초록 ▼

A fiber block segment suitable for controlling erosion and stabilizing soil is described that comprises an elongated fiber block formed of a densely packed elongated thick fibrous material. The fiber block is wrapped with a fabric around three sides so that the fabric defines a top anchor portion an

A fiber block segment suitable for controlling erosion and stabilizing soil is described that comprises an elongated fiber block formed of a densely packed elongated thick fibrous material. The fiber block is wrapped with a fabric around three sides so that the fabric defines a top anchor portion and a bottom anchor portions extending from the block. The fiber block is securely attached to the wrapped fabric by another fabric or twine spanning the fourth side of the block. Additionally, the fabric is wrapped only up to the edges defining one end (a male end) and beyond the edges defining the opposite end (the female end) to define a pouch-like structure at the female end. The fiber block is made of coconut fibers (coir). The fabric is woven from coir twine, and coir twine secures the fabric to the fiber block.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fiber block system for stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising:A. a first fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated first fiber block defining: a. a first top surface, b. a first bottom surface, c. a first soil side surface, d. a first water side surface, e. a first male end

1. A fiber block system for stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising:A. a first fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated first fiber block defining: a. a first top surface, b. a first bottom surface, c. a first soil side surface, d. a first water side surface, e. a first male end portion, and f. a first female end portion disposed generally opposite the first male end portion; ii. a first sheet of fabric attached to the first fiber block that: a. extends from the first fiber block in a direction away from the first water side surface to define a first free bottom end with a first bottom anchoring portion, and b. extends from the first female end portion of the first fiber block to define a first female mating portion; B. a second fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated second fiber block defining: a. a second top surface, b. a second bottom surface, c. a second soil side surface, d. a second water side surface, e. a second male end portion, and f. a second female end portion disposed generally opposite the second male end portion; ii. a second sheet of fabric attached to the second fiber block that: a. extends from the second fiber block in a direction away from the second water side surface to define a second free bottom end to with a second bottom anchoring portion, and b. extends from the second female end portion of the second fiber block to define a second female mating portion. 2. The fiber block system of claim 1, in which the first sheet of fabric:A. substantially covers the first water side surface and the first bottom surface, and B. extends from the first fiber block in a direction away from the first water side surface to define a first free top end with a first top anchoring portion. 3. A fiber block system for stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising:A. a first fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated first fiber block defining: a. a first top surface, b. a first bottom surface, c. a first soil side surface, d. a first water side surface, e. a first male end portion, and f. a first female end portion disposed generally opposite the first male end portion; ii. a first sheet of fabric attached to the first fiber block that: a. extends from the first fiber block to a first free bottom end to define a first bottom anchoring portion, b. extends from the first female end portion of the first fiber block to define a first female mating portion, c. substantially covers the first water side surface and the first bottom surface, and d. extends from the first fiber block to a first free top end to define a first top anchoring portion that is substantially covered with soil; B. a second fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated second fiber block defining: a. a second top surface, b. a second bottom surface, c. a second soil side surface, d. a second water side surface, e. a second male end portion, and f. a second female end portion disposed generally opposite the second male end portion; ii. a second sheet of fabric attached to the second fiber block that extends from the: a. second fiber block to a second free bottom end to define a second bottom anchoring portion, b. second female end portion of the second fiber block to define a second female mating portion, and c. second fiber block to a second free top end to define a second top anchoring portion; C. the second fiber block segment is positioned above the first fiber block segment such that: i. the second bottom anchoring portion is: a. positioned above a plane defined by the first top anchoring portion and b. covered with soil, and ii. the second top anchoring portion is positioned on top of the soil. 4. The fiber block system of claim 2, in which the first fiber block segment and the second fiber block segment are arranged such that the second male end portion mates with the first female mating portion.5. The fiber block system of claim 4, further comprising coir twine that attaches the first sheet of fabric to the first fiber block and extends across the first soil side surface so that the first fabric sheet substantially covers the first top surface.6. A fiber block system for stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising:A. a first fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated first fiber block defining: a. a first top surface, b. a first bottom surface, c. a first soil side surface, d. a first water side surface, e. a first male end portion, and f. a first female end portion disposed generally opposite the