LOCK PIN FOR PROVIDING OFFSET AND RELATIVE FIXATION OF RETAINING WALL MEMBERS AND EDGING OF ACREAGES

Description

Description of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to lock pin for relative fixation of two elements, especially units of a retaining wall, kerbs or similar product. The lock pin comprises two cylindrical members, each with separate parallel axis of centre. These axes are axially offset. The inventive locking pin differs from the one disclosed in WO 93/00484 A in that the first member has a circular cross section and the second member has a polygon-shaped cross section.

[0002] The axial offset may range from 0 up to nearly as much as half of the diameter of the pin/the largest dimension perpendicular to the centre of the polygon.

[0003] The dimension of the pin depends on the size of the elements and the characteristic of the intended offset, but a typical pin diameter between 20 mm and 30 mm and a largest dimension perpendicular to the centre of the polygon likewise between 20 mm and 30 mm and furthermore a axial length for each body half between 20 mm and 30 mm will be appropriate in most cases.

[0004] The lock pin may be applied to provide offset and prevent forward/reverse skidding of elements such as units of a retaining wall, kerbs or the like. The elements can be made of concrete; sandstone; limestone; granite or another applicable material for units of a retaining wall and edging of acreages.

[0005] The lock pin provides a very flexible system, the only thing required is that there within the applied elements is provided a longitudinal groove on the upper side and on the lower side of the element in parallel to the front of the element. The top element of the wall may, if desired, comprise only one groove placed on the lower side, or be shaped as a special top element.

[0006] By mounting the pin perpendicular to the offset plane in the groove one can make sure that the offset of the elements corresponds to the offset of each half of the pin.

[0007] No element offset will be achieved by placing two elements on top of one another if the pin is mounted with the offset plane being parallel to the groove, however, the pin will still prevent forward skidding.

[0008] Regardless of orientation the lock pin will prevent the elements from skidding forward due to the, from behind originated, pressure caused by the material that is to be held by the element. At the same time the lock pin will furthermore prevent reverse skidding. This may especially be beneficial during construction of retaining walls; however, it can also provide a high degree of assurance that the retaining wall elements will not move as a consequence of external load especially applied on the top row of the retaining wall elements.

[0009] By constructing the lock pin with one half, shaped as a cylinder pin and the other half shaped as an equilateral polygon pin with the same largest dimension, perpendicular to the centre as the diameter in the cylinder pin, is achieved that the element can perform a angular rotation relative to the other element below, in which the equilateral polygon pin is fixed without being able to rotate without loosing the out-turned locking. The lock pin can be slightly tapered, by which it would be possibly to attach the pin into the groove during the construction. This will furthermore compensate for the variation in the dimensioning of the groove that will occur frequently. The narrowing will typically range between 1 mm to 2 mm, in manner ensuring that the free ends will have the smallest dimension.

[0010] The groove is not required to be through-going. In this way the end member of a retaining wall/edging will appear without any visible groove. Correspondingly, no groove will be visible if the retaining wall/edging includes a break, for example 90 degrees to another direction instead of a curve pattern.

[0011] The very flexible arrangement of the lock pin in the groove, in which the pin not is restricted to any specific position, enables the retaining wall members and edging members to follow almost any radius of curvature, according to the size of the retaining wall members. At the same time opportunity for more artistically challenges is provided, due to the fact that the retaining wall not is restricted to have the same offset everywhere. The retaining wall may in short course or in the event of appropriate choice of retaining wall elements even have forward and reverse offsets occurring alternately, in order to avoid a long or very monotonous retaining wall surface. In particular in the case of the many-sided polygon endings on the pin there is opened up for numerous of different ways of performing offset.

[0012] The retaining wall elements are traditionally shaped with groove and tongue fixing, where the lower side has a groove and the upper side has a tongue, in manner ensuring that the groove of the next element fit the tongue of the subjacent element. Accordingly, the element can not skid forward.

[0013] Alternatively, it is also possible to shape the retaining wall element with a downwards turning flange in the rear of the element. This flange lies true against the rear side of the subjacent element. This will prevent the element from skidding forward.

