Sediment/Erosion/Perimeter Control Devices and Methods of Making and Using the Same

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of sediment/erosion/perimeter control devices and methods of making and using the same. In exemplary embodiments, a system comprises a convertible silt fence/scour pad and a wattle. The wattle is integrated with the convertible silt fence/scour pad such that the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product. The convertible silt fence/scour pad is deployable in at least a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the convertible silt fence/scour pad is generally vertical and/or generally perpendicular relative to the ground or other surface supporting the wattle, whereby the convertible silt fence/scour pad is operable primarily as a silt fence. In the second orientation, the convertible silt fence/scour pad is generally horizontal and/or generally parallel relative to the ground or other surface supporting the wattle, whereby the convertible silt fence/scour pad is operable primarily as a scour pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a convertible silt fence/scour pad; and   a wattle integrated with the convertible silt fence/scour pad such that the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product;   wherein the convertible silt fence/scour pad is deployable in at least:
 a first orientation in which the convertible silt fence/scour pad is generally vertical and/or generally perpendicular relative to the ground or other surface supporting the wattle, whereby the convertible silt fence/scour pad is operable primarily as a silt fence; and 
 a second orientation in which the convertible silt fence/scour pad is generally horizontal and/or generally parallel relative to the ground or other surface supporting the wattle, whereby the convertible silt fence/scour pad is operable primarily as a scour pad. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wattle is reconfigurable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration that is substantially larger than the first configuration of the wattle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the wattle comprises a material configured such that the wattle is reconfigurable between at least:
 the first configuration in which the wattle has a first size, shape, volume, and/or weight; and   the second configuration in which the wattle has a second size, shape, volume, and/or weight substantially larger than the corresponding first size, shape, volume, and/or weight that the wattle has in the first configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the wattle comprises an exterior;   the material comprises an infill encapsulated within an interior defined by the exterior of the wattle; and   the wattle is:
 compressible into the first configuration via compression of the infill; and 
 expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration via expansion of the infill. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the convertible silt fence/scour pad integrally defines the exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the convertible silt fence/scour pad is integrally woven with the exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the infill is chemically activatable such that chemical activation of the infill reconfigures the wattle from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the infill is provided within the interior defined by the exterior of the wattle:
 when the wattle is manufactured; or   when the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle are being deployed in the field.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the wattle comprises a water permeable exterior;   the material comprises an infill encapsulated within an interior defined by the water permeable exterior of the wattle; and   the wattle is:
 compressible into the first configuration via compression of the infill; and 
 expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration via expansion of the infill when the infill absorbs water passing through the water permeable exterior of the wattle. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the convertible silt fence/scour pad integrally defines the water permeable exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the material of the wattle comprises one or more:
 a cellulose-based sponge infill;   a hygroexpandable infill;   an infill configured to be compressible and expandable upon absorption of water;   an infill configured to be chemically activatable to thereby reconfigure the wattle from the first configuration into the second configuration;   a natural infill;   a non-natural infill;   a synthetic infill;   an organic, plant-based, and/or environmentally friendly infill;   a cellulose-based material; and/or a sponge.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle are biodegradable in their entirety. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible silt fence/scour pad is integrally woven with an exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the convertible silt fence/scour pad and an exterior of the wattle are integrally formed from a same single piece of fabric; or   the convertible silt fence/scour pad is formed from a first fabric, and an exterior of the wattle is formed from a second fabric that is joined to the first fabric such that the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the integration of the wattle with the convertible silt fence/scour pad enables the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle to be:
 packaged into a single unit;   shipped as a single unit; and/or   deployed in the field as a single unit without having to trench a lower portion of the convertible silt fence/scour pad.   
     
