EROSION-CONTROL STRUCTURES MADE WITH ATTACHED SANDBAGS
An erosion-control element for making erosion-control structures comprises a plurality of sandbags attached together by closed-loop attachment members which extend through holes positioned near the bag edges and not connected to the fill-holding chamber in the bag. The erosion-control elements can be used to form structures for protecting underwater shorelines or other ground subject to water erosion.
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The invention pertains to the art of erosion control. In particular, it pertains to erosion-control elements and structures which include attached sandbags and are suitable for use along shorelines and on sloping ground, including underwater uses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONErosion-control structures are commonly constructed using poured concrete or blocks that are affixed together with concrete. For underwater erosion-control applications, permanent rock covers such as riprap and gabions are used on streambanks and other shoreline areas. All such structures are costly to construct in view of the materials and labour required.
A recent development that has been made in the art of erosion control is to provide construction elements made of sandbags connected together with cords. Such erosion-control elements can be positioned on underwater shoreline areas. WO 2007/028228 A1 (Kim) published Mar. 15, 2007, discloses such a structure, which can be used in place of riprap, gabions and similar structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides an erosion-control element comprising a plurality of sandbags. Each sandbag has a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing fill material, and has a hole extending through the bag wall, the hole being unconnected to the chamber. A bag attachment member extends through the holes forming a closed loop and attaching the sandbags together.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a structure for protecting a ground area, including an underwater shoreline area, from erosion, comprising a plurality of erosion-control elements assembled together, each of the erosion-control elements comprising a plurality of attached sandbags.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a bag for containing a fill material, the bag comprising a flexible bag wall forming a chamber for containing the fill material, a sealable opening for insertion of the fill material into the chamber, and a hole adjacent to an edge of the bag extending through the bag wall for receiving a bag attachment member, the hole being unconnected to the chamber.
These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings of the preferred embodiments.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
In the following description and the drawings, corresponding and like parts are referred to by the same reference characters.
Referring to
The bag 12 has holes 20 in the walls 14 thereof. Each hole 20 is ringed by a grommet 28. In the illustrated embodiment of the bag, two holes 20 are provided, adjacent to an edge of the bag, one in each bottom corner. More or fewer holes 20 may be provided in the bag, and at other positions, such as at the midpoint of a side edge. Since the grommet 28 forms the walls of the hole 20, and extends through two thicknesses of the bag wall 14, i.e. the front side and the back side of the bag, the holes 20 extend through the bag walls 14 without connecting with the chamber 18, as best seen in
Referring next to
In the erosion-control element 10 shown in
Optionally, the fill material in the bags 12 include seeds, and vegetation may be grown on the sandbags prior to use, for some applications.
While exemplary embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize that certain modifications thereof may be made. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims are interpreted to include all such modifications, as are within their true scope.
Claims
1. A bag for containing a fill material comprising:
- (a) a flexible bag wall forming a chamber for containing said fill material;
- (b) a sealable opening for insertion of said fill material into said chamber; and
- (c) a hole adjacent to an edge of said bag extending through said bag wall for receiving a bag attachment member, said hole being unconnected to said chamber.
2. An erosion-control element comprising:
- (a) a plurality of sandbags, each said sandbag having a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing a fill material, and a hole extending through said bag wall, said hole being unconnected to said chamber; and
- (b) a bag attachment member extending through said holes forming a closed loop and attaching said sandbags together.
3. An erosion-control element comprising:
- (a) at least three sandbags comprising first, second and third said sandbags, each said sandbag having a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing a fill material, and a hole extending through said bag wall, said hole being unconnected to said chamber, said first sandbag having at least two said holes spaced apart from each other;
- (b) a first bag attachment member extending through a first said hole in said first sandbag and through said hole in said second sandbag, forming a closed loop and attaching said first and second sandbags together; and
- (c) a second bag attachment member extending through a second said hole in said first sandbag and through said hole in said third sandbag, forming a closed loop and attaching said first and third sandbags together.
4. An erosion-control element comprising:
- (a) a plurality of sandbags, each said bag having a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing a fill material, and a hole extending through said bag wall, said hole being unconnected to said chamber; and
- (b) each of said holes having a respective bag attachment member extending therethrough and forming a closed loop; and
- (c) a connector for connecting said bag attachment members together.
5. An erosion-control element according to claim 2, wherein said hole is adjacent to an edge of said bag.
6. An erosion-control element according to claim 3, wherein said hole is adjacent to an edge of said bag.
7. An erosion-control element according to claim 4, wherein said hole is adjacent to an edge of said bag.
8. An erosion-control element according to claim 2, wherein said attachment member is a cable tie.
9. An erosion-control element according to claim 2, in combination with one or more other said erosion control members to form a structure for protecting a ground area from erosion.
10. An erosion-control element according to claim 3, in combination with one or more other said erosion control members to form a structure for protecting a ground area from erosion.
11. An erosion-control element according to claim 4, in combination with one or more other said erosion control members to form a structure for protecting a ground area from erosion.
12. An erosion-control element according to claim 9, wherein said ground area is an underwater shoreline area.
13. An erosion-control element according to claim 10, wherein said ground area is an underwater shoreline area.
14. An erosion-control element according to claim 11, wherein said ground area is an underwater shoreline area.
15. An erosion-control element according to claim 9, wherein said ground area is an above-water sloping area.
16. An erosion-control element according to claim 9, wherein said combination of erosion control members is anchored to said ground area.
17. An erosion-control element according to claim 10, wherein said combination of erosion control members is anchored to said ground area.
18. An erosion-control element according to claim 11, wherein said combination of erosion control members is anchored to said ground area.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 26, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 2, 2009
Applicants: DELTALOK INC. (North Vancouver, BC), VERSA-LOK ASIA INC. (Singapore)
Inventor: Hun S. Kim (Vancouver)
Application Number: 12/239,543
International Classification: E02B 3/04 (20060101); B65D 33/16 (20060101);