Connector and method for engaging soil-reinforcing grid and earth retaining wall

Claim 2

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two stacked tiers of blocks placed side by side, each of the blocks having an upper channel in a top surface and a lower channel in a bottom surface, the upper channel in a lower tier aligning with the lower channel in an adjacent upper tier to define a receiving conduit between adjacent tiers; a connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through a gap between the adjacent first and second tiers of blocks for receiving backfill; whereby the connector bar, being loaded by the backfill on the tieback means, distributes the load to the blocks across an interior side wall of the receiving conduit proximal to the backfill.

Claim 3

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 1, wherein the tieback means comprises a grid sheet having elongated slots for receiving therethrough the keys of the connector for anchoring the wall to backfill adjacent the wall.

Claim 4

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 2, wherein the keys are spaced-apart for snugly receiving each of the elongated slots of the grid sheet, whereby deformation of the elongated slots is reduced.

Claim 5

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 3, wherein the base defines a planar surface extending laterally from the keys for receiving thereon an edge portion of the grid sheet whereby the edge portion is laterally aligned with the grid sheet extending outwardly of the blocks.

Claim 6

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper channel and the lower channel are substantially equal in height and the height of the base is about one-half the height of the receiving conduit, whereby the tieback means lays flat with respect to the gap between the adjacent first and second tiers of blocks.

Claim 7

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 5, wherein the keys extend a distance above the base equal to about one-half the height of the receiving conduit whereby the load is distributed substantially evenly to the lower and upper tiers of blocks.

Claim 8

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 1, wherein the keys and the base have a planar face on a first side for flush contact with the interior side wall of the receiving conduit, whereby the load on the connector bar is substantially evenly distributed to the receiving conduit.

Claim 9

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 7, wherein the keys have a face on a second side, said face in horizontal cross-section conforms in shape to an end of an aperture in the tieback means for mating engagement therewith, whereby deformation of the apertures is reduced.

Claim 10

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 1, wherein the blocks further comprise at least one intermediate channel with a slot extending from the intermediate channel to an interior face of the block for receiving therethrough a tieback means attached to a connector bar that is slidingly received in the intermediate channel.

Claim 11

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 9, wherein the intermediate channel and slot are defined by a tubular insert comprising: an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending opening in a side wall; a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending laterally from the side wall adjacent the opening; and a groove on an inner surface of each flange, the groove extending parallel the opening, for removably engaging a plug, whereby the tube, being cast into the block, defines the intermediate channel and the flanges define the slot.

Claim 12

An earth retaining wall, comprising a lower tier of side-by-side panels; a upper tier of side-by-side panels placed on the lower tier; each of the panels in the lower tier having at least an upper channel in a top surface of the panel and each of the panels in the upper tier having at least a lower channel in a bottom surface of the panel, each of the upper channels in the lower tier panel aligning with the lower channel in the respective upper tier panel to define a receiving conduit; a connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through a gap between the adjacent first and second tiers of panels for receiving backfill; whereby the connector bar, being loaded by the backfill on the tieback means, distributes the load to the panels across an interior side wall of the receiving conduit proximal to the backfill.

Claim 13

An earth retaining wall, comprising a lower tier of side-by-side panels; a upper tier of side-by-side panels placed on the lower tier; each of the panels in the lower tier having at least an upper channel in a top surface of the panel and each of the panels in the upper tier having at least a lower channel in a bottom surface of the panel, each of the upper channels in the lower tier panel aligning with the lower channel in the respective upper tier panel to define a receiving conduit; a connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through a gap between the adjacent first and second tiers of panels for receiving backfill; whereby the connector bar, being loaded by the backfill on the tieback means, distributes the load to the panels across an interior side wall of the receiving conduit proximal to the backfill.

Claim 14

The retaining wall as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the panels further comprises at least one intermediate channel and a slot extending from the channel laterally to the interior face of the panel to define a receiving conduit, at least one connector bar connected to the tieback means and slidably inserted into the intermediate channel with the tieback means extending laterally from the slot.

Claim 15

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 12, wherein the tieback means comprises a grid sheet having elongated slots for receiving therethrough the keys of the connector for anchoring the wall to backfill adjacent the wall.

