-like appearance. The sides of shaped areas may form the side surfaces of the valley or joints and may have contours that arc or slope into the valleys or joints. The amount of arc or slope is not limiting and thus sides of the shaped areas may arc or slope into the valleys or joints at any desired dimension. 
     It should be understood that the number, location and dimensions of valleys or joints are not limiting and front face  104  could, therefore, have any number, location or dimension of valley or joints as desired. Further, the valley or joints could have any desired degree of slope. It should further be understood that shaped areas  181 ,  182  and  183  could contain false joints that may be much shallower than valley or joints  184  and  185  and may be entirely contained within an individual shaped area. 
     Front face  104  has apex points A along the length of the front face that are defined as the most outwardly extending point along front face  104  (and shaped areas  181 ,  182  and  183 ) from block body  120  in a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the vertical plane of rear face  105 .  FIGS. 12 to 15  are cross-sectional views of block  100  along vertical planes perpendicular to rear face  105  showing examples of the cross-sectional shape of front face  104  and the location and position of point A. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , front face  104  has a depth D which is the distance from a location along edge  172  to apex point A in the same vertical plane perpendicular to rear face  105 . Depth D may have varying dimensions along front face  104  and in the multiple shaped areas that may be up to ⅔rds or more of the unit height of the block as installed (the distance from top surface  102  to bottom surface  103 ). It should be understood that this range is not limiting and could be any dimension as desired. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , front face  104  has a depth D′ which is the distance from a location along edge  173  to apex point A at a location along front face  104  and the shaped areas that is in the same vertical plane perpendicular to rear face  105 . Depth D′ may have varying dimensions along front face  104  and may be up to ⅔rds or more of the unit height of the block as installed (the distance from top surface  102  to bottom surface  103 ). It should be understood that this range is not limiting and could be any dimension as desired. Further, depth D may have a different dimension than depth D′ at the same apex point A along front face  104  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Still further yet, depth D may have the same dimension as the dimension of depth D′ at the same apex point A along front face  104  as in  FIG. 13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the irregular contoured surface of front face  104  may have an averaged downward slope S 1  from a location along edge  172  of horizontally planar top surface  102  to apex point A. Degrees of downward slope located from the horizontal plane of top surface  102  at edge  172  to apex point A at locations along front face  104  may be in the range of 0° to 90°. Additionally, there may be locations along front face  104  where edge  172  comprises a first apex point A 1  and the downward slope exceeds 90° by extending inwardly along the valleys of the front face from edge  172  into block body  120  toward rear face  105  as can be seen in  FIG. 15 . In this circumstance, the averaged degree of downward slope located from the horizontal plane of top surface  102  at edge  172  to the most inwardly extending point I at locations along front face  104  may be in the range of 90° to 135°. 
       FIG. 14  shows that the irregular contoured surface of front face  104  may have an averaged upward slope S 2  from a location along edge  173  of horizontally planar bottom surface  103  to apex point A. Degrees of upward slope located from the horizontal plane of bottom surface  103  at edge  173  to apex point A at locations along front face  104  (and shaped areas  181 ,  182  and  183 ) may be in the range of 0° to 90°. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 15 , there may be locations along front face  104  such as the valley adjacent to the shaped areas where edge  173  comprises a second apex point A 2  and the upward slope exceeds 90° by extending inwardly from edge  173  into block body  120  toward rear face  105 . In this circumstance, the averaged degree of upward slope located from the horizontal plane of bottom surface  103  at edge  173  to the most inwardly extending point I at locations along front face  104  may be in the range of 90° to 135°. 
     The irregular compound structure of front surface  104  is a useful feature of block  100  that enhances the three dimensionality of the front face to produce a more natural stone-like appearance and create a shadowing effect when viewed in a wall or other structure. Additionally, the upward sloping from edge  173  of front face  104  to apex point A (and hence the downward sloping from apex point A to bottom edge  173 ) create pronounced areas of undercutting when front face  104  is viewed in a wall or other structure. These undercut regions further enhance the three dimensionality of each respective shaped area and enhance the shadowing effect which can help hide the planar top surface of the lower adjacent course of blocks. (It should be noted that since top surface  102  of block  100  may be placed facing downward the same undercutting and shadowing effects would occur from the sloping of top edge  172  to apex point A.)  FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate these useful features of block  100 . 
       FIG. 16  shows the relative horizontal positions of irregular top edge  172 , irregular bottom edge  173  and an outermost extending surface of the shaped areas and other structures of front face  104 . More specifically,  FIG. 16  is a vertical projection of top edge  172  onto the plane of bottom surface  103  which contains bottom edge  173 . Line  152  is the vertical projection of the outermost extending surface of the front face onto the plane.  FIG. 16  shows that top edge  172  is positioned to the rear of bottom edge  173  in some locations and in front of bottom edge  173  in other locations. In some embodiments edge  172  is positioned to the rear of edge  173  along its entire length. In other embodiments edge  172  is positioned in front of edge  173  along its entire length. This particular configuration of the front face  104  has some very useful properties described further below in connection with  FIG. 17   
       FIG. 17  is a top plan view of a partial wall constructed of blocks  100 . The wall comprises a first lower course  153  of three blocks and a second upper course  155  of two blocks placed in a running bond configuration over the first course. The front face configuration described with respect to  FIG. 16  is beneficial in the construction of a wall for several reasons. First, in some embodiments where the top edge  172  is set back from the vertical projection  152  of the front face by at least the set-back distance between courses of blocks in a wall constructed from blocks  100 , then the top planar surface of the blocks in lower courses of the wall will not be visible in a top view of the wall. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 17  the only visible parts of blocks in the first course which underlie blocks in the second course are portions of the front face. Top surface  102  of those blocks is not visible. Second, the positioning of top edge  172  relative to the bottom edge  173  of blocks of upper wall courses will create shadows or shade on blocks in adjacent lower courses which will hide or at least soften the transition between the courses. The shadows or shade also accentuate the projections or shaped areas adding to the three dimensional appearance of the wall. 
