Patent ID: 6071044
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: E02D,E04B,E04C

Abstract:
A modular structure for retaining walls and the like, comprising:a preformed, elongated module comprised of a polymeric material and having a central longitudinal module axis extending the length of said module substantially centrally thereof,said module comprised of first, second and third elongated and substantially parallel side walls of substantially equal length, the first and third side walls positioned laterally opposite one another and the second side wall joining said first and third side walls in parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, whereby the lateral dimension of the module perpendicular to said central axis is substantially constant;a pair of exterior end walls formed integral with said side walls of substantially rectangular cross-section, said end walls lying in substantially parallel planes perpendicular to said central module axis, whereby the modular structure is substantially rigid and formed with a substantially U-shaped cross-section with the open side thereof opposite said second side wall;a plurality of elongated module mounting elements mounted in the cavity defined by the U-shaped cross-section, each having a longitudinal major axis disposed perpendicularly to the plane of said second side wall, said elements facing the open side of the structure and positioned adjacent opposite respective exterior end walls of said structure, each of said mounting elements spaced laterally from an adjacent first side wall a first predetermined distance substantially equal to one-half the lateral dimension, each of said mounting elements formed with an open-ended bore aligned with the longitudinal axis of a corresponding mounting element for receiving structure staking means inserted into said bore, at least one of said elements spaced at the first predetermined distance from one of said exterior walls in a direction parallel to said central module axis, andat least one interior wall in said cavity located a second predetermined distance from one exterior end wall, which is substantially equal to said lateral dimension, said one interior wall having a planar surface lying in a plane substantially parallel to a plane containing a surface of said one exterior end wall, whereby said one interior wall may serve as an alternative exterior end wall to said structure in the event a length of the structure extending from said one interior wall is severed from the structure substantially parallel to the plane of said one interior wall.