Grooved retaining wall block and system
AssigneeKeystone Retaining Wall Systems, Inc.
InventorRobert J. Race
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Connectors for use in a retaining wall and a retaining wall having grooved blocks configured to receive the connector. Connectors can be used in various orientations within the grooves of the blocks. In a retaining wall, a flexible geosynthetic material fits into a channel of a channel connector, and is held in place by an elongate bar. The connector prevents abrasion of geosynthetic material. The connector can also be a plurality of spaced-apart projections for use with an apertured, relatively rigid geogrid. The connectors hold geogrid firmly in place, providing for increased connection capacity.
Claims21
A connector for engaging a geosynthetic material used for stabilizing a wall formed from a plurality of wall blocks having a top surface defining a groove, the connector comprising:
- an elongate channel portion having first and second sides defining a channel therebetween;
- and
- an elongate bar configured to engage a section of the geosynthetic material within the channel, the channel portion and bar being sized to be accommodated within the groove of at least one block.
A retaining wall comprising:
- a plurality of blocks including at least one lower course and at least one upper course, at least one block having a top surface defining a groove, the groove being substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane of symmetry;
- a geosynthetic material;
- and
- a connector including a channel portion having first and second sides defining a channel therebetween and an elongate bar configured to engage a section of the geogrid within the channel, the connector being sized to be accommodated within the groove of the at least one block when the geogrid is engaged in the channel.
A retaining wall comprising:
- a plurality of blocks including at least one lower course and at least one upper course, each block of the plurality of blocks having opposing front and rear faces, at least a portion of the front face being substantially parallel to the rear face, the at least one block having a top surface defining a groove, the groove being substantially parallel to the rear face;
- a geosynthetic material;
- and
- a connector including a channel portion having first and second sides defining a channel therebetween and an elongate bar configured to engage a section of the geogrid within the channel, the connector being sized to be accommodated within the groove of the at least one block when the geogrid is engaged in the channel.
A connector for engaging an apertured geogrid used for stabilizing a retaining wall formed from a plurality of wall blocks having a top surface defining a groove, the connector comprising:
- a base portion;
- a plurality of spaced-apart projections extending from the base portion, each projection including a top portion and a spacing portion intermediate the base portion and the top portion, each spacing portion having a first width, each top portion having a second width, the second width being greater than the first width, the projections being spaced and sized to be accommodated within apertures of the geogrid, the base portion and projections being sized to be accommodated within the groove of at least one block.
A retaining wall comprising:
- a plurality of blocks including at least one lower course and at least one upper course, at least one block having a top surface defining a groove, the groove being substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane of symmetry;
- an apertured geogrid;
- and
- a connector including a base portion and a plurality of spaced-apart projections extending from the base portion, each projection including a top portion and a spacing portion intermediate the base portion and the top portion, each spacing portion having a first width, each top portion having a second width, the second width being greater than the first width, the projections being spaced and sized to be accommodated within apertures of the geogrid, the base portion and projections being sized to be accommodated within the groove of at least one block when the connector is engaged in the apertured geogrid.
A retaining wall comprising:
- a plurality of blocks including at least one lower course and at least one upper course, each block of the plurality of blocks having opposing front and rear faces, at least a portion of the front face being substantially parallel to the rear face, the at least one block having a top surface defining a groove, the groove being substantially parallel to the rear face;
- an apertured geogrid;
- and
- a connector including a base portion and a plurality of spaced-apart projections extending from the base portion, each projection including a top portion and a spacing portion intermediate the base portion and the top portion, each spacing portion having a first width, each top portion having a second width, the second width being greater than the first width, the projections being spaced and sized to be accommodated within apertures of the geogrid, the base portion and projections being sized to be accommodated within the groove of at least one block when the connector is engaged in the apertured geogrid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.