Retaining wall block

Abstract

A retaining wall block has parallel top and bottom faces, a front face, a rear face, first and second side wall faces and a vertical plane of symmetry extending between the front and rear faces. The block is formed as a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion. The body, head and neck portions each extend between the top and bottom faces and between the first and second side wall faces. An opening extends through the neck portion from the top face to the bottom face, dividing the neck portion into first and second neck wall members extending rearwardly from the body portion to the head portion.

1 . A retaining wall block having parallel top and bottom faces, a front face, a rear face, first and second side wall faces and a vertical plane of symmetry extending between the front and rear faces, the block comprising:
 a body portion including the front face;   a head portion including the rear face;   a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion, the body, head and neck portions each extending between the top and bottom faces and between the first and second side wall faces;   an opening extending through the neck portion from the top face to the bottom face, the opening dividing the neck portion into first and second neck wall members extending rearwardly from the body portion to the head portion;   first and second pin holes each disposed in the body portion and opening onto the top face, the first and second pin holes being configured for receiving a pin with a free end of the pin protruding beyond the top face; and   first and second pin receiving cavities each disposed in the body portion and opening onto the bottom face, the first and second pin receiving cavities being configured for receiving the free end of a pin received in a pin hole of an adjacent block disposed therebeneath so as to interlock the blocks with a predetermined setback;   wherein the pin receiving cavities are positioned in the body portion such that a first vertical plane extending centrally through the first neck wall member intersects the first pin receiving cavity and a second vertical plane extending centrally through the second neck wall member intersects the second pin receiving cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pin receiving cavities each have a rear wall extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of symmetry. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the block further comprises third and fourth pin holes each disposed in the body portion and opening onto the top face, the third and fourth pin holes being configured for receiving a pin with a free end of the pin protruding beyond the top face, the third and fourth pin holes being disposed on the first and second planes forward of the first and second pin holes so as to provide a reduced or zero predetermined setback. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the side wall faces generally taper from the front face to the rear face. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the head portion has first and second ears extending laterally beyond the first and second neck wall members, respectively, the first and second ears each being provided with a notch to enable the ears to be knocked off the head portion. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the first and second planes are parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall block of  claim 1  wherein the first plane intersects the first pin hole and the second plane intersects the second pin hole.