Artificial reef

Abstract

An artificial reef comprises at least one bag which is generally configured to define at least a portion of a reef and which is at least partially fillable with air. An anchor is attached to the bag for maintaining the bag at a desired location substantially underwater. A plurality of such bags may be attached to one another and configured so as to define a reef which enhances the suitability of waves for surfing or which mitigates beach erosion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An artificial reef comprising: 
 at least one bag which is generally configured to define at least a portion of a reef and which is at least partially fillable with air; and    an anchor attachable to the bag for maintaining the bag at a desired location substantially under water.    
     
     
         2 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags attachable to one another so as to define a reef.  
     
     
         3 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags which are configurable so as to enhance a wave's suitability for surfing.  
     
     
         4 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags configurable in a generally V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         5 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags configurable in a generally Y-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         6 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 an air compartment for containing air; and    a ballast compartment for containing ballast.    
     
     
         7 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 an air compartment for containing air; and    a ballast compartment for containing ballast, the air compartment being larger than the ballast compartment.    
     
     
         8 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 an air compartment for containing air; a ballast compartment for containing ballast;    and a common wall separating the air compartment from the ballast compartment.    
     
     
         9 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises an air compartment having an air inlet/outlet port for facilitating inflation and deflation of the bag.  
     
     
         10 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 an air inlet port for facilitating inflation of the bag; and    an air outlet port for facilitating deflation of the bag.    
     
     
         11 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 a remotely operated air inlet port for facilitating inflation of the bag; and    a remotely operated air outlet port for facilitating deflation of the bag.    
     
     
         12 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 a ballast compartment configured to contain water; a water inlet port for facilitating addition of water to the ballast compartment; and    a water outlet port for facilitating removal of water from the ballast compartment.    
     
     
         13 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one bags comprises: 
 a ballast compartment configured to contain water;    a water inlet port for facilitating addition of water to the ballast compartment;    a remotely operated water inlet valve for controlling water flow into the ballast compartment through the water inlet port;    a water outlet port for facilitating removal of water from the ballast compartment; and    a remotely operated water outlet valve for controlling water flow out of the ballast compartment through the water outlet port.    
     
     
         14 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the ballast compartment comprises an opening for facilitating addition of ballast to the ballast compartment and removal of ballast from the ballast compartment.  
     
     
         15 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises at least one tether.  
     
     
         16 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises at least one weight.  
     
     
         17 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a concrete weight.  
     
     
         18 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises: 
 a plurality of rigid supports for maintaining said at least one bag a desired distance above a floor of a body of water; and a plurality of tethers for holding the bag down.    
     
     
         19 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags attached to one another so as to define a reef and wherein the bags are configured such that the shape of the reef defined thereby is modifiable so as to facilitate enhanced control of the reefs ability to modify waves.  
     
     
         20 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags attached to one another so as to define a reef and wherein a plurality of the bags are individually inflatable so as to facilitate enhanced control of the reefs ability to modify waves.  
     
     
         21 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags attached to one another so as to define a reef and wherein a plurality of the bags are individually inflatable.  
     
     
         22 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one bags comprises a plurality of bags attached to one another so as to define a reef and wherein a plurality of the bags are individually inflatable so as to facilitate enhanced control of at least one of how fast a wave peels and how hard a face of the wave is.  
     
     
         23 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one bags comprises a plurality of bags attached to one another so as to define a reef and wherein a plurality of the bags are individually inflatable so provide enhanced control over a depth of the reef to provide enhance control over a size of wave which pitches over proximate the artificial reef.  
     
     
         24 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said at least one bags are configured to facilitate attachment to one another.  
     
     
         25 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one bags comprises an air inlet for facilitating inflation and an air outlet for facilitating deflation.  
     
     
         26 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag is defined by pouches formed in a liner, the liner mitigating water leakage from a body of water.  
     
     
         27 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bag comprises a plurality of bags tied to one another.  
     
     
         28 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising eyelets formed to each said at least one bag for facilitating tieing of each said at least one bag to another.  
     
     
         29 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising hook and loop fasteners attached to each said at least one bag to facilitate attachment of each said at least one bag to another.  
     
     
         30 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising buckles formed to each said at least one bag to facilitate attachment of each said at least one bag to another.  
     
     
         31 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising clips formed to each said at least one bag to facilitate attachment of each said at least one bag to another.  
     
     
         32 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one bag is comprised of vinyl.  
     
     
         33 . The artificial reef as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one bag is comprised of vinyl having a thickness of approximately 0.040 inch.  
     
     
         34 . An artificial reef comprising: 
 at least one bag which is generally configured to define at least a portion of a reef and which is at least partially filled with foam; and    an anchor attachable to the bag for maintaining the bag at a desired location substantially underwater.    
     
     
         35 . The artificial reef as recited in claim  54 , wherein the foam comprises a flexible foam.  
     
     
         36 . The artificial reef as recited in claim  54  wherein the foam comprises an open cell flexible foam.  
     
     
         37 . The artificial reef as recited in claim  54  wherein the foam comprises a flexible, closed cell, polymer foam.