Author: claimsbot

1. A method for laser surface cleaning, the method comprising:
directing a laser towards a substrate with a contaminant on its surface;
producing a first thermal increase in said substrate material with said laser;
inducing a second thermal increase in said contaminant due to said first thermal increase in said substrate material; and
producing a thermal decomposition or a physical state change of said contaminant.
2. The method in claim 1 in which said substrate’s temperature remains below a temperature in which damage or detrimental effects will occur to said substrate.
3. The method in claim 1 in which said substrate’s temperature remains below a temperature in which damage or detrimental effect will occur to materials disposed relative to the substrate.
4. The method of claim 1 in which said substrate’s temperature remains below a temperature in which damage or detrimental effect will occurto a device or a product that incorporates said substrate.
5. The method in claim 1 wherein said substrate consists of one or more materials.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate includes at least one thin film layer.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate consists of one or more materials, including a thin film layer that is patterned such that portions of the base substrate have no thin film coating.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is a dry laser surface cleaning method.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a photomask.
10. The method in claim 1 in which the laser’s output is pulsed.
11. The method in claim 1 in which the laser’s output is pulse width varied.
12. The method in claim 1 in which the substrate is partially or completely enclosed or protected by a pellicle.
13. The method in claim 1 in which the laser is directed through a material disposed relative to the substrate.
14. The method in claim 1 in which the laser’s wavelength is selected to permit absorption of the laser’s energy by the substrate.
15. The method of claim 1 in which one or more lasers of different wavelengths or a tunable laser is utilized thereby permitting heating of the substrate when the substrate is composed of at least two materials.
16. The method in claim 1 in which a heat sink is positioned adjacent to the substrate to permit cooling.
17. The method in claim 1 in which the substrate is physically manipulated or oriented to mitigate the effects of residual or resultant materials.
18. The method of claim 1 in which the substrate is cooled via convection.
19. The method of claim 1 in which one or more metrologies are used in conjunction with the cleaning process.
20. The method in claim 1 in which the laser contributes directly to the thermal increase in the contaminant.
21. A method for mitigating the effects of surface contamination on a substrate, the method comprising:
employing an energy source to produce a first thermal increase in said substrate which induces a second thermal increase in said contaminant resulting in thermal decomposition or physical state change of said contaminant.
22. The method in claim 21, wherein the energy source is external to the substrate.
23. The method in claim 21, wherein the energy source is an electromagnetic energy source.
24. The method in claim 21 wherein the energy source is a laser.
25. The method in claim 21 in which the substrate’s temperature remains below a temperature in which damage or detrimental effect will occur to the substrate.
26. The method in claim 21 in which the substrate’s temperature remains below a temperature in which damage or detrimental effect will occur to materials disposed relative to the substrate.
27. The method of claim 21 in which the substrate’s temperature remains below a temperature in which damage or detrimental effect will occur to a device or product that utilizes the substrate.
28. The method in claim 21 wherein the substrate consists of one or more materials.
29. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate includes a thin film layer.
30. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate consists of one or more materials, including a thin film layer that is patterned such that portions of the base substrate have no thin film coating.
31. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate surface is dry.
32. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate is a photomask.
33. The method in claim 21 in which a heat sink is positioned adjacent to the substrate to permit cooling.
34. The method in claim 21 in which the external energy source contributes directly to the thermal increase in the contaminant.
35. The method of claim 21 in which one or more metrologies are used.
36. The method in claim 21 in which the substrate is physically manipulated or oriented to mitigate the effects of residual or resultant materials.
37. A method for mitigating the effects of surface contamination on a substrate, the method comprising:
directing an energy source through a material disposed relative to the contaminated surface to produce a first thermal increase in said substrate which induces a second thermal increase in said contaminant resulting in thermal decomposition or physical state change of said contaminant.
38. The method in claim 37 wherein the energy source is focused toward the substrate surface.
39. The method in claim 37, wherein the energy is provided by an electromagnetic energy source.
40. The method in claim 37 wherein the energy source is a laser.
41. The method of claim 40 in which the laser’s output is pulsed.
42. The method of claim 40 in which the laser’s pulsed output is width varied.
43. The method of claim 40 in which the laser’s wavelength is selected to permit absorption of the laser’s energy by the substrate’s surface.
44. The method of claim 37 wherein the substrate is a photomask.
45. The method of claim 37 wherein the material disposed relative to the contaminated surface is a pellicle frame and film.
