Patent ID: 6758636
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: E02D,E04B,E04C

Abstract:
A segmental retaining wall system, comprising:a wall block including: an interior block face for forming an interior surface of a segmental retaining wall, an exterior block face for forming an exterior surface of a segmental retaining wall, first and second block sides that extend from the exterior block face to the interior block face, a block top surface having a lock channel formed therein, the lock channel being defined by a channel front wall, a channel rear wall, and a channel bottom surface, the lock channel extending transversely across the block top surface from the first block side to the second block side, wherein the channel front wall forms a first shoulder that extends towards the interior block face so as to overhang a portion of the channel front wall, wherein the channel rear wall forms a second shoulder that extends towards the exterior block face so as to overhang a portion of the channel rear wall, and wherein the shoulders are spaced apart and run generally parallel to each other along the lock channel, and a block bottom surface; a soil reinforcement member laid across the block top surface with a portion of the soil reinforcement member laying in front of the lock channel, a portion of the soil reinforcement member laying behind the lock channel, and a portion of the soil reinforcement member inserted in the lock channel; and a retainer bar having front, back, top, and bottom faces, the retainer bar having a front to back dimension that is greater than the closest distance between the first and second shoulders of the lock channel, the retainer bar having a top to bottom dimension that is less than the closest distance between the first and second shoulders of the lock channel; the lock channel being of such size and shape as to permit the retainer bar to be inserted into the channel through the space between the first and second shoulders, with a portion of the soil reinforcement member interposed between the retainer bar and the channel walls, and then to be rotated into a position below the first and second shoulders in which the retainer bar cannot be removed from the channel, whereby the soil reinforcement member is clamped between the retainer bar and the channel rear wall when a tensile force is exerted on the portion of the soil reinforcement member extending behind the lock channel.