Modular retaining wall

Abstract

A modular retaining wall with improved features is illustrated and described. Open or closed polygonal modules having channels disposed therein are set at least partially below a surface, said surface either being land-based or aqueous-based, and interfaces therebetween, e.g., shoreline, and attached to each other by respective fastening means which provide engaging connectivity between the modules.

1 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 at least two generally U-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    each of said modules having an open end, an opposed bottom end connected to a pair of generally parallel sides and a fastening means near each corner of said ends;    said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said modules connected by mating engagement of a pair of fastening means on at least one first module with a pair of fastening means on said at least one second module.    
   
   
       2 . The wall of  claim 1  which further comprises at least one polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said end cap, said end cap fastening means mating with said module fastening means.  
   
   
       3 . The wall of  claim 2  which further comprises: 
 at least one generally L-shaped polymeric module having a pair of interconnected sides forming an acute angle and a channel having an open end;    each side of said open end having a fastening means near said end for engagement with said module fastening means; and    one of said sides of said at least one L-shaped polymeric module having a pair of fastening means near opposed ends of said side.    
   
   
       4 . The wall of  claim 2  which further comprises a second polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said second end cap, said second end cap fastening means mating with one pair of said module fastening means.  
   
   
       5 . The wall of  claim 1  wherein said fastening means near each corner of said end is a pair of fastening means on an exterior of said bottom side and a pair of fastening means on an interior of said open side.  
   
   
       6 . The wall of  claim 1  which further comprises a support rib within said U-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       7 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of generally U-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface;    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module;    at least one non-rectangular polymeric module having two sides, an intersection of said two sides forming an acute angle and a channel disposed therebetween, said non-rectangular module having a pair of fastening means on one said two sides and a fastening means near each open end in interconnected relationship between two of said U-shaped modules; and    at least one end panel with a pair of fastening means on said panel for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.    
   
   
       8 . The wall of  claim 7  which further comprises a second end panel having a fastening means at each end, said second panel fastening means mating with one pair of module fastening means.  
   
   
       9 . The wall of  claim 7  wherein said fastening means near each corner of said end is a pair of fastening means on an exterior of said bottom side and a pair of fastening means on an interior of said open side.  
   
   
       10 . The wall of  claim 7  which further comprises a support rib within said U-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       11 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of generally U-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module.    
   
   
       12 . The wall of  claim 11  which further comprises at least one non-rectangular polymeric module having two sides, an intersection of said two sides forming an acute angle and a channel disposed therebetween, said non-rectangular module having a pair of fastening means on one said two sides and a fastening means near each open end in interconnected relationship between two of said U-shaped modules.  
   
   
       13 . The wall of  claim 12  which further comprises at least one end panel with a pair of fastening means on said panel for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.  
   
   
       14 . The wall of  claim 13  which further comprises a second end panel having a fastening means at each end, said second panel fastening means mating with either said first or said last modules.  
   
   
       15 . The wall of  claim 11  wherein said fastening means near each corner of said end is a pair of fastening means on an exterior of said bottom side and a pair of fastening means on an interior of said open side.  
   
   
       16 . The wall of  claim 11  which further comprises a support rib within said U-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       17 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 at least two generally rectangularly-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    each of said modules having a fastening means near each corner of said modules;    said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said modules connected by mating engagement of a pair of fastening means on at least one first module with a pair of fastening means on said at least one second module.    
   
   
       18 . The wall of  claim 17  which further comprises at least one polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said end cap, said end cap fastening means mating with said module fastening means.  
   
   
       19 . The wall of  claim 18  which further comprises: 
 at least one generally triangularly-shaped polymeric module having a channel disposed therein; and    said triangularly-shaped polymeric module having a pair of fastening means on two sides of said module.    
   
   
       20 . The wall of  claim 18  which further comprises a second polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said second end cap, said second end cap fastening means mating with one pair of said module fastening means.  
   
   
       21 . The wall of  claim 17  which further comprises a support rib within said rectangularly-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       22 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of rectangularly-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface;    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module;    at least one non-rectangular polymeric module having at least three sides and having a channel disposed therein, said non-rectangular module having a pair of fastening means on two of said sides in interconnected relationship between two of said modules; and    at least one end panel with a pair of fastening means on said panel for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.    
   
   
       23 . The wall of  claim 22  which further comprises a second end panel having a fastening means at each end, said second panel fastening means mating with one pair of module fastening means.  
   
   
       24 . The wall of  claim 22  wherein said fastening means near each corner of said end are a pair of fastening means on an exterior of said opposed sides.  
   
   
       25 . The wall of  claim 22  which further comprises a support rib within said rectangularly-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       26 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of rectangularly-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module.    
   
