Interlocking and securable retaining wall block and system
Retaining wall blocks, retaining wall system formed thereby, and method for manufacturing the retaining wall blocks. The blocks are adapted for assembly to form a retaining wall system. A block of an upper row is laterally positioned by positioning it on top of two lower blocks. Each block also includes at least one mounting surface for securing a stabilizing element therewith. The mounting surface can be embodied as a groove which is inset into the upper surface of the blocks. Each block may additionally include opposing front and back body portions, and opposing side body portions, defining a void therein. The blocks may include aligning elements extending upwardly from an upper surface of the block body. The aligning elements of the lower blocks fit into the void of the upper block and assist in aligning the upper block on the lower blocks and, optionally, in securing a reinforcing structure placed between the layers. The wall, which may be either straight or curved, includes a plurality of blocks stacked in one or more rows. The aligning elements fit into the void and perform the aligning and reinforcing function in straight rows and when the rows curve to form a curved retaining wall. When the wall is assembled, anchoring elements may be placed throughout the wall by attaching an end of the anchoring element to the stabilizing element, while securing another end of the anchoring element to another stable surface, such as the ground.
This nonprovisional application claims priority based upon the prior U.S. provisional applications entitled “INTERLOCKING RETAINING WALL BLOCKS AND SYSTEM”, Application Nos. 60/349,973, filed Jan. 18, 2002, and 60/363,942, filed Mar. 12, 2002, and the prior U.S. provisional applications entitled “SECURABLE RETAINING WALL BLOCK AND SYSTEM”, Application Nos. 60/350,265 filed Jan. 18, 2002 and 60/363,906 filed Mar. 12, 2002, in the name of Larry Shaw.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to retaining walls, and more particularly disposed, but not by way of limitation, to retaining wall systems using interlocking retaining wall blocks that may incorporate stabilizing elements between the retaining wall blocks, and methods of their manufacture.
2. History of Related Art
Retaining walls having been used in general construction, and particularly in landscaping for many years. The design of and the materials used for retaining walls have varied over time. Retaining walls are typically used to support or retain soil or the like in place, but also may be used to enhance the appearance of a surrounding area. Such walls typically stand on a ground region and retain therebehind an earthen section or other fill material, which earthen section would otherwise form a natural slope in place of the retaining wall. Such retaining walls are typically vertical or at a slight angle. A generally vertical retaining wall may begin to deform as the mass of the earth retained behind it presses against it. A wall must resist this tendency. In addition, designers of retaining walls are constantly striving to construct retaining walls providing greater strength for support of a greater weight.
One of the most popular, and aesthetically pleasing forms of retaining wall construction involves the use of manually positionable individual blocks. The blocks may be stacked one on top of the other to form a pattern on an outside face of the retaining wall. It can be very time consuming and tedious aligning numerous blocks to form the proper pattern in the retaining wall. Moreover, a retaining wall may have one or more curved portions. The very design of many retaining wall blocks to assist in maintaining stability may be counter to the formation of a curved wall portion. In addition, current retaining wall anchors are very cumbersome and laborious to install. These wall anchors include one end which is placed in a void of a retaining wall block. The block is then filled with concrete or a similar substance in order to secure the anchor attachment. The concrete must then dry or settle before the assembly of the retaining wall can continue. A block for retaining walls and a retaining wall system is needed which provides enhanced structural support for both curved and linear wall portions, and is simple to use as well as simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Related art references discussing subject matter bearing some relation to matters discussed herein include U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,042 to Dueck (Dueck), U.S. Pat. Re. 37,278 to Forsberg (Forsberg), U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,183 to Woolford (Woolford), U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,761 to Rossi (Rossi), U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,898 to Beretta (Beretta), U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,216 to Sievert (Sievert), U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,130 to Shatley (Shatley), U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,236 to Gravier (Gravier), German Gebrauchsmuster DE 295 00 694 U1 to Ming Su (Ming Su), U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,006 to Dawson (Dawson), U.S. Design Pat. No. 380,560 to Forsberg, U.S. Design Pat. No. 384,168 to Stevenson, U.S. Design Pat. No. 397,451 to Stevenson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,525 to Miller (Miller), U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,097 to Martin (Martin), U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,623 to Anderson et al (Anderson), U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,511 to Keller, Jr. (Keller), U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,551 to Scheiwiller (Scheiwiller), U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,320 B1 to Di Lorenzo (Di Lorenzo), U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,275 to Trahan (Trahan), U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,293 to Brown et al. (Brown), U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,682 to Egan (Egan), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,059 B1 to Cantarano et al (Cantarano). Dueck discloses a retaining wall block with downward-extending cylindrical knobs. Forsberg discloses pins and pockets for interlocking overlapping blocks. Woolford discloses a masonry block which has a centrally-located and dogbone-shaped, or two centrally-located circular, protrusions aligned with an opposing inset (or insets) extending partially into the block. Rossi discloses dry-mounted construction elements for use in a retaining wall with a series