Patent ID: 8632281

Claim:
A system for constructing a mechanically stabilized earth structure, comprising: a wire facing bent to form a horizontal element and a vertical facing, the vertical facing having a plurality of facing cross wires coupled to a plurality of vertical wires that include a plurality of first connector leads, each first connector lead comprising a pair of vertical wires laterally offset from each other a first distance, and the horizontal element having an initial wire and a terminal wire coupled to a plurality of horizontal wires that include a plurality of second connector leads, each second connector lead comprising a pair of horizontal wires laterally offset from each other a second distance; a crimp formed in at least one of the plurality of first connector leads of the vertical facing or in at least one of the plurality of second connector leads of the horizontal element; and a soil reinforcing element comprising: a first longitudinal wire and a second longitudinal wire, each comprising a lead end; and a plurality of transverse wires coupled to the first longitudinal wire and the second longitudinal wire, the plurality of transverse wires including a first transverse wire coupled to the lead ends of the first longitudinal wire and the second longitudinal wire, and a second transverse wire spaced laterally apart from the first transverse wire, the soil reinforcing element being detachably coupled to either the vertical facing at the crimp formed in the at least one of the plurality of first connector leads, or the horizontal element at the crimp formed in the at least one of the plurality of second connector leads, such that at least a portion of the soil reinforcing element is disposed on and extends beyond an end portion of the horizontal element and the crimp extends between the first longitudinal wire and the second longitudinal wire, forming an opening therebetween, the first transverse wire being disposed adjacent the vertical facing and the second transverse wire being disposed adjacent the crimp.