Retaining wall block and drainage system

Abstract

A retaining-wall block has a set of liquid impervious walls defining a completely bounded cavity having a sealable opening for filling the cavity with a fill material to add weight, and a seal element for sealing the sealable opening. In some cases the block has a second cavity with openings for collecting liquid and for passing collected liquid out of the second cavity to adjacent blocks in an assembly.

1 . A retaining-wall block comprising: 
 a set of liquid impervious walls defining a completely bounded cavity having a sealable opening for filling the cavity with a fill material to add weight; and    a seal element for sealing the sealable opening.    
   
   
       2 . The block of  claim 1  formed of polymer material by injection molding.  
   
   
       3 . The block of  claim 2  having a curved front simulating a stone material or concrete.  
   
   
       4 . The block of  claim 1  having engagement elements for engaging adjacent blocks in an assembly to limit movement between the adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       5 . The retaining-wall block of  claim 1  wherein the completely bounded cavity is a first cavity, and further comprising a second cavity adjacent the first cavity, separated from the first cavity by at least one of the liquid-impervious walls, the second cavity having through-openings to the outside of the block for accepting drainage liquids, and for passing said liquids out of said second cavity.  
   
   
       6 . The block of  claim 5  formed of polymer material by injection molding.  
   
   
       7 . The block of  claim 5  wherein the through-openings include openings on an upper surface to accept liquid from a second block above in an assembly of blocks, openings in a rearward-facing surface to accept liquid from a drain field, and openings in a lower surface for passing liquids to a third block below in an assembly of blocks.  
   
   
       8 . The block of  claim 5  further comprising an engagement interface for engaging a drain grid comprising both a mesh material and conduits for liquid, wherein individual ones of the through-openings are positioned to engage individual ones of the conduits.  
   
   
       9 . The block of  claim 5  wherein the through-openings include openings on an upper surface to accept liquid from a second block above in an assembly of blocks, openings in a rearward-facing surface to accept liquid from a drain field, at least one opening in a first side to accept liquid from an adjacent block in the assembly of blocks, and at least one opening in a second side opposite the first side to pass collected liquid to an adjacent block in the assembly.  
   
   
       10 . A retaining wall assembly of blocks, comprising a plurality of individual hollow blocks, individual ones of said blocks comprising a set of liquid impervious walls defining a completely bounded cavity except for a fill opening and filled with a fill material to add weight.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein individual ones of the blocks in the assembly are formed of polymer material by injection molding.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein individual blocks have engagement elements used for engaging adjacent blocks in the assembly to limit movement between the adjacent blocks.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein, in individual ones of the blocks, the completely bounded cavity is a first cavity, and there is further a second cavity adjacent the first cavity, separated from the first cavity by at least one of the liquid-impervious walls, the second cavity having through-openings to the outside of the block for accepting drainage liquids, and for passing said liquids out of said second cavity.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein individual ones of the blocks are formed of polymer material by injection molding.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein, in individual blocks, the through-openings include openings on an upper surface to accept liquid from a second block above in an assembly of blocks, openings in a rearward-facing surface to accept liquid from a drain field, and openings in a lower surface for passing liquids to a third block below in an assembly of blocks.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein, on individual ones of the blocks, there is an engagement interface for engaging a drain grid comprising both a mesh material and conduits for liquid, wherein individual ones of the through-openings are positioned to engage individual ones of the conduits.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein, in individual ones of the blocks, the through-openings include openings on an upper surface to accept liquid from a second block above in the assembly of blocks, openings in a rearward-facing surface to accept liquid from a drain field, at least one opening in a first side to accept liquid from an adjacent block in the assembly of blocks, and at least one opening in a second side opposite the first side to pass collected liquid to an adjacent block in the assembly.  
   
   
       18 . A drain grid for a retaining wall comprising: 
 a mesh material; and    conduits for liquid, the conduits integrated with the mesh material;    characterized in that the conduits have openings for receiving liquid from surrounding volume.