Retained earth system with threaded connection between a retaining wall and soil reinforcement panels

Claim 1

A soil retaining system comprising (a) an upright soil retaining wall comprising interlinked modular facing panels, (b) a plurality of soil reinforcement panels, each comprising a plurality of spaced generally parallel wires and spaced crossbars rigidly mounted at crossover points of said parallel wires in generally perpendicular relationship, one end of said parallel wires terminating in enlarged bulbous portions, (c) a plurality of cylindrical internally threaded female members anchored in the back sides of said facing panels, said female members forming at least one tandem, spaced, generally horizontal row, (d) a plurality of cylindrical externally threaded interconnecting male members mating with said female members and disposed therein, each of said male members having a forward end wall directed toward said retaining wall, each of said male members defining an axially aligned bore of a width larger than the diameter of one of said wires, but smaller than the bulbous portions, whereby said wire is rotatable with respect to said bore when seated therein, said bores being spaced to register with the parallel wires of said mesh panels, and (e) the wires of one of said mesh panels being disposed in said bores with the bulbous portions seated to bear against said forward end walls of said male members to interconnect corresponding facing panels and mesh panels.