Environment resistant retaining wall block and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retaining wall block that is resistant to damage and wear caused by the environment it is placed into. The deterioration resistant block is generally a hollowed frame or shell of a deterioration resistant material that is lightweight and is configured to accept and retain any type of filling material. The filling material provides weight and stability to the retaining wall block and also provides weight, stability and security to a retaining wall constructed of such blocks.

1 . A deterioration resistant wall block comprising: 
 a top panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material;    a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material;    a substantially rigid wall assembly having a front face with a natural earthen appearance and including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a sealable chamber; and    one or more fill materials placed into the chamber of the deterioration resistant retaining wall block.    
   
   
       2 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1  wherein the composite or polymeric material is a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, vinyl, silicone, rubber, fiberglass or any combination thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1  wherein the top panel is a split top panel including two or more sections.  
   
   
       4 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel, wall assembly or a combination thereof includes one or more apertures.  
   
   
       5 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 3  wherein the top panel includes a plurality of teeth.  
   
   
       6 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 3  wherein the top panel includes intertwining fingers.  
   
   
       7 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes a removable or one or more hingedly adjoined covers.  
   
   
       8 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 7 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes one or more hingedly adjoined covers and the hingedly adjoined covers are living hinges.  
   
   
       9 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes one or more interior partitions.  
   
   
       10 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes more than one unit.  
   
   
       11 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 10 , wherein the block further includes one or more disengaging tabs.  
   
   
       12 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes one or more anchoring devices.  
   
   
       12 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 11 , wherein the anchoring devices are selected from a group consisting of retaining flanges, insertable pegs and apertures for stability rods.  
   
   
       13 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 12 , wherein the anchoring devices are insertable pegs that include conduits for the intermingling of fill materials between adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       14 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 12 , wherein the anchoring devices are insertable pegs that are moveable for securing into adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       15 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the fill materials are selected from a group consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, crushed rock, pea rock, concrete, water and antifreeze.  
   
   
       16 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes a design positioned on a front face of the block.  
   
   
       17 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes one or more wall reinforcement fasteners.  
   
   
       18 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more reinforcement fasteners may be selected from the group consisting of teeth, insertable peg protrusions, tack strips, rivets, retention rods and combination thereof.  
   
   
       19 . A deterioration resistant retaining wall comprising a plurality of deterioration resistant block including: 
 a top panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material;    a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material;    a substantially rigid wall assembly having a front face with a natural earthen appearance and including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a sealable chamber; and    one or more fill materials placed into the chamber of the deterioration resistant retaining wall block.    
   
   
       20 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19  wherein the composite or polymeric material is a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, vinyl, silicone, rubber, fiberglass or any combination thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19  wherein the top panel is a split top panel including two or more sections.  
   
   
       22 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel, wall assembly or a combination thereof includes one or more apertures.  
   
   
       23 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 21  wherein the top panel of each block includes a plurality of teeth.  
   
   
       24 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 21  wherein the top panel includes intertwining fingers.  
   
   
       25 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes a removable or more hingedly adjoined covers.  
   
   
       26 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 25 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes one or more hingedly adjoined covers and the hingedly adjoined covers are living hinges.  
   
   
       27 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the blocks further include one or more interior partitions.  
   
   
       28 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the blocks further include more than one unit.  
   
   
       29 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 28 , wherein the blocks further include one or more disengaging tabs.  
   
   
       30 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the blocks further include one or more anchoring devices.  
   
   
       31 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 30 , wherein the anchoring devices are selected from a group consisting of retaining flanges, insertable pegs and apertures for stability rods.  
   
   
       32 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 31 , wherein the anchoring devices are insertable pegs that include conduits for the intermingling of fill materials between adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       33 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 31 , wherein the anchoring devices are insertable pegs that are moveable for securing into adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       34 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the fill materials are selected from a group consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, crushed rock, pea rock, concrete, water and antifreeze.  
   
   
       35 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the blocks further include one or more wall reinforcement fasteners.  
   
   
       36 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more reinforcement fasteners may be selected from the group consisting of teeth, insertable peg protrusions, tack strips, rivets, retention rods, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       37 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 19 , wherein the blocks further include one or more designs positioned on a front face of the block.  
   
   
       38 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 37 , wherein individual block designs complete a larger single design upon assembly of the deterioration resistant retaining wall.