Patent ID: 8101113

Claim:
An apparatus for molding dry cast products having a textured side surface, the apparatus comprising: a) a frame having a plurality of open molding compartments for receiving a dry concrete mixture and removing a dry cast product; b) each open molding compartment comprising at least four walls laterally enclosing the molding compartment; c) at least one of the at least four walls comprising a first subface and a second subface, wherein each subface comprises a multilevel surface with a plurality of sections in an overhanging relationship with each other; d) the plurality of sections comprising: (i) a top section having a first thickness and comprising a top edge aligned with a top side of the molding compartment, wherein the top side comprises an aperture through which the dry concrete mixture is introduced into the molding compartment; (ii) a bottom section vertically below the top section and comprising a second thickness smaller than the first thickness and a bottom edge aligned with a bottom side of the molding compartment, wherein the bottom side comprises an aperture through which the dry cast product is removed from the molding compartment; and (iii) transitional curvilinear steps bridging adjacent sections to impart a textured side surface resembling a natural rockface and allowing stripping of the dry cast product from the bottom side of the molding compartment; and e) a step positioned between the first subface and the second subface, wherein the step comprises: (i) a vertically angled demoulding surface; (ii) a first vertical edge portion having a vertical profile that substantially conforms to a vertical profile of the first subface; and (iii) a second vertical edge portion having a vertical profile that substantially conforms to the vertical profile of the second subface; wherein the first vertical edge portion is horizontally offset from the second vertical edge portion, and wherein the vertical profile of the first vertical edge portion has a different shape than the vertical profile of the second vertical edge portion.