AU2021101110A4

AU2021101110A4 - A sleeper for a retaining wall arrangement, and a retaining wall arrangement using said sleeper

Info

Publication number: AU2021101110A4
Application number: AU2021101110A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Ineson
Original assignee: Ineson Leanne Robyn
Current assignee: Ineson Leanne Robyn
Priority date: 2021-03-02
Filing date: 2021-03-02
Publication date: 2021-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-02

Abstract

A sleeper including a main generally rectangular body, wherein the main generally rectangular body includes a rear side and an opposing front side wherein the front side includes a pair of forward extended tabs at a left end and a right end of said front side of the main generally rectangular body and the front side further including a front face, wherein the front face is defined as an exposed set back section of the front side of the main generally rectangular body between the pair of forward extended tabs at the left end and right end of the front side of the main generally rectangular body. 1/4 10 1 13 14 22 18 20 18 12 Figure 1 18 Fiue

Description

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A SLEEPER FOR A RETAINING WALL ARRANGEMENT, AND A RETAINING WALL ARRANGEMENT USING SAID SLEEPER FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to a new and improved sleeper that has a generally rectangular cuboid shape that is used in the construction of a retaining wall, and more particularly to a sleeper that has been inherently formed so as to safeguard the aesthetic appearance and/or form of the front face of the sleeper during storage, transportation and the assembly thereof into the retaining wall.

BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION

[002] It is common practice for sleepers, particularly sleepers formed of concrete to be used as the main heavy blocks supported in between mounted columns as the means to retain the ground material infilled at the back of the retaining wall in the required configuration.

[003] As these conventional sleepers for the most part take on a generally rectangular cuboid or rectangular prism shape, it is often quite difficult to preserve any aesthetic appearance and/or embossed patterning placed on the front face of the sleeper to be exposed ultimately externally when the retaining wall is constructed.

[004] The main reason as to why the front face on the front side of the sleeper is so readily de-faceable often results from the way in which sleepers have to be stacked together when being transported and/or placed at the construction site ready for assembling into the retaining wall.

[005] As a generally rectangular cuboid or rectangular prism shape, the front face of the sleeper rubs against the face of the adjacent sleeper, which sleeper it is stacked against or on top, and the problem of the defacing and damage to the front face of the sleeper becomes even more significant during handling and/or transportation as any movement between the contacting faces of the sleepers results in further damage and/or disfigurement to the front face of the sleeper.

[006] While it may be possible to try and wrap each sleeper in protective packaging, given for the most part for retaining wall construction sleepers are made of heavy concrete material, this becomes a difficult and troublesome task to complete.

[007] Still further, it becomes problematic when trying to stack individual sleepers, one upon the other, if they have been wrapped in additional packaging.

[008] It would be more advantageous if it was possible in some way to make available a sleeper which would allow for convenient stacking together of one sleeper with another, post manufacturing, when in storage, transportation and/or general handling without that consequence of disfigurement to the front face of the sleeper.

[009] Therefore it is an object of this invention to make available an improved sleeper to be used in a retaining wall arrangement where the sleeper will be inherently formed so as to protect the front face of the sleeper from potential damage that is likely to take place should, as required, individual sleepers need to be packed on or up against each other during storage, transportation and/or general handling.

[010] Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a complete reading of the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[011] In one form of the invention there is provided a sleeper, said sleeper including:

[012] amain generally rectangular body, wherein the main generally rectangular body includes a rear side and a front side;

[013] said front side of the main generally rectangular body including a pair of forward extended tabs at a left end and a right end of said front side of the main generally rectangular body; and

[014] said front side further including a front face, wherein the front face is defined by an exposed setback section of the front side of the main generally rectangular body between the pair of forward extended tabs at the left end and right end of the front side of the main generally rectangular body.

[015] In preference the front face of the front side of the main generally rectangular body includes an aesthetic pattern, inscription and/or embossed configuration to improve the overall appearance of the sleeper.

[016] In preference the pair of forward extended tabs at the left end and the right end of the front side of the main generally rectangular body are integral with the main generally rectangular body of the sleeper.

[017] In preference the sleeper is formed from a mold or form work.

[018] In preference the sleeper is made from concrete.

[019] In preference the front side of the main generally rectangular body further includes a pair of slits wherein the slits separate the front face from the forward extended tabs at the left end and right end on the front side of the main generally rectangular body.

[020] In a further form of the invention there is provided a retaining wall arrangement, wherein the retaining wall arrangement includes a sleeper, wherein the sleeper is the kind of sleeper referenced in any one of the preceding paragraphs within the summary of the invention.

[021] In preference the retaining wall arrangement further include vertical upright columns, wherein each vertical upright column includes a generally rectangular slot along the length of the upright vertical column wherein the generally rectangular slot is defined by an opening between opposing sides of said upright vertical column, wherein each of the opposing sides includes a shoulder orientated to the other configured to partially close off the opening of the generally rectangular slot.