       FIGS. 18 to 22  show alternate embodiments to front face  104  that are substantially similar to front face  104  except that the locations, shapes and dimensions of the shaped areas and valleys of front faces  104   a  to  104   e  have been given alternate locations, shapes and dimensions. However, the function of those features is the same as described above with respect to front face  104 .  FIG. 18  shows front face  104   a  with the shaped areas having different sizes and shapes and also shows differing slopes and widths of valleys separating the shaped areas.  FIG. 19  shows front face  104   b  with two shaped areas and a single valley.  FIG. 20  shows front face  104   c  with the two shaped areas having different sizes and shapes than the two shaped areas of  FIG. 19 . Additionally, the valley of  FIG. 20  has different dimensions and a different slope than the valley of  FIG. 19 .  FIGS. 21  and  22  show front faces  104   d  and  104   e , respectively, with the side ends of the front face being substantially planar, such that the vertical edges separating the front face and side walls may be substantially vertically planar. Additionally, the shaped areas and valleys of  FIGS. 21 and 22  have different dimensions, slopes and contours. 
     It should be understood that front face  104  (and front faces  104   a  to  104   e  and any other desired texture molded onto the front face) of block  100  could be molded onto any type of block and that the size, shape, and features of the block are not limiting. Thus, the front face, or any of the various embodiments of front faces of blocks shown herein, may be molded onto any type and size of block as desired. Additionally, the front face, and any of the various embodiments of front faces of blocks shown could be molded on blocks with or without cores, with or without pin holes, with or without receiving channels, with or without pin receiving cavities, or with other block features not discussed herein. 
       FIGS. 23, 24, and 25  are partial front views of adjacent blocks  100  in a course of blocks forming a wall and show variations in placement and configuration of false joints molded into front face  104  of block  100  having substantially vertical planar edges  176  and  177 . In  FIG. 23 , a joint  195  is formed at the intersection of adjacent blocks  100  positioned in a course of a wall by joint portions  195   a  molded adjacent shaped area  183  of a first block and joint portion  195   b  molded adjacent shaped area  181  of a second block. In  FIG. 24 , a joint  196  is formed at the intersection of adjacent blocks  100  positioned in a course of a wall by joint portion  196   a  molded adjacent shaped area  183  of a first block and joint portion  196   b  molded adjacent shaped area  181  of a second block. In  FIG. 25 , a joint  197  extends from a first block  100  to a second block  100  and is defined by joint portion  197   a  molded into shaped area  183  of the first block such that joint portion  197   a  separates shaped area section  183   a  from the rest of shaped area  183 . Joint portion  197   b  is molded into shaped area  181  of the second block such that joint portion  197   b  separates shaped area section  181   a  from the rest of shaped area  181 . These joint configurations help hide or obscure the vertically oriented seams or spaces between blocks and provide the wall with a more unitary appearance. The features of joints  195 ,  196  and  197 , all of which are positioned to crossover the intersection between two adjacent blocks in a wall, are similar to the features described previously in connection with other joints in the block face. For example, joints  195 ,  196  and  197  can be of any desired shape or configuration, can result in a deep undercut region, and may have a first portion formed from a projection in the stripper shoe and a second portion formed from a projection in the face liner. 
       FIG. 26  is a partial front view of two blocks  100  positioned side-by-side as they would be placed in a course of a wall constructed with the blocks. First block  100  has edge  176  and second adjacent block  100  has edge  177 , both edges  176  and  177  being non-planar and follow a meandering path from the top surface of the block to the bottom surface of the block which may, for example, be S-shaped and may be formed by moveable side liners and/or the forming stripper shoe. The meandering path followed by edge  176  is complementary to the path followed by edge  177  so that when the blocks are placed next to each other in a course they generally mate and present a non-vertical joint between the blocks which gives the wall a more natural appearance. Since the forming stripper shoe can impart a desired texture onto areas of side walls  106  and  107  in the mold cavity, the surface of shaped area  181  adjacent side wall  106  forms contoured side edge  176  along the front side end of the front face of a first block can mate or be paired with the contoured edge  177  of shaped area  183  adjacent side wall  107  of a second block when the blocks are placed adjacently in a course of blocks. 
       FIGS. 27, 28, and 29  are partial front views of adjacent blocks  100  in a course of blocks forming a wall. In these views block  100  has been provided with alternative configurations for edges  176  and  177 .  FIGS. 27 to 29  show further variations in placement and configuration of mating edges  176  and  177  molded into block  100  and illustrate how those different configurations provide walls constructed with the blocks a different visual appearance at the junction between adjacent blocks in the wall. Alternate configurations of mating edges and mating side walls can be seen in the block embodiments of  FIGS. 30 to 38 . 
     An embodiment of a wall block with mating edges and mating side walls is shown in  FIGS. 30 to 32 . Block  200  has a block body  220  having parallel top surface  202  and bottom surface  203 , front face  204 , rear face  205  and compound shaped first and second side wall surfaces  206  and  207 . Rear surface has receiving channel  250  which extends from side wall  206  to side wall  207 . Receiving channel  250  is designed to reduce the weight of the block and the amount of material used to manufacture the block. Receiving channel  250  could also be designed to accept a clipping or pinning system. It should be understood that the size, shape and dimensions of the receiving channel are not limiting and thus the block could have any size, shape or dimension as desired. Further, it should be understood that any of the blocks of the present invention may be manufactured with a receiving channel. 
