Modular gabion system, structure and method thereof

Abstract

A modular gabion system configured to hold a filler material. The gabion system including multiple framed panels with tab structures positioned and fixed to one side of the multiple framed panels. The tab structures of one panel configured to removably interconnect to another one of the multiple framed panels adjacently positioned thereto to form a gabion structure extending with at least four framed panels. In some embodiments, the multiple framed panels are various sizes to assemble various sized gabion structures. Further, in one embodiment, the assembled gabion structure includes one or more crossmembers to facilitate structural support. In some embodiments, the crossmembers may facilitate coupling gabion structures vertically in a stacked arrangement. In other embodiments, the gabion system facilitates removably interconnecting gabion structures horizontally and/or vertically.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular gabion system configured to hold filler material, the gabion system comprising:
 multiple framed panels configured to removably interconnect with each other so that the framed panels extend to define a first gabion structure, the first gabion structure having a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, the front side positioned opposite and generally parallel to the rear side, and the first side positioned opposite and generally parallel to the second side, each of the multiple framed panels including:
 a panel extending with a multi-cellular structure, the panel extending to define an upper end, a lower end, a first end, and a second end, the upper end being opposite the lower end of the panel, the first end being opposite the second end of the panel; 
 an upper bar and a lower bar, the upper and lower bars extending along the respective upper and lower ends of the panel such that the upper bar extends generally parallel relative to the lower bar; 
 an angle bar extending between, and coupled to, end portions of the upper bar and the lower bar so as to extend along the first end of the panel; and 
 an upper tab and a lower tab, the upper tab coupled to one end of the upper bar and the lower tab coupled to one end of the lower bar such that the upper and lower tabs are positioned adjacent the second end of the panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower tabs of one of the multiple framed panels are sized and configured to be removably coupled to the angle bar of an adjacently positioned other one of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         3 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple framed panels interconnect together with the upper and lower tabs of one of the framed panels being removably coupled to the angle bar of another one of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         4 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower tabs each include a hole extending therethrough, the hole of the upper and lower tabs configured to be aligned and correspond with openings defined in the angle bar of another framed panel adjacently positioned thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper bar and the lower bar of at least two of the framed panels comprise openings defined therein, the openings each sized to receive a bolt. 
     
     
         6 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more crossbars, the one or more crossbars extending between oppositely positioned ones of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         7 . The modular gabion system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more crossbars comprise vertical extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. 
     
     
         8 . The modular gabion system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more crossbars comprise lateral extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. 
     
     
         9 . The modular gabion system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more crossbars comprise lateral extensions set-back from opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. 
     
     
         10 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second gabion structure, the second gabion structure having the multiple framed panels removably interconnected together, the second gabion structure removably coupled to the first gabion structure. 
     
     
         11 . The modular gabion system of  claim 10 , wherein the second gabion structure is removably coupled to a top side of the first gabion structure. 
     
     
         12 . The modular gabion system of  claim 10 , wherein the second gabion structure is removably coupled to one of the front side, the rear side, the first side and the second side of the first gabion structure. 
     
     
         13 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat panel removably coupled to a top side of the first gabion structure. 
     
     
         14 . The modular gabion system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple framed panels comprise various sized panels, the various sized panels configured to form various sized gabion structures. 
     
     
         15 . A method for forming a gabion structure, the method comprising:
 providing multiple framed panels each having a panel, an upper flat bar, a lower flat bar, and an angle bar, the panel extending to define an upper end, a lower end, a first end and a second end, the upper end being opposite the lower end and the first end being opposite the second end, the upper flat bar fixed to the upper end of the panel, the lower flat bar fixed to the lower end of the panel, the angle bar fixed to end portions of the upper and lower flat bars and fixed to the first end of the panel, the upper and lower flat bars each including an upper tab and a lower tab fixed to one end of the upper and lower flat bars and positioned adjacent to the second end of the panel; and   interconnecting the multiple framed panels to each other so that the framed panels extend to define a front side, a rear side, a first side, and a second side to at least partially form the gabion structure.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the interconnecting comprises removably coupling the upper tab and the lower tab of one of the multiple framed panels to the angle bar of another one of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising coupling one or more crossbars between oppositely positioned ones of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising assembling multiple gabion structures and coupling the multiple gabion structures together. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the coupling the multiple gabion structures together comprises vertically stacking the multiple gabion structures together with a crossbar having vertical extensions, the vertical extensions coupled to a lower and upper gabion structure in a stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the coupling the multiple gabion structures together comprises horizontally coupling the multiple gabion structures together with bolts extending through one or more of the angle bar, the upper flat bar, and the lower flat bar of adjacently positioned framed panels of any two of the multiple gabion structures. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising positioning a seat panel over a top side of the multiple framed panels interconnected together to form the gabion structure. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the providing the multiple framed panels comprises providing the multiple framed panels having different sizes; and the interconnecting the multiple framed panels comprises assembling multiple gabion structures having different sizes. 
     
     
         23 . A modular gabion system, the gabion system comprising:
 multiple framed panels configured to removably interconnect to each other to form a gabion structure, each of the multiple framed panels including:
 a panel extending with a multi-cellular structure, the panel extending to define an upper end, a lower end, a first end, and a second end, the upper end being opposite the lower end of the panel, the first end being opposite the second end of the panel; 
 an upper elongated piece and a lower elongated piece, the upper and lower elongated pieces extending along the respective upper and lower ends of the panel such that the upper elongated piece extends generally parallel relative to the lower elongated piece; 
 an angled piece extending between, and coupled to, end portions of the upper elongated piece and the lower elongated piece so as to extend along the first end of the panel; and 
 an upper tab and a lower tab, the upper tab coupled to one end of the upper elongated piece and the lower tab coupled to one end of the lower elongated piece such that the upper and lower tabs are positioned adjacent the second end of the panel. 
   
     
     
         24 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , wherein the multiple framed panels interconnect together with the upper and lower tabs of one of the framed panels being removably coupled to the angled piece of another one of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         25 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , wherein the upper and lower tabs each include a hole extending therethrough, the hole of the upper and lower tabs configured to be aligned and correspond with openings defined in the angled piece of another framed panel adjacently positioned thereto. 
     
     
         26 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , wherein the upper bar and the lower bar of at least two of the framed panels comprise openings defined therein, the openings each sized to receive a bolt. 
     
     
         27 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , further comprising one or more crossbars, the one or more crossbars extending between oppositely positioned ones of the multiple framed panels. 
     
     
         28 . The modular gabion system of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more crossbars comprise vertical extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. 
     
     
         29 . The modular gabion system of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more crossbars comprise lateral extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. 
     
     
         30 . The modular gabion system of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more crossbars comprise lateral extensions set-back from opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. 
     
     
         31 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , further comprising a second gabion structure, the second gabion structure having the multiple framed panels removably interconnected together, the second gabion structure removably coupled to the gabion structure. 
     
     
         32 . The modular gabion system of  claim 31 , wherein the second gabion structure is removably coupled to a top side of the gabion structure. 
     
     
         33 . The modular gabion system of  claim 31 , wherein the second gabion structure is removably coupled to one of the framed panels of the gabion structure. 
     
     
         34 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , further comprising a seat panel removably coupled to a top side of the gabion structure. 
     
     
         35 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , wherein the multiple framed panels comprise various sized panels, the various sized panels configured to form various sized gabion structures. 
     
     
         36 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , wherein the panel of the framed panels extends to define a periphery, the periphery extending to define a trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
         37 . The modular gabion system of  claim 23 , wherein the framed panels are interconnected to define one of a cuboid type structure and a truncated pyramid type structure.