U.S. patent application number 13/525706 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-17 for sheet piling with aversive additive.
This patent application is currently assigned to CRANE MATERIALS INTERNATIONAL. The applicant listed for this patent is Steven E. HARGRAVE, John E. IRVINE. Invention is credited to Steven E. HARGRAVE, John E. IRVINE.
Application Number | 20130014453 13/525706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47518104 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130014453 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HARGRAVE; Steven E. ; et
al. |
January 17, 2013 |
SHEET PILING WITH AVERSIVE ADDITIVE
Abstract
A sheet piling member comprising including a base construction
material forming a rigid shape and an aversive agent incorporated
with respect to the base construction material. The aversive agent
deters contact with the base construction material by living
rodents.
Inventors: |
HARGRAVE; Steven E.;
(Roswell, GA) ; IRVINE; John E.; (Atlanta,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HARGRAVE; Steven E.
IRVINE; John E. |
Roswell
Atlanta |
GA
GA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CRANE MATERIALS
INTERNATIONAL
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
47518104 |
Appl. No.: |
13/525706 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61506692 |
Jul 12, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/101 ; 405/211;
52/741.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 5/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/101 ;
52/741.3; 405/211 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/72 20060101
E04B001/72; E02D 5/60 20060101 E02D005/60 |
Claims
1. An animal-aversive sheet piling comprising: an elongate member
formed of a substantially rigid base construction material, the
elongate member comprising first and second sides defining a width
therebetween, and first and second ends defining a length
therebetween; and wherein the elongate member further comprises an
animal-aversive agent effective to deter damage to the sheet piling
by living animals.
2. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent
is blended into the base construction material.
3. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent
is applied onto the base construction material.
4. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent
comprises at least one of the group comprising denatonium benzoate
and capsaicin.
5. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent
is concentrated at predetermined locations with respect to the base
construction material.
6. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent
is incorporated evenly with respect to the base construction
material.
7. The sheet piling of claim 1, further comprising a tactile
element.
8. The sheet piling of claim 7, wherein the tactile element
comprises glass.
9. The sheet piling of claim 1, further comprising a distinctive
colorant that deters living animals.
10. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the base construction
material comprises a polymer.
11. The sheet piling member of claim 10, wherein the polymer
comprises at least one of the group comprising polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
12. A method of preventing rodents or other animals from damaging a
sheet piling structure, the method comprising: incorporating an
aversive material with respect to a base construction material of a
sheet piling member; and installing the sheet piling member into a
structure.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein incorporating the aversive
material comprises blending the aversive material with the base
construction material, and extruding the blend to form an elongate
sheet piling element.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein incorporating the aversive
material comprises applying the aversive material onto the base
construction material, and dried and hardened.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising incorporating a
tactile element with respect to the base construction material.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the structure comprises a
levee.
17. A sheet piling member comprising: a base construction material
forming a rigid shape; and a tactile element incorporated with
respect to the base construction material, effective to deter
contact with the base construction material by living rodents.
18. The sheet piling member of claim 17, further comprising an
aversive agent incorporated with respect to the base construction
material.
19. The sheet piling member of claim 18, wherein the aversive agent
is blended into the base construction material.
20. The sheet piling member of claim 18, wherein the aversive agent
is applied onto the base construction material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/506,692, filed Jul. 12,
2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
sheet piling members, such as used in levee repair and
reinforcement, flood wall, barrier wall, seawall and other
applications.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Sheet piling may be used in various applications, including
without limitation, levee repair and reinforcement, barrier wall
and seawall construction, and other applications. Sheet piles can
be formed of various materials, including without limitation,
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or
other materials. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,575,667 and 7,025,539 are
incorporated by reference herein.
[0004] It has been discovered that rodents burrowing in earthen
levees may allow water to flow through the levee and potentially
lead to levee failure. Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist
for improved methods and systems for stabilizing levees and for
resisting damage to levees from burrowing rodents. It is to the
provision of improved methods and systems meeting these and other
needs that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY
[0005] In example embodiments, the present invention provides
methods and apparatus for preventing animal damage to sheet piling
structures. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a sheet
piling member that includes a base construction material forming a
rigid shape and an aversive agent incorporated with respect to the
base construction material. The aversive agent deters contact with
the base construction material by living rodents.
[0006] In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of
preventing rodents or other animals from damaging a sheet piling
structure. The method includes incorporating an aversive material
with respect to a base construction material of a sheet piling
member; and installing the sheet piling member into a
structure.
[0007] In still another aspect, the invention relates to a sheet
piling member including a base construction material forming a
rigid shape and a tactile element incorporated with respect to the
base construction material. The tactile element deters contact with
the base construction material by living rodents.
[0008] In still another aspect, the invention relates to a levee
comprising an earthen structure and at least one sheet piling
member extending into the earthen structure. The at least one sheet
piling member at least partially comprises an aversive material
that resists burrowing rodents.
[0009] In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of
stabilizing a levee. The method includes installing at least one
sheet piling member into a levee structure. The at least one sheet
piling member at least partially comprises an aversive material
that resists burrowing rodents.
