Protective device and slope stabilization

Abstract

A protective device, in particular an erosion protection device and/or a drainage device configured as a geotextile, includes a mat element, which is at least intended to be spread flat over a surface to be protected and which is formed at least to a large extent from a three-dimensional, nonwoven-like, and tangled nonwoven-like, composite with a multiplicity of fibres.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A protective device for erosion protection and/or drainage comprising a mat element which is intended to be spread flat over a surface to be protected and which is formed at least to a large extent from a three-dimensional, nonwoven-like, and tangled nonwoven-like composite having a multiplicity of fibres, wherein the fibres are formed as biodegradable plastic fibres. 
     
     
         34 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein the fibres comprise a biodegradable polylactide plastic (PLA). 
     
     
         35 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least a substantial part of all fibres of the composite are stretched and/or pre-stretched. 
     
     
         36 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least a substantial part of all fibres of the composite are preformed and/or precorrugated. 
     
     
         37 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein the mat element has a weight per unit area of less than 400 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         38 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least a substantial part of all fibres has a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water. 
     
     
         39 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein the fibres have an average length of at most 20 cm. 
     
     
         40 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least a substantial part of the fibres of the composite has specifically admixed colour pigments which are biocompatible and/or biodegradable. 
     
     
         41 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein at least a substantial part of all fibres forming the composite have a diameter of less than 2 mm. 
     
     
         42 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein the fibres comprise at least a plurality of fibres of a first fibre type and at least a plurality of fibres of a second fibre type, said fibres of said first fibre type and said second fibre type being substantially different from each other. 
     
     
         43 . The protective device according to  claim 42 , wherein the fibres of the first fibre type and the fibres of the second fibre type have substantially different finenesses. 
     
     
         44 . The protective device according to  claim 43 , wherein the fibres of the fibre type with the higher fineness form friction fibres for increasing a tensile strength of the mat element. 
     
     
         45 . The protective device according to  claim 42 , wherein the fibres of the first fibre type and the fibres of the second fibre type have substantially different average lengths. 
     
     
         46 . The protective device according to  claim 42 , wherein the fibres of the first type of fibres comprise a first type and/or mixture of colour pigments which imparts a first colouring to the fibres of the first fibre type, and in that the fibres of the second fibre type comprise a second type and/or mixture of colour pigments which imparts to the fibres of the second fibre type a second colouring which is different from the first colouring. 
     
     
         47 . The protective device according to  claim 46 , wherein the first colouring and the second colouring are intended to produce a camouflage effect in combination. 
     
     
         48 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein at most 10% of the mat element is biodegraded and/or disintegrated under controlled composting conditions after a period of one year. 
     
     
         49 . The protective device according to  claim 33 , wherein a reinforcing element is connected to the mat element. 
     
     
         50 . The protective device according to  claim 49 , wherein the reinforcing element is arranged above and/or below the mat element. 
     
     
         51 . The protective device according to  claim 49 , wherein at least one connecting element is provided to connect the mat element and the reinforcing element together. 
     
     
         52 . The protective device according to  claim 49 , wherein the connecting element is biodegradable or is adapted to disintegrate upon exposure to weather. 
     
     
         53 . The protective device according to  claim 49 , wherein the reinforcing element is sewn to the mat element. 
     
     
         54 . The protective device according to  claim 49 , wherein the reinforcing element is formed as a wire mesh. 
     
     
         55 . The protective device according to  claim 54 , wherein the wire mesh comprises at least one wire which is at least partially formed from a high strength steel. 
     
     
         56 . The protective device according to  claim 49 , wherein the reinforcing element has a three-dimensional, mattress-like structure. 
     
     
         57 . A slope protection comprising the protective device according to  claim 33 . 
     
     
         58 . The use of the protective device according to  claim 33  in any of:
 a new greening and/or a re-greening of a surface; 
 a sloping surface; 
 a surface at risk of erosion; 
 as a drainage mat in or on a floor or on a building roof; or 
 for a protection of agricultural products directly at a cultivation site. 
 
     
     
         59 . A method of manufacturing a protective device for erosion protection and/or drainage, wherein the method comprises the step of producing a three-dimensional, nonwoven-like, and tangled nonwoven-like composite from a plurality of biodegradable plastic fibres adapted to be spread out flat over a surface to be protected. 
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 58 , further comprising the step of stretching the biodegradable plastic fibres prior to the production of the nonwoven-like composite or pre-corrrugating the biodegradable plastic fibres before the nonwoven-like composite is produced. 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 58 , further comprising the step of connecting the mat element to a reinforcing element. 
     
     
         62 . A method for the installation of a protective device for erosion protection device and/or drainage, comprising the steps of:
 forming a mat element which is intended to be spread flat over a surface to be protected and which is formed at least to a large extent from a three-dimensional, nonwoven-like, and tangled nonwoven-like composite having a multiplicity of fibres, wherein the fibres are formed as biodegradable plastic fibres;   connecting the mat element to a reinforcing element by a connecting element; and   installing the mat element and reinforcing element on a surface to be protected such that the mat element is arranged between the surface to be protected and the reinforcing element;   wherein the connecting element is dissolved by weathering after installation has taken place, so that the mat element is separated from the reinforcing element and lies over the surface to be protected.