WO2020185246A1

WO2020185246A1 - Guard supporting member for a gabion basket and the resulting structural frame

Info

Publication number: WO2020185246A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/040086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas S. HAAS
Original assignee: Haas Thomas S
Priority date: 2019-03-12
Filing date: 2019-07-01
Publication date: 2020-09-17
Also published as: USD893283S1

Abstract

A guard supporting member is combined with a gabion basket to form a reinforced structural frame. The guard supporting member includes first and second panel members and a connecting member. A spacing is defined between the first and second panel members. The spacing is sized for sliding, frictional receipt of a top edge of the side panel of the gabion basket. Exposed walls of gabions baskets are particularly subject to deformation while being loaded with heavy rock, concrete, and other filler material, and the guard supporting members are useful in reinforcing the gabion baskets preventing deformation. The guard supporting member will combat damage to the gabion basket while filling with a tractor bucket. One guard supporting member is needed to protect each edge of the gabion basket.

Description

GUARD SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR A GABION BASKET AND THE RESULTING

STRUCTURAL FRAME

THE INVENTION FIELD

The invention relates to gabion basket structures and more particularly, to gabion basket structures with reinforced walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

Gabion retaining walls are well known in the art. The word“gabion” is derived from the Latin“cavea” - a cage. When used for retaining walls, such cages are filled with rocks, concrete and the like. As known, once the gabion cage or basket is filled, these structures are stacked to provide a multi-tier retaining wall that is corrosion-inhibiting and resistant to mechanical stresses.

Originating as a tool for civil engineering, the gabion basket for use to form a gabion wall dates back to the 19^th century. The structures slowly made the transition to architecture because of their superior strength and permeability. The gabion wall comprises a metal mesh cage filled with loose material, usually stones. The wall is crack resistant and contours to the grade of the site. Each piece of stone preferably needs to be larger than across one face so as not to slip through the mesh.

As is known, gabions are often made of twisted wire screening, or welded wire panels which are secured together to form the gabion basket. In application, the gabion baskets are most often filled using manual labor since dumping volumes of rock from a tractor bucket into the basket is known to cause structural damage to the basket’s wire side panels. Manually filling the baskets with rock is not only labor intensive, but also time consuming.

The prior art includes the following:

U.S. Patent No. 6,857,817 (Rothfuss) discloses a wire mesh mat for gabion baskets for securing slopes which has longitudinal wires and transverse wires connected to one another and with wire ends. At least some of the wire ends have an eye, respectively. The wire ends provided with the eye have a compensation section configured to compensate expansions and compressions occurring in a longitudinal direction of the wires. The compensation section has two legs and the eye is positioned between the two legs of the compensation section.

U.S. Patent No. 7,357,602 (Ferraiolo) discloses a reinforcing device for earthworks comprises at least one reinforcing base element from which extend a front wall and a containment wall which are spaced from each other to delimit, in an operative configuration in which they are erected with respect to the reinforcing base element, a facing region which is to be filled with filling material, such as stones or the like. The device also comprises bracket means which can be coupled, in use, to the front wall and to the containment wall.

Retaining walls are commonly not straight and linear. When used for landscaping, the structures commonly are built to follow the shape of the landscape and are not built on level ground.

A primary disadvantage to these prior art structures is that the most exposed walls of gabions baskets are subject to deformation because the thrust of the fill material on the outer walls of gabion baskets.

While the prior art method of manually filling the gabion basket with rock may provide satisfactory performance, it is nonetheless recognized that there is a need for improvement. The present invention proposes a product that will combat damage to the gabion basket while filling with a tractor bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gabion basket, as used herein, is a cage, cylinder, or box filled with rocks, concrete, or sometimes sand and soil for use in civil engineering, road building, military applications and landscaping.

The present invention is concerned with substantially eliminating the time and manual labor required in the prior art method of manually filling the gabion baskets with rock. The guard supporting member of the present invention is designed to protect an edge of a gabion basket. The present invention also involves the structural frame resulting from the guard supporting member or members in combination with one or more gabion baskets.

A guard supporting member that is used with a gabion basket while loading the basket using a tractor bucket. The guard supporting member includes front and back panel members, and a top member such that a spacing is defined between the front and back panels. The spacing is sized for sliding, frictional receipt of a top end of the side panels.

