Patent ID: 8596014

Claim:
A masonry block comprising: a stretcher block that is substantially rectangular, the four sides of the block including two wall faces, a first end face, and a second end face, the first end face having a male connector and the second end face a female connector, wherein the male connector is adapted to mate with the female connector of an adjacent block, the two wall faces being the faces of the block that are visible when the wall is constructed, an upper face and a lower face of the block being open; a central portion located between the male connector and the female connector, wherein the central portion has a first and a second central chamber separated by a central web, the central web defining a central axis and the first and second central chambers having a longitudinal axis that extends parallel to the central axis, and wherein the first and second end faces in the central portion have a first recess and a second recess, each recess aligned with the longitudinal axis of the respective first and second central chambers; and a first outer chamber between the first central chamber and the first wall face and a second outer chamber between the second central chamber and the second wall face, each outer chamber being separated from the corresponding central chamber by an intermediate web and bounded by a first cavity wall on the first end face and a second cavity wall on the second end face; wherein the first end face has a connector for mating with a connector of an adjacent block, at least one chamber for receiving insulation, and at least one recess for receiving a reinforcing bar.