The present invention is directed to a wall system that can be used in numerous different locations as, for example, a fencing structure, a privacy structure and/or a sound barrier structure. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a wall structure utilizing fence brick and post blocks that can be readily constructed by relatively unskilled labors in a far more expeditious and inexpensive manner than prior known walls systems.
Wall systems have commonly utilized brick to form both the fence segments and the post or column segments of the wall system. Brick is utilized because of its durability and aesthetically pleasing appearance. These types of wall systems are used, for example, as privacy structure, fencing structure and/or sound barrier structures. Prior known wall systems utilizing brick for both the fence and column/post segments have a number of inherent disadvantages. First, it takes approximately three hundred and twelve bricks to make one eight-foot column or post. Further, there are ten plumb points for a column made from brick. Accordingly, brick columns or posts are considerably more time consuming and costly to construct. Moreover, because of the large number of plumb points, among other things, brick columns or posts require a more skilled laborer to construct.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages attendant prior wall systems by using specially designed blocks to form the column or post segments of the wall system. The column or posts are formed using a base block, a plurality of column blocks and a column or post cap. The column blocks are specially designed to interlock with the bricks forming the fence segments of the wall system. By using block as opposed to brick, an eight-foot column or post can be constructed using only 12 blocks as opposed to the three hundred and twelve bricks necessary to construct a post or column of a similar height made from brick. Further, there are only two plumb points for a block column as opposed 10 plumb points for a column made from brick. Moreover, the blocks of the present invention are specially designed to receive a leveling device. This feature allows the brick fence segments to be readily assembled in a level fashion.
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unobvious wall system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wall system that overcomes one or more disadvantages of previously known wall systems.
An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a wall system with a column block designed to interconnect at each end with bricks but not blocks.
Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a wall system with a column block that can readily accommodate a leveling device to allow a brick fence segment to be readily assembled in a level fashion.
A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a wall system that can be constructed by relatively unskilled laborers.
Yet another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a wall system that can be constructed in a far more expeditious and inexpensive manner than prior known wall systems.
It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or more of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention.
In summary, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a block for use in constructing a wall system having at least one brick fence segment and at least one block column. The block includes a front face, a rear face, a first end, a second end, a top and a bottom. An opening extends through the center of the block. The opening receives reinforcing structure such as rebar and is filled with grout. A first recess is formed in the first end of the block. The first recess is sized slightly larger than a width of a brick such that the first recess will receive a brick but not a block. A second recess is formed in the second end of the block. The second recess is sized slightly larger than a width of a brick such that the second recess will receive a brick but not a block. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a wall including at least a first brick fence segment. The first brick fence segment is formed from a plurality of bricks adhered together by mortar. The wall system further includes at least a first block column connected to the first brick fence segment. The first block column has a plurality of blocks at least one of which is a column block. The column block has a front face, a rear face, a first end, a second end, a top and a bottom. A first recess is formed in the first end of the at least one of the plurality of blocks. The first recess is sized slightly larger than a width of a first brick of the first brick fence segment such that the first recess receives the first brick of the first brick fence segment. A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a block column for a wall system. The block column includes at least two column blocks stacked one on top of the other. Each of the column blocks has a front face, a rear face, a first end, a second end, a top and a bottom. A grout cavity is formed in each of the column blocks. A first recess is formed in the first end of each of the column blocks. The first recess is sized slightly larger than a width of a brick such that the first recess receives a brick but not a block. A second recess is formed in the second end of each of the column blocks. The second recess is sized slightly larger than a width of a brick such that the second recess will receive a brick but not a block.