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 consisting essentially of a front section that extends a distance over the top of the block wherein fill material is not exposed to the exterior of the wall when a row of retaining wall block is positioned over another row of block but still allows for substantial intermingling of fill material between blocks positioned above and below;   a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material and having one or more open apertures to allow intermingling of fill material between blocks positioned below and above;   a substantially rigid wall assembly including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a chamber, the wall assembly further having a front face colored and textured to provide an appearance of rock, stone, wood or brick; and   one or more fill materials placed into the chamber of the deterioration resistant retaining wall block selected from a group consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, crushed rock, pea rock, concrete, water and antifreeze.   
   
   
       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 front section includes a plurality of teeth. 
   
   
       4 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1  wherein the block interlocking mechanism includes one or more waved panels. 
   
   
       5 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel is hingedly adjoined to the block. 
   
   
       6 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block interlocking mechanism includes a knob positioned on or adjacent to a front edge of the block and a depression positioned on or adjacent to a front edge opposite the knob. 
   
   
       7 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes more than one unit. 
   
   
       8 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes one or more anchoring devices. 
   
   
       9 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 8 , wherein the anchoring devices are selected from a group consisting of retaining flanges, insertable pegs and apertures for stability rods. 
   
   
       10 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the block further includes a design positioned on a front face of the block. 
   
   
       11 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall block of  claim 1  further including an overlapping panel colored and textured to provide an natural earthen appearance of stone, rock, wood or brick that extends substantially over the front of the block and is adjoined to the top panel. 
   
   
       12 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , further including a block interlocking mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 10 , wherein the design positioned on the front face of the block provides the appearance of multiple bricks or blocks. 
   
   
       14 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , further including one or more stability strands. 
   
   
       15 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , further including one or more wall reinforcement retention devices. 
   
   
       16 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement retention devices are selected from the group consisting of rivets, tack strips, pegs and grid retention rods. 
   
   
       17 . The deterioration resistant block of  claim 1 , wherein the front face is positioned on an overlapping panel adjoined to the top panel that extends substantially over the front of the block. 
   
   
       18 . A deterioration resistant retaining wall comprising a plurality of deterioration resistant block including:
 a top panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material and consisting essentially of a front section that extends a distance over the top of the block wherein fill material is not exposed to the exterior of the wall when a row of retaining wall block is positioned over another row of block but still allows for substantial intermingling of fill material between blocks positioned above and below;   a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material and having one or more open apertures to allow intermingling of fill material between blocks positioned below and above;   a substantially rigid wall assembly having a front face that is colored and textured to provide a natural earthen appearance and including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a chamber; and   one or more fill materials selected from the group consisting of sand, dirt, gravel, pea rock, crushed rock, concrete and cement and placed into the chamber of the deterioration resistant retaining wall block.   
   
   
       19 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 18  wherein the composite or polymeric material is a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, vinyl, silicone, rubber, fiberglass or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 18  wherein the wall assembly includes one or more waved panels. 
   
   
       21 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 18  wherein the block further includes a knob positioned on or adjacent to a front edge of the block and a depression positioned on or adjacent to a front edge opposite the knob. 
   
   
       22 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 18 , wherein the block further includes one or more anchoring devices. 
   
   
       23 . The deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 18 , wherein the front face is positioned on an overlapping panel adjoined to the top panel that extends substantially over the front of the block. 
   
   
       24 . A method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall comprising:
 establishing a foundation that can support a plurality of deterioration resistant blocks, said deterioration resistant blocks comprising a top panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material and consisting essentially of a front section that extends a distance over the top of the block wherein fill material is not exposed to the exterior of the wall when a row of retaining wall block is positioned over another row of block but still allows for substantial intermingling of fill material between blocks positioned above and below; a bottom panel including a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material and having one or more open apertures to allow intermingling of fill material between blocks positioned below and above; and a substantially rigid wall assembly comprising a deterioration resistant composite or polymeric material that is adjoined to the top panel and bottom panel to form a chamber and having a front face that is colored and textured to provide a natural earthen appearance;   placing the two or more of the retaining wall blocks side by side on the foundation to generate a straight or curved row;   filling the two or more retaining wall blocks with a fill material; and   stacking one or more rows with each row stacked upon the row below it and filled with fill material to form a continuous retaining wall.   
   
   
       25 . The method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 24 , wherein the block further includes more than one unit. 
   
   
       26 . The method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 24 , wherein the block further includes one or more anchoring devices. 
   
   
       27 . The method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 26 , wherein the anchoring devices are selected from a group consisting of retaining flanges, insertable pegs and apertures for stability rods. 
   
   
       28 . The method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 24 , wherein the fill materials are selected from a group consisting of sand, gravel, dirt, crushed rock, pea rock, concrete, water and antifreeze. 
   
   
       29 . The method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 24 , wherein the block further includes a design positioned on a front face of the block. 
   
   
       30 . The method of constructing a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 24 , wherein the front face is positioned on an overlapping panel adjoined to the top panel that extends substantially over the front of the block.