Silt Fence System And Method Of Manufacture

Abstract

A silt fence with configurable barrier sections. The silt fence comprises a plurality of posts mounted on or in the ground, a fence panel, an apron panel, and a plurality of configurable barrier sections. The fence panel is secured in a vertical position to the posts and has a fence toe adapted to be buried in the ground. The apron panel is attached to the fence panel and extends from the fence panel to rest on the ground. An apron toe is also adapted to be buried in the ground to prevent erosion. Each of the plurality of configurable barrier sections has a panel edge and an apron edge, with the panel edge attachable to the fence panel perpendicular to the length of the fence panel and the apron edge attachable to the apron panel perpendicular to the length of the apron panel. The configurable barrier sections may be flexible or removable, and may be positioned in a barrier position or a cleaning position. In the cleaning position, accumulated silt or runoff is easily cleaned from the apron panel of the fence.

1 . A silt fence comprising:
 a plurality of posts mounted on or in the ground;   a fence panel comprising a fence toe, the fence toe adapted to be buried in the ground;   an apron panel having a back edge and an apron toe, the back edge attached to the fence panel along a length of the fence panel proximate the fence toe; and   a plurality of configurable barrier sections, each section having a panel edge and an apron edge, the panel edge attachable to the fence panel perpendicular to the length of the fence panel and the apron edge attachable to the apron panel perpendicular to the first edge of the apron panel;   wherein the fence panel is adapted to be connected to the plurality of posts such that the fence panel is maintained in a substantially vertical position; and   wherein the apron panel extends from the fence panel and is adapted to rest on the ground.   
   
   
       2 . The silt fence of  claim 1  wherein the apron toe of the apron fence is adapted to be buried in the ground substantially parallel to the fence toe; 
   
   
       3 . The silt fence of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the configurable barrier sections comprises a rigid support, the rigid support comprising:
 a barrier plate, the barrier plate being substantially vertical and having a vertical edge defining the panel edge of the configurable barrier section;   a base plate secured substantially perpendicular to a bottom edge of the barrier plate, the base plate defining the apron edge of the configurable barrier section;   at least one securing prong extending down from the base plate, the securing prong adapted to secure the configurable barrier section to the apron.   
   
   
       4 . The silt fence of  claim 3  wherein the barrier plate defines a plurality slots proximate the base plate. 
   
   
       5 . The silt fence of  claim 3  wherein the barrier plate comprises at least one securing hook along the vertical edge of the barrier plate. 
   
   
       6 . The silt fence of  claim 5  wherein the securing hook is adapted to connect to one of the plurality of posts. 
   
   
       7 . The silt fence of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the plurality of posts comprises a rigid stake adapted to be mounted in the ground. 
   
   
       8 . The silt fence of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the plurality of posts comprises:
 a stake plate, the stake plate being substantially vertical and having a vertical edge;   a stake base secured substantially perpendicular to a bottom edge of the stake plate, the stake base adapted to rest on the ground;   wherein the vertical edge of the stake plate is adapted to receive the securing hook of the barrier plate.   
   
   
       9 . The silt fence of  claim 1  at least one of the plurality of posts comprises a rigid stake adapted to be mounted in the ground, the stake comprising at least one fence hook, the fence hook adapted to engage a portion of the fence panel such that the fence panel is maintained in a substantially vertical position. 
   
   
       10 . The silt fence of  claim 9  wherein the stake defines a tongued slot adapted to receive the portion of the fence panel and wherein the fence hook is disposed on the tongued slot. 
   
   
       11 . The silt fence of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the configurable barrier sections is comprised of a barrier panel, the barrier panel having an attachment site;
 wherein the apron edge of the barrier panel is secured to the apron panel; and   wherein the barrier panel is configured to be movable between a cleaning position and a barrier position;   such that in the cleaning position a portion of the flexible barrier lies flat against the apron panel; and   such that in the barrier position the attachment site is removably secured to one of the plurality of posts.   
   
   
       12 . The silt fence of  claim 11  wherein the attachment site comprises an eyelet and wherein a tie is used to secure the eyelet to one of the plurality of posts. 
   
   
       13 . The silt fence of  claim 11  wherein the barrier panel is substantially trapezoidal in shape; and
 wherein a first parallel edge of the barrier plate is comprised of the apron edge and the fence edge; and   wherein a second parallel edge of the barrier plate is comprised of the attachment site.   
   
   
       14 . The silt fence of  claim 11  wherein the attachment site comprises a hem and wherein a tie is used to secure the hem to one of the plurality of posts. 
   
   
       15 . The silt fence of  claim 14  wherein the hem is formed by creating a fold in the barrier panel parallel to the second parallel edge and securing the second parallel edge to the barrier panel. 
   
   
       16 . A barrier section for use with a silt fence comprising a substantially vertical fence panel, the barrier section comprising:
 a barrier plate, the barrier plate being substantially vertical and having a vertical edge;   a base plate secured substantially perpendicular to a bottom edge of the barrier plate; and   at least one securing prong extending down from the base plate, the securing prong adapted to secure the configurable barrier section to the ground.   
   
   
       17 . The barrier section of  claim 16  further comprising at least one connection hook disposed on the vertical edge of the barrier plate, the connection hook adapted to engage the fence panel of the silt fence. 
   
   
       18 . The barrier section of  claim 16  wherein the barrier plate defines a plurality of slots proximate the base plate, the slots adapted to allow water to flow through the barrier plate while flow of soil past the barrier plate. 
   
   
       19 . The barrier section of  claim 16  further comprising a barrier post, the barrier post comprising:
 a post plate, the post plate being substantially vertical and having a vertical edge;   a post base secured substantially perpendicular to a bottom edge of the post plate, the post base adapted to rest on the ground;   wherein the vertical edge of the stake plate is adapted to engage the vertical edge of the barrier plate.   
   
   
       20 . A method for manufacturing a silt fence comprising a fence panel, an apron panel and a plurality of configurable barrier panels, the method comprising:
 a) attaching a back edge of the apron panel to the fence panel proximate and parallel to a bottom edge of the fence panel, said attaching step having defined a connection line where the apron panel is attached to the fence panel and a fence toe representing a portion of the fence panel between the connection line and the bottom edge of the fence panel;   b) attaching a first edge of one of the configurable barrier panels to the apron panel and the fence panel perpendicular to the connection line and from a first point proximate a front edge of the apron panel to a second point proximate a top edge of the fence panel; said attaching step having defined an apron toe representing a portion of the apron panel between the first points and the front edge of the apron panel; and   c) repeating step b) for each of the plurality of the configurable barrier panels at a predetermined separation from another one of the plurality of configurable barrier panels.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of:
 arranging a folded fence system wherein the apron panel would lie flat on the ground, the fence panel would be folded onto the apron panel with a fold line being the connection line and the plurality of barrier panels would be positioned in between the apron panel and the fence panel; and   spooling the folded fence system onto a storage roll.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the apron panel is attached to the fence panel using a hot glue system. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the configurable barrier panel is attached to the apron panel and the fence panel by sewing.