AU2006220240A1 - Wall assembly - Google Patents

Description

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 1 "Wall assembly" Cross-Reference to Related Applications 5 The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent 2005901047 filed on 4 March 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field 10 The present invention relates to a wall assembly comprising a plurality of individually arranged blocks, In particular, the present invention relates to a wall' assembly for use as a retaining wall comprising a plurality of vertically or substantially vertically stacked rows of blocks, and an anchor member for retaining the blocks in 15 each of the vertically stacked rows in position. Background of the Invention Retaining walls and the like are common structures used in the building and 20 construction industry to hold back or support soil, particularly when the natural ground level has been altered. Typically, the natural ground level can be altered in two specific manners. Firstly, when a structure has been "cut into" the natural ground level such that the 25 structure, or a portion thereof, is below the natural ground level. In this particular case, a retaining wall structure is installed to prevent soil on the high side from collapsing into the low side. Secondly, when the natural ground level has been built up by providing additional "fill" to the ground level to create an elevated platform. In this instance, a retaining wall stmoture is employed to:prevent the additional "fill" from 30 moving down to the natural ground level. This latter case is typical where a structure has been built on a sloping site and the retaining wall prevents any built up material from moving further down the sloped incline. Whilst retaining walls have a functional purpose as described above, they are 35 also often employed in situations where they perform a visual function, particularly in landscaping applications where they are often chosen to complement other landscape WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 2 elements, such as plants, paving and the like. In this regard, the materials used and the shape of the wall can vary significantly depending upon the functional and aesthetic requirements of the wall. For instance, traditional retaining walls are often built out of native stone, timber, or concrete bricks/blocks which are chosen to provide the desired 5 visual effect in the landscape. Retaining walls made out of stone or concrete bricks/blocks generally fall under two types: wet or dry retaining walls. A wet retaining wall is one that is constructed with mortar to bond the elements of the wall together, These walls are generally used in 10 more permanent applications where the strength of the wall is paramount and the soil is stable and unlikely to move considerably over time. A dry retaining wall, or segmental retaining wall, is one that is constructed without mortar and depends upon the weight and friction of one unit/segment upon another for its stability. Such walls aie typically easier to build and allow greatpr variation in shape and application and provide a 15 degree of flexibility to accommodate minor earth movements, which may be caused by temperature variations, such as freeze/thaw cycles, without causing damage to the wall. As such, dry or segmental retaining walls are typically more popular than wet retaining walls for most simple applications, such as home or garden applications. 20 A variety of systems have been proposed for securing units together in a stable manner for a segmental retaining wall. Such systems typically employ pins or the like which are receivedin slots formed between the vertically arranged units to retain the units in position. Unfortunately, such systems typically do not allow for any transfer of loads between neighbouring units in the rows of the wall and are typically only 25 applicable for retaining walls that extend along a straight line, and not walls which have convex and/or concave portions. In many instances, existing wall structures having concave or convex portions lose their structural integrity as neighbouring units in a row lose contact with each other requiring additional reinforcement. 30 Also, existing systems do not easily provide a means for applying a setback to the wall, should one be so desired, Typically a batter or the like is required at the base of the wall prior to construction to provide a setback, which is a timely and labour intensive process. Alternatively, the units themselves are created with nibs and slots, or lips to determine the setback of the wall, which requires precise tolerances and the like 35 during manufacturing of the units.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 3 In this regard, it is desirable to provide a retaining wall system which enables segmental retaining walls having a variety of shapes and sizes to be easily assembled in a safe and reliable manner. 5 Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the pmpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters fonm part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim 10 of this application. Summary of the Invention Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as 15 "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. According to a first aspect, the present invention is a wall assembly comprising: 20 a plurality of blocks armnged in at least two vertically stacked rows; and at least one anchor member, said anchor member configurable to link at least two adjacent blocks of a row with at least one block of an adjacent vertically stacked row such that the blocks are interlocked in their relative positions. 25 The rows of blocks may be vertically stacked in a variety of manners. In one form, the rows may be stacked such that wall assembly has a substantially sheer external face. In another form the rows may be stacked such that an upper row of blocks is offset from the lower row of blocks, thereby providing a stepped external face to the wall assembly. The amount of offset between rows of blocks may vary between 30 rows and/or between wall assemblies. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of blocks has a first surface and at least a second surface. The first surface may be a surface of the block configured to at least partially support thercabove a block of a vertically stacked row of blocks, whilst the 35 second surface may be a surface of the blo6k configured to be at least partially supported therebelow on a block of a vertically stacked row of blocks.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 4 A recess may be provided in the first surface for at least partially receiving the anchor member. The recess may be a channel formed in the first surface. The channel may extend across at least a portion of the first surface in a direction substantially 5 parallel to an external surface of the block.- The anchor member may be configured to be at least partially received in the channel formed in the first surface of the at least two adjacent blocks to link the at least two adjacent blocks. In one embodiment, the anchor member comprises a projecting element that is configured to extend beyond the first surfaces of the at least two adjacent blocks when 10 the anchor member is received in the channels formed therein; The projecting element may be at least partially received by the second surface of the at least one block of the vertically stacked row of blocks. The projecting element may be received within a recess provided in the second surface of the at least one block of the vertically stacked row of blocks. The recess may be a channel that extends across at least a portion of the 15 second surface of the block in a direction substantially parallel to an external surface of the block. In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the first and second surfaces of each block are the upper and lower surfaces of the blocks respectively, when the blocks 20 are arranged in said rows. In one embodiment, the blocks are bricks or concrete building blocks. Each block may be shaped to conforn to a neighbouring block such that the blocks can be readily assembled together without the need for cutting or farther reshaping. In one 25 embodiment, each block has a hollow central portion for receiving structural reinforcement upon assembly. In this regard, the hollow central portion of each block may be filled with soil, stone or other suitable matter to enhance the stability of the wall. 30 In another embodiment of the present invention, each anchor member has an elongate body configured to be received in the channel formed in the first surface of at least two neighbouring blocks. In one form, the elongate body a base portion shaped to conform to the channel provided in the first surfaces of the blocks. The base portion may be substantially rectangular such that it is securely received within the channels. 35 The base portion may be fully received within the channels. The base portion may be provided with a plurality of fins which project therefrom. In this regard, the fins may WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 5 act against the walls of the channels to secure the base portion within the channels thereby preventing the anchor member from being inadvertently dislodged from the channels during assembly of the wall. 5 The projecting element of the anchor member may extend from the base portion along an edge thereof. The projecting elexhent may be configured to project beyond the first surface of the blocks when the base portion is received in the channels provided therein, In this arrangement, the projecting element is shaped to be received in the channel formed in the second surface of a block of a vertically stacked row of blocks, 10 to retain the block in position with respect to the lower row of blocks. In one embodiment, the projecting element retains one upper block in position with respect to two neighboring lower blocks. In an embodiment, the projecting element comprises at least two elongate 15 substantially rectangular projecting members. Each of the projecting members may have a cross-sectional width which is less than the cross-sectional width of the base portion of the anchor member. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional width of the projecting members is substantially half the cross-sectional width of the base portion of the anchor member. 20 In a fmrther embodiment, the anchor member is constructed from a flexible material, such as polyethylene. In another embodiment, a segment of the anchor member may be constructed in a manner that facilitates bending of the anchor member about its longitudinal axis. In this regard, the segment of the anchor member that 25 facilitates bending may be located in the base portion of the anchor member. Further, the segment of the anchor member that facilitates bending may be located in a region of the base portion located between the projecting members. In one form, the segment of the base portion that facilitates bending comprises 30 walls which are thinner than the walls of the remainder of the base portion. The segment may also comprise a plurality of tubular regions extending through the base portion of the anchor member, in a direction orthogonal to the length of the anchor member. In one embodiment, the segment of the base portion comprises four tubular regions with each region having a substantially triangular cross-section. In this regard, 35 at least one of the walls of the tubular regions may be frangible, thereby fRther facilitating bending of the anchor member in this region.