A portable molding apparatus includes a lower portion including an extension device that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and a platform coupled to the extension device, an upper portion positioned above the lower portion, the upper portion including a base, a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls defining a cavity bounded by the plurality of walls and the base, and a lid positioned over the cavity, a core positioned within the cavity defined by the plurality of walls, and a pin coupled to the core and extending downward from the core through the base, where the pin is spaced apart from the platform when the extension device is in the retracted position and the pin is engaged with the platform when the extension device is in the extended position.

A portable molding apparatus includes a lower portion including an extension device that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and a platform coupled to the extension device, an upper portion positioned above the lower portion, the upper portion including a base, a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls defining a cavity bounded by the plurality of walls and the base, and a lid positioned over the cavity, a core positioned within the cavity defined by the plurality of walls, and a pin coupled to the core and extending downward from the core through the base, where the pin is spaced apart from the platform when the extension device is in the retracted position and the pin is engaged with the platform when the extension device is in the extended position.

A retaining wall block having a false joint and a system of retaining wall blocks. The retaining wall block includes a body having a first textured surface and a second textured surface and a false joint dividing the first and second textured surface. The false joint can have a depth divided by the width greater than two inches. The false joint can have an interior angle of less than ten degrees. The system includes a plurality of retaining wall blocks and a first course of retaining wall blocks engaged with a second course of retaining wall blocks below. Each block in the system comprising a front face having a first textured surface and a second textured surface and a false joint dividing the first and second textured surface. The false joint can extend a predetermined depth of a third surface.

A pocket former includes a pocket former body and a keyway former. The pocket former is adapted to form a void in a concrete member allowing access to the stressing end of a post-tensioning tendon. The keyway former is adapted to form a keyway in the concrete to allow grout to be more securely retained in the void.

A hole former for use in casting a gasket within an opening of a structure of the type used in underground water systems, such as a manhole. The hole former includes a body defining a central axis and an outer peripheral surface, with at least one gasket retention element projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface to interface with a corresponding locating feature of the gasket. In this manner, axial shifting or movement of the gasket with respect to the hole former is restricted, thereby positively locating and retaining the gasket on the hole former before and during the casting process. The hole former may have a compound curvature, with the gasket retained around the periphery of the hole former in a compound curved configuration.

A hole former for use in casting a gasket within an opening of a structure of the type used in underground water systems, such as a manhole. The hole former includes a body defining a central axis and an outer peripheral surface, with at least one gasket retention element projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface to interface with a corresponding locating feature of the gasket. In this manner, axial shifting or movement of the gasket with respect to the hole former is restricted, thereby positively locating and retaining the gasket on the hole former before and during the casting process. The hole former may have a compound curvature, with the gasket retained around the periphery of the hole former in a compound curved configuration.

A molded concrete U-wall construction block including a molded concrete U-wall construction block structure formed from cured concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material during a block manufacturing process. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

A core pin used to create a cutting tool has at least one flute configured as an inverse shape of at least a portion of the cutting tool. Alternatively or in addition, a core pin has at least one step mold configured to form an axial surface with a stepped diameter having a diameter smaller than an overall diameter an outer axial surface of the core pin, and a radial surface between the axial surface and the outer axial surface. A core pin can include a main cooling passage mold and either a straight coolant channel mold or at least one arcuate cooling channel mold having a first end and a second end, the first end engaging the main cooling passage mold and the second end configured to create a coolant exit on a surface of the cutting tool. Carbide blanks are carbide material embedded with a core pin, and near-net shape cutting tools are created by pressing and heating the carbide blanks.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.