Retaining wall block

Abstract

A retaining wall block has parallel top and bottom faces, a front face, a rear face, first and second side wall faces and a vertical plane of symmetry extending between the front and rear faces. The block is formed as a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion. The body, head and neck portions each extend between the top and bottom faces and between the first and second side wall faces. An opening extends through the neck portion from the top face to the bottom face, dividing the neck portion into first and second neck wall members extending rearwardly from the body portion to the head portion.

1 . A retaining wall block having parallel top and bottom faces, a front face, a rear face, first and second side wall faces and a vertical plane of symmetry extending between the front and rear faces, the block comprising:
 a body portion including the front face,   a head portion including the rear face,   a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the body, head and neck portions each extending between the top and bottom faces and between the first and second side wall faces,   an opening extending through the neck portion from the top face to the bottom face, the opening dividing the neck portion into first and second neck wall members extending rearwardly from the body portion to the head portion,   wherein the neck wall members are positioned such that a first plane extending parallel to the plane of symmetry and passing generally centrally through the first neck wall member lies midway between the plane of symmetry and a laterally outermost point of the first sidewall face and a second plane extending parallel to the plane of symmetry and passing generally centrally through the second neck wall member lies midway between the plane of symmetry and a laterally outermost point of the second sidewall face.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the first and second neck wall members are each positioned so as to substantially vertically align, in use, with a neck wall member of a vertically adjacent block in an adjacent course of a wall made from a plurality of courses of the blocks laid in a running bond pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the side wall faces generally taper from the front face to the rear face. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the head portion has first and second ears extending laterally beyond the first and second neck wall members, respectively, the first and second ears each being provided with a notch to enable the ears to be knocked off the head portion. 
     
     
         5 . A retaining wall formed of a plurality of courses of retaining wall blocks according to  claim 1  laid in a running bond pattern wherein a continuous cavity is defined by each opening of vertically aligned blocks in every second course of the blocks communicating with side voids of vertically adjacent blocks in each alternate course, the side voids of a block being defined between the head and body portions and either side of the neck portion of the block. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall of  claim 5  wherein the retaining wall is straight. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall of  claim 5  wherein the retaining wall is curved. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining wall of  claim 5  wherein the retaining wall is serpentine. 
     
     
         9 . The retaining wall of  claim 5  wherein the retaining wall is reinforced with rebar and grouting, a length of the rebar passing through each of at least one of the cavities, each length of the rebar being secured in the respective the cavity with the grout. 
     
     
         10 . The retaining wall of  claim 5  wherein the retaining wall incorporates at least one post extending into a continuous cavity and protruding from the top course, each of the at least one post being secured in the respective the cavity with grout. 
     
     
         11 . The retaining wall of  claim 5  wherein the retaining wall further comprises a geogrid tie-back disposed between two adjacent courses. 
     
     
         12 . The retaining wall of  claim 6  wherein the retaining wall incorporates a pilaster formed of a column of the blocks set forward from the remainder of the wall.