46. The method of claim 37 wherein the material disposed relative to the contaminated surface absorbs energy from the external energy source.
47. The method of claim 37 wherein a means for reducing thermal increase in the material disposed relative to the contaminated surface is provided.
48. The method of claim 47 wherein the means is a form of forced convection.
49. The method in claim 37 in which the substrate is physically manipulated or oriented to mitigate the effects of residual or resultant materials.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of photovoltaic modules located within a solar panel, each photovoltaic module having a first output contact, the plurality of first output contacts extending at least partially on a first common axis, the apparatus comprising:
a first electrically conductive line extending at least partially along the first common axis, wherein said first electrically conductive line is engageable with and capable of electrically connecting the plurality of first output contacts of the photovoltaic modules along the first common axis.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each photovoltaic module is elongated.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each first output contact is the anode output contact of the respective corresponding photovoltaic module, whereby said first electrically conductive line connects the plurality of photovoltaic modules in parallel.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each first output contact is the cathode output contact of the respective corresponding photovoltaic module, whereby said first electrically conductive line connects the plurality of photovoltaic modules in parallel.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the solar panel includes a first at least substantially straight member, wherein the first common axis and said first electrically conductive line extend at least partially along the length of and within the first at least substantially straight member, and wherein said first electrically conductive line is engageable with and capable of electrically connecting the plurality of first output contacts within the first at least substantially straight member.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is in generally spaced parallel relationship with one another.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the solar panel includes a frame having first and second opposing side rails and first and second opposing end rails, wherein said first electrically conductive line extends at least partially along the length of the first end rail and electrically connects the plurality of first output contacts of the plurality of photovoltaic modules within the first end rail.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a plurality of connectors, each said connector being capable of electrically engaging at least one of the first output contacts of the plurality of photovoltaic modules.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said connector includes at least one leaf member.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said connector includes at least one receptacle.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the first output contacts includes at least one prong, and each said connector includes a socket engageable with at least one prong of at least one first output contact.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first electrically conductive line and said plurality of connectors are interconnected by snapping engagement.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plurality of connectors is integrally formed in a unitary body.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first at least substantially straight member includes at least one concave portion, wherein said plurality of connectors is disposed within at least one concave portion of the first at least substantially straight member.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including at least one insert disposed within at least one concave portion of the first at least substantially straight member, said at least one insert including at least one cavity, wherein said plurality of connectors is disposed within at least one said cavity.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one insert is constructed at least partially of rubber.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said at least one insert is constructed at least partially of foam and is glued to the first at least substantially straight member.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first electrically conductive line is disposed within at least one said cavity of said at least one insert.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each photovoltaic module includes a second output contact, the plurality of second output contacts extending at least partially on a second common axis, further including a second electrically conductive line extending at least partially along the second common axis, wherein the second electrically conductive line is engageable with and capable of electrically connecting the plurality of second output contacts along the second common axis.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each first output contact is the anode output contact of the respective corresponding photovoltaic module and each second output contact is the cathode output contact of the respective corresponding photovoltaic module, whereby said first and second electrically conductive line connects the plurality of photovoltaic modules in parallel.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the solar panel includes first and second at least substantially straight members, wherein the first common axis and said first electrically conductive line extend at least partially along the length of and within the first at least substantially straight member, and wherein the second common axis and said second electrically conductive line extend at least partially along the length of and within the second at least substantially straight member.
22. An apparatus capable of electrically connecting a plurality of elongated photovoltaic modules disposed in generally spaced parallel relationship with one another within a solar energy absorption device, each of the plurality of elongated photovoltaic modules having an anode output contact that extends at least partially on a first common axis and a cathode output contact that extends at least partially on a second common axis, the apparatus comprising:
a first electrically conductive line extending at least partially along the first common axis, wherein said first electrically conductive line is engageable with and capable of electrically connecting together the plurality of cathode output contacts along the first common axis; and
a second electrically conductive line extending at least partially along the second common axis, wherein said second electrically conductive line is engageable with and capable of electrically connecting together the plurality of anode output contacts along the second common axis.
23. An apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of photovoltaic modules disposed within a solar panel, the solar panel including a frame that includes first and second opposing side rails and first and second opposing end rails, the apparatus comprising:
at least one of the photovoltaic modules including a plurality of solar cells that share a common substrate; and
a first electrically conductive line extending at least partially through, and electrically connecting together the plurality of photovoltaic modules within, at least one among the first and second opposing side rails and the first and second opposing end rails of the frame.
