Grid-locked block panel system

A method of forming a panel comprised of concrete blocks, said method comprising:

• a) providing a gridwork comprised of intersecting elements;
• b) providing a plurality of concrete blocks having voids extending therethrough from top to bottom and grooves formed in the bottom thereof in intersecting relationship to the voids, said grooves being proportioned and arranged for complemental receipt of intersecting elements of the gridwork to hold the blocks in side-by-side relationship;
• c) supporting the gridwork in an elevated condition;
• and,
• d) assembling the blocks over the gridwork in side-by-side relationship to engage the intersecting elements of the gridwork within the grooves of the blocks with the elements intersecting within the voids.

A method of covering the surface of an earthen formation, said method comprising:

• a) providing a gridwork comprised of intersecting elements;
• b) providing a plurality of blocks having intersecting grooves formed in and opening through one side thereof, said grooves extending across the blocks and being proportioned and arranged for complemental receipt of intersecting elements of the gridwork to hold blocks in side-by-side relationship;
• c) supporting the gridwork in spaced relationship to the surface of the earthen formation;
• and,
• d) assembling said blocks over the gridwork in side-by-side relationship to engage the intersecting grooves of the blocks with intersecting elements of the gridwork.

A method of covering the surface of an earthen formation, said method comprising:

• a) providing a gridwork comprised of intersecting elements;
• b) providing a plurality of blocks having intersecting grooves formed in and opening through one side thereof, said grooves extending across the blocks and being proportioned and arranged for complemental receipt of intersecting elements of the gridwork to hold blocks in side-by-side relationship;
• c) supporting the gridwork in an elevated condition;
• d) assembling said blocks over the gridwork in side-by-side relationship to engage the intersecting grooves of the blocks with intersecting elements of the gridwork and form a panel comprised of blocks held together by the gridwork;
• e) lifting the panel to an elevated condition by engaging spaced portions of the gridwork with hoisting elements and elevating said elements;
• and,
• f) moving the panel while in the elevated condition to the situs of the earthen formation and depositing the panel to support the blocks on the formation with the gridwork disposed in spaced generally parallel relationship to the surface of the formation.

An assembly for retaining an upstanding portion of an earthen formation and covering a base portion of the formation at the foot of the upstanding portion, said assembly comprising:

• a) a gridwork of intersecting elements, said gridwork being supported in spaced generally parallel relationship to the base portion of the earthen formation;
• and,
• b) a first plurality of concrete blocks supported on the base portion of the earthen formation, said blocks having intersecting grooves engaged over the intersecting elements of the gridwork to hold blocks in side-by-side relationship;
• c) a second plurality of concrete blocks stacked upon one another and extending over the upstanding portion of the earthen formation, said second plurality of blocks being supported on the first plurality of blocks;
• and,
• d) means securing the second plurality of blocks against displacement relative to the upstanding portion of the formation.

A method of constructing a retaining wall for an earthen formation, said method comprising:

• a) providing a plurality of concrete blocks having first grooves extending thereacross and second grooves extending through one side thereof in intersecting relationship to said first grooves;
• b) assembling said blocks in front of the formation in side-by-side relationship with the first grooves of adjacent blocks aligned;
• c) providing gridworks having paired longitudinal elements engageable within the second grooves of adjacent blocks disposed in side-by-side relationship and a cross-element engageable within the first grooves of said adjacent blocks;
• d) engaging said gridworks with the assembled blocks so as to extend from said one side thereof into the earthen formation with the paired longitudinal elements engaged-within the second grooves of adjacent blocks and the cross-element engaged within the first grooves of said adjacent blocks.

A retaining wall for an earthen formation, said wall comprising:

• a) a plurality of concrete blocks having first grooves extending thereacross and second grooves extending through one side thereof in intersecting relationship to said first grooves, said blocks being assembled in front of the formation in side-by-side relationship with the first grooves of adjacent blocks aligned and said one side facing the formation;
• b) a gridwork having paired longitudinal elements engaged within the second grooves of one of the blocks and a cross-element fixed between said longitudinal elements and engaged within the first groove of said one block, said gridwork extending into the earthen formation;
• and,
• c) a bar received within and extending across the first grooves of adjacent blocks to span the blocks.

A method of retaining an earthen formation, said method comprising:

• a) providing a plurality of concrete blocks having first grooves extending thereacross and second grooves extending through one side thereof in intersecting relationship to said first grooves,
• b) assembling said blocks in front of the formation in side-by-side relationship with the first grooves of adjacent blocks aligned and said one side facing the formation;
• c) providing a gridwork having paired longitudinal elements engageable within the second grooves of the blocks and a cross-element fixed between said longitudinal elements and engageable within the first grooves of said blocks;
• d) engaging the gridwork with one of the assembled blocks so as to extend from said one side thereof into the earthen formation with the paired longitudinal elements engaged within the second grooves of said one block and the cross-element engaged within the first groove of said one block;
• c) extending a bar across the first grooves of adjacent blocks to span the blocks.