Retaining Wall Systems and Methods of Constructing Same

Abstract

Retaining wall systems and methods of making retaining wall systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the retaining wall system includes a first horizontally-extending course of sand/soil bags and a second horizontally-extending course of sand/soil bags positioned vertically adjacent to the first course of sand/soil bags, with an interconnecting member that attaches the first course of sand/soil bags to the second course of sand/soil bags. The interconnecting member has an upper side and a lower side, wherein at least one of the upper side and the lower side has a first projection that includes a notch therein to engage geogrid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retaining wall system comprising:
 a first horizontally-extending course of sand/soil bags;   a second horizontally-extending course of sand/soil bags positioned vertically adjacent to the first course of sand/soil bags;   an interconnecting member that attaches the first course of sand/soil bags to the second course of sand/soil bags, wherein the interconnecting member has an upper side and a lower side, wherein at least one of the upper side and the lower side has a first projection that includes a notch therein to engage geogrid.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper side and the lower side also includes a second projection, that is smaller than the first projection, but which does not include a notch therein to engage geogrid. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting member has at least one connection slot therein. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper side has two large projections therein and the lower side has one large projection. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining wall system of  claim 4 , wherein the two large projections are spaced apart such that each engages a different bag in the second course of sand/soil bags. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting member includes a lattice-type hole pattern to permit plant growth therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall system of  claim 2 , wherein the interconnecting member includes a plurality of first projections of a first height and a plurality of second projections of a second height, wherein the second height is less than the first height. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining wall system of  claim 7 , wherein the interconnecting member includes a plurality of recesses that correspond with the plurality of first projections, such that two or more interconnecting members may be arranged in a linear configuration or a transverse configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The retaining wall system of  claim 8 , wherein the linear configuration or transverse configuration is achieved by aligning a plurality of first projections in a first interconnecting member with a plurality of recesses in the second interconnecting member. 
     
     
         10 . The retaining wall system of  claim 1 , further including a geogrid-holding member that extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first projection extends. 
     
     
         11 . The retaining wall system of  claim 10 , wherein the interconnecting member has at least one edge and at least one geogrid-holding member extends from the at least one edge. 
     
     
         12 . The retaining wall system of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of geogrid-holding members extend from at least one edge of the interconnecting member. 
     
     
         13 . A retaining wall system comprising:
 a first horizontally-extending course of sand/soil bags;   a second horizontally-extending course of sand/soil bags positioned vertically adjacent to the first course of sand/soil bags;   an interconnecting member that attaches the first course of sand/soil bags to the second course of sand/soil bags, wherein the interconnecting member includes a plurality of plates each having at least one aperture therethrough so that adjacent plates may be connected together by fastening members.   
     
     
         14 . The retaining wall system of  claim 13 , wherein each plate has a upper side and a lower side, and wherein at least one of the upper side and the lower side of each plate only has a single projection thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The retaining wall system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one plate includes a projection that has a notch therein to engage geogrid. 
     
     
         16 . The retaining wall system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one plate includes a second projection, that is smaller than the first projection, but which does not include a notch therein to engage geogrid. 
     
     
         17 . The retaining wall system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plates of the interconnecting member has at least one connection slot therein. 
     
     
         18 . The retaining wall system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plates of the interconnecting member includes a lattice-type hole pattern to permit plant growth therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The retaining wall system of  claim 13 , further including a geogrid-holding member that extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first projection extends. 
     
     
         20 . The retaining wall system of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of geogrid-holding members extend from at least one edge of the interconnecting member.