first male end portion; ii. a first sheet of fabric attached to the first fiber block that: a. extends from the first fiber block to a first free bottom end to define a first bottom anchoring portion, b. extends from the first female end portion of the first fiber block to define a first female mating portion, c. substantially covers the first water side surface and the first bottom surface, and d. extends from the first fiber block to a first free top end to define a first top anchoring portion that is substantially covered with soil; B. a second fiber block segment comprising: i. an elongated second fiber block defining: a. a second top surface, b. a second bottom surface, c. a second soil side surface, d. a second water side surface, e. a second male end portion, and f. a second female end portion disposed generally opposite the second male end portion; ii. a second sheet of fabric attached to the second fiber block that extends from the: a. second fiber block to a second free bottom end to define a second bottom anchoring portion, b. second female end portion of the second fiber block to define a second female mating portion, and c. second fiber block to a second free top end to define a second top anchoring portion; C. the first fiber block segment and the second fiber block segment are arranged such that the second male end portion mates with the first female mating portion; and D. coir twine that: i. attaches the first sheet of fabric to the first fiber block and ii. extends across the first top surface and the first soil side surface so that the first top anchoring portion extends away from the first fiber block near an intersection of the first water side surface and the first top surface. 7. The fiber block system of claim 6, in which the coir twine also extends across the first male end portion.8. The fiber block system of claim 6, in which the second sheet of fabric extends from the second fiber block to a second free top end to define a second top anchoring portion.9. The fiber block system of claim 8, in which the coir twine is connected to the first top anchoring portion and the first bottom anchoring portion.10. The fiber block system of claim 9, in which the first bottom anchoring portion at least partially overlaps the second bottom anchoring portion.11. The fiber block system of claim 10, in which the first top anchoring portion at least partially overlaps the second top anchoring portion.12. The fiber block system of claim 11, in which the first fiber block and the second fiber block are positioned adjacent a shoreline or waterway beck such that the first water side surface and the second water side surface face the water and soil covers the first bottom anchoring portion and the second bottom anchoring portion.13. The fiber block system of claim 12, further comprising a first wedge driven through the first bottom anchoring portion to secure the first bottom anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.14. The fiber block system of claim 13, in which the first wedge is also driven through the second bottom anchoring portion to secure the second bottom anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.15. The fiber block system of claim 14, in which soil covers the first top anchoring portion of the first sheet of fabric and the second top anchoring portion of the second sheet of fabric.16. The fiber block system of claim 15, further comprising a second wedge driven through the first top anchoring portion to secure the first top anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.17. The fiber block system of claim 16, in which the second wedge is also driven through the second top anchoring portion to secure the second top anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.18. The fiber block system of claim 14, in which the first top anchoring portion and the second top anchoring portion are positioned on top of the soil.19. The fiber block system of claim 18, further comprising a second wedge driven through the first top anchoring portion to secure the first top anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.20. The fiber block system of claim 19, in which the second wedge is also driven through the second top anchoring portion to secure the second top anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.21. The fiber block system of claim 20, further comprising plants that are planted in the soil underlying the first top anchoring portion.22. The fiber block system of claim 21, further comprising plants that are planted in the soil underlying the second top anchoring portion.23. The fiber block system of claim 1, in which the first fiber block has an approximately circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first fiber block.24. The fiber block system of claim 1, in which the first fiber block has an approximately rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first fiber block.25. A fiber block segment for use in a fiber block system for stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising:A. an elongated fiber block defining: i. a top surface, ii. a bottom surface, iii. a soil side surface, iv. a water side surface, v. a male end portion, and vi. a female end portion disposed generally opposite the male end portion; and B. a sheet of fabric attached to the fiber block that: i. extends from the fiber block in a direction away from the water side surface to define a free bottom end with a bottom anchoring portion, and ii. extends from the female end portion of the fiber block to define a female mating portion. 26. The fiber block segment of claim 25, in which the sheet of fabric:A. substantially covers the water side surface and the bottom surface, and B. extends from the fiber block in a direction away from the water side surface to define a free top end with a top anchoring portion. 