[022] In preference each vertical column includes a back side from which the pair of opposing sides extend therefrom said back side.

[023] In preference the forward extended tabs at the left end and right end on the front side of the sleeper are configured to generally mate with the shoulders configured to partially close off the opening of the generally rectangular slot of the vertical upright column.

[024] The sleeper of this invention is particularly advantageous over hitherto such sleepers that utilise for the most part a rectangular cuboid body. The reason being is that the sleepers for this invention have introduced a slight re-shaping of the main body structure, wherein the front side of the sleeper now includes the pair of forward orientated tabs at the left and right ends on the front side of the sleeper.

[025] These forward facing tab extension, in a sense, then recess the front face of the sleeper in a slightly set back position. That means the front side of the sleeper can still be stacked up against another such sleeper without any disfigurement to the front face of the sleeper as that front face of the sleeper has been, as introduced above, set back into the main generally rectangular body of the sleeper, so as to be protected on either sides by these lateral tab extensions.

[026] Therefore, if a sleeper has a particular front face that includes a unique aesthetic appearance or even a generic clean front face, there is no scratching, disfigurement, damage and the like to the front face of the sleeper when the sleepers are stacked or rubbed together with each other.

[027] Advantageously for the sleepers of this invention, even if the sleepers are handled roughly being stacked one upon the other during storage, general handling and/or transport, the integrity to the appearance required to the front face of the front side of the sleeper is maintained, again because of the inherent protective feature that was incorporated into the body structure of the invention, that being the inclusion of the forward orientated tabs.

[028] The applicant has also found that the introduction of the forward extended tabs provides for additional benefits, particularly in the assembly of the retaining wall arrangement wherein the forward orientated tabs when slid along the generally rectangular slot of the upright vertical column can be held and fixed in place with greater stability and alignment by the interaction of the forward orientated tabs at the left end and right end on the front side of the sleeper with those shouldered inwardly orientated ends of the opposing sides of the vertical upright column which provides the support to be able to stack one sleeper upon another in the construction of the retaining wall arrangement.

[029] In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a series of preferred embodiments will be described with the assistance of the following illustrations and accompanying text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[030] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sleeper in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[031] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a multiplicity of the sleeper shown in Figure 1 stacked against one another.

[032] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sleeper illustrated in Figure 1 forming part of a section of a retaining wall.

[033] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of Figure 3.

[034] Figure 5a shows a generally top and side perspective view of a sleeper in a further preferred embodiment of the invention and Figure 5b shows a top view of one end of the sleeper the kind of which is generally shown in Figure 5a engaging with a vertical upright support column of a retaining wall arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[035] Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of the sleeper (10) in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[036] The sleeper (10) is of a generally rectangular configuration having a front side (12) and an opposing rear side (14).

[037] Significantly for this invention, the front side (12) also includes the forward extended tabs shown as (18) that are located at the respective ends (13) and (15) of the sleeper (10).

[038] The significance of the forward extended tabs (18) is that the configuration allowed the front face (20) of the front side (12) of the sleeper (10) to be set back.

[039] As the front face (20) is set back, that means when individual sleepers are stacked together as shown in Figure 2 there is no rubbing against the front face (20) on the front side (12) of the sleeper (10) with a face of another sleeper (10) because the abutting forward orientated tabs (18) of the respective sleepers (10) keep those front surfaces (20) of the respective sleepers (10) separated rather than, in the conventional situation where you have and more pure rectangular cuboid sleepers resting face to face against each other resulting in potential degradation of the front face of the front side of the sleeper as they rub together which means that when these conventional sleepers are constructed in the retaining wall the overall appearance of the retaining wall is significantly diminished as the front faces of the conventional sleepers are often damaged and defaced.

[040] Figure 1 represents the configured pattern and/or aesthetic emboss as (22) and as can be seen in Figure 2 this pattern (22) on the front face (20) on the front side (12) of the sleeper (10) remains protected even if it needs to be stacked alongside an adjacent sleeper (10), all because of the inclusion into the sleeper (10) of these very unique forward extended tabs (18) located at the respective side ends (13) and (15) of the sleeper (10).

[041] In the preferred embodiments shown throughout Figure 1 through to Figure b, the sleeper is a concrete sleeper, formed either from a mold or form work.

[042] As a concrete sleeper, the weight of such blocks is significant, so to be able to place the sleeper protective packaging so to speak to protect the front face of the sleeper is not an easy task to achieve if costs of producing then ultimately presenting the sleepers for the retaining wall are to be maintained.

[043] Ingeniously however, this invention has been able to solve the problem of disfigurement to the front face of the sleeper by still being able to make available heavy set concrete sleepers which while being generally rectangular cuboid in shape which is a requirement to make them work as part of the retaining wall assembly, can still be done so with protection to the front face, as the front face is set back, to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the sleepers when presented as part of the retaining wall, all because of the utilisation as referenced above within the design of those forward extended tabs (18) located at the respective side ends (13) and (15) of the sleeper (10) as best seen in Figure 1.