[0014] With this configuration it requires an action to make the retaining wall curve in order to make the elements fit a curvature. This is typical achieved by breaking or slice away parts of the element or the lock flange at the rear, or by manufacturing special-purpose elements of curvature, which is why there both has to be manufactured concave and convex elements of curvature, in those cases in which the front differs from the rear side of the retaining wall element.

[0015] In order to be capable of extending the elements backwards while constructing larger-sized retaining walls, some retaining wall elements have been shaped with different groove location or different design of the rear supporting flange, in such a way that it is possible to apply the same elements to vertical retaining walls as well as retaining walls that are backward tilted to provide for a enhanced support.

[0016] Some retaining wall blocks are designed in such a way, that skid-resistance and offset is achieved by means of different types of sticks or pins. The characteristic features of these solutions are, that they are restricted to one specific retaining wall block design and require apertures or recesses arranged on the top side and/or on the lower side of the retaining wall block. There exists several different patented arrangements of pins/blocks.

[0017] US 5,865,006 discloses a system, in which a removable rear flange can be replaced by lock pins, especially in those layers, in which reinforcement for reinforcing the retaining wall has to be inserted. The lock pins can only protect against forward skidding. Furthermore, the pins have to be mounted upwards from beneath, and it is the fixation that prevents the pins for falling out at a subsequent point in time. It is complex and expensive to make these extra apertures in the concrete during the manufacturing. The lacking flexibility of the system entail the requirement of block apertures, in which the pin must fit very accurately and tightly in order to be fixed when subject to the action of a fixation.

[0018] US 5,252,017 discloses a system with round lock pins, where the pin comprises a cylindrical part and a tapered part mutually offset. It is specified that the pin can be turned in order to provide for another offset, but since the pin has to fit into a round hole, it is not possible, straight forward, to vary the arrangement of mounting through bonding, with the exception of the case in which more holes are provided in the block. Due to the fact that the pin is round, there is not provided any measure to prevent the pin from rotating and herby changing the offset. Whilst it is mentioned that one side (preferentially the lower side) is provided with oblong holes, that allow the pin to be rotated into different positions, the rotation and herby the pins capability to change offset is not constrained. By way of example it is not possible to make half bond or one-third bond pattern while constructing a non-offset wall. The curvature of the wall is also limited by the position of the holes and similar for the oblong recess on the lower side. The shape of the pin requires that at least one side (lower side or upper side) has to be designed with a hole for fixation of the pin. It is very difficult to provide through-going holes during the casting operation of the manufacturing of concrete retaining wall blocks and holes from beneath requires a particular type of form removal, which will lengthen the production time considerably.

[0019] US 5,044,834 discloses a system, in which the pin is locked to a fixed hole on the lower side and the top side respectively. It is not possible to enlarge the hole to a groove, due to the shape of the pin. The system does not allow the retaining walls to be adapted to either concave nor convex configurations. The pin is restricted to one particular offset that corresponds exactly to the block referred to. The pin does not allow for a zero-offset. It would be possible to use another pin allowing for a zero-offset, but there is no flexibility in the pin itself. However, as previously mentioned, it is difficult to make holes in concrete blocks. Holes from both sides are particular difficult to make and it requires a particular type of form removal operations and lengthened production machine cycle times. Hence the system is deficient in flexibility.

[0020] US 5,035,559 specifies a pin for fixation of different elements into a concrete surface, and the design provides for it being locked to a cylindrical hole in the concrete. Is does not specify any offset in the next layer, nor that it is usable for any secure attachment of retaining wall blocks. Even though it is possible to apply such a pin, it is restricted to permanent holes in the block and the offset could be made by casting different holes in the concrete blocks. But as previously mentioned, it is difficult to make holes in concrete blocks and especially holes from both sides are even more difficult to make and it requires a particular type of form removal operations and lengthened production machine cycle times. The system is deficient in flexibility.

