WO2005001209A1

WO2005001209A1 - Fish place block

Info

Publication number: WO2005001209A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/001162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun-Mo Kang
Original assignee: Hyun-Mo Kang
Priority date: 2003-06-27
Filing date: 2004-05-17
Publication date: 2005-01-06

Abstract

A fish-sheltering riverbank block which is easily coupled to another block, less separated from a bank revetment, provides a fish shelter in the block bodies under water, and contains soil in the block bodies above the water to set plants to protect the natural environment. The block has a block body (10), a locking hole (16a) and locking grooves (16b) to couple the block bodies together, first and second channels (18a and 18b) to provide the fish shelter, and vertical openings (19a and 19b) to provide opening for containing soil. The locking hole (16a) and the locking grooves (16b) are sized to receive reinforcing steel bars (S) and concrete (C) therein after the block bodies (10) are laid in horizontal and vertical directions. A protrusion step (22) is provided on a rear end of the upper surface of the block body (10).

Description

FISH PLACE BLOCK

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to fish-sheltering riverbank blocks to be laid along the slopes of riverbanks and, more particularly, to a fish- sheltering riverbank block that is easily coupled to another block during a bank protection work, and is prevented from an undesired separation from a bank revetment during or after the bank protection work, and includes first and second channels, vertical openings, etc., thus allowing fishes to dwell in the block bodies placed under water and containing soil in the vertical openings of the block bodies placed above the water to set plants, such as grass, in the soil, thus protecting the natural environment.

Background Art

Generally, riverbank blocks are laid along the slopes of riverbanks to support dikes and thus reduce the risk of breaking due to the floods during rainy seasons. Conventional riverbank block have a thin plate shape like a paving brick, with an interlocking rib and an interlocking groove respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces or on both side surfaces of the block that define the boundaries between the neighboring blocks. Thus, the riverbank blocks can be laid along the slopes of the riverbanks while being continuously arranged in vertical and horizontal directions, and coupled together by an engagement of the interlocking rib of each block with the interlocking groove of a neighboring block. However, the conventional riverbank blocks are thin, resulting in providing small contact surface areas (cross-sectional areas) on the upper, lower, left and right side surfaces thereof. Thus, when water overflows the riverbanks due to a sudden heavy rain during a rainy season, the riverbank blocks cannot resist the water pressure, but are easily separated from a bank revetment to be carried away by the floods. Furthermore, the use of the conventional riverbank blocks is limited to their original function of supporting the dikes and thus reducing the risk of being forced away by the floods to break. That is, the conventional riverbank blocks do not provide any space for fish shelters therein, so that fishes cannot take refuge in the riverbank blocks, but only find high- risk locations in the water. Thus, the conventional riverbank blocks cannot provide a protection for the fishes, and thus, the fish may be carried away by the rapid streams, so that the riverbank blocks cannot desirably protect the ecosystems. Furthermore, because the uses of various conventional blocks are limited to their original functions, the conventional blocks are problematic in that they cannot be competitively used for various purposes. For example, the conventional riverbank blocks are used for only supporting the dikes, while the conventional soundproof blocks or the conventional embankment blocks are used only for executing their original functions individually. In an effort to overcome the above-mentioned problems caused by the conventional blocks, the inventor of the present invention proposed a fish- sheltering riverbank block that was filed in the form of a Korean Utility Model Application, registered and disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0231208, and thereafter, successfully subjected to a technical evaluation.

