Abstract: A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 4, 2016
Date of Patent:
January 30, 2018
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Jay Johnson, Wally Hernandez, Paul Johnson, Mike Lidbom
Abstract: Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.
Abstract: A block has a front face with a first surface of non-planar roughness including at least 10% and not more than 90% of the area of the front face. The front face includes a second surface that is even and generally planar, with at least 10% and not more than 90% of the area of the front face. In one example, the first surface is a split face, and the second surface is a burnished split face. In another example, the first surface is a molded face, and the second surface is burnished. Methods of making a block include molding, curing, in some implementations splitting, and then burnishing. Walls can be constructed from these blocks.
Abstract: A multi-use block including a block body having at least a first leg. The blocks can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block can be a variety of materials, including concrete, and when concrete, used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use are provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 5, 2017
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Jay J. Johnson, Robert B. Burnquist, Steven Paul Bennett
Abstract: A free-standing wall includes concrete base blocks adjacent to each other forming a base course; a first set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a first wall face; and a second set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a second wall face that faces the opposite direction from the first wall face and that has the same number of courses as the first plurality of wall blocks. Methods of constructing the wall arrangement include laying the base blocks next to each other end to end; stacking individual blocks of a first set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a first wall face; stacking individual blocks of the second set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a second wall face that faces a direction opposite of the first wall face.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 11, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 29, 2017
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Joel Wolter, Robert B. Burnquist, Harrison John Brown, Dale A. Buker, Jay J. Johnson
Abstract: A concrete unit includes a six sided body having three pairs of opposed rectangular faces. Two opposed faces each has an irregular three dimensional pattern extending across the entire face to provide two aesthetic faces on the unit. The two opposed faces have patterns that are mirror images of each other such that when two of the units are placed with their patterned faces aligned and in contact, the three dimensional patterns on the opposed faces nest to minimize the space between the adjacent edges of the units. The concrete units may be used as steps or in other applications.
Abstract: A masonry block that is produced from a workpiece that is split in a block splitting assembly which uses any of a variety of projections to supplement or replace the action of the splitting blade in splitting and dressing the workpiece. The resulting masonry block has features that provide the masonry block with a weathered appearance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 14, 2012
Date of Patent:
February 21, 2017
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Ronald J. Scherer, David Matthew LaCroix, Michael J. Hogan, Glenn C. Bolles
Abstract: A multi-use block (170) including a block body (172) having at least a first leg (192). The blocks (170) can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block (170) can be of a variety of materials, including concrete. It is used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use of the block (170) are provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 13, 2014
Date of Patent:
November 1, 2016
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Jay J. Johnson, Robert B. Burnquist, Steven Paul Bennett
Abstract: A free-standing wall includes concrete base blocks adjacent to each other forming a base course; a first set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a first wall face; and a second set of concrete wall blocks stacked on the base course and on each other to form a second wall face that faces the opposite direction from the first wall face and that has the same number of courses as the first plurality of wall blocks. Methods of constructing the wall arrangement include laying the base blocks next to each other end to end; stacking individual blocks of a first set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a first wall face; stacking individual blocks of the second set of blocks on the base course and then on each other to form a second wall face that faces a direction opposite of the first wall face.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 22, 2015
Date of Patent:
September 13, 2016
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Joel Wolter, Robert B. Burnquist, Harrison John Brown, Dale A. Buker, Jay J. Johnson
Abstract: Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.
Abstract: A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 4, 2016
Publication date:
April 28, 2016
Applicant:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Jay Johnson, Wally Hernandez, Paul Johnson, Mike Lidbom
Abstract: A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 2, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 16, 2016
Assignee:
Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Jay Johnson, Lech W. Hernandez, Paul Johnson, Michael Lidbom