Claim 16

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 13, wherein the keys are spaced-apart for snugly receiving each of the elongated slots of the grid sheet, whereby deformation of the elongated slots is reduced.

Claim 17

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 14, wherein the base defines a planar surface extending laterally from the keys for receiving thereon an edge portion of the grid sheet, whereby the edge portion is laterally aligned with the grid sheet extending outwardly of the panels.

Claim 18

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 12, wherein the upper channel and the lower channel are substantially equal in height and the height of the base is about one-half the height of the receiving conduit, whereby the tieback means lays flat with respect to the gap between the adjacent first and second tiers of panels.

Claim 19

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 16, wherein the keys extend a distance above the base equal to about one-half the height of the receiving conduit whereby the load is distributed substantially evenly to the lower and upper tiers of panels.

Claim 20

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 12, wherein the keys and the base have a planar face on a first side for flush contact with the interior side wall of the receiving conduit, whereby the load on the connector bar is substantially evenly distributed to the receiving conduit.

Claim 21

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 18, wherein the keys have a face on a second side, said face in horizontal cross-section conforms in shape to an end of an aperture in the tieback means for mating engagement therewith, whereby deformation of the apertures is reduced.

Claim 22

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 12, wherein the intermediate channel and slot are defined by a tubular insert comprising: an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending opening in a side wall; a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending laterally from the side wall adjacent the opening; and a groove on an inner surface of each flange, the groove extending parallel the opening, for removably engaging a plug, whereby the tube, being cast into the panel, define the intermediate channel and the flanges define the slot.

Claim 23

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two stacked tiers of blocks placed side by side, each of the blocks comprising a pair of bodies connected together at a midsection, each body having an upper channel in a top surface and a lower channel in a bottom surface, with a first intermediate channel extending on a line coaxial with the lower channel of the second body through the midsection and the second body to a side of the block and a second intermediate channel extending on a line coaxial with the upper channel of the first body through the midsection and the first body to an opposite side of the block, each body defining a slot that extends from an interior side of the respective first and second intermediate channels to an interior face of the block, the upper channels in a lower tier aligning with the lower channels in an adjacent upper tier and cooperating with the adjacent intermediate channels to define a receiving conduit between adjacent blocks in the tiers; at least one connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through a gap between the adjacent upper and lower channels and the slots in the lower and upper tiers of blocks for receiving backfill.

Claim 24

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two stacked tiers of blocks placed side by side, each of the blocks comprising a pair of bodies connected together at a midsection, each body having an upper channel in a top surface and a lower channel in a bottom surface, with a first intermediate channel extending on a line coaxial with the lower channel of the second body through the midsection and the second body to a side of the block and a second intermediate channel extending on a line coaxial with the upper channel of the first body through the midsection and the first body to an opposite side of the block, each body defining a slot that extends from an interior side of the respective first and second intermediate channels to an interior face of the block, the upper channels in a lower tier aligning with the lower channels in an adjacent upper tier and cooperating with the adjacent intermediate channels to define a receiving conduit between adjacent blocks in the tiers; at least one connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through a gap between the adjacent upper and lower channels and the slots in the lower and upper tiers of blocks for receiving backfill.

Claim 25

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 21, wherein the tieback means comprises a grid sheet having elongated slots for receiving therethrough the keys of the connector for anchoring the wall to backfill adjacent the wall.

Claim 26

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 22, wherein the keys are spaced-apart for snugly receiving the elongated slots of the grid sheet.

Claim 27

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 23, wherein the base defines a planar surface extending laterally from the keys for receiving thereon an edge portion of the grid sheet.

Claim 28

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 21, wherein the height of the base is about one-half the height of the receiving conduit.

Claim 29

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 21; wherein the keys extend a distance above the base equal to about one-half the height of the receiving conduit.

Claim 30

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 21, wherein the keys have a planar face on a first side for contacting an interior side of receiving conduit.

Claim 31

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 27, wherein the keys have an arcuate face on a second side for engaging an end of an aperture in the tieback means.