   
       27 . The wall of  claim 26  which further comprises at least one non-rectangular polymeric module having at least three sides and a channel disposed therebetween, said non-rectangular module having a pair of fastening means on two of said at least three sides in interconnected relationship between two of said modules.  
   
   
       28 . The wall of  claim 27  which further comprises a pair of end panels with a fastening means on each end of said panels for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.  
   
   
       29 . The wall of  claim 26  which further comprises a support rib within said rectangularly-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       30 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 at least two generally polygon-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    each of said modules having a fastening means near each corner of said modules;    said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said modules connected by mating engagement of a pair of fastening means on at least one first module with a pair of fastening means on said at least one second module.    
   
   
       31 . The wall of  claim 30  which further comprises at least one polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said end cap, said end cap fastening means mating with said module fastening means.  
   
   
       32 . The wall of  claim 31  which further comprises: 
 at least one generally non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having a channel disposed therein; and    said non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having a pair of fastening means on two sides of said module.    
   
   
       33 . The wall of  claim 31  which further comprises a second polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said second end cap, said second end cap fastening means mating with one pair of said module fastening means.  
   
   
       34 . The wall of  claim 30  which further comprises a support rib within said polygon-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       35 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of polygon-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface;    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module;    at least one non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having at least three sides and having a channel disposed therein, said non-linear polygon-shaped module having a pair of fastening means on two of said sides in interconnected relationship between two of said modules; and    at least one end panel with a pair of fastening means on said panel for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.    
   
   
       36 . The wall of  claim 35  which further comprises a second end panel having a fastening means at each end, said second panel fastening means mating with one pair of module fastening means.  
   
   
       37 . The wall of  claim 35  wherein said fastening means near each corner of said end are a pair of fastening means on an exterior of said opposed sides.  
   
   
       38 . The wall of  claim 35  which further comprises a support rib within said polygon-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       39 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of polygon-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module.    
   
   
       40 . The wall of  claim 39  which further comprises at least one non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having at least three sides and a channel disposed therebetween, said non-linear polygon-shaped module having a pair of fastening means on two of said at least three sides in interconnected relationship between two of said modules.  
   
   
       41 . The wall of  claim 40  which further comprises a pair of end panels with a fastening means on each end of said panels for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.  
   
   
       42 . The wall of  claim 39  which further comprises a support rib within said polygon-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       43 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 at least two generally open polygon-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    each of said modules having a fastening means near each corner of said modules;    said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said modules connected by mating engagement of a pair of fastening means on at least one first module with a pair of fastening means on said at least one second module.    
   
   
       44 . The wall of  claim 43  which further comprises at least one polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said end cap, said end cap fastening means mating with said module fastening means.  
   
   
       45 . The wall of  claim 44  which further comprises: 
 at least one generally open non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having a channel disposed therein; and    said open non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having a pair of fastening means on two sides of said module.    
   
   
       46 . The wall of  claim 44  which further comprises a second polymeric end cap having a fastening means at each end of said second end cap, said second end cap fastening means mating with one pair of said module fastening means.  
   
   
       47 . The wall of  claim 43  which further comprises a support rib within said open polygon-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       48 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of open polygon-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface;    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module;    at least one open non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having at least three sides and having a channel disposed therein, said open non-linear polygon-shaped module having a pair of fastening means on two of said sides in interconnected relationship between two of said modules; and    at least one end panel with a pair of fastening means on said panel for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.    
   
   
       49 . The wall of  claim 48  which further comprises a second end panel having a fastening means at each end, said second panel fastening means mating with one pair of module fastening means.  
   
   
       50 . The wall of  claim 48  wherein said fastening means near each corner of said end is a pair of fastening means on an exterior of said bottom side and a pair of fastening means on an interior of said open side.  
   
   
       51 . The wall of  claim 48  which further comprises a support rib within said open polygon-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.  
   
   
       52 . A modular retaining wall which comprises: 
 a plurality of open polygon-shaped polymeric modules, each having a channel disposed therein;    said plurality of modules interconnected with each other to form a wall;    said wall having a first module, a last module and at least one middle module, each of said modules at least partially extending below a surface; and    each of said middle modules having a pair of fastening means at each end for mating engagement with a module on either side of said middle module.    
   
   
       53 . The wall of  claim 52  which further comprises at least one open non-linear polygon-shaped polymeric module having at least three sides and a channel disposed therebetween, said open non-linear polygon-shaped module having a pair of fastening means on two of said at least three sides in interconnected relationship between two of said modules.  
   
   
       54 . The wall of  claim 53  which further comprises a pair of end panels with a fastening means on each end of said panels for mating engagement with either said first or last modules.  
   
   
       55 . The wall of  claim 54  which further comprises a support rib within said open polygon-shaped polymeric module, each end of said support rib in engagement with an interior fastening means on each of said side walls.