Retaining wall system

Abstract

The present invention concerns embodiments of a block subassembly, a building block system and methods for constructing a retaining wall. In an illustrated embodiment, a block subassembly includes at least a first block and a second block and an adjustable connector which extends between the first and second blocks and is connected to the blocks. The adjustable connector is configured to have an adjustable length to adjust the spacing between the first and second blocks. In particular embodiments, the adjustable connector is pivotably connected to the first and second blocks.

1 . A subassembly for constructing a retaining wall comprising:
 a first block;   a second block spaced from the first block, the first and second block defining a space therebetween for receiving backfill material when constructing the wall; and   an adjustable connector extending between and connected to the first and second blocks, the adjustable connector configured to have an adjustable length to adjust the spacing between the first and second blocks.   
   
   
       2 . The subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector comprises an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube being telescopically slidable into and out of the outer tube to adjust the length of the adjustable connector. 
   
   
       3 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein one of the inner and outer tubes has at least one alignment hole and the other of the inner and outer tubes has a plurality of alignment holes, and
 the subassembly further comprises a pin that can be inserted into the at least one alignment hole and a selected one of the plurality of alignment holes to restrict longitudinal movement of the tubes relative to each other.   
   
   
       4 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner tube has an outer surface having a locking pin extending radially outward from the outer surface, and
 the outer tube comprises an elongated longitudinally extending alignment channel on one side and a plurality of longitudinally spaced locking channels extending perpendicularly from and connected to the alignment channel, the alignment channel being configured to accommodate the locking pin and allow insertion of the inner tube into the outer tube, such that the inner and outer tubes can be positioned into a locked configuration by rotating either tube to insert the locking pin into a selected one of the plurality of locking channels.   
   
   
       5 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein the outer tube has an inner surface having a locking pin extending radially inward from the inner surface, and
 the inner tube comprises an elongated longitudinally extending alignment channel on one side and a plurality of longitudinally spaced locking channels extending perpendicularly from and connected to the alignment channel, the alignment channel being configured to accommodate the locking pin and allow insertion of the inner tube into the outer tube, such that the inner and outer tubes can be positioned into a locked configuration by rotating either tube to insert the locking pin into a selected one of the plurality of locking channels.   
   
   
       6 . The subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector comprises a first elongated connection member and a second elongated connection member, and
 the first and second elongated connection members are adapted to be connected to each other at a plurality of locations to vary the spacing between the first and second blocks.   
   
   
       7 . The subassembly of  claim 6 , wherein one of the first and second connection members has at least one alignment hole and the other of the first and second connection members has a plurality of alignment holes, and
 the subassembly further comprises a pin that can be inserted into the at least one alignment hole and a selected one of the plurality of alignment holes to restrict longitudinal movement of the connection members relative to each other.   
   
   
       8 . The subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector is configured to be pivotably connected to at least one of the first and second blocks, such that the adjustable connector can be pivoted, in a horizontal plane, to vary the angle between the connector and the block to which it is pivotably connected. 
   
   
       9 . The subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first block comprises a rear face, the second block comprises a front face and a rear face and the adjustable connector comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, and
 wherein the first end portion of the adjustable connector can be connected to the rear face of the first block and the second end portion of the adjustable connector can be connected to the front face of the second block.   
   
   
       10 . The subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second end portions of the adjustable connector comprises a dovetail element for interlocking with complementary dovetail elements on the first and second blocks. 
   
   
       11 . The subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second end portions of the adjustable connector comprises a male connecting element,
 the rear face of the first block comprises an opening sized to receive the male connecting element of the first end portion of the adjustable connector, and   the front face of the second block comprises an opening sized to receive the male connecting element of the second end portion of the adjustable connector.   
   
   
       12 . The subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second end portions of the adjustable connector comprises a radially extending pin,
 the rear face of the first block comprises a slot complementarily sized to interlock with the radially extending pin of the first end portion of the adjustable connector, and   the front face of the second block comprises a slot complementarily sized to interlock with the radially extending pin of the second end portion of the adjustable connector.   
   
