IP Library › Granted Patent US 12661827
Granted Patent B2
US 12661827 · App. 17/348,231 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Gapless buffer for masonry block manufacture

Inventor: William H. Karau (Southlake, TX)
Assignee: PAVESTONE, LLC
B28B7/0029B28B1/14B28B7/0097B30B11/02E04C1/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661827
App. No.
17/348,231
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing masonry blocks, comprising a shoe, a backup plate, a plurality of buffers disposed between the shoe and the backup plate, a plurality of snubbers disposed between the shoe and the backup plate and wherein a relaxed height of the plurality of buffers is equal to or less than a height of the plurality of snubbers.

Claims (35)

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing masonry blocks, comprising:

a shoe;

a backup plate;

a plurality of buffers disposed between and coupled to the shoe and the backup plate;

a plurality of snubbers coupled to only one of the shoe and the backup plate, separate from the plurality of buffers, disposed between the shoe and the backup plate; and

wherein a relaxed height of the plurality of buffers is equal to or less than a height of the plurality of snubbers.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of buffers are disposed at corners of the shoe and at least one of the plurality of snubbers are disposed between two of the plurality of buffers.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of buffers are disposed at a center of the shoe and the plurality of snubbers are disposed around the one or more of the plurality of buffers at the center of the shoe.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of snubbers are disposed around a periphery of the shoe and at least one of the plurality of buffers is disposed between two of the plurality of snubbers.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of buffers are disposed at different locations relative to a closest snubber.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the relaxed height of the plurality of buffers is less than the height of the plurality of snubbers.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of buffers is disposed at at least one corner of the shoe.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of buffers is disposed closer to a center of the shoe than a side of the shoe.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of snubbers is disposed around a periphery of the shoe.

10 . An apparatus for manufacturing masonry blocks, comprising:

a shoe;

a backup plate;

a plurality of buffers disposed between the shoe and the backup plate;

a plurality of snubbers, separate from the plurality of buffers, disposed between the shoe and the backup plate; and

wherein a relaxed height of at least one the plurality of buffers is equal to a height of the plurality of snubbers, the plurality of buffers are disposed at different locations relative to a closest snubber and the relaxed height of at least one the plurality of buffers is less than the height of the plurality of snubbers.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of buffers are disposed at corners of the shoe and at least one of the plurality of snubbers are disposed between two of the plurality of buffers.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one or more of the plurality of buffers are disposed at a center of the shoe and the plurality of snubbers are disposed around the one or more of the plurality of buffers at the center of the shoe.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of snubbers are disposed around a periphery of the shoe and at least one of the plurality of buffers is disposed between two of the plurality of snubbers.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of buffers is disposed at at least one corner of the shoe.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one or more of the plurality of buffers is disposed closer to a center of the shoe than a side of the shoe.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one or more of the plurality of snubbers is disposed around a periphery of the shoe.

17 . An apparatus for manufacturing masonry blocks, comprising:

a shoe;

a backup plate;

a plurality of buffers disposed between the shoe and the backup plate;

a plurality of snubbers, separate from the plurality of buffers, disposed between the shoe and the backup plate; and

wherein a relaxed height of the plurality of buffers is equal to or less than a height of the plurality of snubbers and one or more of the plurality of snubbers is disposed around a periphery of the shoe.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of buffers are disposed at corners of the shoe and at least one of the plurality of snubbers are disposed between two of the plurality of buffers.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein one or more of the plurality of buffers are disposed at a center of the shoe and the plurality of snubbers are disposed around the one or more of the plurality of buffers at the center of the shoe.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of snubbers are disposed around a periphery of the shoe and at least one of the plurality of buffers is disposed between two of the plurality of snubbers.