This fish-sheltering riverbank block comprises a block body having a rectangular hexahedral shape, with a plurality of locking holes provided on both side surfaces and in the intermediate portion of the block body to receive steel wires therein, and thereby, to allow a plurality of neighboring block bodies to be securely coupled together when the blocks are continuously laid in horizontal and vertical directions. Furthermore, a fish-sheltering part having a U-shaped cross-section is provided on an upper surface of the block body so that, when viewing the block body from the top, the fish-sheltering part crosses a fish path that is formed vertically in the block body. Thus, when the blocks are laid on top of another to build a bank revetment, the fish-sheltering parts of the block bodies define additional fish paths that extend through the vertically stacked block bodies. The above-mentioned fish-sheltering riverbank blocks, proposed by this inventor and registered as the Korean Utility Model, are continuously laid in horizontal and vertical directions to build a bank revetment for supporting a dike. In the above state, the locking holes of the block bodies to receive therein steel wires are aligned with each other when viewing the block bodies from the top. Thus, zinc-plated steel wires are inserted into the aligned locking holes, thus securely supporting the block bodies that are continuously laid in the horizontal and vertical directions to build the revetment. When the block bodies of the above-mentioned fish- sheltering riverbank blocks are laid to build a bank revetment, the block bodies serve as original riverbank blocks to support a dike and thus reduce the risk of breaking, because the block bodies are less likely to break regardless of an overflow or rapid streams. Furthermore, the block bodies in the bank revetment communicate with each other in horizontal and vertical directions through both the fish-sheltering parts and the fish paths of the block bodies. Thus, the block bodies provide a sufficient space for fish shelters, and thereby, protect the ecosystems. However, the above-mentioned fish-sheltering riverbank block of the registered Korean Utility Model does not have any structure for easily aligning the blocks with each other when laying the blocks in the horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, the fish-sheltering riverbank block is problematic in that the blocks are difficult to be laid in a perpendicular direction to build an embankment structure or to be laid to form a stairway-shaped structure. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned block bodies are laid to form such a stairway-shaped structure, the fish paths and the fish-sheltering parts of the block bodies are misaligned from each other in the horizontal and vertical directions to form complicated stairway-shaped passages similar to passages of labyrinths. Thus, the blocks prevent fishes from entering the block bodies without being interfered with the block bodies, and do not provide desired sufficient spaces for fish shelters. Particularly, because the fish-sheltering parts and the fish paths of the block bodies of the above-mentioned fish-sheltering riverbank blocks may communicate with each other in horizontal and vertical directions, fishes may dwell in the block bodies placed under water. However, the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks do not have any structure to set plants, such as grass, in the block bodies placed above the water, so that the blocks cannot provide habitats for fireflies, winged insects or birds. Thus, the conventional fish-sheltering riverbank blocks fail to desirably protect the ecosystems.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fish-sheltering riverbank block which is constructed to receive both reinforcing steel wires and concrete or coupling pins into locking holes and locking grooves of block bodies of a plurality of blocks that are laid in horizontal and vertical directions, thus securely coupling the blocks together during a bank protection work, and which thus allows the blocks to be maintained in desired places for lengthy periods without being undesirably separated from a bank revetment after the bank protection work, and which thus executes a function as an original riverbank block to reduce the risk of a breakage of dikes and a function as an original fish-sheltering block. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fish-sheltering riverbank block which is provided with an interlocking rib and an interlocking groove on both side surfaces of its block body, and a protrusion step on a rear end of an upper surface of the block body, thus allowing a plurality of blocks to be easily placed and aligned when the blocks are continuously laid in horizontal directions or laid to build a stairway-shaped structure, and thereby, improving work efficiency while laying the blocks. A further object of the present invention is to provide a fish-sheltering riverbank block which is provided in the block body with a row of additional vertical openings at positions in back of a first channel, so that, when a plurality of blocks are continuously laid to build a stairway-shaped structure above water, the vertical openings of vertically stacked block bodies communicate with each other to define a stepped, deep opening, and which thus contains soil in the vertical openings of the stacked block bodies above the water to set plants, such as grass, in the soil, and thereby, protects the environment and allows fireflies, winged insects and birds to dwell in the plants. In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a fish-sheltering riverbank block, comprising: a block body having a rectangular hexahedral shape; a locking hole and locking grooves respectively provided in an intermediate portion and on both side surfaces of the block body to couple a plurality of neighboring block bodies together when continuously laying the block bodies in horizontal and vertical directions; a first channel and a second channel provided on an upper surface of the block body in longitudinal and latitudinal directions to cross each other when viewing the block body from a top; and a plurality of vertical openings formed vertically through the block body at predetermined positions of the first channel, wherein the locking hole and the locking grooves are sized to receive reinforcing steel bars and concrete therein after the block bodies are laid in the horizontal and vertical directions, and an interlocking rib and an interlocking groove are respectively provided on a side surface and an opposite side surface of the block body to allow the block bodies to be continuously coupled together in the horizontal direction. The fish-sheltering riverbank block may further comprise: a protrusion step provided on a rear end of the upper surface of the block body by protruding upward to easily lay the block bodies to build a stairway-shaped structure. The locking hole and the locking groove may have equal radius to couple the block bodies to each other by a plurality of coupling pins inserted thereinto, and may individually comprise at least two holes or at least two grooves that are spaced out at regular intervals in the longitudinal and latitudinal directions when viewing the block body from the top. The fish-sheltering riverbank block may further comprise: a row of additional vertical openings provided in the block body at positions in back of the first channel and between the locking holes, and between the locking grooves, so that, when the block bodies are laid to form a stairway-shaped structure, the additional vertical openings of each of the block bodies communicate with the main vertical openings of an upper block body. The first channel may be formed along a total length in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the block body, while the second channel may comprise two channels that are formed rearward from the first channel so that the first channel and the second channels form a -"--shaped pattern when viewing the block body from the top. The block body may be provided on a front surface thereof with a plurality of vertical ribs that extend vertically while being spaced out at predetermined intervals, thus improving the design of the block. The use of the block body may be selected at least one from the uses as a riverbank block, a soundproof block and an embankment block.