Patent ID: 7281882

Claim:
A structure for retaining and reinforcing an earthen formation and securing a face of the formation against sloughing, said structure comprising: a) successive soil reinforcing mats embedded in the formation at vertically spaced intervals, each said reinforcing mat being generally horizontally disposed and of a planar configuration without upstanding portions at the face of the formation and comprised of an apertured polymer body extending into the formation, said body terminating at the face of the formation, and having a transverse element extending across the face; and b) a welded wire face mat disposed at the face of the formation between each successive pair of soil reinforcing mats, each of said face mats comprising: i. transverse wires at upper and lower portions thereof and spaced generally vertical wires welded to and extending across the transverse wires; ii. a first plurality of generally vertical wires extending distally and upwardly therefrom to provide fingers extending over the transverse wire at the lower portion of the next successive face mat and behind the transverse element of the soil reinforcing mat extending across the face between the successive face mats; and iii. a second plurality of the generally vertical wires extending distally and upwardly therefrom in a curved path extending toward the formation to provide curved fingers extending behind and in frictional engagement with the transverse wire at the lower portion of the next successive face mat.