Solid Core Concrete Block And Method Of Making A Concrete Block Retaining Wall

A plurality of solid core concrete brick machine used in forming a retaining wall. The retaining wall can be used in building construction, road construction, landscaping, hillside erosion control, gardens, and like applications. Also, the retaining wall can be a straight wall, an angled wall or a curved wall depending on the application.

Each of the blocks includes a vertical front face and rear face, a horizontal top and bottom and a vertical first side and second side. The first side includes a first ear and two sides of an angular first notch next to the first ear. One side of the first notch is parallel to a length of the front and rear faces and forms a side of the first ear. A second side of the first notch is disposed inwardly into the block and at an angle of 10 to 45 degrees from a horizontal line perpendicular to a length of the front and rear faces. When the first ear is broken off, a length of the second side of the first notch is extended for engaging a side of another block having a second ear broken off. In this manner, the retaining wall can be angled or curved during the wall construction.

This invention relates to a concrete block retaining wall and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a unique solid core concrete block and a plurality of the concrete blocks used in building a concrete block retaining wall. The retaining wall can be used in building construction, road construction, landscaping, hillside erosion control, gardens, and like applications.

Heretofore, there have been a variety of different types of concrete blocks, bricks, railroad ties and other types of materials used in retaining wall construction. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,423 to Perkins, U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,183 to Newman and U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,544 to Ghahary different types of decorative face plates or facing panels are illustrated for attaching to the front of concrete blocks used in retaining walls. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,999 to Egan et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,102 to Ozawa, two different types retaining wall block systems are disclosed using plastic wall blocks and cellular resin blocks.

None of the above mentioned prior art patents specifically disclose the unique features, structure and function of the subject solid core concrete block and method of making a concrete block retaining wall as described herein.

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to provide a plurality of solid core concrete blocks that can be easily stacked one on top of the other for forming different designs, sizes and shapes of retaining walls.

Another object of the invention is each of the solid core concrete blocks includes a pair of ears extending outwardly from opposite sides of the block. The ears can be used for carrying the block to the retaining wall construction site and for placing it in position on the wall. The blocks also include inwardly angular notches next to the ears. When the ears are broken off, the notch sides, which are angled from 10 to 45 degrees, can be used for creating a curved retaining wall.

Still another object of the solid core blocks is the ears on the blocks allow three 8" by 8" by 18" blocks to be made at one time in a standard size 18?" by 26?" concrete mold used in a concrete block machine. While the dimensions of the mold are described above, the mold can be of various dimensions for making different sizes of retaining wall blocks. This feature provides for reduced block cost and increases the efficiency in making the blocks.

Yet another object of the invention is each block can include a pair of parallel bracket grooves in the top of the block. The bracket grooves are used for receiving a pair of brackets used to suspend a decorative facing on a front of the block.

A further object of the invention is the use of a fabric sheet disposed between every layer of the block, every two layers of blocks or as needed. The fabric sheet is received on top of compacted dirt backfill behind the wall. Additional backfill is received on top of the fabric sheet. The fabric sheet is used to hold the wall in place due to the force of the soils on the back side of the retaining wall.

The invention includes a plurality of solid core blocks used in forming a retaining wall. Each of the blocks includes a vertical front face and rear face, a horizontal top and bottom and a vertical first side and second side. The first side includes a first ear and two sides of an angular first notch next to the first ear. One side of the first notch is parallel to a length of the front and rear faces and forms a side of the first ear. A second side of the first notch is disposed inwardly into the block and at an angle of 10 to 45 degrees from a horizontal line perpendicular to a length of the front and rear faces. When the first ear is broken off, a length of the second side of the first notch is extended for engaging a side of another block when turning an angle during the wall construction. The second side of the block includes a second ear and two sides of an angular second notch similar to the first side of the block.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with various types of concrete blocks, concrete brick machine molds and different methods of making retaining walls when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, enlarged, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.