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIGS, la through Id are views showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2a through 2f are views showing laid states of the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are laid to build a bank revetment; FIGS. 3a through 3d are views showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view showing a laid state of the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of FIGS. 3a through 3d, which are laid to build a bank revetment; FIGS. 5a through 5d and FIGS. 6a through 6d are views showing fish- sheltering riverbank blocks according to further embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a view showing a laid state of the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of FIGS. 5a through 6d, which are laid to build a bank revetment; and FIG. 8 is a view showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Herein below, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS, la through Id are views showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2a through 2f are views showing laid states of the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are laid to build a bank revetment. As shown in the drawings, the fish-sheltering riverbank block according to the present invention comprises a block body 10 having a rectangular hexahedral shape, with an interlocking rib 12 and an interlocking groove 14 respectively formed on both side surfaces of the block body 10 to allow a plurality of block bodies 10 to be continuously coupled together in horizontal directions. In the above state, the interlocking rib 12 is formed on a side surface of the block body 10, while the interlocking groove 14 is formed on an opposite side surface of the block body 10 to correspond to the interlocking rib 12. Thus, a plurality of block bodies 10 can be easily aligned with each other when the block bodies are laid side-by-side, even though the widthwise positions of the block bodies 10 are not carefully adjusted one-by-one. Furthermore, a rounded locking hole 16a having a predetermined size is formed in the intermediate portion of the block body 10, while a half-rounded locking groove 16b having a predetermined size is formed on each side surface of the block body 10. Thus, after laying the block bodies 10 in horizontal and vertical directions to form a bank revetment, reinforcing steel bars S are inserted into the locking holes 16a and the locking grooves 16b prior to containing concrete C into the locking holes and the locking grooves, thus securing the block bodies 10 in their places. The rounded locking hole is formed through the intermediate portion of the block body in back of a first channel 18a. The half- rounded locking grooves 16b are respectively formed on the both side surfaces of the block body 10 at positions in back of the first channel 18 a. Thus, when a plurality of fish-sheltering riverbank blocks are closely laid side-by-side, the facing locking grooves 16b of neighboring block bodies 10 define cylindrical holes. The locking hole 16a and the locking grooves 16b are respectively formed in the intermediate portion and on the opposite side surfaces of the block body 10, because the locking holes 16a and the locking grooves 16b of the block bodies 10 which are laid in the horizontal and vertical directions are aligned with each other in vertical directions. Thus, the block bodies 10 can be secured in their places by inserting the reinforcing steel bars S into the vertically aligned locking holes 16a and the vertically aligned locking grooves 16b, and containing the concrete C into the aligned locking holes 16a and the aligned locking grooves 16b. The first channel 18a, which is opened upward to have a half-rounded shape, is longitudinally formed between both side ends on the upper surface of the block body 10. Two second channels 18b are formed on the upper surface of the block body 10 to cross the first channel 18a when viewing the block body from the top. A rounded vertical opening 19a is formed downward through the block body from an intermediate position of the first channel 18a. Furthermore, half- rounded vertical openings 19b are respectively formed on the both side surfaces of the block body 10 at positions to correspond to the both ends of the first channel 18a. Thus, when a plurality of fish-sheltering riverbank blocks are closely laid side-by-side, the facing half-rounded vertical openings 19b of neighboring block bodies define a rounded vertical opening. Each of the second channels 18b is preferably opened at an end (front end) and closed at an opposite end. The reason for each of the second channels 18b to be opened at the end as described above is to prevent soil or impurities from being introduced into the second channels 18b when the block bodies are placed such that the surfaces of the block bodies near to the closed ends of the second channels are in contact with the soil of the dike, as shown in FIG. 2a. The above-mentioned vertical openings 19a and 19b are not ill-affected by an overflow or rapid streams in case of the floods, but provide sufficient spaces in the block bodies to define fish shelters wherein fishes take refuges, thus protecting the ecosystems. The fish- sheltering riverbank blocks having the above-mentioned construction according to the present invention may be laid to build a bank revetment as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. To build the bank revetment using the riverbank blocks, the block bodies 10 are continuously laid along the lower edge of the slope of a riverbank. In the above state, the interlocking rib 12 of each block body 10 is coupled to the interlocking groove 14 of a horizontally neighboring block body 10. Thus, two vertically neighboring blocks form each pair of blocks, in which the first and second channels 18a and 18b of the two block bodies 10 respectively overlap each other to form cylindrical paths. Different from the above-mentioned bank revetment structure, only two rows of lower blocks placed along the lower edge of the slope of the riverbank are laid to form several pairs of blocks, in which the first and second channels 18a and 18b overlap each other to form cylindrical paths. In the meantime, the other blocks laid above the two rows of lower blocks are in state of being turned upside down so that the first and second channels 18a and 18b of each block body 10 are directed downward, as shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d. When laying the blocks as described above, the locking holes 16a and the locking grooves 16b of the horizontally and vertically laid block bodies 10 are aligned with each other in vertical directions, thus defining straight paths. After the blocks are completely laid, reinforcing steel bars S are inserted into the locking holes 16a and the locking grooves 16b of the uppermost block bodies 10, and thereafter, concrete C is contained in the locking holes and the locking grooves to firmly secure the blocks in their places. Thereafter, rubble stones 34 are poured onto the slope 36 between the dike and a bank revetment that is built by laying the blocks vertically.

