Mold box for making first and second wall blocks

• US 7,780,141 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems Incorporated (THE QUIKRETE Cos. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems Incorporated (THE QUIKRETE Cos. LLC)
• Inventors: MacDonald, Robert A., Dawson, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/754,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20050016106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,419 Days
• Field of Search: 249/199, 249/128, 249/129, 249/130, 249/131, 525/74, 526/09, 526/10, 526/11, 526/04, 405/284, 405/286
• US Class Current: 249/129
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 7/241 Detachable assemblies of mould parts providing only in mutual co-operation a number of complete moulding spaces
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/025 made up of similar modular elements stacked without mortar
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 1/395 for claustra, fences, planting walls, e.g. sound-absorbing pots for vertical horticulture A01G9/022

Abstract

A method of making a wall block and a mold box therefore. The wall block design maximizes the use of the mold box. The method produces wall blocks having a large surface area front face compared to the front face size of prior art blocks. The blocks have about one third more front surface area. This results in faster construction of walls and a faster construction sequence. The method of making the blocks makes efficient use of mold space and material, resulting in higher production yields and/or higher total daily production square footage.

Claims

1. A mold box for making first and second wall blocks comprising:

first and second opposed end rails and first and second opposed side rails, the end rails and side rails together forming a mold cavity, the first and second end rails being spaced apart a distance d1, the first and second side rails being spaced apart a distance d2 which is less than distance d1; and

a divider plate having a first end connected to the first end rail and a second end connected to the second end rail, the divider plate having a first mold surface and a second mold surface, the divider plate dividing the mold cavity into only two mold sections for molding blocks, a first mold section for forming the first block and a second mold section for forming the second block, the first mold section being configured such that a front face of the first block is formed adjacent the first side rail and a rear face of the first block is formed adjacent the first mold surface, the second mold section being configured such that a front face of the second block is formed adjacent the second side rail and a rear face of the second block is formed adjacent the second mold surface,

the divider plate being shaped in a non-planar configuration such that a maximum first block depth measured between the first side rail and the divider plate along a line generally perpendicular to the first side rail is greater than d2/2 and a maximum second block depth measured between the second side rail and the divider plate along a line generally perpendicular to the second side rail is greater than d2/2,

the first mold surface of the divider plate being configured to provide at least two leg forming mold portions of the first mold section and the second mold surface of the divider plate being configured to provide at least two leg forming mold portions of the second mold section, and

the at least two leg forming portions of the first mold section overlapping with the at least two leg forming portions of the second mold section such that a first leg forming portion of the first mold section is disposed between a first and a second leg forming portion of the second mold section and the first leg forming portion of the second mold section is disposed between the first and a second leg forming portion of the first mold section,

wherein the front faces of the first and second blocks each have a length approximately equal to d1,

wherein the first mold section has only two leg forming portions and the second mold section has only two leg forming portions, and

wherein the first and second leg forming portions of the first mold section are asymmetrical with respect to a plane that bisects the first side rail and does not intersect the first and second end rails and wherein the first and second leg forming portions of the second mold section are asymmetrical with respect to a plane that bisects the second side rail and does not intersect the first and second end rails.

2. The mold box of claim 1 wherein the mold box has a thickness defined by a distance d3, wherein distance d3 is less than distance d2.

3. The mold box of claim 2 wherein distance d1 is about 24 inches and distance d2 is about 18 inches.

4. The mold box of claim 3 wherein distance d3 is about 8 inches.

5. A method of making wall blocks comprising:

(i) providing a mold box of claim 1;

(ii) filling the first and second mold sections with a desired block material; and

(iii) removing the block material from the first mold section to form the first block and from the second mold section to form the second block.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the mold box has a thickness defined by a distance d3, wherein distance d3 is less than distance d2.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the distance d1 is about 24 inches and distance d2 is about 18 inches.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the distance d3 is about 8 inches.