Multi-use block and retaining wall

Abstract

A retaining wall with a series of differently sized, pre-formed blocks. Each block includes a projection and a recess, with the projection and recess arranged and configured so that each projection effectively engages a recess in an adjacent course to connect and align adjacent courses in registry. Retaining walls made of horizontal blocks may be stacked in columnar fashion or running bond fashion. The location of the indexing surface on a projection relative to the viewable surface of the block may be varied to enable adjacent courses to be coplanar or tiered in a variety of predetermined offset distances.

1 . A retaining wall comprising a plurality of horizontal, preformed blocks dry-stacked in at least one course without pins or other connectors and presenting a uniform course height dimension, each block comprising a front, a rear, opposing sides, a top and a bottom, the plurality of blocks including a first block defining a first predetermined block height dimension, a second block defining a second predetermined block height dimension different from the first predetermined block height dimension, a third block defining a third predetermined block height dimension different from the first and second predetermined block height dimensions, and a fourth block defining a fourth predetermined block height dimension different from the first, second, and third predetermined block height dimensions, wherein the uniform course height dimension is evenly divisible by each of the first, second, third and fourth block height dimensions whereby the stacked blocks define a non-uniform pattern within the at least one course.  
   
   
       2 . The retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       3 . The retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially one-half of the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       4 . The retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially one-third of the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       5 . The retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially one-fourth of the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       6 . The retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the first block defines a first block width dimension and at least one of the second, third and fourth blocks define a block width dimension different from the first block width dimension.  
   
   
       7 . The retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein each of the horizontal preformed blocks comprises a front portion presenting a front surface and a back surface and a rear portion, each block including a single polyhedral projection extending outwardly from the block top or bottom, the projection presenting an indexing surface and presenting a first width dimension in a direction extending between the front portion and the rear portion of the block, each of the horizontal preformed blocks defining a recess on the opposite block top or bottom where the projection is located, the recess extending transversely across the block between the opposing sides, the recess comprising a stop surface that is coplanar with the rear surface of the front; with the projection and the recess extending vertically in the same direction relative to the block, and with the projection of each the horizontal preformed blocks arranged and configured to be received in the recess of the block in an adjacent course of blocks; and wherein the recess of the block presents a second width dimension in the direction extending between the front portion and the rear portion of the block, the second width dimension greater than the first width dimension so as to enable the indexing surface of the projection of a second block to engage the back surface of the front of the block with no other portion of the projection of the second block contacting the block, so as to thereby position vertically adjacent blocks together in a predetermined relation.  
   
   
       8 . The retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises a plurality of courses.  
   
   
       9 . The retaining wall of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of horizontal, preformed blocks are stacked one above the other in a columnar fashion with one block in one course positioned directly over another block in an underlying course.  
   
   
       10 . The retaining wall of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of horizontal, preformed blocks are stacked one above the other in a running bond fashion with each block in one course overlapping the joint between a pair of blocks in an underlying course.  
   
   
       11 . A method of constructing a retaining wall having a plurality of courses of blocks dry-stacked without pins or connectors, each course having a uniform course height dimension, the method comprising: 
 forming a plurality of concrete blocks, each block comprising a front, a rear, opposing sides, a top and a bottom, the plurality of blocks including a first block defining a first predetermined block height dimension, a second block defining a second predetermined block height dimension different from the first predetermined block height dimension, a third block defining a third predetermined block height dimension different from the first and second predetermined block height dimensions, and a fourth block defining a fourth predetermined block height dimension different from the first, second, and third predetermined block height dimensions, wherein the uniform course height dimension is evenly divisible by each of the first, second, third and fourth block height dimensions;    assembling a first course of blocks using at least one of each of the first, second, third, and fourth blocks, the blocks arranged so as to define a non-uniform pattern within the first course; and    dry-stacking a second course of blocks on the first course of blocks, the second course including at least one of each of the first, second, third, and fourth blocks, the blocks arranged so as to define a non-uniform pattern within the second course.    
   
   
       12 . A retaining wall system having at least one course presenting a uniform course height dimension, the system including a plurality of concrete blocks dry-stackable without pins or connectors, each block comprising a front, a rear, opposing sides, a top and a bottom, the plurality of blocks including a first block defining a first predetermined block height dimension, a second block defining a second predetermined block height dimension different from the first predetermined block height dimension, a third block defining a third predetermined block height dimension different from the first and second predetermined block height dimensions, and a fourth block defining a fourth predetermined block height dimension different from the first, second, and third predetermined block height dimensions, wherein the uniform course height dimension is evenly divisible by each of the first, second, third and fourth block height dimensions whereby the stacked blocks define a non-uniform pattern within the at least one course.  
   
   
       13 . The retaining wall system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       14 . The retaining wall system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially one-half of the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       15 . The retaining wall system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially one-third of the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       16 . The retaining wall system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the first, second, third or fourth block height dimensions is substantially one-fourth of the uniform course height dimension.  
   
   
       17 . The retaining wall of  claim 12 , wherein the first block defines a first block width dimension and at least one of the second, third and fourth blocks define a block width dimension different from the first block width dimension.  
   
   
       18 . The retaining wall system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blocks are stacked one above the other in a columnar fashion with one block in one course positioned directly over another block in an underlying course.  
   
   
       19 . The retaining wall system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blocks are stacked one above the other in a running bond fashion with each block in one course overlapping the joint between a pair of blocks in an underlying course.  
   
   
       20 . The retaining wall of  claim 12  wherein each of the plurality of blocks comprises a front portion presenting a front surface and a back surface and a rear portion, each block including a single polyhedral projection extending outwardly from the block top or bottom, the projection presenting an indexing surface and presenting a first width dimension in a direction extending between the front portion and the rear portion of the block, each of the plurality of blocks defining a recess on the opposite block top or bottom where the projection is located, the recess extending transversely across the block between the opposing sides, the recess comprising a stop surface that is coplanar with the rear surface of the front; with the projection and the recess extending vertically in the same direction relative to the block, and with the projection of each the plurality of blocks arranged and configured to be received in the recess of the block in an adjacent course of blocks; and wherein the recess of the block presents a second width dimension in the direction extending between the front portion and the rear portion of the block, the second width dimension greater than the first width dimension so as to enable the indexing surface of the projection of a second block to engage the back surface of the front of the block with no other portion of the projection of the second block contacting the block, so as to thereby position vertically adjacent blocks together in a predetermined relation.