     Side walls  206  and  207  each have multiple angular planar surfaces that extend from front face  204  towards rear face  205 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 30 and 31 , side wall  206  has multiple angular planar surfaces  221   a ,  221   b ,  221   c  and  221   d  that extend from front face  204  toward rear face  205 . Angular planar surfaces  221   a  extends outwardly away from top surface  202  at a downward slope. Angular planar surface  221   b  extends inwardly towards side wall  206  from angular planar surface  221   a  at a downward slope. Angular planar surface  221   c  extends outwardly away from angular planar surface  221   b  at a downward slope and angular planar surface  221   d  extends inwardly towards bottom surface  203  from angular planar surface  221   c  at a downward slope. Angular planar surfaces  221   a ,  221   b ,  221   c  and  221   d  may extend any or all of the length of side wall  206  or may converge toward rear face  205  as desired. Angular planar surfaces  221   a ,  221   b ,  221   c  and  221   d  create an even more exaggerated or pronounced irregularly contoured ends or edges  276  and  277  which are the junctions of side wall  206  and front face  204  and side wall  207  and front face  204 , respectively. Edges  276  and  277  may follow the irregular contour of the angular planar surfaces  221   a ,  221   b ,  221   c  and  221   d  of side wall  206  and the irregular contour of the angular planar surfaces of side wall  207  as seen best in  FIG. 32 . The angular planar surfaces of side wall  207  have a negative or opposite contour of the angular planar surfaces of side wall  206  and as such the contour of side wall  207  will align and abut the contour of side wall  206  when the blocks are positioned adjacent one another in a course of blocks. 
     It should be understood that block  200  is not limiting and that block  200  could have any desired shape and could be any desired dimension. It should be further understood that front face  204  could have any shape, pattern or texture as desired. 
     Alternate configurations of block  200  are shown in  FIGS. 33 to 35 and 36 to 38 . Features of these configurations which are the same or substantially the same as in block  200  are identified by the same reference numerals used to describe block  200 . Features which are different from block  200  are described below and are identified with different reference numerals.  FIGS. 33 to 35  show a block  200   a  which has a structure similar to block  200  except that side walls  206   a  and  207   a  have multiple contoured surfaces  222  that extend from front face  204  towards rear face  205   a . The multiple contoured surfaces  222  give side walls  206   a  and  207   a  a contoured S-shape. The multiple contoured surfaces  222  surfaces create S-shaped contoured ends or edges  276   a  and  277   a  which are the junctions of side wall  206   a  and front face  204  and side wall  207   a  and front face  204 , respectively. Surface  222  of side wall  207   a  has a negative or opposite contour of the surface  222  of side wall  206   a  and as such the contour of side wall  207   a  will align and abut the contour of side wall  206   a . Additionally the S-shaped contours of side walls  206   a  and  207   a  allow adjacent blocks to be flipped relative to one another such that the contour of the side walls of a top surface up block will align and abut the contour of the side walls of an adjacent bottom surface up block.  FIGS. 36 to 38  show a block  200   b  which has a structure similar to block  200   a  except that side walls  206   b  and  207   b  have multiple contoured surfaces  223  that extend from front face  204  to rear face  205  giving the entirety of side walls  206   b  and  207   b  a contoured S-shape. 
     An embodiment of the wall block is shown in  FIGS. 39 to 41 . Block  300  is made of a rugged, weather resistant material; preferably (and typically) zero-slump molded concrete. Block  300  has parallel top surface  302  and bottom surface  303 , front face  304 , rear face  305  and compound first and second side wall surfaces  306  and  307 . 
     Side walls  306  and  307  each have vertical planar surface  322  that extend from front face  304  to rear face  305 , the vertical planar surface  322  of side wall  306  being parallel to the vertical planar surface  322  of side wall  307 . Vertical planar surfaces  322  of side walls  306  and  307  are generally orthogonal to rear face  305  and may also be orthogonal to front face  304 . Vertical planar surfaces  322  are also orthogonal to bottom surface  303  and top surface  302 . Side wall  306  has an angular groove  324 . Angular groove  324  has angular planar surface  321  that converges from front face  304  toward rear face  305 . Angular planar surface  321  is non-orthogonal to side surface  306  and rear face  305  and is orthogonal to horizontal planar surface  323  of angular groove  324 . Angular planar surface  321  may angle from the vertical plane of the rear face toward the front face at any desired angular degree and thus could be in the range of 1° to 25° and could be 20°. Side wall  307  has an angular projection  325 . Angular projection  325  has angular planar surface  326  that converges from rear face  305  toward front face  304  and is parallel to angular planar surface  321  of side wall  306  and thus can be angled at the same angular degree as angular planar surface  321 . Angular planar surface  326  is non-orthogonal to side surface  307  and may be orthogonal to horizontal planar surface  327  of projection  325 . Angled projection  325  could angle away from the vertical plane of the rear face  305  towards side wall  307  and/or front face  304  at any desired angle and could be in the range of 1° to 25° and could be 20°. Horizontal planar surfaces  327  may each have a groove  328  adjacent to vertical planar surface  322  of side wall  307 . 
     Angular projection  325  of a first block  300  is shaped and sized to be received in an angular groove  324  of a second adjacent block  300  when placed in a course of blocks in a wall or other desired structure. It should be understood that angular groove  324  and angular projection  325  are not limiting could be given any shape or size as desired such as the shapes and sizes of angular projections shown in  FIGS. 42 to 44 . As shown in  FIG. 39 , angular projection  325  of side wall  307  gives block  300  a substantially trapezoidal shape such that the width of block  300 , from side wall  306  to side wall  307 , towards rear face  305  is greater than the width of block  300 , from side wall  306  to side wall  307 , towards front face  305 . 
     Top surface  302 , bottom surface  303 , front face  304 , rear face  305  and vertical planar surfaces  321  of side walls  306  and  307  form block body  320 . Angular projection  325  may be cut, knocked off or in some other way generally removed from block body  320  during construction of a wall or other structure when necessary or desired. Grooves  328  aids in removing angular projection from block body  320  and also helps provide for cleaner and more controlled break. Additionally and/or alternatively the portion of block body above and/or below angular groove  324  from side wall  306  to the dashed line seen in  FIG. 39  may also be knocked away from block  300 . Removing the portions of the block above and below angular groove  324  and/or removing angular projection  325  from the block allows block  300  to have versatility when constructing a desired structure and can be used in the construction of convex shaped portions of walls or other structures. 
     It should be understood that block  300  is not limiting and that block  300  could have any desired shape and could be any desired dimension. It should be further understood that front face  304  could have any shape, pattern or texture as desired and could be substantially flat or planar. 
