Patent ID: 6948282

Claim:
A building block, comprising: a) first and second load bearing faces, wherein the first and second load bearing faces are disposed opposite of each other, wherein the first and second load bearing faces are disposed generally parallel to each other, wherein the first and second load bearing faces are substantially flat; b) first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are disposed opposite of each other, wherein each of the first and second ends is transverse to each of the first and second load bearing faces; c) first and second sides, wherein the first and second sides are disposed opposite each other, wherein the first and second sides are disposed generally parallel to each other, wherein each of the first and second sides is transverse to each of the first and second load bearing faces and each of the first and second, ends; d) a first inner core formed in the building block and extending to and between the load bearing faces, wherein the first inner core is spaced from each of the first and second ends, and wherein the first inner core is spaced from each of the first and second sides; e) an end core portion formed in each of the first and second ends, with the end core portion extending to and between the load bearing faces; and f) an interlock protruding from one of the load bearing faces and forming at least a portion of a periphery of the first inner core, wherein the interlock and end core portion are shaped such that an interlock of one building block can confront a surface forming an end core portion of another confronting building block, wherein the end core portion is not vertically aligned with a protruding interlock on the same building block, and wherein each of the first inner core, interlock and end core portion has an arcuate shape; g) such that, upon staggering building blocks with each other at first and second levels, an interlock of a building block at the first level can be received in an end core portion of a building block at the second level.