Retaining wall block

Abstract

A retaining wall block includes a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a back face, and at least one side face. The retaining wall block also includes a recessed surface formed along the bottom face rearward of the front face and forward of the back face. The recessed surface reduces the weight of the block while maintaining the integrity of the front face of the block. The front face and recessed surface may be any geometrical shape including curved or planar. The retaining wall block may also include an aligning element for aligning the blocks when stacked.

1 . A retaining wall block comprising: 
 a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a back face, and at least one side face; and    a recessed surface formed along said bottom face rearward of said front face and forward of said back face, said recessed surface for reducing the weight of the block while maintaining the integrity of the front face of the block.    
   
   
       2 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1 , wherein said front face is substantially planar.  
   
   
       3 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1 , wherein said front face is substantially curved.  
   
   
       4 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1 , wherein said recessed surface is substantially curved.  
   
   
       5 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1 , wherein said recessed surface extends to said at least one side face.  
   
   
       6 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an aligning element oriented along said bottom face.    
   
   
       7 . The retaining wall block of  claim 6 , wherein said aligning element is located forward of said back face.  
   
   
       8 . A method for forming a retaining wall block, said method comprising: 
 forming a top face, bottom face, front face, back face, and at least one side face;    forming a recessed surface along the bottom face, rearward of said front face and forward of said back face, said recessed surface for reducing the weight of the block while maintaining the integrity of the front face of the block.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first forming step comprises the step of: 
 forming said front face in a substantially planar configuration.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first forming step comprises the step of: 
 forming said front face in a substantially curved configuration.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said second forming step comprises the step of: 
 forming said recessed surface in a substantially curved configuration.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming an aligning element oriented along said bottom face.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of forming an aligning element further comprises the step of: 
 forming said aligning element forward of said back face.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of forming an aligning element further comprises the step of: 
 forming said aligning element along at least a portion of said back face.