       FIGS. 42 to 44  show angular projections  325   a ,  325   b , and  325   c , respectively. Projection  325   b  of  FIG. 43  could also be configured to come to a point where the projection meets the side wall of the block. 
     The block of  FIGS. 44 and 45  have half hemisphere shaped projection  325   c  that can be received in half hemisphere shaped groove  324   c  of an adjacent block. It should be understood that a version of the half hemisphere shaped projection  325   c  and groove  324   c  could be formed on any block embodiment disclosed herein as desired. An edger block to border a garden, patio or other landscaped surface with the front surface of the block facing upward and the rear surface of the block facing downward can be configured from the embodiment of the block of  FIGS. 44 and 45  whereby the half hemisphere projection and groove extend from the visually exposed top (front) surface to the downward facing rear surface. Alternatively, if the curved projection and curved groove were shaped as shown in  FIG. 27 , this would allow the edger block to follow irregular contoured and/or curved surfaces as the projection  325   c  pivots or rotates within groove  324   c.    
       FIGS. 46 and 47  shows an alternate embodiment of block  300 . Block  300   a  has a structure similar to block  300  except that angular projection  325  is eliminated. Instead, side wall surface  307   a  extends substantially vertically between the top and bottom surfaces of block  300   a  and intersects the rear face at an orthogonal angle. It should be understood that an alternate configuration of block  300  could have the block molded to have side wall surface  307  extending substantially vertically between the top and bottom surfaces of block  300  and intersecting the rear face at an angle which is not orthogonal to the rear face. Side wall surface  307   a  of block  300   a  may be molded with a similar texture or pattern as the front face of block  300  by a side liner that imparts the texture or pattern onto side surface  307   a . The texture or pattern that is molded onto the front face and side surface  307   a  gives a texture or pattern on two surfaces of the block and, as such, allows block  300   a  to be used as a corner block in the construction of a wall or structure having a corner with two visual or exposed surfaces. 
     An embodiment of the wall block is shown in  FIGS. 48 and 49 . Block  400  has parallel top surface  402  and bottom surface  403 , front face  404 , rear face  405  and parallel first and second side wall surfaces  406  and  407 . Bottom surface  403  has a first angular groove  431  that extends from side wall  406  to rear face  405  and a second angular groove  431  that extends from side wall  407  to rear face  405 . Angular grooves  431  each extend a desired height into the block from the bottom surface toward the top surface. Grooves  431  may be molded into bottom surface  403  of the block by side or end liners or by other means as desired. Grooves  431  aid in removing block portions  441  from the remaining block body by providing a weakened break-away channel that allows for a cleaner and more controlled break. Removing one or both block portions  441  at angular groove  431  from the remaining block body allows block  400  to have versatility when constructing a desired structure and can be used in the construction of convex shaped portions of walls or other structures. Additionally, the top surface of the block can be positioned facing upward on the most upper course of the wall constructed with the blocks to create a capping or finishing layer since the top surface constitutes a continuous planar surface without any grooves. 
     It should be further understood that front face  404  could have any shape, pattern or texture as desired and could be substantially flat or planar. It should further be understood that grooves  431  could be positioned on the block at any desired location including the top surface of the block and that grooves  431  could have any shape, size or dimension as desired. 
       FIGS. 50 and 51  illustrate views of a fully constructed wall and partially constructed wall  80 , respectively, made from block  100 . Wall  80  has been constructed with block  100  with multiple different embodiments of front face  104 . Block  100  is used to form a wall having a front surface. Generally, when constructing a wall, a trench is excavated to a pre-selected depth and partially filled with a level base of granular material such as crushed stone. A base layer of blocks are then placed and leveled onto the crushed stone. The blocks are placed side to side with front face  104  facing outward and the bottom surface  103  facing downward. It should be understood that wall  80  may be constructed with top surface  102  facing downward and/or a combination of downward facing bottom surfaces and top surfaces. To build a wall with convex curves, one or both wings  116  and  117  may be removed from the block body. When wing  116  and/or  117  is removed, the removed wing surface of the block body has substantially the same angular planar contour as angular planar surface  121  of the side of the block the wing was removed. Thus, the angular planar surface  121  and removed wing surface of a first block abuts the angular planar surface  121  and removed wing surface of a second block and is shown in  FIG. 52 . Additionally and/or alternatively, a first block may be placed with the bottom surface facing downward and an adjacent block placed with the bottom surface  103  facing upward such that the vertical planar surface of the second block abuts against the angular planar surface  121  of the first block, allowing the wall to be built with or without a curve and is shown in  FIG. 53  (the abutting side walls are shown in phantom lines). Walls built in this manner also allow for a more random appearance to the front surface of the wall. By alternating the bottom surface for the top surface of adjacent blocks, the design of the front face of the block is flipped, creating further front face design embodiments. Once the base layer is laid, the second layer is laid with the bottom surface  103  of the blocks of the second layer placed upon the top surface  102  of the blocks of the base layer. It should be noted that when the block is used in constructing a gravity wall, the weight of the blocks may be sufficient for stability without the use of a pinning system or other adhesion system. When the desired height of the wall is achieved the last or upper course of blocks may comprise blocks  100  laid with the bottom surface  103  facing upwards so that block  100  forms its own capping block.  FIG. 54  shows a wall  80   a  constructed with block  100  where the capping layer or uppermost layer has been laid with bottom surface  103  facing upward to create a continuous capping or finishing layer  31   a . By retaining or removing one or both of side wings  116  and  117 , depending on whether the wall is straight or curved, a continuous smooth upper wall surface can be achieved without the need to use a separate capping block. 
     Alternatively, a capping block  30  such as shown in  FIGS. 55 to 58  may be used to form a capping or finishing layer  31  as shown in  FIG. 50  for walls made with block  100  and for walls made with the other block embodiments disclosed herein. Capping block  30  may be formed in a mold the same way as block  100  with or without angular planar surfaces of side walls  106  and  107 . Capping block  30  may have a front face  32  similar to front face  104  of block  100 . Front face  32  may have shaped areas and valleys. The shaped areas may have undercut regions along the bottom surface of the capping block so that the finishing layer of the wall has a visual appearance which is compatible with the rest of the exposed wall surface. 