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 6 It will be appreciated that this aspect of the present invention provides a wall assembly consisting of a plurality of vertically stacked rows of blocks, wherein individual blocks are connected, not just with their neighbouring block within a row, 5 but also with their neighbouring block in a vertically displaced row, thereby enabling load sharing between all blocks in the structure. According to a second aspect, the present invention is a wall assembly comprising, 10 a plurality of blocks adapted to be arranged in a plurality of vertically stacked tows, each said block having a first surface and a second surface and each of said first and second surfaces having a channel formed therein that extends acoss at least a portion of said surface; and at least one anchor member adapted to be at least partially received in the 15 channels formed in the first surface of at least two adjacent blocks in a row and having a projecting element that extends beyond the first surfaces of the at least two adjacent blocks, said projecting element being configured to be at least partially received within the channel formed in the second surface of at least one block of a vertically displaced row of blocks, thereby retaining the at least one block in position with respect to the at 20 least two adjacent blocks. The rows of blocks rny be vertically stacked in a variety of manners. In one form, the rows may be stacked such that wall assembly has a substantially sheer extemal face. In another form the rows may be stacked such that an upper row of 25 blocks is offset from the lower row of blocks, thereby providing a stepped external face to the wall assembly. The amount of offset between rows of blocks may vary between rows and/or between wall assemblies. According to a third aspect, the invention is an anchor member for linking a 30 plurality of blocks of a wall assembly consisting of at least two vertically stacked row of blocks, the anchor member comprising; an elongate body configured to extend between at least two adjacent blocks of a first row, said elongate body having a projecting element expendable therefrom and configured to be received by at least one block of a second row, thereby linking said 35 blocks of the first and second rows.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 7 The rows of blocks may be vertically stacked in a variety of manners.. In one form, the rows may be stacked such that wall assembly has a substantially sheer external face. In another form the rows may be stacked such that an upper row of blocks is offset from the lower row of blocks, thereby providing a stepped external face 5 to the wall assembly. The amount of offset between rows of blocks may vary between rows and/or between wall assemblies. In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the elongate body comprises a base portion that is at least partially received within a recess forced in a surface of the 10 at least two adjacent blocks of the first row. The recess may be a channel and the base portion may be shaped to substantially conform to the shape of the channel. In this regard, the base portion may be secured within the channels fonned in the surfaces of the blocks, thereby providing connection between the at least two adjacent blocks of the first row. 15 The base portion may include fin elements which extend from one or more walls thereof. The fin elements may act against inner walls of the channel to further secure the base portion in position within the channels of the at least two adjacent blocks of the first row. 20 The projecting element may comprise a lip that extends from the base portion. In one form, the lip may be formed integral with the base portion. In another form the lip may be formed separately from the base portion. The lip may be configured to extend from the base portion along an edge thereof, The lip may be configured to 25 extend beyond the surface of the at least two adjacent blocks of the first row when base portion is positioned within the channels formed thrin. The lip may be received within a recess formed in a surface of the at least one block of the second row to retain the at least one block of the second row in position with respect to the at least two adjacent blocks of the first Tow. In one form, the recess may be a channel formed in a 30 surface of the at least one block of the second row. The lip may be shaped to extend into the channel formed in the at least one block of the second row. In this regard, the lip may be shaped such that an edge thereof may contact an inner surface of the channel thereby retaining the at least one block of the second row in position. 35 In one embodiment, the lip compilses at least two elongate substantially rectangular projecting members. Each of the projecting members may have a cross- WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 8 sectional width which is less than the cross-sectional width of the base portion of the anchor member. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional width of the projecting members is substantially half the cross-sectional width of the base portion of the anchor member. 5 The base portion may further include a flexible region which facilitates bending of the base portion along its longitudinal axis. In this regard, the walls of the base portion at the flexible region may be thinner than the walls of the base portion along the remainder of its length. The walls of the flexible region of the base portion may also be 10 frangible. In one form, the flexible region of the base portion may fwrtber Comprise a plurality of removed portions formed therein. In this regard, the flexibility of the flexible region of the base portion may be further increased by breaking one or more of the frangible walls of the flexible region. 15 It will be appreciated that the flexible region of the base portion will provide load sharing between the at least two adjacent blocks of the first row, thereby providing enhanced stability to the wall assembly employing the connector elements. Further to this, the connector element may be made from a flexible material, such as polyethylene, to further enhance the flexibility and hence the stability of the wall assembly. 