27. The fiber block segment of claim 26, further comprising coir twine that attaches the sheet of fabric to the fiber block and extends across the soil side surface so that the fabric sheet substantially covers the top surface.28. A fiber block segment for use in a fiber block system for stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising:A. an elongated fiber block defining: i. a top surface, ii. a bottom surface, iii. a soil side surface, iv. a water side surface, v. a male end portion, and vi. a female end portion disposed generally opposite the male end portion; and B. a sheet of fabric attached to the fiber block that: i. extends from the fiber block to a free bottom end to define a bottom anchoring portion, ii. extends from the female end portion of the fiber block to define a female mating portion, iii. substantially covers the water side surface and the bottom surface, and iv. extends from the fiber block to a free top end to define a top anchoring portion; and C. coir twine that: i. attaches the sheet of fabric to the fiber block and ii. extends across the top surface and the soil side surface so that the top anchoring portion extends away from the fiber block near an intersection of the water side surface and the top surface. 29. The fiber block segment of claim 28, in which the coir twine also extends across the male end portion.30. The fiber block segment of claim 28, in which the coir twine is connected to the top anchoring portion and the bottom anchoring portion.31. The fiber block segment of claim 30, in which the fiber block is positioned adjacent a shoreline or waterway back such that the water side surface faces the water and soil covers the bottom anchoring portion of the sheet of fabric.32. The fiber block segment of claim 31, further comprising a wedge driven through the bottom anchoring portion to secure the bottom anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.33. The fiber block segment of claim 32, in which soil covers the top anchoring portion of the sheet of fabric.34. The fiber block segment of claim 33, further comprising a second wedge driven through the top anchoring portion to secure the top anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.35. The fiber block segment of claim 32, in which the top anchoring portion of the sheet of fabric is positioned on top of the soil.36. The fiber block segment of claim 35, further comprising a second wedge driven through the top anchoring portion to secure the top anchoring portion to the surrounding soil.37. The fiber block segment of claim 36, further comprising plants that are planted in the soil underlying the top anchoring portion.38. A method of stabilizing a shoreline or waterway bank, comprising the steps of:A. positioning a first fiber block segment adjacent the shoreline or waterway bank, the first fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated first fiber block defining: a. a first top surface, b. a first bottom surface, c. a first soil side surface, d. a first water side surface, e. a first male end portion, and f. a first female end portion disposed generally opposite the first male end portion; ii. a first sheet of fabric attached to the first fiber block that: a. substantially covers the first water side surface and the first bottom surface, b. extends from the first fiber block to a first free bottom end to define a first bottom anchoring portion, and c. extends from the first female end portion of the first fiber block to define a first female mating portion; B. positioning a second fiber block segment adjacent the shoreline or waterway bank, the second fiber block segment, comprising: i. an elongated second fiber block defining: a. a second top surface, b. a second bottom surface, c. a second soil side surface, d. a second water side surface, e. a second male end portion, and f. a second female end portion disposed generally opposite the second male end portion; ii. a second sheet of fabric attached to the second fiber block that: a. substantially covers the second water side surface and the second bottom surface, b. extends from the second fiber block to a second free bottom end to define a second bottom anchoring portion, and c. extends from the second female end portion of the second fiber block to define a second female mating portion; and C. mating the second male end portion to the first female end portion; D. driving a wedge through the first bottom anchoring portion into the soil underlying the first bottom anchoring portion; and E. covering the first bottom anchoring portion and the second bottom anchoring portion with soil. 39. The method of claim 38, in which the first sheet of fabric extends from the first fiber block to a first free top end to define a first top anchoring portion and the second sheet of fabric extends from the second fiber block to a second free top end to define a second top anchoring portion.40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:A. positioning the first top anchoring portion and the second top anchoring portion on top of the soil covering the first bottom end portion and the second bottom end-portion; B. driving a first wedge through the first bottom anchoring portion into the soil underlying the first bottom anchoring portion; C. driving a second wedge through the second bottom anchoring portion into the soil underlying the second bottom anchoring portion; D. planting vegetation in the soil underlying the first top anchoring portion and the soil underlying the second top anchoring portion. 41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:A. positioning the first top anchoring portion and the second top anchoring portion on top of the soil covering the first bottom end portion and the second bottom end portion; B. driving a first wedge through the first bottom anchoring portion into the soil underlying the first bottom anchoring portion; C. driving a second wedge through the second bottom anchoring portion into the soil underlying the second bottom anchoring portion; D. covering the first top anchoring portion and the second top anchoring portion with additional soil; E. planting vegetation in the soil covering the first top anchoring portion and the soil covering the second top anchoring portion.