BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved retaining wall construction and, more particularly, to a construction which is especially useful as a lower height, gravity wall.

Utilization of precast blocks for construction of gravity walls and other forms of earth retaining embankments is taught in various prior art patents.

These patents depict various types of precast blocks in combination with various types of anchoring or stabilizing elements and compacted earth in order to provide a retaining wall construction. The facing blocks for such constructions often have a very complex shape thereby rendering the block casting operation complex or difficult and also rendering manipulation of the blocks cumbersome and/or difficult.

Thus, there has developed a need, especially with respect to walls having a lower height, to provide a methodology for construction of a wall using precast concrete blocks of simple configuration in combination with anchoring and other elements, also having a simple configuration. Also, the blocks should be light weight and easy to manipulate and assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a retaining wall construction which is fabricated from a plurality of generally modular facing blocks arranged in horizontal layers or courses with the vertically adjacent blocks overlapping one another, at least in part, to define a mosaic pattern. The blocks are precast and have a generally rectangular front face, a hollow core or vertical throughbore, a back wall and generally converging side walls. Attached to the back wall are anchoring blocks which are typically precast, rectangular parallelpiped concrete blocks having vertical throughbores. The sides of the anchoring blocks are positioned against the back wall of the facing blocks and retained there by straps or other types of fasteners. A series of anchoring blocks may be connected to one another to define an anchor or reinforcing element which is maintained within earth or paniculate material compacted on the back side of the gravity wall. Various types of fasteners are disclosed for connecting the blocks to one another. Various arrangements for stacking the blocks relative to each other and in combination are also disclosed. Constructions for corners, as well as a cap block arrangement are also disclosed.

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved retaining wall construction comprised of simple, easily handled component parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved retaining wall construction which is economical to assemble and wherein the component parts are very economical to make.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved retaining wall or gravity type wall which is especially useful for the construction of lower height retaining walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved retaining wall construction which is fabricated from easily manufactured component paαs as well as component parts which are readily available.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIGURE 1 is a cut-away, exploded isometric view of a typical retaining wall construction of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a wall of the type shown in Figure 1 , wherein a right angle corner is incorporated in the wall;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of a wall of the type shown in Figure 1 ; FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of a wall of the type shown in Figure 1 ; FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a wall construction wherein a convex curve is incorporated in the wall, and a soil reinforcing element is attached to the blocks;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a wall of the invention wherein a concave curve is incorporated therein;

FIGURE 7 is a front plan view of a typical facing block used to practice the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of a typical facing block used to practice the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a rear plan view of the facing block of Figure 7; FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a typical anchor block used to practice the invention;

FIGURE 1 1 is an end view of the anchor block of Figure 10; FIGURE 12 is a side view of the anchor block of Figure 10; FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of an alternate anchor block; FIGURE 14 is an end view of the block of Figure 13; FIGURE 1 5 is a side view of the block of Figure 13;

FIGURE 1 6 is an isometric view of a typical clip or fastener used to attach separate facing and/or anchor blocks together;

FIGURE 17 is an isometric view of an alternate clip or fastener;

FIGURE 18 is a front elevation of the clip of Figure 17; FIGURE 19 is a side elevation of the clip of Figure 17;

FIGURE 20 is an isometric view of a second alternate clip design;

FIGURE 21 is a front view of a third alternate clip design;

FIGURE 22 is a side view of the clip of Figure 21 ;

FIGURE 23 is a top view of a further alternate fastener design; FIGURE 24 is an isometric view of the fastener of Figure 23;

FIGURE 25 is an isometric view of a flexible strap used as a fastener to connect adjacent blocks;

FIGURE 26 is a side view of the strap of Figure 25; and

FIGURE 27 is an isometric view of a final alternate fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Overview

Figures 1 through 4 provide a general overview of the gravity wall or retaining wall of the invention. The wall is typically positioned on a footing or compacted, horizontal surface 30. The wall is comprised of horizontal rows of front facing blocks

32 (one block of each row marked, as examples) which are arranged in layers or courses on top of one another. Most typically, the facing blocks 32 of vertically adjacent layers or courses overlap one another laterally, at least in part, as best seen in Figure 4. Generally the blocks 32 are not set back, but rather are stacked with their front faces defining a planar surface. They may, however, be set back.

The facing blocks 32 are connected to anchor blocks 34 (one block of each row marked, as representative) attached to the back side or back wall 68 (see Fig. 2; one back wall marked, as representative) of selected facing blocks 32. The anchor blocks 34 are interconnected by means of fasteners or clips 36 (one clip of each row marked, as representative). The facing blocks 32 include throughbores 70 (see Fig. 2; one representative throughbore marked) into which gravel or other paniculate material is placed. The anchor blocks 34 are attached to selected layers or courses of facing blocks 32 and are surrounded by compacted paniculate material 38 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The entire assembly is built up in courses or layers and the blocks 32 of the top course constitute cap blocks 40 (see Fig. 4) defining a cap of the retaining wall construction.

