Retaining wall block system

• US 20050072095A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems Incorporated (THE QUIKRETE Cos. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems Incorporated (THE QUIKRETE Cos. LLC)
• Inventors: MacDonald, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,011,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/596
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0266 made up of preformed elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0245 Pegs or pins
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/0265 Building elements for making arcuate walls
• 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 block system is described. The block system includes blocks of different sizes that are configured to be compatible with each other in the construction of a retaining wall or free-standing wall. Each block has at least three faces which are textured to produce the appearance of natural stone. The faces have varying sizes based on variations in width.

Claims

1. A wall block system having a plurality of blocks suitable for use in constructing a wall from multiple courses of the blocks stacked one upon the other, the wall block system comprising:

first and second blocks, each block having a thickness, width and length;

each block having an upper surface spaced apart from a lower surface, thereby defining the block thickness, the upper surface having a plurality of pin receiving apertures, the lower surface having a channel;

each block having opposed first and second faces, thereby defining the block length;

each block having opposed side surfaces, thereby defining the block width as measured between midpoints of the side surfaces, a width of the first blocks being different than a width of the second blocks;

and

a plurality of pins, each pin having a head portion and a body portion, the body portion of each pin being sized to be received in a pin receiving aperture, the head portion being larger than a pin receiving aperture and being sized to be received in a channel, the pins being configured such that when the wall is constructed from the wall block system, the head portion is configured to be received within the channel of the lower surface of a block in a first course of the wall and the body portion is configured to be received in one of the pin receiving apertures of a block in a next lower course of the wall.

2. The wall block system of claim 1 wherein the channel is parallel to the first and second faces.

3. The wall block system of claim 2 wherein the channel is equidistant from the first and second faces.

4. The wall block system of claim 1 wherein the first and second blocks comprise a core extending the thickness of the block.

5. The wall block system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pin receiving apertures is arranged in a row perpendicular to the first and second faces.

6. A wall having a front surface and a rear surface, the wall comprising:

at least a first lower course and a second upper course, each course comprising a plurality of first and second blocks;

each block having an upper surface spaced apart from an opposed lower surface, thereby defining a block thickness, the upper surface having a plurality of pin receiving apertures, the lower surface having a channel;

each block having opposed first and second faces, thereby defining a block length;

each block having opposed side surfaces, thereby defining a block width as measured between midpoints of the side surfaces, the width of the first and second blocks being different;

and

a plurality of pins, each pin having a head portion and a body portion, the body portion of each pin being sized to be received in a pin receiving aperture, the head portion being larger than a pin receiving aperture and being sized to be received in a channel, the pins being configured such that when the wall is constructed, the head portion is configured to be received within the channel of the lower surface of a block in a first course of the wall and the body portion is configured to be received in one of the pin receiving apertures of a block in a next lower course of the wall.

7. The wall of claim 6 wherein the channel is parallel to the first and second faces.

8. The wall of claim 7 wherein the channel is equidistant from the first and second faces.

9. The wall of claim 6 wherein the first and second blocks comprise a core extending the thickness of the block.

10. The wall of claim 6 wherein the plurality of pin receiving apertures is arranged in a row perpendicular to the first and second faces.

11. The wall of claim 6 wherein, for each pin of the plurality of pins, the head portion of the pin forms an annulus about the body portion of the pin.

12. A wall block system having at least three blocks, multiples of the three blocks being suitable for use in constructing a wall from multiple courses of the blocks stacked one upon the other, the wall having a front surface with an irregular block pattern, the wall block system comprising:

first, second, and third blocks, each block having a thickness, width and length;

each block having an upper surface spaced apart from a lower surface, thereby defining the block thickness, the upper surface having a plurality of pin receiving apertures, the lower surface having a channel;

each block having opposed first and second faces, thereby defining the block length;

each block having opposed side surfaces, thereby defining the block width as measured between midpoints of the side surfaces, the width of the first, second, and third blocks being different;

and

a plurality of pins, each pin having a head portion and a body portion, the body portion of each pin being sized to be received in a pin receiving aperture, the head portion being larger than a pin receiving aperture and being sized to be received in a channel, the pins being configured such that when the wall is constructed from the wall block system, the head portion is configured to be received within the channel of the lower surface of a block in a first course of the wall and the body portion is configured to be received in one of the pin receiving apertures of a block in a next lower course of the wall.

13. The wall block system of claim 12 wherein the channel is parallel to the first and second faces.

14. The wall block system of claim 13 wherein the channel is equidistant from the first and second faces.

15. The wall block system of claim 12 wherein the first, second, and third blocks comprise a core extending the thickness of the block.

16. The wall block system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of pin receiving apertures is arranged in a row perpendicular to the first and second faces.

17. A wall having a front surface and a rear surface, the wall comprising:

at least a first lower course and a second upper course, each course comprising a plurality of first, second, and third blocks;

each block having an upper surface spaced apart from an opposed lower surface, thereby defining a block thickness, the upper surface having a plurality of pin receiving apertures, the lower surface having a channel;

each block having opposed first and second faces, thereby defining a block length;

each block having opposed side surfaces, thereby defining a block width as measured between midpoints of the side surfaces, the width of the first, second, and third blocks being different;

and

a plurality of pins, each pin having a head portion and a body portion, the body portion of each pin being sized to be received in a pin receiving aperture, the head portion being larger than a pin receiving aperture and being sized to be received in a channel, the pins being configured such that when the wall is constructed, the head portion is configured to be received within the channel of the lower surface of a block in a first course of the wall and the body portion is configured to be received in one of the pin receiving apertures of a block in a next lower course of the wall.

18. The wall of claim 17 wherein the channel is parallel to the first and second faces.

19. The wall of claim 18 wherein the channel is equidistant from the first and second faces.

20. The wall of claim 17 wherein the first, second, and third blocks comprise a core extending the thickness of the block.

21. The wall of claim 17 wherein the plurality of pin receiving apertures is arranged in a row perpendicular to the first and second faces.

22. The wall of claim 17 wherein, for each pin of the plurality of pins, the head portion of the pin forms an annulus about the body portion of the pin.

23. A wall block system having at least three blocks, multiples of the three blocks being suitable for use in constructing a wall from multiple courses of the blocks stacked one upon the other, the wall having a front surface with an irregular block pattern, the wall block system comprising:

first, second, and third blocks, each block having a thickness, width and length;

each block having an upper surface spaced apart from a lower surface, thereby defining the block thickness, the upper surface having a plurality of pin receiving apertures, the lower surface having a channel;

each block having opposed first and second faces, thereby defining the block length, the area of the first face being greater than the area of the second face;

each block having opposed and non-parallel side surfaces, thereby defining the block width as measured between midpoints of the side surfaces, the width of the first, second, and third blocks being different;

and

a plurality of pins, each pin having a head portion and a body portion, the body portion of each pin being sized to be received in a pin receiving aperture, the head portion being larger than a pin receiving aperture and being sized to be received in a channel, the pins being configured such that when the wall is constructed from the wall block system, the head portion is configured to be received within the channel of the lower surface of a block in a first course of the wall and the body portion is configured to be received in one of the pin receiving apertures of a block in a next lower course of the wall.

24. The wall block system of claim 23 wherein the channel is parallel to the first and second faces.

25. The wall block system of claim 24 wherein the channel is equidistant from the first and second faces.

26. The wall block system of claim 23 wherein the first, second, and third blocks comprise a core extending the thickness of the block.

27. The wall block system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of pin receiving apertures is arranged in a row perpendicular to the first and second faces.