# US 12,760,488 B2 · Woven geotextile silt fence with stabilizing features for trench or trenchless installations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,488 B2 - Document ID: US12760488B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/899,476 - Filed: 2024-09-27 - Published: 2025-03-27 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-27 - Assignees: Blurock Investments, LLC - Applicants: Blurock Investments, LLC - Inventors: Michael A. Zock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760488B2 ## CPC - E02D 17/202: {with flexible securing means} - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} ## Abstract A silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control includes plurality of spaced wooded or metal stakes; a woven geotextile silt fence fabric comprising one of i) polyester yarn with a PVC coating or ii) high tenacity polypropylene yarn; and at least one stabilizing feature in the form of at least one of i) a top drawstring coupled to a top edge of the woven geotextile silt fence fabric and ii) stabilizing fins coupled to at least some of the stakes. A trenchless method of installing the silt fence comprises: providing a silt fence bundle comprising a plurality of spaced stakes and a geotextile silt fence fabric coupled to the stakes and including an integral ground engaging apron; driving the plurality of spaced stakes into the ground until the integral ground engaging apron is flush with the ground; and staking the ground engaging apron to the ground with staking elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control, the silt fence comprising: a) a plurality of spaced wooden or metal stakes b) a single layer woven geotextile silt fence fabric having a Mullen burst strength of at least 400 PSI, having a trapezoidal tear strength of at least 50 LBS×at least 50 LBS, having an apparent size opening of at least 40 US Std Sieve, and having a tensile strength of at least 200 LBS, the single layer woven geotextile silt fence fabric comprising one of i) woven polyester yarn with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating or ii) high tenacity polypropylene yarn which is 60 to 85 CN/tex; and c) at least one stabilizing feature in the form of at least one of i) a top drawstring coupled to a top edge of the woven geotextile silt fence fabric or ii) stabilizing fins coupled to at least some of the stakes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 1, wherein the woven geotextile silt fence fabric comprises multifilament polyester yarn with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 2, wherein the multifilament polyester yarns are woven in a conventional fashion and then coated with the PVC coating leaving mesh openings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 3, wherein the single layer woven geotextile silt fence fabric is 10 oz coated mesh. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 4, wherein the stabilizing features includes a top drawstring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 3, wherein the stabilizing features includes the top drawstring coupled to the woven geotextile silt fence fabric. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 6, wherein the top drawstring is coupled to the woven geotextile silt fence fabric via a coupling strip folded over the top of the woven geotextile silt fence fabric creating a tubular passageway containing the drawstring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 1, wherein the woven geotextile silt fence fabric comprises high tenacity polypropylene yarn which is 60 to 85 CN/tex. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 8, wherein the stabilizing features includes stabilizing fins with bury depth indicator. ### Claim 10 A method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control comprising the steps of: providing a single layer geotextile silt fence fabric coupled to a plurality of stakes, the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric having a Mullen burst strength of at least 400 PSI, having a trapezoidal tear strength of at least 50 LBS×at least 50 LBS, having an apparent size opening of at least 40 US Std Sieve, and having a tensile strength of at least 200 LBS, and with a plurality of stakes including trench engaging stabilizing fins, and each stabilizing fin including a bury depth indicator; digging a trench that is deeper than a length of the trench engaging fins; placing the silt fence with the trench engaging stabilizing fins within the trench to the height of the bury depth indicator; filling the trench to install the silt fence. ### Claim 11 A trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control, comprising the steps of: providing a silt fence bundle comprising a plurality of spaced wooded or metal stakes and a single layer geotextile silt fence fabric coupled to the spaced wooded or metal stakes and including an integral ground engaging apron formed by the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric, the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric having a Mullen burst strength of at least 400 PSI, having a trapezoidal tear strength of at least 50 LBS×at least 50 LBS, having an apparent size opening of at least 40 US Std Sieve, and having a tensile strength of at least 200 LBS; driving the plurality of spaced wooded or metal stakes into the ground until the integral ground engaging apron formed by the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric is flush with the ground; and staking the ground engaging apron to the ground with staking elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 11, wherein the staking elements include staples. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 11, wherein the staples include a row of staples at a leading end of the apron located at a distal end of the fabric. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 13, wherein the staples include a groupings of staples at a trailing end of the apron. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 14, wherein the geotextile silt fence fabric comprises a woven multifilament polyester yarn with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 15, wherein the woven geotextile silt fence fabric is 10 oz coated mesh. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 16, wherein the fence includes a top drawstring coupled to the woven geotextile silt fence fabric. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 17, wherein the top drawstring is coupled to the woven geotextile silt fence fabric via a coupling strip folded over the top of the woven geotextile silt fence fabric creating a tubular passageway containing the drawstring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 14, wherein the woven geotextile silt fence fabric comprises high tenacity polypropylene yarn. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of the stakes include stabilizing fins.