초록 ▼

The present invention is a masonry unit, masonry system and method of constructing a structure using the system. In its most basic form, the masonry unit of the present invention includes substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, substantially parallel a front and back surfaces, and substantia

The present invention is a masonry unit, masonry system and method of constructing a structure using the system. In its most basic form, the masonry unit of the present invention includes substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, substantially parallel a front and back surfaces, and substantially parallel right and left surfaces. A locking ridge is disposed upon the top surface and extends along the top surface in substantially parallel relation to the front and back surfaces. A locking channel is disposed with in the bottom surface and is dimensioned to mate with locking ridge on the top surface of an adjoining masonry unit. The locking channel is disposed inward from the bottom surface a distance that is a slightly larger than the distance from the top surface to the top of the ridge. The system includes a primary masonry unit and at least one corner masonry unit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A masonry unit comprising:a top surface;a bottom surface disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said top surface;a front surface;a back surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to said top surface and said bo

1. A masonry unit comprising:a top surface;a bottom surface disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said top surface;a front surface;a back surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to said top surface and said bottom surface;a right surface; anda left surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said right surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to said top surface, said bottom surface, said front surface and said back surface;at least two end openings, said end openings being disposed within said right surface and said left surface in substantially perpendicular relation between said top surface and said bottom surface; anda locking ridge substantially centrally disposed upon said top surface; and extending upward a first distance therefrom, said locking ridge being disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to said right surface and said left surface and in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and said back surface;wherein said bottom surface comprises a substantially centrally disposed locking channel extending upward a second distance therefrom, said locking channel being dimensioned to mate with said locking ridge of said top surface. 2. The masonry unit as claimed in claim 1 comprising five central openings, wherein two central openings are disposed between said locking ridge of said top surface and said front surface, wherein two central openings are disposed between said locking ridge of said top surface and said back surface, and wherein one central opening is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation between said locking ridge said top surface and said locking channel in said bottom surface. 3. The masonry unit as claimed in claim 1;wherein said top surface and said bottom surface are each dimensioned to form a rectangle having a length of about sixteen inches and a width of about twelve inches;wherein said front surface and said back surface are each dimension to form a rectangle having a length of about sixteen inches and a width of about eight inches; andwherein said left surface and said right surface are each dimensioned to form a rectangle having a length of about twelve inches and a width of about eight inches. 4. The masonry unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein said locking ridge extends a first distance from said top surface of about ½ inch and has a width of about 3⅝ inches; and wherein said locking channel extends a second distance of about ⅝ inch and has a width of about 3¾ inches. 5. A masonry system for forming a structure, said system comprising:a plurality of primary masonry units, wherein each of said plurality a primary masonry units comprises:a top surface, a bottom surface disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said top surface, a front surface, a back surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to said top surface and said bottom surface, a right surface, and a left surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said right surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to said top surface, said bottom surface, said front surface an said back surface;a locking ridge disposed upon said top surface, and extending upward a first distance therefrom, said locking ridge being disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to said right surface and said left surface and in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and said back surface; andwherein said bottom surface comprises a locking channel extending upward a second distance therefrom, said channel being dimensioned to mate with said locking ridge of said top surface;a plurality of right corner masonry units, wherein each of said plurality of right corner masonry units comprises:a bottom, a top disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said bottom, an outer side, an inne r side disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said inner side, a first end, a second end disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said first end, and a corner block portion extending outward from said inner side and forming a part of said first end;wherein each of said plurality of right corner masonry units further comprises a locking ridge disposed across at least a portion of said top surface in substantially perpendicular relation to said outer side and said inner side, and a locking channel disposed across at least a portion of said top surface in substantially perpendicular relation to said outer side and said inner side; andwherein said locking ridge is dimensioned and positioned upon said top surface so as to mate with said locking ridge of the primary masonry units disposed above each of said plurality of right corner masonry units, and wherein said locking channel is dimensioned and positioned upon said bottom surface so to mate with said locking ridge of each of said plurality of primary masonry units disposed below each of said plurality of right corner units; anda plurality of left corner masonry units, wherein each of said plurality of right corner masonry units comprises:a bottom, a top disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said bottom, an outer side, an inner side disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said inner side, a first end, a second end disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said first end, and a corner block portion extending outward from said inner side and forming a part of said first end;wherein each of said plurality of said left corner masonry units further comprises a locking ridge disposed across at least a portion of said to surface in substantially perpendicular relation to said outer side and said inner side, and a locking channel disposed across at least a portion of said top surface in substantially perpendicular relation to said outer side and said inner side; andwherein said locking ridge is dimensioned and positioned upon said top surface so as to mate with said locking ridge of each of said plurality of primary masonry units disposed above each of said plurality of left corner masonry units, and wherein said locking channel is dimensioned and positioned upon said bottom surface so as to mate with said locking ridge of each of said plurality of primary masonry units disposed below each of said plurality of left corner masonry unit;wherein said masonry system is adapted to form a structure having an outer surface and an inner surface by stacking alternating courses of primary masonry units and right corner masonry units and courses of primary masonry units and left corner masonry units such that said locking ridges and locking channels of said primary masonry units and said right corner masonry units of one course mate with locking channels and locking ridges of primary masonry units and a left corner masonry units of adjacent courses. 