Abstract: A lightweight, small portable hopper for bulk materials that is removably mountable on a tractor trailer is disclosed. Such trailer includes a trailer bed that is formed with a central opening, and the hopper is usable on it while also leaving space for transporting other items. The hopper includes an upright body with an inner surface that includes plural regions defining a bulk-material storage space. The body also includes a generally downwardly converging section that is supportably positionable on the trailer bed through the central opening, with a subsection terminating with a dispensing port. Also included is internal bracing structure attached to generally opposing regions of the inner surface of the body, and extending across the bulk-material storage space to promote self-supportability of the hopper when it is loaded. The internal bracing structure may include plural, laterally spaced, horizontally-positioned first braces attached to corresponding, generally opposing regions of the inner surface.

Abstract: A method for making concrete cored bricks and capping bricks includes providing a mold having a row of mold cavities separated by cross members having core-bar holes formed therein, inserting a core bar through each cavity and into and filling a core-bar hole associated with rear cavity. Next, a rear core-bar hole is plugged and the cavities are filled with a concrete to form plural uncured bricks. The bricks are then compacted and an elongate, interconnecting pattern is pressed into a first surface of each brick. Next, the core bar is removed from the cavities and the bricks are ejected from the mold. Finally, plural wet layers of colored coatings are applied to the first surface of each brick after which the bricks are cured. Antiqued concrete capping brick including a top surface, four side surfaces, and a bottom surface having formed therein at least one recess are also formed. Additionally, a first side surface of the brick includes elongate, interconnected indentations that extend to the edges thereof.