AU2006249237A1

AU2006249237A1 - Block

Info

Publication number: AU2006249237A1
Application number: AU2006249237A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Doug McNab
Original assignee: BGC AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BGC (AUSTRALIA) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-07
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2007-06-21

Description

UN

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: BGC (Australia) Pty Ltd Doug McNab WRAY ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant 1 William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Block The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- "Block" Field of the Invention This invention relates to retaining blocks and in particular it to blocks that can be utilised in the formation of retaining walls.

Disclosure of the Invention Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Accordingly the invention resides in a retaining wall block having an upper face, a lower face, a front face, a rear face and opposed side faces, the upper or lower face having a first engaging element and the lower or upper face respectively having a second engaging element, said engaging elements extending at least partially across the respective face between the side faces and being of a generally complementary configuration, the outer portions of one of the elements being of a varied cross sectional area which is generally varying width from an intermediate portion to the outer end of the respective outer portion, while the intermediate portion has the greatest cross sectional area which generally corresponds to the cross section area of the other element, the variation in cross sectional area of the one element allowing relative pivotal movement between a pair of opposed blocks having their complementary engaging elements interengaged.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the one engaging element comprises a groove and the other element comprises a rib. According to an alternative preferred feature of the invention the one engaging element comprises a rib and the other element comprises a groove. According to a preferred feature of the invention the outer portions are of the other engaging -3- O element are of a generally tapered configuration. According to a preferred feature of the invention where the one element comprises a rib the outer portions of the rib are convergently tapered. According to a preferred feature of the invention where the one element comprises a groove the outer portions of the groove are divergently tapered.

According to a preferred feature of the invention and where the one element comprises a rib, the rib comprises a plurality of rib-like segments extending across the respective face of the block.

SAccording to a preferred feature of the invention where the one element comprises a rib the sides of the rib are convergent.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the groove is adapted to be able to slidably receive the rib.

According to a preferred feature of the invention a plurality of grooves are provided between the side walls. According to a preferred feature of the invention the grooves are substantially parallel.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the front face is substantially parallel to the rear face.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the side faces are convergent.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the upper face and the lower face are substantially parallel.

According to a preferred feature of the invention wherein the front and/or the rear face are textured.

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NO

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment.

C)

Brief Description of the Drawings The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: (Ni Figure 1 is an isometric view of a retaining wall block according to the c embodiment; SFigure 2 is plan view of the retaining wall block of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view along line AA of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an isometric view of the upper most block of a retaining wall block; Figure is an isometric view of an alternative form of upper wall block according to the embodiment; Figure 6 is a sectional view of a retaining wall formed using retaining wall blocks according to the embodiment; Figure 7 is a sectional view of a alternative form of retaining wall formed using retaining wall blocks according to the embodiment; Figure 8 is plan view of a retaining wall formed using retaining wall blocks according to the embodiment; Figure 9 is plan view of an alternative form of retaining wall formed using retaining wall blocks according to the embodiment.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention a The embodiment is directed to a building block which can be utilised in the t formation of retaining walls and the like whereby the blocks are able to be 0 positively inter-engaged with each other without involvement of another fixing item or the use of mortar or a like fixing grout. It is a characteristic of the building Sblock according to the embodiment that the retaining walls which can be formed utilising the block can have a substantially upright front face or can have an inclined front face. In addition, the front face can be of a concave and/or a convex configuration.

The block as shown at Figure 1 comprises an upper face 11, a lower face 13, front face 15, a rear face 17 and opposed side faces 19 and 21. The front and rear faces 15 and 17 are textured to provide the desired textured finish for the final wall and the opposed side faces are convergent. The upper and lower faces 11 and 13 are substantially parallel to each other and the front and rear faces 15 and 17 are substantially parallel to each other while the side faces 19 and 21 are divergent towards each other in the direction from the front face towards the rear face 17 The upper face 11 and lower face 13 are each provided with inter-engagable engaging elements which extend across the respective upper and lower face between the opposed side walls 19 and 21.. The engaging elements comprise a rib 23 on the upper face and a plurality of parallel grooves 25 in the lower face Both the grooves and 25 and the rib 23 are of a similar cross-sectional profile. In the case of the grooves 25 the side faces of the grooves are inwardly convergent and the grooves are of a constant cross sectional area throughout their length. The rib 23 comprises a pair of segments 23a and 23b each of which extend to the respective side face 19 and 21 but which each terminate short of each other and centrally of the block. Each segment comprises an inner portion and an outer portion which extend in opposed relation from the centre of the respective segment. The inner portions of the segments 23a and 23b are formed with end portions which are tapered to have a reducing height towards their -6-

