Patent ID: 7445407
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
1. A modular block system, comprising: a plurality of wall blocks stacked to form at least a portion of a wall, each wall block having an interior face, an exterior face; a top surface, and a bottom surface; and retaining means for securing at least one reinforcement member between stacked wall blocks, the retaining means including a pair of reinforcement member retaining bars that are positioned within a slot that crosses the transverse length of the top surface of at least one wall block, a first of the retaining bars securing the at least one reinforcement member against the bottom of the slot and a second of the retaining bars securing the first retaining bar against the side of the slot, such that the at least one reinforcement member is additionally secured between the pair of retaining bars, wherein a plurality of tiers of wall blocks are stacked one atop the other, each block including a slot that extends transversely across one of its surfaces and being adapted to receive a portion of a soil reinforcement member and a pair of reinforcement member retaining bars, each of the slot channels being defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and a channel bottom surface, the soil reinforcement member extending into the soil behind the wall, wherein the pair of reinforcement member retainer bars is positioned within the slot channels holding the portion of the reinforcement member, the pair of retainer bars functioning to hold the soil reinforcement member in place within the wall by mating a first retaining bar within the slot channel with a second retaining bar within the slot channel with the soil reinforcement member disposed between the first and second retaining bars such that the pair of retaining bars are secured within the slot channel, wherein the first and second retaining bars include cooperative surfaces that function in combination with each other and the front and rear wall of the slot channel to resist forces acting to move the soil reinforcement member within the slot channel, wherein the retaining bars have front, back, top, and bottom faces, the retainer bars having a front to back dimension measuring from the top face of each retainer bar that is greater than a front to back dimension measuring from the bottom face of the retainer bar.