Retaining wall block system

Abstract

A masonry block, comprising a front face, a rear face disposed opposite the front face, a first side face disposed between the front face and the rear face, a second side face disposed between the front face and the rear face and opposite the first side face, a top face disposed adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face, a bottom face disposed opposite to the top face and adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face and wherein the top face includes a slot extending from the first side face to a point between the first side face and the second side face, the slot including a first sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A masonry block, comprising:
 a front face;   a rear face disposed opposite the front face;   a first side face disposed between the front face and the rear face;   a second side face disposed between the front face and the rear face and opposite the first side face;   a top face disposed adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face;   a bottom face disposed opposite to the top face and adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face; and   wherein the top face includes a slot extending from the first side face to a point between the first side face and the second side face, the slot including a first sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face.   
     
     
         2 . The masonry block of  claim 1  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The masonry block of  claim 1  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot. 
     
     
         4 . The masonry block of  claim 1  further comprising a second sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face. 
     
     
         5 . The masonry block of  claim 4  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the slot, one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the second sub slot. 
     
     
         6 . The masonry block of  claim 1  further comprising a second sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face and parallel to the first sub slot. 
     
     
         7 . The masonry block of  claim 6  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the slot, one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the second sub slot. 
     
     
         8 . The masonry block of  claim 1  further comprising a core disposed in the masonry block. 
     
     
         9 . A wall, comprising:
 a first masonry block having a front face, a rear face disposed opposite the front face, a first side face disposed between the front face and the rear face, a second side face disposed between the front face and the rear face and opposite the first side face, a top face disposed adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face, a bottom face disposed opposite to the top face and adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face and wherein the top face includes a slot extending from the first side face to a point between the first side face and the second side face, the slot including a first sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face;   a second masonry block disposed on top of the first masonry block and having a core; and   a pin disposed in the slot and extending into the core.   
     
     
         10 . The wall of  claim 9  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures in the first masonry block. 
     
     
         11 . The wall of  claim 9  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot. 
     
     
         12 . The wall of  claim 9  further comprising a second sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face. 
     
     
         13 . The wall of  claim 12  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the slot, one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the second sub slot. 
     
     
         14 . The wall of  claim 9  further comprising a second sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face and parallel to the first sub slot. 
     
     
         15 . The wall of  claim 14  further comprising one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the slot, one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the second sub slot. 
     
     
         16 . The wall of  claim 9  further comprising a core disposed in the first masonry block. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a wall, comprising:
 placing a pin in a first block having a front face, a rear face disposed opposite the front face, a first side face disposed between the front face and the rear face, a second side face disposed between the front face and the rear face and opposite the first side face, a top face disposed adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face, a bottom face disposed opposite to the top face and adjacent to the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face and wherein the top face includes a slot extending from the first side face to a point between the first side face and the second side face, the slot including a first sub slot extending orthogonal to the slot in the top face; and   aligning a core of a second block over the pin.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further wherein the pin is placed in a pin-receiving apertures. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the pin is placed in one of a pin-receiving aperture disposed in the slot and one or more pin-receiving apertures disposed in the first sub slot.