Earth wall frame

Abstract

A modular frame is provided for the making of earthen walls. The frame is a hinged pair of panels—a base panel and a front facing wall panel—which is angularly adjustable so that a plurality of such frames can form a wall of varying batter are possible.

1 . A frame unit for constructing earthen walls, comprising:
 (a) a porous base panel; and   (b) a porous wall panel hingedly adjoined to said base panel that is rigidly adjustable at a desired inclination therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , wherein said base panel is an isosceles trapezoid that tapers backwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The frame unit of  claim 2 , wherein said wall panel has the first part of a complementary, two part interlock mechanism and said base panel has the second part of a complementary two part interlock mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The frame unit of  claim 3 , wherein said first part of interlock mechanism is a pin and said second part of interlock mechanism is a slot. 
     
     
         5 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , wherein said wall panel has a curved projection and said base panel has a corresponding slot, and said wall panel is hingedly adjoined to said base panel by the cooperation between said curved projection and said slot. 
     
     
         6 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , wherein said wall panel and said base panel is adjoined so that said wall panel rests flat on said base panel. 
     
     
         7 . The frame unit of  claim 5 , wherein said curved project and said slot are friction-fitted together to prevent unintended dislodgement. 
     
     
         8 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , further comprising visually pleasing accessories attached to said wall panel. 
     
     
         9 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a geogrid that is securely gripped by said wall panel and said base panel at their points of adjoining. 
     
     
         10 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid member connectable between said wall panel and said base panel, and wherein the adjustment of the desired angle is effected by deploying said rigid member at selectable positions. 
     
     
         11 . The frame unit of  claim 2 , wherein said base panel second part of a complementary two part interlock mechanism, is a groove extending longitudinally along the bottom portion of said base panel that snugly receives said first part of a complementary two part interlock mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The frame unit of  claim 1 , further comprising two side panels and one back panel, interconnected to form a box frame. 
     
     
         13 . A wall having, on one tier, two adjacent frame units of  claim 2 , that are rotated relative to each other to form a curved wall segment. 
     
     
         14 . A wall having two tiers, each comprising a plurality of frame units of  claim 1 , wherein one frame unit of one tier is inclined at a first angle and one frame unit of the second tier is inclined at a second angle that differs from the first angle.