Hydraulic and earth engineering – Earth treatment or control – Shoring – bracing – or cave-in prevention
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-02
2004-02-24
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Earth treatment or control
Shoring, bracing, or cave-in prevention
C047S066300, C047S066500, C047S086000, C220S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06695544
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a retaining wall planter block that is resistant to damage and wear caused by the environment it is placed into. The deterioration resistant block is generally a hollowed frame or shell of a deterioration resistant material that is light-weight, includes a plurality of apertures and is configured to accept one or more fill materials that may include seeds. Generally, at least one of the fill materials is suitable for growth of vegetation that protrudes through the plurality of apertures positioned on the block. The filling material also provides weight and stability to the retaining wall planter block and also provides weight, stability and security to a retaining wall constructed of such blocks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of retaining walls to protect and beatify property in all types of environmental settings is a common practice in the landscaping, construction and environmental protection fields. Walls constructed from various materials are used to outline sections of property for particular uses, such as gardens or flower beds, fencing in property lines, reduction of erosion, and to simply beautify areas of a property.
Numerous methods and materials exist for the construction of retaining walls. Such methods include the use of natural stone, poured in place concrete, masonry, landscape timbers or railroad ties. In recent years, segmental concrete retaining wall units, sometimes known as keystones, which are dry stacked (i.e., built without the use of mortar), have become a widely accepted product for the construction of retaining walls. Examples of such units are described in U.S. Pat. No. RE 34,314 (Forsberg) and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,216 (Sievert).
However, many of the materials utilized in the construction of retaining walls are susceptible to deterioration and/or are not very aesthetically appealing. The ability of these retaining walls to withstand sunlight, wind, water, general erosion and other environmental elements is a problem with most retaining wall products. Many materials utilized in retention of shorelines are subject to immediate deterioration and/or are not as aesthetically appealing as one would desire.
Furthermore, many materials utilized on shoreline structures are difficult to maintain due to the awkward location in the water and also the prevalent growth and presence of undesirable organic materials that can get caught and flourish in such a structure. For example, many lakeshore or ocean side properties utilize riprap as a retention device for prevention of erosion. Riprap is a configuration of large to medium size stones placed along the shoreline. A problem with waterfront properties that use a continuous wall of typical riprap is the shoreline will retain some undesirable organic material or will accumulate additional organic material brought in by the water. This usually leads to an unmanageable and aesthetically displeasing shoreline or higher maintenance. Furthermore, the riprap is never uniform in color and size and therefore does not as provide the most aesthetically pleasing shoreline or complete coverage of the shoreline. The lack of uniform shoreline coverage allows for some erosion, collection of various materials and the growth of undesirable weeds.
As previously suggested, a particular concern is the utilization of erosion protection materials in water shorelines. Installing riprap, seawalls, or other structures result in the “Hardening” of the shoreline. This can lead to the disruption of spawning areas, increases erosion in non-protected shoreline, and destroys the natural habitat required by a variety of organisms. Alternatively, leaving the shoreline natural can lead to erosion, cause an unmanageable and unusable shoreline, create high maintenance, and inhibit an aesthetically pleasing property.
Another problem with materials normally utilized in the construction of retaining walls, such as poured in place concrete, masonry, landscape timbers, railroad ties or keystones is that regulations in most states and counties prohibit their use in or near bodies of water because of the crumbling or deterioration of the material into the body of water over time. Many of these retaining wall materials dissolve, crumble, break apart and/or float into the body of water for which they line causing problems with the shoreline and pollution of the water. For example, the average life of a concrete block or keystone in water is approximately a couple of years. A need exists for a retaining wall, which would be resistant to such deterioration. Additionally the removal of a natural habitat for growth of desirable organic materials, such as vegetation and organisms, by insertion of such retaining walls presents environmental problems.
An additional concern that exists in the construction of retaining walls is the weight of the blocks or materials. Concrete blocks, large stones, timbers or keystones can be heavy to move into the wall location and maneuver when constructing the wall. Many locations for which retaining walls are constructed are positioned in awkward terrain. Heavy building materials are difficult to move into the location and furthermore are difficult to position when constructing the retaining wall thereby adding additional cost and labor for installation. However, the heavy materials are needed once the wall is constructed to provide stability and security to the structure. Therefore, easy to install light-weight units used for the construction of a retaining wall, which can be weighted once placed into position to provide retention of the block and thereby stabilize the completed retaining wall, would be beneficial to construction of such structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As previously mentioned the present invention relates to a retaining wall planter block that is resistant to damage and wear caused by the surrounding environment. The deterioration resistant block is generally a hollowed frame or shell of a deterioration resistant material that is light-weight, includes a plurality of apertures and is configured to accept one or more filling materials that may include seeds. The filling material provides weight and stability to the retaining wall planter block and also ultimately provides stability and security to the retaining wall constructed of such blocks. Furthermore, one or more of the filling materials placed into the block is generally suitable for the growth of vegetation, such as grass, moss, or other vegetation native to the surrounding environment.
More specifically, the deterioration resistant planter block comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a wall assembly and an optional anchoring device. One or more chambers are created by adjoining the top panel, bottom panel and wall assembly. The chambers are adapted for receiving and retaining one or more fill materials, such as sand, dirt, gravel, pea rock, peat, or any other similar material, which provides permanent weighting and stability of the planter block and also provides the seeds nutrients for exceptional vegetation growth. The planter block further comprises a plurality of apertures that are adapted to allow vegetation to grow from the apertures to the exterior of the planter block.
Embodiments of the present invention include a deterioration resistant retaining block for use in constructing retaining walls on properties that are exposed to harsh environments, such as waterfront properties. The deterioration resistant planter blocks are particularly useful for properties near water or underwater due to their resistance to degradation and adaptation to the surrounding environment. As previously suggested, the planter block is configured to provide structural scaffolding for vegetation growth. Furthermore, the scaffolding provides stability to a surface, such as a bank, ravine, shoreline or the like, thereby preventing erosion, as well as providing an optimum environment conducive to vegetation growth that is aesthetically acceptable. It is also noted that the deterioration resistant blocks could also be used for other
Dolan John Fitzgerald
Knudson Edward Alan
Fredrikson & Byron PA
Mayo Tara L.
New Technology Resources, Inc.
Pezzuto Robert E.
LandOfFree
Environment resistant retaining wall planter block and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Environment resistant retaining wall planter block and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Environment resistant retaining wall planter block and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3303381