Extended width retaining wall block

Abstract

A retaining wall block having a front surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Each side surface comprises a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, with the sections configured and arranged to allow a plurality of blocks to be arranged in a convex wall structure. The retaining wall block includes a projection that is configured to abuttingly engage a portion of a vertically adjacent block in a wall structure. Preferably, the block has a width/depth ratio in the range of about 1.87 to 2.67. The retaining wall block may be combined with an earth anchor for use in multi-course walls.

1 . A retaining wall block comprising: 
 a front surface;    a rear surface spaced from the front surface;    side surfaces;    a top surface; and,    a bottom surface;    with each side surface comprising a rearwardly facing shoulder that extends outwardly beyond a respective lateral extent of the rear surface, the shoulder configured and arranged to abuttingly engage a projection of a vertically adjacent block; and,    with the bottom surface comprising at least one projection configured and arranged to abuttingly engage a shoulder of a vertically adjacent block in a multiple course wall structure.    
   
   
       2 . A retaining wall block comprising: 
 a front surface;    a rear surface spaced from the front surface to define the depth of the block;    side surfaces;    a top surface; and,    a bottom surface;    with each side surface comprising: a substantially planar first section extending generally rearwardly from the front surface; a substantially planar second section forming a generally laterally oriented, rear facing shoulder against which a downwardly depending projection may abuttingly engage; and a substantially planar third section; and,    with the bottom surface comprising at least one downwardly depending projection configured and arranged to be brought into abutting engagement with a rear facing shoulder of a vertically adjacent block in a multiple course wall structure.    
   
   
       3 . The retaining wall block of  claim 2 , wherein each side further comprises a substantially planar fourth section, with the forth section extending from the third section to the rear surface of the block.  
   
   
       4 . The retaining wall block of  claim 2 , further comprising a core hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface.  
   
   
       5 . The retaining wall block of  claim 2  in combination with an earth anchor.  
   
   
       6 . The retaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the front surface has a width in the range of about 18-36 inches (45-92 cm).  
   
   
       7 . The retaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the sides have a height in the range of about 4-12 inches (12-31 cm).  
   
   
       8 . The retaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the sides have a depth in the range of about 4-24 inches (12-61 cm).  
   
   
       9 . The retaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 ., wherein the block has a weight in the range of about 18 to 150 pounds (8 to 68 kg).  
   
   
       10 . The regaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the front surface has a width in the range of about 18 to 36 inches (45 to 92 cm) and the sides have a depth extending between the front and rear surfaces in the range of about 4 to 12 inches (12 to 31 cm).  
   
   
       11 . The retaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the lateral extend of the rear surface is approximately two-thirds or less than the lateral extent of the front surface.  
   
   
       12 . The retaining wall block of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the front surface has a surface area in the range of around 0.50 to 1.50 square feet (464 to 1,400 cm squared).  
   
   
       13 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface has a width in the range of about 22 to 26 inches (56-66 cm).  
   
   
       14 . A retaining wall block comprising: 
 a front surface having a width in the range of about 18 to 36 inches (45 to 92 cm), and a height in the range of about 4 to 12 inches (12 to 31 cm);    a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance in the range of about 4 to 24 inches (12 to 61 cm);    opposed side surfaces extending between the front and rear surfaces;    a top surface; and,    a bottom surface;    with the top surface comprising an upwardly extending projection configured and arranged to engage a forward facing surface of a vertically adjacent block in a multiple course wall structure; and    with the block having a weight in the range of about 18 to 150 pounds (8 to 68 kg).    
   
   
       15 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , further comprising a core hole extending in a vertical direction from the top surface to the bottom surface.  
   
   
       16 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , wherein the lateral extent of the rear surface is approximately two-thirds or less than the lateral extent of the front surface.  
   
   
       17 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , in combination with a clip having block engaging segment and an earth anchor engaging segment.  
   
   
       18 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , wherein the upwardly extending projection comprises a forward facing portion and a contact portion, wherein the contact portion is spaced rearwardly from the forward facing portion.  
   
   
       19 . The retaining wall block of  claim 18 , wherein the forward facing portion of the projection is adjacent to said front surface.  
   
   
       20 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , wherein the upwardly extending projection forms part of the front surface.  
   
   
       21 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , wherein the front surface has a surface area in the range of around 0.50 to 1.50 square feet (464 to 1,400 cm squared).  
   
   
       22 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , wherein the front surface has a surface area of around 1.33 square feet (1,235 cm squared).  
   
   
       23 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , wherein the front surface has a width in the range of about 22 to 26 inches (56-66 cm).  
   
   
       24 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , in combination with an earth anchor.  
   
   
       25 . The retaining wall block of  claim 14 , in combination with a clip for use in connecting the retaining wall block to an earth anchor, the clip comprising a body having a block engaging segment and an earth anchor engaging segment, with the clip configured and arranged so that when in use, the block engaging segment positions the earth anchor engaging segment away from the rear surface of a block in a generally horizontal direction.  
   
   
       26 . A retaining wall block comprising: 
 a front surface having a width in the range of about 18 to 36 inches (45 to 92 cm), and a height in the range of about 4 to 12 inches (12 to 31 cm);    a rear surface spaced from the front surface by a distance in the range of about 4 to 24 inches (12 to 61 cm);    opposed side surfaces extending between the front and rear surfaces;    a top surface; and,    a bottom surface;    with the bottom surface comprising a downwardly depending projection configured and arranged to engage the rear surface of a vertically adjacent block in a multiple course wall structure; and    with the block having a weight in the range of about 18 to 150 pounds (8 to 68 kg).    
   
   
       27 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one core hole extending in a vertical direction from the top surface to the bottom surface.  
   
   
       28 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , wherein the lateral extent of the rear surface is approximately two-thirds or less than the lateral extent of the front surface.  
   
   
       29 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , in combination with an attachment bar having block engaging segment and an earth anchor engaging segment.  
   
   
       30 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , wherein the downwardly depending projection comprises a contact portion and a rearwardly facing portion, wherein the contact portion is spaced forwardly from the rearwardly facing portion.  
   
   
       31 . The retaining wall block of  claim 30 , wherein the rearwardly facing portion of the projection is adjacent to said rear surface.  
   
   
       32 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , wherein the downwardly depending projection forms part of the rear surface.  
   
   
       33 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , wherein the front surface has a surface area in the range of around 1.00 to 1.50 square feet (930 to 1,400 cm squared).  
   
   
       34 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , wherein the front surface has a width in the range of about 22 to 26 inches (56-66 cm).  
   
   
       35 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , in combination with an earth anchor.  
   
   
       36 . The retaining wall block of  claim 26 , in combination with an attachment bar for use in connecting a retaining wall block to an earth anchor, the attachment bar comprising a body having a plurality of block engaging segments and at least one earth anchor engaging segment, the attachment bar configured and arranged so that when in use, the block engaging segments position the earth anchor engaging segment between two horizontally adjacent blocks in a course of blocks.