The facing blocks 32, as well as the anchor blocks 34, may be fabricated from dry cast concrete. The facing blocks 32 as well as the anchor 34 blocks are generally modular and generally the size of typical concrete blocks so that they may be easily manually manipulated. The facing blocks 32 are of a simple design which can be easily

cast and easily manipulated into a position to form the wall. The face of the facing blocks 32 may be textured or otherwise shaped in a desired configuration.

The facing blocks 32 may be vertically connected by positioning rods, stakes or other members 42 (see Fig. 3; one representative member marked) in the hollow spaces of adjacent blocks 32. The facing blocks 32 may be horizontally connected by means of rigid horizontal cross members 44 (see Fig. 2; one representative member marked), for example. Another means for interconnecting the facing blocks 32 as well as a means for providing reinforcement of the paniculate material 38 comprises a fabric, geotextile or geogrid material 46 (see Figs. 3 and 5) retained by the members 42, for example, and projecting into the paniculate material 38.

Numerous permutations and combinations of the described elements are possible. Moreover, numerous alternative configurations of the fasteners or clips 36 are possible. Various alternatives of the anchor blocks 34 may also be used, though it is preferable to use a standard concrete block construction. The following description discusses therefore some of the variations and permutations of the basic construction described in this overview.

Figure 2 depicts a right angle wall corner which incorporates corner blocks 48 which are alternated in direction at the corners as depicted in Figure 2. The corner blocks 48 typically have a front face 50 and side face 52 (representative faces marked) and may include one or more vertical openings or throughbores 54 for receipt of pins that fit through vertically adjacent corner blocks 48 so that the corner will remain in substantially fixed alignment. The vertical openings or throughbores 54 are thus positioned so that the corner blocks 48 may be alternated, with the venical openings 54 aligned at the corner.

Referring to Figure 5, there is depicted, in a top plan view, the construction of a convex curve. It is necessary or preferred that the anchor blocks 34 associated with layers of facing blocks 32, forming the curve in the wall, be attached to alternating vertical courses distinct from the alternating vertical courses associated with the adjacent angled section of the wall. Thus, the anchor blocks 34, at least in the vicinity of the curve, may overlap as depicted in Figure 5, thereby enabling the use of anchor blocks 34 with respect to curved or angled sections of a wall.

It should be noted that Figure 2 depicts a right angle corner, while Figure 5 depicts a convex curve. Other corners, curves and angles may be formed and the construction is not limited to a right angle corner and a convex curve. Wall sections may be joined at any angle. Intersections may be curved convexly as shown in Figure 5. Intersections may form straight angles. Wall sections may join at an angle greater or less than 90° or 1 80° or be concave as depicted in Figure 6. The arrangement of the anchor blocks 34 in combination with the facing blocks 32 is such that multiple wall sections forming complex walls can be constructed. In all events, the anchor blocks 34 should extend into paniculate material 38 without interfering with each other, as in Figures 2 and 5, regardless of the curvature or corners formed in the wall by the facing blocks 32.

Block Constructions Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the construction of a preferred embodiment of the facing blocks 32. As in Figures 6 and 7, a front face 60 is positioned on a front wall 62. Converging side walls 64 and 66 connect with a back wall 68 so that a top plan view configuration of the facing block 32 is generally that of a trapezoid. The front face 60 may be textured or configured in a number of ways. For example, the front

face 60 may be generally planar. The front face 60 may be also in a convex or concave shape. The front face 60 may also have various shapes applied thereto or inserts applied therein.

A vertical throughbore 70 connects a top surface 72 with a bottom surface 74 of the facing block 32. The surfaces 72 and 74 are generally parallel to one another.

The back wall 68 may include detents or slots 76 and 78 adjacent to top surface and bottom surface 72 and 74, respectively.

The height of the facing blocks 32 exceeds the height of the anchor blocks by a fraction of an inch. The profile of the front face 60 is generally that of a rectangle. The side walls 64 and 66 converge to enable formation of curved walls such as depicted in Figure 5. The slots 76 and 78, as will be explained in greater detail below, are for cooperation with the fasteners or clips 36. The slots 76 or 78 are optional features in the facing blocks 32.

As shown in Figures 10-12, the anchor blocks 34 may comprise typical drycast, rectangular, concrete blocks. The anchor blocks 34 are generally of a rectangular, parallelpiped shape. Thus an anchor block 34 will include longitudinal side walls 80 and 82 joined together by transverse side walls 84 and 86. End flanges extend off the side walls 84, 86. An internal web or wall 88 connects the longitudinal walls 80 and 82 at their midpoint. Vertical throughbores 90 and 92 are defined by the arrangement of side walls 80, 82, side walls 84, 86 and web walls 88.