   
       13 . The subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second end portions of the adjustable connector comprises a pivotable dovetail connector element, and
 the rear face of the first block and the front face of the second block comprise complementary dovetail connector elements, for interlocking with the pivotable dovetail connector elements on the adjustable connector, the pivotable dovetail connector elements allowing the first and second blocks to be pivoted relative to the adjustable connector.   
   
   
       14 . The subassembly of  claim 13 , wherein the pivotable dovetail connector element of each of the first and second end portions of the adjustable connector comprises a male dovetail connector element and a pivot pin pivotably connecting the dovetail connector element to the adjustable connector. 
   
   
       15 . A building block system for building a retaining wall comprising:
 a plurality of face blocks each having a rear face;   a plurality of adjustable connectors each having a first end portion and a second end portion, each adjustable connector being configured to have an adjustable length between its first and second end portions; and   a plurality of tail blocks each having a front face and a rear face,   wherein the blocks and adjustable connectors may be assembled to form block assemblies each having an adjustable connector connected at its first end portion to the rear face of a face block, the adjustable connector extending rearwardly from the rear face of the face block, with the second end portion of the adjustable connector connected to the front face of a tail block.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein additional adjustable connectors and tail blocks can be attached to extend rearwardly from the rear face of a tail block to form elongated block assemblies of variable selectable lengths. 
   
   
       17 . A retaining wall comprising:
 at least first and second vertically-stacked courses comprising a plurality of block subassemblies placed side-by-side in each course,   wherein each block subassembly comprises a face block having a front surface exposed in a face of the wall, a tail block positioned behind and spaced from the face block, and an adjustable connector extending between and connected to the face and tail blocks, the adjustable connector configured to have an adjustable length to adjust the spacing between the face and tail blocks.   
   
   
       18 . The retaining wall of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of block subassemblies are placed side-by-side such that a pair of adjacent block assemblies define a chamber therebetween, and
 the chamber contains backfill material.   
   
   
       19 . The retaining wall of  claim 17 , wherein the first course comprises the lowermost course of the wall and a trench extends underneath the first course, wherein one or more of the adjustable connectors in the first course comprise anchors projecting downwardly into the trench and being anchored to a concrete footing in the trench. 
   
   
       20 . The retaining wall of  claim 17 , wherein the length of the adjustable connectors in the second course is smaller than the length of the adjustable connectors in the first course. 
   
   
       21 . A method of constructing a retaining wall, comprising forming at least first and second vertically-stacked courses comprising a plurality of block assemblies,
 at least some of the block assemblies in at least one course each comprising a face block, a tail block, and an adjustable connector that is adjustable in length to adjust the spacing between the face and tail blocks.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the act of forming the first and second courses comprises:
 adjusting the length of an adjustable connector;   connecting a first end of the adjustable connector to a respective face block; and   connecting a second end of the adjustable connector to a respective tail block.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the act of forming the first and second courses comprises:
 placing the block assemblies side-by-side in each course, such that each pair of adjacent block assemblies defines a chamber therebetween; and   filling the chamber with backfill material.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first course comprises the lowermost course of the wall, a trench extends underneath the first course, and building the first course comprises:
 positioning the block assemblies, each having an adjustable connector comprising an anchor, such that the anchors project downwardly into the trench; and   filling the trench with concrete to fix the anchors to the concrete.   
   
   
       25 . A subassembly for constructing a retaining wall comprising:
 a first block;   a second block spaced from the first block; and   a connector comprising an elongated body having first and second opposite end portions, the first end portion being connected to the first block and the second end portion being connected to the second block, the connector being pivotable relative to at least the first block to permit adjustment of the angle between the connector and the first block.   
   
   
       26 . The subassembly of  claim 25 , wherein the connector is configured to have an adjustable length to adjust the spacing between the first and second blocks. 
   
   
       27 . The subassembly of  claim 25 , wherein the first end portion of the connector is pivotable relative to the first block at a pivot pin. 
   
   
       28 . The subassembly of  claim 25 , wherein the connector is pivotably connected to the first and second blocks. 
   
   
       29 . The subassembly of  claim 25 , wherein the first block has an opening and the first end portion of the connector comprises a male connector element adapted to be received in the opening of the first block, the male connector element being pivotably connected to the remaining portion of the connector.