Geoturf tubes and improvements to conventional geotubes

Abstract

A geoturf tube for stabilization of erodible ground surfaces said geoturf tube formed of a geotextile fabric in a tubular shape and configured to contain sands but allow water to pass through and a tufted tensile elements cover attached to at least a portion of the geotextile fabric. Alternatively, a geoturf cover of a geotextile and a plurality of tufted tensile elements installed as a separate layer above a geotube to serve as a protective barrier and extend the service life of the geotube. A method of stabilization of erodible surfaces with a geoturf tube or a geoturf cover is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A geoturf tube, comprising:
 a geotextile fabric in a tubular shape, said geotextile fabric being configured to contain sand but allow water to pass through the geotextile fabric;   a tufted tensile elements cover attached to at least a portion of the geotextile fabric,   whereby the geoturf tube being disposed on a ground surface provides stabilization.   
     
     
         2 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tufted tensile elements cover attaches to an outer surface of the geotextile fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tufted tensile elements cover includes a plurality of tufted tensile elements extending from the geotextile fabric and each of the tufted tensile elements extending a length of 0.25 inch to 4.0 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between adjacent tufted tensile elements traps a plurality of particles between the adjacent tufted tensile elements so as to provide a protective barrier over the geotextile fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the protective barrier has a thickness of at least 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         6 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a thatch placed within a matrix defined by the geotextile fabric to a matrix extent intermediate the geotextile fabric and an extent plane substantially defined by the distal ends of the tufted tensile elements. 
     
     
         7 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the thatch defines a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture a plurality of infill particles. 
     
     
         8 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the infill particles captured in the interspatial gaps have a first finess; and   wherein a spacing outwardly of the thatch between adjacent tufted tensile elements traps a second plurality of infill particles between the adjacent tufted tensile elements, the second plurality of sand particles having a second finess that is grosser than the first finess   so as to provide a protective barrier over the geotextile fabric.   
     
     
         9 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the protective barrier has a thickness of at least 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the thatch comprises a non-woven geotextile blanket having a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture a plurality of infill particles 
     
     
         11 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the thatch comprises a fabric of texturized, crimped, or heatset yarns and having a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture the plurality of infill particles. 
     
     
         12 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the thatch comprises an airlay fabric having a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture the plurality of infill particles. 
     
     
         13 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the thatch attaches in overlying relation to the geotextile fabric by the tufting of the tufted tensile elements. 
     
     
         14 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tufted tensile elements are made of polyethylene, nylon, polypropylene, polyester, a polymeric material, or a natural material of jute or coconut. 
     
     
         15 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the tufted tensile elements incorporate enhanced solar protection by inclusion of one or more of a group comprising ultraviolet inhibitor and ultraviolet absorber. 
     
     
         16 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the ultraviolet inhibitor comprises a group of benzophenone, benzotriazole, and hindered amines light stabilizers (HALS). 
     
     
         17 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the ultraviolet absorber comprises a group of carbon black, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. 
     
     
         18 . A geoturf tube, comprising:
 a portion of a synthetic turf shaped into a tube; and   a quantity of a weighting material placed inside the tube,   whereby the geoturf tube being disposed on a ground surface provides stabilization.   
     
     
         19 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the weighting material comprises a particle material. 
     
     
         20 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the synthetic turf comprises one or more geotextile backing layer tufted with a plurality of spaced-apart tufts of a polymeric yarn defining a plurality of elongated tensile elements extending therefrom as synthetic grass blades. 
     
     
         21 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 18 , wherein tufted tensile elements are tufted, sewn, laminated, calendared, welded, adhesively applied, or mechanically attached to an underlying permeable geotextile backing layer to be formed into a structure for the tube. 
     
     
         22 . A geoturf cover comprising a surface layer of a geotextile and a plurality of tufted tensile elements, and installed as a separate layer above a geotube to serve as a protective barrier and extend the service life of the geotube. 
     
     
         23 . The geoturf cover as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the geotube comprises a newly placed geotube. 
     
     
         24 . The geoturf cover as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the geotube comprises an existing geotube disposed on a shoreline. 
     
     
         25 . The geoturf tube as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the tufted tensile elements incorporate enhanced protection of one or more of an ultraviolet inhibitor selected from the group comprising benzophenone, benzotriazole, and hindered amines light stabilizers (HALS) and an ultraviolet blocker selected from the group comprising carbon black, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. 
     
