Adjustably rigid floating island system

Abstract

A floating island structure comprising a plurality of rectangular- and/or freeform-shaped modules and an internal linkage system; wherein the modules are comprised of nonwoven fibers; wherein the internal linkage system comprises a plurality of joiner plates and flexible or rigid tensioning members; wherein the modules are joined together by joiner plates; wherein the tensioning members are attached to the joiner plates and/or to internal plates; and wherein the joiner plates of adjacent modules are joined together to form the floating island structure. Natural and/or synthetic fibers are optionally used to fill in the cavities surrounding the tensioning members. A decking assembly is optionally installed on top of the modules to provide homogeneous or heterogeneous rigidity to the overall structure.

1 . A floating island structure comprising a plurality of rectangular-shaped modules and an internal linkage system;
 wherein the rectangular-shaped modules are comprised of nonwoven fibers;   wherein the internal linkage system comprises a plurality of joiner plates and flexible tensioning members;   wherein each rectangular-shaped module has a perimeter and comprises four joiner plates oriented perpendicularly to one another around the perimeter of the rectangular-shaped module;   wherein each flexible tensioning member comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of each flexible tensioning member is attached to one of the joiner plates and the second end of each flexible tensioning member is attached to the joiner plate that is directly opposite the joiner plate to which the first end of the flexible tensioning member is attached; and   wherein the joiner plates of adjacent rectangular-shaped modules are joined together to form the floating island structure.   
     
     
         2 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein each rectangular-shaped module comprises a top layer, a center layer, and a bottom layer; and
 wherein the flexible tensioning members are situated within the center layer of the rectangular-shaped module.   
     
     
         3 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein each rectangular-shaped module comprises four flexible tensioning members, two of which are attached at one end to a first joiner plate and at the other end to a second joiner plate, and two of which are attached at one end to a third joiner plate and at the other end to a fourth joiner plate; and
 wherein the first and second joiner plates are parallel to each other and the third and fourth joiner plates are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         4 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is a chain and turnbuckle, and wherein initial tensioning is provided by tightening the turnbuckle. 
     
     
         5 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is a chain, and wherein the chain is attached to each joiner plate by means of shackles. 
     
     
         6 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is comprised of wire cable, and wherein the wire cable is attached to each joiner plate by means of an eye hook. 
     
     
         7 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is comprised of polymer rope, and wherein the polymer rope is attached to each joiner plate by means of an eye hook. 
     
     
         8 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is comprised of woven polymer strapping that passes through a slot in each joiner plate to which it is attached and is joined with a strapping clamp. 
     
     
         9 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a box frame that defines a central cavity of the rectangular-shaped module. 
     
     
         10 . The floating island structure of  claim 9 , wherein the central cavity is filled with fiber wool; and
 wherein the fiber wool comprises synthetic or natural materials or a combination of synthetic and natural materials.   
     
     
         11 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein rigid beam tensioning members are used in lieu of the flexible tensioning members;
 wherein each rigid beam tensioning member comprises a rigid internal beam with a first end and a second end;   wherein the first end of each rigid internal beam is attached to one of the joiner plates and the second end of each rigid internal beam is attached to the joiner plate that is directly opposite the joiner plate to which the first end of the rigid internal beam is attached;   wherein initial rigidity is provided during installation of the rigid internal beam; and   wherein the joiner plates of adjacent rectangular-shaped modules are joined together to form the floating island structure, thereby providing further rigidity to the overall structure.   
     
     
         12 . The floating island structure of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid internal beams are attached to the joiner plates by means of beam tensioning bolts; and
 wherein angle brackets are used to connect intersections of the beams to keep the intersections square.   
     
     
         13 . The floating island structure of  claim 11 , wherein each rectangular-shaped module comprises a top layer, a center layer, and a bottom layer; and
 wherein the rigid tensioning members are situated within the center layer of the rectangular-shaped module.   
     
     
         14 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , wherein each rectangular-shaped module comprises four rigid tensioning members, two of which are attached at one end to a first joiner plate and at the other end to a second joiner plate, and two of which are attached at one end to a third joiner plate and at the other end to a fourth joiner plate; and
 wherein the first and second joiner plates are parallel to each other and the third and fourth joiner plates are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         15 . The floating island structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a box frame that defines a central cavity of the rectangular-shaped module. 
     
     
         16 . The floating island structure of  claim 15 , wherein the central cavity is filled with fiber wool; and
 wherein the fiber wool comprises synthetic or natural materials or a combination of synthetic and natural materials.   
     
     
         17 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more freeform-shaped modules, wherein each freeform-shaped module is comprised of nonwoven fibers;
 wherein each freeform-shaped module further comprises at least one joiner plate, at least one internal plate, and at least one flexible tensioning member;   wherein the freeform-shaped module comprises at least one straight side, and the joiner plate is situated along the straight side of the freeform-shaped module;   wherein the freeform-shaped module has an interior portion, and the internal plate is situated in the interior portion of the freeform-shaped module and is oriented so that it is parallel to the joiner plate;   wherein the internal plate is held in place by at least one adhesive bond between the internal plate and the nonwoven fibers that comprise the freeform-shaped module;   wherein each flexible tensioning member comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the flexible tensioning member is attached to the joiner plate and the second end of each flexible tensioning member is attached to the internal plate; and   wherein the joiner plate of the freeform-shaped module is joined to the joiner plate of another freeform-shaped module or the joiner plate of a rectangular-shaped module to form the floating island structure.   
     