     
         16 . A method of using a system that includes a convertible silt fence/scour pad and a wattle integrated with the convertible silt fence/scour pad such that the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product, the method comprising deploying the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle in the field as a single unit selectively in either:
 a first orientation in which the convertible silt fence/scour pad is generally vertical and/or generally perpendicular relative to the ground or other surface supporting the wattle, whereby the convertible silt fence/scour pad is operable primarily as a silt fence; or   a second orientation in which the convertible silt fence/scour pad is generally horizontal and/or generally parallel relative to the ground or other surface supporting the wattle, whereby the convertible silt fence/scour pad is operable primarily as a scour pad.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the wattle comprises a material configured such that the wattle is reconfigurable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration that is substantially larger than the first configuration of the wattle; and   the method includes:
 compressing the material of the wattle to thereby compress the wattle into the first configuration via the compression of the material; and 
 reconfiguring the wattle from the first configuration to the second configuration via expansion of the material of the wattle when the material absorbs water or via chemical activation of the material of the wattle. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method includes:
 packaging the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle into a single unit; and/or   shipping the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle as a single unit; and/or   unpackaging the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle from a single unit while deploying the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle in the field as the single unit; and/or   deploying the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle in the field as a single unit without having to trench a lower portion of the convertible silt fence/scour pad.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the wattle comprises a material configured such that the wattle is reconfigurable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration that is substantially larger than the first configuration of the wattle; and   the method includes incorporating the material into the wattle:
 during manufacturing of the wattle; or 
 after manufacturing of the wattle while deploying the convertible silt fence/scour pad and the wattle in the field. 
   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a silt fence; and   a wattle integrated with the silt fence such that the silt fence and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the integration of the wattle with the silt fence enables the silt fence and the wattle to be:
 packaged into a single unit;   shipped as a single unit; and/or   deployed in the field as a single unit without having to trench a lower portion of the silt fence.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the wattle comprises a material configured such that the wattle is reconfigurable between at least:
 a first configuration in which the wattle has a first size, shape, volume, and/or weight; and   a second configuration in which the wattle has a second size, shape, volume, and/or weight substantially larger than the corresponding first size, shape, volume, and/or weight that the wattle has in the first configuration.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the wattle comprises an exterior;   the material comprises an infill encapsulated within an interior defined by the exterior of the wattle; and   the wattle is:
 compressible into the first configuration via compression of the infill; and 
 expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration via expansion of the infill. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the silt fence integrally defines the exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the infill is provided within the interior defined by the exterior of the wattle:
 when the wattle is manufactured; or   when the silt fence and the wattle are being deployed in the field.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the silt fence and the wattle are biodegradable in their entirety. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the silt fence is integrally woven with an exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the silt fence and an exterior of the wattle are integrally formed from a same single piece of fabric; or   the silt fence is formed from a first fabric, and an exterior of the wattle is formed from a second fabric that is joined to the first fabric such that the silt fence and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product.   
     
     
         29 . A system comprising:
 a scour pad; and   a wattle integrated with the scour pad such that the scour pad and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the integration of the wattle with the scour pad enables the scour pad and the wattle to be:
 packaged into a single unit;   shipped as a single unit; and/or   deployed in the field as a single unit.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the wattle comprises a material configured such that the wattle is reconfigurable between at least:
 a first configuration in which the wattle has a first size, shape, volume, and/or weight; and   a second configuration in which the wattle has a second size, shape, volume, and/or weight substantially larger than the corresponding first size, shape, volume, and/or weight that the wattle has in the first configuration.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the wattle comprises an exterior;   the material comprises an infill encapsulated within an interior defined by the exterior of the wattle; and   the wattle is:
 compressible into the first configuration via compression of the infill; and 
 expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration via expansion of the infill. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the scour pad integrally defines the exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the infill is provided within the interior defined by the exterior of the wattle:
 when the wattle is manufactured; or   when the scour pad and the wattle are being deployed in the field.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the scour pad and the wattle are biodegradable in their entirety. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the scour pad is integrally woven with an exterior of the wattle. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the scour pad and an exterior of the wattle are integrally formed from a same single piece of fabric; or   the scour pad is formed from a first fabric, and an exterior of the wattle is formed from a second fabric that is joined to the first fabric such that the scour pad and the wattle are an integrated, singular, or unitary product.