RETAINING WALL SYSTEM

• US 20150071715A1
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westblock Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Westblock Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hammer, James E., Griffin, Max
• Granted Patent: US 9,562,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/286
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/42 Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surfaces of the articles for handling or stripping castings or ingots during manufacture B22D29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/18 Load gripping or retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0233 the retention means being anchors details of anchors E02D5/80
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0266 made up of preformed elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/08 by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 1/00 Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings of relatively thin form E04C2/00; structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting E04C3/00, e.g. columns or pillars E04C3/30; manufacture or material of building bricks, stones, or the like B28, C03, C04; paving elements E01C; general building constructions E04B, e.g. walls E04B2/00, floors E04B5/00, roofs E04B7/00, ceilings E04B9/00; roof coverings E04D; coverings for walls or ceilings E04F13/00; floorings E04F15/00; structural elements specially designed for built-in conduit shafts E04F17/00; elements for buildings for particular purposes E04H7/00; special elements for building ovens or furnaces F24B, F27D
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 1/395 for claustra, fences, planting walls, e.g. sound-absorbing pots for vertical horticulture A01G9/022

Abstract

A retaining wall system, as well as embodiments of blocks and other devices for use in a retaining wall system. In some embodiments, a retaining wall includes a plurality of face blocks and a plurality of trunk blocks arranged in a plurality of courses of blocks. In some embodiments, a face block can include a face portion and a pair of leg portions, and each of the leg portions can be adapted to be coupled to a trunk block. In some embodiments, various block connecting devices can be used to connect blocks in a single course of blocks and various block alignment devices can be used to align blocks in adjacent courses.

Claims

1. A wall comprising:

a plurality of concrete blocks arranged in one or more vertically stacked courses, wherein the blocks are arranged side-by-side in each of the courses;

wherein each block comprises a face portion, first and second leg portions formed integrally with the face portion, wherein each leg portion extends rearwardly from the face portion to a rear portion of the leg portion and comprises a respective side surface formed with a recessed indentation; and

backfill material occupying space between leg portions of each block, space between leg portions of adjacent blocks, and the recessed indentations.

2. The wall of claim 1, wherein the first and second leg portions of each block are spaced apart such that an earth compactor can fit between the first and second leg portions of the block.

3. A wall block assembly comprising:

a face block comprising a face portion and first and second leg portions formed integrally with the face portion, wherein the first and second leg portions extend rearwardly from the face portion to a rear portion of each leg portion, the rear portion of each leg portion comprising a respective mating feature; and

a trunk block comprising opposing first and second end surfaces and opposing first and second side surfaces, wherein at least the first end surface comprises a mating feature that is complimentary to the mating feature of each leg portion, wherein at least the first side surface comprises two spaced-apart mating features, each being located proximate to one of the end surfaces of the trunk block;

wherein the trunk block is configured to be placed in a perpendicular position relative to the leg portions such that the mating features on the first side surface engage the mating features of the leg portions, and

wherein the trunk block is configured to be placed in a parallel position relative to a selected one of the leg portions such that the mating feature on the first end surface engages the mating feature of the selected leg portion.

4. The wall block assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second leg portions of the face block are spaced apart such that an earth compactor can fit between the first and second leg portions.

5. The wall block assembly of claim 3, wherein the mating feature of each leg portion of the face block is a female mating feature, and the mating features on the first side surface of the trunk block and the mating feature on the first end surface of the trunk block are each male mating features.

6. The wall block assembly of claim 5, wherein the female mating feature of each leg portion of the face block has an upper surface and a lower surface shaped to restrict vertical movement of a male mating feature inserted into the female mating feature.

7. The wall block assembly of claim 6, wherein the female mating feature of each leg portion is open to opposing side surfaces of the leg portion.

8. The wall block assembly of claim 6, wherein the upper surface is angled upwardly extending in a direction toward the rear of the face block.

9. The wall block assembly of claim 3, wherein the trunk block further comprises at least one side surface formed with a recessed indentation that is adapted to receive backfill material.

10. A method of lifting a wall block comprising:

providing a lifting apparatus, wherein the lifting apparatus comprises first and second gripper elements movable between a lifting position and a release position;

while the gripper elements are in the release position, placing the gripper elements on opposite sides of a wall block;

moving the gripper elements to the lifting position so as to engage the opposite sides of the wall block; and

raising the lifting apparatus to lift the wall block off the ground.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lifting apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the gripper elements in the lifting position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism is connected to a drive mechanism configured to move the gripper elements between the lifting position and the release position.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the lifting apparatus is carried by a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle is a forklift

15. The method of claim 14, wherein tines of the forklift are inserted into openings of the lifting apparatus.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the gripper elements to the lifting position comprises inserting the gripping elements into respective openings in the opposite sides of the wall block.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wall block comprises:

a face portion; and

first and second leg portions formed integrally with the face portion, wherein each leg portion extends rearwardly from the face portion to a rear portion of the leg portion and comprises a respective side surface, wherein the openings are formed in the side surfaces of the leg portions.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the gripper elements to the lifting position comprises inserting the gripper elements into respective recessed indentations in the opposite sides of the wall block.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the wall block comprises:

a face portion; and

first and second leg portions formed integrally with the face portion, wherein each leg portion extends rearwardly from the face portion to a rear portion of the leg portion and comprises a respective side surface, wherein the recessed indentations are formed in the side surfaces of the leg portions.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the gripper elements engage the opposite sides of the wall block at a location which is offset from the center of gravity of the block and the block is rotated about an axis extending through the gripper elements from a first orientation to a second orientation after the wall block is lifted off the ground.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a front face of the wall block is vertically oriented in the first orientation and faces upwardly in the second orientation.

22. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotating the wall block about a horizontal axis extending through the gripper elements after the wall block is lifted off the ground.