Abstract: A retaining wall block having a rear flange and a mold box and method of making the block. The mold box is configured with a mold cavity that includes a vertical flange forming cavity extending from the top of the mold box to the bottom of the mold box.

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. Pre-determined front faces can include front faces having pre-determined patterns and textures, front faces having pre-determined shapes, front faces made from different material(s) than the remainder of the block, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method of constructing walls or fence systems from panels. More particularly, the invention relates to constructing such walls or fence systems wherein a back face of one panel connects to a back face of another panel and further wherein the front faces of the panels have a desirable texture and further wherein a concrete footing of the wall or fence system is poured after courses of panels have been stacked one upon the other.

Abstract: A mat system includes a surface and at least first and second mat units. Each mat unit includes a respective plurality of blocks interlinked by respective cables that pass through the blocks. Each mat unit includes cable loops along at least one side section thereof. The first and second mat units are positioned on the surface in proximity to each other with cable loops of the first mat unit extending toward the second mat unit and cable loops of the second mat unit extending toward the first mat unit. A plurality of interconnecting blocks are positioned between the first mat unit and the second mat unit. Each interconnecting block includes an underside with downwardly open channels formed therein. The cable loops of the first and second mat units are positioned within the channels of the interconnecting blocks to cover the cable loops.

Abstract: A wall block having at least one weight bearing pad on an upper or lower surface of the block and a compression head and methods of making the block and making walls with the block.

Abstract: The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.

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. Pre-determined front faces can include front faces having pre-determined patterns and textures, front faces having pre-determined shapes, front faces made from different material(s) than the remainder of the block, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention is a block splitting machine which uses an assortment of protrusions to supplement or replace the action of the splitting blade in splitting and dressing masonry block.

Abstract: A mold for producing a masonry unit with a roughened texture side surface having a plurality of side walls defining a mold cavity open at its top and bottom, adapted to receive masonry fill material by way of its open top, and to discharge molded fill material in the form of a block of predetermined height by way of its open bottom; and a wedge-shaped lower lip located along the lower edge of at least one of the side walls, and extending into the mold cavity, the lower lip having grooves formed therein which are oriented at an oblique angle to the general direction of movement of concrete fill material through the mold cavity.