       FIG. 59  is a top plan view of a multi-block mold box  10  for making the blocks described herein. The particular configuration shown in  FIGS. 60 and 61  is used to make blocks  100 . By modifying the particular features of the mold box to incorporate molding surfaces and moveable liners as will be discussed hereafter, mold box  10  can be configured to make any of the block embodiments disclosed herein. Mold box  10  generally includes opposing first and second side frame walls  2  and  4  and opposing first and second end frame walls  6  and  8 . Moveable side liners  16  and  18  form sidewalls of the wall blocks of the present invention and can have a contoured molding surface having a compound shape that may be formed, or machine cut during the manufacture of the mold box. Side liners  16  and  18  may be shaped such that a portion of side liners  16  and  18  does not extend all the way into the mold cavity leaving a wing shaped gap  7  for the formation of recessed wings  116  and  117  of side walls  106  and  107 . Alternatively, the contoured molding surface of the moveable face liners can be formed by the use of replaceable liners as known in the art. Moveable means  19  allows the moveable liners to move from an engaged position when the mold is ready to be filled with material to a disengaged position when the material is being stripped from the mold box and then back to the engaged position. When in the engaged position, the moveable face liners are aligned with the side walls and/or center frame walls of the mold cavity, enclosing the molding area to be filled and forming the mold cavity. After the mold cavity has been filled with material, the moveable face liner moves to the disengaged position where the moveable face liner retracts or moves away in some motion from the enclosed mold cavity, allowing the mold to be stripped away from the moveable liner and mold cavity without damaging the molded material. Mold box  10  may have various dimensions, typical dimensions of this mold box are about 26 inches (660 mm) wide (i.e., the width of both the first and second end walls), 18 inches (460 mm) long (i.e., the length of both the first and second side walls), and 8 inches (200 mm) thick. 
     Division frame walls or division liners  20  span side frame walls  2  and  4  of mold box  10  may be formed, machined or flame cut during the manufacture of the mold box to form a single, continuous and seamless mold joint. Alternatively, the ends of division frame wall  20  may be securely or removably fixed to side walls  2  and  4  in a conventional manner. Division frame wall  20 , first and second end walls  6  and  8  and moveable side liners  16  and  18  form mold cavities  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29 . Additionally and/or alternatively division liners could be used in place of division frame walls  20  to separate the mold cavities as is known in the art. Mold cavities  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  may form blocks or block shapes with identical lengths, heights and widths. It should be understood that blocks formed in mold cavities  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  may have differing or substantially similar block features such as the front face, side walls and front face edges. It should further be understood that the mold cavities could form blocks with differing block dimensions and/or shapes. 
     The blocks are oriented in the mold box such that the front faces of the blocks are generally oriented facing upward with the top and bottom surfaces of the block being parallel to end frame walls  6  and  8  and parallel to the direction of travel of the feed drawer and cut-off bar represented in  FIG. 58  by arrow FD. The feed drawer and cut-off bar are well known to those of skill in the art and are not shown in the drawing figures. 
       FIGS. 60 and 61  shows cross-sectional back and front views, respectively, of a mold box cavity  25   a  which has moveable side liners  16   a , and  18   a  for making block  100 . The cross-sectional view is along a vertical plane intersecting midpoints of side liners  16   a  and  18   a . Side liner  16   a  forms sidewall  106  and side liner  18   a  forms sidewall  107 . The angular projection AP of both side liners  16   a  and  18   a  create the angular planar surfaces  121  of both sidewalls  106  and  107  while the vertical column VC and angular projection AP of side liners  16   a  and  18   a  form side wings  116  and  117 .  FIG. 60  shows the bottom surface  103  of the molded block  100  and illustrates the formation of the angular planar surfaces  121  of the side walls shown in phantom dashed lines relative to the formed wings  116  and  117  while  FIG. 61  illustrates this concept shown from the top surface  102  of molded block  100 . 
     Forming stripper shoe  61   a  forms front face  104  and, as forming stripper shoe  61   a  aligns with moveable side liners  16   a  and  18   a , also forms edges  176  and  177 . Each mold cavity  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  have forming stripper shoes  61  that form front face  104  and each forming stripper shoe  61  may be substantially similar or may be different but all forming stripper shoes may have similar features. As such, the following description of features of forming stripper shoe  61   a  applies to similar features of other forming stripper shoes  61  even though locations, dimensions and quantities may differ from one forming stripper shoe to the next. 
       FIGS. 62 to 65  are front, side, cross-sectional front and cross-sectional side views, respectively, of a forming stripper shoe  61   a . Forming stripper shoe  61   a  has upper surface  67 , bottom edge  62 , front and rear surfaces  68  and  69  and side surfaces  63  and  64 . Additionally, forming stripper shoe  61   a  has molding surface  65  that contacts and compresses the masonry material in the mold box and forms front face  104  of block  100 . Bottom edge  62  of the front, back and sides of forming stripper shoe  61  molds the top, bottom and side edges, respectively, of the block formed in the mold cavity. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 64 and 65  which are cross-sectional front and side views, respectively, of the stripper shoe, molding surface  65  has protruding joint or valley forming surfaces V 1  and V 2  as well as shaped area forming surfaces A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 . Shaped area forming surfaces A 1 , A 2  and A 3  may have any desired degrees of sloping, if any, from the innermost extending point of each respective shaped area forming surface of molding surface  65  to bottom the bottom edges of molding surface  65  of forming stripper shoe  61   a  that allows forming stripper shoe  61   a  to be stripped from the mold upon completion of the molding process. As such, degrees of downward slope may be in the range of 0° to 90° from vertical. The sloping of molding surface  65  also functions to mold a visually pleasing aesthetic appearance onto front face  104  of block  100  so that when blocks  100  are stacked in a wall with the top surface facing upward, the upper course of block creates a shadowing effect over the front face  104  of the lower course of block enhancing the three dimensional effect of the shaped areas of the front faces of the blocks in the wall. The sloping of molding surface  65  also is configured to have sloping surfaces that will create a draft angle such that the molded front face  104  will be able to be stripped from the forming stripper shoe  65 . Valley forming surfaces mold the valleys or joints of front face  104  and can extend into the mold cavity at any desired dimension and may have any desired slope. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 64 , forming stripper shoe  61   a  forms an upwardly extending cavity C in locations where the shaped areas are formed. Cavity C is properly filled with block forming material as the forming stripper shoe is provided with a downwardly extending force toward the mold cavity. It should be understood that the dimensions, quantities and locations of the features of forming stripper shoe  61   a  are not limiting and that forming stripper shoes of the present invention could have features described above of varying dimensions, quantities and locations. 
