Concrete block revetment system for soil erosion prevention

Claim 1

A concrete block system for use in preventing soil erosion and comprising a plurality of blocks having: (a) an upper surface and a lower surface each being generally of a square shaped cross section; (b) a plurality of side surfaces comprising at least two pairs of opposite side surfaces being generally parallel to each other, each pair of said generally parallel surfaces having on one surface thereof a male key tab and on the opposite of said generally parallel surface a female key tab, said male and female key tabs being oriented vertically from said upper surface to said lower surface such that when engaged with other blocks they interact to restrict horizontal movement of the blocks (c) one pair of said generally parallel surfaces having at least two cable passages passing through said block and the other pair of said generally parallel surfaces having at least one cable tunnel extending therebetween through said blocks for the reception of cables so that when cables are placed therein an array of blocks is formed comprising a mat; and (d) at least one of said pairs of said generally parallel side surfaces having near said upper surface, an inward taper on each of said generally parallel surfaces, such that the area of said upper surface has a slightly smaller cross sectional area than said lower surface and whereby when plural blocks are laid in a side by side horizontal relationship said inwardly tapered surfaces form a channel between said blocks for the passage of flowing water thereby increasing the downward pressure of the flowing water across the surface of the block.