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 . A system for cladding a vertical support post, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of 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; and,  
   a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks comprising: 
 an angularly segmented front face;  
 an angularly segmented 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;  
 first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side surface extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam;  
   wherein said blocks are arranged into a plurality of columns about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment; and,    wherein said beams are positioned between said side surfaces of adjacent columns such that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;    whereby vertically adjacent blocks are arranged into columns and stabilized, and adjacent columns are operatively connected to each other to form a cladding structure for the support post.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said 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 portion of beam is attached to the vertical support post.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising adhesive material positioned between at least two adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said blocks comprise composite masonry material.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the angularly segmented front face of at least one block comprises a split face.  
   
   
       11 . A system for cladding a vertical support post, the system, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of 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;  
 first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam; and,  
   at least one bracket comprising a beam connecting portion and a support beam attaching portion;    wherein said blocks are arranged into a plurality of columns about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;    wherein said beams are positioned between said side surfaces of adjacent columns such that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;    wherein portions of at least one of the beams is slidingly connected to said support beam attaching portion of said bracket; and,    wherein said bracket is attached to the support post;    whereby vertically adjacent blocks are arranged into stabilized columns, adjacent columns are operatively connected to each other to form a cladding structure, and the cladding structure is connected to the support post.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second side surfaces are generally planar and non-parallel.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each said 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.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  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.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13  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.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each elongate rib of said first pair of elongate ribs further comprises an angled flange for guiding said elongate ribs into said recesses.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one portion of beam is attached to the vertical support post.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising adhesive material positioned between at least two adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       19 . A system for cladding a vertical, load bearing support post of an elevated structure, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of 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 composite masonry 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;  
 first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess configured to receive a portion of an elongate rib of a support beam; and,  
   a bracket comprising a beam connecting portion and a support beam attaching portion;    wherein said blocks are arranged into a plurality of columns about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;    wherein said beams are positioned between said side surfaces of adjacent columns such that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses;    wherein portions of at least one of the beams is slidingly connected to said bracket; and,    wherein said bracket is attached to the support post;    whereby vertically adjacent blocks are arranged into stabilized columns, adjacent columns are operatively connected to each other to form a cladding structure, and the cladding structure is connected to the support post.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one composite masonry block comprises an angularly segmented front face.  
   
   
       21 . A method of cladding a vertical, load bearing support post of an elevated structure, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a plurality of blocks, with each block comprising: an angularly segmented front face; an angularly segmented 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; and, first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side surface extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess located between the front and rear surfaces;    b. providing at least one beam, with the 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;    c. arranging the blocks about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment;    d. positioning the beam so that portions of said oppositely extending elongate ribs are able to be positioned in respective recesses; and,    e. connecting at least one beam to the support post.    
   
   
       22 . A method of cladding a vertical, load bearing support post of an elevated structure, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a plurality of blocks, with each block comprising: an angularly segmented front face; an angularly segmented 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; and, first and second side surfaces spaced from each other, with each side surface extending from the front face to the rear face and from the top surface to the bottom surface of said block, and with each side surface having a recess located between the front and rear surfaces;    b. arranging the blocks in a first horizontal course about the support post such that side surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks confront each other and their respective recesses are in general alignment; and,    c. securing a second horizontal course of blocks to the first horizontal course of blocks.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of securing a second horizontal course of blocks to the first horizontal course of blocks comprises the step of positioning adhesive material between the top surface of at least one block of the first horizontal course of blocks and the bottom surface of at least on block of the second horizontal course of blocks.