24. An apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of photovoltaic modules disposed within a solar panel, the solar panel including a frame that includes first and second opposing side rails and first and second opposing end rails, the apparatus comprising:
the plurality of photovoltaic modules being disposed within the solar panel in a manner that prohibits rotational movement of the plurality of photovoltaic modules relative to the solar panel;
at least one of the photovoltaic modules including a plurality of solar cells that share a common substrate; and
a first electrically conductive line extending at least partially through, and electrically connecting together the plurality of photovoltaic modules within, at least one among the first and second opposing side rails and the first and second opposing end rails of the frame.
25. An apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of photovoltaic modules disposed within a solar panel, the solar panel including a frame that includes first and second opposing side rails and first and second opposing end rails, the apparatus comprising:
at least one of the photovoltaic modules including a plurality of solar cells that share a common substrate;
the plurality of photovoltaic modules being configured to accept light from more than one planar direction and produce electric power from light received from more than one planar direction; and
a first electrically conductive line extending at least partially through, and electrically connecting together the plurality of photovoltaic modules within, at least one among the first and second opposing side rails and the first and second opposing end rails of the frame.

1. Vesicles comprising:
a. an aqueous core comprising at least one cosmetic and at least one pharmaceutical active substance, and
b. a flexible, continuous membrane surrounding the aqueous core, the flexible, continuous membrane comprising
i. at least one membrane-forming emulsifier; wherein the emulsifier is glyceryl citratelactatelinoleateoleate;
ii. at least one membrane-stabilizing single-chain lipid;
iii. one or more lipophilic cosmetic; and
iv. at least one-pharmaceutical active substance.
2. Vesicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the vesicles are unilamellar, exhibiting a negative surface potential and a vesicle size from 80 nm to 400 nm.
3. Vesicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane-stabilizing single-chain lipid is an ethyl ester of oleic acid andor an ethyl ester of eicosapentaenic acid.
4. Vesicles according to claim 3, characterized in that the ratio in weight of the emulsifier to the membrane stabilizer andor the lipophilic active substance is 1:1 to 4:1.
5. Preparation comprising the vesicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispersion vehicle of the preparation is aqueous, wherein the aqueous dispersion vehicle and the aqueous core of the vesicles exhibit the same composition.
6. Preparation according to claim 5 characterized in that it further comprises at least one hydrophilic stabilizer.
7. Preparation according to claim 5 wherein the preparation is a human or animal therapeutic.
8. Preparation according to claim 5 wherein the preparation is a cosmetic or non-therapeutic dermatological preparation.
9. Vesicles according to claim 2, characterized in that the membrane-stabilizing single-chain lipid is an ethyl ester of oleic acid andor an ethyl ester of eicosapentaenic acid.
10. Preparation comprising the vesicles according to claim 2, characterized in that the dispersion vehicle of the preparation is aqueous, wherein the aqueous dispersion vehicle and the aqueous core of the vesicles exhibit the same composition.
11. Preparation comprising the vesicles according to claim 3, characterized in that the dispersion vehicle of the preparation is aqueous, wherein the aqueous dispersion vehicle and the aqueous core of the vesicles exhibit the same composition.
12. Preparation comprising the vesicles according to claim 4, characterized in that the dispersion vehicle of the preparation is aqueous, wherein the aqueous dispersion vehicle and the aqueous core of the vesicles exhibit the same composition.
13. Preparation according to claim 6 wherein the preparation is a human or animal therapeutic.
14. Preparation according to claim 6 wherein the preparation is a cosmetic or non-therapeutic dermatological preparation.
