US20160097198A1

US20160097198A1 - Block and Method for Constructing a Decorative Wall

Info

Publication number: US20160097198A1
Application number: US14/819,864
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory C. Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-06
Filing date: 2015-08-06
Publication date: 2016-04-07

Abstract

A block and method for constructing a decorative wall includes a plurality of substrate blocks each having one or more grooved or roughened surfaces for receiving a deformable adhesive member that secures an ornamental member to the substrate blocks. The decorative wall includes a predetermined configuration formed from a plurality of substrate blocks that include one or more predetermined configurations that enable a person to build a decorative wall, which can include one or more bends.

Description

This Utility Application is based on Provisional Application No. 61/999,786, filed on Aug. 6, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a block and method for constructing a decorative wall from a plurality of substrate blocks with or without mortar (“dry stacking”), and more particularly, to a plurality of stacked rigid or flexible building blocks that can be configured to cooperate to form a structure that receives a deformable material such as concrete, mortar or grout thereupon to form a predetermined visual display that ultimately transforms into a non-deformable visual display for viewing indoors or outside and exposed to the elements.
The blocks for constructing the structure include one or more grooved or “roughened” surfaces that receive a deformable adhesive member that secures an ornamental member to the substrate blocks to ultimately form a decorative wall. The decorative wall can be formed into a myriad of configurations that can include a series of bends that will cooperate with an undulating landscape.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Decorative walls for indoor and/or outdoor displays are common for both private and commercial locations. Prior art walls are fabricated from blocks that include relatively smooth surfaces that are not conducive for securing an adhesive when a respective surface is disposed in a substantially vertical plane. To enable an adhesive to be secured to the respective vertical surface, a “fence-type” or similar multiple aperture element is attached to the surface of the blocks that will receive the adhesive, thereby enabling the adhesive to be secured to the plurality of blocks such that the adhesive can ultimately receive and support the ornamental member until the adhesive hardens to permanently position the ornamental member upon the block structure.
The disadvantages of the prior art blocks and methods for constructing a decorative wall from a plurality of substrate blocks is that they require added elements or parts to enable an adhesive to be vertically retained upon the blocks; add labor and material costs to attach the added elements or parts to the blocks; and result in a relatively large amount of adhesive waste that must be disposed off.
A need exists for a block and method for constructing a decorative wall that includes a plurality of blocks having multiple horizontal recesses in vertically orientated surfaces of the blocks. A need further exists for the blocks to be relatively light weight and stackable without using mortar or similar binding material when the wall includes a relatively short vertical elevation; or if the elevation of the wall is relatively high, then the blocks need to include a recess on a top horizontal surface for receiving mortar or similar binding material to stabilize the blocks when assembled to form a structure for the decorative wall.
Further, in the event that the intended decorative wall is changed, a need exists for a device and method that is quickly and inexpensively modified to form a re-configured structure corresponding to the re-designed wall dimensions and decorations. A block and method that can be quickly and inexpensively modified would promote a re-configured structure that would receive the deformable material thereupon to secure the wall decorations thereto, resulting in a rigid decorative wall after the adhesive transforms into a rigid non-deformable material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome many of the disadvantages associated with prior art blocks for constructing a decorative wall. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive block for building a structure or wall that receives and supports an adhesive that maintains the position of a decoration upon the structure until the adhesive becomes rigid, whereupon, the position of the decoration is permanently maintained. A feature of the block is that a relatively light-weight, inexpensive material such as Styrofoam, plastics, rubber and the like is used to fabricate the block. Another feature of the block is that a relatively heavy material such as concrete can be used to fabricate the block to provide stability to the structure or wall when reaching relatively tall vertical heights or exposed to relatively strong winds. Yet another feature of the block is that the blocks include a plurality of recesses in at least one longitudinal, vertically orientated side wall. An advantage of the blocks is that the they can be manually carried and positioned to form a predetermined structure. Another advantage of the blocks is that they can receive and retain an adhesive material in the recesses to enable the adhesive material to be spread across and cover the vertically orientated side wall to ultimately form a relatively thick layer of adhesive material across the entire side wall of the block. Still another advantage of the block is that the layer of adhesive material can receive and retain a selected position for a predetermined decoration that is manually urged into the adhesive material, which ultimately becomes rigid to permanently retain the position of the decoration.
Another object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive method for building a structure or wall from blocks that receive and support an adhesive that maintains decorations upon the structure until the adhesive becomes rigid, whereupon, the position of the decoration is permanently maintained. A feature of the method is that the wall can be assembled with or without mortar or similar binding material. If the blocks used to construct the wall are fabricated from a light weight material and wall is relative short in height, then the wall can be assembled from the light weight blocks without mortar, because the adhesive material that is ultimately applied upon the surface or surfaces of the assembled wall is sufficient to bind and maintain the positions of the blocks together with a decorative member that is manually urged into the adhesive material after the adhesive material has somewhat hardened (“set-up”) to provide the rigidity required to support the decorative member. An advantage of the method is that by assembling the wall without mortar, material and labor costs are reduced while maintaining structural integrity via the adhesive covering the wall.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method to manufacture light-weight or relatively heavy blocks that maintain the relative position of an adhesive material applied to substantially vertical walls of the blocks assembled to form a wall or similar structure. A feature of the method is to provide a plurality of apertures in the respective vertical walls of the assembled blocks that receive the adhesive material such that a layer having a predetermined thickness is applied across the entire surface of the constructed wall that ultimately receives decorative members thereupon. An advantage of the method is that the apertures maintain the position of the relatively deformable adhesive material upon the block surfaces after the material is disposed upon the vertical block surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing invention and its advantages may be readily appreciated from the following Detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an assembled decorative wall (without an adhesive or decoration member secured thereto) of substrate blocks in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an end portion of a substrate block with an adhesive member applied thereto and with an ornamental member secured to the adhesive member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a substrate block depicting multiple recesses therein.

FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of the substrate block of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 a is a bottom elevation view of the substrate block of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 b is a perspective view of the substrate block of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 c is a second end elevation view of the substrate block of FIG. 4 b.

FIG. 5 is a right end view of a portion of FIG. 3 depicting square recesses in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a modified right end view of a portion of FIG. 3 depicting trapezoid recesses in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a modified right end view of a portion of FIG. 3 depicting trapezoid recesses with a modified configuration when compared to the recesses of FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a substrate block with first and second side walls having different longitudinal dimensions in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a modified right end view of a portion of FIG. 3 depicting a curve or wave configuration for the recesses.

FIG. 10 is a modified right end view of a portion of FIG. 3 depicting triangular configuration for the recesses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a decorative wall 10 is constructed in accordance with the present invention, from a plurality of substrate blocks 12 having one or more grooved or non-planar surfaces 14 for receiving a deformable adhesive material or member 16 that secures an ornamental or decoration member 18 to the substrate blocks 12. The decorative wall 10 includes a predetermined configuration formed from a plurality of substrate blocks 12 dimensioned to construct a wall that provides a foundation that receives a deformable adhesive member 16 uniformly across block surfaces, such that a person can manually urge decorative members 18 into the deformable adhesive member 16, whereupon, the decorative members 18 retain their respective positions upon the wall until the adhesive material hardens 16, thereby permanently maintaining the position of the decorative members 18 on the wall 10.
As an alternative to the decorative member 18, the adhesive material 16 can be allowed to Solidify without inserting decorative members 18 therein. After hardening, a diamond cutting device, well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, can be used to cut or otherwise configure the hardened adhesive material 16 into designs or figures on the visible surface of the decorative wall 10. Irrespective of a decorative member 18 or a cutting device being used to decorate the wall by inserting the member 18 into the material 16 or cutting designs into the material 16, the adhesive material 16 can be used as a binding agent to reinforce the structural integrity of the wall 10 by applying the material 16 upon substantially all surfaces of each exposed surface of each block 12 used to construct the wall 10.
The plurality of substrate blocks 12 can be individually joined without mortar or “dry-stacked” when using light-weight blocks 12 to construct a relatively “short” wall 10. Alternatively, the plurality of blocks 12 can be joined together by mortar 19 or similar binding compound when assembling heavy blocks or constructing a relatively “tall” wall 10 or when strong winds engage a decorative wall 10 disposed outdoors. Further, instead of mortar 19, a tongue and groove configuration (not depicted) can be utilized to secure the blocks 12 together. Alternatively, a binding compound 19 may be incorporated with selected substrate blocks 12 during the construction of the decorative wall 10 as the person assembling the wall 10 determines is necessary. A preferred binding compound 19 is a low viscosity grout slurry mix including 70% twenty mesh high quartz sand or torpedo sand, 30% Portland type I cement, 0.06% BASF 2651 super plasticizer and a water addition of 40% of cement weight. The ornamental member 18 includes but is not limited to cultured stone, natural stone, plaster, tile, vertical concrete and a myriad of other ornate finishing products.
The substrate blocks 12 include the standard dimensions of 16″×8″×8″ with two substantially square configured apertures therethrough, when taking a top elevation view, and are fabricated form a myriad of materials, including but not limited to cinder block, polymer foam, concrete, grout, composite concrete, lightweight concrete, clay, slate, brick and combinations thereof, so long as the material adheres to the binding compound. Further, the substrate blocks 12 can have a solid construction or one or more apertures with varying configurations. The adhesive member 16 that is applied to the rough surfaces 12 of the blocks 12, includes but is not limited to a polymer modified mortar, polyvinyl acetate, type N mortar or type S mortar.