Wave energy attenuation structure

Abstract

A structure for the protection of a shoreline by the attenuation of wave energy, the structural features of which facilitate its use as a marine habitat, which includes a plurality of primary and secondary wave attenuation devices collectively and cooperatively disposed in an operative position relative to one another and a shoreline. Common structural features of the primary and secondary wave attenuation devices include an at least partially corresponding dimension and hollow interior bounded by angularly oriented sidewalls and outer walls, which have an apertured construction. Apertures or openings respectively formed in the sidewalls and outer walls facilitate fluid flow through the operatively disposed wave attenuation devices via flow into and out of the corresponding hollow interiors thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structure for wave attenuation comprising:
 a primary wave attenuation device including a base, an outer end oppositely disposed to said base and a hollow interior,   said primary wave attenuation device including a back wall and a plurality of sidewalls collectively enclosing said hollow interior,   each of said plurality of sidewalls extending from said base to said outer end at a converging angular orientation,   said back wall extending from said base to said outer end at a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to said base,   each of said plurality of sidewalls including an apertured construction comprising a plurality of openings formed therein and defining fluid communication of said hollow interior with an exterior of said primary wave attenuation device, and   said plurality of openings collectively defining fluid flow through said at least one primary wave attenuation device, into and out of said hollow interior, via said plurality of sidewalls   
     
     
         2 . The structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein cooperatively disposed ones of said plurality of openings in each of said plurality of sidewalls being disposed in substantially fluid flow alignment with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The structure is recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of openings comprises a tapered circumferential configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The structure is recited in  claim 3  wherein said tapered circumferential configuration of each of said plurality of openings comprises an outer perimeter being greater than an inner perimeter thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The structure is recited in  claim 3  wherein each of said plurality of openings comprises a three sided, substantially triangular configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The structure is recited in  claim 1  wherein said outer end includes an access opening formed therein in fluid communication between said hollow interior and an exterior of said primary wave attenuation device. 
     
     
         7 . The structure is recited in  claim 6  wherein said access opening comprises a tapered circumferential configuration at least partially defined by outer perimeter of said access  8  opening being greater than an inner perimeter thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The structure is recited in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of said primary wave attenuation devices operatively disposed in predetermined spaced relation to one another, concurrent to alignment of said back walls of said plurality of wave attenuation devices with one another, in conformance with a contour of an associated shoreline. 
     
     
         9 . The structure is recited in  claim 8  further comprising a secondary wave attenuation device disposed between and in aligned relation with two adjacent ones of said plurality of primary wave attenuation devices. 
     
     
         10 . The structure is recited in  claim 9  wherein said secondary wave attenuation device comprises a hollow interior and a plurality of sidewalls each having a plurality of apertures formed therein in fluid communication with said hollow interior of said secondary wave attenuation device. 
     
     
         11 . The structure is recited in  claim 10  wherein said aligned relation of said secondary wave attenuation device comprises said plurality of openings and said plurality of apertures of confronting ones of said plurality of sidewalls and said plurality of outer  23  walls disposed in fluid communicating alignment. 
     
     
         12 . The structure is recited in  claim 11  wherein said fluid communicating alignment of said plurality of openings and said plurality of apertures at least partially defining fluid communicating relation between said hollow interiors of said primary and said secondary wave attenuation devices. 
     
     
         13 . The structure is recited in  claim 10  wherein at least some of said outer walls comprises a converging, angular orientation extending from a bottom end to a top end of said secondary wave attenuation device concurrent to an operative position thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The structure is recited in  claim 10  wherein said plurality of openings and said plurality of apertures, in confronting ones of said sidewalls and said outer walls, being equal in number. 
     
     
         15 . A structure for wave attenuation comprising:
 a plurality of primary wave attenuation devices each including a hollow interior, a backwall and a plurality of sidewalls,   a plurality of secondary wave attenuation devices including a hollow interior and a plurality of outer walls,   said plurality of primary wave attenuation devices and said plurality of secondary wave attenuation devices collectively disposed in an operative position, relative to one another,   said operative position comprising each of at least a majority of said secondary wave attenuation devices disposed between different adjacent ones of said of said primary wave attenuation devices, concurrent to correspondingly disposed ones of said outer walls and sidewalls disposed in confronting relation to one another, and   said operative position further comprising said backwalls of said plurality of primary wave attenuation devices disposed in aligned relation with one another.   
     
     
         16 . The structure is recited in  claim 15  wherein confronting ones of said outer walls and said sidewalls respectively including a plurality of apertures and a plurality of openings, disposed in substantially aligned fluid community getting relation with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The structure is recited in  claim 16  wherein said substantially aligned, fluid communicating relation is at least partially defined by said plurality of apertures and said plurality of openings being respectively disposed in a common array on said confronting ones of said outer walls and said sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . The structure is recited in  claim 16  wherein said plurality of openings comprise a tapered circumferential configuration at least partially defined by outer perimeter being greater than an inner perimeter thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The structure is recited in  claim 16  wherein said confronting ones of said outer walls and said sidewalls include a substantially common height. 
     
     
         20 . The structure is recited in  claim 15  wherein said plurality of sidewalls of each of said primary wave attenuation devices extend from a base to an outer end thereof at and angularly converging orientation. 
     
     
         21 . The structure is recited in  claim 20  wherein said outer walls of each of said secondary wave attenuation devices extend from a lower end to an upper end thereof at and angularly converging orientation. 
     
     
         22 . The structure is recited in  claim 15  wherein said backwall of said plurality of primary wave attenuation devices includes a planar configuration extending from a base to an outer end thereof in substantially perpendicular relation to said base. 
     
     
         23 . The structure is recited in  claim 15  wherein at least some of said plurality of primary wave attenuation devices comprise an outer end; said outer end including an access opening disposed therein in fluid communication between said hollow interior and an exterior of said primary wave attenuation device. 
     
     
         24 . The structure is recited in  claim 15  wherein said at least some of said plurality of secondary wave attenuation devices comprise an upper end; said upper end including an access opening disposed therein in fluid communication between said hollow interior and an exterior of said secondary wave attenuation device. 
     
     
         25 . The structure is recited in  claim 24  wherein said access opening in said upper end comprises a tapered circumferential configuration at least partially defined by outer perimeter being greater than an inner perimeter thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The structure as recited in  claim 15  wherein said plurality of primary wave attenuation devices and said plurality of secondary wave attenuation devices are removably positioned in said operative position.