Extended width retaining wall block

A retaining wall block comprising:

• a front surface;
• a rear surface spaced from the front surface to define the depth of the block;
• side surfaces;
• a generally planar top surface;
• and
• a generally planar bottom surface;
• with each side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface and comprising:
• a substantially planar first section extending generally rearwardly from the front surface;
• a substantially planar second section forming a generally laterally oriented, rear facing shoulder that is substantially parallel with the front surface against which a downwardly depending projection may abuttingly engage;
• and a substantially planar third section, the first section, the second section and the third section being substantially solid and uninterrupted by holes, recesses, or grooves;
• and
• with the bottom surface comprising at least one downwardly depending projection configured and arranged such that when a portion of one of the side surfaces is engaged with a corresponding portion of the side surface of a laterally adjacent block in a multiple course wall structure, the projection abuttingly engages a rear facing shoulder of a vertically adjacent block.

A retaining wall block comprising:

• a front portion with a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed from the top and having a front side presenting a block front surface, a back side, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of rearwardly converging sides;
• and
• a tail portion extending from the back side of the front portion, the tail portion having a rear side presenting a block rear surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of opposing side surfaces, the side surface substantially solid and uninterrupted by holes, recesses, or grooves, wherein the opposing side surfaces extend rearwardly from the back side of the front portion, each of the opposing side surfaces spaced inwardly from a separate one of the rearwardly converging sides of the front portion so as to define a pair of rearwardly facing shoulder surfaces on the back side of the front portion on either side of the tail portion that are substantially parallel with the front surface, wherein the opposing side surfaces do not diverge as they extend rearwardly from the back side of the front portion, the top surface of the front portion and the top surface of the rear portion together defining a block top surface, the bottom surface of the front portion and the bottom surface of the rear portion together defining a block bottom surface, the block bottom surface comprising at least one projection configured and arranged such that when the front portion is engaged with a front portion of a laterally adjacent block in a multiple course wall structure, the projection abuttingly engages a shoulder surface of a vertically adjacent block.