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the substrate blocks 12 include one or more vertical, longitudinal walls 20 with recesses 24 therein. The recesses can be molded, cut into the blocks 12 (via a diamond cutting device), or otherwise formed into the blocks 12 via processes well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A first or visible vertical, longitudinal wall 22 includes a plurality of horizontally disposed recesses 24 therein such that each recess 24 is separated substantially about one-fourth of an inch. The recesses 24 have a substantially square configuration (FIG. 5) when taking a right side elevation view of a block 12 (FIG. 3). The substantially square configuration of the recesses 24, when taking a side elevation view of a block 12, includes three side walls 26, 28 and 29 having lateral dimensions of substantially about one-fourth of an inch. The adhesive member 16 is ultimately disposed in all of the recesses 24 and upon the block surface 30 between adjacent recesses 24, such that the adhesive member 16 covers the entire surface of the block 12. The recesses 24 filled with the adhesive member 16 maintain the position of the adhesive member 16 disposed upon the entire surface 14 of the first block 20. The adhesive member 16 eventually sets-up or otherwise becomes sufficiently firm to allow the ornamental or decorative member 18 to be partially inserted into the adhesive member 16, thereby securing the ornamental member 18 to the respective block 12, whereupon, the adhesive member 16 application method is duplicated for the remaining substrate blocks 12 in the decorative wall 10.
The recesses 24 can vary in configuration from substantially rectangular to trapezoid, when taking a right side elevation view (FIG. 6) of a block 12 (FIG. 3). The trapezoid configuration includes a base wall 32 that forms angles 33 with two side walls 34, the angles 33 measuring ninety-three degrees or less (see FIG. 6). Preferred angles 35 formed by a base wall 36 and two side walls 38 measure substantially about eighty-eight degrees (see FIG. 7). Irrespective of the recess 24 configuration, the recesses are horizontally disposed and separated a constant predetermined distance across the entire surface of the roughened walls 14. The preferred distance separating the recesses 24 is substantially about one-fourth of an inch, however, depending on the quantity and relative viscosity of the adhesive material 16 applied to the blocks 12, the distance of separation between recesses 24 will be less for a relatively less viscous or “thinner” adhesive 16, and a greater distance of separation for a relatively more viscous or “thicker” adhesive 16. Irrespective of the recess configuration, the preferred dimensions for the base walls and the side walls will be substantially about one-fourth of an inch in length, but again, depending upon the quantity and relative viscosity of the adhesive material 16, the base and side wall lengths will increase with a less viscous material 16 or relatively large quantity of material 16, and decrease with a smaller quantity or more viscous material 16 applied to the recesses 24. The lengths of the bases and walls for the trapezoid configurations of FIGS. 6 and 7 will be slightly longer than one-quarter of an inch when compared to the rectangular configured recesses 24 with both configurations receiving the same quantity and viscosity of adhesive material 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, 4 a, 4 b and 4 c, the substrate blocks 12 can be of solid construction or can include at least one vertically disposed aperture 40 and preferably two apertures 40 that extend from a top wall 42 to a bottom wall 44 of the blocks 12. Further, the substrate blocks 12 can include only a horizontal aperture 45 extending from a first end wall 46 to a second end wall 48. Alternatively, the substrate blocks can include both vertical and horizontal apertures 40 and 45 extending from top to bottom walls (42 and 44) and from first to second end walls (46 and 48), respectively.
The substrate blocks 12 include a plurality of upper interlocking tabs 50 integrally joined to an upper wall edge portion 52 of the vertically disposed apertures 40. The plurality of interlocking upper tabs 50 of the blocks 12 are disposed angularly upward to engage a lower wall edge portion 54 of a corresponding upper substrate block 56 disposed upon one or more a blocks 12. The plurality upper interlocking tabs 50 engage the lower wall edge portion 54 of the corresponding upper block 56 such that the upper block 56 is removably secured to the block 12. The upper block 56 has a plurality of lower interlocking tabs 58 integrally joined to the lower wall edge portion 54 such that the plurality of lower interlocking tabs 58 are disposed angularly downward to engage the upper wall edge portion 52 of a corresponding block 12 without engaging any of the plurality of upper tabs 50 integrally joined to the upper wall edge portion 52 of the block 12.
The substrate blocks 12 include a plurality of lower interlocking tabs 58 integrally joined to a lower wall edge portion 54 of the vertically disposed apertures 40. The plurality of lower interlocking tabs 58 of the blocks 12 are disposed angularly downward to engage an upper wall edge portion of a cooperating aperture in a corresponding lower block 62 disposed underneath and supporting a respective block 12. The lower interlocking tabs 58 engage the congruently aligned upper wall edge portion 52 of the aperture 40 of the corresponding lower block 62 such that the block 12 is removably secured to the lower block 62. The lower block 62 has a plurality of upper interlocking tabs 50 integrally joined to the upper wall edge portion 52 such that the plurality of upper interlocking tabs 50 are disposed angularly upward to engage the lower wall edge portion 54 of the corresponding block 12 without engaging any of the plurality of lower tabs 58 integrally joined to the lower wall edge portion 54 of the block 12.
