Environment resistant retaining wall block and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retaining wall block that is resistant to damage and wear caused by the environment it is placed into. The deterioration resistant block is generally a hollowed frame or shell of a deterioration resistant material that is lightweight and is configured to accept and retain any type of filling material. The filling material provides weight and stability to the retaining wall block and also provides weight, stability and security to a retaining wall constructed of such blocks.

1 . A deterioration resistant retaining wall block comprising:
 a top panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material and molded to be totally or at least partially disengaged from the block;   a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material;   a substantially rigid wall assembly including a front face molded and/or fabricated to provide the color and texture of a natural earthen appearance of rock, stone or wood, the wall assembly and front face further including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a sealable chamber;   one or more anchoring devices positioned on the block to align with adjacent blocks and inhibit outward movement of the block when assembled in a wall;   one or more wall reinforcement fasteners adjoined to the block to secure one or more wall stabilization devices; and   one or more fill materials selected from the group consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, crushed rock, pea rock, concrete, water and antifreeze that are placed into the chamber of the deterioration resistant retaining wall block.   
   
   
       2 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1  wherein the composite or polymeric material is a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, vinyl, silicone, rubber, fiberglass or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1  wherein the top panel is a split top panel including two or more sections. 
   
   
       4 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel, wall assembly or a combination thereof includes one or more apertures. 
   
   
       5 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 3  wherein the top panel includes a plurality of teeth. 
   
   
       6 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 3  wherein the top panel includes intertwining fingers. 
   
   
       7 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes a removable or one or more hingedly adjoined covers. 
   
   
       8 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 7 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes one or more hingedly adjoined covers and the hingedly adjoined covers are living hinges. 
   
   
       9 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes one or more interior partitions. 
   
   
       10 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes more than one unit. 
   
   
       11 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 10 , wherein the block further includes one or more disengaging tabs. 
   
   
       12 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring devices are selected from a group consisting of retaining flanges, insertable pegs and apertures for stability rods. 
   
   
       13 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes a design positioned on a front face of the block. 
   
   
       14 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reinforcement fasteners may be selected from the group consisting of teeth, insertable peg protrusions, tack strips, rivets, retention rods, stabilizing rods and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall block of  claim 1 , further including an overlapping panel that supports the front face and extends downward from the top panel and over the front of the block. 
   
   
       16 . A deterioration resistant retaining wall comprising a plurality of deterioration resistant blocks including:
 a top panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that may be totally or at least partially disengaged from the block;   a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material;   a substantially rigid wall assembly including a front face molded and/or fabricated to provide the color and texture of a natural earthen appearance of rock, stone or wood, the wall assembly and front face further including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a sealable chamber;   one or more anchoring devices positioned on the block to align with adjacent blocks and inhibit outward movement of the block when assembled in a wall;   one or more wall reinforcement fasteners adjoined to the blocks to secure one or more wall stabilization devices; and   one or more fill materials selected from the group consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, crushed rock, pea rock, concrete, water and antifreeze that are placed into the chamber of the deterioration resistant retaining wall block.   
   
   
       17 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the composite or polymeric material is a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, vinyl, silicone, rubber, fiberglass or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the top panel is a split top panel including two or more sections. 
   
   
       19 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel, wall assembly or a combination thereof includes one or more apertures. 
   
   
       20 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the top panel includes intertwining fingers. 
   
   
       21 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes a removable or one or more hingedly adjoined covers. 
   
   
       22 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 21 , wherein the top panel, bottom panel or wall assembly includes one or more hingedly adjoined covers and the hingedly adjoined covers are living hinges. 
   
   
       23 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the blocks further include one or more interior partitions. 
   
   
       24 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the blocks further include more than one unit. 
   
   
       25 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 24 , wherein the blocks further include one or more disengaging tabs. 
   
   
       26 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the anchoring devices are selected from a group consisting of retaining flanges, insertable pegs and apertures for stability rods. 
   
   
       27 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the anchoring devices are insertable pegs that are moveable for securing into adjacent blocks. 
   
   
       28 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more reinforcement fasteners may be selected from the group consisting of teeth, insertable peg protrusions, tack strips, rivets, retention rods, stabilizing rods and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the blocks further include one or more designs positioned on a front face of the block. 
   
   
       30 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 29 , wherein individual block designs complete a larger single design upon assembly of the deterioration resistant retaining wall. 
   
   
       31 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of blocks further include an overlapping panel that supports the front face and extends downward from the top panel and over the front of the block.