Breakwater construction blocks having improved stability against over-turning and pulling-out when struck by natural forces

Abstract

A breakwater construction block design produced with various degrees of stability by reducing the height of the rear leg portions of the blocks, to increase the batter, which automatically provides an increase in the stability of the works. The breakwater construction block provides a significantly higher stability factor against over-turning, or pullout, when compared against the cylinder and upright rectangular blocks now in conventional use. The construction block system of the present invention can eliminate pole failures caused by severe hurricane winds and heavy rain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breakwater construction block formed from molded concrete material for use in constructing erosion-protection structures that break water waves and provide protection against erosion, said breakwater construction block comprising:
 a central trapezoidal core portion of substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional dimensions and having a height-wise dimension and a set of four trapezoidal sidewall surfaces arranged about a central axis extending along said central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block;   a top portion axially extending from said central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block;   a set of four trapezoidal support legs, each said trapezoidal support leg extending from one corner of said central trapezoidal core portion in a radially-extending manner and having a set of trapezoidal leg surfaces; and   a bottom planar portion of substantially planar dimensions, raised off a support surface by a distance determined by the distance that said leg portions extend beyond said bottom planar portion of said central trapezoidal core portion;   wherein a pair of said set of trapezoidal support legs are truncated at their bottom ends, allowing for improved installation along sloped and inclined coastal regions, and providing a significantly higher stability factor against over-turning, or pullout, without effecting the structural integrity of said central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block.   
     
     
         2 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction blocks further comprises a tower portion axially extending from said central trapezoidal core portion and increasing the overall height of said breakwater construction block. 
     
     
         3 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction block comprises a substantially flat top portion extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and on level with the top surface of said trapezoidal leg portions, allowing water to flow freely over the central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block. 
     
     
         4 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction block further comprises a tower-type portion extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond the trapezoidal leg portions for slowing down the flow of water over said central trapezoidal core portion and allowing suspended sand to settle within a system of breakwater construction blocks in which said breakwater construction block is installed. 
     
     
         5 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction block further comprises a medium-height top portion extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for slowing down the flow of water over said central trapezoidal core portion and allowing suspended sand to settle within a system of breakwater construction blocks. 
     
     
         6 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein pass-through channels are formed through said central trapezoidal core portion, and have circular, elliptical or conical cross-sections to provide increased stability in diverse application environments. 
     
     
         7 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion further comprises a tower-type portion being at least ½ the height of said central trapezoidal core portion, extending axially along the central axis of said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for the purpose of breaking up and slowing down the flow of water passing over the central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block. 
     
     
         8 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction block further comprises a short top portion being approximately ¼ the height of said central trapezoidal core portion, extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for breaking up and slowing down the flow of water passing over said central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block. 
     
     
         9 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction block further comprises a medium-height top portion being at least ¼ of said central trapezoidal core portion), extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for slowing down the flow of water over said central trapezoidal core portion and allowing suspended sand to settle within a system of said breakwater construction blocks. 
     
     
         10 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 1 , wherein said central trapezoidal core portion further comprises a recessed surface void formed on the outside rear surface of said central trapezoidal core portion to allow crushed rock in a rock shelf to integrate with an assembly of said breakwater construction blocks. 
     
     
         11 . A breakwater construction block formed from molded concrete material and adapted for use in constructing erosion-protection structures installed along sloped and inclined coastal regions, for breaking water waves and providing protection against erosion, said breakwater construction block comprising:
 a central trapezoidal core portion of substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional dimensions and having a height-wise dimension and a set of four trapezoidal sidewall surfaces arranged about a central axis extending along said central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block;   a top portion axially extending from said central trapezoidal core portion of said breakwater construction block;   only a pair of rear trapezoidal support legs, each said rear trapezoidal support leg extending from one adjacent corner of said central trapezoidal core portion in a radially-extending manner and having a set of trapezoidal leg surfaces; and   a bottom planar portion of substantially planar dimensions, raised off a support surface by a distance determined by the distance that said leg portions extend beyond said bottom planar portion of said central trapezoidal core portion;   wherein said pair of rear trapezoidal support legs do not effect the structural integrity of said central trapezoidal core portion, and allow for improved installation along sloped and inclined coastal regions.   
     
     
         12 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said top portion of said breakwater construction blocks further comprises a tower portion axially extending from said central trapezoidal core portion and increasing the overall height of said breakwater construction block. 
     
     
         13 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said top portion further comprises a tower-type portion extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond the trapezoidal leg portions for slowing down the flow of water over said central trapezoidal core portion and allowing suspended sand to settle within a system of breakwater construction blocks in which said breakwater construction block is installed. 
     
     
         14 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said top portion further comprises a medium-height top portion extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for slowing down the flow of water over said central trapezoidal core portion and allowing suspended sand to settle within a system of breakwater construction blocks. 
     
     
         15 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said top portion further comprises a short top portion at least ¼ the height of said central trapezoidal core portion, extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for breaking up and slowing down the flow of water passing over said central trapezoidal core portion. 
     
     
         16 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said top portion further comprise a substantially flat top portion extending axially from said central trapezoidal core portion and on level with the top surface of said trapezoidal leg portions, for allowing water to flow freely over said central trapezoidal core portion. 
     
     
         17 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said top portion further comprises a medium-height top portion being at least ¼ of said central trapezoidal core portion, extending axially from the central trapezoidal core portion and beyond said trapezoidal leg portions, for slowing down the flow of water over said central trapezoidal core portion and allowing suspended sand to settle within a system of said breakwater construction blocks. 
     
     
         18 . The breakwater construction block of  claim 11 , wherein said central trapezoidal core portion further comprises a recessed surface void formed on the outside rear surface of said central trapezoidal core portion to allow crushed rock in a rock shelf to integrate with an assembly of said breakwater construction blocks.