EP0115912A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Wall structure and method of construction
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-01-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A retaining wall has precast concrete wall facing elements and is constructed to accommodate vegetation masking. The structure uses panels having frontally projecting buttresses and inwardly inclined face surfaces to provide an exposed horizontal planting bed for each row of panels. Devices are provided to limit water percolation and migration of fine particles. And, rearwardly projecting bearing pads may be added to give columnar support in high wall applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri C. Vidal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:53
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D29/00; E02D29/02; E02D29/025; E02D29/0225; E02D29/0241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A retaining wall structure comprising: a plurality of wall facing elements, said elements being elongated and having upper and lower horizontal edges and having a substantially greater height than thickness, and said facing elements being arranged in end to end relation in courses; a plurality of reinforcing elements, said reinforcing elements including means for connocting reinforcing element with a facing element, said reinforcing elements extending rearwardly from said facing elements in substantially horizontal layers; and particulate material interposed rearwardly of said facing elements between said reinforcing element; said particulate material being stabilized by frictional engagement between said material and said reinforcing elements, said facing elements in one course having the lower horizontal edge spaced rearwardly of the upper horizontal edge of the next lower course, thereby exposing particulate material between the respective lower and upper edges, and said facing elements having a buttress intermediate its opposite ends projecting toward, but spaced from the upper edge of the facing element of the next lower course, whereby the facing elements and the particulate material define a plurality of vertically-spaced strips suitable for use as planting areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A retaining wall structure comprising: a plurality of wall facing elements, said elements being elongated and having upper and lower horizontal edges and having a substantially greater height than thickness, and said facing elements being arranged in end to end relation in courses; a plurality of reinforcing elements, said reinforcing elements including means for connocting reinforcing element with a facing element, said reinforcing elements extending rearwardly from said facing elements in substantially horizontal layers; and particulate material interposed rearwardly of said facing elements between said reinforcing element; said particulate material being stabilized by frictional engagement between said material and said reinforcing elements, said facing elements in one course having the lower horizontal edge spaced rearwardly of the upper horizontal edge of the next lower course, thereby exposing particulate material between the respective lower and upper edges, and said facing elements having a buttress intermediate its opposite ends projecting toward, but spaced from the upper edge of the facing element of the next lower course, whereby the facing elements and the particulate material define a plurality of vertically-spaced strips suitable for use as planting areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The wall structure of claim 1 wherein: a vertical joint exists between two adjacent wall facing panels; each of the two wall facing panels include a rib, projecting rearwandly from the respective panel, extending substantially along the entire height of the vertical joint, and being adjacent to that joint; and a cover member having a U-shaped cross section covers the ribs adjacent to the joint and limits water drainage through the joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wall structure of claim 1 wherein: the buttress extends upwardly to a point spaced below the edge thereby giving an apparent lack of vertical support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wall structure of claim 1 wherein the buttress has greater thickness at the base thereof than at the top thereof so as to enlarge the bearing surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The wall structure of claim I wherein each wall element has a pair of buttresses, the buttresses being spaced from one another by one half the wall element length and being spaced from the wall element end by one fourth of the wall element length so that the buttresses of vertically adjacent wall elements are in generally vertical alignment and so that the buttresses of sidewise adjacent wall elements are uniformly spaced from one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wall structure of claim 1 further including an embankment of soil on each of the vertically spaced strips, the embankment extending upwardly and rearwardly from the edge of the wall facing panels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wall structure of claim 1 further including vegetation plantings in each of the vertically spaced strips whereby the vegetation substantially masks the face of the structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The wall structure of claim 1 wherein: the structure has a top elevation and a height; a second wall face is spaced rearwardly from the wall plane, extends to the same top elevation, and has a plurality of wall facing elements; and a portion of the plurality of reinforcing elements are attached to corresponding wall facing elements in the first and second wall faces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wall structure of claim 8 wherein the wall facing elements of the first and second wall faces are identical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wall structure of claim 8 wherein the second wall has a height which is less than the height of the first wall face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wall structure of claim 1 wherein a batter angle is defined between adjacent pairs of courses and wherein the batter