Thereafter, a surface finishing material 32 is applied on the upper surface of the rubble stones 34, thus finishing the bank protection work. In the above case, the blocks of the present invention execute a function as original riverbank blocks or original embankment blocks. When the blocks of the present invention are used as the original riverbank blocks to build the bank revetment as described above, fireflies, winged insects and birds may live on the block bodies above the water. In the meantime, in the case of the water floods, fishes take refuges in the first and second channels 18a and 18b, and the vertical openings 19a and 19b which are formed on and in the block bodies placed under the water while crossing each other in horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, the blocks of the present invention protect the fishes from the floods. Furthermore, the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of the present invention may be used as soundproof blocks to build a soundproof wall around a school or along a roadside as shown in FIGS. 2e and 2f. In the above case, noises (sound waves) in the street are absorbed, dispersed and reduced by the first and second channels 18a and 18b, and the vertical openings 19a and 19b which are horizontally and vertically formed on and in the block bodies 10. Thus, the blocks provide a soundproofing effect. When the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of the present invention are used as soundproof blocks as described above, the blocks provide an improved soundproofing effect in comparison with conventional aluminum soundproof walls because the spaces defined in the block bodies by the first and second channels 18a and 18b, and the vertical openings 19a and 19b are bent at angles of 90° in the horizontal and vertical directions. Furthermore, the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of the present invention may be used as embankment blocks to build an embankment on a bluff or a slope around a mountain or a river as shown in FIGS. 2e and 2fi In the above case, the blocks serve as original embankment blocks, and furthermore, allow fireflies, winged insects and birds to live in the first and second channels 18a and 18b, and the vertical openings 19a and 19b. FIGS. 3a through 3d are views showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing a laid state of the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of FIGS. 3a through 3d, which are laid to build a bank revetment. In this embodiment, the general shape of the block body remains the same as that described for the block body 10 of FIGS, la through Id, but a protrusion step 22 is provided on a rear end of the upper surface of the block body 10 to allow for an easy laying of the blocks on top of another. To build a bank revetment using the riverbank blocks having the above- mentioned construction, a plurality of blocks of FIGS, la through Id are first laid along the lower edge of the slope of a riverbank such that the interlocking rib 12 of each block body 10 is coupled to the interlocking groove 14 of a horizontally neighboring block body 10 until two rows of blocks are completely placed along the lower edge of the slope to form several pairs of blocks, in which the first and second channels 18a and 18b overlap each other to form cylindrical paths. Thereafter, the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks having the protrusion steps 22 are sequentially laid on the two rows of blocks in a state of being turned upside down so that the first and second channels 18a and 18b of each block body 10 are directed downward and the protrusion steps 22 are stopped by rear ends of lower blocks. Thus, a stairway- shaped bank revetment is built. Thereafter, rubble stones 34 are poured onto a slope 36 between a dike and the bank revetment that is built by laying the blocks to form the stairway- shaped structure. Thereafter, a surface finishing material 32 is applied on the upper surface of the rubble stones 34, thus finishing the bank protection work. FIGS. 5a through 5d are views showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block ^• according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the fish-sheltering riverbank block according to the present invention comprises a block body 10 having a rectangular hexahedral shape. A plurality of locking holes 16c and locking grooves 16d with equal radius are formed in the intermediate portions and on both side surfaces of the block body 10. Thus, after laying the block bodies 10 in horizontal and vertical directions to form a bank revetment, a plurality of coupling pins 24, such as reinforcing steel bars, are inserted into the locking holes and the locking grooves to secure the block bodies 10 in their places. In the embodiment, the locking holes 16c and the locking grooves 16d are formed in the block body to be spaced out at regular intervals in a 3x3 matrix