Wall blocks, veneer panels for wall blocks and method of constructing walls

Abstract

Wall blocks, veneers, veneer connectors, walls, and methods of constructing walls are provided. More particularly, the invention relates to constructing walls in which a veneer panel is attached to a wall block with a connector and in which the front faces of the veneers have a desirable texture.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A combination comprising a wall block, a veneer, and a veneer connector, the wall block having a front face, the front face of the wall block having a connector channel for receiving a veneer connector, the veneer having a connector channel for receiving a veneer connector, and a veneer connector disposed within the wall block connector channel and the veneer connector channel, wherein the veneer comprises parallel top and bottom faces, parallel front and rear faces, and first and second side surfaces, the first side surface having a first surface portion which angles outward from the front face and a second surface portion which angles inward from the first surface portion towards the rear face. 
     
     
         3 . A combination comprising a wall block, a veneer, and a veneer connector, the wall block having a front face, the front face of the wall block having a connector channel for receiving a veneer connector, the veneer having a connector channel for receiving a veneer connector, and a veneer connector disposed within the wall block connector channel and the veneer connector channel, wherein the veneer comprises parallel top and bottom faces, front and rear faces, and first and second side surfaces, the rear face of the veneer having projections and valleys, the valleys extending from the top to the bottom faces. 
     
     
         4 . A veneer connector comprising:
 a first shaft and second shaft, the first shaft being attached to the second shaft by a bridge portion, the first and second shafts being parallel to each other; and   the first and second shafts each having vertical friction ribs and horizontal friction ribs located at different portions of each shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The veneer connector of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second shafts are offset from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The veneer connector of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second shafts are the same length. 
     
     
         7 . The veneer connector of  claim 6 , wherein the bridge portion is substantially planar. 
     
     
         8 . The veneer connector of  claim 7 , wherein the vertical friction ribs of the first shaft point in the opposite direction as the vertical friction ribs of the second shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The veneer connector of  claim 5 , wherein the first shaft is longer than the second shaft and includes a projection that can function as a pin. 
     
     
         10 . A veneer connector comprising:
 a first shaft and second shaft, the first shaft being attached to the second shaft by a bridge portion, the first and second shafts being parallel to each other;   the first and second shafts each having vertical friction ribs, the first and second shafts not being offset from each other, the first and second shafts being the same length, and the bridge portion being substantially planar.   
     
     
         11 . A veneer connector comprising a shaft and bifurcated horizontal prongs that extend from the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The veneer connector of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft has upper, middle, and lower portions, the upper and lower portions having horizontal friction ribs, and the middle portion having bifurcated horizontal prongs. 
     
     
         13 . The veneer connector of  claim 11 , wherein the bifurcated horizontal prongs comprise tabs at ends of the prongs. 
     
     
         14 . The veneer connector of  claim 12 , wherein the bifurcated horizontal prongs comprise tabs at ends of the prongs.