In an alternate block 34, the side walls 84 and 86 may include at their midpoints, either at the top or bottom thereof or in both positions, slots or detents 94 and 96 as shown in Figures 13-1 5. The slots 94 and 96 of anchor block 34 coact with fasteners 36 in the same manner as do slots 76 and 78 associated with the facing blocks 32. A side wall 84 or 86 coacts with a back wall 68 of a facing block 32 and

is retained therewith by means of the fasteners or clips 36 in slots 76, 78, 94, 96 as discussed below.

The surfaces of walls 68, 84 and 86 preferably define planar contact surfaces so that the blocks 32, 34 will fit snugly against each other. The heights of the facing blocks 32 and alternate anchor blocks 34 of Figures 13-15 are preferably equal.

Fasteners

Figures 16 through 27 illustrate various types of fasteners which are used to interconnect blocks 32, 34. Referring first to Figure 16, there is illustrated a clip or fastener 36 which is comprised of a pair of opposed spaced legs 100 and 102 joined by a crown 104. The fastener or clip 36 is typically made of galvanized steel and the legs 100 and 102 are spring biased toward one another by the crown 104. The legs 100 and 102 may fit over adjacent side walls 84 and 86 of adjacent anchor blocks 34. Alternatively the clips 36 fit over an adjacent side wall 84 or 86 of anchor block 34 and back wall 68 of facing block 32 to connect them together as depicted in Figures 1-3, 5 and 6. The crown 104 may fit into slots 76 and 94 associated with the facing blocks 32 and alternate anchor blocks 34 when such slots 76, 94 are provided. One or two fasteners 36 may be used for each connection of blocks. That is, the fasteners 36 may connect the bottom and/or top of each pair of joined blocks. Connection at the top is preferred and depicted in Figures 1 and 3. As depicted in Figures 17-19, an alternate fastener 36 may also have legs 100,

102 joined by a crown 104. A lower run 106 and 108 of each leg 100 and 102 is upwardly and outwardly curved.

As depicted in Figure 20, second alternate fasteners or clips 36 may include an upwardly extending pin 1 10 attached thereto which can coact with a soil reinforcing

element such as a geogrid, geotextile, wire mesh or steel strip material 1 1 2 as shown in Figures 3 and 5 (one representative pin marked). The pin 1 10 may be hook shaped or otherwise shaped to coact with the geogrid material 1 12 or any other screening or earth stabilizing material or member. Pin or hook 1 10 is preferably positioned over the side wall 84 or 86 of anchor block 34, so it will not interfere with the adjacent stacked facing blocks 32.

Figures 21 and 22 illustrate another alternative construction for a fastener. Here the fastener 1 14 comprises a pair of opposed legs 1 16 and 1 18 joined by a crown 120. The legs 1 16 and 1 18 have an extent or height which is substantially equal to the depth or height of the back wall 68 of the facing block 32 and the side walls 84,86 of the anchor block 34. The legs 1 16 and 1 18 are biased toward each other by virtue of the construction of the crown 120. The legs 1 16 and 1 18 include inwardly projecting tabs 122 and 124, respectively, which tend to lock adjacent blocks 32 and 34 together by fitting over the walls, e.g. walls 68 and 84. Figures 23 and 24 illustrate yet another construction for a fastener or clip.

Here a rod or pin 126 connects spaced plates 128 and 130. The rod or pin 126 may be a nut and bolt fastener which is adjustable to thereby adjust the distance between the plates 128 and 130 and to thereby permit the plates 128 and 130 to be tightened. The pin 126 may fit within slots, such as slots 76 and 94 defined in the facing block 32 and anchor block 34 with the plates 128, 130 fitting against the walls 68, 80. As in Figure 27, the pin 126 may have plates 128, 130 in the form of washers. Bolted connection may be made by placement through additional holes or slots (not shown) in the walls of the blocks.

Figures 25 and 26 illustrate yet another method or construction for a fastener. Here a flexible strap 132 is provided. The strap 132 is positioned around the back wall

68 and side wall 84. The ends of the strap 132 are configured with a buckle or latching mechanism 134 to thereby hold the anchor block 34 and facing block 32 or a pair of anchor blocks 34 together.

Numerous alternatives to the described block construction as well as the fasteners and the manner in which they may be stacked and interconnected are possible. Utilization of geogrid materials and other reinforcing materials to interconnect the facing blocks 32 and anchor blocks 34 may be varied in numerous ways. In all events, the simplicity of the construction is enhanced by the ability to use a simple facing block 32 construction in combination with an anchor block 34 construction of equal simplicity. The anchor block 34 construction is, in fact, of a type already commonly available. The retaining walls of the present invention are especially useful for low height gravity walls, for example walls up to six feet or thereabouts in height. With the present invention it is especially advantageous to construct such walls since they may be constructed manually. Thus, while there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited by the following claims and their equivalents.