NZ539114A - A matting peg - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting, consisting of a peg and washer. The peg has a shaft with a head on one end, the shaft having at least one fin along an edge. The washer is a sliding fit on the shaft, with each fin provided against a hole in the washer. In use, when the peg is driven into the ground the washer will eventually contact and be in juxtaposition with the head of the peg and the surface of the ground and erosion matting.

Description

539114 Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 0 3 MAR 2006 received Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 No. 539114 Date: 30 March 2005 Complete Specification A MATTING PEG AND ITS METHOD OF USE We, LUDOWICI PLASTICS LIMITED of 18 Sonter Road, Sockburn, Christchurch, New Zealand, a New Zealand company do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 A Matting Peg And Its Method of Use Field of the Invention The invention relates to a peg for use with erosion matting and its method of use.

Background to the Invention In the past a number of different constructions of erosion mat have been used to guard soil and the like against erosion by wind, rain and other adverse climatic conditions. The erosion mats have been manufactured from a variety of synthetic and natural materials and normally the mats are woven or not a complete film so that plants can grow therethrough. The mats are generally water pervious. In use fasteners, pegs or pins have been used to at least initially hold the mats in place while vegetation grows through the mat and the mat material consolidates the landscape against erosion. One such known example of fastener is the staple described in US Patent specification no. 6835027. The number and form of fasteners currently used are to numerous to describe in detail.

A known problem with existing metallic pegs is that they do not degrade and therefore remain, essentially, intact for scores of years. This can cause problems some years after their job is completed, i.e. the soil has stabilised, if the area is used for any type of recreation. Pegs have been known to thrust upwards due to soil consolidation and exposed ends have weathered and broken, creating potentially harmful projections.

The applicant understands there is now legislation in some countries which calls for degradable pegs to be used in a number of specified situations (locations).

Known current problems with biodegradable single piece pegs is that their heads shatter easily during installation and that material choice is a compromise between material toughness (to withstand being hammered into position) and degradation life-span.

Additionally pegs with heads as large as those preferred for superior mat retention (35mm or larger) are not easily packaged and transported to remote installation sites without creating too much bulk.

An object of the invention is to provide a matting peg and its method of use which offers a useful alternative choice at the same time as overcoming disadvantages inherent in know fixing means for erosion matting.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting, the construction including a peg and washer, the peg having a shaft with a head at one end and point at its other end, the shaft having at least one fin along an edge thereof, the washer being slidingly fitted on the shaft with each fin located in a space provided adjacent a hole in the washer, the washer and/or peg being adapted so that when the washer and peg are fitted together they are retained together with the washer being located on the shaft and being capable of sliding along the shaft to abut the head of the shaft, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the peg is driven into the ground the washer will eventually contact and be in juxtaposition with the head of the peg and the surface of the ground and erosion matting.

The outside diameter size of washer can be varied to suit the type of matting with which it is to be used.

The shaft of the peg preferably has two fins one on each side thereof. Each of the fins can have a highpoint opposite each other and spaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the highpoints acting to capture and retain the washer on the peg as a flange of the washer frictionally clicks over the highpoint(s).

The peg and washer can be manufactured from the same or different materials. The materials from which the peg and washer are manufactured are selected to biodegrade for example under the action of at least one of ultraviolet light, soil bacteria or water.

The washer can be tailored to degrade faster than the peg.

The composition of either or both the peg and washer can be tailored to suit particular geographical conditions.

The two piece construction of the peg and washer aids in packaging and transportation of the product.

The peg can have a length of between 220 and 250 mm and the washer can have an outside diameter of 35mm or larger.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for retaining erosion matting in place, the method including using a two piece construction peg as hereinbefore described, the washer and peg when fitted together are driven into the ground through an erosion matting until the washer contacts and is in juxtaposition with the head of the peg and the surface of the ground and erosion matting to thereby retain the matting in place on the ground.

Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Description of the Drawing Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of matting peg and washer according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second example of matting peg according to the invention.

Description of the Examples Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing. In the drawing similar parts of the two examples will be referenced by the same numerals.

In Figure 1 is shown a perspective view of a first example of peg which is generally indicated by arrow 1. A washer adapted for use with the peg 1 is indicated by arrow 2.

The peg 1 has a head 3, shaft 4 and point 5. The shaft 4 can have one or more fins on the periphery thereof. In the example the shaft 4 has two fins 6 which are formed integrally with the shaft and extend outward in diametrically opposed directions. The fins 6 provide added structural strength and rigidity to the shaft 4. The fins also provide increased surface area that in turn, makes the peg more difficult to withdraw from soil structures.

In the example the fins 6 have highpoints at 7 which assist, as described below, in retaining the washer 2 on the shaft 4.

