Continuous chamber mass confinement cells and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to mass confinement cells that may be used in retaining walls and earth retention systems that has a natural earthen appearance or other aesthetic design and is resistant to damage and wear caused by the environment. The mass confinement cells are generally light-weight and include a continuous chamber that at least partially aligns with confinement cells positioned above and below, thereby allowing the intermingling of fill material between adjacent cells. The mass confinement cells are capable of accepting and retaining any type of filling material. The filling material provides weight, stability and security to a retaining wall constructed of such mass confinement cells.

1 . A mass confinement cell comprising:
 a frame including a panel operably adjoined to two or more side panels, the side panels extending back from a front panel of the cell at an angle of less than 90°,   a front surface adjoined to or formed into the front panel or a fascia and having a molded and/or fabricated natural appearance that is produced by imaging an actual natural surface and applying one or more laminates, surface coatings or paints to the front surface;   an enclosing member that is operably adjoined to the frame to form a chamber;   one or more anchoring devices selected from a group consisting of a retaining flange, peg extensions, lockable peg extensions and securing pins; and   an open top surface including no top panel or a partial top panel.   
     
     
         2 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 1 , wherein the mass confinement cell includes one or more securing mechanisms to secure one or more of the side panels to the panel and/or the enclosing member. 
     
     
         3 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 1  wherein the frame, front surface and enclosing member comprise one or more deterioration resistant composite or polymeric materials. 
     
     
         4 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 3  wherein the deterioration resistant composite or polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, Poly(cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), polyester, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN), polystyrene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 3 , wherein the composite or polymeric material includes one or more colors, filler materials, and/or additives. 
     
     
         6 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 1 , wherein the cell includes one or more partitions. 
     
     
         7 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosing member includes one or more load cells. 
     
     
         8 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosing member includes one or more enclosing bars. 
     
     
         9 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more securing mechanisms are selected from the group consisting of peg and socket systems, living hinges, T-slot systems and snap and snap aperture systems. 
     
     
         10 . The mass confinement cell of  claim 1 , wherein the imaged actual natural surface is selected from the group consisting of stone, rock and wood. 
     
     
         11 . A method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall comprising;
 a) placing a plurality of mass confinement cells in one or more stacked rows, the mass confinement cells comprising:
 i) a frame including a panel and two side panels operably adjoined to the panel; 
 ii) a front surface adjoined to or formed into the front panel or a fascia and having a molded and/or fabricated natural appearance that is produced by imaging an actual natural surface and applying one or more laminates, surface coatings or paints to the front surface; 
 iii) an enclosing member that is operably adjoined to the frame to form a chamber; 
 iv) one or more anchoring devices for securing each cell to adjacent cells or securing them into position in the retaining wall; and 
 v) an open top surface including no top panel or a partial top panel; 
   b) filling the chamber of each confinement cell in the row(s) with one or more fill materials;   c) positioning a second set of one or more rows of mass confinement cells above the first row(s) of mass confinement cells;   d) filling the second set of row(s) of mass confinement cells with a fill material; and   e) continuing the previously described steps until the desired number of rows is achieved.   
     
     
         12 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the cells of adjacent rows are staggered. 
     
     
         13 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the mass confinement cells include one or more securing mechanisms to secure one or more of the side panels to the panel and/or the enclosing member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the frame, enclosing member, a fascia or a combination thereof include one or more deterioration resistant composite or polymeric materials. 
     
     
         15 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more deterioration resistant composite or polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, Poly(cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), polyester, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN), polystyrene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more composite or polymeric materials includes one or more colors, filler materials, and/or additives. 
     
     
         17 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the molded or fabricated front surface is positioned on a fascia. 
     
     
         18 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the anchoring devices selected from a group consisting of a retaining flange, peg extensions and securing pins. 
     
     
         19 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the enclosing member includes one or more load cells. 
     
     
         20 . The method of building a deterioration resistant retaining wall of  claim 11 , wherein the enclosing member includes one or more enclosing bars.