20 According to a fourth aspect, the invention is a block for constmcting walls, comprising; a first surface spaced apat from a substantially parallel second surface, thereby defining a block height; 25 a first face; a second face; opposed sides extending between respective ends of the first and second faces; at least one first recess formed in the first surface and extending to the opposed sides; and 30 at least one second recess formed in the second surface. In one embodiment of this aspect, the at least one first recess is an elongate channel formed in the first surface extending from the opposed sides such that the elongate channel is open at the opposed sides. The elongate channel may be formed 35 substantially parallel to the first face.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 9 In one erbodiment, the. at least one second recess may be an elongate channel formed in the second surface extending from the opposed sides such that the elongate channel is open at the opposed sides. The elongate channel formed in the first surface may be laterally offset from the channel formed in the second surface. 5 The elongate channels formed in the first and second surfaces may be configured to receive the anchor member of the third aspect of the invention to facilitate linking of blocks in the wall as previously described. 10 The rows of blocks may be vertically stacked in a variety of manners. In one form, the rows may be, stacked such that wall assembly has a substantially sheer external face. In another form the rows may be stacked such that an upper row of blocks is offset from the lower row of blocks, thereby providing a stepped external face to the wall assembly. The amount of offset between rows of blocks may vary between 15 rows and/or between wall assemblies. Brief Description of the Drawings 20 By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a partially assembled retaining wall having a vertically face in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 25 Fig. 1B is a side view of the partially- assembled retaining wall of Fig. 1A; Figs. 2A to 2C are perspective, top and side views respectively of an embodiment of a block used to construct the retaining wall of Fig. IA; 30 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an anchor member used in association with the retaining wall of Fig. IA; Figs. 4A to 4C are front side and bottom views of the anchor member of Fig. 3; 35 WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 10 Fig. SA is a perspective view of a partially assembled retaining wall with a 64 setback in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; Fig, 5B is a side view of the partially assembled retaining wall of Fig. 5A, 5 showing the 6* setback; Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a partially assembled retaining wall having a convex configuration in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 10 Fig. 6B is a side view of the partially assembled retaining wall of Fig. 6A, showing a substantially vertical face of the wall; Fig. 6C is a perspective view of an embodiment of a block used to assemble the 15 convex retaining wall of Fig. 6A; Fig. 7A is a perspective view of a partially assembled retaining wall having a concave configuration in accoraance with yet another embodiment; 20 Fig, 7B is a side view of the partially assembled retaining wall of Fig. 7A showing a substantially vertical face of the wall; Fig. 8A is a perspective view of a partially assembled retaining wall in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 25 Fig. 8B is a side view of the retaining wall of Fig. SA showing the degree of setback between the horizontal layers of the wall; Fig. 9A is a perspective viw of a block used to assemble the wall of Fig. 8A; 30 and Fig. 9B is a side view of the block of Fig. 9A.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 11 Preferred Mode for Catring out the Invention Whilst the present invention is described in relation to a retaining wall system 10, it will be appreciated that the invention could equally be employed in a variety. of 5 wall constructions where individual blocks or units are stacked in vertical rows. Referring to Fig. 1A, one embodiment of a retaining wall system 10 is shown in partial construction. The wall system comprises a plurality of individual units or blocks 12 arranged in a series of rows, with each row being vertically stacked such that 10 the external face 15 of each block 12 forms a substantially vertical face of the wall system 10, as is shown in Fig. 113, The rows of blocks may be vertically stacked in a variety of manners. In one form, the rows may be stacked such that wall assembly has a substantially sheer 15 external face. In another form the rows may be stacked such that an upper row of blocks is offset from the lower row of blocks, thereby providing a stepped extemal face. to the wall assembly. The amount of offset between rows of blocks may vary between rows and/or between wall assemblies. 20 An anchor member 14 is provided between adjacent blocks 12 in each row, and is positioned such that it extends across the vertical join formed between the adjacent blocks 12. The anchor member 14 will be described in more detail below, however as is shown in Fig. IB, the anchor member acts to aid in positioning the blocks 12 of each row with respect to each other and with respect to the upper row of blocks. 