A guard supporting member reinforces an edge of a gabion basket to form a reinforced structural frame. The guard supporting member includes first and second panel members and a connecting member. A spacing is defined between the first and second panel members. The spacing is sized for sliding, frictional receipt of a top edge of the side panel of the gabion basket. The guard supporting member will combat damage to the gabion basket while filling with a tractor bucket. One guard supporting member is needed to protect each edge of the gabion basket.

For a complete understanding of the guard supporting member for a gabion basket and the resulting structural frame of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and description in which the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example. As the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from spirit of essential characteristics thereof, it is expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 depicts an assembly top view of a first preferred embodiment of the structural frame of the present invention, including a guard supporting member resting atop and protecting an edge of a gabion basket.

FIGURE 2A depicts a layout of the guard supporting member; and FIGURE 2B depicts the gabion basket, the guard supporting member and the gabion basket comprising the structural frame of the present invention. FIGURE 3 depicts an isometric top view of a first side of the guard supporting member of FIGURE 1 ; and FIGURE 4 depicts an isometric top view of a second side of the guard supporting member of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 depicts a top view of the guard supporting member of the present invention of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 depicts a bottom view of the guard supporting member of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7A depicts an end view of a first preferred embodiment of the guard supporting member of FIGURE 2A; and FIGURE 7B depicts an end view of a second preferred embodiment of the guard supporting member of FIGURE 2A.

FIGURE 8 depicts an assembly top view of a second preferred embodiment of the structural frame of the present invention, including a guard supporting member used to adjoin a pair of abutting gabion baskets.

FIGURE 9 depicts an assembly top view of a third preferred embodiment of the structural frame of the present invention, including a pair of guard supporting members resting atop a pair of adjacent edges of a gabion basket.

FIGURE 10 depicts an assembly top view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the structural frame of the present invention, including a pair of gabion baskets aside each other and four guard supporting members resting atop the four edges of the two gabion baskets.

FIGURE 11 depicts an assembly top view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the structural frame of the present invention, the guard supporting member having an arcuate or irregular shape matching the arcuate or irregular shape of the surface of the gabion basket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The preferred embodiment is directed to a guard supporting member for a gabion basket and the resulting structural frame. The supporting member generally defines a guard or support member that protects the gabion basket during application. More particularly, the guard supporting member protects the gabion basket’s side panels while the basket is being filled by a tractor bucket. In the broadest context, the guard supporting member of the present invention consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

From the outset, it should be understood that the present invention relates to a guard or protective member that is used while filling a gabion basket and the resulting structural frame. The present invention does not alter the construction of the gabion basket nor the application of the filled gabion basket.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 depict a gabion basket 100, including a guide supporting member 20 of the present invention nesting on and protecting the front edge 108 of the gabion basket 108, forming a structural frame 120. As illustrated, the gabion basket is generally constructed of wire panels that are secured together (shown in phantom) to form the gabion basket 100. More particularly, the gabion basket 100 includes a front and rear panel (102 and 104), two side panels 105, and a bottom panel 1 10.

FIGURE 2A depicts a layout of the guard supporting member 20; and FIGURE 2B depicts the gabion basket 100, the guard supporting member 20 and the gabion basket 100 comprising the structural frame of the present invention 120.

It is known that when filling the gabion basket 100 with rock for example, using a tractor bucket to dump loads of rock into the basket will cause structural damage a top edge 108 of the bracket 110. The present invention is concerned with protecting the gabion basket 110 when filling with a tractor bucket. As will be understood, the present invention is configured to protect the basket 100 while being filled and will combat damage to the basket 110 during application with the tractor bucket. As shown in figure 1 the length of the connecting edge of the guard supporting member 20 is about the same as the length l_2 of the top edge of the gabion basket 100 being protected.

FIGURES 3 through 6 depict various views of the guard supporting member 20 of the present invention, which includes a first panel section 22, a second panel section 24, and a section 26 connecting the first and second panel sections 22 and 24.

As illustrated, the front panel 22 and back panel 24 are joined by the connecting member 26. In particular, the front panel 22 and back panel 24 are joined such that a spacing 30 is defined between the panels 22, 24. As shown in FIGURE 6, the spacing 30 is sized for sliding, frictional receipt of top edges 105A, 107A, of the side panels 105, 107. As shown in FIGURE 6, the length 101 of the side panels of the gabion basket 100 is approximately equal to the length 21 of the guard supporting member 20.