15. Preparation according to claim 7 wherein the preparation is a cosmetic or non-therapeutic dermatological preparation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A plurality of masonry articles comprising, in combination:
a first header and a second header for each of said plurality of masonry articles, a contoured portion of said first header each of said plurality of masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of another second header of another one of said plurality of masonry articles, and a contoured portion of said second header of each one of said plurality of masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles so that an outward face of a portion of a wall assembled with said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like vertically oriented gap;
said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles comprises a first projecting portion, a second projecting portion and an end-recessed portion of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said end-recessed portion located between said first projecting portion and said second projecting portion of said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles;
said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles comprises a first opposite projecting portion, a second opposite projecting portion, a first inner recessed portion, a second inner recessed portion and an opposite recessed portion of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said first opposite projecting portion adjacent to said first inner recessed portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said second opposite projecting portion adjacent to said second inner recessed portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said opposite recessed portion located between said first inner recessed portion and said second inner recessed portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles so that said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles couples to one other second header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles and said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles couples to said other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles to provide the portion of the wall; and
said plurality of masonry articles when assembled to provide a portion of the wall having a contoured front face, said plurality of masonry articles when assembled to provide a portion of the wall having a lower base and a contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles configured for coupling a portion of said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles to a portion of a lower base of one of the other plurality of masonry articles so that the outward face of the portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
2. The plurality of masonry articles according to claim 1 further comprising a surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of masonry articles having an elevated portion and said elevated portion of the surface of said contoured front face adjacent to an indented portion of the surface of said contoured front face, said indented portion extending from an end of said first header to said elevated portion, so that the outward face of the portion of the wall assembled with said plurality of masonry articles provide the appearance of the mortar-like vertically oriented gap and the mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
3. The plurality of masonry articles according to claim 2 further comprising an opposite indented portion of the surface of a back face extending from the end of said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said indented portion of the surface of said contoured front face of greater width compared to said opposite indented portion of the surface of said back face, a first opposite projecting portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles and a second opposite projecting portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles having substantially the same width as the width of said opposite indented portion of the surface of said back face of said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles, so that when each of said plurality of masonry articles couples adjacently to one other of said plurality of masonry articles, said indented portion of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of masonry articles provides the appearance of a vertically oriented mortar-like gap.
4. The plurality of masonry articles according to claim 3 further comprising said back face substantially parallel to said contoured front face, a lower portion of said indented portion of the surface of said contoured front face having a substantially L-shaped step, a lower portion of said back face comprising a substantially opposite L-shaped step, said opposite L-shaped step of the back face and said L-shaped step of the contoured front face having substantially the same height, so that when the portion of said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles couples to the portion of said lower base of one of said other plurality of masonry articles the outward face of the portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of masonry articles has the appearance of the mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
5. The plurality of masonry articles according to claim 1 further comprising said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles comprising a channel extending substantially horizontally from said first header to said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles and when the portion of said lower base of said plurality of masonry articles couples to the portion of said contoured upper base of one other of said plurality of masonry articles said channel providing an opening, said opening for accommodating a substantially horizontally oriented reinforcing rod end said opening for accommodating mortar.
6. The plurality of masonry articles according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of masonry articles has at least one hole extending from said upper base to said contoured lower base, each of said at least one hole for accommodating a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing rod within each of said at least one hole and for accommodating mortar within each of said at least one hole.
7. The plurality of masonry articles according to claim 1 wherein the distance between each of said plurality of masonry articles adjacently coupled to one other of said plurality of masonry articles is selectively adjustable to accommodate variations in length of a course of the plurality of masonry articles of the portion of the wall.
8. A collection of interlocking masonry articles comprising, in combination:
a plurality of masonry articles also comprising a plurality of corner masonry articles and a plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said plurality of masonry articles, said plurality of corner masonry articles and said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles together providing contoured shapes so that an outward face of a portion of a wall assembled with said plurality of masonry articles, said plurality of corner masonry articles and said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles provide the appearance of a plurality of mortar-like horizontally oriented and mortar-like vertically oriented gaps;
each of said plurality of corner masonry articles comprises a first corner header and a second corner header, a contoured portion of said first corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of a second header of said plurality of masonry articles, and a contoured portion of said second corner header of each one of said plurailty of corner masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles so that an outward face of a corner portion of a wall assembled with said plurality of corner masonry articles and said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like vertically oriented gap;
said plurality of corner masonry articles when assembled to provide a corner portion of the wall having a contoured front face, said plurality of corner masonry articles when assembled to provide a corner portion of the wall having a lower base and a contoured upper base of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles configured for coupling a portion of said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles to a portion of a lower base of each of a combination of one of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles coupled to one of said plurality of masonry articles so that the outward face of the corner portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of interlocking masonry articles has a mortar-like horizontally oriented gap;
said plurality of corner masonry articles having a back face substantially parallel to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said first corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles comprising a first projecting portion, a second projecting portion and an end-recessed portion for each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said end-recessed portion located between said first projecting portion and said second projecting portion of said first corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said first corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles projecting substantially perpendicularly from a portion of said back face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles; and
said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles comprising a first opposite projecting portion, a second opposite projecting portion, a first inner recessed portion, a second inner recessed portion and an opposite recessed portion for each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said first opposite projecting portion adjacent to said first inner recessed portion of said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said second opposite projecting portion adjacent to said second inner recessed portion of said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said opposite recessed portion located between said first inner recessed portion and said second inner recessed portion of said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, so that said first corner header of each of sad plurality of corner masonry articles couples to said second header of one of said plurality of masonry articles and said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles couples to one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles to provide the corner portion of the wall.
9. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of masonry articles comprises a first header and a second header for each of said plurality of masonry articles, a contoured portion of said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of another second header of another one of said plurality of masonry articles, and a contoured portion of said second header of each one of said plurality of masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles so that an outward face of a portion of a wall assembled with said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like vertically oriented gap; said plurality of masonry articles when assembled to provide a portion of the wall having a contoured front face, said plurality of masonry articles when assembled to provide a portion of the wall having a lower base and a contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles configured for coupling a portion of said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles to a portion of a lower base of one of the other plurality of masonry articles so that the outward face of the portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
10. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 9 further comprising
a corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said corner end opposite said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having a front-end face, a surface of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having an elevated portion and said elevated portion of the surface of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles adjacent to an indented portion of the surface of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said indented portion of the surface of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles extending from said first corner header to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles;
a surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having an elevated portion and said elevated portion of the surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles adjacent to an indented portion of the surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said indented portion of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles extending from said corner end to said second corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles so that the outward face of the corner portion of the wall assembled with said plurality of corner masonry articles provide the appearance of the mortar-like vertically oriented gap and the mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
11. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 10 further comprising a back end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having an opposite indented portion of the surface of said back end face of said corner end, said opposite indented portion extending from an end of said second horizontally projecting portion of said first corner header of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said indented portion of the surface of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles of greater width compared to said opposite indented portion of the surface of said back end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, a first opposite projecting portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles and a second opposite projecting portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles having substantially the same width as the width of said opposite indented portion of the surface of said back end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, so that when said first header of one of said plurality of corner masonry articles couples adjacently to said second header of one of said plurality of masonry articles, said indented portion of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles provides the appearance of a vertically oriented mortar-like gap.
12. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 11 further comprising said back face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles substantially parallel to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said back end face of said corner end each of said plurality of corner masonry articles substantially parallel to said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, a lower portion of said indented portion of the surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles substantially parallel to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having a substantially L-shaped step, a lower portion of said indented portion of said contoured end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles substantially parallel to said contoured end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having a substantially L-shaped step, a lower portion of said back face substantially parallel to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles comprising a substantially opposite L-shaped step and a lower portion of said back end face of said corner end back face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles substantially parallel to said contoured end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles comprising a substantially opposite L-shaped step, said opposite L-shaped step of said back face, said opposite L-shaped step of said back end face of said corner end, said L-shaped step of said contoured front face and said L-shaped step of said front-end face of said corner end of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles having substantially the same height, so that when the portion of said contoured upper base of each of said corner plurality of masonry articles couples to the portion of said lower base of each of a combination of one of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles coupled to one of said plurality of masonry articles the outward face of the corner portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of interlocking masonry articles has the appearance of the mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
13. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 9 wherein
each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles comprises a first alternative corner header and a second alternative corner header, a contoured portion of said first alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of a second header of said plurality of masonry articles, and a contoured portion of said second alternative corner header of each one of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles for coupling to a contoured portion of one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles so that an outward face of an alternative corner portion of a wall assembled with said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles and said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like vertically oriented gap;
said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles when assembled to provide an alternative corner portion of the wall having a contoured front face of each of said plurality of alternative corner articles, said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles when assembled to provide an alternative corner portion of the wall having a lower base and a contoured upper base of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles configured for coupling a portion of said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles to a portion of a lower base of each of a combination of one of said plurality of corner masonry articles coupled to one of said plurality of masonry articles so that the outward face of the alternative corner portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of interlocking masonry articles has a mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
14. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 9 further comprising
said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles having a back face substantially parallel to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said first alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles comprising a first projecting portion, a second projecting portion and an end-recessed portion for each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said end-recessed portion located between said first projecting portion and said second projecting portion of said first corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles;
said second alternative corner header of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles comprising a first opposite projecting portion, a first inner recessed portion, a second inner recessed portion and an opposite recessed portion, said first opposite projecting portion adjacent to said first inner recessed portion of said second alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said second inner recessed portion adjacent to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of corner masonry articles, said opposite recessed portion located between said first inner recessed portion and said second inner recessed portion of said second alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said second alternative corner header of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles located on a portion of said back face of each of said plurality of alternate corner masonry articles, so that said first alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles couples to said second header of one of said plurality of masonry articles and said second alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles couples to one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles to provide the alternative corner portion of the wall.
15. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 14 further comprising
an alternative corner end of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said alternative corner end opposite said first alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said alternative corner end of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles having a front-end face, a surface of said front-end face of said alternative corner end of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles having an elevated portion and said elevated portion of the surface of said front-end face of said alternative corner end of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles adjacent to an indented portion of the surface of said front-end face of said alternative corner end of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles,
said indented portion of the surface of said front-end face of said alternative corner end of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles extending from said second alternative corner header to said contoured front face of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles; a surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles having an elevated portion and said elevated portion of the surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles adjacent to an indented portion of the surface of said contoured front face of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles, said indented portion of said contoured front face extending from said alternative corner end to said first alternative corner header of each of said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles so that the outward face of the alternative corner portion of the wall assembled with said plurality of alternative corner masonry articles provide the appearance of the mortar-like vertically oriented gap and the mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
16. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 9 wherein each of said interlocking masonry articles has a first header, a second header, a contoured upper base and a lower base, said contoured upper base of each of said interlocking masonry articles comprising a channel extending substantially horizontally from said first header to said second header of each of said interlocking masonry articles and when a portion of said contoured upper base of one of said interlocking masonry articles couples to a portion of said lower base of a combination of a plurality of said interlocking masonry articles said channel providing an opening, said opening for accommodating a reinforcing rod and said opening for accommodating mortar.
17. The collection of interlocking masonry articles according to claim 16 wherein each of said interlocking masonry articles has at least one hole extending from said upper base to said contoured lower base of each of said interlocking masonry articles, each of said at least one hole for accommodating a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing rod within each of said at least one hole and for accommodating mortar within each of at least one hole.
18. A method for assembling a portion of a wall comprising the steps of:
providing a first header and a second header for each of a plurality of masonry articles, said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles comprising a first projecting portion, a second projecting portion and an end-recessed portion of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said end-recessed portion located between said first projecting portion and said second projecting portion of said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles and said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles comprising a first opposite projecting portion, a second opposite projecting portion, a first inner recessed portion, a second inner recessed portion and an opposite recessed portion of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said first opposite projecting portion adjacent to said first inner recessed portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said second opposite projecting portion adjacent to said second inner recessed portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles, said opposite recessed portion located between said first inner recessed portion and said second inner recessed portion of said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles so that said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles couples to one other second header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles and said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles couples to said other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles to provide the portion of the wall;
coupling a contoured portion of said first header of each of said plurality of masonry articles to a contoured portion of another second header of another one of said plurality of masonry articles;
coupling a contoured portion of said second header of each one of said plurality of masonry articles to a contoured portion of one other first header of one other of said plurality of masonry articles so that an outward face of a portion of a wall assembled with said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like vertically oriented gap;
assembling said plurality of masonry articles to provide a portion of the wall having a contoured front face, each of said plurality of masonry articles having a lower base and a contoured upper base, said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles comprising a channel extending substantially horizontally from said first header to said second header of each of said plurality of masonry articles; and
coupling a portion of said contoured upper base of each of said plurality of masonry articles to a portion of a lower base of one of the other plurality of masonry articles so that the outward face of the portion of the wall assembled with all of said plurality of masonry articles has a mortar-like horizontally oriented gap.
19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of:
coupling the portion of said lower base of said plurality of masonry articles to the portion of said contoured upper base of one other of said plurality of masonry articles, said channel of each one of said plurality of masonry articles defining an opening;
providing each one of said plurality of masonry articles has at least one hole extending from said upper base to said contoured lower base;
off-setting a course of said plurality of masonry articles relative to another course of said plurality of masonry articles, each one of said plurality of masonry articles of said another course having at least one hole to vertically align said at least one hole of said course of said plurality of masonry articles to said at least one hole of said another course of said plurality of masonry articles;
providing at least one substantially vertically oriented reinforcing rod;
providing at least one substantially horizontally oriented reinforcing rod;
positioning said at least one substantially horizontally oriented reinforcing rod within said opening of at least one of said plurality of masonry articles;
positioning said at least one substantially vertically oriented reinforcing rod within said at least one hole of at least one of said plurality of masonry articles; and
pouring mortar into said at least one hole to substantially fill said opening of each one of said plurality of masonry articles thereby adhering said course of said plurality of masonry articles to said another course of said plurality of masonry articles when the mortar sets.