Skirting wall system

Abstract

A wall system suitable for use with an elevated structure. The wall system includes a plurality of blocks arranged in multiple courses to include a top course and a bottom course. At least one angled bracket has one portion positioned to restrainably engage a vertical face of at least one block in the top course with another portion affixed to an elevated structure. An elongated base member of generally right angle configuration supports and restrains the lower course of blocks; and a plurality of foot pads may be spaced along the ground with the base member spanning and resting upon at least two of the foot pads.

1 . A wall system suitable for use with an elevated structure, the wall system comprising: 
 a plurality of blocks arranged in multiple courses including a top course and a bottom course, each of the blocks comprising a vertical front face, a vertical rear face, a bottom surface, a top surface and opposed side surfaces; and    at least one bracket comprising two portions angularly oriented with respect to each other, one of said portions being constructed and arranged for attachment to an elevated structure and the other of said portions being constructed and arranged to restrainably engage one vertical face of a block in the top course.    
   
   
       2 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the other one of said bracket portions is constructed and arranged to engage the vertical rear face of a block in the top course.    
   
   
       3 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the two bracket portions are oriented at generally right angles to each other.    
   
   
       4 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the bracket is of generally U-shape and further comprises a third portion, with said one of said bracket portions extending horizontally to form the base of the “U” and said other of said bracket portions and said third portion comprising the legs of the “U”.    
   
   
       5 . The wall system of  claim 1  and further including: 
 an elongated base member having an upper surface constructed and arranged to receive one or more blocks of the bottom course of blocks thereon.    
   
   
       6 . The wall system of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the base member is of generally right angle configuration comprising a vertically oriented side wall extending generally at a right angle to the upper surface of the base member, the side wall configured and arranged to be located adjacent to the vertical face of blocks in the lower course of blocks, whereby the bracket and the base member cooperate in stabilizing the block courses and in resisting tipping and shifting of the blocks.    
   
   
       7 . The wall system of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the vertically extending side wall of the base member is constructed and arranged to restrainably engage the vertical rear face of a plurality of blocks in the lower course.    
   
   
       8 . The wall system of  claim 5  and further including: 
 a plurality of foot pads; and    wherein the base member spans and is supported by at least two of the foot pads.    
   
   
       9 . A wall system suitable for use with an elevated structure, the wall system comprising: 
 a plurality of blocks arranged in multiple courses including a top course and a bottom course, each of the blocks comprising a front vertical face, a rear vertical face, a bottom surface, a top surface and opposed side surfaces; and    an elongated base member of generally right angle shape defining a horizontally extending portion having an upper surface constructed and arranged to receive and substantially support a plurality of blocks in the bottom course thereon, and a vertically extending portion constructed and arranged to restrainably engage the vertical face of a plurality of blocks in the bottom course.    
   
   
       10 . The wall system of  claim 9  and further including: 
 at least one bracket comprising two segments angularly disposed to each other, one of the segments being constructed and arranged for attachment to an elevated structure and the other segment being constructed and arranged to restrainably engage one vertical face of a block in the top course.    
   
   
       11 . The wall system of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the other segment of the bracket is arranged for engagement by the rear vertical face of a block in the top course.    
   
   
       12 . The wall system of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the two bracket portions are disposed at generally right angles to each other.    
   
   
       13 . The wall system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the vertically extending portion of the base member is constructed and arranged to restrainably engage the rear vertical face of a plurality of blocks in the bottom course.    
   
   
       14 . A method of constructing a skirting wall for an elevated structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing: 
 a plurality of blocks, with each block having a vertical front face, a vertical rear face, a bottom-surface, a top surface and opposed side surfaces;  
 at least one bracket having a structure engaging portion and a block engaging portion;  
   b. arranging the blocks in multiple, horizontally extending courses one on top of the other, with a bottom course and a top course;    c. positioning the block engaging portion of the bracket so that it may bear against a vertical face of at lease one block in the top course; and    d. attaching the structure engaging portion of the bracket to the elevated structure, whereby the bracket stabilizes the wall while permitting vertical movement of the wall relative to the bracket.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the block engaging portion of the bracket is positioned to bear against the vertical rear face of at least one block in the top course.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of arranging the blocks in multiple, horizontally extending courses one on top of the other, with the bottom course and a top course, is preceded by the steps of: 
 e. providing an elongated base member of generally right angle configuration defining a horizontally extending portion having an upper surface and a vertically extending portion; and    f. positioning the elongated base member so that the upper surface may receive and substantially support one or more blocks in a bottom course and so that the vertically extending portion may restrainably engage a vertical face of one or more blocks in the bottom course.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein: 
 the vertically extending portion of the base member is arranged so that it may bear against the vertical, rear face of one or more blocks in the bottom course.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the steps: of providing an elongated base member of generally right angle configuration defining a horizontally extending portion having an upper surface and a vertically extending portion; and positioning the elongated base member so that the upper surface may receive and substantially support one or more blocks in a bottom course and so that the vertically extending portion may restrainably engage a vertical face of one or more blocks in the bottom course are preceded by the step of: 
 g. placing a plurality of foot pads at predetermined locations below the elevated structure so that they are in a position to be able to support an elongated base member.    
   
   
       19 . A method of constructing a skirting wall for an elevated structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing: 
 a plurality of blocks, with each block having a vertical front face, a vertical rear face, a bottom surface, a top surface and opposed side surfaces;  
 at least one bracket having a structure engaging portion and a block engaging portion;  
 an elongated base member of generally right angle configuration defining a horizontally extending portion having an upper surface and a vertically extending portion;  
   b. positioning the elongated base member so that the upper surface may receive and substantially support one or more blocks in a bottom course and so that the vertically extending portion may restrainably engage a vertical face of one or more blocks in the bottom course; and    c. arranging the blocks in multiple, horizontally extending courses one on top of the other to form a bottom course and a top course, with the bottom course being substantially supported by the base member.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of: 
 d. attaching the bracket to the structure so that the block engaging portion is able to bear against a vertical face of at least one block in the top course, whereby the bracket stabilizes the wall while permitting vertical movement of the wall relative to the bracket.    
   
   
       21 . A method of constructing a skirting wall for an elevated structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing: 
 a plurality of blocks, with each block having a vertical front face, a vertical rear face, a bottom surface, a top surface and opposed side surfaces;  
 at least one bracket having a structure engaging portion and a block engaging portion;  
 an elongated base member of generally right angle configuration defining a horizontally extending portion having an upper surface and a vertically extending portion;  
 a plurality of foot pads, with each foot pad having an elongated base member supporting surface;  
   b. positioning the plurality of foot pads at predetermined locations below the elevated structure;    c. positioning the elongated base member on the plurality of foot pads so that the upper surface may receive and substantially support one or more blocks in a bottom course and so that the vertically extending portion may restrainably engage a vertical face of one or more blocks in the bottom course; and    d. arranging the blocks in multiple, horizontally extending courses one on top of the other to form a bottom course and a top course, with the bottom course being substantially supported by the base member.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of: 
 e. attaching the bracket to the structure so that the block engaging portion is able to bear against a vertical face of at least one block in the top course, whereby the bracket stabilizes the wall while permitting vertical movement of the wall relative to the bracket.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of arranging the blocks in multiple, horizontally extending courses one on top of the other to form a bottom course and a top course, further comprises the step of attaching a bracket to the structure prior to adding the top course of blocks.