Retaining wall systems with sandbag attachment members

Abstract

A sandbag retaining wall has interconnecting members for attaching sandbags in adjacent courses together. The sandbag interconnecting member has a generally planar body having at least three projections on its upper side and its lower side which can protrude into the sandbags. The sandbag interconnecting member is sized such that two sandbag interconnecting members can fit in spaced-apart positions on the upper or lower side of a sandbag. In another embodiment, the sandbag interconnecting member is a strip of material having an upper side and a lower side, both of which can form a detachable bond to a sandbag. The surfaces of the interconnecting member, and the sandbag wall, or a portion thereof, comprise mating parts of a hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro) or similar attachment means.

1 . A sandbag interconnecting member for attaching to a sandbag in a retaining wall, said sandbag being configured to lie in a course of such sandbags, said sandbag having an upper side and a lower side, said retaining wall comprising a plurality of said courses, said sandbag interconnecting member comprising a generally planar body having an upper side and a lower side, at least three spaced-apart projections on said upper side of said body, at least three spaced-apart projections on said lower side of said body, said projections being capable of protruding into said sandbag, said body being sized such that two said sandbag interconnecting members can fit in spaced-apart positions on said upper side or said lower side of said sandbag. 
     
     
         2 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 1  wherein said body is a solid disk. 
     
     
         3 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 1  wherein there are exactly three said projections on said lower side of said body. 
     
     
         4 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 3  wherein there are exactly three said projections on said upper side of said body. 
     
     
         5 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 3  wherein said exactly said three said projections are equidistantly spaced apart. 
     
     
         6 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 1  further comprising a cord-retaining means on said upper side or said lower side of said body configured to retain a cord. 
     
     
         7 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 6  wherein said cord-retaining means is an eyelet. 
     
     
         8 . A sandbag interconnecting member for attaching to a sandbag in a retaining wall, said sandbag being configured to lie in a course of such sandbags, said sandbag having an upper side and a lower side, said retaining wall comprising a plurality of said courses, said sandbag interconnecting member comprising a piece of material having an upper surface and a lower surface, both said surfaces being adapted to form a detachable bond to said sandbag, and said sandbag comprising a fabric adapted to form said detachable bond to said surfaces of said sandbag interconnecting member. 
     
     
         9 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 8  wherein one or both of said surfaces of said sandbag interconnecting member comprises hook fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 8  wherein one or both of said surfaces of said sandbag interconnecting member comprises loop fasteners and said sandbag fabric comprises hook fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 8  wherein said piece of material is an elongated strip. 
     
     
         12 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claim 8  wherein said piece of material is a disk. 
     
     
         13 . A sandbag interconnecting member according to  claims 8  wherein said material is one of fabric or plastic. 
     
     
         14 . A retaining wall comprising:
 (a) a plurality of sandbag interconnecting members;   (b) a first plurality of said sandbags positioned end-to-end forming a lower course;   (c) a second plurality of said sandbags positioned end-to-end forming an upper course above said first course;   (d) said sandbags of said upper course being in staggered position relative to said sandbags of said lower course such that each said sandbag in said upper course rests on two adjacent sandbags in said lower course; and   (e) said sandbag interconnecting members positioned between said lower course and said upper course such that two said sandbag interconnecting members are in spaced-apart positions on each said sandbag of said lower course to attach said lower sandbag to two adjacent sandbags of said upper course.   
     
     
         15 . A retaining wall according to  claim 14  further comprising an interconnecting member positioned under each said sandbag in said lower course. 
     
     
         16 - 19 . (canceled)