Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments of molds, mold insert members, and methods, for mitigating malformation of interlocking retaining wall blocks, and retaining wall blocks produced thereby. In an embodiment, an insert member for a retaining wall block mold includes a convexly-arched front wall portion and a convexly-arched rear wall portion, for forming respective concavely-arched top side and bottom side portions of respective concrete retaining wall blocks. The concavely-arched portions resist malformation such as bulge and/or slump that may tend to occur between molding and curing of the concrete retaining wall blocks due to pressure within the block. The concavely-arched portions additionally provide respective concavities into which such malformations—should they occur despite being resisted by the concavely-arched portions—may be channeled, thereby to keep malformations within the intended envelope of the retaining wall block.

Abstract: A retaining wall block includes a block body having a top side and a bottom side parallel to the top side, each of the top side and the bottom side being trapezoidal in shape and symmetrical with respect to a central vertical plane; a front side and a rear side parallel to the front side; and a right side and a left side opposite the right side.

Abstract: Provided herein are various embodiments of retaining wall blocks suitable for use interchangeably as components in battered and vertical retaining wall construction. Each includes a block body and a vertical interlock system that includes: two female-type components comprising first and second grooves each extending along a bottom side of the block body and a male-type component extending across a top side of the block body. A lateral interlock system comprises a male-type lateral interlock interface integrated with a first side of the block body in lateral alignment with a female-type lateral interlock interface integrated with a second side of the block body. Methods for constructing retaining walls using the retaining wall blocks described herein are also provided.

Abstract: A retaining wall block includes a block body having: a top and a bottom spaced from the top by a height H; a front and a rear spaced from the front by a depth D; and a first side and a second side spaced from the first side by a length L; a vertical interlock system comprising: a female component comprising a groove in the bottom of the block body, the groove being spaced from the front by a depth FB and having a depth G, the groove extending from a distance F from the first side through to the second side, wherein F<FB and FB+G<D; and a male component extending across the top of the block body between the first side and the second side, the male component being spaced from the front by at least a depth of FB and having a depth no greater than G, wherein a plurality of gaps in the male component comprise: a first gap extending from the first side and having a first gap length of at least FB; a second gap spaced from the first gap by no more than G and having a second gap length of at least D?FB?G+F, the

Abstract: A retaining wall block includes a block body having a top side and a bottom side parallel to the top side, each of the top side and the bottom side being trapezoidal in shape and symmetrical with respect to a central vertical plane; a front side and a rear side parallel to the front side; and a right side and a left side opposite the right side.

Abstract: A retaining wall block includes a block body having: a top and a bottom spaced from the top by a height H; a front and a rear spaced from the front by a depth D; and a first side and a second side spaced from the first side by a length L; a vertical interlock system comprising: a female component comprising a groove in the bottom of the block body, the groove being spaced from the front by a depth FB and having a depth G, the groove extending from a distance F from the first side through to the second side, wherein F<FB and FB+G<D; and a male component extending across the top of the block body between the first side and the second side, the male component being spaced from the front by at least a depth of FB and having a depth no greater than G, wherein a plurality of gaps in the male component comprise: a first gap extending from the first side and having a first gap length of at least FB; a second gap spaced from the first gap by no more than G and having a second gap length of at least D?FB?G+F, the

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion.

Abstract: A retaining wall block includes a block body comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side; a front side and a rear side opposite the rear side; a right side and a left side opposite the right side. A lateral interlock system includes a first lateral interlock interface that is integral with the right side and a second lateral interlock interface that is integral with the left side, each of the first and second lateral interlock interfaces including: a male-type lateral interface component and three female-type lateral interface components, each of the lateral interface components being in vertical alignment with one of the other lateral interface components and in horizontal alignment with still another of the lateral interface components, wherein the first lateral interlock interface and the second lateral interlock interface are, when viewed in elevation, identical.

Abstract: A retaining wall block includes a block body comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side; a front side and a rear side opposite the rear side; a right side and a left side opposite the right side. A lateral interlock system includes a first lateral interlock interface that is integral with the right side and a second lateral interlock interface that is integral with the left side, each of the first and second lateral interlock interfaces including: a male-type lateral interface component and three female-type lateral interface components, each of the lateral interface components being in vertical alignment with one of the other lateral interface components and in horizontal alignment with still another of the lateral interface components, wherein the first lateral interlock interface and the second lateral interlock interface are, when viewed in elevation, identical.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion.

