Patent ID: 7360970

Claim:
A masonry block suitable for forming a serpentine retaining wall by dry stacking multiple blocks into successive overlying courses of blocks wherein the sidewalls of adjacent blocks are in contact to avoid gaps between adjacent blocks, the block comprising: a block body, the block body comprising a generally vertical front surface and a back surface, a generally planar upper surface and a lower surface, the upper and lower surfaces intersecting the generally vertical front surface and permitting generally parallel alignment between the upper surface of a block and the upper surface of the adjacent blocks in the next adjacent course of blocks, and first and second sidewall surfaces, each of the sidewall surfaces comprising a first part and a second part, the sidewall surface first parts extending rearwardly from the block front surface at an angle of ninety degrees or less, and the sidewall surface second parts extending from their respective sidewall surface first parts toward the back surface, the sidewall surface second parts converging toward each other as they extend toward the back surface and each being oriented at an oblique angle to a line drawn on the upper surface through the points where the side faces join the back surface; and a flange extending downwardly from the lower surface of the block body, the flange comprising a setback surface and a locking surface, the flange permitting the masonry block to be positioned over and in engagement with other masonry blocks of like construction as courses of blocks are laid on one another, thereby producing a desired setback; wherein the block is free from cores extending through the block from sidewall surface to sidewall surface.