Wave anchor soil reinforcing connector and methods

Abstract

A facing anchor assembly for securing a facing to a soil reinforcing element, the facing anchor assembly including first and second horizontally-disposed plates vertically-offset from each other and having at least one transverse protrusion disposed on each plate. The transverse protrusions can receive and seat at least one transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element and a coupling assembly can be configured to secure the at least one transverse wire in place, and also frictionally engage a pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element between the first and second horizontally-disposed plates, thereby preventing removal of the soil reinforcing element.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A facing anchor assembly for securing a facing to a soil reinforcing element, comprising:
 a first horizontally-disposed plate and a second horizontally-disposed plate vertically-offset from the first horizontally-disposed plate, each horizontally disposed plate having a first end and a second end;   at least one transverse protrusion disposed between the first end and the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the at least one transverse protrusion is configured to receive and seat a first transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element; and   a coupling assembly configured to secure the first transverse wire within the at least one transverse protrusion and further engage a pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element between the first and second horizontally-disposed plates, thereby preventing removal of the soil reinforcing element.   
     
     
         2 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical tab disposed at the first end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the vertical tab of each horizontally-disposed plate is cast into the facing. 
     
     
         3 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical tab disposed at the first end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the vertical tab of each horizontally-disposed plate comprises a facing perforation whereby the horizontally-disposed plates are mounted to a back face of the facing. 
     
     
         4 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising two transverse protrusions disposed between the first end and the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the two transverse protrusions of are configured to receive and seat the first transverse wire and a second transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element. 
     
     
         5 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a coupling perforation is defined between the at least one transverse protrusion and the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate. 
     
     
         6 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling assembly comprises a bolt extendable through the coupling perforation of each horizontally-disposed plate and secured with a nut threadably attached to the bolt. 
     
     
         7 . A facing anchor assembly for securing a facing to a soil reinforcing element, comprising:
 a first horizontally-disposed plate and a second horizontally-disposed plate vertically-offset from the first horizontally-disposed plate, wherein each horizontally disposed plate has a first end and a second end;   a swivel plate having a first end and a second end, the first end of the swivel plate being configured to be coupled to the second end of the first and second horizontally-disposed plates;   at least one transverse protrusion disposed between the first and second ends of the swivel plate, wherein the at least one transverse protrusion is configured to receive and seat a first transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element;   a retainer plate configured to be coupled to the second end of the swivel plate and engage a pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element between the retainer plate and the swivel plate;   a first coupling assembly adapted to pivotably secure the swivel plate between the first and second horizontally disposed plates; and   a second coupling assembly configured to secure the first transverse wire within the at least one transverse protrusion and further bind the pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element between swivel plate and the retainer plate, thereby preventing removal of the soil reinforcing element.   
     
     
         8 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a vertical tab disposed at the first end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the vertical tab of each horizontally-disposed plate is cast into the facing. 
     
     
         9 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a vertical tab disposed at the first end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the vertical tab of each horizontally-disposed plate comprises a facing perforation whereby the horizontally-disposed plates are mounted to a back face of the facing. 
     
     
         10 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a bolt extendable through concentric coupling perforations defined in both the swivel plate and the first and second horizontally-disposed plates, with a nut threadably attached to the bolt. 
     
     
         11 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the soil reinforcing element is rotatable in a horizontal plane about an axis defined by the first coupling assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the swivel plate has two transverse protrusions disposed between the first and second ends of the swivel plate that are configured to receive and seat the first transverse wire and a second transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element. 
     
     
         13 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a first coupling perforation is defined in the swivel plate between the two transverse protrusions and a second coupling perforation is defined concentrically with the first coupling perforation in the retainer plate. 
     
     
         14 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second coupling assembly comprises a bolt extendable through the first and second coupling perforations and secured with a nut threadably attached to the bolt. 
     
     
         15 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a first coupling perforation is defined between the at least one transverse protrusion and the second end of the swivel plate, and a second coupling perforation is defined concentrically with the first coupling perforation in the retainer plate. 
     
     
         16 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second coupling assembly comprises a bolt extendable through the first and second coupling perforations and secured with a nut threadably attached to the bolt. 
     
     
         17 . A facing anchor assembly for securing a facing to a soil reinforcing element, comprising:
 a first horizontally-disposed plate and a second horizontally-disposed plate vertically-offset from the first horizontally-disposed plate, wherein each horizontally disposed plate having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first and second horizontally disposed plates are connected at the first ends by a connecting member configured to receive a horizontal wire of the facing between two adjacent vertical wires of the facing;   at least one transverse protrusion disposed between the first end and the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the at least one transverse protrusion is configured to receive and seat a first transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element;   a trough disposed at the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate; and   a coupling assembly comprising a U-shaped connector pin configured to be inserted into the trough of each horizontally-disposed plate, the coupling assembly configured to secure the first transverse wire within the at least one transverse protrusion and further engage a pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element between the first and second horizontally-disposed plates, thereby preventing removal of the soil reinforcing element.   
     
     
         18 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a vertical slot defined in the connecting member, wherein the vertical slot receives a pin configured to engage both the horizontal wire and the vertical slot, thereby preventing removal of the facing anchor assembly from the facing. 
     
     
         19 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising two transverse protrusions disposed between the first end and the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate, wherein the two transverse protrusions of are configured to receive and seat the first transverse wire and a second transverse wire of the soil reinforcing element. 
     
     
         20 . The facing anchor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a coupling perforation is defined between the at least one transverse protrusion and the second end of each horizontally-disposed plate.