Joseph D Emberson

US Patent:

56198353, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Jan 25, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/591319

Inventors:

Joseph S. Bailey - Roswell GA
Robert Miller - Marietta GA
Joseph D. Emberson - Roswell GA

Assignee:

The Tensar Corporation - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

E04C 204

US Classification:

52606

Abstract:

A modular wall block is formed with a groove in a top surface configured to frictionally receive fingers of a rake-like connection device which may extend through apertures in an end portion of a grid-like sheet of reinforcing material. The connection device includes enlarged tabs projecting away from the fingers to engage in a widened slot defined in the bottom of superimposed wall blocks for positioning the front faces of the blocks in the retaining wall relative to each other in either a vertically aligned or vertically set back relationship depending upon the direction of extension of the tabs. The groove and the slot are formed at opposite ends of a tapered through-opening extending between top and bottom surfaces of the block. By virtue of the taper, the width of the groove is less than a width of the slot to accommodate the different portions of the connector device. Both the groove and the slot, as well as other selected depressions and recesses can be formed from one side of the block during manufacture to simplify the manufacturing equipment and minimize the cost of the wall blocks.