6. The masonry system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a skin of fiberglass and cementicious material disposed upon said outer surface of said structure formed by said masonry system. 7. The masonry system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said corner block portion of said right corner block and said corner block portion of said left corner block each extend outward from said inner side of said right corner block and said left corner a distance sufficient to allow the length of said first end to be substantially equal to a distance between said front surface and said back surface of said primary masonry unit. 8. The masonry system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of end masonry units, wherein each of said end masonry units comprises:a top surface, a bottom surface disposed in substantially parallel relationship to said top surface, a front surface, a back surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to s aid top surface and said bottom surface, a right surface, and a left surface disposed in substantially parallel relation to said right surface and in substantially perpendicular relation to said top surface, said bottom surface, said front surface and said back surface;a locking ridge disposed upon a portion of said top surface, said locking ridge extending upward a first distance from said portion of said top surface in substantially perpendicular relation to said right surface and said left surface and in substantially parallel relation to said front surface and said back surface, andwherein said bottom surface comprises a locking channel extending upward a second distance into a portion of said bottom surface, said locking channel being dimensioned and positioned to mate with said locking ridge of said top surface;wherein said locking ridge and said locking channel do not extend to said first end such that an intersection between said locking ridge and said channel is not visible when viewing said end masonry unit from said first end; andwherein said masonry system is adapted to form a structure having an outer surface and an inner surface by stacking alternating courses of end masonry units, primary masonry units and right corner masonry units with courses of end masonry units, primary masonry units and left corner masonry units such that said locking ridges and locking channels of said end masonry units, said primary masonry units and said right corner masonry units of one course mate with locking channels and locking ridges of end masonry units, primary masonry units and, left corner masonry units of adjacent courses. 9. The masonry system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said primary masonry units, said right corner masonry units and said left corner masonry units further comprises at least two central openings disposed in substantially perpendicular relation between each top surface and said bottom surface. 10. The masonry system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said primary masonry unit comprises five central openings, wherein two central openings are disposed between said locking ridge of said top surface and said front surface, wherein two central openings are disposed between said locking ridge of said top surface and said back surface, and wherein one central opening is disposed in substantially perpendicular relation between said locking ridge on said top surface and said locking channel in said bottom surface. 11. The masonry system as claimed in claim 5;wherein said top surface and said bottom surface of each of said plurality of primary masonry units are each dimensioned to form a rectangle having a length of about sixteen inches and a width of about twelve inches;wherein said front surface and said back surface of each of said plurality of primary masonry units are each dimensioned to form a rectangle having a length of a about sixteen inches and a width of about eight inches; andwherein said left surface and said right surface of each of said plurality of primary masonry units are each dimensioned to form a rectangle having a length of a about twelve inches and a width of about eight inches. 12. The masonry system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said locking ridge of each of said plurality of primary masonry units, said right corner masonry units and said left corner masonry units extends a first distance from said top surface of about ½ inch and has a width of about 3⅝ inches; and wherein said locking channel extends a second distance of about ⅝ inch and has a width of about 3¾ inches. 13. A method of constructing a structure comprising the steps of:obtaining a plurality of primary masonry units, right corner masonry units and left corner masonry units, each of said plurality of primary masonry units, right corner masonry units and left corner masonry units having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and each having a locking ridge extending in substantia lly perpendicular relation to said first end in said second end along at least a portion of said top surface, and a locking channel extending in substantially perpendicular relation to said first end and said second end along at least a portion of said bottom surface;stacking a base course comprising one of said right corner masonry unit and said left corner masonry unit and a plurality of primary masonry units, said stacking step comprising the steps of disposing said first end of one primary masonry unit such that it abuts a second end of an adjacent primary masonry unit and such that said locking ridge and locking channel of one primary masonry unit is aligned with said locking ridge and locking channel of an adjacent primary masonry unit;stacking a second course comprising another of said right corner masonry unit and said left corner masonry unit and a plurality of primary masonry units, said stacking step comprising the steps of disposing said first end of one primary masonry unit such that it abuts a second end of an adjacent primary masonry unit and such that said locking ridge and locking channel of one primary masonry unit is aligned with said locking ridge and locking channel of an adjacent primary masonry unit, and such that each of said locking channels of said second course mate with locking ridges of primary masonry units of said first course;stacking additional courses in alternating relation to form said structure. 14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step of applying a skin of fiberglass and cementicious material to at least one of an outer wall and an inner wall of said structure. 15. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of primary masonry units comprises at least one opening therethrough and wherein said method further comprises the steps of disposing insulation within said at least one opening of each of said plurality of primary masonry units.