The Tensar Corporation

Robert A Miller

Philip D Egan

Joseph S Bailey, Ii

Philip M Taylor

Joseph D Emberson

Phil M Taylor

A modular wall block is formed with a groove in a top surface configured to frictionally receive fingers of a rake-like connection device which may extend through apertures in an end portion of a grid-like sheet of reinforcing material. The connection device includes enlarged tabs projecting away from the fingers to engage in a widened slot defined in the bottom of superimposed wall blocks for positioning the front faces of the blocks in the retaining wall relative to each other in either a vertically aligned or vertically set back relationship depending upon the direction of extension of the tabs. The groove and the slot are formed at opposite ends of a tapered through-opening extending between top and bottom surfaces of the block. By virtue of the taper, the width of the groove is less than a width of the slot to accommodate the different portions of the connector device. Both the groove and the slot, as well as other selected depressions and recesses can be formed from one side of the block during manufacture to simplify the manufacturing equipment and minimize the cost of the wall blocks. Corner blocks are provided having perpendicular front and side surfaces with similar aesthetic patterns for forming corner portions of sections of a retaining wall extending at right angles to each other.

Modular block retaining wall system

A modular wall block is formed with a trough or recess in a top surface configured to frictionally receive fingers of a rake-like grid connection device. The fingers are engaged through apertures in an end portion of a grid-like sheet of material with the spine of the rake overlying the grid-like sheet of material, the remainder of the grid-like sheet of material extending rearwardly to reinforce the fill behind a retaining wall formed from a plurality of courses of the wall blocks. Slat members are selectively received in one of a pair of grooves defined in each side of the wall blocks with portions of the slats extending above the upper surface of the block to contact a surface of an opening formed in a superimposed block for positioning the front faces of the blocks in the retaining wall relative to each other in either a vertically aligned or rearwardly offset relationship. The slats also include portions projecting laterally from the sides of the block and spanning the space between adjacent blocks in a course of blocks to position juxtaposed blocks in each course relative to each other. Alternatively, the rake includes, in addition to fingers projecting downwardly from the spine, tabs projecting upwardly from the spine. The tabs engage a slot in a bottom of the wall block for positioning, depending upon the direction of extension of the tabs, the front faces of the blocks in the retaining wall relative to each other in either a vertically aligned or vertically offset relationship.

Modular block retaining wall system and method of constructing same

Extended lengths of grid-like reinforcing sheet material are attached to precast wall panels of a reinforcing wall by a connector comb and locking clip securing end portions of the reinforcing sheet material between a pair of attachment strips partially embedded in, and extending rearwardly from, the wall panels. The comb connector includes a spine and plurality of upwardly projecting fingers engageable through aligned openings in the attachment strips and the reinforcing sheet material used for soil reinforcement. The locking clip is interengaged with ratchet-like serrated edges formed on the free ends of the fingers of the comb to secure the reinforcing sheet material to the attachment strips.

Precast wall panel and grid connection device

A modular wall block is formed with a trough or recess in a top surface configured to frictionally receive fingers of a rake-like grid connection device. The fingers are engaged through apertures in an end portion of a grid-like sheet of material with the backbone of the rake overlying the grid-like sheet of material, the remainder of the grid-like sheet of material extending rearwardly to reinforce the fill behind a retaining wall formed from a plurality of courses of the wall blocks. Positioning means in the form of slat members are selectively received in one of a pair of grooves defined in each side of the wall blocks with portions of the slats extending above the upper surface of the block to contact a surface of an opening formed in a superimposed block for positioning the front faces of the blocks in the retaining wall relative to each other in either a vertically aligned or rearwardly offset relationship. The slats also include portions projecting laterally from the sides of the block and spanning the space between adjacent blocks in a course of blocks to position juxtaposed blocks in each course relative to each other.

Growing community of inventors

Marietta, GA, United States of America

Robert A Miller