Retaining wall block
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A retaining wall block comprising:
- a top surface;
a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface;
first and second side surfaces;
a front face;
a rear face, the front and rear faces, top and bottom surfaces and side surfaces defining a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face, and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the neck portion including a first portion of the first side surface and a first portion of the second side surface, the first portion of the first side surface lying substantially within a first plane, the first portion of the second side surface lying substantially within a second plane, the neck portion being configured such that intersections of the first and second planes with the body portion define first and second corner portions of the body portion, the body portion including first and second pin holes opening into the top surface and first and second pin receiving cavities extending though the body portion and opening into the top surface and the bottom surface, the pin receiving cavities being positioned such that no portion of the cavities lie within the first and second corner portions.
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Abstract
A retaining wall block is provided with a core, pin receiving cavities, and pin holes. The pin receiving cavities and pin holes are arranged on the block symmetrically on the block and substantially outside of block corner segments, thus resulting in a stronger block and permitting optimal alignment of the wall block cores when constructing a retaining wall. Retaining walls made using the block have increased strength.
143 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A retaining wall block comprising:
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a top surface;
a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface;
first and second side surfaces;
a front face;
a rear face, the front and rear faces, top and bottom surfaces and side surfaces defining a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face, and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the neck portion including a first portion of the first side surface and a first portion of the second side surface, the first portion of the first side surface lying substantially within a first plane, the first portion of the second side surface lying substantially within a second plane, the neck portion being configured such that intersections of the first and second planes with the body portion define first and second corner portions of the body portion, the body portion including first and second pin holes opening into the top surface and first and second pin receiving cavities extending though the body portion and opening into the top surface and the bottom surface, the pin receiving cavities being positioned such that no portion of the cavities lie within the first and second corner portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 17)
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6. A retaining wall comprising at least one lower course and at least one upper course, each course comprising a plurality of blocks laid in a running bond pattern, each block having a top surface;
- a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface;
first and second side surfaces;
a front face;
and a rear face;
the front and rear faces, top and bottom surfaces and side surfaces defining a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face, and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the neck portion including a first portion of the first side surface and a first portion of the second side surface, the first portion of the first side surface lying substantially within a first plane, the first portion of the second side surface lying substantially within a second plane, the neck portion being configured such that intersections of the first and second planes with the body portion define first and second corner portions of the body portion, the body portion including first and second pin holes opening into the top surface and first and second pin receiving cavities extending through the body portion and opening into the top surface and the bottom surface, the pin receiving cavities being positioned such that no portion of the cavities lie within the first and second corner portions;
first and second pins disposed in the first and second pin holes, respectively, of a block in the lower course, the first pin having a first free end protruding beyond the top face of the block, the second pin having a second free end protruding beyond the top face of the block, the first free end being received in a pin receiving cavity of a first block in the upper course, the second free end being received in a pin receiving cavity of a second block in the upper course, a continuous cavity being defined by each opening of vertically aligned blocks in the upper course of the blocks communicating with side voids of vertically adjacent blocks in the lower course. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
- a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface;
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19. A retaining wall block for use in constructing a wall having at least first and second courses of blocks, a plurality of blocks in the first course being connected to blocks in the second course by use of pins, the wall blocks comprising:
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a top surface;
a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface;
first and second side surfaces;
a front face; and
a rear face, the front and rear faces, top and bottom surfaces and side surfaces defining a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face, and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the neck portion including a first portion of the first side surface and a first portion of the second side surface, the body portion including first and second pin holes opening into the top surface and first and second pin receiving cavities extending through the body portion and opening into the top surface and the bottom surface, the block being symmetrical about a vertical plane of symmetry, the first pin receiving cavity and the first pin hole each being disposed on a first side of the plane of symmetry, the second pin receiving cavity and the second pin hole being disposed on a second side of the plane of symmetry, the first pin hole being located nearer the first side surface than the first pin receiving cavity and the second pin hole being located nearer the second side surface than the second pin receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A retaining wall block comprising:
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a top surface;
a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface;
first and second side surfaces;
a front face;
a rear face, the front and rear faces, top and bottom surfaces and side surfaces defining a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face, and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the neck portion including a first portion of the first side surface and a first portion of the second side surface, the body portion including first and second pin holes opening into the top surface and first and second pin receiving cavities extending through the body portion and opening into the top surface and the bottom surface, the block being symmetrical about a vertical plane of symmetry, the first and second pin receiving cavities each having a rear wall extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of symmetry.
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Specification