Retaining block wall, retaining blocks and manufacturing method

Abstract

A retaining block wall, retaining blocks, and a retaining block manufacturing method result in a structural wall with two mechanical interlocks and water management systems.

1 . A retaining wall comprising:
 a plurality of retaining wall blocks,   said retaining wall blocks being arranged in a series of at least two rows,   each of said rows of blocks including retaining wall blocks laterally adjacent to each other,   at least some of said retaining wall blocks having a hollow core within it, said hollow core being generally vertically oriented within each block, with hollow cores from vertically adjacent blocks from different rows being arranged generally above and below each other respectively, so that from top to bottom on said retaining wall a hollow column in formed by the hollow cores of retaining wall blocks,   said hollow column being capable of permitting water which may have migrated from soil retained by the wall to run from the top of said retaining wall to the bottom of said retaining wall,   at least some of said retaining wall blocks having a channel at their bottoms, said channels from laterally adjacent blocks together forming a water trough that can permit the movement of water away from the retaining wall,   an integral top nub on at least a plurality of said retaining wall blocks,   a bottom receptacle on at least a plurality of said retaining wall blocks, and   said receptacles being configured to permit placoncrete of said nub therein so that once stacked into a retaining wall, the blocks create a first mechanical interlock between them from the material of the block as a result of said nub and receptacle formation.   
     
     
         2 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 1  wherein said hollow columns are capable of permitting water to run into said trough so that it may proceed away from said retaining wall thus mitigating the effects of hydraulic pressure and erosion. 
     
     
         3 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 1  wherein at least a plurality of said receptacles are formed on said blocks as a lateral groove across the bottoms of said blocks. 
     
     
         4 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said nubs and receptacles are formed with a predetermined batter facilitate the blocks being used to form a high wall with ample structural integrity. 
     
     
         5 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 1  wherein said hollow cores of said retaining wall blocks have interior walls, said walls being sloped narrow to wide from top to bottom to facilitate filling with a filler material. 
     
     
         6 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 5  wherein said filter material creates a second mechanical interlock between vertically adjacent blocks so that when said hollow columns contain a filler material by virtue of mechanical interference between the filler material and said blocks, 
     
     
         7 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 6  wherein said filler material includes gravel. 
     
     
         8 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said blocks have angular exterior side walls so that they can be used for constructing retaining walls with non-planar shapes. 
     
     
         9 . A retaining wall as recited in  claim 1  wherein at least a plurality of said blocks include an outer wall aesthetic pattern in order to present an attractive appearance in a finished retaining wall. 
     
     
         10 . A retaining wall comprising:
 a plurality of retaining wall blocks,   said retaining wall blocks being arranged in a series of at least two rows,   each of said rows of blocks including retaining wall blocks laterally adjacent to each other,   at least some of said retaining wall blocks having a hollow core within it, said hollow core being generally vertically oriented within each block, with hollow cores from vertically adjacent blocks from different rows being arranged generally above and below,   low each other respectively, so that from top to bottom on said retaining wall a hollow column in formed by the hollow cores of retaining wall blocks,   said hollow column being capable of permitting water to run from the top of said retaining wall to the bottom of said retaining wall, a   t least some of said retaining wall blocks having a channel at their bottoms, said channels from laterally adjacent blocks together forming a water trough that can permit the movement of water away from the retaining wall,   an integral top nub on at least a plurality of said retaining wall blocks,   a bottom receptacle on at least a plurality of said retaining wall blocks,   said receptacles being configured to permit concrete of said nub therein so that once stacked into a retaining wall, the blocks create a first mechanical interlock between them from the material of the block as a result of said nub and receptacle formation;   wherein said hollow columns are capable of permitting water to run into said trough so that it may proceed away from said retaining wall thus mitigating the effects of hydraulic pressure and erosion;   wherein at least a plurality of said receptacles are formed on said blocks as a lateral groove across the bottoms of said blocks;   wherein a plurality of said nubs and receptacles are formed with a predetermined batter facilitate the blocks being used to form a high wall with ample structural integrity;   wherein said hollow cores of said retaining wall blocks have interior walls, said walls being sloped narrow to wide from top to bottom to facilitate filling with a filler material;   wherein said filter material creates a second mechanical interlock between vertically adjacent blocks so that when said hollow columns contain a filler material by virtue of mechanical interference between the filler material and said blocks;   wherein said filler material includes gravel;   wherein a plurality of said blocks have angular exterior side walls so that they can be used for constructing retaining walls with non-planar shapes; and   wherein at least a plurality of said blocks include an outer wall aesthetic pattern in order to present an attractive appearance in a finished retaining wall.