COLUMNAR BLOCK FENCE SYSTEM
A system of columnar blocks and stacking blocks interlock with each other in the construction of a pilaster or column and a fence panel, respectively, for use in a fence. The columnar blocks are generally square and the stacking blocks are generally rectangular. The columnar block faces may contain one or more slots to give a column an appearance of a masonry joint. Blocks have at least one interlocking element that permits a positive connection between courses of the blocks when the interlocking element is received in an overlying block.
1 . A block column having a substantially square horizontal cross-section comprising:
a plurality of adjacent courses of column blocks including at least first, second and third column blocks which form first, second and third adjacent block courses of the block column, respectively, each column block having an upper surface spaced apart from an opposed lower surface, thereby defining a column block thickness, opposed first and second side surfaces and opposed third and fourth side surfaces extending between the upper and lower surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces having a recessed portion extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the upper and lower surfaces together with the side surfaces defining a column block body; and
at least one projection extending from one of the upper and lower surfaces of each column block and at least one indentation extending into the other of the upper and lower surfaces of each column block, the at least one projection of the first column block being received in the at least one indentation of the second column block and the at least one projection of the second column block being received in the at least one indentation of the third column block, the at least one projection of the first and third column blocks aligning vertically, the at least one projection of the second column block being vertically offset from the at least one projection of the first and third column blocks, and the recessed portion of the at least one side surface of the first, second and third column blocks aligning vertically.
2 . The block column according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side surfaces of each column block contains at least one vertical slot.
3 . The block column according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one indentation comprises a core.
4 . The block column according to claim 3 wherein the core extends between the upper and lower surfaces.
5 . The block column according to claim 3 wherein the at least one projection of each column block includes two projections positioned adjacent the core and offset from the side surfaces in the direction of a vertical axis of each column block.
6 . The block column according to claim 1 wherein the column block bodies of the first, second and third column blocks have substantially the same shape.
7 . A wall block system comprising:
a plurality of column blocks including at least first, second and third column blocks for forming first, second and third adjacent block courses of a vertical block column, respectively, each column block having an upper surface spaced apart from an opposed lower surface, thereby defining a column block thickness, opposed first and second side surfaces and opposed third and fourth side surfaces extending between the upper and lower surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces having a recessed portion extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the upper and lower surfaces together with the side surfaces defining a column block body, the column block body having at least one projection extending from one of the upper and lower surfaces of each column block and at least one indentation extending into the other of the upper and lower surfaces of each column block, the column blocks being configured such that the at least one projection of the first column block in the first block course is received in the at least one indentation of the second column block in the second block course and the at least one projection of the second column block in the second block course is received in the at least one indentation of the third column block in the third block course, the at least one projection of the first and third column blocks in the first and third block courses aligning vertically, the at least one projection of the second column block in the second block course being vertically offset from the at least one projection of the first and third column blocks in the first and third block courses, and the recessed portion of the at least one side surface of the first, second and third column blocks in the first, second and third block courses aligning vertically; and
a plurality of wall blocks for forming a wall extending from the block column, each wall block having an upper surface spaced apart from an opposed lower surface, thereby defining a wall block thickness, opposed first and second side surfaces of the wall block extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the wall block, opposed first and second ends of the wall block extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the wall block, the upper and lower surfaces of the wall block together with the first and second side surfaces of the wall block and the first and second ends of the wall block defining a wall block body, one of the first and second ends of the wall block being sized to be received in the recessed portion of one of the first, second, third or fourth side surfaces of one of the plurality of column blocks.
8 . The block system according to claim 7 , wherein the wall blocks are generally rectangular.
9 . The block system according to claim 7 , wherein a side surface of each column block contains at least one vertical slot.
10 . The block system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one indentation comprises a core.
11 . The block system according to claim 10 wherein the core extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the column block.
12 . The block system according to claim 10 wherein each column block includes two projections positioned adjacent the core and offset from the side surfaces of the column block in the direction of a vertical axis of the column block.
13 . The block system according to claim 7 wherein the column block bodies of the first, second and third column blocks have substantially the same shape.