Thin wall veneer brick and manufacturing assembly therefor

Abstract

A brick having a peripheral shoulder defining a flange allowing fasteners to be inserted therein when two adjacent bricks have facing indentations is described herein. The peripheral shoulder of the bricks allows mortar to be inserted therein to create a conventional brick look and to hide the fasteners. The shoulder is optionally provided with indentations allowing fasteners therethrough. Also described herein is a machine to manufacture such bricks.

1 . A thin brick comprising:
 a generally rectangular body having a first thickness; the rectangular body defining four sides; and   a flange provided on at least two of the four sides of the generally rectangular body and integral therewith for receiving at least one fastener for mounting the brick to a wall substrate; the flange having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness to allow the flange and the at least one fastener to be covered.   
     
     
         2 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flange is provided on the four sides of the generally rectangular body. 
     
     
         3 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the flange is so configured as to be covered by mortar. 
     
     
         4 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flange is provided on two contiguous sides of the four sides of the generally rectangular body, the thin brick further comprising an overhang provided on the other two contiguous sides; the overhang being so configured and sized as to cover the flange of adjacent bricks when mounted to a wall substrate. 
     
     
         5 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flange includes at least one indentation so configured and sized as to receive a fastener therein. 
     
     
         6 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one indentation includes two indentations on each of the at least two of the four sides of the generally rectangular body. 
     
     
         7 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the generally rectangular body has four corners and wherein each indentation is located at the same distance from a respective corner of the generally rectangular body. 
     
     
         8 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flange has a width and wherein the distance between adjacent installed bricks is defined by the width of the flange. 
     
     
         9 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flange has edges provided with a chamfer. 
     
     
         10 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the thin brick is made of concrete. 
     
     
         11 . A thin brick as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the generally rectangular body includes a textured face.