Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a double sided wall using facing panels having a face surface and a back surface with a retaining structure. The facing panels are stacked in a back-to-back arrangement into a pair of first and second wall components connected by separate articulated connectors. The articulated connectors each have a first base connector that fits into a respective retaining groove in the first wall component and a second base connector that fits into a respective retaining groove of the second wall component. The first and second base connectors are connected to each other by a link that forms a first pivot joint at the first base connector and a second pivot joint at the second base connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall for a material to be retained, using only blocks which in and of themselves are of insufficient thickness to function as retaining wall blocks. The modular wall includes backer blocks and facing blocks which are connected by separate connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall is filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. None of the wall components is embedded in the material to be retained. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction of retaining walls and freestanding, double sided, decorative walls forming both straight and curved walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wall assembly including preformed building blocks and a trellis type support member for maintaining the building blocks in place in the desired orientation. The wall assembly further includes at least one support for holding the trellis upright. The individual blocks are connected to the supporting trellis for added stability. Although not every block in the wall need be connected to the trellis support member in order to achieve the desired added stability, it is preferred to connect each block in the wall to the trellis. Connectors are provided for connecting the blocks to the trellis. Each block preferably is connected to the trellis by at least one connector, most preferably by a pair of connectors. To accommodate relative movement or shifting of the blocks during installation and in situ, the connectors are preferably movably connected to the trellis or the block, or both.

Abstract: A stackable concrete wall block is disclosed having a body with an irregular front portion and a prism shaped rear portion, the irregular front portion has a three dimensional surface structure embossed in the front face providing the appearance of natural stone and the regular rear portion facilitating stacking of like blocks. The rear portion has parallel sidewalls perpendicular to a rear wall, which are more easily manufactured by dry casting than tapered sidewalls. A lip protrudes from at least one of the sidewalls of the rear portion and is coplanar with the front face for spacing the body of the block from that of a like block placed adjacent thereto. The lateral lip generates spacing between adjacent blocks at a back terminal edge, thereby allowing the assembly of curved walls. The irregular front face extends over the lip so that the front face is continuous over the lip.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall for a material to be retained, using only blocks which in and of themselves are of insufficient thickness to function as retaining wall blocks. The modular wall includes backer blocks and facing blocks which are connected by separate connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall is filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. None of the wall components is embedded in the material to be retained. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction of retaining walls and freestanding, double sided, decorative walls forming both straight and curved walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a double sided wall having a corner or closed end using facing panels having a face surface and a back surface with a retaining structure. The facing panels are stacked in a back-to-back arrangement into a pair of first and second wall components bridged by separate connectors. An end wall component forming an end or corner of the wall includes facing panels stacked to extend across the intermediate space. A branched connector and link are used for bridging a concrete facing panel in the end wall component with an adjacent concrete facing panel of the first or second wall component. The branched connector has a first connecting end and an opposite branched end with at least a pair of second connecting ends for attachment to the retaining structure of the adjacent facing panel and the link has a first end for attachment to a facing panel in the end wall component and a second end for linking to the branched connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wall assembly including preformed building blocks and a trellis type support member for maintaining the building blocks in place in the desired orientation. The wall assembly further includes at least one support for holding the trellis upright. The individual blocks are connected to the supporting trellis for added stability. Although not every block in the wall need be connected to the trellis support member in order to achieve the desired added stability, it is preferred to connect each block in the wall to the trellis. Connectors are provided for connecting the blocks to the trellis. Each block preferably is connected to the trellis by at least one connector, most preferably by a pair of connectors. To accommodate relative movement or shifting of the blocks during installation and in situ, the connectors are preferably movably connected to the trellis or the block, or both.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall for a material to be retained, using backer blocks and facing blocks which are stacked into continuous front and back wall components connected by separate connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall is filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. None of the wall components is embedded in the material to be retained. The facing blocks, connectors and filler material are all separated from the material to be retained by the backer blocks. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction both straight and curved retaining walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a double sided decorative wall using facing panels having a decorative face surface, in particular dry cast concrete panels having a regular surface structure, more preferably an embossed surface, most preferably a patterned surface. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a double sided decorative wall. The facing panels in the wall are stacked in a back-to-back arrangement into a pair of first and second back-to-back walls, which walls are interconnected by connectors which link at least one facing panel in the first wall to at least one facing panel in the second wall for forming the double sided decorative wall. The connecting members can be in individual connectors, or a combination of connectors for linking multiple facing panels or linking facing panels at corners or curves in the wall. The connectors can be of different length to enable the construction of decorative walls of different thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a double sided decorative wall using facing panels having a decorative face surface, in particular dry cast concrete panels having a regular surface structure, more preferably an embossed surface, most preferably a patterned surface. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a double sided decorative wall. The facing panels in the wall are stacked in a back-to-back arrangement into a pair of first and second back-to-back walls, which walls are interconnected by connectors which link at least one facing panel in the first wall to at least one facing panel in the second wall for forming the double sided decorative wall. The connecting members can be in individual connectors, or a combination of connectors for linking multiple facing panels or linking facing panels at corners or curves in the wall. The connectors can be of different length to enable the construction of decorative walls of different thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall, using only blocks which in and of themselves are of insufficient thickness to function as retaining wall blocks. The modular wall includes backer blocks and facing blocks which are connected by connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall can be filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction of retaining walls and freestanding, double sided, decorative walls forming both straight and curved walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wall assembly including preformed building blocks and a trellis type support member for maintaining the building blocks in place in the desired orientation. The wall assembly further includes at least one support for holding the trellis upright. The individual blocks are connected to the supporting trellis for added stability. Although not every block in the wall need be connected to the trellis support member in order to achieve the desired added stability, it is preferred to connect each block in the wall to the trellis. Connectors are provided for connecting the blocks to the trellis. Each block preferably is connected to the trellis by at least one connector, most preferably by a pair of connectors. To accommodate relative movement or shifting of the blocks during installation and in situ, the connectors are preferably movably connected to the trellis or the block, or both.