[044] Figures 3 and 4 then show the application of the sleeper (10) into a retaining wall section shown generally as (29).

[045] The sleepers (10) are stacked vertically, one upon the other, within upright vertical columns (30) with the front face (20) on the front side (12) of each of the sleepers now exposed.

[046] As the pattern (22) on the front face (20) on the front side (12) of the sleeper (10) as shown in Figure 1 was protected by way of the forward orientated tabs (18), when presented within the retaining wall arrangement (29) shown in Figures 3 and 4, they present without any defacing or damage even if sleeper (10) was stacked in an arrangement the kind of which is shown in Figure 2.

[047] As best seen in Figure 4 the forward orientated tabs (18) can also assist in securing the sleeper (10) within the structural confines of the retaining wall by way of the interaction with the upright vertical columns (30).

[048] As best seen in Figure 4, the vertical upright column (30) includes two opposing sides (31) and (32) that extend from the back side (33) of the upright vertical column (30) wherein each of these opposing sides (31) and (32) have the rounded shoulders (34a) and (34b), which rounded shoulders (34a) and (34b) can either mate with the forward orientated tab (18) on the front side (12) of the sleeper (30) or engage with the rear side (14) of the sleeper (10) to align and improve stability of the containment of the sleeper (10) within the upright vertical column (30) that forms part of the retaining wall arrangement (29).

[049] Figures 5a and 5b are an extension of discussions of the sleeper (10) and the retaining wall arrangement (29) shown throughout Figures 1 through to 4, however the sleeper referenced as (50) in Figures 5a and 5b includes slits or slots (56) which separate the front face (54) on the front side (53) of the sleeper (50) from that of the forward orientated tabs (55) shown at the ends (47) and (49) of the sleeper (50).

[050] As best seen in Figure 5b, when the sleeper (50) is introduced into a retaining wall and notably the confines of a vertical upright column shown in the top view as (60) in Figure 5b, with the upright vertical column (60) including a back side (61) and opposing sides (62) and (63), again these opposing sides (62) and (63) include shoulders (64a), (64b) which partially close off that opening generally rectangular slot which would run down the length of the upright vertical column (60) in which an end of the sleeper (50) is slidably receivable therein.

[051] As can be seen from Figure 5b the slit (56) even provides a more pronounced profiling to allow the curved end shoulder (64a) of side (62) of the upright vertical column (60) to nest within the slit (56) and with the opposing shoulder (64b) on side (63) of the upright vertical column (60) then engaging the rear side (52) of the sleeper (50).

[052] Hence the sleeper (50) is still able to protect the front face (54) on the front side (53) of the sleeper (50) by way of those forward orientated tabs (55) but the inclusion of slit (56) with the forward orientated tabs (55) in combination with the shouldered configuration (64a) (64b) on the opposing sides (62) and (63) of the upright vertical column (60) enhances the structural engagement when the sleeper (50) is received into the upright vertical column (60) as part of a retaining wall assembly.

Claims

1. A sleeper, said sleeper including:

a main generally rectangular body, wherein the main generally rectangular body includes a rear side and a front side;

said front side of the main generally rectangular body including a pair of forward extended tabs at a left end and a right end of said front side of the main generally rectangular body; and

said front side further including a front face, wherein the front face is defined as an exposed set back section of the front side of the main generally rectangular body between the pair of forward extended tabs at the left end and right end of the front side of the main generally rectangular body.

2. The sleeper of claim 1 wherein the front face of the front side of the main generally rectangular body includes an aesthetic pattern, inscription and/or embossed configuration to improve the overall appearance of the sleeper.

3. The sleeper of claim 1 or 2 wherein the pair of forward extended tabs at the left end and the right end of the front side of the main generally rectangular body are integral with the main generally rectangular body of the sleeper.

4. The sleeper of claim 3 wherein the sleeper is formed from a mold or form work.

5. The sleeper of claim 4 wherein the sleeper is made from concrete.

6. The sleeper of claim 1 wherein the front side of the main generally rectangular body further includes a pair of slits wherein the slits separate the front face from the forward extended tabs at the left end and right end on the front side of the main generally rectangular body.

7. A retaining wall arrangement wherein the retaining wall arrangement includes a sleeper according to anyone of claims 1 to 6.

8. A retaining wall arrangement of claim 7 wherein the retaining wall arrangement further include vertical upright columns, wherein each vertical upright column includes a generally rectangular slot along the length of the upright vertical column wherein the generally rectangular slot is defined by an opening between opposing sides of said upright vertical column, wherein each of the opposing sides includes a shoulder orientated to the other configured to partially close off the opening of the generally rectangular slot.

9. A retaining wall arrangement of claim 8 wherein each vertical column includes a back side from which the pair of opposing sides extend therefrom said back side.

10. A retaining wall arrangement of claim 9 wherein the forward extended tabs at the left end and right end on the front side of the sleeper are configured to generally mate with the shoulders configured to partially close off the opening of the generally rectangular slot of the vertical upright column.