Masonry units with a mortar buffer

Abstract

A masonry unit for use in mortared wall structures includes a first surface and a mortar buffer that at least partially surrounds the first surface.

Therefore, having thus described the invention, at least the following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A masonry unit for use in mortared wall structures, said unit comprising: 
 a first surface; and    a mortar buffer that at least partially surrounds the first surface.    
     
     
         2 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the mortar buffer joins the first surface with adjacent surfaces of the masonry unit.  
     
     
         3 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the mortar buffer joins the first surface with adjacent surfaces of the masonry unit at a substantially constant angle of inclination between the first surface and each of the adjacent surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . The unit of  claim 3 , wherein the angle of inclination is approximately thirty degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The unit of  claim 3 , wherein the angle of inclination is approximately forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         6 . The unit of  claim 3 , wherein the angle of inclination is substantially constant in at least one angle of a range of angles that includes approximately 10°-60°.  
     
     
         7 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the mortar buffer is approximately {fraction (7/32)} inches.  
     
     
         8 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the mortar buffer is included in a range extending from approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch to ½ inch.  
     
     
         9 . The unit of  claim 1 , further including an additional mortar buffer surrounding at least another surface of the masonry unit.  
     
     
         10 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a surface that is characterized as being predominantly smooth.  
     
     
         11 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a ground surface.  
     
     
         12 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a surface that is characterized as being polished.  
     
     
         13 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a surface that is characterized as being predominantly rough.  
     
     
         14 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a surface that is characterized as being predominantly shiny.  
     
     
         15 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes at least one of a front surface, a bottom surface, a side surface, a back surface, and a top surface.  
     
     
         16 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the mortar buffer is configured to receive mortar.  
     
     
         17 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface and mortar buffer are included in at least one of a concrete masonry unit, an architectural concrete masonry unit, and a brick.  
     
     
         18 . A masonry unit for use in mortared wall structures, said unit comprising: 
 a front surface;    a back surface opposing the front surface;    a top surface;    a bottom surface opposing the top surface;    a first side surface;    a second side surface opposing the first side surface; and    a mortar buffer that at least partially surrounds the front surface and joins the front surface with the top surface, the bottom surface, and the first and the second side surfaces along a substantially constant angle of inclination between the front surface and each of the top surface, the bottom surface, and the first and the second side surfaces.    
     
     
         19 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the angle of inclination is approximately thirty degrees.  
     
     
         20 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the angle of inclination is approximately forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         21 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the angle of inclination is substantially constant in at least one angle of a range of angles that includes approximately 10 degrees-60 degrees.  
     
     
         22 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the width of the mortar buffer is approximately {fraction (7/32)} inches.  
     
     
         23 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the width of the mortar buffer is included in a range extending from approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch to ½ inch.  
     
     
         24 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the front surface includes a surface that is characterized as being predominantly smooth.  
     
     
         25 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the front surface includes a ground surface.  
     
     
         26 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the front surface includes a surface that is characterized as being polished.  
     
     
         27 . The unit of  claim 26 , wherein the polished surface is produced using a grit level of at least 80.  
     
     
         28 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the front surface includes a surface that is characterized as being predominantly rough.  
     
     
         29 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the front surface includes a surface that is characterized as being predominantly shiny.  
     
     
         30 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the top surface, the bottom surface, the back surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface include an additional mortar buffer.  
     
     
         31 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the mortar buffer is configured to receive mortar.  
     
     
         32 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the front, the back, the top, the bottom, the first side surface, the second side surface, and the mortar buffer are included in at least one of a concrete masonry unit, an architectural concrete masonry unit, and a brick.  
     
     
         33 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the mortar buffer includes surfaces that are planar surfaces.  
     
     
         34 . A wall of masonry units, comprising: 
 a first masonry unit having a first surface at least partially surrounded by a first mortar buffer;    a second masonry unit having a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface of the first masonry unit, wherein the second surface is at least partially surrounded by a second mortar buffer; and    mortar disposed between the first and the second masonry units.    
     
     
         35 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the mortar is further disposed on the first and the second mortar buffer.  
     
     
         36 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first and the second mortar buffers are configured to reduce the spillage of mortar on the first surface and the second surface.  
     
     
         37 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first mortar buffer of the first masonry unit joins the first surface with surfaces of the first masonry unit that are adjacent to the first surface.  
     
     
         38 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first mortar buffer joins the first surface of the first masonry unit with surfaces of the first masonry unit that are adjacent to the first surface at substantially constant angles of inclination between the first surface and each of the adjacent surfaces.  
     
     
         39 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the second mortar buffer joins the second surface with surfaces of the second masonry unit that are adjacent to the second surface.  
     
     
         40 . The wall of  claim 39 , wherein the second mortar buffer joins the second surface with surfaces of the second masonry unit that are adjacent to the second surface at substantially constant angles of inclination between the second surface and each of the adjacent surfaces.  
     
     
         41 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first and the second surface include at least one of a front surface, a side surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a back surface.  
     
     
         42 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are surfaces that are characterized as being predominantly smooth.  
     
     
         43 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are ground surfaces.  
     
     
         44 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are surfaces that are characterized as being polished.  
     
     
         45 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are surfaces that are characterized as being predominantly rough.  
     
     
         46 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are surfaces that are characterized as being predominantly shiny.  
     
     
         47 . The wall of  claim 34 , wherein the first masonry unit and the second masonry unit includes at least one of a concrete masonry unit, an architectural concrete masonry unit, and a brick.