WALL BLOCK AND WALL BLOCK SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTING WALLS
Wall blocks and methods of constructing walls from the wall blocks which have a side connection system interlocking adjacent blocks whereby a side of the block is provided with a channel or slot that is configured to engage a corresponding projection on the adjacent block. The side connection system may alternatively have a connection receiving cavity formed by channels or slots on the sides of the blocks which are configured to align with a channel or slot from adjacent blocks where a connector may be received to interlock the blocks.
1 . A wall block for use in forming a wall from multiple wall blocks, the wall having a front surface and a rear surface, the wall block comprising:
opposing and parallel upper and lower planar surfaces spaced apart to define a block thickness;
opposing and parallel first and second faces spaced apart to define a block depth;
opposing first and second side surfaces spaced apart to define a block width, the first and second side surfaces together with the upper and lower surfaces and the first and second faces defining a block body, the first and second side surfaces converging from the first face to the second face such that a width of the block at the first face is greater than a width of the block at the second face, the block body having a circular core extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the core having a radius r, each of the first and second side surfaces having a curvilinear recess having a radius of curvature r′, where r equals r′, each of the side surfaces further having at least one slot extending between the upper and lower surfaces and at least one projection extending between the upper and lower surfaces; and
wherein the block body is configured such that when the wall is constructed from a plurality of the wall blocks arranged in multiple courses in a running bond pattern, the front surface of the wall may be constructed from either the first or second faces of the plurality of wall blocks or a combination thereof, curvilinear recesses of adjacent blocks in a course form an opening which aligns vertically with cores in blocks in adjacent courses and the at least one projection of blocks in a course are received in the at least one slot of adjacent blocks of the course.
2 . The wall block of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second faces is textured.
3 . The wall block of claim 1 wherein the side surfaces are not textured.
4 . The wall block of claim 1 wherein r and r′ are in the range of 1½ inches to 2 inches.
5 . The wall block of claim 1 wherein the slots and projections have a cross-sectional shape which is selected from curvilinear and rectilinear.
6 . The wall block of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second faces has a beveled perimeter.
7 . The wall block of claim 1 wherein the first side surface has one slot and one projection and the second side surface has one slot and one projection.