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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall block unit comprising:
 a first veneer panel including a first rear face having a first connector channel oriented, upon installation, in a vertical direction from a first bottom face to a first top face of the first veneer panel, wherein the first connector channel is configured to receive a first connector shaft; and   a second veneer panel including a second front face having a second connector channel oriented, upon installation, in the vertical direction from a second bottom face to a second top face of the second veneer panel, wherein the second connector channel is configured to receive a second connector shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector channel extends in the vertical direction on the first rear face of the first veneer panel from a first top face of the first veneer panel to a first bottom face of the first veneer panel, and wherein the second connector channel extends in the vertical direction on the second front face of the second veneer panel from a second top face of the second veneer panel to a second bottom face of the second veneer panel. 
     
     
         3 . The wall block unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first veneer panel further comprises first and second side walls extending from the first top face to the first bottom face. 
     
     
         4 . The wall block unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first veneer panel further comprises a first front face positioned on a side of the first veneer panel opposite the first rear face. 
     
     
         5 . The wall block unit of  claim 4 , wherein the first top face is parallel to the first bottom face, wherein the first front face is parallel to the first rear face. 
     
     
         6 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first side wall includes a first surface portion that angles outward from the first front face and a second surface portion that angles inward from the first surface portion towards the rear face. 
     
     
         7 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first rear face includes projections, valleys, or a combination thereof, wherein the valleys extend in the vertical direction from the first top face to the first bottom face. 
     
     
         8 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first front face has a smaller surface area than a surface area of the first rear face. 
     
     
         9 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first side wall includes a first surface portion that angles inward from the first front face and a second surface portion that angles outward from the first surface portion towards the rear face. 
     
     
         10 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first front face has a smaller surface area than a surface area of the first rear face. 
     
     
         11 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first front face has a larger surface area than a surface area of the first rear face. 
     
     
         12 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first front face includes projections, valleys, or a combination thereof, wherein the valleys extend in the vertical direction from the first top face to the first bottom face. 
     
     
         13 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first front face has a same surface area a surface area of the first rear face. 
     
     
         14 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first front face has a same surface pattern a surface pattern of the first rear face. 
     
     
         15 . The wall block unit of  claim 5 , wherein the connector is disposed within the first connector channel and the second connector channel. 
     
     
         16 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second veneer panels include a concrete material. 
     
     
         17 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second veneer panels include a pre-cast concrete material. 
     
     
         18 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second veneer panels include a polymer material. 
     
     
         19 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second veneer panels include a fiberglass material. 
     
     
         20 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first front face of the first veneer panel and a second rear face of the second veneer panel include a real stone veneer material. 
     
     
         21 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first rear face of the first veneer panel includes a first offset receiving projection or valley configured to set an offset of a second wall block unit placed on top. 
     
     
         22 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second front face of the second veneer panel includes a second offset receiving projection or valley configured to set the offset of the second wall block unit placed on top. 
     
     
         23 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector shaft is offset from the second connector shaft. 
     
     
         24 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge portion connected to the first shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein, upon installation, the first shaft is parallel with the second shaft. 
     
     
         26 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shafts have respective vertical friction ribs, horizontal friction ribs, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The wall block unit of  claim 1 , wherein the respective friction ribs of each of the first and second shafts may be located at different relative positions on the first and second shafts. 
     
     
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