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US 6,685,391 B1Granted
Ground surface cover system with flexible interlocking joint for erosion control
AssigneeAckerstein Industries Ltd.
InventorArgaman Gideon
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAckerstein Industries Ltd.
InventorArgaman Gideon
Estimating the term…
A flexible interlocking element (10) having opposing, interlocking ends (12, 14). Element end (12), features a contour, including element top surface segment (16), extending to bend (18), then defining a tongue element (34) extending downwardly along an incline (19), to inverted bend (20), which defines a tongue side (60) having a tangent (62). The contour of the tongue, further extending downward and around to bend (22), which defines a tongue tip (58). The tongue tip (58) having a bottom (54) with a tangent (56). The tongue further extending upward along incline (26), then further extending horizontally to bend (28), then further extending vertically downward to bend (30). Bend (30) defines the lower edge of bottom surface segment (32). Element end (14) features a contour including element top surface segment (36) extending horizontally to bend (38). A channel (52) is then defined by forming a side face of the element (14) to include, an upwardly extending bend (43), which further extends upward and around to bend (44), then downwardly along an incline to bend (46), which further extends vertically downward to bend (48), which defines the edge of a bottom surface segment (50).
A ground surface cover system for use in controlling erosion caused by water upon a ground surface, the ground surface cover comprising at least one layer upon the ground surface of a plurality of interlocking elements, wherein opposing ends of a pair of opposing said interlocking elements are flexibly interlocked by a flexible interlocking joint, said flexible interlocking joint defining mechanical engagement of an interlocking element tongue transversely extending outward from one said opposing end of a first said interlocking element of said pair to an interlocking channel transversely extending outward from one said opposing end of a second said interlocking element of said pair, such that engagement and disengagement of said tongue and said channel is limited to a first range of positions and angles of said tongue relative to said channel, wherein said first range of positions and angles is less than, and falls within, a full range of positions and angles available to said tongue relative to said channel while said tongue is engaged in said channel.
A method of controlling erosion caused by water upon a ground surface, the method comprising the steps of:
A flexible interlocking joint of interlocking elements for use in a ground surface cover for controlling erosion caused by water upon a ground surface, the flexible interlocking joint comprising an interlocking element tongue transversely extending outward from one opposing end of a first interlocking of a pair of the interlocking elements mechanically engaged to an interlocking element channel transversely extending outward from one opposing end of a second interlocking element of said pair of the interlocking elements, such that engagement and disengagement of said tongue and said channel is limited to a first range of positions and angles of said tongue relative to said channel, wherein said first range of positions and angles is less than, and falls within, a full range of positions and angles available to said tongue relative to said channel while said tongue is engaged in said channel.
A ground surface cover system for use in controlling erosion caused by water upon a ground surface, the ground surface cover comprising at least one layer upon the ground surface of a plurality of interlocking elements, wherein opposing ends of a pair of opposing said interlocking elements are flexibly interlocked by a flexible interlocking joint, said flexible interlocking joint defining mechanical engagement of an interlocking element tongue transversely extending outward from one said opposing end of a first said interlocking element of said pair to an interlocking channel transversely extending outward from one said opposing end of a second said interlocking element of said pair, such that engagement and disengagement of said tongue and said channel is limited to a first range of positions and angles of said tongue relative to said channel, wherein said first range of positions and angles is less than, and falls within, a full range of positions and angles available to said tongue relative to said channel while said tongue is engaged in said channel, and wherein at least one of said plurality of said interlocking elements features a pin groove extending vertically along element height along at least one side of said interlocking element, said pin groove configured for vertical placement of a pin along said element height along side at least one side of said interlocking element and into the ground.
A method of controlling erosion caused by water upon a ground surface, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.