     
         26 . A method of stabilizing an erodible surface, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a geotextile fabric in a tubular shape, said geotextile fabric being configured to contain particles but allow water to pass through the geotextile fabric;   (b) attaching a tufted tensile elements cover to at least a portion of the geotextile fabric,   whereby the geoturf tube being disposed on an erodible surface provides stabilization.   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the attaching comprises attaching the tufted tensile elements cover to an outer surface of the geotextile fabric. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising the step of exposing the disposed geoturf tube to action from water for depositing a sand material transported in the water into gaps defined by a plurality of adjacent tufted tensile elements in the tufted tensile elements cover. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 spacing adjacent tufted tensile elements to provide a gap therebetween in a matrix of the geotextile fabric and the tufted tensile elements cover; and   exposing the disposed geoturf tube to cyclical wave action for depositing a sand material transported in the waves into the gap so as to provide a protective barrier over the geotextile fabric.   
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising the step of disposing a thatch within a matrix defined by the geotextile fabric and the tufted tensile elements cover. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the thatch extends from the geotextile fabric to a matrix extent intermediate the geotextile fabric and an extent plane substantially defined by the distal ends of the tufted tensile elements. 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the thatch defines a plurality of interspatial gaps for capture of a plurality of infill particles. 
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising the steps of:
 capturing in the interspatial gaps of the thatch a sand of a first finess as the infill particles; and   capturing in the gaps between adjacent tufted tensile elements outwardly of the thatch a sand of a second finess, the second plurality of sand particles having a second finess that is grosser than the first finess,   whereby providing in situ a protective barrier over the geotextile fabric.   
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the thatch comprises a non-woven geotextile blanket having a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture the plurality of infill particles 
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the thatch comprises a fabric of texturized, crimped, or heatset yarns and having a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture the plurality of infill particles. 
     
     
         36 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the thatch comprises an airlay fabric having a plurality of interspatial gaps that capture the plurality of infill particles. 
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , comprising the step of attaching the thatch in overlying relation to the geotextile fabric by the tufting of the tufted tensile elements. 
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the tufted tensile elements are tufted using a yarn selected from the group comprising polyethylene, nylon, polypropylene, polyester, a polymeric material, jute fibers, and coconut fibers. 
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the tufted tensile elements incorporate enhanced solar protection by inclusion of one or more of a group comprising an ultraviolet inhibitor and an ultraviolet absorber. 
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 39 , further comprising the step of selecting the ultraviolet inhibitor from a group comprising benzophenone, benzotriazole, and hindered amines light stabilizers (HALS). 
     
     
         41 . The method as recited in  claim 39 , further comprising the step of selecting the ultraviolet absorber from a group comprising carbon black, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. 
     
     
         42 . A method of stabilizing an erodible surface, comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing a geotube on an erodible surface, the geotube formed with a synthetic turf shaped into a tube; and   (b) placing a quantity of a weighting material inside the geotube,   whereby the geoturf tube being disposed on the erodible surface provides stabilization.   
     
     
         43 . The method of stabilizing as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the weighting material comprises a sand material. 
     
     
         44 . The method of stabilizing as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the synthetic turf comprises one or more geotextile backing layer tufted with a plurality of spaced-apart tufts of a polymeric yarn defining a plurality of elongated tensile elements extending therefrom as synthetic grass blades. 
     
     
         45 . The method of stabilizing as recited in  claim 44 , wherein the tufted tensile elements are tufted, sewn, laminated, welded, adhesively applied, or mechanically attached to an underlying permeable geotextile backing layer to be formed into a structure for the geotube. 
     
     
         46 . A method of improving a stabilization of an erodible surface, comprising the step of installing a surface layer of a geotextile having a plurality of tufted tensile elements above a geotube stabilizing apparatus, for a protective barrier and extension of a service life of the geotube stabilizing apparatus. 
     
     
         47 . The method of improving a stabilization as recited in  claim 46 , further comprises exposing the surface layer to water carrying a sand for filling in situ gaps between adjacent tufted tensile elements with sand to form the protective barrier. 
     
     
         48 . The method of improving a stabilization as recited in  claim 46 , further comprising the step of enhancing the yarn for the tufted tensile elements by selecting as an ingredient one or more of an ultraviolet inhibitor selected from the group comprising benzophenone, benzotriazole, and hindered amines light stabilizers (HALS) and an ultraviolet blocker selected from the group comprising carbon black, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.