25 According to one embodiment, in order to accommodate the anchor member 14 to facilitate construction of the wall system 10, each block 12 of the wall system 10 is configured in the maner as is shown in Figs 2A to 2C. As shown in Fig. 2B, each block 12 has a trapezoidal shaped main body 17 having a vertically extending front 30 portion 2, a vertically extending rear portion 4 and a pair of vertically extending sides 6 which extend fmm the front portion 2 to the rear portion 4. An external face 15 is provided on the front portion 2 of the main body 17 such that when the blocks are assembled in the manner shown in Fig, IA, the extemal face 15 of each block forms the external surface of the wall system 10. The external face 15 may be made from the 35 same material as the main body 17, such as concrete or the like, which may be polished or otherwise treated to form the desired external surface texture. Alternatively, the WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 12 external face 15 may be in the form of a separate panel made from a material such as ceramic, marble or the like, which is adhered, or otherwise applied, to the front portion 15 of each block to create the desired wall surface. 5 The main body 17 is substantially hollow and contains an internal space 20. The internal space 20 is enclosed by the front portion 2, rear portion 4 and the sides 6 and provides a space into which crushed rock and the like may be received to provide additional stabilising effect to the blocks 12 when positioned. The rear portion 4 of the main body 17 is substantially parallel with the front portion 2 and has a pair of nibs 19 10 extending therefrom, In this regard, the width of the rear portion 4 of the block 12, including the nibs 19, is substantially the same as the width of the front portion 2 of the main body which contains the external face 15. This ensures that both the front and rear portions of neighboring blocks 12 fit together neatly and simply in straight rows as shown in Fig. 1A, to create the retaining wall system 10, without the need for 15 complicated alignment and masonry cutting tools. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2C, each block 12 has a lower surface 3 and an upper surface 5. In the embodiment as sbown, a pair of grooves 16 and 18 are formed in the upper 5 and lower 3 surfaces respectively. The grooves 16, 18 extend 20 substantially between the sides 6 of the blocks 12, and in the embodiment as shown,. are offset from one another, such that groove 18 is closer the externd face 15, than groove 16. In this regard, when the blocks 12 are arranged in rows, the grooves 16, 18 align with grooves 16, 18 provided in the neighbouring block 12, to form common grooves in the upper and lower surfaces of the row of blocks. The purpose of the 25 grooves will become more apparent when discussed in relation to the anchor member 14 below. The anchor member 14 is shown in more detail in Fig. 3 and Figs. 4A to 4C. The anchor member 14 is in the form of a flexible, elongate wedge member having a 30 substantially I-shaped cross section which defines a substantially rectangular base portion 22 and two substantially rectangular upwardly projecting portions or lips 24. Whilst the figures show two upwardly projecting portions or lips 24, it will be envisaged that the a single continuous upwardly projecting portion 24 could also be employed. In the embodiment shown, the anchor member 14 has a length (L) of about 35 180mrn, a height (H) of about 27 mm, and a maximum width (W) of about 30mm. It will be appreciated however that the dimensions of the anchor member 14 may vary WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 13 depending upon the size of the blocks and the particular wall system being constructed. In order to allow the anchor member 14 to flex under load, it is preferably made from a flexible polymer material, such as polyethylene, however other suitable materials are also envisaged. 5 The base portion 22 of the anchor member 14 is shaped to conform with the groove 16 provided in the upper surface 5 of the blocks 12 such that it is securely retained therein, as shown in Figs. 1A and 113. In the einbodiment shown, the height and width of the base portion 22 substantially matches the depth and width of the 10 groove 16 provided in the upper surface 5 of the blocks 12, In this regard, whilst the shape of the base portion 22 and the groove 16 have been shown as substantially rectangular, vadous other shapes may also be employed. To assist in retaining the base portion 22 of the anchor member 14 within the grooves 16, a plurality of fins 23 are provided upon the side walls thereof. The fins 23 are made frorn the same flexible 15 material as the anchor member 14 and extend outwardly fro'm the side walls of the base portion 22 and taper towards the 'underside of the anchor member 14, providing a maximum width at the top of the base portion 22. h this regard, the fins 23 act against the inner walls of the groove 16 to ensure that the anchor member is firmly located within the groove 16 of the blocks 12. 20 The two upwardly projecting portions or lips 24 are formed along one edge of the base portion 22, and extend above the base portion 22 such that when the anchor member 14 is positioned within the groove 16 the projections or lips 24 extend beyond the upper surface 5 of the blocks 12. The width of the upwardly projecting portions 24 25 is substantially less than the width of the base portion 22 and tapers slightly towards its apex. The upwardly projecting portions 24 are configured in this manner so that they can be received within the grooves 18 formed in the lower surface 3 of the upper row of blocks 12, as shown in Fig. IB. 30 Referring to Fig. 4B, the upwardly projecting portions 24 have an inwardly facing side wall 25 and an outwardly facing sidewall 26, which are both configured to act against an inner wall of the grooves 18, depending upon the orientation of the anchor member 14. In use, the blocks 12 experience a lateral force due to the weight of the soil or the Like being retained by the wall,. and hence the upwardly projecting 35 portions/lips 24 act as "hooks" which capture the vertically disposed blocks 12 and retain them in position with respect to the lower row of blocks.

WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 14 By changing the orientation of the anchor members 14 within the grooves 16, the structure of the wall can be altered from a vertical face wall, to a wall having an angular setback. As is discussed above and shown in relation to Figs IA and 1B, if the 5 anchor members 14 are inserted into the grooves 16 with the upwardly projecting portions 24 arranged closest to the external faces 15 of each block 12, then the wall will have a substantially vertical Face. This is because the inwardly facing side walls 25 of the upwardly projecting portions 24 capture the rear inner wall of the groove 18 provided in the blocks 12 of the vertically disposed row of blocks. 10 However, as is shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, if the anchor members 14 are rotated 180" and are inserted into the grooves 16 such that the upwardly projecting portions 24 are arranged distal from the external faces 15 of each block 12, when the rows of blocks 12 are assembled, the wall will assume a slope with a 6* setback. As will be 15 appreciated, by altering the off-set between the grooves 16, 18 of each of the blocks 12, the angle of setback of the sloped wall can be set as desired. Whilst the embodiments shown in Figs. 1A and 1B and Figs. 5A and 5B are in relation to walls that extend in a single, substantially straight line, due to the flexible 20 nature of the anchor members 14, the present invention can be readily applied to produce walls of -various shapes and configurations. In this regard, a flex portion 27 is provided in the central region of the anchor member 14 which separates the two upwardly projecting portions 24. In this region, the side walls 29 of the base portion 22 are not provided with fins 23 and as such are relatively thin in comparison to the rest of 25 the anchor member 14. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4C, the flex portion 27 comprises four hollow triangular segments 28, The segments 28 provide increased flexibility to the anchor .ember 14 in this region, allowing the anchor.member to bend about the flex portion 30 27. To improve the flexibility of the anchor member 14 in a specific direction, one or more of the side walls 29 can be cut, such that the anchor member 14 can bend more freely about the junction 30 of the segments 28. As discussed previously and shown in relation to Fig. 1A, in use the anchor 35 member 14 is positioned such that it extends between two adjacent blocks 12 of a common row of blocks. In this regard, the flex portion 27, which is located in the WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 15 centre of the anchor member 14, is typically positioned between the adjacent blocks 12 and allows a small degree of movement between adjacent blocks during and following assembly of the wall system 10, to aid in transferring loads between blocks 12 and improving the structural integrity of the wall system 10. 5 The flex portion 27 of the anchor member 14 makes it possible to form convex or concave wall systems 10, or to form wall systems 10 having convex or concave portions, as is shown in Figs. 6A and 7A. In this regard, as the flex portion 27 extends between adjacent blocks 12 in a row, the blocks can be arranged in an angular 10 relationship to each other, whilst still being connected via the single anchor member 14. The manner in which the anchor member 14 functions in a convex or concave portion of a wall system is substantially the same as that described above for walls that extend in straight lines. As the grooves 18 have a greater width than the upwardly 15 projecting