     During a block making process mold box  10  is configured to rest upon a pallet P to form mold cavities  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  as seen in  FIG. 59 . Moveable means  19  moves side liners  16  and  18  between discharge and engaged positions.  FIG. 68  is a cross-sectional side view and  FIGS. 66, 67 and 69  are cross-sectional back views of a mold cavity shown during different stages of the molding process. Other mold cavities configured to form each of the block embodiments disclosed herein function in a similar manner.  FIG. 66  shows masonry material M being deposited into the mold cavities by a feed drawer (not shown) as it passes over the mold box. Excess material is removed by a cut-off bar as the feed drawer moves away from the mold box so that the masonry material is level with the top of the mold box and the top surfaces of the forming members. As the material settles into the mold cavities, a vibratory action may be employed to aid in the compaction of material in each mold cavity. Overfill surfaces  66  are non-forming surfaces that align with or abut with sides  63  and  64  of forming stripper shoe  61  and are located above moveable side liners  16  and  18 . Since overfill surfaces  66  are located below the cut-off bar travel path and above the molding surface of the side liners, the overfill surfaces, therefore, allow for the deposit of extra material at the top of the mold cavity. This helps to ensure that a cavity C formed within the molding surface  65  of the forming stripper shoe  61  receives a sufficient amount of material to fill the cavity after the material is compacted by the stripper shoe. 
     Next, forming stripper shoe  61  from a head assembly contacts the masonry material from above thereby forming the material in the mold cavity as seen in  FIGS. 67 and 68 . Molding surface  65  of forming stripper shoe  61  compresses the material deposited adjacent overfill surface  66 , forming front face  104  of block  100 . The extra material deposited adjacent overfill surface  66  is dispersed and compressed into and around the molding surface  65  of forming stripper shoe  61  to ensure sufficient material is available to completely and adequately fill cavity C and mold the material into all molding surfaces. As the material is being compacted and compressed into the contoured surfaces of molding surface  65 , the slope of valley forming surface V 1  aids in material distribution into the contours of molding surface  65  by the force of the compaction caused by the forming stripper shoe  61  pushing material against the angled or sloped surface of the valley forming surface V 1  or other inwardly extending surfaces. The forming stripper shoe may be allowed to overtravel by any designed amount and for example could over travel 1/16 of an inch or more depending upon the application. Further, the head assembly may be fitted with an overtravel stop that will not allow the head assembly to lower past a certain depth inside the mold. As the movable side liner retracts from the engaged position to the disengaged position, forming stripper shoe  61  then push the molded material through the mold cavity and strip the molded material from the mold while being held in a stationary position in accordance with procedures well known to those of skill in the art as seen in  FIG. 69 . 
     In this embodiment the molding surface of the forming stripper shoe molds the material deposited adjacent an overfill surface, forming front face  104  of block  100  as the mold box ascends. The extra material deposited adjacent overfill surface is dispersed and compressed into and around the molding surface of forming stripper shoe to ensure sufficient material is available to completely and adequately fill and mold the material into all molding surfaces. 
     Although the block making process has been described with respect to block  100  it should be understood that the process is similar for other block embodiments described herein. Differences may include the configuration and molding surfaces of the liners and stripper shoes and that one or even all of the liners may be moveable from an engaged to a disengaged or discharge position. 
       FIG. 70  shows an exploded perspective view of moveable side liners and a channel forming member for which define a part of a mold cavity  25   b  that molds block  200  of the present invention. It should be understood that mold cavity  25   b  represents one mold cavity which might be included in a mold such as mold box  10  shown in  FIG. 59 . Moveable side liner  16   b  forms sidewall  206  and angular planar surfaces  221  of side wall  206  and moveable side liner  18   b  forms sidewall  207  and angular planar surfaces of side wall  207 . A channel forming member  50 , made with a moveable core element that is pulled in coordination with the moveable side liners, forms optional receiving channel  250  on rear surface  205  of block  200  and the forming stripper shoe forms front face  204 . It should be understood that this mold cavity is not limiting and that the mold cavity could be manufactured to not include the channel forming member. Additionally, it is to be understood that any mold cavity disclosed herein could be configured to include the channel forming member and, as such, a block disclosed herein could be molded with a receiving channel. 
       FIG. 71  is a cross-sectional view of a mold cavity which can be used to make blocks having elements of the unique surface features and configurations described herein.  FIG. 71  shows mold box cavity  25   c  which has moveable side liners  16   c , and stationary side liner  18   c  for making block  300 . Moveable side liner  16   c  includes a molding surface shaped to form sidewall  306  and angular groove  324  and stationary side liner  18   c  includes a molding surface shaped to form sidewall  307  and angular projection  325 . Forming stripper shoe  61   c  forms front face  304 . 
