SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN RETAINING WALL CONSTRUCTION
The invention relates to systems and methods for covering portions of one or more block members after laying of the block members to allow filling of hollow cores in the block members with filler materials. A cover member prevents the filler materials from entering into channels or apertures covered by the cover member. A cover member has a top section and a downwardly depending member extending from the top section. The downwardly depending member extends into a portion of the block, and may engage with the block member to retain the cover member in position.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/376,160 filed on Aug. 17, 2016, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a system and methods for use in installation of a retaining wall using cast concrete blocks adapted to be pinned together.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the formation of retaining walls that require reinforcement to withstand significant pressures from adjacent soil formations, products have been developed which allow individual formed blocks of material to be connected to one another to reinforce the wall formed therefrom. One type of block product, particularly useful for forming retaining walls, uses building blocks formed of a concrete material. The blocks stack one on another in rows or courses. In general, the blocks are slightly offset rearwardly from the row immediately below it. In another style, referred to as the flush mode, the forward ends or faces of the blocks are substantially flush with each other. In either form, the blocks are held together using pins or like structures which are inserted through holes or other structures and lodged in recesses or the like in the blocks. The blocks further include one or more hollow core sections provided for housing a reinforcement material, such as aggregate or gravel, that is backfilled into the hollow cores. The pins or the like will hold the blocks together in the desired configuration along with aggregate or gravel provided in the hollow cores of the blocks.
Installation of such retaining wall blocks leads to the problem of the filler, such as aggregate or gravel, used to fill the cores in the blocks tends to fill the channels and/or apertures in the block members used in pinning the blocks together. This requires cleaning out any such aggregate, gravel, or other debris prior to being able to stack another block on top of a laid block for pinning the blocks together. It would be desirable to prevent the aggregate, gravel or other backfill materials or debris from entering the channels and/or apertures in the blocks until another course of blocks are ready to be stacked on a lower course of blocks that have been laid and the cores have been filled with such aggregate, gravel or other backfill materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn an aspect, the invention relates to a cover system for block members having at least one hollow core and used in construction of a retaining wall. The cover system comprises a cover member having a top section and at least one downwardly depending portion from the top section. The at least one downwardly depending portion is positioned with respect to the top section such that it extends into at least a first structure formed in the top of at least one block, but leaving the at least one hollow core of the block uncovered. The top section may be dimensioned to extend over additional structures formed in the top of the at least one block. The structures covered by the cover system may be used for covering portions of the block used for positively engaging the block member to another block member.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for installing a retaining wall using block members stacked on one another. The method includes laying of a plurality of block members having at least one hollow core portion in at least one layer on a surface defining the base of the retaining wall. A cover member is positioned to cover channels, apertures or other structure formed in the block members. The at least one hollow core of each block member is not covered and is filled with a predetermined fill material. At least one further layer of a plurality of block members having at least one hollow core portion are laid upon the lower layer of blocks. The steps are repeated to form a retaining wall of predetermined specifications for each layer of block members. The cover members may be removed before the further layer of block members are stacked on a lower block member.
Examples are directed to systems and methods for covering the channels and/or apertures or other structure formed in the top surface of the block members used to form a retaining wall. The systems and methods allow for covering of portions of one or more block members before or after laying of the block members. This allows filling of the hollow cores in the block members with filler materials, while preventing the filler materials from entering into channels, apertures or other structures in the block members that may be used for securing blocks together in the wall construction. A cover member has a top section and at least one downwardly depending section or member extending downwardly from the top section. The downwardly depending section may have at least one radially outwardly extending portion which, in use, engages with structure formed in the block members. The at least one radially outwardly extending portion may provide an interference fit of the downwardly depending section or stem in the channel, aperture or other structure in the top portion of the block member. When positioned with one or more block members, the cover member covers the channel, aperture or other structure formed in the blocks to prevent filler materials or other debris from entering into the channel, aperture or other structure in the block members.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the figures.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention is described in detail with reference to examples and to the figures. As shown in
As shown in
Turning to
In the example of
Any other suitable arrangements to allow temporary engagement with the sides of the channel 14 (or other structure) are contemplated in the invention, such as a deformable boss extending downwardly from the top section 34 or the like. It is also contemplated that the cover system 30 does not have to necessarily be engaged, such as frictionally, with the structure formed in blocks 12, but simply may include aligning structures extending downwardly that allow proper positioning of the cover system 30 in the desired temporary location in association with and to cover channels 14, apertures 16 or other structures formed in the top surface of the blocks 12. The cover system 30 may have any desired length for use in covering the channel(s) 14 and/or apertures 16 in one or more blocks 12. For example, the cover member 32 may be formed in ten (10) foot lengths, but any desired length is envisioned.