Claim 32

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 21, wherein the intermediate channel and slot are defined by a tubular insert comprising: an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending opening in a side wall; a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending laterally from the side wall adjacent the opening; and a groove on an inner surface of each flange, the groove extending parallel the opening, for removably engaging a plug, whereby the tube, being cast into the block, defines the intermediate channel and the flanges define the slot.

Claim 33

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two stacked tiers of blocks placed side by side, each block having at least one interior channel extending between opposing sides with a slot extending from the interior channel to an interior face of the block, the interior channel in one block aligning coaxially with the interior channel of an adjacent block for defining a receiving conduit through the tier; at least one connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through the slots of the blocks in the tier for receiving backfill; whereby the connector bar, being loaded by the backfill on the tieback means, distributes the load to the blocks across an interior side wall of the receiving conduit proximal to the backfill.

Claim 34

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two stacked tiers of blocks placed side by side, each block having at least one interior channel extending between opposing sides with a slot extending from the interior channel to an interior face of the block, the interior channel in one block aligning coaxially with the interior channel of an adjacent block for defining a receiving conduit through the tier; at least one connector bar positioned within the receiving conduit, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through the slots of the blocks in the tier for receiving backfill; whereby the connector bar, being loaded by the backfill on the tieback means, distributes the load to the blocks across an interior side wall of the receiving conduit proximal to the backfill.

Claim 35

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 30, wherein the tieback means comprises a grid sheet having elongated slots for receiving therethrough the keys of the connector for anchoring the wall to backfill adjacent the wall.

Claim 36

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 31, wherein the keys are spaced-apart for snugly receiving each of the elongated slots of the grid sheet, whereby deformation of the elongated slots is reduced.

Claim 37

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 32, wherein the base defines a planar surface extending laterally from the keys for receiving thereon an edge portion of the grid sheet, whereby the edge portion is laterally aligned with the grid sheet extending outwardly of the blocks.

Claim 38

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 30, wherein the upper channel and the lower channel are substantially equal in height and the height of the base is about one-half the height of the receiving conduit whereby the tieback means lays flat with respect to the gap between the adjacent first and second tiers of blocks.

Claim 39

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 34, wherein the keys extend a distance above the base equal to about one-half the height of the receiving conduit whereby the load is distributed substantially evenly to the lower and upper tiers of blocks.

Claim 40

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 30, wherein the keys and the base have a planar face on a first side for flush contact with the interior side wall of the receiving conduit, whereby the load on the connector bar is substantially evenly distributed to the receiving conduit.

Claim 41

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 36, wherein the keys have a face on a second side, said face in horizontal cross-section conforms in shape to an end of an aperture in the tieback means for mating engagement therewith, whereby, deformation of the apertures is reduced.

Claim 42

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 30, wherein the interior channel and slot are defined by a tubular insert comprising: an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending opening in a side wall; a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending laterally from the side wall adjacent the opening; and a groove on an inner surface of each flange, the groove extending parallel the opening, for removably engaging a plug, whereby the tube, being cast into the block, defines the interior channel and the flanges define the slot.

Claim 43

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two tiers of blocks placed alternately side by side and vertically staggered, each block comprising: an upper channel in a top surface, a lower channel in a bottom surface, and at least one intermediate channel extending between opposing sides with a slot extending from the intermediate channel to an interior face of the block; whereby the upper channel of the block in a lower tier aligns with the intermediate channel of an adjacent vertically staggered block in an upper tier and the lower channel of the adjacent vertically staggered block in the upper tier aligns with the intermediate channel of the block in the lower tier, said alignment of upper channel and intermediate channel and lower channel and intermediate channel defining receiving conduits through the wall; at least one connector bar positioned within at least one of the receiving conduits, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through the slots of the blocks in the tier for receiving backfill.

Claim 44

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two tiers of blocks placed alternately side by side and vertically staggered, each block comprising: an upper channel in a top surface, a lower channel in a bottom surface, and at least one intermediate channel extending between opposing sides with a slot extending from the intermediate channel to an interior face of the block; whereby the upper channel of the block in a lower tier aligns with the intermediate channel of an adjacent vertically staggered block in an upper tier and the lower channel of the adjacent vertically staggered block in the upper tier aligns with the intermediate channel of the block in the lower tier, said alignment of upper channel and intermediate channel and lower channel and intermediate channel defining receiving conduits through the wall; at least one connector bar positioned within at least one of the receiving conduits, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through the slots of the blocks in the tier for receiving backfill.

