Retaining wall post and retaining wall using the same

Abstract

A pre-cast post with a widened spade foot which resists lateral forces transferred from the upper segment loaded by the retaining panel. The angle of the foot transfers the load by driving the foot more firmly into the ground for more stability. The taper of the footing section causes the adjacent soil to be further compacted for more stability. The thickening of the taper at the junction of the upper and lower section provide perfect size to facilitate perfect ratio of concrete for compressive strength and embedment space for steel which provides tensile strength. The upper section tapers down as the lateral forces decrease. Panels are affixed to the pre-cast posts for the soil retention and can be stacked for higher soil retention applications. The panels also decrease in thickness as the lateral forces diminish.

1 . A retaining wall post comprising:
 a top portion for receiving panels;   a bottom portion comprising a widened spade foot for insertion into the ground, wherein the top portion and bottom portion are “L” shaped comprising a predetermined angle and wherein the retaining wall post is tapered towards the widened spade foot.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  wherein the retaining wall post is a casted one piece unit. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  further comprising reinforcing rebar. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  wherein the widened spade foot comprises a tapered tip. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion is configured to have a width that resists lateral forces transferred from the upper portion and the receiving panels. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion is configured to have a predetermined height comprising a height of at least a soil to be retained height. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined angle comprises an angle configured to transfer a horizontal force to an angled vertical and horizontal force and compress soil beneath the widened spade foot. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining wall post of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined angle comprises a range between ninety degrees (90°) and one hundred and eighty degrees)(180°). 
     
     
         9 . A retaining wall system comprising:
 at least two retaining wall posts, each retaining wall post comprising a top portion for receiving panels, a bottom portion comprising a widened spade foot for insertion into the ground, wherein the top portion and bottom portion are “L” shaped comprising a predetermined angle and wherein the retaining wall post is tapered towards the widened spade foot;   at least one panel, each panel comprising at least one raised ridge and each panel configured to retain soil; and   a mating structure to mate a first end of each panel to a first retaining wall post and to mate a second end of each panel to a second retaining wall post.   
     
     
         10 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9  wherein the mating structure comprises a predetermined tilt towards a front of the at least two retaining wall posts. 
     
     
         11 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9  wherein the first end of a first panel overlaps a first end of a second panel at each retaining wall post. 
     
     
         12 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9  wherein the first end of a first panel abuts a first end of a second panel at each retaining wall post. 
     
     
         13 . The retaining wall system of  claim 9  further comprising a first panel with at least one stacked second panel. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a retaining wall, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) inserting at least two retaining wall posts into the ground, each retaining wall post comprising a top portion for receiving panels, a bottom portion comprising a widened spade foot for insertion into the ground, wherein the top portion and bottom portion are “L” shaped comprising a predetermined angle and wherein the retaining wall post is tapered towards the widened spade foot;   (b) filling and compacting the soil around each retaining wall post;   (c) mating at least one panel to the at least two retaining wall posts;   (d) packing the soil to be retained on a back face of the at least one panel to a desired height.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of inserting comprises burying the bottom portion by digging a hole or by driving the spade foot into the ground. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of mating comprises inserting the at least two retaining wall posts into the ground whereby the top portion of each post is tilted towards a front. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of reinforcing the at least one panel with at least one raised ridge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of overlapping a first end of a first panel with a first end of a second panel at each retaining wall post. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising abutting a first end of a first panel with a first end of a second panel at each retaining wall post. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  stacking at least one panel on a first installed panel.