As best shown in FIGURE 7A, an end view of the guard supporting member 20 preferably has a substantially inverted V-shape. The inventor has found that it is preferred that the second panel 24 outwardly slant along the height of the panel 24 such that the upper most end 30A of the spacing 30 has a lesser width W1 then the width W2 of the lower most end 30B.

In application, a guard supporting member 20 can be installed to protect a single gabion basket by aligning the top edge 105A of the first side panel 105 within the spacing 30 of the guard supporting member 20 and downwardly urging the guard supporting member 20 over the first side panel 105 until the top edge 105A of the first side panel 105 is in abutting contact with the top member 26. A second guard supporting member 20 is then similarly installed to protect the second side panel 107. The gabion basket 100 can then be filled with rock for example, using a tractor bucket. The installed guard supporting members 20 configured to protect the side panels 105, 107 during the filling process.

In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in FIGURE 7B, an end view of the guard supporting member 20 preferably has a substantially inverted U -shape.

Or, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, the worker can first abut side panel 105 of a first gabion basket 100 with side panel 107 of a second gabion basket 200 and then align the abutting side panels with the spacing 30 and downwardly urge the guard supporting member 20 of the abutting side panels until the top ends of the abutting side panels is in abutting contact with the top member 26.

Once the gabion basket is filled, the guard supporting member 20 can be removed from the side panels, and the entire process is repeated with the next gabion basket 100 to be filled.

The panels 22 and 24, and top member 26 are preferably constructed of a thin sheet of metal material or rigid plastic material.

FIGURE 8 depicts an assembly top view of a second preferred embodiment of the structural frame 250 of the present invention, including a guard supporting member 20 used to adjoin a pair of abutting gabion baskets (100 and 200). The guard supporting member 20 protecting top edges (105A and 107A) of the abutting pair of gabion baskets (100 and 200). The guard supporting member 20 includes a first panel section 22, a second panel section 24, and a section 26 connecting the first and second panel sections (22 and 24).

FIGURE 9 depicts an assembly top view of a third preferred embodiment of the structural frame 350 of the present invention, including a pair of guard supporting members 20 resting atop a pair of adjacent edges of a gabion basket. Each guard supporting member 20 protects an adjacent top edge of gabion basket 100. Each guard supporting member 20 includes a first panel section 22, a second panel section 24, and a section 26 connecting the first and second panel sections (22 and 24).

FIGURE 10 depicts an assembly top view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the structural frame 450 of the present invention, including a pair of gabion baskets (100 and 200) abutting each other with all of the exposed top edges covered with a guard support member 20 of the present invention. Each guard supporting member 20 protects a top edge of gabion baskets (100 and 200). The centermost guard supporting member protects one top edge from the first gabion basket and a top edge of the second gabion basket 200. Each guard supporting member 20 includes a first panel section 22, a second panel section 24, and a section 26 connecting the first and second panel sections (22 and 24). FIGURE 11 depicts an assembly top view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the structural frame 550 of the present invention, the guard supporting member 520 disposed on an irregular shaped edge 508, the guard supporting member 520 having an arcuate or irregular shape matching the arcuate or irregular shape of the surface 542 of the gabion basket 500. The guard supporting member 520 includes a first panel section 522, a second panel section 524, and a section 526 connecting the first and second panel sections (522 and 524).

For an irregular shaped structural frame, it is in some instances preferable to use a thermoplastic material that can be shaped to match the wall surface.

The guard supporting member 520 of the present invention may be just used while loading the gabion baskets and then removed. In another preferred embodiment, the guard supporting member 520 of the present invention may be retained on the gabion basket to reinforce the structure. A permanent reinforced gabion structure may be preferred in regions where the geological region is somewhat unstable or the area is subject to severe weather.

Throughout this application, various Patents are referenced by number and inventor. The disclosures of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in their entireties in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. As such, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims.

