Retaining wall system

Abstract

A construction element, mold assemblies and a method of casting the construction element are described. The construction element, comprises a wall panel having a base, front and rear walls, two side walls, a top wall, and an integral footing member extending rearwardly from the rear wall of the wall panel to increase the effective width of the retaining wall construction element and wherein, the footing member is of a width such that the front wall of the wall panel is prevented from sliding or tipping forward.

1 . A construction element, comprising:
 a wall panel having a base, front and rear walls, two side walls, a top wall, and an integral footing member extending rearwardly from the rear wall of the wall panel to increase the effective width of the construction element; and   wherein, the footing member is of a width such that the front wall of the wall panel is prevented from sliding or tipping forward.   
   
   
       2 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel and the footing member are precast concrete, and the quality is variable by each customer casting the construction element. 
   
   
       3 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the footing member is laterally centered at the bottom of the rear wall of the wall panel. 
   
   
       4 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the footing member comprises a throat at its end proximate to the wall panel to strength the integration to the wall panel. 
   
   
       5 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the base of the wall panel includes a recess for interlocking with the top of the wall panel of a construction element of a subsequent lower tier. 
   
   
       6 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the base of the wall panel includes a recess for providing space between the construction elements of subsequent lower tier for creating active earth conditions. 
   
   
       7 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the footing member comprises flanges/ears to enable further anchoring. 
   
   
       8 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of rebar to prevent fracturing of the concrete. 
   
   
       9 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel edges are rounded. 
   
   
       10 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the front wall surface is irregular. 
   
   
       11 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the footing member includes a rib extending rearwardly from the wall panel to form a ridge and further extending along a tail of the footing member. 
   
   
       12 . The construction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the footing member is provided far enough below the top wall of the wall panel to allow cultivating of the top soil without striking the footing member. 
   
   
       13 . A mold assembly for casting a construction element, comprising:
 a vertical member having a back panel, containment side walls, a bottom containment wall and a removably mountable front panel comprising a containment side wall, defining a concrete receiving cavity, wherein the back panel comprises a recess to receive concrete;   a horizontal tail member defining a concrete receiving cavity such that the cavity extends to the recess in the back panel of the vertical member; and   a support to maintain the tail member horizontal, during pouring of concrete, at a predetermined height above the ground.   
   
   
       14 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said support is a wooden support. 
   
   
       15 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the vertical member and the horizontal member edges are encased in steel and said support is a member attached as an integral part of the mold assembly. 
   
   
       16 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the removably mountable front panel is fastened to the back panel using a plurality of bolts. 
   
   
       17 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the removably mountable front panel is fastened to the back panel using a “U” channel as part of the steel encasing the bottom of the back panel and two hook clamps provided on the top edges of the steel encasing the back panel that, when closed, secure the front panel and facilitate quick release of the front panel and easy removal of the construction element. 
   
   
       18 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the removably mountable front panel comprises customer specific inserts to inscribe initials or designs on a front face of the construction element. 
   
   
       19 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the removably mountable front panel is adapted to provide a plurality of patterns on the front face of the construction element. 
   
   
       20 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the back and front panels are replaceable with panels of different size or shape providing a construction element of another size or shape. 
   
   
       21 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the cavity defined by the horizontal member receives concrete such that the bottom of the construction element to be casted is open so that additional anchoring rebar can remain sticking out of the bottom of the construction element. 
   
   
       22 . The mold assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the vertical member and the horizontal member are light weighted so that the mold assembly can be transported to the construction site with ease. 
   
   
       23 . A method of casting a construction element, the method comprising:
 obtaining a mold assembly to cast the construction element;   inserting pre-cut and pre-bent rebar strategically into cavities defined by the mold assembly;   pouring concrete into the cavities defined by the mold assembly; and   curing the concrete to obtain the construction element.   
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein obtaining the mold includes purchasing the mold. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein obtaining the mold includes renting the mold.