1. A method for creating a retaining wall block assembly, comprising:
casting a connection member in a predetermined shape by first configuring a strengthening member in a predetermined shape and subsequently casting concrete around the strengthening member, wherein the resulting connection member has an engaging structure at one end thereof;
allowing the connection member to harden to allow handling of the connection member without damaging the structure thereof;
forming a block portion of the retaining wall assembly by filling a block form with a desired amount of concrete, thereby filling the form to a desired level;
positioning and holding the prefabricated connection member in an appropriate orientation wherein the engaging structure is submerged in the concrete of the block portion and a further portion of the connection member extends away from the block portion; and
allowing the block portion to cure thus causing the connection member to be coupled to the block portion.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection member is formed in a substantially u-shaped configuration.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the substantially u-shaped configuration of the connection member includes a u-shaped concrete portion having an end portion of the strengthening member extending from the concrete portion.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the end portions of the strengthening members form an engaging structure by being bent at a predetermined angle thus creating a physical interference with the cured concrete when formed.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the connection member has an outer surface which is concrete and includes an engaging structure formed at end portions of the u-shaped configuration which are specifically configured to create a physical interference when the concrete of the block portion is formed around the engaging structure.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the connection member is formed by first forming the strengthening member and casting the concrete portion of the casting member to completely encase the strengthening member.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein the u-shaped member forms a handle portion on an outer surface of the block portion.
8. The method of claim 2 wherein the connection member is formed to have a substantially smooth outer surface.
9. The method of claim 2 wherein the connection member is formed by further forming a second strengthening member and casting the connection member around the strengthening member and the second strengthening member.
10. A block assembly for use in the formation of retaining walls, comprising:
a substantially solid block portion having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; and
a connection member extending from the rear surface of the block portion, the connection member including an internal strengthening member and an outer concrete portion forming a relatively smooth outer surface, wherein the internal strengthening member further extends into the solid block portion beyond rear surface thus forming a physical connection; and wherein the connection member and the rear surface form an unobstructed connection slot capable of accommodating the attachment of other components to the block assembly.
11. The block assembly of claim 10 wherein the portion of the strengthening member extending into the substantially solid block portion below the rear surface is non-linear.
12. The block assembly of claim 11 wherein the connection member further comprises a second parallel strengthening member situated substantially parallel to the strengthening member and also having a non-linear portion.
13. The block assembly of claim 11 wherein the strengthening member is formed of steel reinforcing bar stock.
14. The block assembly of claim 11 wherein the strengthening member is formed of composite materials.
15. The block assembly of claim 11 wherein the substantially solid block portion is formed of concrete, and a connection formed between the substantially solid block portion and the strengthening member is made possible by inserting the strengthening member into the substantially solid block portion as the concrete is cured.
16. The block assembly of claim 10 wherein the connection member is prefabricated prior to the formation of the block assembly, and wherein the connection member is substantially unshaped having a main base portion and two leg portions extending from the base portion, wherein a connection slot is formed between the base portion, the two leg portions and the rear surface of the solid block portion.
17. The block assembly of claim 10 wherein the wherein the internal strengthening member is encased in concrete with the encasement formed from an irregular shape and wherein the irregular shape is further extends into the solid block portion beyond rear surface and is thus encased in the concrete of the main block portion thereby forming a physical connection between the main block portion and the connection member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An inkjet printhead comprising at least one ink supply channel and a plurality of inkjet nozzle arrangements arranged on the ink supply channel, each nozzle arrangement comprising:
a chamber having an ink inlet and a plurality of ink ejection ports, the chamber and ink supply channel being in fluid communication via the ink inlet; and
a movable actuator arranged to selectively cause ejection of ink from any one of the ejection ports while causing an inflow of ink from the ink supply channel into the chamber via the ink inlet.
2. A printhead according to claim 1, wherein each movable actuator incorporates a thermal bend actuator arranged within the associated chamber, the thermal bend actuator being configured to undergo movement due to thermal expansion.
3. A printhead according to claim 2, wherein each thermal bend actuator has a beam supporting a paddle, the beam and paddle being arranged so that movement of the paddle from a quiescent position towards one of the ejection ports causes the ejection of ink through that ejection port.
4. A printhead according to claim 3, wherein the beam has a plurality of parallel co-extensive resistor elements arranged so that differential energization of the resistor elements creates differential thermal expansion of the beam which causes the movement of the paddle from the quiescent position.
5. A printhead according to claim 4, wherein the beam further has a core extending centrally of the resistor elements, the core being formed of material that substantially thermally insulates each of the resistor elements from one another.
6. A printhead according to claim 5, wherein the material of the core is glass and a material of each of the resistor elements is a copper nickel based alloy.
7. A printhead according to claim 5, wherein the chamber has two ink ejection ports and the thermal bend actuator has two resistor elements on opposing sides of the core such that the paddle can be selectively moved in two opposing direction from the quiescent position.