Segmental retaining wall blocks designed for curved or straight alignment

Abstract

A segmented retaining wall block has one side wall that is rearwardly tapered so as to allow the block to turn a radius when placed in adjacent position with respect to another similar block. The block also has a rear wall provided with a protruding wing that projects laterally away from the tapered side wall. The rear wall is also provided with a bay that extends inwardly in the side wall that is opposite to the tapered side wall. The wing and bay have front edges designed as congruent arcs. The wing may be sized and shaped so as to protrude into the bay of an adjacent similar block to create a barrier when the adjacent blocks are in straight, convex or concave alignment for preventing infiltration of backfill material such as soil, into voids that exist between the backs of the blocks when installed.

1 . A segmented retaining wall (SRW) block having a front wall, a rear wall and two opposite side walls, wherein:
 one of said side walls is rearwardly tapered so as to allow said block to turn a radius when placed in adjacent position with respect to another similar SRW block,   said rear wall is provided with a protruding wing that projects laterally away from the tapered side wall;   said rear wall is also provided with a bay that extends inwardly in the side wall that is opposite to the tapered side wall;   said wing and bay have front edges designed as congruent arcs; and   said wing is sized and shaped so as to protrude into the bay of an adjacent similar SRW block to create a barrier when said adjacent SRW blocks are in straight, convex or concave alignment.   
   
   
       2 . The SRW block of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the front edge of the wing has a wing radius; and   the front edge of the bay has a bay radius which is equal to the wing radius less the manufacturing and construction tolerances.   
   
   
       3 . The SRW block of  claim 2 , wherein the side wall of the bay is designed to align with the corresponding side wall of the wing of an adjacent block when said blocks are placed at a minimum convex rotation and the wing of said adjacent block completely fills the bay of the one block.