[0010] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the
invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures
and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of
the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in
the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing
general description and the following brief description of the
drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary
and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are
not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0011] The drawing figure is a perspective view of a section of
sheet piling with aversive additive according to an example
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The present invention may be understood more readily by
reference to the following detailed description of the invention
taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which
form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this
invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods,
conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that
the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended
to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and
other publications identified in this specification are
incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
[0013] Also, as used in the specification including the appended
claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural,
and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least
that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or
"approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or
"approximately" another particular value. When such a range is
expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular
value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values
are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about,"
it will be understood that the particular value forms another
embodiment.
[0014] With reference now to the drawing figure, wherein like
reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the
several views a perspective view of a section of sheet piling 10
with aversive additive is shown according to an example embodiment
of the present invention. The sheet piling comprises an elongate
member 20 having first and second sides 30, 32 defining a width
therebetween, and first and second ends 40, 42 defining a length
therebetween. In example forms, the first side 30 includes a male
coupling element 50, and the second side 32 includes a female
coupling element 52.
[0015] A plurality of two or more sheet piling members 10 may
optionally be assembled into a sheet piling array or structure,
whereby the male and female coupling elements 50, 52 of adjacent
sheet piling members are cooperatively interengaged with one
another to provide structural integrity and resist fluid flow or
material transfer across the sheet piling structure. In example
embodiments, the sheet piling members 10 are installed below grade,
for example by sequentially driving sheet piling members into the
ground, with the second ends 42 thereof positioned at a specified
depth below grade.
[0016] In the depicted embodiment, the sheet piling member 10
comprises a corrugated profile, having a medial panel 60 between
first and second transverse panels 62, 64, a first side flange 66
between the first transverse panel 62 and the first side 30, and a
second side flange 68 between the second transverse panel 64 and
the second side 32. The first and second side flanges 66, 68 are
generally coplanar, and lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the
medial panel 60, whereby a sheet piling member thickness is defined
between the parallel planes. The sheet piling member 10 is
preferably an integrally formed unitary member of substantially
rigid material such as, for example, PVC, HDPE, steel, fiberglass
or other polymeric or metal materials of construction.
[0017] In alternate embodiments, the sheet piling 10 can comprise
an elongate member having other corrugated (for example C-shaped,
S-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped cross-sectional profiles), a flat
profile, or otherwise configured shapes. The sheet piling may or
may not include interengaging male and female connector elements at
opposed sides thereof, and the connectors may optionally comprise
profiles other than as depicted.
[0018] The sheet piling of the present invention incorporates an
aversive agent into or onto the plastic or other material of
construction used to form the sheet piling members. In example
forms, the aversive agent is a chemical, botanical or other
material that repels burrowing rodents or other animals.
Optionally, the aversive agent does not harm the animal, but is
very bitter and spicy, so the taste and smell senses are profoundly
influenced in a negative way, causing the rodents stop gnawing and
learn to stay away. The aversive agent can be blended into the base
construction material of the sheet piling, can be co-molded or
co-extruded as an outer cladding or coating over the base
construction material, and/or can be applied as by painting or
other surface treatment methods, then allowed to dry and
harden.
[0019] In further embodiments, the material of the sheet piling
optionally incorporates fibers, for example chopped glass strands,
nylon fibers and/or other fibrous, pointed, abrasive or otherwise
tactile aversive materials, to add a tactile element that is
disfavored by burrowing rodents or other animals, for example
causing skin or eye irritation, itching, or other sensory
disincentive. Optionally, the fibers are applied to or concentrated
in, the exterior portions of the material forming the sheet piling,
and/or may be selectively oriented to enhance tactile action
against animals coming in contact therewith. Sand, glass beads,
crushed glass particles, or other materials may be incorporated in
or on the material of the sheet piling, for example embedded within
the sheet piling or applied onto the sheet piling as a coating.
Additionally or alternatively, a metal or glass fiber mesh,
belting, cording and/or strands may be incorporated into or onto
the sheet piling. In further embodiments, the material of the sheet
piling optionally also incorporates one or more colorant(s),
phosphorescent agent(s), and/or reflective agent(s) that is/are
disfavored by or repellant to burrowing rodents or other animals.
Also, a distinct color, such as for example a bright green
colorant, may be used to distinguish an aversive-containing sheet
piling from a standard sheet piling not incorporating an
aversive.
[0020] The aversive agent(s) may be introduced into the material of
construction in various manners, such as for example by automated
mixing of pelletized materials into the additive feeder or other
material feed stream of a plastics blender system, and feeding into
a melt extruder. The aversive agent(s) may optionally be
incorporated into a carrier, binder, filler or other material(s),
such as for example ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Example addition
rates of aversive agents that may be adapted for use with the
invention include Rodrepel.TM. by C Tech Corporation at an addition
rate of about 2.5% to 5% (denatonium benzoate (bitter)); and/or
RepelaTM by Aversion Technologies, Inc. at an addition rate of
about 2%-3% (denatonium benzoate (bitter) and capsaicin
(spicy/odor)). In alternate embodiments, the aversive content
comprises about 0.5% to about 10%, or about 1% to about 7.5% of the
material composition forming the sheet piling. Optionally, the
aversive may be concentrated at external portions of the sheet
piling.
[0021] While the invention has been described with reference to
preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and
deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the
following claims.
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