Lightweight, interlocking retaining wall system for use in outdoor and indoor landscaping and the like

Abstract

A retaining wall system for forming a retaining wall on the ground is provided. The retaining wall system comprises a stackable retainer block having a top wall and a bottom wall. The top wall has at least a first receptacle and the bottom wall has at least a first projection insertable into the ground with each projection being receivable within a corresponding receptacle of an adjacent retainer block. The retainer block further comprises a longitudinal axis defining a first longitudinal half and a second longitudinal half and a transverse axis defining a first transverse half and a second transverse half wherein the retainer block is both symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and symmetrical about the transverse axis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A retaining wall system for forming a retaining wall on the ground, the retaining wall system comprising: 
 a stackable retainer block having a top wall and a bottom wall, the top wall having at least a first receptacle, the bottom wall having at least a first projection insertable into the ground, each projection being pivotally receivable within a corresponding receptacle of an adjacent retainer block.    
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the top wall of the retainer block has a second receptacle and the bottom wall has a second projection, wherein upon stacking multiple retainer blocks in an overlapping fashion, the first projection of a first block is pivotally receivable within the second receptacle of a second retainer block.  
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the top wall has a single receptacle and the bottom wall has a single projection.  
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a top retainer block having a substantially planar top wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall having at least a first projection pivotally receivable within a receptacle in an adjacent retainer block.  
 
     
     
         5 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein each projection is completely receivable within a receptacle.  
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein each projection and each receptacle has a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration.  
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the retainer block is constructed from a resin material.  
     
     
         8 . The retaining wall system of  claim 7  wherein the retainer block is substantially hollow, and further comprising: 
 an aperture formed in the retainer block for receiving a filler material.  
 
     
     
         9 . The retaining wall system of  claim 8  and further comprising: 
 a cap securable within the aperture.  
 
     
     
         10 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein each retainer block is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and further wherein each retainer block is symmetrical about a transverse axis.  
     
     
         11 . A retainer block for constructing a retaining wall, the retainer block comprising: 
 a longitudinal axis defining a first longitudinal half and a second longitudinal half; and    a transverse axis defining a first transverse half and a second transverse half;    wherein the retainer block is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and    further wherein the retainer block is symmetrical about the transverse axis.    
     
     
         12 . The retainer block of  claim 11  wherein the retainer block has a top wall and a bottom wall, the top wall having at least a first receptacle, the bottom wall having at least a first projection insertable into the ground, the first projection further being pivotally receivable within a first receptacle of an adjacent retainer block.  
     
     
         13 . The retainer block of  claim 12  wherein the top wall of the retainer block has a second receptacle and the bottom wall has a second projection, wherein upon stacking multiple retainer blocks in an overlapping fashion, the first projection of a first block is pivotally receivable within the second receptacle of a second retainer block.  
     
     
         14 . The retainer block of  claim 11  wherein the retainer block has a substantially planar top wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall having at least a first projection pivotally receivable within a receptacle in an adjacent retainer block.  
     
     
         15 . The retainer block of  claim 1  wherein the retainer block is constructed from a resin material.  
     
     
         16 . The retainer block of  claim 15  wherein the retainer block is substantially hollow, and further comprising: 
 an aperture formed in the retainer block for receiving a filler material.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method for constructing a retaining wall from a plurality of retainer blocks, the method comprising: 
 forming a receptacle in each retainer block;    forming a projection in each retainer block;    stacking the retainer blocks; and    inserting the projection of one of the retainer blocks into the receptacle of an adjacent retainer block.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising: 
 forming each retainer block through a rotational molding process or a blow molding process.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising: 
 forming two receptacles in each retainer block; and  
 forming two projections in each retainer block, each receptacle pivotally receivable within any receptacle.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising: 
 a longitudinal axis on each retainer block defining a first longitudinal half and a second longitudinal half; and  
 a transverse axis on each retainer block defining a first transverse half and a second transverse half;  
 wherein the retainer block is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and  
 further wherein the retainer block is symmetrical about the transverse axis.