Patent ID: 8524138

Claim:
A method of forming a dry-cast concrete block with at least one core opening therein; the method comprising the steps of: providing a block mold having a plurality of sidewalls defining a mold cavity with an open top, an open bottom and a core form in the mold cavity at a location to form a core opening in a pre-cured concrete block formed therein; depositing dry-cast concrete, in the mold cavity, distributed around and against the core form; introducing a plate through the open top of the mold cavity and compacting the dry-cast concrete in the mold cavity to form a pre-cured concrete block; the plate having a first surface facing the mold cavity; the plate having a core form opening therein configured to allow passage therethrough of the core form; and, the plate including a beveled ridge on the first surface around at least a portion of the core form opening and projecting from the first surface toward the mold cavity; the beveled ridge including a section, facing away from the core form opening, disposed at an angle relative to a direction of travel of the core form through the core opening during forming of the block; the step of introducing the plate and compacting the concrete including using the beveled ridge to mold a beveled edge in the dry-cast concrete while compacting; the beveled edge beginning at the upper surface of the pre-cured block, as molded, and extending from the upper surface of the pre-cured block to the core opening at an obtuse angle to the upper surface of the pre-cured block; discharging the pre-cured concrete block from the mold cavity; the step of discharging comprising lowering the pre-cured block relative to the core form until no portion of the pre-cured concrete block engages and surrounds the core form; and, the step of discharging further comprising discharging from the mold a pre-cured block having: a front surface; a rear surface; side surfaces that extend from the front surface to the rear surface; a bottom surface and a top surface; and a core opening extending into the block from the upper surface as molded toward the lower surface as molded; the core opening having a ridgeless perimeter at the portion of the core opening at the upper surface as molded; and, curing the pre-cured concrete block.