portions 24, the grooves 18 can accommodate the upwardly projecting portions 24 in the event that the portions 24 are angled with respect to each other, as is the case in convex or concave wall sections. Therefore, the structural integrity of the wall is the same regardless of the shape of the wall. 20 As is shown in Fig. 6C, in order to achieve a convex shaped wall or wall portion, it may be necessary to alter the shape of the blocks 12. In this regard, the blocks are constructed such that the nibs 19 provided on the rear portion of the main body 17 can be readily removed. Following removal of the nibs 19, tbe blocks can be easily assembled into the required position to form the desired convex wall shape. 25 Referring to Figs. 8A - 9B, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a wall system 10 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment the anchor member 14 of the type as discussed above is employed. However, rather than the blocks 12 of the.wall system 10 having channels 16, 18 formed in both the upper 5 and. 30 lower 3 surfaces to accommodate the anchor member 14, only channel 16a is formed in the upper surface 5, as shown in Fig. 9B. In this embodiment, the channel 16a is formed proximal the rear portion 4 of the block 12, such that the anchor member 14 extends between adjacent blocks 12 in a row 35 along the rear portions thereof. In this arrangement, the upwardly projection portion 24 of the anchor member 14 is received within the internal space 20 of the upper block 12, WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 16 as shown in Fig. 8B, to secure the vertically adjacent blocks 12 in position. In this arrangement, a rearward inclination of the wall system 10 is possible having a slant of 6*, due to the channel 16a and the rear wall of the internal space 20 of the block being laterally offset from one another. 5 In each of the above described embodiments, the slant or degree of setback of the wall can be changed by altering the position of the channels 16, 16a and 18 with respect to the block 12. This provides a wall system 10 that can be readily adapted to cater for a. variety of consumer needs. 10 It will be appreciated that in each of the above described embodiments, the structural integrity of the wall system 10 employing the anchor member 14 is significantly increased due to each anchor member 14 providing not only a connection between horizontally adjacent blocks 12 in a row, but also providing a connection 15 between vertically adjacent blocks 12. In this regard, a single anchor member 14 connects three or more blocks 12 in the wall structure, substantially increasing load sharing ability between the blocks 12, such that any load applied against the wall will be shared through the blocks 12, and not necessarily concentrated upon a single block 12 or region of the blocks 12. As the anchor member 14 is flexible, the wall stmoture 20 can also cope with a degree of movement between the blocks 12 without compromising the structural integrity of the wall. Whilst the retaining wall system 10 of the present invention has been discussed in relation to the described components of the system, other components can also be 25 used in conjunction with the above described components to improve the structural integrity of the wall system. In particular, reinforcing components may also be used in conjunction with the above described components as may the inclusion of other raw materials which may enhance the walls function and visual acuity 30 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in, the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (34)

