Retaining wall with rear pin system
A retaining wall has a plurality of tiers. Each tier has a plurality of blocks. At least one pin passes through each block of at least a first tier and extends into material being retained behind at least a portion of a second tier that underlies the first tier.
The present disclosure relates generally to retaining walls and in particular the present disclosure relates to retaining walls with rear pin systems.
BACKGROUNDRetaining wall blocks typically have a rear edge lip that overlaps an underlying block to assist in forming a retaining wall. These rear lips make storage and transport of retaining wall blocks more difficult and space-consuming. Another problem is that typical lipped blocks have a set lip size, so that a setback from one block to the next in a wall is constant. To change the setback and still maintain structural wall integrity requires different blocks with different lip depths.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative retaining wall blocks.
SUMMARYOne embodiment of the disclosure provides a retaining wall having a plurality of tiers. Each tier has a plurality of blocks. At least one pin passes through each block of at least a first tier and extends into material being retained behind at least a portion of a second tier that underlies the first tier.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
For one embodiment, at least two holes 104 are distributed across a width of block 100 in a direction parallel to the upper surface 108, as shown in
When a block 100 forms a portion of a retaining wall, such as a retaining wall 300 of
Note that pin 120 does not interconnect successively adjacent lower and upper blocks, such as blocks 1002 and 1003, as is often done with some conventional retaining walls. Instead, for one embodiment, pin 120 passes through the portion of the bottom surface 110 of the upper block (e.g., block 1003 of
For one embodiment, a portion of the bottom surface 110 of an upper block (e.g., block 1003 of
As shown in
Block 100, is placed atop block 310 so that its bottom surface abuts the upper surface of block 310, so that the portion of block 1001 with a hole 104 passing therethrough extends into the material 302 behind the rear surface 312 of block 310 and so that hole 104 of block 1001 is aligned with the material 302 behind block 310. A pin 120 is inserted into hole 104 of block 100, so that pin 120 passes entirely through block 100, and extends into the material 302 behind the rear surface 312 of block 310. Block 1002 is then placed atop block 1001 so that its bottom surface abuts the upper surface of block 100, so that the portion of block 1002 with a hole 104 passing therethrough extends into the material 302 behind the rear surface 106 of block 1001, and so that hole 104 of block 1002 is aligned with the material 302 behind block 1001. This processes is repeated until the retaining wall is at a certain (e.g., predetermined) height, at which point a cap block 320 may be placed atop the last block 100 (e.g., block 100N) of the retaining wall, as shown in
Note that the front surfaces 107 of the respective blocks 100 form a front face of retaining wall 300 that is exposed to air, as shown in
It should be further noted that each of the blocks 1001 to 100N of
For one embodiment, a portion of each of the blocks of one tier of blocks is in direct contact with a portion of each of the blocks of another tier of blocks. For example, a portion of the bottom surface 110 of block 1003 of tier 3203 is indirect contact with a portion of the upper surface 108 of block 1002 of tier 3202, as shown in
For example, a portion 512 of an anchor grid 510 is positioned between the blocks 310 of base tier 315 and the blocks 100, of tier 3201, a portion 514 of that anchor grid 510 extends between layers 7001 and 7002 of material 302, and a pin 120 passes through a portion 516 of that anchor grid 510 that is interposed between portion 512 and portion 514, as shown in
For one embodiment, pins 120 pass through blocks 1001 of tier 3201, though an anchor grid 510, e.g., portion 516 of that anchor grid 510 that is aligned with the pins 120, and extend into the material 302 of layer 7001 behind blocks 310 of tier 310 and directly underlying portion 516 of that anchor grid 510, as shown in
Using the pins of the embodiments of the rear pin systems described above to secure the blocks 100 to the material to be retained and thus in their respective positions in the retaining wall avoids a need for appendages, such as rear lips or bumps, that extend from the blocks to secure the blocks to each other in the retaining wall, as is commonly done with conventional blocks of conventional retaining walls. For one embodiment, the top and bottom surfaces of blocks 100 do not include any appendages for securing the blocks to each other. Blocks without appendages transport better. For example, the blocks are substantially level and not off kilter. This acts to provide less contact and collisions between the blocks and therefore less chipping of the blocks during transport.
In addition blocks without appendages are more conducive to the secondary aging process. For example, a some retaining-wall consumers prefer an aged look to their retaining wall. This is done by taking the block and abusing it through a tumbler or another aging machine to give the product a “beat-up” look. If the tumbling is done with a retaining wall block with an appendage, the appendage is likely to become damaged which may effect the locking mechanism and therefore the structural integrity of the wall.
CONCLUSIONAlthough specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Many adaptations of the embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments. It is manifestly intended that the embodiments be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A retaining wall, comprising:
- plurality of tiers, each tier comprising a plurality of blocks;
- wherein at least one pin passes through each block of at least a first tier and extends into material being retained behind at least a portion of a second tier that underlies the first tier.
2. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the at least one pin extends into the material being retained behind the second tier without passing through or extending into any portion of any of the blocks of the second tier.
3. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the blocks of the first tier are in direct contact with the blocks of the second tier.
4. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein a first portion of a grid is interposed between the blocks of the first tier and the blocks of the second tier, wherein the at least one pin that passes through each block of at least the first tier passes through a second portion of the grid, and wherein a third portion of the grid extends between layers of the material being retained.
5. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the grid is interposed between the first and third portions.
6. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the second tier forms a base of the retaining wall.
7. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein at least one pin passes through each block of the second tier and extends into the material being retained behind at least a portion of a third tier that underlies the second tier.
8. The retaining wall of claim 1, wherein each pin passes through a respective block adjacent a rear surface of that block that is in contact with the material being retained.
9. The retaining wall of claim 8, wherein a distance between each pin and the rear surface of the respective block is less than a distance between that pin and a front surface of the respective block that forms a portion of an exposed face of the retaining wall.
10. A retaining wall, comprising:
- plurality of tiers stacked one atop the other, each tier comprising a plurality of blocks;
- wherein at least one first pin passes through each block of a first tier and extends directly into material being retained behind a rear surface of a block of a second tier that underlies that block of the first tier;
- wherein at least one second pin passes through each block of the second tier and extends directly into the material being retained behind a rear surface of a block of a third tier that underlies that block of the second tier; and
- wherein the second tier is interposed between the first and third tiers.
11. The retaining wall of claim 10, wherein the blocks of the first tier are in direct contact with the blocks of the second tier and the blocks of the third tier are also in direct contact with the blocks of the second tier.
12. The retaining wall of claim 10, wherein a first portion of an anchoring grid is interposed between the blocks of the first tier and the blocks of the second tier, wherein each first pin further passes through a second portion anchoring grid, and wherein a third portion of the anchoring grid extends between layers of the material being retained.
13. The retaining wall of claim 12, wherein the blocks of the third tier are in direct contact with the blocks of the second tier.
14. The retaining wall of claim 10, wherein the third tier forms a base of the retaining wall.
15. The retaining wall of claim 10, wherein a head of the second pin passing through each block of the second tier directly underlies a portion of a block of the first tier.
16. A method of forming a retaining wall, comprising:
- passing a first pin though at least one hole that passes completely through each first block of a plurality of first blocks of a first tier of the retaining wall so that the pin extends directly into material being retained that directly underlies a portion of that first block through which the at least one hole passes;
- positioning a plurality of second blocks of a second tier of the retaining wall overlying the plurality of first blocks so that at least one hole passing completely through each of the second blocks is aligned with the material being retained that lies behind the first block which that second block overlies; and
- passing a second pin through the at least one hole passing completely through each of the second blocks so that the second pin extends into the material being retained that lies behind the first block which that second block overlies.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprises before passing the first pin though the at least one hole that passes completely through each first block of the plurality of first blocks of the first tier:
- forming a base tier of third blocks; and
- positioning the plurality of first blocks overlying the plurality of third blocks so that the at least one hole passing completely through each first block is aligned with the material being retained that directly underlies the portion of that first block through which the at least one hole passes, wherein the material being retained that directly underlies the portion of that first block through which the at least one hole passes lies behind the third block which that first block overlies.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein a portion of each second block is in contact with the first block that that second block overlies.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning a plurality of second blocks of a second tier of the retaining wall overlying the plurality of first blocks comprises positioning a portion of each second block directly overlying a head of a first pin.
20. The method of claim 16 further comprises interposing an anchoring grid between the plurality of first blocks of the first tier and the plurality of second blocks of the second tier.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprises passing each first pin through an aperture in the anchoring grid that is aligned with the hole through which that first pin is passed.
22. A method of forming a retaining wall, comprising:
- forming a base tier of first blocks; and
- forming a plurality of tiers of second blocks overlying the base tier, wherein forming each tier of second blocks comprises: passing a pin completely through each second block so that the pin extends from a portion of that second block into material being retained that underlies the portion of that second block from which the pin extends.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the material being retained that directly underlies the portion of each second block of a first tier of second blocks from which a pin extends lies behind a second block of a second tier of second blocks that underlies the first tier of second blocks.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein each pin passes completely through a first portion of an anchoring grid before passing into the material being retained that directly underlies the portion of that second block from which the pin extends.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein a second portion of the anchoring grid is interposed between a first tier of second blocks and a second tier of second blocks underlying the first tier of second blocks, wherein a third portion of the anchoring grid is interposed between layers of the material being retained, and wherein the first portion of the anchoring grid is interposed between the second and third portions of the anchoring grid.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Inventor: Kelly Morrell (Spicer, MN)
Application Number: 11/890,922
International Classification: E02D 29/02 (20060101);