Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Rainey

Thomas L. Rainey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6338597
    Abstract: A modular earth retaining wall system comprising a plurality of similarly configured wall blocks that have lock channels and lock flanges that provide a locking mechanism for resisting leaning or toppling of the blocks. A positive retaining mechanism is also provided for attaching reinforcement fabrics to the retaining wall in between mating courses of wall blocks. This mechanism secures the reinforcement fabrics in place and permits the fabrics to extend along the entire contact area between adjacent stacked wall blocks to avoid an aggregate leaning effect. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining bar that is placed on top of the reinforcement fabric within the lock channel. The retaining bar holds the fabric against a wall of the lock channel in response to tensile loads applied to the fabric to prevent it from being pulled out of the retaining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Rainey
  • Patent number: 6322291
    Abstract: A modular earth retaining wall system comprising a plurality of similarly configured wall blocks that have lock channels and lock flanges that provide a locking mechanism for resisting leaning or toppling of the blocks. A positive retaining mechanism is also provided for attaching reinforcement fabrics to the retaining wall in between mating courses of wall blocks. This mechanism secures the reinforcement fabrics in place and permits the fabrics to extend along the entire contact area between adjacent stacked wall blocks to avoid an aggregate leaning effect. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining bar that is placed on top of the reinforcement fabric within the lock channel. The retaining bar holds the fabric against a wall of the lock channel in response to tensile loads applied to the fabric to prevent it from being pulled out of the retaining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Rainey
  • Patent number: 6318934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wall block for use in a segmental retaining wall system. The wall block comprises an interior face for forming an interior surface of a segmental retaining wall, an exterior face for forming an exterior surface of the segmental retaining wall, first and second sides that extend from the exterior face to the interior face, and a top surface and a bottom surface. Further provided in the wall block is a channel defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and an arcuate bottom surface. The channel extends across one of the faces and surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sven Borgersen, Thomas L. Rainey, John W. Turgeon-Schramm
  • Patent number: 6168351
    Abstract: A retaining wall anchoring system for a segmental retaining wall comprising a plurality of tieback rods adapted to be embedded into soil or rock with a proximal portion extending therefrom, at least one elongated force distribution member positionable directly adjacent the proximal portion of at least one of the tieback rods, a washer positionable about the proximal portions of the tieback rod in abutment with the force distribution member, and a fastener fixedly securable to the proximal portion of the tieback rod to securely clamp the washer against the force distribution member such that tensile forces imposed on the tieback rod are transmitted to the force distribution member so as to distribute these forces throughout a portion of the retaining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Rainey
  • Patent number: 6089793
    Abstract: A modular earth retaining wall system comprising a plurality of similarly configured wall blocks that have lock channels and lock flanges that provide a locking mechanism for resisting leaning or toppling of the blocks. A positive retaining mechanism is also provided for attaching reinforcement fabrics to the retaining wall in between mating courses of wall blocks. This mechanism secures the reinforcement fabrics in place and permits the fabrics to extend along the entire contact area between adjacent stacked wall blocks to avoid an aggregate leaning effect. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining bar that is placed on top of the reinforcement fabric within the lock channel. The retaining bar holds the fabric against a wall of the lock channel in response to tensile loads applied to the fabric to prevent it from being pulled out of the retaining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Rainey
  • Patent number: 5921715
    Abstract: A retaining wall secured to a portion of earth, comprising a plurality of blocks stacked in longitudinally extending, vertically spaced tiers to define a retaining wall, each of the blocks defining a laterally oriented passageway extending between a pair of opposing sides thereof and having an exterior face orientated outwardly of the portion of the earth, the passageways being substantially aligned in each tier to define a channel within the tier of the retaining wall at least one tieback rod for being embedded at one end in a portion of earth to be covered by the retaining wall and having a protruding end extending therefrom towards the retaining wall at least one elongate member disposed within a portion of one of the channels in the tiers of blocks, the elongate member defining a slot through which the protruding end of the tieback rod extends and a mechanism for connecting the tieback rod to the elongate member to secure the retaining wall to the portion of earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Rainey
  • Patent number: D435304
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Rainey