of openings within each block. Beretta discloses retaining wall blocks with a cambered front, tapering side walls and an abutment for engagement with an adjacent lower block. Sievert discloses a solid composite masonry retaining wall block with a flange extending down from the block back surface past the height of the block. Shatley discloses a retaining wall building block with rearward and forward aligning elements extending downward, holes extend through the blocks and pins for interlocking them together. Gravier discloses retaining wall blocks with an upward lateral extending front lip and a laterally extending recess. Ming Su apparently discloses a retaining wall block with upward-extending cylindrical knobs. Dawson discloses a retaining wall block with a flange extending downward from the block's rear surface. The Forsberg design patent discloses a three faceted broken front face retaining wall block with a rear edge protrusion from the bottom surface of the block. The 384,168 Stevenson design patent discloses a retaining wall block with 2 rear protrusions from the bottom surface of the block. The 397,451 Stevenson design patent discloses a portion of a retaining block wall using the retaining wall blocks of the 384,168 design patent. Miller discloses a groove in the side of a block and uses a small slat inserted in the groove. Martin discloses an array of projections on the top face of a block that fits into an array of apertures on a bottom face of a higher block. Anderson discloses vertical rods inserted through holes of the blocks in order to form reinforced columns. Keller discloses block having a dovetail section for fitting together with adjacent blocks. The Scheiwiller discloses blocks having holes for attaching with other blocks by filling the holes with concrete. Di Lorenzo discloses wall flanges held together by rods or cables that are held in each adjacent brick. Trahan discloses a block with a lower lip that fits into the block below it. Brown discloses a wall using a tieback to connect to a lower member. Egan discloses a modular wall block with rearward abscesses for receiving grid connectors. Cantarano discloses a wall form panel with interlocking protrusions around the edges which make the panel reversibly symmetric.
It would be a distinct advantage to have a block which is simple to make and to use in building retaining walls, and which provides greater support, while maintaining the aesthetic beauty of the segmental block pattern.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to retaining walls, and more particularly, one aspect of the present invention involves a retaining wall block system incorporating a mounting surface for receiving a stabilizing element and may further include an interlocking mechanism. The retaining wall blocks may be secured by placing a stabilizing element on the mounting surface of two or more adjacent blocks, thereby providing additional support and sturdiness the a retaining wall block system. An entire row, or large portions thereof, can be provided significant stabilization from one or a series of stabilizing elements. The mounting surface receives a stabilizing element without disturbing the assembly of the blocks into the retaining wall system.
In another embodiment, the block may include a block body having opposing front and back body portions, and two opposing side body portions which define a void in the interior of the block. The block may also include at least one aligning element located on an upper surface of the block body, on the side body portions, adjacent to the void. The aligning elements may be integral with the respective side body portion from which it extends, and may extend across the width thereof The aligning elements are separated laterally from each other. The aligning elements may also extend rearwardly of a line defined by the rear surface defining the void, thereby forming a generally L-shaped element having a rear section extending across a portion of the width of the rear body portion also adjacent to the void. When assembling the blocks on top of each other, the blocks are staggered, so that each block in an upper row rests upon parts of two blocks in a lower row. The void in the upper block is placed over an aligning element of each of the two lower blocks. Configuration of the aligning elements and void size permits use in both straight and curved retaining wall sections without necessitating removal of any parts of the aligning elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSA more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present will become more apparent by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying Detailed Description.
The present invention relates to a retaining wall system incorporating interlocking wall blocks, stabilizing elements, and anchoring elements forming that wall, and the method of manufacture of the wall blocks.
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A retaining wall system 50 may also need supplementary securement in addition to the aligning elements 29, 30, and the stabilizing element 51. In this case, an anchoring element 55 can be attached at one end to the stabilizing element 51, and the other end of the anchoring element 55 can be secured in the ground. These anchoring elements 55 can be placed throughout the retaining wall system 50. The anchoring elements 55 of the present invention are advantageous to previously used anchors due to the fact that the anchoring elements 55 can be immediately secured to the stabilizing element 51 without waiting for drying concrete, which secured the previous anchors.
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It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the apparatus shown and described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. An interlocking retaining wall block, adapted for assembly into a retaining wall system including a plurality of stacked rows of at least a plurality of said blocks, said block comprising:
- left, right, front and rear body portions, said front and rear body portions of said blocks being connected by said left and right body portions, defining a void therebetween,
- a substantially planar lower surface of said block; and
- at least a left and a right aligning element extending upwardly from an upper surface of said block, each of said aligning elements located forward of an exterior face of the rear body portion and rearward of an interior face the front body portion on each of said left and right body portions, wherein each of said aligning elements is operable to be received by the void of another one of said blocks.
