Building Elements For Making Retaining Walls, And Systems And Methods Of Using Same
AssigneeEvergreen Walls, Inc.
InventorFelix P. Jaecklin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A building element for coupling with other building elements to erect a retaining wall. Optionally, the building element can have a modular construction. The building element can have a face panel and a beam member that extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the face panel. The building elements can have a variety of different configurations, providing flexibility in the design of retaining walls. Optionally, each building element can define alignment voids that receive portions of alignment posts for ensuring vertical alignment between adjacent building elements or portions of building elements.
Claims20
A building element configured for coupling to at least one other building element to form a retaining wall, the building element comprising:
- a face panel comprising a front surface and a rear surface positioned on an opposing side of the face panel from front surface, wherein the face panel comprises a length dimension oriented along a first axis, a width dimension oriented along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a height dimension oriented along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
- and
- at least one beam member coupled to the rear surface of the face panel, each beam member comprising an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, wherein at least one surface of the upper surface and the lower surface defines an alignment void configured to receive a portion of an adjacent building element during formation of the retaining wall, wherein the beam member is substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of the face panel such that the beam member comprises a length dimension oriented along a second axis and a height dimension oriented along the third axis.
An alignment post configured to engage a building element, the alignment post comprising:
- a stem comprising first and second portions that cooperatively define an axial length dimension of the stem;
- and
- a cap comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises a first cross sectional area and the bottom surface comprises a second cross sectional area,
- wherein the first portion of the stem is embedded within the cap, and wherein the second portion of the stem extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the cap.
A retention wall system comprising:
- a plurality of building elements, wherein each building element comprises:
- a face panel comprising a front surface and a rear surface positioned on an opposing side of the face panel from front surface, wherein the face panel comprises a length dimension oriented along a first axis, a width dimension oriented along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a height dimension oriented along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
- and
- at least one beam member coupled to the rear surface of the face panel, each beam member comprising an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, wherein the beam member is substantially perpendicular to the rear surface of the face panel such that the beam member comprises a length dimension oriented along a second axis and a height dimension oriented along the third axis;
- and
- an alignment post comprising:
- a stem comprising first and second portions that cooperatively define an axial length dimension of the stem;
- and
- a cap comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises a first cross sectional area and the bottom surface comprises a second cross sectional area,
- wherein the first portion of the stem is embedded within the cap, and wherein the second portion of the stem extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the cap,
- wherein the upper surface of the beam member a first building element of the plurality of building elements defines an alignment void that receives the second portion of the stem of the alignment post, and wherein the lower surface of the beam member of a second building element of the plurality of building elements defines an alignment void that receives the cap of the alignment post, and wherein the first and second building elements cooperate to define at least a portion of a retaining wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.