Invertible retaining wall block

Abstract

An invertible retaining wall block comprises a front portion, a rear portion and a neck portion connecting the front portion and rear portion. A projection extends outwardly from the block to interlock with similar blocks in adjacent courses of blocks. One or more notches are provided to the front portion in order to allow the base course of blocks to be placed in an inverted orientation with respect to subsequent courses because the notch provides clearance for the protrusion.

1 . A method of building a retaining wall, comprising: 
 forming a base course by placing a first plurality of blocks of a first block shape onto a base surface in a first orientation;    forming a second course adjacent to the base course by placing a second plurality of blocks of the first block shape on top of the base course in a second orientation, the second orientation being vertically inverted with respect to the first orientation;    interlocking the second course with the first course by disposing a protrusion extending from each of the second plurality of blocks in a notched portion defined in the first plurality of blocks.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising interlocking the second course with the first course by disposing a protrusion extending from each of the first plurality of blocks in a notched portion defined in the first plurality of blocks.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a third course adjacent to the second course by placing a third plurality of blocks of the first block shape on top of the second course in the second orientation.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising interlocking the third course with the second course by disposing a protrusion extending from each of the third plurality of blocks in an opening defined by front, neck and rear portions of the second plurality of blocks.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising disposing a portion of an earth anchor between two of the courses of blocks that form the wall.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising forming a top course by disposing a cap block on top of an adjacent course of blocks.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a third course adjacent to the second course by placing a third plurality of blocks of a second block shape on top of the second course.  
   
   
       8 . A method of building a retaining wall, comprising: 
 forming a plurality of retaining wall blocks, each block comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected by a neck, the neck extending from a rear side of the front portion defining a pair of rearwardly facing surfaces on the front portion, the block presenting a top surface and a bottom surface, the front portion defining a notch in each of the pair of rearwardly facing surfaces, each notch extending from the bottom surface and presenting a depth dimension relative to the bottom surface, the block further including a projection extending outwardly from the bottom surface, the projection presenting a height dimension relative to the bottom surface, wherein the depth dimension of each notch is greater than or equal to the height dimension of the projection;    forming a base course wherein the projection of each of the retaining wall blocks faces upward;    forming a second course adjacent to the base course wherein the projection of each of the retaining wall blocks faces downward and the projections interlock with respective notches of the blocks in the base course.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising forming a further course wherein the projection of each of the retaining wall blocks faces downward.  
   
   
       10 . A method of building a retaining wall, comprising: 
 forming a plurality of retaining wall blocks, each block comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being narrower than the front portion, a neck portion connecting the front portion and rear portion, the neck portion being narrower than the rear portion, first and second notches defined inwards in the front portion, each notch extending from a bottom surface of the block and presenting a depth dimension relative to the bottom surface and a width dimension extending laterally along the front portion towards the neck portion, wherein the width dimension is greater than the depth dimension, and a projection extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the block and located between the first and second notches.;    forming a base course of blocks on a base surface with the projection of each block facing upward;    forming a second course on top of the base course with the projection of each of the blocks facing downward and the projections interlocking with respective notches of the blocks in the base course.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second course is shifted horizontally by one-half of a block relative to the base course.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second course includes a half block.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming a third course on top of the second course wherein the projection of each of the blocks faces downward.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising depositing fill material into openings defined by the front, neck and rear portions of the blocks  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising disposing a portion of an earth anchor between the base course and the second course.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming a top course by disposing a cap block on top of an adjacent course of blocks.