US 5,588,786 AGranted

Combination retaining wall and method of construction

AssigneeMarylyn House

InventorsRandall H. House, Johann H. Hofmann, Freddie C. Birck

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Abstract

This invention relates to a precast concrete wall consisting of a plurality of precast concrete, retaining wall segments used as a retaining wall, used to buttress against earth forces, used to abate noises, and a method of constructing such a wall. The wall can be economically constructed from the precast wall segments which are adapted to be easily and rapidly stacked and joined in series to save on the cost of labor and materials. Each of the wall segments is capable of being varied in height, width or length, but having a generally similar cross-section. The wall segments also have members which form a stay-in-place form when two wall segments are placed end to end. Cast-in-place concrete is poured into the form and, upon hardening, becomes an integral structural support column for the wall.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A precast concrete wall capable of being rapidly and efficiently constructed and capable of withstanding nominally applied overturning and destructive forces comprising:

a. a plurality of C-shaped wall segments wherein said C-shaped wall segments have a generally similar C-shaped cross-section, each C-shaped wall segment comprising:
i. a vertically arranged precast concrete panel having a thickness, a height, and a first generally vertical edge and a second generally vertical edge;
ii. a first generally vertically disposed U-shaped member and a second generally vertically disposed U-shaped member, each said first and said second U-shaped member having a front leg and a rear leg, and a thickness and a height substantially similar to said thickness and said height of said panel, each said first and said second U-shaped members horizontally located at opposite ends of said panel;
iii. said panel located in a horizontal plane from said front leg of said first U-shaped member to said front leg of said second U-shaped member;
b. said first U-shaped member of a first C-shaped wall segment adapted to be located adjacent to said second U-shaped member of a second C-shaped wall segment for forming a stay-in-place form for casting a structural support column on-site, said structural support column securing said first C-shaped wall segment to said second C-shaped wall segment, said stay-in-place form having a cavity extending vertically throughout substantially the entire height of said stay-in-place form;
c. means, located in said cavity of said stay-in-place form, for reinforcing said column;
d. cast-in-place concrete positioned in said cavity of said stay-in-place form and encasing said reinforcing means;
and
c. said stay-in-place form being a part of said column once said cast-in-place concrete hardens.

6 more elements

A method of constructing a precast concrete wall at a job site having a right-of-way, said wall consisting of a plurality of C-shaped wall segments wherein said C-shaped wall segments have a generally similar C-shaped cross-section, each C-shaped wall segment comprising:

a vertically arranged precast concrete panel having a thickness, a height, and a first generally vertical edge and a second generally vertical edge;
a first generally vertically disposed U-shaped member and a second generally vertically disposed U-shaped member, each said first and said second U-shaped members having a front leg and a rear leg, and a thickness and a height substantially similar to said thickness and said height of said panel, each said first and said second U-shaped members horizontally located at opposite ends of said panel;
said panel located in a horizontal plane from said front leg of said first U-shaped member to said front leg of said second U-shaped member;
said first U-shaped member, said second U-shaped member, and said panel capable of overcoming ambient overturning forces exerted on said panel whereby said precast C-shaped retaining wall segment is inherently stable and capable of standing upright with no other support, wherein said method of construction comprises the steps of:
a. constructing foundation means for supporting said wall;
b. attaching reinforcing material to said foundation means and extending upwards a sufficient height for reinforcing said wall;
c. positioning a first C-shaped wall segment over said foundation means so that said first C-shaped wall segment is aligned with a top surface of said foundation means;
d. lowering said first C-shaped wall segment so that said first C-shaped wall segment engages said top surface of said foundation means by lengthwise contact thereagainst in a stacked relationship, a bottom surface of said vertically arranged panel of said first C-shaped wall segment and said first and said second U-shaped members of said first C-shaped wall segment supporting said C-shaped wall segment in an upright position;
e. placing a second C-shaped wall segment adjacent to said first C-shaped wall segment so that said second U-shaped member of said second C-shaped wall segment is removably coupled with said first U-shaped member of said first C-shaped wall segment and defining four faces of a stay-in-place form surrounding said reinforcing material extending upward from said foundation means;
f. pouring cast-in-place concrete into said stay-in-place form encasing said reinforcing material;
and
g. allowing said cast-in-place concrete to harden so that said stay-in-place form becomes an integral part of said first and said second C-shaped wall segments.

9 more elements

a vertically arranged precast concrete panel having a thickness, a height, and a first generally vertical edge and a second generally vertical edge;
a first generally vertically disposed U-shaped member and a second generally vertically disposed U-shaped member, each said first and said second U-shaped members having a front leg and a rear leg, and a thickness and a height substantially similar to said thickness and said height of said panel, each said first and said second U-shaped members horizontally located at opposite ends of said panel;
said panel located in a horizontal plane from said front leg of said first U-shaped member to said front leg of said second U-shaped member;
said first U-shaped member, said second U-shaped member, and said panel capable of overcoming ambient overturning forces exerted on said panel whereby said precast C-shaped retaining wall segment is inherently stable and capable of standing upright with no other support, wherein said method of construction comprises the steps of:
a. constructing foundation means for supporting said wall, said foundation means having reinforcing material through said foundation means, said reinforcing material extending upwards a sufficient height for reinforcing said wall;
b. transporting said first and said second C-shaped wall segments to said job site and placing said first and said second C-shaped wall segments in the vicinity of their final placement in said wall;
c. positioning said first C-shaped wall segment over said foundation means so that said first C-shaped retaining wall is aligned with a top surface of said foundation means;
d. lowering said first C-shaped wall segment so that said first C-shaped wall segment engages said top surface of said foundation means by lengthwise contact thereagainst in a stacked relationship, a bottom surface of said vertically arranged panel of said first C-shaped wall segment and said first and said second U-shaped members of said first C-shaped wall segment support said first C-shaped wall segment's weight in an upright position overcoming ambient overturning forces;
e. placing said second C-shaped wall segment adjacent to said first C-shaped wall segment so that said second U-shaped member of said second C-shaped wall segment is removably coupled with said first U-shaped member of said first C-shaped wall segment forming a stay-in-place form surrounding said reinforcing material extending upward from said foundation means;
f. pouring cast-in-place concrete into said stay-in-place form encasing said reinforcing material;
and
g. allowing said cast-in-place concrete to harden so that said stay-in-place form becomes an integral part of said first and said second C-shaped wall segments.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/475,212Filed 7 Jun 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 4 May 1989
Granted: 31 Dec 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

E04H 17/1602
Using prefabricated panel-like elements, e.g. wired frames: using wooden, plastic or composite-material panel-like elements
E01F 8/0011
Used in a wall type arrangement: plank-like elements
E01F 8/0035
Used in a wall type arrangement: with undulated surfaces
E01F 15/0446
Essentially made of longitudinal beams or rigid strips supported above ground at spaced points: concrete rails

Family

Serial347,482Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 May 1989
Serial601,413Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Oct 1990
Serial675,503Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Mar 1991
Serial917,841Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Jul 1992
US 5,471,811 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,131,786 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,964,750 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,588,786 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.