when viewing the block body from the top. That is, three rounded locking holes 16c are formed through the intermediate portions of the block body in front and back of the first channel 18a. Three half-rounded locking grooves 16d are formed on each of both side surfaces of the block body 10 at positions in front and back of the first channel 18a. Thus, when a plurality of fish-sheltering riverbank blocks are closely laid side-by- side, the facing locking grooves 16d of neighboring block bodies 10 define half rounded. The locking holes 16c and the locking grooves 16d are formed in the intermediate portions and on both side surfaces of the block body 10 to be spaced out at regular intervals, because the locking holes 16c and the locking grooves 16d of the block bodies 10, which are laid in the horizontal and vertical directions to form an embankment or a stairway-shaped structure, are to be aligned with each other in vertical directions. The first channel 18 a, which is opened upward to have a half-rounded shape, is longitudinally formed between both side ends on the upper surface of the above-mentioned block body 10. Two second channels 18b are formed on the upper surface of the block body 10 to cross the first channel 18a when viewing the block body from the top. A rounded vertical opening 19a is formed downward through the block body from an intermediate position of the first channel 18 a. Furthermore, half-rounded vertical openings 19b are respectively formed on the both side surfaces of the block body 10 at positions to correspond to the both ends of the first channel 18a. Thus, when a plurality of fish-sheltering riverbank blocks are closely laid side-by-side, the facing half-rounded vertical openings 19b of neighboring block bodies define a rounded vertical opening. Each of the second channels 18b is preferably opened at a front end and closed at a rear end. Each of the second channels 18b is opened at the front end as described above, because soil or impurities are prevented from being introduced into the second channels 18b when the block bodies are placed such that the surfaces of the block bodies near to the closed ends of the second channels are in contact with the soil of the dike. When the block bodies 10 are continuously laid to form a bank revetment, the first and second channels 18a and 18b and the vertical openings 19a and 19b provide sufficient spaces in the block bodies to contain water therein and allow fishes to live therein, thus protect the ecosystems. FIGS. 6a through 6d are views showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a first channel 18a, which is opened upward to have a half-rounded shape, is longitudinally formed thoroughly between both side ends on an upper surface of a rectangular hexahedral block body 10. Two second channels 18b are formed on the upper surface of the block body 10 to cross the first channel 18a while forming a -^--shaped pattern when viewing the block body from the top. The first channel 18a and the two second channels 18b are formed on the upper surface of the block body 10 to cross each other while forming the ^■^-- shaped pattern as described above, because the front surface of the block body 10 is closed when a plurality of block bodies 10 are laid in a state of being turned upside down to form a bank revetment. Thus, even when the front surfaces of the block bodies of the bank revetment come into contact with water, soil contained in a plurality of vertical openings 19a through 19d is prevented from being washed away by the water. Furthermore, a rounded vertical opening 19a is formed downward through the block body from an intermediate position of the first channel 18a. In addition, half-rounded vertical openings 19b are respectively formed on the both side surfaces of the block body 10 at positions to correspond to the both ends of the first channel 18a. Thus, when pluralities of blocks are closely laid side-by- side, the facing half-rounded, vertical openings 19b of two neighboring block bodies define a rounded, vertical opening. Furthermore, a row of additional vertical openings 19c and 19d are provided in the block body 10 at positions in back of the first channel 18a and between the locking holes 16c, and between the locking grooves 16d when viewing the block body from the top. Thus, when the plurality of block bodies 10 are sequentially laid to form a stairway-shaped structure, the main vertical openings 19a and 19b of upper block bodies 10 communicate with the additional vertical openings 19c and 19d of lower block bodies. Thus, after the block bodies 10 are laid to form the stairway-shaped structure, soil is contained in the vertical openings 19a through 19d to set plants, such as grass, in the soil, thus protecting the natural environment. Of the above-mentioned vertical openings, the sizes of the additional openings 19c and 19d may be equal to or smaller than those of the main openings

