Support member for elevating a retaining wall panel

Abstract

A support member for elevating a retaining wall panel includes a base arrangement with a first area that engages an underlying mounting surface. A height elevating section extends from the base arrangement to a third area. The height elevating section has a receiving area configured to connect to a wall panel. A sloped surface extends between the base arrangement proximate the first area and the height elevating section proximate to the third area. The sloped surface is configured to support a load bearing panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support member for elevating a retaining wall panel, the support member comprising:
 a base arrangement having a first area, the base arrangement being configured to engage a mounting surface;   a height elevating section extending from the base arrangement proximate the first area to a second area, the height elevating section having a first receiving area configured to receive a wall panel;   a sloped surface extending between the base arrangement proximate the first area and the height elevating section proximate the second area, the sloped surface being configured to support a load bearing panel extending between the first area and the second area.   
     
     
         2 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped surface comprises at least one mounting area for receiving a lateral brace member. 
     
     
         3 . The support member of  claim 1 , further comprising a second receiving area for securing a tension member thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the base arrangement comprises an anti-skid feature. 
     
     
         5 . The support member of  claim 1  comprised of a unitary body. 
     
     
         6 . The support member of  claim 1 , further comprising a gusset extending between the base arrangement, the height elevating section and the sloped surface. 
     
     
         7 . The support member of  claim 1 , further wherein the base arrangement, the height elevating section and the sloped surface are connected to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The support member of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening extending laterally therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the base arrangement, the height elevating section and the sloped surface form one of a triangular shape and a A-shape. 
     
     
         10 . The support member of  claim 1 , having a first side face and a second side face defining a lateral thickness between the first side face and the second side face. 
     
     
         11 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped surface is at a first angle relative to the base arrangement and wherein the first angle being from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the height elevating section comprises an edge oriented at a second angle relative to the base arrangement, the second angle being less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the height elevating section comprises an edge oriented at a second angle relative to the base arrangement, the second angle is about 87 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The support member of  claim 11 , wherein the first receiving area is configured such that the wall panel is configurable in a vertical orientation when the base arrangement positioned on the mounting surface. 
     
     
         15 . The support member of  claim 10 , wherein the height elevating section extends a height and the base arrangement extends a length, and the support member has an aspect ratio equal to the thickness divided by a sum of the height plus the length. 
     
     
         16 . The support member of  claim 15 , wherein the aspect ratio is a fractional number. 
     
     
         17 . The support member of  claim 15 , wherein the aspect ratio is greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         18 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the height elevating section slopes inwardly toward the first area. 
     
     
         19 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the height elevating section slopes outwardly away from the first area. 
     
     
         20 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the height elevating section is positioned a predetermined distance above the mounting surface. 
     
     
         21 . The support member of  claim 1 , further comprising a lip extending from the base arrangement proximate the first area, the lip having a panel receiving area configured to receive an end of a load bearing panel therein. 
     
     
         22 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving area of the height elevating section is configured to abut the wall panel in a vertical orientation when the base arrangement is positioned on the mounting surface. 
     
     
         23 . The support member of  claim 1 , comprising an elongate beam. 
     
     
         24 . The support member of  claim 1 , comprising flat sheet configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped surface is removeably secured to the base arrangement and the height elevating section. 
     
     
         26 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped surface is selectively positionable on and removeably secured to the base arrangement and the height elevating section. 
     
     
         27 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the base arrangement and the height elevating section have an L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         28 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the base arrangement and the height elevating section are a unitary member. 
     
     
         29 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the height elevating section is integral with the wall panel. 
     
     
         30 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel extends from the sloped surface. 
     
     
         31 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel and the sloped surface have an L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein wall panel and the sloped surface are oriented at an angle relative to one another and wherein the angle is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         33 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the base arrangement has a shim receiving slot formed therein. 
     
     
         34 . The support member of  claim 1 , at least one of the first side face and the second side face have a second sloped surface extending therefrom. 
     
     
         35 . The support member of  claim 34 , wherein the second sloped surface is integral with the at least one of the first side face and the second side face. 
     
     
         36 . The support member of  claim 34 , wherein the second sloped surface is removeably secured to the at least one of the first side face and the second side face. 
     
     
         37 . A retaining wall elevating structure comprising:
 at least one of the support members of  claim 1 ; and   at least one load bearing panel disposed on the at least one support member.   
     
     
         38 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 37 , wherein the load bearing panel extends in a sloped manner between the mounting surface proximate the first area to height elevating section proximate second area. 
     
     
         39 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 37 , further comprising a wall panel extending substantially vertically upward from the mounting surface and positioned substantially vertically along the first receiving area. 
     
     
         40 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 37 , further comprising liner draped over the wall panel and the load bearing panel. 
     
     
         41 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 at least two support members of any one of the preceding claims; and wherein the load bearing panel is disposed on and extends over the at least two support members.   
     
     
         42 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 37 , further comprising at least one lateral brace member extending between the at least two support members. 
     
     
         43 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 41 , wherein the load bearing panel is supported by the at least one lateral brace member. 
     
     
         44 . The retaining wall elevating structure of  claim 37 , wherein the support member is positioned substantially inwardly of the wall panel. 
     
     
         45 . A retaining wall system, comprising a plurality of support members, the plurality of support members comprising a first support member size, a second support member size and a third member support size, wherein the first support member size is smaller than the second support member size and the second support member size is less than the third support member size. 
     
     
         46 . The retaining wall system of  claim 45 , wherein a wall panel is disposed in each adjacent pair of the support members so that the wall panels all intersect a common horizontal plane. 
     
     
         47 . The retaining wall system of  claim 45 , further comprising at least one wall shim disposed in the receiving area to adjust a height of the wall panel. 
     
     
         48 . The retaining wall system of  claim 45 , further comprising at least one support shim disposed under the support member to adjust a height of the wall panel. 
     
     
         49 . A retaining wall elevating member comprising:
 a sloped sheet; and   a wall panel integral with and extending at an angle.   
     
     
         50 . The retaining wall elevating member of  claim 49 , wherein the wall panel and the sloped sheet have an L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         51 . The retaining wall elevating member of  claim 49 , wherein wall panel and the sloped sheet are oriented at an angle relative to one another and wherein the angle is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         52 . An ice skating rink comprising the retaining wall system of  claim 45 . 
     
     
         53 . The ice skating rink of  claim 52 , wherein the support members are positioned substantially inside the rink. 
     
     
         54 . The ice skating rink of  claim 52 , further comprising a liner draped over a plurality of tension members, the tension members extending under the liner and being in frictional engagement with the mounting surface, one of the tension members being secured to each of two generally opposing support members. 
     
     
         55 . The ice skating rink of  claim 52 , further comprising a bracket for supporting a retaining wall and a liner draped over a plurality of tension members extending under the liner and in frictional engagement with the mounting surface, one of the tension members being secured to one of the support members and a bracket. 
     
     
         56 . The ice skating rink of  claim 55 , wherein the bracket is located substantially outside of the ice skating rink. 
     
     
         57 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the base arrangement extends from the first area to a third area proximate to the mounting surface.