Systems, Devices, and/or Methods for Retaining Slopes

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, and/or composition of matter configured for and/or resulting from, and/or a method for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, a retaining wall system comprising a plurality of stacked courses of substantially horizontally-extending mesh tubes, each tube substantially filled with a plant growing medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retaining wall system configured to substantially stabilize a slope formed from earthen material, the retaining wall system comprising:
 a stabilizing wall comprising a plurality of stacked courses formed from one or more substantially horizontally-extending mesh tubes, each tube substantially filled with a plant growing medium;   a plurality of modular tube retainers collectively configured to substantially resist tipping and bowing of an approximately planar major face of the stabilizing wall, the slope located distal to the major face; and   wherein:
 each tube retainer defines a plurality of retainer apertures that are configured to substantially allow plant roots and the earthen material to pass substantially vertically therethrough in a zone within the retaining wall system that is distal to the major face; 
 each tube retainer is substantially stabilized by at least one reinforcement strap that extends through a portion of the earthen material but does not loop or wrap around the corresponding tube; 
 each reinforcement strap loops through an aperture bordered by a substantially horizontally-extending handle of a corresponding tube retainer; 
 each handle has a diameter of at least 0.5 inches. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tube retainers are configured to allow trunks, stems, branches, and/or leaves of plants rooted in the tubes to grow substantially away from the tube retainers.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tube retainers are configured to allow plants rooted in the tubes to grow to an extent that the plants, within 3 years, substantially cover the major face of the wall.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer comprises a substantially horizontally-extending grid-like bottom configured to allow plant roots to extend approximately vertically therethrough.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer defines a substantially open back that is configured to be located proximal to the earthen material.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube defines mesh apertures that are configured to allow plant roots to substantially extend therethrough.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer comprises a pre-bent interlocked wire mesh basket.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer comprises a polymer block-like module that defines a substantially planar solid face, a substantially planar latticed bottom, and/or one or more back posts or stops.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer comprises one or more protrusions configured to substantially resist tube movement in a substantially horizontal direction.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer comprises a polymer module that defines two substantially planar, substantially latticed, and substantially vertical module faces, one module face substantially horizontally offset from the other by a predetermined distance to define a predetermined batter for the wall, at least one of the vertical module faces coupled to an integral and substantially planar, substantially latticed, and substantially horizontal module face.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each handle is configured to substantially reduce stress concentrations on its corresponding strap.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tubes are configured to substantially separate the plant growing medium from the earthen material and to substantially prevent erosion and/or washout of the plant growing medium.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer is configured for an irrigation conduit to extend at least one of:
 substantially through the tube retainer; 
 substantially through a tube retained by that tube retainer; 
 substantially between the tube and an adjacent tube; and 
 substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an irrigation conduit extends substantially longitudinally through at least one of the tubes.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of tube retainers are substantially interlocked.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers comprises a face portion that defines a portion of the major face, and a substantially horizontal portion that extends from the face portion distally into the earthen material.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers comprises a face portion that defines a portion of the major face, and a substantially horizontal portion that extends from the face portion distally into the earthen material; and   at least one of the face portions is connected to its corresponding horizontal portion via a strut.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers comprises a face portion that defines a portion of the major face, and a substantially horizontal tube-supporting portion that extends from the face portion distally into the earthen material; and   at least one of the face portions is configured at a predetermined angle to provide a predetermined contour, batter, and/or setback to one or more of the courses relative to a below course.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers comprises a face portion that defines a portion of the major face, and a substantially horizontal tube-supporting portion that extends from the face portion distally into the earthen material;   at least one of the face portions is configured at a predetermined angle to provide a predetermined contour, batter, and/or setback to one or more of the courses relative to a below course; and   the predetermined angle is from approximately 45 degrees from horizontal to approximately 85 degrees from horizontal.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers comprises a face portion that defines a portion of the major face, and a substantially horizontal tube-supporting portion that extends from the face portion distally toward the slope;   the face portion is textured and/or colored to substantially resemble a traditional wall building material.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube has a minimum mesh opening size of approximately 0.050 inches.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of reinforcement straps is configured to substantially resist wall-tipping loads and/or wall-bowing loads.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of one or more of the reinforcement straps is substantially offset from contact with the corresponding tube retainer by a corresponding jacket, the jacket configured to substantially protect the strap from substantial damage caused by direct contact of the strap with the tube retainer.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of one or more of the reinforcement straps is substantially offset from contact with a wire of the corresponding tube retainer by a corresponding jacket, the jacket configured to substantially protect the strap from substantial damage caused by direct contact of the strap with the wire, the jacket located proximal from a most distal wire of a horizontal portion of the tube retainer.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 no filter cloth or geotextile substantially separates the earthen material from an exterior of any tube from the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 none of the tubes is wrapped by a geotextile.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers is stackable with every other tube retainer from the plurality the tube retainers.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of tube retainers is nestable with every other tube retainer from the plurality the tube retainers.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of tube retainers are arranged into courses comprising alternating tube retainers and open plant growing zones configured for growing plants, the courses positioned in a running bond pattern.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system defines, for a single tube, a plurality of separated plant growing zones.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least some of tube retainers are configured to receive one or more non-destructively removable side rails that provide a bearing surface for two above-positioned tube retainers.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer is configured to substantially promote growth of plant roots out of a first tube and into an adjacent second tube.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer is configured to substantially promote growth of plant roots out of a first tube and into a vertically adjacent second tube.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube retainer is configured to substantially promote growth of plant roots out of a first tube and into a horizontally adjacent second tube.