Erosion-control structures made with attached sandbags

Abstract

An erosion-control element for making erosion-control structures comprises a plurality of sandbags attached together by closed-loop attachment members which extend through holes positioned near the bag edges and not connected to the fill-holding chamber in the bag. The erosion-control elements can be used to form structures for protecting underwater shorelines or other ground subject to water erosion.

1 . A bag for containing a fill material comprising:
 (a) a flexible bag wall forming a chamber for containing said fill material;   (b) a sealable opening for insertion of said fill material into said chamber; and   (c) a hole adjacent to an edge of said bag extending through said bag wall for receiving a bag attachment member, said hole being unconnected to said chamber.   
   
   
       2 . An erosion-control element comprising:
 (a) a plurality of sandbags, each said sandbag having a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing a fill material, and a hole extending through said bag wall, said hole being unconnected to said chamber; and   (b) a bag attachment member extending through said holes forming a closed loop and attaching said sandbags together.   
   
   
       3 . An erosion-control element comprising:
 (a) at least three sandbags comprising first, second and third said sandbags, each said sandbag having a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing a fill material, and a hole extending through said bag wall, said hole being unconnected to said chamber, said first sandbag having at least two said holes spaced apart from each other;   (b) a first bag attachment member extending through a first said hole in said first sandbag and through said hole in said second sandbag, forming a closed loop and attaching said first and second sandbags together; and   (c) a second bag attachment member extending through a second said hole in said first sandbag and through said hole in said third sandbag, forming a closed loop and attaching said first and third sandbags together.   
   
   
       4 . An erosion-control element comprising:
 (a) a plurality of sandbags, each said bag having a flexible bag wall forming a chamber containing a fill material, and a hole extending through said bag wall, said hole being unconnected to said chamber; and   (b) each of said holes having a respective bag attachment member extending therethrough and forming a closed loop; and   (c) a connector for connecting said bag attachment members together.   
   
   
       5 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 2 , wherein said hole is adjacent to an edge of said bag. 
   
   
       6 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 3 , wherein said hole is adjacent to an edge of said bag. 
   
   
       7 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 4 , wherein said hole is adjacent to an edge of said bag. 
   
   
       8 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 2 , wherein said attachment member is a cable tie. 
   
   
       9 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 2 , in combination with one or more other said erosion control members to form a structure for protecting a ground area from erosion. 
   
   
       10 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 3 , in combination with one or more other said erosion control members to form a structure for protecting a ground area from erosion. 
   
   
       11 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 4 , in combination with one or more other said erosion control members to form a structure for protecting a ground area from erosion. 
   
   
       12 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 9 , wherein said ground area is an underwater shoreline area. 
   
   
       13 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 10 , wherein said ground area is an underwater shoreline area. 
   
   
       14 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 11 , wherein said ground area is an underwater shoreline area. 
   
   
       15 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 9 , wherein said ground area is an above-water sloping area. 
   
   
       16 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 9 , wherein said combination of erosion control members is anchored to said ground area. 
   
   
       17 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 10 , wherein said combination of erosion control members is anchored to said ground area. 
   
   
       18 . An erosion-control element according to  claim 11 , wherein said combination of erosion control members is anchored to said ground area.