THOMAS TAYLOR
Electrician at Trinity Hl Ln, Euless, TX

5975810, Nov 2, 1999

Apr 1, 1998

9/053363

Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX
William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX

E02D 2902, E02D 302

405262

A flexible plastic soil reinforcing element is secured to the retaining face for an earthen formation by folding an end portion of the element upon itself and then securing the end portion to the face. An anchor extends rearwardly from the face and a retaining rod is engaged with the end portion of the soil reinforcing element and the anchor to secure the reinforcing element against separation from the anchor. In one embodiment, the end portion of the reinforcing element is folded upon itself multiple times to increase the shear strength of the element to either side of the anchor. In another the end portion of the reinforcing element is folded back over the reinforcing element for embedment in the earthen formation.

5702208, Dec 30, 1997

Jan 16, 1996

8/585568

William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX
Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX

E02B 312

405258

Concrete blocks are formed with intersecting grooves in the underside thereof which assume aligned condition when the blocks are assembled into side by side relationship to form panels. Polymer or welded wire grids are received within the aligned grooves to hold the blocks in the panel configuration. The grids are held in elevated seated condition within the grooves during assembly of the blocks into the panel configuration. Stands or wire connectors may be provided for the latter purpose. In the preferred embodiment the blocks are L-shaped and formed with passages extending therethrough and the grooves intersect these passages. Grout or fill may be placed within the passages of the assembled panels. In certain embodiments, the blocks may be disposed in side-by-side relationship and stacked to form retaining walls for earthen formations, with rods received within the grooves of the blocks to hold the blocks in alignment and the grids extending from the blocks to serve as soil reinforcements.

5733072, Mar 31, 1998

Jul 31, 1996

8/690005

William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX
Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX

E02D 1720

405284

A wire mat for a retaining wall structure has a unique prong portion extending upwardly from a vertical face. The prong portion has a series of bends in its middle that extend over a lower portion of a similar wire mat located immediately above such that the series of bends interleaves with longitudinal members of the wire mat above. In a preferred embodiment one or more connecting pins are inserted between the prong portion and the longitudinal members of the mat above.

6024516, Feb 15, 2000

Aug 5, 1997

8/906048

Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX
William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX

E02D 2902

405262

Adjustable connections are provided to enable facing to be secured to anchor elements embedded in an earthen formation, without requiring precise alignment of the anchor elements with connectors on the facing. In one embodiment specially configured bars engage and span the connectors on the facing for rotation relative to the connectors and slotted plates are carried by the bars for connection to the anchor elements. In another embodiment a channel structure is secured to and extends across the facing and a plate assembly having a slot therein for receipt of the anchor elements is slidably received within the channel structure. The anchor elements may comprise bolts secured to a cross-member extending behind soil reinforcing mats embedded within the earthen formation being retained.

5484235, Jan 16, 1996

Jun 2, 1994

8/252738

William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX
Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX

E02D 2902

405284

A retaining wall system including a wall portion interconnected with welded wire mat and secured in position is disclosed. The wall may be composed of a plurality of modular blocks, preferably made of concrete, having grooves into which individual wires of the welded wire mat are placed. Examples of modular blocks disclosed are concrete S, T and J-blocks. Alternately, the wall may be a concrete panel. One embodiment of the present invention employs a concrete shaft placed into the soil behind the wall and to which the welded wire mats are secured to hold the wall in place.

2002004, Apr 18, 2002

Oct 12, 2001

09/976497

Thomas Taylor - Euless TX, US
William Hilfiker - Eureka CA, US
James Bagwell - Arlington TX, US

E21D020/00

405/259100

A connection for securing the longitudinal wires of a soil reinforcing mat to a face element for an earthen formation is provided by converging the lead ends of the wires toward one another and forming aligned coils distally on the lead ends. A pin extending through the coils secures the soil-reinforcing mat to the face element for pivotal movement relative thereto in a horizontal plane. A variety of means are provided to secure the coils against unwinding in response to tension force applied to the wires.

5975809, Nov 2, 1999

Nov 7, 1997

8/966282

Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX
William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX

E02D 2900, E02D 302

405262

A soil reinforced structure comprised of superimposed courses of concrete blocks, at least some of which have rearward portions separable therefrom. Longitudinally extending soil reinforcing members extend around the separable rearward portions and are captured between the courses of blocks thereabove and therebelow. In one embodiment the blocks have bifurcated forward portions about which a cast in place concrete face may be formed. Another embodiment disposes courses of the blocks in opposed spaced relationship and extends the soil reinforcing members between the blocks to form a earthen fortress.

5820305, Oct 13, 1998

Jun 13, 1997

8/874361

Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX
William K. Hilfiker - Grapevine TX

E02D 2902

405286

A precast concrete block having a first single thickness generally planar face section and a second single thickness generally planar backing section integrally formed with and extending from the first section to form a structure of a T-shaped configuration. A groove extends across and opens through an upper edge of the second planar section for the receipt of a rebar. The blocks are assembled into stacked side-by-side relationship and a panel is formed by casting concrete against the side of the generally planar face sections from which the backing sections extend. Rebar extends across and through the grooves of at least certain of the blocks to maintain the blocks in aligned side-by-side relationship and reinforce the concrete cast against the blocks. The panels are used in the construction of retaining walls for earthen formations and may be precast or formed in place at the situs of the formations. When used in the construction of retaining walls, vertical rebars extend into the cast concrete from a foundation supporting the panels and connectors may be provided to secure the panels to anchor elements within the earthen formation.

5749680, May 12, 1998

Nov 5, 1996

8/743191

William K. Hilfiker - Grepevine TX
Thomas P. Taylor - Euless TX

E02D 2902

405262

A soil reinforced retaining wall includes a soil reinforcing mat connected to a face panel. The face panel is vertically disposed with a back facing the earthen formation and is preformed to include an anchor embedded in the face panel and extending from the back in at least one predetermined location. The soil reinforcing mats are horizontally disposed within the earthen formation in general correspondence with the predetermined location. The mats have an end adjacent the face panel folded to form substantially a right angle portion of the mat including a vertical face and a horizontal face. A right angle member having a vertical face and a horizontal face is disposed in contact with the corresponding vertical face and horizontal face of the right angle portion of the mat. The right angle member is then secured to the anchor such that the right angle portion of the mat is rigidly held therebetween.