19a and 19b formed in the first channel 18a. Particularly, the additional openings 19c and 19d are preferably constructed to be smaller in the sizes than the main openings 19a and 19b formed in the first channel 18a. Thus, when the plurality of block bodies 10 are sequentially laid to form a stairway-shaped structure, the larger vertical openings 19a and 19b of the upper block bodies 10 communicate with the smaller vertical openings 19c and 19d of the lower block bodies, thereby preventing the soil in the lower block bodies 10 from being forced upλvard to be removed. To build a stairway-shaped bank revetment using the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks shown in FIGS. 5a and 6a, the blocks of FIG. 5a are used to build an underwater section of the revetment, while the blocks of FIG. 6a are used to build an over water section of the revetment, as shown in FIG. 7. In a detailed description, the block bodies 10 of FIG. 5a are laid side-by-side along the lower edge of the slope of the riverbank. In the above state, the facing locking grooves 16d provided on both side surfaces of the horizontally neighboring block bodies

10 define cylindrical holes as described above. Furthermore, only two rows of lower blocks placed along the lower edge of the slope of the riverbank are vertically laid to form several pairs of blocks, in which the first and second channels 18a and 18b overlap each other to form cylindrical paths. Thereafter, the other blocks are laid above the two rows of lower blocks while being turned upside down so that the first and second channels 18a and 18b of each block body 10 are directed downward. In the above state, the block bodies 10 above the two rows of lower blocks are sequentially retreated backward by a distance between the locking holes 16c or between the locking grooves 16d in the widthwise directions of the block bodies 10. Thus, the locking holes 16c and the locking grooves 16d of the vertically stacked block bodies 10 are aligned with each other, respectively. Therefore, the underwater section of the stairway- shaped revetment is built. When the blocks are laid as described above, the first and second channels 18a and 18b, and the vertical openings 19a and 19b of the block bodies 10 contain water therein to allow fishes to live therein and to take refuges therein during the floods. After the underwater section of the stairway-shaped revetment is completely built using the blocks of FIG. 5 a, the blocks of FIG. 6a are continuously laid on the underwater section to a predetermined height, thus building the over water section of the stairway-shaped revetment. In the above state, each block body 10 of the over water section is turned upside down so that the first and second channels 18a and 18b are closed when viewing the block bodies 10 from the front. In the over water section of the stairway-shaped revetment, the additional vertical openings 19c and 19d of the lower block bodies 10 communicate with the main vertical openings 19a and 19b of the upper block bodies 10. Thereafter, a plurality of coupling pins 24 are inserted into the locking holes 16c and the locking grooves 16d of the block bodies 10 from the top, so that the blocks laid in horizontal and vertical directions are securely coupled to each other. Furthermore, rubble stones 34 are poured onto the slope 36 between the dike and the bank revetment that is built by laying the blocks to form the stairway- shaped structure. Thereafter, a surface finishing material 32 is applied on the upper surface of the rubble stones 34 to finish the bank protection work. In the above-mentioned bank revetment, the blocks placed around the water surface are closed at their front surfaces. Thus, when soil is contained in the exposed vertical openings 19a through 19d from the top, the soil is prevented from being washed away through the front surfaces of the block bodies 10. Plants, such as grass, are set in the soil contained in the vertical openings 19a through 19d, thus providing an environment for fireflies, winged insects and birds to dwell in. When the blocks of the present invention are used to build a bank revetment as described above, plants may be set in soil contained in the vertical openings 19a through 19d of the block bodies constituting the over water section, thus protecting the natural environment and allowing fireflies, winged insects and birds to dwell in the plants. In the meantime, the block bodies 10 of the underwater section allow fishes to take refuges in the first and second channels