[0021] US 2002/0001509 (originally a Chinese patent application) specifies a system, in which there are four through-going holes in each block. Each hole is on the top side a small square hole going through the block ending up in a, from below, square hole extending in such a manner that the, from above-being hole is in line with the rear edge of the large hole and the small hole straight in front of the large one. It is also specified that the lower holes can be shaped as a through-going groove and that the smaller top holes can be shaped as a not-through-going slot. The pin is shaped as a square stick adapted to fit a small square hole from above. This small stick extends into a block being offset in a manner providing for four offsets. It is difficult to produce the through-going holes/slot. The system does only secure a backward offset and accordingly it does solely prevent the block from skidding forward and hence the block may skid inwards, but only a certain distance depending on the orientation of the stick. The system is not very flexible, and it furthermore requires that the blocks are secured against being pushed inwards due to an action from the outside.
US 5,248,226 specifies a system with lock pins, which system comprises two cylindrical members each with separate axial offset parallel axis of centre. One of the cylindrical members is larger than the other. The document describes that the cylindrical members either can be round or square-shaped. The smallest member can be offset in such a way that it projects beyond the other member. The system does not solve the problem associated with the fixing of the lock pin in the groove in order to avoid the rotation of the round pins when the pins are positioned in order to vary the offset. Furthermore, the pins require different groove sizes at the top and lower sides of the blocks.

[0022] In the square configuration, in which rotation of the pin is prevented by locking, the offset can not be altered. The offset is restricted to the one selected from the beginning. If it has to be changed, it can only be performed by introducing a step between two blocks. It is not possible to angle one block arbitrarily relative to the subjacent block. It can only be angled 0 or 90 degrees.

[0023] In the round configuration, it is possible to angle one block arbitrarily relative to the subjacent block, however, there is no locking to prevent rotation of the pin, which is why a backwards (or from in front) push may cause the pin to rotate around its own axis. This could by way of example result from freeze-thaw action in winter conditions that could change the volume of the soil in response to the water expansion during freezing and water contraction during thaw or additional load owing to heavy rainfall etc.

[0024] By the invention is especially achieved that the lock pin, due to its shape may be arranged so that it enables the elements to be offset backwards or by rotating the pin a certain number of degrees depending of the numbers of sides in the polygon-pin about the vertical plane, that the elements can have different offset, and that the elements can be placed straight on top of each other.

[0025] Furthermore, it is achieved that the top and lower side of the elements have equally extending and sized groves, optionally along the entire length of the element. A longitudinal groove parallel to the front of the element is straightforward to create in a casting mould of a concrete block machine.

[0026] By the special shape of the lock pin comprising a polygon-shaped pin in one end and a cylindrical block in the other end, offset with respect to each other is achieved, that it is possible to rotate the elements relative to one another, whereby the elements can be adapted to fit a curvature. This smart effect is achieved by fixing the polygon-shaped member into the groove of one element and the cylindrical member in the groove of the other element, in which the locking solely applies to the forward and backward direction. The position of the lock pin along with the elements following a curve pattern determines how much it is possible to rotate/curve the elements without loosing the locking effect, and that the elements project beyond the subjacent element. The lock pin does only have an intended locking effect that prevents skidding of the wall. It does not have an intended locking effect along the wall.

[0027] The primary role of elements used as retaining wall members and edging of acreages is to prevent the material behind the wall from skidding. The longitudinal skidding is prevented due to the weight of the next element(s).

[0028] If it is desired to prevent skidding of adjacent elements in the same horizontal plane, typically edge elements, the elements can be provided with a vertical groove on the edge of the elements. In this instance the lock pins can be of slightly tapered construction in one or in both ends, such that they will wedge into the groove.

[0029] The lock pin may when required be shaped as one long lock pin extending to a part of or to the full height of the element. This lock pin can be provided with or without offset of the edge element.

[0030] In the case of one-layer edge elements such as kerbs, a small joint spacing is often desirable in order to protect the end edges of the edge element and a side offset of the elements is very seldom desired, which is why the lock pins can be cast-in/ embedded in a plate of joint material with the same cross section as the element, in a manner ensuring that it will become a combination of a lock pin and a joint plate.
As previously mentioned, the lock pin can extend to the length of the entire joint plate. In this case the height of the lock pin can be decreased, and accordingly the groove on the end of the elements can be less profound.

[0031] The pin can be produced in a wide variety of different moisture-proof materials, armoured or non-armoured. The only thing that one has to make sure is that the pin, in the case of a potential corrosive wearing-down, is secure from expanding and a resulting break of the elements.

