Sloping blocks and revetment structure using the same

Claim 2

A sloping block structure for use in covering an inclined surface, comprising a block main body (14) which includes: an approximately rectangular main upper surface portion (12) having front and rear portions, said main upper surface portion defining a rearwardly sloping step surface; a bottom surface portion opposite said main upper surface portion; at least one rear engagement pod (16) extending from a rear portion of said block main body (14) via a spacer portion (24), said at least one rear engagement pod (16) opening in a wedge-like shape at the rear end of said block main body (14); at least one front engagement pod (20) provided in the same number and with approximately the same wedge shape as said at least one rear engagement pod (16), and extending from a front portion of said block main body (14) at a lower portion of said block main body below said main upper surface portion, a front concave portion (18) being formed in said front portion of said block main body above said at least one front engagement pod (20) for receiving a spacer portion (24) of another adjacent block structure therein, said first concave portion (18) having a concavity of approximately the same dimensions as said spacer portion (24); and a bottom concave portion (22) in said bottom surface portion of said block main body and positioned between said front (20) and rear (16) engagement pods and extending inwardly of said block main body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sloping direction of said rearwardly sloping main upper surface portion (12).

Claim 3

The sloping block structure of claim 1, wherein: said block main body has a curved front edge (14b) which is formed in at least one curve; said at least one front engagement pod (20) has a front edge; and said curved front edge (14b) of said block main body and said front edge of said at least one front engagement pod (20) are positioned approximately in the same plane.

Claim 4

The sloping block structure of clam 1, wherein: said at least one rear engagement pod extends in the width direction of said block main body over a smaller distance than the overall width of said block main body; and said at least one front engagement pod extends in the width direction of said block main body over a smaller distance than the overall width of said block main body.

Claim 5

The sloping block structure of clam 1, wherein: said at least one rear engagement pod extends in the width direction of said block main body over a smaller distance than the overall width of said block main body; and said at least one front engagement pod extends in the width direction of said block main body over a smaller distance than the overall width of said block main body.

Claim 6

The sloping block structure of claim 1, wherein said wedge shapes of said front and rear engagement pods are complementary so as to be lockingly interengaging when said block main bodies are arranged adjacent each other.

Claim 7

The sloping block structure of claim 1, wherein: said spacer portion has an upper surface which extends from and is on the same plane as said main upper surface portion (12) of said block main body; and said at least one rear engagement pod (16) has an upper surface (26) which is below the level of said main upper surface portion (12) of said block main body.

Claim 8

A revetment structure for covering an inclined surface, comprising a plurality of sloping blocks, each block having a block main body (14) which includes: an approximately rectangular main upper surface portion (12) having front and rear portions, said main upper surface portion defining a rearwardly sloping step surface; a bottom surface portion opposite said main upper surface portion; at least one rear engagement pod (16) extending from a rear portion of said block main body (14) via a spacer portion (24), said at least one rear engagement pod (16) opening in a wedge-like shape at the rear end of said block main body (14); at least one front engagement pod (20) provided in the same number and with approximately the same wedge shape as said at least one rear engagement pod (16), and extending from a front portion of said block main body (14) at a lower portion of said block main body below said main upper surface portion, a front concave portion (18) being formed in said front portion of said block main body above said at least one front engagement pod (20) for receiving a spacer portion (24) of another adjacent block structure therein, said first concave portion (18) having a concavity of approximately the same dimensions as said spacer portion (24); and a bottom concave portion (22) in said bottom surface portion of said block main body and positioned between said front (20) and rear (16) engagement pods and extending inwardly of said block main body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sloping direction of said rearwardly sloping main upper surface portion (12); said sloping blocks being arranged adjacent to one another in rows in the lateral direction of the revetment structure, said sloping blocks being arranged in a zig-zag stair-like fashion over said inclined surface with the front engagement pods of one lateral row of sloping blocks being insertable in respective gap portions formed between adjacent rear engagement pods of another lateral row of sloping blocks, and a water passage being defined by concave portions of an upper lateral row of sloping blocks and said gap portions formed between the rear engagement pods of said sloping blocks of the lateral row which is below said upper lateral row.

Claim 9

A revetment structure for covering an inclined surface, comprising a plurality of sloping blocks, each block having a block main body (14) which includes: an approximately rectangular main upper surface portion (12) having front and rear portions, said main upper surface portion defining a rearwardly sloping step surface; a bottom surface portion opposite said main upper surface portion; at least one rear engagement pod (16) extending from a rear portion of said block main body (14) via a spacer portion (24), said at least one rear engagement pod (16) opening in a wedge-like shape at the rear end of said block main body (14); at least one front engagement pod (20) provided in the same number and with approximately the same wedge shape as said at least one rear engagement pod (16), and extending from a front portion of said block main body (14) at a lower portion of said block main body below said main upper surface portion, a front concave portion (18) being formed in said front portion of said block main body above said at least one front engagement pod (20) for receiving a spacer portion (24) of another adjacent block structure therein, said first concave portion (18) having a concavity of approximately the same dimensions as said spacer portion (24); and a bottom concave portion (22) in said bottom surface portion of said block main body and positioned between said front (20) and rear (16) engagement pods and extending inwardly of said block main body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sloping direction of said rearwardly sloping main upper surface portion (12); said sloping blocks being arranged adjacent to one another in rows in the lateral direction of the revetment structure, said sloping blocks being arranged in a zig-zag stair-like fashion over said inclined surface with the front engagement pods of one lateral row of sloping blocks being insertable in respective gap portions formed between adjacent rear engagement pods of another lateral row of sloping blocks, and a water passage being defined by concave portions of an upper lateral row of sloping blocks and said gap portions formed between the rear engagement pods of said sloping blocks of the lateral row which is below said upper lateral row.

Claim 10

The revetment structure of claim 6, wherein: said block main bodies each have a curved front edge (14b) which is formed in at least one curve; said at least one front engagement pod (20) of each block main body has a front edge; and said curved front edge (14b) of each said block main body and said front edge of said at least one front engagement pod (20) thereof are positioned approximately in the same plane.

Claim 11

The revetment structure of claim 6, wherein: said at least one rear engagement pod of each block main body extends in the width direction of said block main body over a smaller distance than the overall width of said block main body; and said at least one front engagement pod of each block main body extends in the width direction of said block main body over a smaller distance than the overall width of said block main body.

Claim 12

The revetment structure of claim 6, wherein said wedge shapes of said front and rear engagement pods of each block main body are complementary so as to be lockingly interengaging when said block main bodies are arranged adjacent each other.

Claim 13

The revetment structure of claim 6, wherein: said spacer portion of each block main body has an upper surface which extends from and is on the same plane as said main upper surface portion (12) of said block main body; and said at least one rear engagement pod (16) has an upper surface (26) which is below the level of said main upper surface portion (12) of the respective block main body.