Abstract: A pillar slab system using precast concrete pillar slabs for constructing a pillar, pergola or other stone structure comprises a body comprising at least four sides. Each exterior side surface comprises at least one simulated stone face. At least first and second side surfaces also have at least one simulated joint defining a visual separation between simulated stone faces. The simulated joints in the side surfaces are disposed at different horizontal positions, so that when one pillar slab is stacked on an identical pillar slab in a different orientation, the simulated joints in adjacent surfaces are vertically staggered relative to one another to avoid obvious repeating patterns and provide the appearance of a natural stone construction.

Abstract: A mold and method for manufacturing interlocking concrete blocks. The mold comprises a mold box, comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Top insert members are configured to define a space between adjacent blocks, for forming a portion of the transverse profile of the top surface of one block or a portion of the transverse profile of the bottom surface of an adjacent block, or both. A removable draw plate for closing the bottom of the mold box comprises a generally planar floor and bottom insert members configured to define a space between adjacent blocks, for forming a remaining portion of the transverse profile of the top surface of one block or a remaining portion of the transverse profile of the bottom surface of an adjacent block, or both.

Abstract: A pillar slab system using precast concrete pillar slabs for constructing a pillar, pergola or other stone structure comprises a body comprising at least four sides. Each exterior side surface comprises at least one simulated stone face. At least first and second side surfaces also have at least one simulated joint defining a visual separation between simulated stone faces. The simulated joints in the side surfaces are disposed at different horizontal positions, so that when one pillar slab is stacked on an identical pillar slab in a different orientation, the simulated joints in adjacent surfaces are vertically staggered relative to one another to avoid obvious repeating patterns and provide the appearance of a natural stone construction.

Abstract: A concrete block and a concrete block set for building a segmental retaining wall. Each block of the block set comprises front and back faces connected together by side walls extending between a top surface and a bottom surface. The shapes of the side walls create a lateral interlock system between adjacent blocks, and one of the side walls is preferably inwardly bevelled. Each block of the block set also comprises a longitudinal slot on the bottom surface. The blocks forming a first subset of the block set are provided with a vertical connector centered between said front and back faces, on the top surface, and sized to fit into the longitudinal slot located on the bottom surface of a block positioned immediately above in a segmental retaining wall. The blocks forming a second subset are not provided with such a vertical connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is multiple-unit indexing, mechanical scissor clamp for handling one or more modular segmental retaining wall units, also called “SRW blocks” having opposite ends each provided with a vertical groove. This clamp allows the user to move SRW blocks from a shipping pallet to a wall. The clamp and blocks are lifted using traditional construction machinery such as a backhoe, crane, bobcat, etc. The significant innovation of this clamp/block system is the ability to lift and place more than one large segmental retaining wall block with each installation cycle, substantially increasing installation efficiency.

Abstract: A concrete block and a concrete block set for building a segmental retaining wall. Each block of the block set comprises front and back faces connected together by side walls extending between a top surface and a bottom surface. The shapes of the side walls create a lateral interlock system between adjacent blocks, and one of the side walls is preferably inwardly bevelled. Each block of the block set also comprises a longitudinal slot on the bottom surface. The blocks forming a first subset of the block set are provided with a vertical connector centered between said front and back faces, on the top surface, and sized to fit into the longitudinal slot located on the bottom surface of a block positioned immediately above in a segmental retaining wall. The blocks forming a second subset are not provided with such a vertical connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is multiple-unit indexing, mechanical scissor clamp for handling one or more modular segmental retaining wall units, also called “SRW blocks” having opposite ends each provided with a vertical groove. This clamp allows the user to move SRW blocks from a shipping pallet to a wall. The clamp and blocks are lifted using traditional construction machinery such as a backhoe, crane, bobcat, etc. The significant innovation of this clamp/block system is the ability to lift and place more than one large segmental retaining wall block with each installation cycle, substantially increasing installation efficiency.