     
         18 . The floating island structure of  claim 17 , wherein rigid beam tensioning members are used in lieu of the flexible tensioning members;
 wherein each rigid beam tensioning member comprises a rigid internal beam with a first end and a second end;   wherein the first end of the rigid internal beam is attached to the joiner plate and the second end of the rigid internal beam is attached to the internal plate;   wherein initial rigidity is provided during installation of the rigid internal beam; and   wherein the joiner plate of the freeform-shaped module is joined to the joiner plate of a rectangular-shaped module to form the floating island structure, thereby providing further rigidity to the overall structure.   
     
     
         19 . The floating island structure of  claim 18 , wherein the rigid internal beams are attached to the joiner plates and internal plates by means of beam tensioning bolts; and
 wherein angle brackets are used to connect intersections of the beams to keep the intersections square.   
     
     
         20 . A floating island structure comprising a plurality of freeform-shaped modules and an internal linkage system;
 wherein the freeform-shaped modules are comprised of nonwoven fibers;   wherein the internal linkage system comprises a plurality of joiner plates, a plurality of internal plates, and flexible tensioning members;   wherein each freeform-shaped module has at least one straight side and comprises at least one joiner plate that is situated along the straight side of the freeform-shaped module;   wherein the freeform-shaped module has an interior portion, and each freeform-shaped module comprises at least one internal plate that is situated in the interior portion of the freeform-shaped module and is oriented so that it is parallel to a joiner plate of the same module;   wherein the internal plate is held in place by at least one adhesive bond between the internal plate and the nonwoven fibers that comprise the freeform-shaped module;   wherein each flexible tensioning member comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the flexible tensioning member is attached to a joiner plate and the second end of each flexible tensioning member is attached to an internal plate of the same module; and   wherein the joiner plate of the freeform-shaped module is joined to the joiner plate of another freeform-shaped module.   
     
     
         21 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein each freeform-shaped module comprises a top layer, a center layer, and a bottom layer; and
 wherein the flexible tensioning members are situated within the center layer of the freeform-shaped module.   
     
     
         22 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is a chain and turnbuckle, and wherein initial tensioning is provided by tightening the turnbuckle. 
     
     
         23 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is a chain, and wherein the chain is attached to the joiner plate and the internal plate by means of shackles. 
     
     
         24 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is comprised of wire cable, and wherein the wire cable is attached to the joiner plate and the internal plate by means of an eye hook. 
     
     
         25 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is comprised of polymer rope, and wherein the polymer rope is attached to the joiner plate and the internal plate by means of an eye hook. 
     
     
         26 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein at least one flexible tensioning member is comprised of woven polymer strapping that passes through a slot in the joiner plate and a slot in the internal plate and is joined with a strapping clamp. 
     
     
         27 . The floating island structure of  claim 20 , wherein rigid beam tensioning members are used in lieu of the flexible tensioning members;
 wherein each rigid beam tensioning member comprises a rigid internal beam with a first end and a second end;   wherein the first end of each rigid internal beam is attached to a joiner plate and the second end of each flexible tensioning member is attached to an internal plate of the same module;   wherein initial tensioning is provided during installation of the rigid tensioning member; and   wherein the joiner plate of the freeform-shaped module is joined to the joiner plate of another freeform-shaped module, thereby providing further tensioning.   
     
     
         28 . The floating island structure of  claim 27 , wherein the rigid internal beams are attached to the joiner plates by means of beam tensioning bolts; and
 wherein angle brackets are used to connect intersections of the beams to keep the intersections square.   
     
     
         29 . The floating island structure of  claim 27 , wherein each freeform-shaped module comprises a top layer, a center layer, and a bottom layer; and
 wherein the rigid tensioning members are situated within the center layer of the rectangular-shaped module.   
     
     
         30 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 ,  17  or  20 , wherein each rectangular- or freeform-shaped module comprises a cavity surrounding each flexible tensioning member;
 wherein fiber wool is packed into the cavity surrounding each flexible tensioning member; and 
 wherein the fiber wool comprises synthetic or natural materials or a combination of synthetic and natural materials. 
 
     
     
         31 . The floating island structure of  claim 11 ,  18  or  27 , wherein each rectangular- or freeform-shaped module comprises a cavity surrounding each rigid tensioning member;
 wherein fiber wool is packed into the cavity surrounding each rigid tensioning member; and 
 wherein the fiber wool comprises synthetic or natural materials or a combination of synthetic and natural materials. 
 
     
     
         32 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 ,  11 ,  17 ,  18 ,  20  or  27 , further comprising a decking assembly, wherein the decking assembly comprises decking runners and lateral decking boards;
 wherein the decking runners are attached to the joiner plates; and 
 wherein the decking boards are attached to the decking runners. 
 
     
     
         33 . The floating island structure of  claim 32 , wherein there is a seam between each adjoining rectangular- or freeform-shaped module; and
 wherein the decking runners are situated on top of the seams between adjoining modules.   
     
     
         34 . The floating island structure of  claim 1 ,  11 ,  17 ,  18 ,  20  or  27 , further comprising a decking assembly, wherein the decking assembly comprises decking runners, a grid support, and a plurality of stepping stones;
 wherein the decking runners are attached to the joiner plates; 
 wherein the grid support is attached to the decking runners; 
 wherein each rectangular- or freeform-shaped module is comprised of a top layer of nonwoven matrix; and 
 wherein the stepping stones are attached to the grid support and/or the top layer of the nonwoven matrix. 
 
     
     
         35 . The floating island structure of  claim 34 , wherein there is a seam between each adjoining rectangular- or freeform-shaped module; and
 wherein the decking runners are situated on top of the seams between adjoining modules.