The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 22, 1990
Filed:
May. 01, 1989
Robert W Dean, Jr, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Stonewall Landscape Systems, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A cap unit for a retaining wall constructed of a plurality of courses of concrete blocks, in which at least the uppermost course of blocks in the retaining wall is provided with a connector member having an upstanding portion extending above the upper surface of the block, is provided with a recess or cavity in its underside for receiving the upstanding portion of the connector member. The cap unit is constructed such that the upstanding portion of the connector member abuts a side of the cavity so as to prevent lateral forward movement of the cap unit relative to the block therebelow. The cavity comprises a slot extending the width of the cap unit to accommodate varying placements of the connector member relative to the cap unit. The cap unit is formed so as to provide first and second end surfaces substantially parallel to each other, with a first side surface extending therebetween. The first side surface is perpendicular to both the first and second end surfaces. A second side surface is spaced from the first side surface, and extends between the first and second end surfaces in a non-parallel relationship relative to the first side surface, so that one of the end surfaces is wider than the other. With this construction, the cap units can be placed atop the retaining wall with the wide and narrow end portions alternately facing outwardly to provide a straight run of cap units. An inside radius of curvature can be provided to the cap unit course by positioning the cap units such that only the narrow end surfaces face outwardly, and an outside radius of curvature can be provided to the cap unit course by placing the cap units such that only the wide end surfaces face outwardly. In order accommodate such alternating placement of the cap units, a slot is provided adjacent each end of the cap units so as to receive the connector member mounted to the block therebelow.