Claim 45

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 39, wherein the tieback means comprises a grid sheet having elongated slots for receiving therethrough the keys of the connector for anchoring the wall to backfill adjacent the wall.

Claim 46

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 40, wherein the keys are spaced-apart for snugly receiving the elongated slots of the grid sheet.

Claim 47

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 41, wherein the base defines a planar surface extending laterally from the keys for receiving thereon an edge portion of the grid sheet.

Claim 48

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 39, wherein the height of the base is about one-half the height of the receiving conduit.

Claim 49

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 39, wherein the keys extend a distance above the base equal to about one-half the height of the receiving conduit.

Claim 50

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 39, wherein the keys have a planar face on a first side for contacting an interior side of receiving conduit.

Claim 51

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 45, wherein the keys have an arcuate face on a second side for engaging an end of an aperture in the tieback means.

Claim 52

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 39, wherein the intermediate channel and slot are defined by a tubular insert comprising: an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending opening in a side wall; a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending laterally from the side wall adjacent the opening; and a groove on an inner surface of each flange, the groove extending parallel the opening, for removably engaging a plug, whereby the tube, being cast into the block, defines the intermediate channel and the flanges define the slot.

Claim 53

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two tiers of blocks placed alternately side by side and vertically staggered, each block comprising at least a pair of vertically spaced interior channels disposed between an upper surface and a lower surface of the block, each interior channel extending between opposing sides of the block with a slot extending from the channel to an interior face of the block, whereby an upper interior channel of the block in a lower tier coaxially aligns with a lower interior channel of an adjacent vertically staggered block in an upper tier for defining receiving conduits through the wall; at least one connector bar positioned within at least one of the receiving conduits, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through the slots of the blocks in the tier for receiving backfill.

Claim 54

An earth retaining wall, comprising: at least two tiers of blocks placed alternately side by side and vertically staggered, each block comprising at least a pair of vertically spaced interior channels disposed between an upper surface and a lower surface of the block, each interior channel extending between opposing sides of the block with a slot extending from the channel to an interior face of the block, whereby an upper interior channel of the block in a lower tier coaxially aligns with a lower interior channel of an adjacent vertically staggered block in an upper tier for defining receiving conduits through the wall; at least one connector bar positioned within at least one of the receiving conduits, the connector bar having a base and a plurality of spaced-apart keys extending vertically from a top surface of the base; and tieback means connected to the keys of the connector bar and extending laterally from the wall through the slots of the blocks in the tier for receiving backfill.

Claim 55

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 48, wherein the tieback means comprises a grid sheet having elongated slots for receiving therethrough the keys of the connector for anchoring the wall to backfill adjacent the wall.

Claim 56

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 49, wherein the keys are spaced-apart for snugly receiving the elongated slots of the grid sheet.

Claim 57

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 50, wherein the base defines a planar surface extending laterally from the keys for receiving thereon an edge portion of the grid sheet.

Claim 58

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 48, wherein the height of the base is about one-half the height of the receiving conduit.

Claim 59

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 48, wherein the keys extend a distance above the base equal to about one-half the height of the receiving conduit.

Claim 60

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 48, wherein the keys have a planar face on a first side for contacting an interior side of receiving conduit.

Claim 61

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 54, wherein the keys have an arcuate face on a second side for engaging an end of an aperture in the tieback means.

Claim 62

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 48, wherein the interior channel and slot are defined by a tubular insert comprising: an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending opening in a side wall; a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending laterally from the side wall adjacent the opening; and a groove on an inner surface of each flange, the groove extending parallel the opening, for removably engaging a plug, whereby the tube, being cast into the block, defines the interior channel and the flanges define the slot.

Claim 63

The earth retaining wall as recited in claim 48, further comprising: a first channel in the upper surface; and a second channel in the lower surface, whereby the first channel of one of the blocks in a lower tier aligns with the second channel of one of the blocks in an adjacent upper tier for defining another receiving channel for selectively receiving at least one connector bar from which one of the tieback means extends laterally from between the blocks.