The washer 2 has an annular flange region 8 and a stepped region 9 the diameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the head 3 of the peg 1. The stepped region 9 has one or more spaces or slot regions 10 the placing and dimensions of which are selected to suit the number of fins 6 provided on the shaft 4. In the example the stepped region 9 is provided with a pair of spaces 10 which fit over the fins 6.

The shaft 4 can also include a number of ribs 12 positioned at spaced apart intervals along the length of the shaft. The ribs 12 provide mechanical strength to the shaft 4 and fins 6 and over time act as stops which aid against easy withdrawl of the pegs from the ground as the soil structure contacts the ribs 12.

The peg 1 and washer 2 can be manufactured from the same or different materials. The construction for the peg 1 is selected so that it can be driven into the ground by impacts to the head 3 without it shattering. The peg 1 can be manufactured from a biodegradable material or at least from a material chosen to disintegrate over the time required to hold a matting in place until natural vegetation stabilizes the ground. The material from which the peg 1 is manufactured can be selected to biodegrade by ultra violet light, soil bacteria or water.

The washer 2 can be manufactured in a variety of sizes so that, in use, a washer of a size and type suitable to act as an anchor for matting can be selected for use with a peg 1. Again the material from which the washer 2 is manufactured can be selected to degrade, for example under the action of ultraviolet light.

In use a selected washer 2 is fitted to a peg 1 by threading point 5 through the hole in the washer 2. The slot regions 10 engage over the fins 6 and the washer is retained on the peg 1 by clicking the slot regions 10 over the highpoints at 7 of the fins 6. The washer 2 is then free to slide on the shaft from the highpoints 7 up to and into juxtaposition with the head 3. Near to the head 3 of the peg 1 is a ferrule section 11. When the washer 2 is in juxtaposition with the ferrule section 11 it is free to rotate on the shaft 4.

In Figure 2 is shown a second example of matting peg 1. In this drawing the peg 1 is generally similar to the first example except that the shaft 4 in the region 13 near the head 3 is longer than in the first example. In use this allows for greater soil penetration of the matting peg 1 and such a peg is used when the soil type requires the peg to penetrate further into the soil.

The construction and shape of the peg and washer are such that the peg 1 is less likely to shatter when it is driven into the ground. This is because the head 3 is smaller and less prone to be hit off centre. All the impact forces are therefore driven in line with the longitudinal axis of the shaft 4. The washer 2 and its flange region 8 is distant from the head 3, when it is struck, until all but the last few blows driving the head 3 toward the ground. This reduces or substantially eliminates the risk of damage to the flange region 8 of the washer 2 which is the part of the washer which contacts the matting to be held in place onto the ground.

Where in the foregoing description particular mechanical integers or particular materials are mentioned it is envisaged that their alternatives can be substituted as if they had been described herein.

Thus by the invention there is provided a matting peg which offers a useful alternative choice at the same time as overcoming disadvantages inherent in know fixing means for erosion matting.

A particular example of the invention has been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modification can take place without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Claims (12)

1. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting, the construction including a peg and washer, the peg having a shaft with a head at one end and point at its other end, the shaft having at least one fin along an edge thereof, the washer being slidingly fitted on the shaft with each fin located in a space provided adjacent a hole in the washer, the washer and/or peg being adapted so that when the washer and peg are fitted together they are retained together with the washer being located on the shaft and being capable of sliding along the shaft to abut the head of the shaft, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the peg is driven into the ground the washer will eventually contact and be in juxtaposition with the head of the peg and the surface of the ground and erosion matting.

2. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter size of washer is varied to suit the type of matting with which it is to be used.

3. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the shaft of the peg has two fins one on each side thereof.

4. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the fins has a highpoint opposite each other and spaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the highpoints acting to capture and retain the washer on the peg as a flange of the washer frictionally clicks over the highpoint(s).

5. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the peg and washer are manufactured from the same or different materials.

6. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 5 wherein the washer is tailored to degrade faster than the peg.

7. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the composition of either or both the peg and washer are tailored to suit particular geographical conditions.

8. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 5 wherein the materials from which the peg and washer are manufactured are selected to biodegrade under the action of at least one of ultraviolet light, soil bacteria or water.

9. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the peg has a length of between 220 and 250 mm and the washer can have an outside diameter of 35mm or larger.

10. A two piece construction peg for retaining erosion matting as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A method for retaining erosion matting in place, the method including using a two piece construction peg as claimed in claim 1, the washer and peg when fitted together are driven into the ground through an erosion matting until the washer contacts and is in juxtaposition with the head of the peg and the surface of the ground and erosion matting to thereby retain the matting in place on the ground.

12. A method for retaining erosion matting in place as claimed in claim 11 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.