Description of the Drawings

[0032] In the following the invention is describe briefly with reference to the drawings, where:

fig. 1

shows a sectional view of a retaining wall with lock pins,

fig. 2A

shows a lock pin with a cylindrical end and a four-sided polygon end,

fig. 2B

show a lock pin with a cylindrical end and an eight-sided polygon end,

fig. 2C

shows a sectional view of a lock pin showing the offset of the two ends of the pin,

fig. 3

shows a straight retaining wall,

fig. 4

shows a retaining wall following a curve pattern,

fig 5A

shows a edge element with lock pins placed in the groove,

fig. 5B

shows a edge element with lock pins be incorporated features of a joint plate pulled away from each other and

fig. 6

shows a part of a retaining wall, in which different offsets are used along the length of the wall.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0033] A typical sectional view of a retaining wall, where the lock pin 2 is placed between the retaining wall elements 10, and where the material 22 to be retained in position, is shown in fig. 1. The retained material 22 will due to its own weight exert a force 24 against the retaining wall. That explains why the retaining wall is required to prevent skidding of the elements. This can be achieved by placing the lock pin 2 in the groove 18 of the elements 10. The outwards-directed force 24 is smallest at the top and largest at the bottom.

[0034] Fig. 2A shows a lock pin 2 in an embodiment comprising a cylindrical body half 6 and a square body half 4.

[0035] Fig. 2B shows a lock pin 2 in an embodiment consisting of a cylindrical half body 6 and a eight-sided polygon half body 4.

[0036] Fig. 2C indicates the displacement 8 between the two body halfs of the lock pin. The displacement may range from zero to the length of the edge/the diameter of the body halfs. At zero it is not possible to establish any displacement between the groove in the subjacent element and the groove in the superjacent element. At the maximal displacement 8 it is not possible to transfer much transverse force. Typically the displacement 8 will correspond to half of the length of the edge/diameter. This would be a suitable compromise between displacement and ability to absorb transverse force.

[0037] The length of the edge/diameter of the lock pin 2 can be chosen, in such a way that an appropriate compromise between displacement, absorption of transverse force and the size of the elements is achieved.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows an example of how a straight retaining wall, in which the individual retaining wall elements 10 are bricked-up in a half bond pattern and the lock pins 2 are placed in the groove 18 between each layer of retaining wall elements.

[0039] Fig. 4 shows a retaining wall constituting a curve pattern. The lock pin 2 is placed down on the top of the single retaining wall elements 10 and end block element grooves 18. At the stage when end blocks 14 are applied, the end of the wall will appear without any visible groove 18. In the figure there is shown a top block 12, which finishes the wall upwards without any visible groove 18.

[0040] Fig. 5A shows the invention applied as an edging element 16, in which the lock pin 2 is fixed in the groove 18 by applying a lock pin 2 that is slightly tapered on either one or both sides of the cylindrical pins.

[0041] Fig. 5 illustrates the invention applied as an edging element 16, in which the lock element 2 is attached in a joint plate 20. By placing the lock pins in the joint plate in this manner, it is ensured that the lock pins are fixed into the desired position relative to the edging element.

[0042] Alternatively, the lock pin 2 can be extended along the entire height of the joint plate 20, by which the depth of the groove 18 and thus the height/thickness of the pin can be decreased.

[0043] Fig. 6 shows a cut-away of a retaining wall, in which different offsets 8 are used for the individual retaining wall elements 10, 12. This provides an opportunity for many artistically ways of decorating the surface of the wall. The shown cut-away of a retaining wall changes from being offset at each layer to not being offset at all, and in this way it is possible to form different effects along a long retaining wall. If no gaps/crannies 26 are desired between the elements 10, 12 when a curve pattern is provided, it is possible to shape the elements by cutting or breaking them. Alternatively, it is possible to cast the elements 10, 12 with a slight bevel corresponding to the desired curravature, as shown in fig. 4.

List of item numbers

[0044] 

2

Lock pin

4

Square body half

6

Cylindrical body half

8

Offset

10

Retaining wall element

12

Top element

14

End element

16

Edge element

18

Groove

20

Joint material with integrated lock pin

22

Material to be retained, typically soil

24

Outwards-directed force originating from the material to be retained

26

Gaps/crannies between elements

Claims

1. Lock pin for providing relative fixation of two elements, in particular retaining wall members, kerbs and the like, wherein the lock pin comprises two cylindrical members, each with separate parallel axis of centre, characterized in that said axes are axially offset, where the first member has a circular cross section and the second member has a polygon-shaped cross section.