1. A wall assembly comprising: a plurality of blocks arranged in at least two vertically stacked rows; and at least one anchor member, said anchor member configurable to link at least 5 two adjacent blocks of a first row with at least one block of a second row such that the at least two adjacent blocks of the first row and the at least one block of the second row are interlocked in their relative positions.

2. A wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein each block comprises a fist 10 surface and at least a second surface.

3. A wall assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first surface is configured to at least partially support a block of a row of blocks and the second surface is configured to be at least partially supported on a block of a row of blocks. 15

4. A wall assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a recess is provided in said first surface for at least partially receiving said anchor member.

5. A wall assembly according to clairn 4, wherein the recess is a channel. 20

6. A wall assembly according to claim 5, wherein the channel extends across at least a portion of said first surface.

7. A wall assembly according to claim 6, .wherein said anchor member is 25 configured to be at least partially received in the channel formed in the first surface of the at least two adjacent blocks to link the at least two adjacent blocks.

8. A wall assembly according to claim 7, wherein the anchor member comprise a projecting element that is configured tP extend beyond the first surfaces of the at least 30 two adjacent blocks.

9. A wall assembly according to claim 8, wherein said projecting element is configured to be at least partially received by the second surface of the at least one block of the second row. 35 WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 18

10. A wall assembly according to claim 9, wherein a recess is provided in the second surface of the at least one block of the second row to receive said projecting element. 5

11. A wall assembly according to claim 10, wherein the recess is a channel.

12. A wall assembly according to claim 11, wherein the channel extends across at least a portion of said second surface. 10

13. A wall assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor member is constructed from a flexible material.

14. A wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the flexible material is polyethylene. 15

15. A wall assembly according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the anchor member is configured to facilitate bending of the anchor member about its longitudinal axis.

16. An anchor member for linking a plurality of blocks of a wall assembly 20 consisting of at least two vertically stacked rows of blocks, the anchor member comprising; an elongate body configured to extend between at least two adjacent blocks of a first row, said elongate body having a projecting element extendable therefrom and configured to be received by at least one block of a second row of blocks, thereby 25 linking said at least two adjacent blocks of the first row to the at least one block of the second row.

17. An anchor member according to claim 16, wherein the elongate body comprises . ka base portion .adpt.ed to extend betw.en the at least two adjacent blocks .f the first 30 row to be receivable within a recess formed in the at least two adjacent blocks.

18. An anchor member according to claim 17, wherein the recess is formed in a surface of the at least two adjacent blocks. WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 19

19. An anchor member according to claim 18, wherein the recess is a channel formed in the surface of the at least two adjacent blocks and the base portion is shaped to be received within the channel. 5

20. An anchor member according to claim 19, whereinthe surface of the at least two adjacent blocks is the surface that at least partially supports the at least one block of the second row.

21. An anchor member according to claim 19, wherein the base portion comprises a 10 flexible region which facilitates bending of the base portion along its longitudinal axis.

22. An anchor member according to claim 21, wherein the flexible region comprises a region of the base portion having reduced wall thickness. 15

23. An anchor member according to claim 22, wherein the walls of the flexible region of the base portion are be frangible to facilitate bending of the base portion in the flexible region.

24. An anchor member according to. any one of claims 16 to 23 wherein the 20 projecting element is a lip forced integral with the elongate body.

25. An anchor member according to claim 24, wherein the-lip is configured to be received within a recess formed in a surface of the at least one block of a vertically stacked row of blocks. 25

26. An anchor member according to claim 25, wherein the recess is a channel formed in the surface of the at least one block, and the lip is shaped to extend into the channel. 30

27. An anchor member according to claim 24 wherein the surface of the at least one block is the undersurface of the block.

28. A block for constructing walls, comprising; a first surface spaced apart fror a substantially parallel second surface, thereby 35 defining a block height; a first face; WO 2006/092019 PCT/AU2006/000273 20 a second face; opposed sides extending between respective ends of the first and second faces; at least one first recess formed in the first surface and extending to the opposed sides; and 5 at least one second recess formed in the second surface.

29. A block according to claim 28, wherein the at least one first recess is an elongate channel formed in the first surface extending from the opposed sides such that the elongate channel is open at the opposed sides. 10

30, A block according to claim 29, wherein the elongate channel is formed substantially parallel to the first fape.

31. A block according top claim 30, wherein the at least one second recess is an 15 elongate channel formed in the second surface extending from the opposed side surfaces such that the elongate channel is open at the opposed side surfaces.

32. A block according to claim 31, wherein the elongate channel formed in the first surface may be laterally offset from the channel formed in the second surface. 20

33. A block according to claim 30, wherein the elongate channel is configured to receive at least part of an anchor member according to any one of claims 16 to 27, to facilitate linking of said block to at least one adjacent block in a row. 25

34. A block according to claim 31, wherein the elongate channel is configured to receive at least part of an anchor member according to any one of claims 16 to 27, to facilitate linking of said block to at least one block in an adjacent row of blocks.