The substrate blocks 12 include a plurality of interlocking first tabs 64 integrally joined to a first end wall edge portion 66 of the horizontally disposed aperture 45. The plurality of interlocking first tabs 64 of the blocks 12 are disposed angularly sideward to engage a second end wall edge portion 69 of a cooperating horizontal aperture 45 in a corresponding first side block 70 disposed adjacent to the first end wall 46 of the block 12. The plurality of interlocking first tabs 64 engage the second end wall edge portion 69 of the corresponding first side block 70 such that the first side block 70 is removably secured to a respective block 12. The first side block 70 has a plurality of second interlocking tabs 67 integrally joined to the second end wall edge portion 69 such that the plurality of second interlocking tabs 67 are disposed angularly sideward to engage the first end wall edge portion 66 of the corresponding block 12 without engaging any of the plurality of first tabs 64 integrally joined to the first end wall edge portion 66 of the block 12.
The substrate blocks 12 include a plurality of interlocking second tabs 67 integrally joined to a second end wall edge portion 69 of the horizontally disposed aperture 45. The plurality of interlocking second tabs 67 are disposed angularly sideward to engage a first end wall edge portion 66 of a corresponding second side block 82 disposed adjacent to the second end wall 48 of a block 12. The plurality of interlocking second tabs 67 of the block 12 engage the first end wall edge portion 66 of the corresponding second side block 82 such that the second side block 82 is removably secured to the respective block 12. The second side block 82 has a plurality of first interlocking tabs 64 integrally joined to the first end wall edge 66 portion such that the plurality of first interlocking tabs 64 are disposed angularly sideward to engage the second end wall edge portion 69 of the block 12 without engaging any of the plurality of second tabs 67 integrally joined to the second end wall edge portion 69 of the block 12.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 8, the substrate blocks 12 include means for forming a curved wall 10 by configuring and dimensioning a first side wall 86 of the substrate blocks 12 such that the longitudinal dimension of the first side wall 86 is relatively longer than a corresponding longitudinal dimension of a second side wall 88 of the block 12, resulting in angle “A” depicted in FIG. 8. The varying first and second side walls 86 and 88 longitudinal dimensions of the blocks 12 cooperate with corresponding first and second side walls 86 and 88 dimensions of horizontally adjacent and longitudinally aligned first and second side blocks 70 and 82 to ultimately form a curve 90 in a wall 10 that corresponds to the alignment of first and second side walls 86 and 88 of the adjacently disposed substrate blocks 12.
All or any combination of vertical and horizontal substrate block apertures can receive a binding compound at any point during construction of the wall 10. Further, all or any combination of substrate blocks 12 can receive an adhesive member 16 upon a roughened surface 14 at any point during construction of the wall 10, however, once the adhesive member 16 has been applied to the surface 14, the ornamental members 18 must be applied to the adhesive member 16 in a relatively short period of time.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, modified right end views of a portion of FIG. 3 are depicted with a curve or wave configuration for the recesses (FIG. 9) or with a “saw-tooth” or triangular configuration (FIG. 10). The curve configured recesses 94 in a block 12 provide a vertical, longitudinal wall 20 with relatively large or broad “valleys” 96 for receiving a relatively firm or “stiff” adhesive material 16 such that no gaps are formed between the recess 94 and the applied adhesive material 16. The stiff adhesive material 16 is required when relatively heavy decorative or ornament members 18 are inserted into the adhesive material 16, resulting in the position of the decorative members 18 being maintained throughout the hardening process of the adhesive material 16.
The triangle configured recesses 98 in a block 12 provide a vertical, longitudinal wall 20 with relatively small or narrow valleys 100 for receiving a relatively “free flowing” or easily deformable adhesive material 16 such that the material 16 is retained in the recesses 98 and upon the entire surface of the vertical wall 20 of the block 12. The free flowing deformable adhesive material 16 makes it easier for a person manually inserting decorative members 18 into a layer of material 16 disposed upon the blocks 12, and the triangle configured recesses 98 maintains the positions of the adhesive material 16 and the decorative members 18 inserted in the material 16 upon the blocks 12. Further, the triangle configured recesses 98 are the least expensive recess to form in the blocks 12 during the manufacturing process.
The foregoing description is for purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.

