Wall constructions

Earth retaining wall blocks including a plurality of similar header blocks and a plurality of similar stretcher blocks arranged for erection in tiered and interlocking relationship to present a generally flush frontal appearance. The header blocks are each elongate members arranged to extend from the front to the rear of the wall in generally parallel relationship and each have a front end portion with a groove or recess inset from the front face and in either the upper or lower surface of the front end portion, and a rear end portion adapted to engage with upper and lower surfaces of similar next tiered header blocks. Each stretcher block is an elongate member arranged to extend longitudinally of the erected wall between the front portions of adjacent tiered header blocks with the front faces of the header and stretcher blocks generally flush, and each stretcher block has a rear projection arranged to locate in the front end portion groove or recess of one of the adjacent tiered header blocks.

This invention relates to wall constructions and more particularly relates 
to building blocks including stretchers and headers intended for erection 
in tiered relationship in the construction of such as earth retaining 
walls. 
An object of this invention is to provide improved constructions of header 
and stretcher blocks whereby the erected wall may present a generally 
flush frontal appearance. 
Another object of the invention is to provide header and stretcher blocks 
for retaining walls and having interlocking means facilitating the 
erection of the walls and being arranged to prevent accidental 
displacement of the header and stretcher blocks relative to each other 
after erection of the wall. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the 
ensuing description. 
According to this invention therefore there is provided a means for 
erecting a retaining wall comprising a plurality of similar header blocks 
and a plurality of similar stretcher blocks arranged to be erected in 
tiered relationship, the header blocks each being elongate members 
arranged for disposition from the front to the rear of the wall in 
generally parallel relationship and each having a front end portion with a 
groove or recess inset from the header block front face in either its 
upper surface or its lower surface and a rear end portion with upper and 
lower surfaces adapted to engage with lower and upper surfaces of similar 
next tiered header blocks, each stretcher block being an elongate member 
arranged for disposition longitudinally of the wall between the front end 
portions of adjacent tiered header blocks with the front faces of the 
stretcher and header blocks generally flush and having a rear projection 
arranged for location in the front end portion groove or recess of one of 
said adjacent tiered header blocks.

The header and stretcher blocks, (generally indicated by the arrows 1 and 
2, respectively), in accordance with this invention are preferably precast 
in concrete material and may be provided with internal metal rod 
reinforcing, particularly for larger constructions of block. The header 
blocks 1 and associated stretcher blocks 2 are not limited to any one size 
but may be manufactured in small sizes such as for decorative land-scaping 
retaining walls in home gardens, or can be manufactured in a variety of 
larger sizes for the erection of larger retaining walls, such as may be 
required for motorway escarpments. 
Each header block 1 in accordance with this invention is an elongate member 
the major part of which is of generally rectangular cross section, and the 
rear end part is of generally T formation (when viewed sideways) having 
upwardly and downwardly projecting flange portions 3 and 4, respectively, 
one of which may have (and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) a medial raised 
rounded projection 5 and the other of which may have a complementary 
medial recess 6 disposed in opposition so that the projection 5 of the one 
block 1 may engage in the recess 6 of an adjacent tiered block 1. In the 
illustrated form of the invention, according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the 
projection 5 is provided on the upper flange 3 and the recess provided on 
or in the lower flange 4, although the arrangement can be reversed. As an 
alternative to the provision of a rounded medial projection 5 and a 
complementary recess 6, and as shown by way of example in FIG. 3 of the 
drawings, it is envisaged that a rib 5a extending transversely of the 
block 1 for the full width thereof can be provided instead of the rounded 
projection or knob 5 and a complementary full width groove 6a provided on 
the other flange face in opposition to the rib 5a and instead of the 
medial recess 6. 
The front end portion of the header block 1 is provided on its upper face 
with a full width transverse groove 7 inset from its front face and 
arranged to receive a portion of a depending longitudinal flange part 8 at 
the rear side of an elongate generally rectangular stretcher block 2, the 
width of the stretcher block 2 being complementary to the inset spacing of 
the groove 7 so that the front face 9 of the stretcher block 2 is arranged 
to lie flush with the front face 10 of the header block 1 in the erection 
of a wall. The transverse sides of the groove 7 in the header block front 
portion may be splayed outwardly and upwardly and similarly at least the 
forward face 8a of the depending longitudinal flange portion 8 of the 
stretcher block 2 may be inclined rearwardly, although it is envisaged 
that the front face 7a, of the groove 7 and front face 8a of the depending 
flange portion 8 can be substantially normal to the respective upper and 
lower faces of the header and stretcher blocks 1 and 2. 
Preferably also the upper face 11 of the header block 1 between the groove 
7 and front face 10 is inclined rearwardly and downwardly towards such 
groove 7 from the front face 10 and the lower face 11 of the stretcher 
block 2 has a complementary inclined formation. 
The header blocks 1 are arranged to be erected in generally parallel tiered 
formation and thus, with the rear end flange portions 3 and 4 maintaining 
the header blocks 1 in spaced relationship the header block front end 
portion and stretcher block depth are of dimensions such that the parallel 
relationship is maintained. To reduce the overall cross sectional 
dimensions of the stretcher blocks 2 and thus result in a cost and weight 
saving, the front end portion of each header block 1 can be provided with 
a short depending flange portion 13 with a flat lower surface arranged to 
rest on the upper flat surface of a stretcher block 2 therebelow so that 
the header block medial part is waisted relative to its end parts. 
With the interlocking arrangement of the header block rear end portions and 
the interlocking arrangement of the stretcher block depending flange 
portion 8 and header block transverse groove 7, coupled with the inclined 
mating faces 11 and 12 of the header and stretcher blocks 1 and 2 at the 
upper side of the header block front end portions, further interlocking 
between the header block front end lower side and the stretcher block 
upper side may not be necessary, but can be provided if so desired. It is 
envisaged for example that a lower formation of the header block front end 
portion can be similar to the upper formation with the transverse groove 7 
and the stretcher block 2 may have an upper rear flange portion similar to 
the lower rear flange portion 8 for engagement therewith. Alternatively, 
and as shown by way of example in the arrangement according to FIG. 3 of 
the drawings, each header block depending flange portion 13 can have a 
lower rear part 14 extending its full width and arranged to project 
downwardly at the rear upper longitudinal edge portion 15 of the stretcher 
block 2 with which it is engaged to provide an abutment for such edge 
portion 15. 
Thus it will be seen that by this invention there is provided an improved 
arrangement of header and stretcher blocks presenting a flush finish to 
the front of the erected wall and including interlocking arrangements 
between adjacent tiered header blocks and between the header blocks and 
front stretcher blocks in providing a strong retaining wall. Further, the 
provision of the depending flange 8 at the rear of each stretcher block 2 
effectively increases the overall depth of the stretcher block 2 to thus 
provide a larger earth retaining surface 16 without providing unduly large 
cross section stretcher blocks 2. 
It will also be seen that the header and stretcher blocks can be erected 
and be equally effective in an inverted arrangement to that described and 
illustrated. 
Particular forms of the invention have been described and illustrated by 
way of example, but it will be appreciated that other variations of and 
modifications to the embodiments described and illustrated can take place 
without departing from the scope of the appended claims.