angle is different between different pairs of courses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wall structure of claim 1 wherein each facing element includes a bearing pad extending rearwardly from the facing element in general vertical alignment with the buttress such that the buttress of one wall facing element rests on the bearing pad of a second wall facing element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A precast concrete element for use in the face of a retaining wall structure comprising: a buttress having a generally flat supporting surface and a front portion; a generally rectangular body portion having a frontal edge and a face surface extending downwardly from the frontal edge and defining an acute angle with a vertical plane passing through the frontal edge, the generally flat supporting surface of the buttress being disposed between the face surface and the vertical plane and protruding forwardly from the face surface; a lug protruding from the back of the body portion, extending away from the buttress, and being operable to connect the element to another element of a retaining wall; whereby the element is supported by the buttress such that the face surface is an inclined position relative to the vertical plane and such that the face surface defines an exposed generally flat planting area within the vertical projection of the elements
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
A precast concrete element for use in the face of a retaining wall structure comprising: a buttress having a generally flat supporting surface and a front portion; a generally rectangular body portion having a frontal edge and a face surface extending downwardly from the frontal edge and defining an acute angle with a vertical plane passing through the frontal edge, the generally flat supporting surface of the buttress being disposed between the face surface and the vertical plane and protruding forwardly from the face surface; a lug protruding from the back of the body portion, extending away from the buttress, and being operable to connect the element to another element of a retaining wall; whereby the element is supported by the buttress such that the face surface is an inclined position relative to the vertical plane and such that the face surface defines an exposed generally flat planting area within the vertical projection of the elements
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The precast concrete element of claim 13 further including a pair of ribs, each rib being located along a corresponding vertical edge of the body portion, projecting rearwardly away from the face surface and cooperating with one another to define a broad water-shedding channel behind the element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The precast concrete element of claim 13 further including a pair of buttresses, each spaced from an adjacent vertical edge and from the other buttresses such that the buttresses appear to be uniformly spaced when a plurality of elements are located side-by-side.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The precast concrete element of claim 13, further including a bearing pad protruding from the back of the body portion in general vertical alignment with the buttress such that the bearing pad is positioned to support the buttress of a suprajacent facing element.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of erecting a structure giving an abrupt change in ground elevation free of apparent support structure comprising the steps of: placing a horizontal row of wall facing elements having a face surface inclined inwardly and against the slope of the change in ground elevation; depositing a lift of particulate material behind the wall facing elements; connecting the wall facing element to reinforcing members extending rearwardly away from the facing elements; depositing a second lift of particulate material behind the wall facing elements, which covers the reinforcing members and which extends to the top of the horizontal row; placing a second horizontal row of wall facing elements on the particulate material such that the inwardly inclined face surfaces thereof cooperate with the upper edge of the underlying facing elements to define a generally horizontal area; and planting vegetation in the horizontal area which grows such that the vegetation essentially covers the face surface of the wall facing elements.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of erecting a structure giving an abrupt change in ground elevation free of apparent support structure comprising the steps of: placing a horizontal row of wall facing elements having a face surface inclined inwardly and against the slope of the change in ground elevation; depositing a lift of particulate material behind the wall facing elements; connecting the wall facing element to reinforcing members extending rearwardly away from the facing elements; depositing a second lift of particulate material behind the wall facing elements, which covers the reinforcing members and which extends to the top of the horizontal row; placing a second horizontal row of wall facing elements on the particulate material such that the inwardly inclined face surfaces thereof cooperate with the upper edge of the underlying facing elements to define a generally horizontal area; and planting vegetation in the horizontal area which grows such that the vegetation essentially covers the face surface of the wall facing elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of covering vertical joints between adjacent wall facing elements before the depositing steps so that surface water drainage is essentially contained behind the wall facing elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 17 further including the steps of: placing an opposed horizontal row of wall facing elements behind the second horizontal row, with the face surfaces of the opposing rows facing away from one another; and connecting the wall facing elements of the opposing rows with tensfle elements; and planting vegetation in horizontal area under the opposed horizontal row whereby both opposed walls of the structure are essentially masked by the vegetation
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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