Road protection system

Abstract

A road protection system for protecting a road from water overflow erosion. The road protection system includes a protective sheet that is positionable from a first ditch over a roadway to a second ditch, a first end member attached to a first end of the protective sheet, a second end member attached to the protective sheet opposite of the first end member, a first loop member and a second loop member attached to first end member for receiving an elongate spike, and a plurality of spikes extendable within the protective sheet into a ground surface. The loop members are secured to the ditch having the highest water level with a pair of elongate spikes thereby serving as an initial anchor for the protective sheet. Once water from the first ditch begins to flow over the roadway, the weight of the water upon the protective sheet assists in retaining the protective sheet in a non-movable position.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A road protection system for protecting a roadway from water overflow from a first ditch to a second ditch, comprising: 
 a protective sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a first portion, a second portion and a middle portion between said first portion and said second portion;    a first end member attached to said first end of said protective sheet; and    a plurality of spike members extendable through said protective sheet for securing said first portion within a first ditch, said second portion within a second ditch and said middle portion upon a roadway.    
     
     
         2 . The road protection system of  claim 1 , including at least one loop member attached to said first end member and an elongate spike, wherein said at least one loop member receives said elongate spike for anchoring said protective sheet within a first ditch.  
     
     
         3 . The road protection system of  claim 1 , including a plurality of grommets within said protective sheet for receiving said plurality of spike members.  
     
     
         4 . The road protection system of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of grommets are positioned adjacent said first side and said second side in a distally spaced manner.  
     
     
         5 . The road protection system of  claim 2 , wherein said elongate spike is at least nine inches in length.  
     
     
         6 . The road protection system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spike members are at least three inches in length.  
     
     
         7 . The road protection system of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of grommets are equally distant spaced.  
     
     
         8 . The road protection system of  claim 1 , including a second end member attached to said second end of said protective member opposite of said first end member.  
     
     
         9 . The road protection system of  claim 1 , wherein said protective sheet has a length sufficient to extend from a first ditch over a roadway to a second ditch.  
     
     
         10 . The road protection system of  claim 1 , wherein said protective sheet is comprised of a water impermeable material.  
     
     
         11 . A method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow from a first ditch to a second ditch, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a protective sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a first portion, a second portion and a middle portion between said first portion and said second portion;    (b) providing a plurality of spike members;    (c) determining an overflow location along said roadway where water overflow is likely to occur;    (d) positioning said first end of said protective sheet within said first ditch adjacent said overflow location so that said first portion is positioned upon said first ditch;    (e) positioning said middle portion of said protective sheet upon said roadway;    (f) positioning said second portion of said protective sheet within said second ditch so that said second portion is positioned within said second ditch; and    (g) securing said plurality of spike members within said protective sheet for securing said protective sheet to a ground surface.    
     
     
         12 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 1   1 , wherein said steps (e) positioning said middle portion and (f) positioning said second portion are comprised of unrolling said protective sheet from a storage roll structure.  
     
     
         13 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 11 , including the step of inserting at least one anchor spike into said first end of said protective sheet.  
     
     
         14 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 13 , wherein protective sheet includes a first end member attached to said first end and at least one loop member attached to said first end member, wherein said at least one loop member receives said at least one anchor spike.  
     
     
         15 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 11 , wherein said protective sheet is comprised of an impermeable material.  
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow from a first ditch to a second ditch, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a protective sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a first portion, a second portion, a middle portion between said first portion and said second portion, and a plurality of grommets within said protective sheet adjacent said first side and said second side;    (b) providing a plurality of spike members;    (c) determining an overflow location along said roadway where water overflow is likely to occur;    (d) positioning said first end of said protective sheet within said first ditch adjacent said overflow location so that said first portion is positioned upon said first ditch;    (e) positioning said middle portion of said protective sheet upon said roadway;    (f) positioning said second portion of said protective sheet within said second ditch so that said second portion is positioned within said second ditch; and    (g) securing said plurality of spike members within said plurality of grommets for securing said protective sheet to a ground surface.    
     
     
         17 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 16 , wherein said steps (e) positioning said middle portion and (f) positioning said second portion are comprised of unrolling said protective sheet from a storage roll structure.  
     
     
         18 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 16 , including the step of inserting at least one anchor spike into said first end of said protective sheet.  
     
     
         19 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 18 , wherein protective sheet includes a first end member attached to said first end and at least one loop member attached to said first end member, wherein said at least one loop member receives said at least one anchor spike.  
     
     
         20 . The method of installing a protective sheet upon a roadway susceptible to receiving water overflow of  claim 16 , wherein said protective sheet is comprised of an impermeable material.