Abstract: A set of artificial stones is disclosed for use in creating a covering for a supporting surface. Each artificial stone preferably includes a base portion for placement on the supporting surface, which base portion is shaped as a right regular prism for patterned, fitting arrangement of the flagstone with like flagstones in the set to produce a continuous surface covering. The base portion has a regular base contour. The stone further includes a top portion with a facing surface, the facing surface having an irregularly shaped top contour different from the base contour and an intermediate portion connecting the top portion with the base portion. The intermediate portion has an inclined wall extending between the top portion and a sidewall of the base portion. The irregular top contours of the stones, simulate the appearance of natural stone.

Abstract: An artificial stone is disclosed for use in creating a covering a supporting surface. The artificial stone includes a base portion for placement on the supporting surface, which base portion is shaped as a right regular prism for patterned, fitting arrangement of the flagstone with like flagstones to produce a continuous surface covering. The base portion has a regular base contour. The stone further includes a top portion with a facing surface, the facing surface having an irregularly shaped top contour different from the base contour and an intermediate portion connecting the top portion with the base portion. The intermediate portion has an inclined wall extending between the top portion and a sidewall of the base portion. Stones of this construction can easily be arranged in a regular, repeated pattern to generate a continuous covering for the supporting surface without the surface of the resulting covering having a regular, patterned appearance.

Abstract: A stackable concrete wall block is disclosed having a prism shaped body with front, rear top and bottom faces, in a stacked condition, and at least a pair of side walls for placement opposite a like block placed side by side to the wall block, whereby a lip protrudes from at least one of the sidewalls and is coplanar with the front face for spacing the body of the block from that of a like block placed adjacent thereto. As is the case with tapered blocks known in the art, this spacing allows the assembly of curved walls. However, a prism shaped block with parallel side walls and a lip is more easily manufactured than a tapered block with angled side walls, since no movable mold walls are required, when the block is made in a dry casting process. The front face and lip can have an embossed surface structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall, using only blocks which in and of themselves are of insufficient thickness to function as retaining wall blocks. The modular wall includes backer blocks and facing blocks which are connected by connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall can be filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction of retaining walls and freestanding, double sided, decorative walls forming both straight and curved walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a double sided decorative wall using facing panels having a decorative face surface, in particular dry cast concrete panels having a regular surface structure, more preferably an embossed surface, most preferably a patterned surface. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a double sided decorative wall. The facing panels in the wall are stacked in a back-to-back arrangement into a pair of first and second back-to-back walls, which walls are interconnected by connectors which link at least one facing panel in the first wall to at least one facing panel in the second wall for forming the double sided decorative wall. The connecting members can be in individual connectors, or a combination of connectors for linking multiple facing panels or linking facing panels at corners or curves in the wall. The connectors can be of different length to enable the construction of decorative walls of different thickness.

Abstract: An artificial masonry unit suitable for use with a panel made of a compressible material having masonry unit receiving depressions in a front face thereof and protruding ribs defining and bordering the depressions. The depressions are sized to receive respective artificial masonry units in a close-fitting relationship. The artificial masonry unit comprises a body bounded by a front face, a back face, and a lateral face providing a thickness to the unit, and a back peripheral edge joining the back face and the lateral face. A tooth projection is projecting from the lateral face next to and parallel to the back peripheral edge for thrusting into the protruding rib when the masonry unit is inserted in a respective depression. Thanks to the tooth projection that is thrusting into the rib of a respective depression and that helps retaining the masonry unit within the depression prior to mortaring the wall, there is no need for using a mixture of cement to temporarily retain the masonry units within the depression.