Claims

1. A block for constructing a decorative wall comprising:

at least one vertical wall with a plurality of recesses therein, said recesses being substantially horizontally disposed such that each recess is separated a predetermined distance, said recesses having a predetermined configuration when taking a side elevation view of said blocks, said block ultimately combining with substantially similar configured and dimensioned blocks to form a predetermined structure such that at least one vertical wall of said structure is visible and includes each block having a vertical wall with a plurality of recesses therein, whereby a deformable adhesive material can be disposed across said vertical walls of said blocks of said visible vertical wall of said structure, whereupon an ornamental member is impressed in the deformable adhesive material such that the position of the ornamental member is maintained throughout the hardening period for the adhesive material, resulting in the permanent securing and positioning of the ornamental member in the adhesive material to form a decorative wall.

2. The block of claim 1 wherein said recesses include a substantially square configuration when taking a side elevation view of said block, said substantially square configuration of said recesses, when taking a side elevation view of said block, includes side wall having lateral dimensions of substantially about one-fourth of an inch.

3. The block of claim 1 wherein said recesses include a substantially trapezoid configuration when taking a side elevation view of said block, said substantially trapezoid configuration of said recesses, when taking a side elevation view of said block, includes a base wall that forms angles with two side walls, said angles measuring ninety-three degrees or less.

4. The block of claim 3 wherein said substantially trapezoid configuration of said recesses, when taking a side elevation view of said first block, includes a base wall that forms angles with two side walls, said angles measuring substantially about eighty-eight degrees.

5. The block of claim 1 wherein said recesses are horizontally disposed and separated a constant predetermined distance across the entire surface of said one wall.

6. The block of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least one vertically disposed aperture extending from a top wall to a bottom wall of said block.

7. The block of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least two vertically disposed apertures extending from a top wall to a bottom wall of said block.

8. The block of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least one horizontally disposed aperture extending from a first end wall to a second end wall of said block.

9. The first block of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least one horizontally disposed aperture extending from a first side wall to a second side wall of said block.

10. The block of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least two vertically disposed apertures extending from a top wall to a bottom wall of said block, and at least one horizontally disposed aperture extending from a first end wall to a second end wall of said block.

11. The block of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least one vertically disposed aperture extending from a top wall to a bottom wall of said first block, and at least one horizontally disposed aperture extending from a first end wall to a second end wall of said block.

12. The block of claim 1 wherein said block is solidly constructed.

13. The block of claim 6 wherein said vertically disposed aperture includes a plurality of upper interlocking tabs integrally joined to an upper wall edge portion of said one vertically disposed aperture, said plurality of interlocking upper tabs being disposed angularly upward to engage a lower wall edge portion of a corresponding upper block disposed upon said block, said plurality upper interlocking tabs engaging said lower wall edge portion of said corresponding upper block such that said upper block is removably secured to said block, said upper block having a plurality of lower interlocking tabs integrally joined to said lower wall edge portion such that said plurality of lower interlocking tabs are disposed angularly downward to engage said upper wall edge portion of said block without engaging any of said plurality of upper tabs integrally joined to said upper wall edge portion of said block.