O

inner ends. The outer portion of the ribs 23a and 23b are of a height corresponding to the depth of the grooves 25. In addition outer portions the segments 23a and 23b have a tapered thickness between their respective side walls whereby at their inner extent the outer portions have substantially similar cross-sectional area to the grooves 25 but are of a reduced cross-sectional area at their outer ends. In laying the blocks, each succeeding course of blocks is laid such that an overlying block overlies the abutting halves of two blocks of the underlying course and the rib segments are received in the grooves of a pair of I overlying blocks. The configuration of the ribs is such that when they are inter- 0 10 engaged with a groove of an overlying block, the blocks are capable of relative displacement with respect to each other about one or more axes which are perpendicular to the opposed upper and lower faces and which intersect the inter-engaged groove and rib.

As illustrated at Figures 6 and 7, the provision of a pair of grooves enables the blocks to be laid one upon another in vertical alignment whereby the rib is engaged in the rearmost groove of the upper block. This results in a formation of a wall having a substantially upright face as shown at Figure 6. As illustrated at Figure7 by engaging the rib in the forward-most groove of the upper block an inclined face can be formed.

The pivotal inter-engagement which is exists between the inter-engaged groove and rib of a pair of abutting blocks enables pivotal movement of the blocks relative to each other about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower faces. Such relative pivotal movement enables the blocks to be used in the formation of a substantially linear wall or a curved retaining wall having a convex or a concave face as shown at Figures 8 and 9 or a wall having a linear front face and/or a convex front face and/or a concave front face. The fact that both the front and the rear faces are textured results in both faces being available for use in forming the exposed front face of the retaining wall.

In addition and as illustrated at Figures 6 and 7 the retaining wall is capped by an upper block which is illustrated at Figure 4 and which has a planar upper face in -7-

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O order to provide a clean upper edge to the retaining wall. In addition, as illustrated at Figure 5, one or more of the uppermost blocks may be formed with a centrally located transverse groove which extends partially between the front and rear faces 15 and 17. The presence of the groove enables a block to be split in order to provide for a half block. Similarly, the blocks of the form shown at Figure 1 which are used for formation of the main body of the wall can be provided with the transverse groove in order that a half block can be produced where required The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiment described herein. The embodiment is intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, elements and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A retaining wall block having an upper face, a lower face, a front face, a rear face and opposed side faces, the upper or lower face having a first C 5 engaging element and the lower or upper face respectively having a second engaging element, said engaging elements extending at least Spartially across the respective face between the side faces and being of a generally complementary configuration, the outer portions of one of the elements being of a varied cross sectional area which is generally varying width from an intermediate portion to the outer end of the respective outer portion, while the intermediate portion has the greatest cross sectional area which generally corresponds to the cross section area of the other element, the variation in cross sectional area of the one element allowing relative pivotal movement between a pair of opposed blocks having their complementary engaging elements inter-engaged.

2. A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 1 wherein the one engaging element comprises a groove and the other element comprises a rib.

3. A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 1 wherein the one engaging element comprises a rib and the other element comprises a groove.

4. A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 2 or 3 wherein the outer portions are of the other engaging element are of a generally tapered configuration. A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 4 as dependant from claim 3 wherein the outer portions of the rib are convergently tapered.

6. A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 4 as dependant from claim 2 wherein the outer portions of the groove are divergently tapered. -9- IND O

07. A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 3 and 5 wherein the rib o comprises a plurality of rib-like segments extending across the respective I face of the block.

8. A retaining wall block as claimed at any one of claims 3 or 5 or 7 wherein the sides of the rib are convergent.

9. A retaining wall block as claimed at any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the igroove is adapted to be able to slidably receive the rib. IND N 10. A retaining wall block as claimed at any one of the claims 2 to 9 wherein a plurality of grooves are provided between the side walls.

11.A retaining wall block as claimed at claim 10 wherein the grooves are substantially parallel.

12.A retaining wall block as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the front face is substantially parallel to the rear face.

13.A retaining wall block as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the side faces are convergent.

14.A retaining wall block as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper face and the lower face are substantially parallel. retaining wall block as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the front and/or the rear face are textured.

16.A retaining wall block substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.