It would be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. PARTS LIST

Guard Supporting Member - 1^st Preferred Embodiment First Panel Section

Second Panel Section

Connecting Section

Spacing

A Upper End Spacing

B Lower End Spacing

Guard Supporting Member - 2^nd Preferred Embodiment First Panel Surface

Second Panel Surface

0 First Gabion Basket

1 Side Panel Length

2 Front Panel

4 Rear Panel

5 1 ^st Side Panel

5A Top Edge of 1^st Gabion Basket

7 2^nd Side Panel

7A - Top Edge of 2^nd Gabion Basket

8 Gabion Basket Edge

0 Bottom Panel

0 Second Gabion Basket

0 Structural Frame - 1^st Preferred Embodiment

0 Structural Frame - 2^nd Preferred Embodiment 350 Structural Frame - 3^rd Preferred Embodiment

450 Structural Frame - 4^th Preferred Embodiment

500 Irregular shaped Gabion Basket

505 Top Edge of Irregular Shaped Side Panel

510 Irregular Shaped Side Panel

520 Irregular Shaped Guard Supporting Member

524 Second Panel Section

526 Connecting Section

542 Irregular Panel Surface

550 Structural Frame - 5^th Preferred Embodiment

W1 Upper Width

W2 Lower Width

Claims

CLAIMS claim:

1 . A structural frame comprising: a first gabion basket having a first and a second edge; and a first guard supporting member having first and second panels, said first guard supporting member including a section connecting said first and second panels, said first guard supporting member being disposed upon said first edge of said first gabion basket; wherein said first guard supporting member is releasably secured to said first gabion basket to protect said first edge of said first gabion basket during filling.

2. The structural frame of claim 1 , further comprising a second guard supporting member having first and second panels, and a section connecting said first and second panels, said second guard supporting member being disposed upon said a second edge of said second gabion basket; wherein said second guard supporting member is releasably secured to said second gabion basket to protect said second edge of said second gabion basket during filling.

3. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein an end view of said guard supporting member has a substantially inverted V-shape.

4. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein an end view of said guard supporting member has a substantially inverted U -shape.

5. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein said guard supporting member is made of a sheet metal material.

6. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein said guard supporting member is made of a rigid plastic material

7. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein said guard supporting member has an arcuate shape matching the shape of the surface of the gabion basket, said guard supporting member being made of a thermoplastic polymer material that becomes pliable.

8. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein said guard supporting member has an arcuate shape matching the shape of the surface of the gabion basket, said guard supporting member being made of a shaped metal.

9. The structural frame of claim 1 , wherein said first edge defines a first length, and said guard supporting member defines a second length, said first length being about equal to said second length.

9. The structural frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second gabion basket abutting said first gabion basket, a second gabion basket having a third edge;

wherein said first guard supporting member is releasably secured to said first edge of said first gabion basket and to said third edge of said second gabion basket.

10. The structural frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second guard supporting member having third and fourth panels, said second guard supporting member including a section connecting said third and fourth panels, said second guard supporting member being disposed upon a second edge of said first gabion basket; and

wherein said second guard supporting member is releasably secured to said first gabion basket to protect said second edge of said first gabion basket during filling.

11. The structural frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second gabion basket having a third and a fourth edge;

a second guard supporting member having third and fourth panels, said second section connecting said third and fourth panels, said second guard supporting member being disposed upon said third edge of said second gabion basket; wherein said first gabion basket abuts said second gabion basket; and

wherein said second guard supporting member is releasably secured to said second gabion basket to protect said first edge of said second gabion basket during filling.

12. A guard supporting member for protecting a first edge of a gabion basket, comprising: a first panel section for abutting a first surface of a first gabion basket; a second panel section for abutting a second surface of a first gabion basket, said first surface opposing said second surface; and a section connecting said first panel section to said second panel section, said connecting section being disposed between said first panel section and said second panel section and connecting said first panel section to said second panel section; wherein said guard supporting member is positioned onto said first edge of said gabion basket during filling.

13. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein an end view of said guard supporting member has a substantially inverted V-shape.

14. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein an end view of said guard supporting member has a substantially inverted U -shape.

15. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein said guard supporting member is made of one sheet of metal material.

16. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein said guard supporting member is made of one sheet of plastic material.

17. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein said guard supporting member has an arcuate shape matching the shape of the surface of the first gabion basket, said guard supporting member being made of a thermoplastic polymer material.

18. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein said guard supporting member has an arcuate shape matching the shape of the surface of the first gabion basket, said guard supporting member being made of a shaped metal.

19. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein said first edge defines a first length, said guard supporting member defining a second length, said first length being about equal to said second length.

20. The guard supporting member of claim 12, wherein said guard supporting member is made of one sheet of thermoplastic material.