14. The first block of claim 6 wherein said vertically disposed aperture includes a plurality of lower interlocking tabs integrally joined to a lower wall edge portion of said one vertically disposed aperture, said plurality of lower interlocking tabs being disposed angularly downward to engage an upper wall edge portion of a corresponding lower block disposed underneath and supporting said block, said lower interlocking tabs engaging said upper wall edge portion of said corresponding lower block such that said block is removably secured to said lower block, said lower block having a plurality of upper interlocking tabs integrally joined to said upper wall edge portion such that said plurality of upper interlocking tabs are disposed angularly upward to engage said lower wall edge portion of said first block without engaging any of said plurality of lower tabs integrally joined to said lower wall edge portion of said block.

15. The block of claim 8 wherein said horizontally disposed aperture includes a plurality of interlocking first tabs integrally joined to a first end wall edge portion of said one horizontally disposed aperture, said plurality of interlocking first tabs being disposed angularly sideward to engage a second end wall edge portion of a corresponding first side block disposed adjacent to said first end wall of said block, said plurality of interlocking first tabs engaging said second end wall edge portion of said corresponding first side block such that said first side block is removably secured to said block, said first side block having a plurality of second interlocking tabs integrally joined to said second end wall edge portion such that said plurality of second interlocking tabs are disposed angularly sideward to engage said first end wall edge portion of said block without engaging any of said plurality of first tabs integrally joined to said first end wall edge portion of said block.

16. The block of claim 8 wherein said horizontally disposed aperture includes a plurality of interlocking second tabs integrally joined to a second end wall edge portion of said one horizontally disposed aperture, said plurality of interlocking second tabs being disposed angularly sideward to engage a first end wall edge portion of a corresponding second side block disposed adjacent to said second end wall of said block, said plurality of interlocking second tabs engaging said first end wall edge portion of said corresponding second side block such that said second side block is removably secured to said block, said second side block having a plurality of first interlocking tabs integrally joined to said first end wall edge portion such that said plurality of first interlocking tabs are disposed angularly sideward to engage said second end wall edge portion of said block without engaging any of said plurality of second tabs integrally joined to said second end wall edge portion of said block.

17. The block of claim 1 wherein said block includes means for forming a curved wall.

18. The block of claim 17 wherein said means for forming a curved wall includes configuring and dimensioning a first side wall of said block such that the longitudinal dimension of said first side wall is relatively longer than a corresponding longitudinal dimension of a second side wall, said varying first and second side wall longitudinal dimensions of said block cooperating with corresponding first and second side wall dimensions of adjacently, longitudinally and horizontally aligned first and second side blocks to ultimately form a curve in a wall that corresponds to the alignment of first and second side walls of said first side block, said block and said second side block.

19. A method for constructing a wall, said method comprising the step of:

selecting blocks having walls with multiple recesses that ultimately receive an adhesive material for providing structural integrity for the constructed wall;

determining if blocks are required with varying longitudinal side wall dimensions to form curves in said decorative wall;

determining if vertical and/or horizontal apertures are to be included in one or more blocks;

positioning all blocks in predetermined locations to ultimately form said predetermined wall;

applying a deformable adhesive material to preselected portions of said positioned blocks; whereby a predetermined wall is constructed with sufficient structural integrity that corresponds to the location and dimensions for the constructed wall.

20. A method for constructing a decorative wall, said method comprising the step of:

selecting substrate blocks having walls with multiple recesses that ultimately receive an adhesive that secures an ornamental members to predetermined portions of said substrate blocks;

determining if substrate blocks are required with varying longitudinal side wall dimensions to form curves in said decorative wall;

determining if vertical and/or horizontal apertures are to be included in any substrate blocks;

positioning all substrate blocks in predetermined locations to ultimately form said predetermined decorative wall;

applying a deformable adhesive material to preselected portions of said positioned substrate blocks; and

inserting preselected ornamental members into predetermined portions of said adhesive material applied to said preselected portions of said positioned substrate blocks, whereby a predetermined decorative wall is constructed.