Retaining wall block and grid system

Abstract

A retaining wall block and grid system for forming multiple course walls. The system includes a block having a front surface, a rear surface, first and second side surfaces, a top surface and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface including a downwardly depending projection that is configured to engage the rear surface of a block in a lower course of blocks. The top or bottom surfaces may be provided with a groove that is configured to receive a fixation bar, which may be partially wrapped or otherwise connected to a flexible anchor sheet or geo-grid so as to provide the block with a positive connection to a geo-grid. The top and bottom surfaces may be provided with grooves that cooperate to capture and retain a fixation bar and associated geo-grid that are positioned between adjacent courses.

1 . A retaining wall and grid system comprising: 
 a plurality of courses of masonry blocks with at least two vertically adjacent courses, wherein at least one block in the two vertically adjacent courses comprises; 
 a body having a front surface, a rear surface spaced from the front surface, a first side surface, a second side surface spaced from the first side surface, the first and second side surfaces extending from the front surface to the rear surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface spaced from the top surface and with the top and bottom surfaces extending from the front surface to the rear surface and from the first side surface to the second side surface, with at least one of the top or bottom surfaces having a groove formed therein, with the groove traversing the width of the block from the first side surface to the second side surface, the body being free of through-holes;  
 an anchor sheet interposed between said at least one block and a vertically adjacent block and extending rearwardly of said block, and at least a portion of the sheet extending within the groove; and,  
 a fixation bar disposed transversely between said one block and the vertically adjacent block substantially within the groove in restraining engagement with the flexible anchor sheet.  
   
   
   
       2 . The retaining wall and grid system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface further comprises a downwardly depending projection configured and arranged to engage a vertically adjacent block in the plurality of courses of blocks.  
   
   
       3 . The retaining wall and grid system of  claim 2 , wherein the groove is in close proximity to the projection.  
   
   
       4 . The retaining wall and grid system of  claim 2 , wherein the projection is adjacent the rear surface of said block.  
   
   
       5 . The retaining wall and grid system of  claim 4 , wherein the groove is spaced apart from the downwardly depending projection between the front and rear surfaces.  
   
   
       6 . The retaining wall and grid system of  claim 1 , wherein said block further comprises a second groove, with the groove that traversing the width of the block from the first side surface to the second side surface, with the groove configured and arranged to substantially receive a second fixation bar disposed therein.  
   
   
       7 . A retaining wall structure comprising: 
 a plurality of blocks arranged in a plurality of generally horizontal courses stacked on top of each other, each block comprising: 
 a top surface;  
 a bottom surface spaced from the top surface;  
 a front surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;  
 a rear surface spaced from the front surface, the rear surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;  
 spaced apart side surfaces extending between the top, bottom, front, and rear surfaces;  
 with the top or bottom surface of at least one block of the plurality of blocks further comprising a groove that traverses the block from one side surface to the other side surface, and with the spaced-apart side surfaces of said at least one block being non-parallel;  
   an anchoring sheet having two ends, with one end positioned between said block having a groove on one of said top or bottom surfaces and a vertically adjacent block of the plurality of blocks, and with the other end of the anchoring sheet extending into material being retained by the wall; and,    an elongated bar disposed substantially within the groove in restraining engagement with the flexible anchor sheet.