2. Lock pin according to claim 1, characterized in that the axially offset range between 0 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 40 mm, and particular preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm.

3. Lock pin according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the diameter of the circular member range between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 40 mm, and particular preferably between 20 mm and 35 mm.

4. Lock pin according one or more of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the polygon-shaped member has a largest dimension perpendicular to the axis of centre ranging between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 15 mm, and 40 mm and particular preferably between 20 mm and 35 mm.

5. Lock pin according to one or more of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that axial length of the first cylindrical member and/or the other cylindrical member range between 5 mm and 60 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 40 mm, and particular preferably between 20 mm and 35 mm.

6. Lock pin according to one or more of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cylindrical ends are tapered, in such a manner that one or both of the cylindrical members, on which the projecting end/ends are between 0 mm and 5 mm less, preferably between 0 mm and 2 mm less, and particular preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm less.

7. Lock pin according to one or more of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lock pin is manufactured in on of the following materials: polymer material; ceramics; stainless steel; glass or fibre-reinforced cement-based material.

8. Lock pin according to one or more of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the polygon-shaped member has 3 to 10 sides, preferably 4 to 8 sides, and particular preferably 4 to 8 sides.

9. Lock pin according to one or more of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lock pin is fixed in a joint material.

10. Lock pin according to one or more of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lock pin is an integral part of the joint material.

11. Retaining wall composed of a number of layers stacked atop of each other, where each layer comprises a row of, basically, identical retaining wall blocks, which blocks are installed with a groove in the top side and in the lower side, where the groove s are provided in parallel to the front side of the retaining wall block, and where lock pins according to one ore more of the claims 1 to 8 are provided in between two layers.

12. Edging composed of a number of elements arranged next to each other, where the edging comprises a row of, basically, identical edging elements, which elements are installed with a groove in both ends of the element, where the groove s are provided vertically and not necessarily along the entire height of the element, and where lock pins according to one ore more of the claims 9 to 10 are provided in between two edge elements.

Ansprüche

1. Sperrzapfen zur relativen Befestigung zweier Elemente, insbesondere Stützmauerelemente, Bordsteine u.dgl., wobei der Sperrzapfen zwei zylindrische Glieder umfasst, die jeweils getrennte, parallele Mittelachsen aufweisen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Achsen achsial versetzt sind, wobei das erste Glied einen kreisförmigen Querschnitt aufweist, und das zweite Glied einen polygonalen Querschnitt aufweist.

2. Sperrzapfen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Achsialversetzung 0 mm bis 50 mm, bevorzugt 10 mm bis 40 mm und besonders bevorzugt 10 mm bis 15 mm beträgt.

3. Sperrzapfen nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Durchmesser des kreisförmigen Gliedes 10 mm bis 50 mm, bevorzugt 15 mm bis 40 mm und besonders bevorzugt 20 mm bis 35 mm beträgt.

4. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die größte Dimension des polygonalen Gliedes senkrecht auf der Mittelachse steht und 10 mm bis 50 mm beträgt, bevorzugt 15 mm bis 40 mm und besonders bevorzugt 20 mm bis 35 mm.

5. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die achsiale Länge des ersten zylindrischen Gliedes und/oder des zweiten zylindrischen Gliedes 5 mm bis 60 mm, bevorzugt 10 bis 40 mm und besonders bevorzugt 20 mm bis 35 mm beträgt.

6. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zylindrischen Enden sich verjüngen, so dass ein zylindrisches Glied/beide zylindrischen Glieder, dessen/deren Ende/n 0 mm bis 5 mm, bevorzugt 0 mm bis 2 mm und besonders bevorzugt 1 mm bis 2 mm kleiner ist/sind.

7. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Sperrzapfen aus einem der folgenden Werkstoffen hergestellt ist: polymerer Werkstoff; keramischer Werkstoff; rostfreier Stahl; glasfaser- oder faserverstärkter, zementbasierter Werkstoff.

8. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das polygonale Glied drei bis 10 Seiten, bevorzugt vier bis acht Seiten und besonders bevorzugt vier bis acht Seiten aufweist.

9. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Sperrzapfen in einem Fugenmaterial befestigt ist.

10. Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Sperrzapfen ein integrierter Teil des Fugenmaterials ist.

11. Aus einer Vielzahl von aufeinander gestapelten Schichten bestehender Stützmauer, wobei jede Schicht eine Reihe von grundsätzlich identischen Stützmauerblöcken umfasst, wobei die Blöcke eine Nute in der Oberseite und in der Unterseite aufweisen, wobei die Nuten parallel mit der Vorderseite des Stützmauerblocks verlaufen, und wobei die Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 8 zwischen zwei Schichten angeordnet sind.

12. Bekantung aus einer Vielzahl von benachbart angeordneten Elementen, wobei die Bekantung eine Reihe von grundsätzlich identischen Bekantungselementen umfasst, wobei die Elemente eine Nute in beiden Enden des Elements aufweisen, wobei die Nuten senkrecht und nicht notwendigerweise die ganze Länge des Elements entlang angeordnet sind, und wobei Sperrzapfen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 9 bis 10 zwischen zwei Bekantungselementen angeordnet sind.

Revendications

1. Goupille de blocage assurant la fixation relative de deux éléments, en particulier les organes de parois de retenue, les bordures et autres, dans lesquelles la goupille de blocage comprend deux éléments cylindriques, chacun ayant un axe central séparé et parallèle, caractérisée en ce que lesdits axes sont décalés axialement, le premier élément présente une section circulaire et le deuxième élément présente une section en forme de polygone.

2. Goupille de blocage selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le décalage axial est d'entre 0 mm et 50 mm, de préférence entre 10 mm et 40 mm, et en particulier de préférence entre 10 mm et 15 mm.

3. Goupille de blocage selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le diamètre de l'élément circulaire se situe entre 10 mm et 50 mm, de préférence entre 15 mm et 40 mm, et en particulier de préférence entre 20 mm et 35 mm.

4. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que l'élément en forme de polygone présente une dimension maximale perpendiculaire à l'axe centrale se situant entre 10 mm et 50 mm, de préférence entre 15 mm et 40 mm, et en particulier de préférence entre 20 mm et 35 mm.

5. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que la longueur axiale du premier élément cylindrique et/ou de l'autre élément cylindrique se situe(nt) entre 5 mm et 60 mm, de préférence entre 10 mm et 40 mm, et en particulier de préférence entre 20 mm et 35 mm.

6. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que les extrémités cylindriques sont coniques de telle manière qu'un ou les deux éléments cylindriques, sur lesquels la/les extrémité(s) saillante(s) est/sont comprise(s) entre 0 mm et 5 mm de moins, de préférence entre 0 mm et 2 mm de moins, et en particulier de préférence entre 1 mm et 2 mm de moins.

7. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce que la goupille de blocage est fabriquée avec les matériaux suivants : la polymère, la céramique, l'acier inoxydable, le matériau à base de ciment renforcé de fibres ou de fibres de verre.

8. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce que l'élément en forme de polygone comporte 3 à 10 côtés, de préférence 4 à 8 côtés, et en particulier de préférence 4 à 8 côtés.

9. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce que la goupille de blocage est fixée dans un produit de scellement.

10. Goupille de blocage selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisée en ce que la goupille de blocage fait partie intégrante du produit de scellement :

11. Paroi de retenue composée d'un nombre de couches empilées les unes sur les autres, chaque couche comprend une rangée de blocs, en principe, identiques pour la paroi de retenue, les blocs sont pourvus d'une rainure sur la partie supérieure et la partie inférieure, les rainures sont réalisées en parallèle avec la face avant du bloc pour la paroi de retenue, et des goupilles de blocage sont réalisées entre deux couches selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 8.

12. Bordure composée d'un nombre d'éléments disposés les uns à côté des autres, la bordure comprend une rangée d'éléments de bordure, en principe, identiques, les éléments sont pourvus d'une rainure à chaque extrémité de l'élément, les rainures sont réalisées verticalement et pas nécessairement sur toute la hauteur de l'élément, et les goupilles de blocage sont réalisées entre deux éléments de bordure selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 9 à 10.

Drawing