Soil reinforcing element and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A soil reinforcing element including a flat elongated strip of material defining an upper planar surface and a bottom planar surface, the bottom planar surface opposing the upper planar surface, and a frictional profile being formed on each of the upper planar surface and the bottom planar surface, as well as a method of manufacturing the same.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soil reinforcing element, comprising:
 a flat elongated strip of material defining an upper planar surface and a bottom planar surface; and   a frictional profile formed on each of the upper planar surface and the bottom planar surface.   
     
     
         2 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frictional profile includes a plurality of protuberances.   
     
     
         3 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of protuberances are spaced apart from one another by a constant interval.   
     
     
         4 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frictional profile includes a plurality of depressions.   
     
     
         5 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the plurality of depressions are spaced apart from one another by a constant interval.   
     
     
         6 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of protuberances are grouped into a plurality of groups and each of the groups is spaced apart from one another by a constant interval.   
     
     
         7 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip of material is twisted at intervals to form a plurality of sections, adjacent ones of the plurality of sections being twisted by 180 degrees with respect to one another.   
     
     
         8 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip of material is formed from aluminum.   
     
     
         9 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip of material is formed from stainless steel.   
     
     
         10 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip of material is formed from carbon steel.   
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a soil reinforcing element, comprising:
 providing a flat elongated strip where all surfaces of the flat elongated strip are smooth; and   passing the flat elongated strip through a cold forming embossing roller device to emboss a frictional pattern on opposing surface of the flat elongated strip corresponding to impressions on roller surfaces of the embossing roller.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 twisting the flat elongated strip, about a central axis longitudinally extending along a length of the flat elongated strip, into a plurality of sections, adjacent ones of the sections being twisted  180  degrees relative to one another.   
     
     
         13 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip is formed from aluminum.   
     
     
         14 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip is formed from stainless steel.   
     
     
         15 . The soil reinforcing element of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the flat elongated strip is formed from carbon steel.   
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a soil reinforcing element using coiled metal comprising:
 placing a coil on an unwinding pedestal to uncoil a strip from the coil;   passing the strip through a straightening station to straighten the strip;   passing the strip through a punch station to flatten the strip;   passing the strip through an embossing station to create a frictional profile on top and bottom surfaces of the strip;   passing the strip through a twisting station;   passing the strip through a guillotine to cut the strip to a predetermined length;   placing the finished strip in a stack; and   banding the finished stack of strips.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the frictional profile includes a plurality of protuberances.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the frictional profile includes a plurality of depressions.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 passing the strip through the twisting station creates a plurality of adjacent twisted sections that are twisted 180 degrees relative to one another about an axis extending lengthwise through the strip.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the frictional profile includes at least one of a plurality of protuberances and depressions, the plurality of protuberances being grouped into a plurality of groups and each of the groups being spaced apart from one another by a constant interval.