Geotextile exclusion fabric and methods of use

Abstract

The geotextile exclusion fabric for pest control and deterrence comprises a mixture of metal fibers needle punched to a scrim layer.

1 . A geotextile fabric material comprising:
 a. a layer of metal fibers; and   b. a scrim layer; wherein the metal fibers interengage with each other and the metal fibers include a plurality of barbed projections and a rough barbed outer surface with irregular shaped cross-sections varied along the lengths of the metal fibers; and wherein the layer of metal fibers is needle punched to the scrim layer.   
     
     
         2 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 1 , further comprising a second layer of metal fibers, wherein the first layer of metal fibers is needle punched to a first side of the scrim layer, and the second layer of metal fibers is needle punched to a second side of the scrim layer 
     
     
         3 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 1 , wherein the geotextile fabric material further comprises an external boundary, further comprising:
 a. a void within the external boundary of the geotextile fabric material creating; and   b. a slit extending from the void to at least a portion of the external boundary of the geotextile fabric material.   
     
     
         4 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 3 , wherein the slit partitions a first flap and a second flap in the geotextile fabric material, a securing member associated with the second flap and the securing member including an engagement layer to fixedly engage with the first flap. 
     
     
         5 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 4 , wherein the securing member further comprises a layer of geotextile exclusion fabric on top of the engagement layer. 
     
     
         6 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of metal fibers comprises a first layer of metal fibers and a second layer of metal fibers overlapping the first layer of metal fibers to form a web. 
     
     
         7 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 6 , wherein the composite is resilient such that it retakes a substantially original shape after release from compression. 
     
     
         8 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 6 , further comprising a second web including at least two overlapping layers, wherein the first web is needle punched to a first side of the scrim layer, and the second web is needle punched to a second side of the scrim layer. 
     
     
         9 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 1 , wherein the geotextile fabric material is configured to have a first section and a second section, the first section abutting the second section and forming an interface angle therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 9 , wherein the interface angle is greater than 0° and less than 360°. 
     
     
         11 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 9 , wherein the interface angle is about 90°. 
     
     
         12 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 9 , further comprising an edging, the edging comprising a body strip and at least one securing tab, the securing tab comprising at least one via, wherein the edging is configured such that the body strip abuts the first section of the geotextile fabric material and the securing tab abuts the second section. 
     
     
         13 . A method for making a geotextile exclusion fabric of  claim 1  including:
 a. providing an interengaged mixture of metal fibers, wherein the metal fibers include a plurality of barbed projections and a rough barbed outer surface with irregular shaped cross-sections varied along the lengths of the metal fibers; and 
 b. needle-punching the interengaged mixture of metal fibers to the scrim layer to form a layer of metal fibers. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metal fibers are needle punched to interengage adjacent metal fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of needle punching the interengaged mixture of metal fibers is performed on a first side of the scrim layer, further comprising the step of needle-punching the interengaged mixture of metal fibers to the scrim layer to form a second layer of metal fibers is performed on a second side of the scrim layer. 
     
     
         16 . A geotextile fabric material comprising:
 a. a layer of nonwoven metal fabric; and   b. a scrim layer;   
       wherein the layer of nonwoven metal fabric is attached to the scrim layer. 
     
     
         17 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 16 , further comprising a second layer of nonwoven metal fabric, wherein the first layer of nonwoven metal fabric is attached to a first side of the scrim, and the second layer of nonwoven metal fabric is attached to a second side of the scrim 
     
     
         18 . The geotextile fabric material of  claim 16 , further comprising a layer of metal fibers, wherein the layer of nonwoven metal fabric is attached to a first side of the scrim layer, the metal fibers interengage with each other and the metal fibers include a plurality of barbed projections and a rough barbed outer surface with irregular shaped cross-sections varied along the lengths of the metal fibers, and wherein the layer of metal fibers is needle punched to a second side of the scrim layer. 
     
     
         19 . A geotextile fabric material comprising:
 a. a first layer of metal fibers;   b. a scrim layer; and   c. a second layer of metal fibers; wherein the metal fibers of the first layer and second layer interengage with each other, the metal fibers include a plurality of barbed projections and a rough barbed outer surface with irregular shaped cross-sections varied along the lengths of the metal fibers, and the first layer of metal fibers is needle punched to a first side of the scrim layer and the second layer of metal fibers is needle punched to a second side of the scrim layer.