In another example of the invention as in
In another example of the invention as in
Turning to
In an example, the system 30 or 300 may be fabricated of a material that has good durability, but also some amount of flexibility. As shown in
Other examples of blocks 12 having at least one core region, used in forming retaining walls are shown in
In use, the cover system 30 or 300 is used in construction of a retaining wall 10. The method relates to installing a retaining wall 10 using block members 12 stacked on one another in layers to a predetermined height and configuration. The method includes laying of a plurality of block members 12, having at least one hollow core portion, in at least one layer on a surface defining the base of the retaining wall 10. A cover member 32 is positioned to cover channels 14, apertures 16 or other structure formed in the block members. The cover member 32 does not cover the hollow core 18. The at least one hollow core(s) 18 of each block member 12 are filled with a predetermined fill material. The cover member of the cover system 30 or 300 is then removed or left in place as described in examples, and at least one further layer of a plurality of block members 12 having at least one hollow core portion 18 are laid upon the lower layer of blocks and the blocks 12 are positively engaged to one another. These steps are repeated to form a retaining wall of predetermined specifications. The positioning of cover member 32 with a one or more blocks 12 simply requires snapping or inserting the stem section 36 into a channel 14 or other structure of blocks 12, with extension(s) 38 engaging the sides of the channel 14 or other structure of blocks 12 for retention of cover member 32 therewith. Thereafter, for the cover system 30, the cover member 32 is simply removed by pulling the cover member 32 out of the frictional engagement with channel 14 or other structure formed in the top surface of the blocks 12. Alternatively, the stem 36 may not be frictionally engaged but simply positioned in the channel 14. For a cover system 300, the cover member is left in place and the at least one further layer of a plurality of block members 12 having at least one hollow core portion 18 are laid upon the lower layer of blocks and the blocks 12 are positively engaged to one another. In another example, the cover system 30 or 300 is pre-installed on one or more blocks 12 to allow positioning of the blocks 12 in a retaining wall with the system in place, to allow immediate backfilling after installation.
The invention has been described with reference to examples presented above. Only examples have been presented and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as examples of invention, but that the instant invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A cover system for retaining wall block members having at least one hollow core comprising: a cover member having a top section and at least one downwardly depending portion from the top section, the at least one downwardly depending portion positioned with respect to the top section such that it extends into at least a first structure formed in the top of at least one block member, and the top section being dimensioned to extend over at least one additional structure formed in the top of at least one block member, but leaving the at least one hollow core of the block uncovered.
2. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the downwardly depending portion is at least one stem member having at least one radially outwardly extending portion.
3. The cover system of claim 2, wherein the at least one radially outwardly extending portion is dimensioned to engage with the at least first structure.
4. The cover system of claim 2, wherein the at least one radially outwardly extending portion is angled to form a lead-in taper to assist insertion into the at least first structure.
5. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the at least first structure is a channel or an aperture.
6. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional structure is at least one channel, aperture or boss.
7. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional structure is a feature to allow stacked blocks to be positively locked together. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member is formed to mate with a plurality of blocks.
9. The cover system of claim 7, wherein the cover member is made of a material that can flex to curve between a plurality of blocks.
10. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member is dimensioned to fit on a single block.
11. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member is made of a material that allows a block retaining member to be punched through it, while providing the structural integrity to allow backfilling of the at least one hollow core without material entering into the covered area of the block.
12. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member includes at least one punch out portion.
13. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member is made of a biodegradable material.
14. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member is made to be removed from the at least one block for reuse.
15. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member includes at least one angled top surface.
16. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the top section of the cover member has at least one end provided with an interconnecting structure to allow cover members to be interconnected together.
17. A cover system for retaining wall block members having at least one hollow core comprising:
- a cover member having a top section and at least one downwardly depending portion extending from the top section,
- the top section being dimensioned to extend over at least one structure formed in the top of at least one block member while not covering the at least one hollow core, and
- the at least one downwardly depending portion positioned with respect to the top section such that it extends into at least an aperture formed in the top of at least one block member.
18. The cover system of claim 17, wherein the downwardly depending portion includes a retaining structure to engage the block member and at least temporarily retain the cover member in position with at least one block member.
19. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover member is pre-installed in association with a block member.
20. A method of constructing a retaining wall structure formed of a plurality of block members stacked in layers to a predetermined height and configuration, wherein the block members have at least one hollow core, comprising:
- laying of a plurality of block members having at least one hollow core portion in at least one layer on a surface defining the base of the retaining wall,
- positioning a cover member to cover structures formed in the block members, while not covering the at least one hollow core portion of the block member,
- filling the at least one hollow core portion of one or more of the laid block members with a predetermined fill material,
- laying at least one further layer of a plurality of block members upon the lower layer of blocks, and repeating the steps to form a retaining wall of predetermined dimensions.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 16, 2017
Publication Date: Feb 22, 2018
Inventor: Kenneth Smith (Akron, OH)
Application Number: 15/678,305