18a and 18b, and the vertical openings 19a and 19b which are formed to cross each other in horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, the blocks of the present invention protect the fishes. In the above description, the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks of FIGS. 5a through 6d are used to build a bank revetment as an example. However, it should be understood that the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks may be used as embankment blocks, soundproof blocks, etc. FIG. 8 is a view showing a fish-sheltering riverbank block according to yet another; embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of decorative vertical ribs 26 having an arc-shaped cross-section are provided on a front surface of the block body 10 that determines the appearance of a structure built by the block bodies 10. That is, the decorative vertical ribs 26 provide attractive designs of the blocks. In the embodiment, the decorative vertical ribs 26 have the arc-shaped cross-section as an example. However, it should be understood that the decorative vertical ribs 26 may have another shape, for example, a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section, if the ribs 26 do not disturb the block laying work. When the fish-sheltering riverbank blocks having the above-mentioned construction are used as original riverbank blocks to build bank revetments with over water structures, soundproof blocks, or embankment blocks, the blocks provide attractive appearances due to the decorative vertical ribs 26 that are exposed to the outside.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a fish-sheltering riverbank block which is constructed to allow both reinforcing steel wires and concrete or coupling pins to received into the locking holes and locking grooves of a plurality of blocks that are laid in horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, the blocks are securely coupled together during a block laying work, so that the blocks are maintained in desired places for lengthy periods without being undesirably separated from a bank revetment after the bank protection work.