       FIG. 72  shows mold having a mold cavity  25   d  which includes optional features for forming the front face of a block in accordance with the present invention. A stripper shoe  61   d  has a textured portion  65   d  for forming a first portion  92  of a front face of a block. The mold includes stationary side liners  98  and  99  having planar molding surfaces  98   b  and  99   b  to form substantially planar top and bottom surfaces of the block and textured or patterned molding surfaces  98   a  and  99   a  to form a second textured or patterned portion of the front face of the block. Moveable or stationary face liners, either textured or smooth, (not shown) can be used to form the sides of the various block embodiments disclosed herein as described above. Molding surfaces  98  and  99  may also create parting lines  150  and  150 ′ where they meet molding surface  65   d  of the stripper shoe, depending on the shape, angle and configuration of the molding surfaces of the stationary side liners and the stripper shoe. Additionally, since molding surfaces  98  and  99  form the second portion of the block along both the top and bottom edges of the block, both the top and bottom of the block can be provided with relatively steep undercuts. 
       FIG. 73  is a top plan view of a multi-block mold box  10   a  for making the blocks described herein. Specifically, the mold has been adapted to make blocks  300  and or a variation thereof. During a block making process mold box  10   a  is configured to rest upon a pallet to form mold cavities  25   e ,  26   e ,  27   e ,  28   e  and  29   e . Moveable means  19  moves side liners  16   e  which forms an angular groove in the mold of mold cavities  25   e ,  26   e ,  27   e ,  28   e  and  29   e . Moveable side liners  16   e  are shown in this embodiment as being connected to one another and being controlled by the same mechanism. Stationary side liners  18   e  are shown as being separate from one another for each mold box and are further shown to mold different features onto the blocks. Stationary side liner  18   e  in mold cavity  25   e  and  26   e  are shaped to form angular projection  325  and groove  324  of block  300 . Stationary liners  18   e  of mold cavities  27   e ,  28   e  and  29   e  are shaped to form a modified version of block  300  which does not include angular projection  325  (block  300   a ). Rather, stationary liners  18   e  of cavities  27   e ,  28   e  and  29   e  are shaped, along with the forming stripper shoe, to form contoured side edges onto the block. 
       FIG. 74  is a top plan view of a multi-block mold box  10   b  for making the blocks described herein. Specifically, the mold has been adapted to make blocks  400 . During a block making process mold box  10   b  is configured to rest upon a pallet to form mold cavities  25   f ,  26   f ,  27   f  and  28   f . Division liner  82 , which is perpendicular to end walls  6  and  8 , and division liner  83 , which is perpendicular to side walls  2  and  4 , form the four separate mold cavities  25   f ,  26   f ,  27   f  and  28   f . Moveable means  19  moves side liners  16   f  which forms a groove in the mold of mold cavities  25   f ,  26   f ,  27   f  and  28   f . Moveable side liner  16   f  may be comprised of one continuous liner piece that moves as a whole, as seen in mold cavities  25   f  and  26   f . Additionally and/or alternatively, moveable side liner  16   f  may be comprised of separate liner pieces, a stationary section with two openings that allow two moveable groove forming members to travel into and out of the mold cavity as shown in mold cavities  27   f  and  28   f.    
       FIG. 75  is a top plan view of a mold cavity for making the blocks of  FIGS. 76 and 77 . Mold cavity  25   g  has moveable means  19  which move side liners  16   g  and  17   g . Side liner  16   g  has pin hole molding elements  70  which form pin holes  71  in the block as shown in  FIG. 76 . The pin holes formed in the mold, as seen in dashed lines in  FIG. 75 , may extend through the entirety of the mold (and thus the block being molded) from one surface to the opposed surface, or may extend only partially through the mold (and thus the block being molded) from one surface toward the opposing surface. Side liner  17   g  has pin receiving molding elements  75   a ,  75   b  and  75   c  which form pin receiving cavities  76   a ,  76   b  and  76   c , respectively as shown in  FIG. 77 . The pin receiving cavities formed in the mold, as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 75 , may extend through the entirety of the mold (and thus the block being molded) from one surface to the opposed surface, or may extend only partially through the mold (and thus the block being molded) from one surface toward the opposing surface. As shown in  FIG. 77 , the pin receiving cavity may have any shape, size or dimension ( 76   a  and  76   c  illustrating a couple of such shapes, sizes and dimensions) or may be a channel that may extend partially across the surface of the block (as shown by pin receiving cavity  76   b ) or may extend the entirety of the surface of the block from one side to the opposed side. The pin holes are designed to accept a shaft of a pin and the pin receiving cavities are designed to accept the head of a pin when utilizing a pinning system to construct a wall with the blocks of the present invention. It should be understood the pin holes and pin receiving cavities may be molded into any of the blocks disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 78  is a top plan view of mold cavities for making the blocks of  FIGS. 79 and 80 . Mold cavity  25   h  has moveable means  19  which moves side liner  16   h  that has molding element  77   a  having pin hole forming portion  78   a  and pin receiving cavity forming portion  79   a  which form pin hole  71  and pin receiving cavity  76   a  in the block as shown in  FIG. 79 . Side liner  16   h  also has molding element  77   b  having pin hole forming portion  78   b  and pin receiving cavity forming portion  79   b  which form pin hole  71  and pin receiving cavity  76   b  in the block as shown in  FIG. 80 . Mold cavity  25   h  also has another moveable means  19  which moves side liner  17   h  that has molding element  77   c  having pin hole forming portions  78   c  and pin receiving channel forming portion  79   c  which form pin holes  71  and pin receiving channel  76   c  in the block as shown in  FIG. 80 . The pin holes, pin receiving channel and/or pin receiving cavities formed in the mold and shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 78 , may extend only partially through the mold from one surface toward the opposing surface and thus may be closed at the opposed side of the block opposite the pin hole opening or may be open to both opposing surfaces. The pin holes, pin receiving cavities and/or pin receiving channels may have any shape, size or dimension as and may be molded into any of the blocks disclosed herein. 