2. The interlocking block of claim 1, said rear body portion comprising a rear surface defining an end of the block; and
- each of said aligning elements comprising a flat rear face and extending laterally inwardly of said left and right body portions;
- wherein said flat rear face is above said rear body portion and forward of said rear surface.
3. The interlocking block of claim 2, wherein each of said aligning elements is adapted to extend upwardly into the void of one of the blocks in a row stacked above to interlock therewith, and wherein the void defined by the body portions is a single void extending through said block.
4. The interlocking block of claim 1, each of said aligning elements comprising a substantially L-shaped aligning element adapted to extend upwardly into the void of one of the blocks in a row stacked above to interlock therewith.
5. The interlocking block of claim 4, wherein said second aligning portions of said left and right aligning elements are adapted to interlock with the rear body portion of the block in the row stacked above.
6. The interlocking block of claim 1, each of said left and right body portions comprising inner and outer side surfaces and the rear body portion comprising a front surface defining the void;
- wherein each of said first portions of said aligning elements is flush with both of said inner and outer side surfaces of the respective body portion from which it extends and each of said second portions of said aligning elements is flush with the front surface.
7. The interlocking block of claim 1, wherein said block is operable to be secured by a stabilizing element, said block further comprising a groove including a front, rear, and bottom face, said groove operable to receive said stabilizing element.
8. The interlocking block of claim 7, wherein said groove extends laterally rearward of the front body portion and forward of the rear body portion.
9. The interlocking block of claim 7, wherein supports an anchoring element secured to the stabilizing element.
10. A method of constructing an interlocking retaining wall block, comprising the steps of:
- forming left and right body portions and front and rear body portions, wherein
- said front and rear body portions are connected by said left and right body portions, and define a void therebetween;
- forming a substantially planar lower surface of said block; and
- forming at least one aligning element extending upwardly from an upper surface of said block, said
- aligning element comprising a forward aligning portion located forward of the rear body portion and a rear aligning portion located on the rear body portion rearward of the left and right body portions, wherein the at least one aligning element is operable to be received by the void of another one of said blocks.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming at least one aligning element includes the step of forming a substantially rectangular aligning element.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of forming left and right body portions includes the steps of:
- forming inner and outer side surfaces for each of said left and right body portions; and
- forming a forward aligning portion flush with both of said inner and outer surfaces of the respective body portion from which it extends.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of forming at least one aligning element includes the step of integrally-forming each said forward aligning portion with said rear aligning portions located rearward thereof
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of forming left and right body portions includes the step of forming a rear surface of said rear body portion, said rear surface defining an end of the block, and each of said rear aligning portions has a flat rear face and extends laterally inwardly of said left and right body portions, and said flat rear face is above said rear body portion and forward of said rear surface.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of forming at least one said aligning element comprises the step of forming a substantially L-shaped aligning element having a flat rear face extending laterally inwardly of said left and right body portions.
17. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of forming a groove rearward of said front body portion and forward of said rear body portion, said groove operable to receive a stabilizing element.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of forming further comprises the step of supporting, by the block, an anchoring element secured to the stabilizing element.
19. A retaining wall block, adapted for assembly into a retaining wall system and its securement therein by a stabilizing element, said retaining wall system including a plurality of stacked rows of at least a plurality of said blocks, said block comprising:
- left, right, front and rear body portions; and
- at least one groove adapted to receive said stabilizing element, said groove extending laterally rearward of the front body portion and forward of the rear body portion or laterally between the left and right body portions.
20. The securable retaining wall block of claim 19, wherein said groove comprises a channel
- sufficiently deep to permit the stabilizing element to be contained therein.
21. The securable retaining wall block of claim 19, wherein said groove supports an anchoring element secured to the stabilizing element.
22. An interlocking retaining wall block, adapted for assembly and securement into a retaining wall system by a stabilizing element, said system including a plurality of stacked rows of at least a plurality of said blocks, said block comprising:
- left, right, front and rear body portions, said front and rear body portions of said blocks being connected by said left and right body portions, defining a void therebetween;
- a substantially planar lower surface of said block;
- at least a left and a right aligning element extending upwardly from an upper surface of said block, each of said aligning elements located forward of an exterior face of the rear body portion and rearward of an interior face the front body portion on each of said left and right body portions, wherein each of said aligning elements is operable to be received by the void of another one of said blocks; and
- said block having formed therein a groove operable to receive said stabilizing element.
23. The interlocking retaining wall block of claim 22, wherein said groove is formed sufficiently deep to permit the stabilizing element to be contained therein.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2003
Publication Date: Mar 31, 2005
Inventor: Kenneth Shaw (Double Oak, TX)
Application Number: 10/501,688