Silt fence system and method of use

Abstract

A silt fence system employs silt fencing that is supported along the fence length with stakes. The stakes have a polymer or plastic outer casing, and either a flexible core or a core segment of rigid material such as cement. The outer casing provides resistance to the elements and the flexible material provides the give to handle hydraulic forces with breaking of the stake, as is the case when wooden stakes are used. The system employs the rigid core stakes in situations where hydraulic forces are large enough that the combination of the plastic outer casing and flexible core is insufficient to maintain stake position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a silt fence system comprising a fabric material and a plurality of stakes, wherein the fabric material is secured to the stakes to define an erosion control barrier at a construction site, the improvement comprising each stake having a core of a flexible material and an outer casing of a plastic or polymeric material.  
     
     
         2 . A method of installing a silt fence at a construction site comprising: 
 a) providing a silt fence fabric material, and a plurality of fence stakes, each fence stake further comprising a core of a flexible material and an outer casing of a plastic or polymeric material;    b) inserting at least a portion of each stake into the ground, the stakes in spaced apart intervals defining an erosion barrier line; and    c) attaching the silt fence fabric material to the stakes.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching the fence to the stakes, said means including (1) fasteners sized to fit within openings in the stakes, (2) staples, and (3) snaps molded to the stakes to fit within openings in the stakes.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stakes are square in cross section.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fence has a reinforcing band running along its length.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fence includes a flap at a bottom edge thereof, the flap adapted to rest on a ground surface.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the flap has a plurality of openings to attach the flap to the ground surface using stakes, pins or other fasteners.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stake outer casing is molded or extruded onto the flexible core.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a rubber material.  
     
     
         10 . In a silt fence system comprising a fabric material and a plurality of stakes, wherein the fabric material is secured to the stakes to define an erosion control barrier at a construction site, the improvement comprising each stake having a core segment of at least a cement or cement-like material and an outer casing of a plastic or polymeric material.  
     
     
         11 . A method of installing a silt fence at a construction site comprising: 
 a) providing a silt fence fabric material, and a plurality of fence stakes, each fence stake further comprising a core segment of at least a cement or cement-like material and an outer casing of a plastic or polymeric material;    b) inserting at least a portion of each stake into the ground, the stakes in spaced apart intervals defining an erosion barrier line; and    c) attaching the silt fence fabric material to the stakes.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the polymeric material is PVC piping.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymeric material is PVC piping.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymeric material is PVC piping.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the core includes a granular material, preferably the granular material being disposed between portions of the cement or the cement-like material.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the core includes a granular material, preferably the granular material being disposed between portions of the cement or the cement-like material.