     The invention provides a wall block comprising: a block body having opposed front and rear faces, opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, and opposed first and second side walls, the first and second side walls each having a vertically planar first portion adjacent the top surface and a vertically planar second portion adjacent the bottom surface, the first and second portion of each side wall extending from the front face to the rear face, the first portion of the first side wall and the first portion of the second side wall converging from the front face toward the rear face along the top surface of the block and the second portion of the first side wall and the second portion of the second side wall being substantially parallel to each other along the bottom surface of the block. The top surface has a substantially trapezoidal shape with boundaries formed by the opposed front and rear faces and the opposed and converging first portion of the first and second side walls and the bottom surface has a substantially rectangular shape with boundaries formed by the front and rear faces and the opposed and substantially parallel second portion of the first and second side walls and wherein the trapezoidal shaped top surface has a total surface area that is less than the total surface area of the rectangular shaped bottom surface. 
     In an embodiment, the second portion of the first and second side walls have an upper horizontally planar surface extending outward from the first portion of the first and second side walls. In one embodiment, the first and second side walls have a break-away groove that extends into the block body below the vertically planar first portion of the first and second side walls and is partially formed by the upper horizontally planar surface of the second portion of the first and second side walls. 
     In an embodiment, the front face has a first undercut portion adjacent the top surface and a second undercut portion adjacent the bottom surface, the first and second undercut portions being separated by a molded surface having an irregular contour which is non-planar horizontally and vertically. In one embodiment, more than one section of the second undercut portion extends outwardly from the bottom surface, the more than one section of the second portion having an average upward angular slope between the bottom surface and the molded surface that is less than 90°. In an embodiment, at least one section of the second undercut portion extends inwardly from the bottom surface, the at least one section of the first undercut portion having an upward angle greater than 90°. In one embodiment, the first undercut portion is irregularly contoured along the top surface of the block, the irregular contour having first sections extending outward away from the rear face of the block and second sections extending inwardly towards the rear face of the block. In an embodiment, the second undercut portion is irregularly contoured along the bottom surface of the block, the irregular contour having first sections extending outward away from the rear face of the block and second sections extending inwardly towards the rear face of the block. 
     The invention provides a wall block system comprising: a plurality of blocks having a block body with opposed front and rear faces, opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, and opposed first and second side walls, the first and second side walls each having a vertically planar first portion adjacent the top surface and a vertically planar second portion adjacent the bottom surface, the first and second portion of each side wall extending from the front face to the rear face, the first portion of the first side wall and the first portion of the second side wall converging from the front face toward the rear face along the top surface of the block and the second portion of the first side wall and the second portion of the second side wall being substantially parallel to each other along the bottom surface of the block, the top surface having a trapezoidal shape with boundaries formed by the opposed front and rear faces and the opposed and converging first portion of the first and second side walls and the bottom surface having a rectangular shape with boundaries formed by the opposed front and rear faces and the opposed and substantially parallel second portion of the first and second side walls, the trapezoidal shaped top surface having a total surface area that is less than the total surface area of the rectangular shaped bottom surface. The second portion of the first and second side walls have an upper horizontally planar surface extending outward from the first portion of the first and second side walls. 
     In an embodiment, the first and second side walls have a break-away groove that extends into the block body below the vertically planar first portion of the first and second side walls and is partially formed by the upper horizontally planar surface of the second portion of the first and second side walls. In one embodiment, the second portion of the first and second side walls of the plurality of blocks has a lower horizontally planar surface that is located directly below the upper horizontally planar surface and is part of the bottom surface of the block. In an embodiment, the upper horizontally planar surface, lower horizontally planar surface and second portion of the side wall form a break-away portion that is detached from at least one of the first and second side walls of at least one of the plurality of blocks. 
     In an embodiment, the break-away portion is detached from both of the first and second side walls of at least one of the plurality of blocks. In one embodiment, when the blocks are stacked in at least a lower course and an upper course to form a wall, at least some of the blocks are positioned adjacent to a block having at least one detached break-away portion. In an embodiment, the uppermost course of blocks that are stacked to form a structure are positioned with the bottom surface facing upward to create a gapless capping course. 
     The invention provides a block system comprising: a plurality of blocks having a block body with opposed front and rear faces, opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, and opposed first and second side walls, the first and second side walls each having a vertically planar first portion adjacent the top surface and a vertically planar second portion adjacent the bottom surface, the first and second portion of each side wall extending from the front face to the rear face, the first portion of the first side wall and the first portion of the second side wall converging from the front face toward the rear face along the top surface of the block and the second portion of the first side wall and the second portion of the second side wall being substantially parallel to each other along the bottom surface of the block, the top surface having a trapezoidal shape with boundaries formed by the opposed front and rear faces and the opposed and converging first portion of the first and second side walls and the bottom surface having a rectangular shape with boundaries formed by the opposed front and rear faces and the opposed and substantially parallel second portion of the first and second side walls, the trapezoidal shaped top surface having a total surface area that is less than the total surface area of the rectangular shaped bottom surface. The front face has a first undercut portion adjacent the top surface and a second undercut portion adjacent the bottom surface, the first and second undercut portions being separated by a molded surface having an irregular contour which is non-planar horizontally and vertically. 
     In an embodiment, the blocks are configured such that when the blocks are stacked in at least first and second courses to form a wall having a setback in the range of ¼ inch to 1 inch from course to course, in a top view of the wall the top planar surface of blocks in the first course is not exposed. In one embodiment, more than one section of the second undercut portion extends outwardly from the bottom surface, the more than one section of the second portion having an average upward angular slope between the bottom surface and the molded surface that is less than 90°. In an embodiment, at least one section of the second undercut portion extends inwardly from the bottom surface, the at least one section of the first undercut portion having an upward angle greater than 90°. In one embodiment, the first undercut portion is irregularly contoured along the top surface of the block, the irregular contour having first sections extending outward away from the rear face of the block and second sections extending inwardly towards the rear face of the block. 
     It should be understood that the mold box could be configured to impart any desired face shape, texture or pattern onto any or all side, front and back surfaces of the blocks. Although the blocks described above are shown with natural stone faces any other natural, geometric, regular or irregular pattern could be formed as desired. Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims, which follow. In particular, it is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, the choice of materials or variations in the shape or angles at which some of the surfaces intersect are believed to be a matter of routine for a person of ordinary skill in the art with knowledge of the embodiments disclosed herein.