Wall system

Abstract

The present invention relates to decorative and structural blocks designed to be installed as skirting structures for buildings, elevated structures and structural elements such as posts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system that uses specifically designed and manufactured masonry blocks that are used in conjunction with specifically designed support beams and/or brackets to provide durable, attractive, easy to assemble surfaces or skirting structures. The blocks are shaped to be stacked in vertically independent, self-supporting columns, strengthened and linked together by specially shaped, lightweight, lateral support beams positioned between adjacent columns, and which may be attached directly or indirectly to a sub-structure.

1 . An elevated platform skirting wall system, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of support beams, with each beam comprising: 
 an elongate web; and,  
 a first pair of elongate ribs integrally formed with and extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions;  
   a plurality of blocks arranged in columns, each of said blocks comprising: 
 a front face;  
 a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;  
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, said bottom surface supported by the top surface of a lower block in the same column as said block, such that a relatively coplanar, vertical relationship results between said block and the lower block;  
 side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block, with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam;  
   wherein pluralities of said blocks are arranged into a plurality of vertically adjacent columns to form said skirting wall such that said side surfaces of said vertically adjacent columns oppose each other; and,    wherein said support beams are positioned between said vertically adjacent columns such that portions of said elongate ribs reside in said recesses, thereby providing support to said vertically adjacent columns in directions not coplanar with said skirting wall.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said support beam further comprises a second pair of elongate ribs extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions, with said first pair of elongate ribs spaced from said second pair of elongate ribs by a distance defining the span of said elongate ribs.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said span of said elongate ribs is at least as great as a distance measured between said recesses of said side surfaces, and said rear face of each of said plurality of blocks.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said span of said elongate ribs is less than a distance measured between said recesses of said side surfaces, and said rear face of each of said plurality of blocks, and wherein at least one of said pairs of elongate ribs is resiliently deformable such that when support beams are positioned between said vertically adjacent columns, at least one elongate rib of said pair of resiliently deformable elongate ribs deforms, thereby increasing said span to at least as great as said distance between said recesses and said rear face of each of said plurality of blocks.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each elongate rib of said first pair of elongate ribs further comprises an angled flange for guiding said elongate ribs into said recesses.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said support beam further comprises an odd number of elongate ribs extending from said web.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said support beam further comprises a third elongated rib which is offset from and generally parallel to said first pair of elongate ribs.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said block front face further comprises a split face.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each said block front face further comprises at least one splitting recess.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said blocks comprise composite masonry material.  
   
   
       11 . An elevated platform skirting wall system, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of support beams, with each beam comprising: 
 an elongate web; and,  
 a first pair of elongate ribs integrally formed with and extending away from said elongate web in generally opposite directions;  
   a plurality of blocks arranged in columns, each of said blocks comprising: 
 a front face;  
 a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;  
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, said bottom surface supported by the top surface of a lower block in the same column as said block, such that a relatively coplanar, vertical relationship results between said block and the lower block;  
 side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block, with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam; and,  
   a bracket comprising: 
 an attachment portion; and,  
 a contact portion extending from said attachment portion;  
   wherein pluralities of said blocks are arranged into a plurality of vertically adjacent columns to form said skirting wall having said side surfaces of said vertically adjacent columns oppose each other;    wherein said support beams are positioned between said vertically adjacent columns such that portions of said elongate ribs reside in said recesses, thereby providing support to said vertically adjacent columns in directions not coplanar with said skirting wall; and,    wherein said attachment portion of said bracket is positioned and secured to said platform such that the contact portion is able to engage a portion of block a skirting wall and prevent the skirting wall from moving therepast.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said contact portion of said bracket engages a portion of the rear surface of a block in a skirting wall.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1   1 , wherein said contact portion of said bracket engages the front surface of a block in a skirting wall.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a second bracket, with said second bracket comprising: 
 an attachment portion; and,    a contact portion extending from said attachment portion,    wherein said attachment portion of said second bracket is positioned and secured to said platform such that the second contact portion is spaced from and generally parallel to the first contact portion of the first bracket, and the first and second contact portions of the respective first and second brackets are able to engage a skirting wall and prevent it from tipping over.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said blocks comprise composite masonry material.  
   
   
       16 . An elevated platform skirting wall system, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of blocks arranged in columns, each of said blocks comprising: 
 a front face;  
 a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block;  
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, said bottom surface supported by the top surface of a lower block in the same column as said block, such that a relatively coplanar, vertical relationship results between said block and the lower block;  
 side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block; and,  
   adhesive material;    wherein pluralities of said blocks are arranged into a plurality of vertically adjacent columns to form said skirting wall having said side surfaces of said vertically adjacent columns oppose each other; and,    wherein said adhesive material is positioned between the side surfaces of said vertically adjacent columns, said adhesive material operatively connecting said vertically adjacent columns to each other to form the skirting wall structure.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said vertically adjacent columns are angled with respect to each other.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: a bracket comprising: 
 an attachment portion; and,    a contact portion extending from said attachment portion;    wherein said attachment portion of said bracket is positioned and secured to said platform such that the contact portion is able to engage a portion of block at least one of the vertically adjacent columns and prevent the at least one vertically adjacent column from moving therepast.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the side surfaces of said blocks comprises a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the elevated platform comprises a deck.