The block of the present invention thus effectively executes a function ^' as an original riverbank block to reduce the risk of a breakage of dikes and a function as an original fish-sheltering block. The fish-sheltering riverbank block of the present invention has another industrial applicability because the block is provided with an interlocking rib and an interlocking groove on both side surfaces of a block body, and a protrusion step on a rear end of an upper surface of the block body. Thus, a plurality of blocks are easily placed when the blocks are continuously laid in horizontal directions or laid to form a stairway-shaped structure, and thereby, improve work efficiency during a block laying work. Furthermore, the fish-sheltering riverbank block of the present invention has a further industrial applicability because the block is provided in the block body with a row of additional vertical openings at positions in back of a first channel. Thus, when a plurality of blocks are sequentially laid to form a stairway-shaped structure above water, the vertical openings of vertically stacked two block bodies communicate with each other to form a stepped deep opening. Soil is contained in the vertical openings of the stacked block bodies outside the water to set plants, such as grass, in the soil, and thereby, protects the natural environment allowing fireflies, winged insects and birds to dwell in the plants.

Claims

1. A fish-sheltering riverbank block, comprising: a block body (10) having a rectangular hexahedral shape; a locking hole (16a) and locking grooves (16b) respectively provided in an intermediate portion and on both side surfaces of the block body (10) to couple a plurality of neighboring block bodies (10) together when continuously laying the block bodies (10) in horizontal and vertical directions; a first channel (18a) and a second channel (18b) provided on an upper surface of the block body (10) in longitudinal and latitudinal directions to cross each other when viewing the block body from a top; and a plurality of vertical openings (19a and 19b) formed vertically through the block body (10) at predetermined positions of the first channel (18a), wherein the locking hole (16a) and the locking grooves (16b) are sized to receive reinforcing steel bars (S) and concrete (C) therein after the block bodies (10) are laid in the horizontal and vertical directions.

2. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion step (22) provided on a rear end of the upper surface of the block body (10) by protruding upward.

3. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 1, wherein the block body (10) is provided on a side surface and an opposite side surface thereof with an interlocking rib (12) and an interlocking groove (14) respectively to allow the block bodies (10) to be continuously coupled together in the horizontal direction.

4. A fish-sheltering riverbank block, comprising: a block body (10) having a rectangular hexahedral shape; a locking hole (16c) and a locking groove (16d) respectively provided in an intermediate portion and on each of both side surfaces of the block body (10) to couple a plurality of neighboring block bodies (10) together when continuously laying the block bodies (10) in horizontal and vertical directions; a first channel (18a) and a second channel (18b) provided on an upper surface of the block body (10) in longitudinal and latitudinal directions to cross each other when viewing the block body from a top; and a plurality of vertical openings (19a and 19b) formed vertically through the block body (10) at predetermined positions of the first channel (18a), wherein the locking hole (16c) and the locking groove (16d) have equal radius to couple the block bodies (10) to each other by a plurality of coupling pins (24) inserted thereinto, and individually comprise at least two holes or at least two grooves that are spaced out at regular intervals in the longitudinal and latitudinal directions when viewing the block body from the top.

5. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 4, further comprising: a row of additional vertical openings (19c and 19d) provided in the block body at positions in back of the first channel (18a) and between the locking holes (16c), and between the locking grooves (16d), so that, when the block bodies (10) are laid to form a stairway-shaped structure, the additional vertical openings (19c and 19d) of each of the block bodies communicate with the vertical openings (19a and 19b) of an upper block body (10).

6. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 5, wherein the additional vertical openings (19c and 19d) are smaller in size than the vertical openings (19a and 19b) formed in the first channel (18a).

7. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 4, wherein the first channel (18a) is formed along a total length in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the block body (10), while the second channel (18b) comprises two channels that are formed rearward from the first channel (18a) so that the first channel (18a) and the second channels (18b) form a -^--shaped pattern when viewing the block body from the top.

8. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the block body (10) is provided on a front surface thereof with a plurality of vertical ribs (26) that extend vertically and are spaced out at predetermined intervals.

9. The fish-sheltering riverbank block according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the use of the block body (10) is selected from the uses as a riverbank block, a soundproof block and an embankment block.