Building block for use with flashing and arrangement for weeping condensation

Claim 2

A construction unit for use with flashing to direct water out of a structure, comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; and a first slot adapted to receive flashing, said first slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, said first slot being defined at least partially by said rear wall, said first slot extending through at least one of the side walls.

Claim 3

The construction unit of claim 1, wherein said first slot extends through one of said side walls from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit.

Claim 4

The construction unit of claim 2, further comprising a second hollow core and a second slot extending through the other of said side walls from said second hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit, said second slot also extending through the bottom surface of the construction unit, said rear wall defining at least a portion of said second slot, said second slot adapted to receive flashing.

Claim 5

The construction unit of claim 3, wherein said first and second slots are aligned with one another.

Claim 6

The construction unit of claim 4, wherein a recess of constant depth extends into said rear wall and all along said rear wall, said recess defining a portion of said first and second slots.

Claim 7

The construction unit of claim 4, further comprising a web extending from said front wall to said rear wall, and a third slot extending through said web, said third slot being aligned with said first and second slots.

Claim 8

The construction unit of claim 1, wherein said first slot includes a rear surface, a front surface, and a top surface, said rear surface being defined by said rear wall.

Claim 9

A construction unit for use with flashing to direct water out of a structure, comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; and a slot adapted to receive flashing, said slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, wherein said slot includes a rear surface, a front surface, and a top surface, and said rear wall defines the front surface, the top surface, and the rear surface of said slot.

Claim 10

A construction unit for use with flashing to direct water out of a structure, comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; and a slot adapted to receive flashing, said slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, wherein said slot includes a rear surface, a front surface, and a top surface, and said rear wall defines the front surface, the top surface, and the rear surface of said slot.

Claim 11

The construction unit of claim 8, wherein said rear wall defines a partition between said slot and said cores.

Claim 12

The construction unit of claim 8, wherein said slot extends through said rear wall.

Claim 13

The construction unit of claim 1, the construction unit further comprising a second slot extending through the other of said side walls, and a secondary cavity between said core and said rear wall, said first and second slots extending between said secondary cavity and the exterior of said construction unit.

Claim 14

The construction unit of claim 11, further comprising an intermediate wall extending between said side walls at a location between said rear wall and said front wall, said intermediate wall defining a partition between said core and said secondary cavity.

Claim 15

The construction unit of claim 12, wherein said intermediate wall is connected to said rear wall only by said side walls.

Claim 16

The construction unit of claim 1, further comprising a second slot extending through said rear wall, said second slot extending through the bottom surface of the construction unit.

Claim 17

The construction unit of claim 14, further comprising a web extending parallel to and equally distanced from said two side walls, said web having opposite sides, and said second slot having a side substantially coplanar with one of said sides of said web.

Claim 18

The construction unit of claim 1, further comprising an insect screen positioned in said opening.

Claim 19

The construction unit of claim 16, wherein said insect screen is positioned in an insert member having a shape conforming to the wall of the construction unit defining said opening.

Claim 20

The construction unit of claim 17, wherein a lip protrudes from said insert member, and a groove is defined in the wall defining said opening, said lip being received in said groove.

Claim 21

In combination, a construction unit for receiving flashing and a flashing member, wherein the construction unit comprises: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; and a first slot adapted to receive the flashing member, said first slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, said first slot being defined at least partially by said rear wall, and wherein said flashing member comprises: a flange extending into said first slot, and a main portion extending from said flange, across said hollow core and beyond said front wall to the exterior of said construction unit.

Claim 22

In combination, a construction unit for receiving flashing and a flashing member, wherein the construction unit comprises: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; and a first slot adapted to receive the flashing member, said first slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, said first slot being defined at least partially by said rear wall, and wherein said flashing member comprises: a flange extending into said first slot, and a main portion extending from said flange, across said hollow core and beyond said front wall to the exterior of said construction unit.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 19, wherein said rear wall defines a portion of said first slot.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 19, further comprising an insect screen positioned in said opening.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 21, wherein said insect screen is positioned in an insert member having a shape conforming to the wall of the construction unit defining said opening.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 22, wherein a lip protrudes from said insert member, and a groove is defined in the wall defining said opening, said lip being received in said groove.

Claim 27

A wall comprising a plurality of construction units defining cavities, including a first course of slotted construction units each having: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; a first slot adapted to receive flashing, said first slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, said first slot being defined at least partially by said rear wall; and a flashing member extending under the course of slotted construction units, said flashing member extending into said first slots of said slotted construction units, said course of slotted units being positioned at a level where disposal of water from said wall is desired.

Claim 28

A wall comprising a plurality of construction units defining cavities, including a first course of slotted construction units each having: a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls; a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one hollow core extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; an opening extending through said front wall from said hollow core to the exterior of the construction unit; a first slot adapted to receive flashing, said first slot extending into said bottom surface and generally parallel to said rear wall, said first slot being defined at least partially by said rear wall; and a flashing member extending under the course of slotted construction units, said flashing member extending into said first slots of said slotted construction units, said course of slotted units being positioned at a level where disposal of water from said wall is desired.

Claim 29

The wall of claim 24, further comprising a second course of said slotted construction units adjacent to said first course and inverted with respect to said first course, said first slots of each of said first and second courses facing toward the other of said first and second courses, said flashing member extending into said first slots of both of said first and second courses of said slotted construction units, whereby said first slots of one of said courses retains said flashing member in position during the laying of the other of said courses.