Erosion Control Installation Frame and Method

Abstract

A frame for cradling a rolled surface covering during installation onto a ground surface, including first and second spaced-apart end panels, a surface covering support base extending between the first and second spaced-apart panels and adapted for holding the rolled surface covering during installation. At least one lower roller extends along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base, and at least one upper roller extends along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base and is vertically spaced-apart from the at least one lower roller. The space defines a gap extending along a length of the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller through which a free end of the rolled surface covering is extended during installation onto the ground surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A frame for cradling a roll of erosion control surface covering during installation onto a ground surface while the frame is stationary and the surface covering is manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface, comprising:
 (a) first and second spaced-apart end panels;   (b) a plurality of spaced-apart surface covering support base members extending between the first and second spaced-apart end panels and adapted for supporting the roll of surface covering above the ground surface while the roll of erosion control surface covering is manually unrolled onto the ground surface;   (c) at least one lower roller extending along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base; and   (d) at least one upper roller extending along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the plurality of support base members and vertically spaced-apart from the at least one lower roller to define a gap extending between a length of the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller through which a free end of the rolled surface covering is adapted to be manually extended while the roll of erosion control surface covering is manually unrolled onto the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The frame for cradling a roll of surface covering according to  claim 1 , wherein the support base members comprise first and second laterally spaced-apart elongate annular support members extending along the length of the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller. 
     
     
         3 . The frame for cradling a roll of erosion control surface covering according to  claim 2 , and including:
 (a) first and second lower rollers positioned in laterally spaced-apart relation between the first and second spaced-apart end panels;   (b) first and second upper rollers positioned in laterally spaced-apart relation between the first and second spaced-apart end panels and above the first and second lower rollers to define an elongate gap through which the free end of the roll of surface covering is adapted to be manually extended and manually removed from the roll of surface covering and applied to the ground surface; and   (c) space adjusters for adjusting the space between the first and second lower rollers and the first and second_upper rollers to vary a width of the elongate gap.   
     
     
         4 . The frame for cradling a roll of surface covering according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller are mounted for rotation as the surface covering is manually pulled through the elongate gap while being manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface. 
     
     
         5 . The frame for cradling a roll of surface covering according to  claim 4 , and including wheels supporting the frame for rolling movement of the frame between surface covering installation locations. 
     
     
         6 . A frame for cradling a roll of erosion control surface covering during installation onto a ground surface while the frame is stationary and the surface covering is manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface, comprising:
 (a) first and second spaced-apart end panels defining a frame length;   (b) first and second spaced-apart side beams connected to and extending between the first and second spaced-apart end panels;   (c) a base positioned between and extending along the frame length of the first and second spaced-apart side beams and defining a support bed for the roll of surface covering to be manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface from the frame;   (d) at least one lower roller extending along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base;   (e) at least one upper roller extending along the support base between the first and second spaced-apart end panels at a level above the support base and vertically spaced-apart from the at least one lower roller to define a gap extending along a length of the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller through which a free end of the rolled surface covering is extended during installation onto the ground surface;   wheels connected to and supporting the frame proximate a first end of the frame for rolling movement of the frame between surface covering installation locations; and   (g) a frame support connected to and adapted to support a second end of the frame on a second end of the frame opposite the first end of the frame at a height above the ground surface.   
     
     
         7 . The frame for cradling a roll of erosion control surface covering according to  claim 6 , and including first and second space adjustors for adjusting the space between the respective lower and upper rollers to vary the width of the gap. 
     
     
         8 . The frame for cradling a roll of erosion control surface covering according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second space adjustors are adapted to vary the width of the gap by varying the lateral spacing between the lower and upper rollers. 
     
     
         9 . The method for manually unrolling and applying a surface covering onto a ground surface from an elongate roll of surface covering carried on a frame while the frame is stationary, and including the steps of:
 (a) providing a frame having two spaced-apart end panels, a base extending between the end panels and adapted to support the rolled surface covering, at least one lower roller connected to and extending between the end panels and positioned at a predetermined distance above the base, at least one upper roller connected on each end to and extending between the end panels and positioned at a predetermined distance above the at least one lower roller to define an elongate gap through which a free end of the surface covering is adapted to be positioned for being manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface;   (b) positioning the roll of surface covering onto the base;   (c) extending the free end of the roll of surface covering through the gap defined by the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller; and   (d) manually unrolling the roll of surface covering by manually pulling the free end of the roll of surface covering through the gap and manually depositing the surface covering on the ground surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , and including the step of adjusting the space between the lower and upper rollers to vary a width of the gap through which the roll of surface covering is extended. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , and including the step of supporting the frame on wheels to facilitate movement of the frame between surface covering installation locations. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of providing a frame includes the steps of providing:
 (a) first and second lower rollers positioned in laterally spaced-apart relation between the first and second spaced-apart end panels;   (b) first and second upper rollers positioned in laterally spaced-apart relation between the first and second spaced-apart end panels and above the first and second lower rollers to define the elongate gap through which the free end of the roll of surface covering is adapted to be manually extended and manually removed from the roll of surface covering and applied to the ground surface; and   (c) space adjusters for adjusting the space between the first and second lower rollers and the first and second_upper rollers to vary a width of the elongate gap.   
     
     
         13 . A frame for cradling a roll of erosion control surface covering during installation onto a ground surface while the frame is stationary and the surface covering is manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface, comprising:
 (a) a frame having two spaced-apart end panels, a base extending between the end panels and adapted to support the rolled surface covering, at least one lower roller connected to and extending between the end panels and positioned at a predetermined distance above the base, at least one upper roller connected on each end to and extending between the end panels and positioned at a predetermined distance above the at least one lower roller to define an elongate gap through which a free end of the surface covering is adapted to be positioned for being manually unrolled from the roll of surface covering onto the ground surface;   (b) wherein the frame is utilized according to a method including the steps of:
 (i) positioning the roll of surface covering onto the base; 
 (ii) extending the free end of the roll of surface covering through the gap defined by the at least one lower roller and the at least one upper roller; 
 (iii) manually unrolling the roll of surface covering by manually pulling the free end of the roll of surface covering through the gap and manually depositing the surface covering on the ground surface; 
 (iv) adjusting the space between the lower and upper rollers to vary a width of the gap through which the roll of surface covering is extended; and 
 (v) supporting the frame on wheels to facilitate movement of the frame between surface covering installation locations.