Erosion Control Securing Apparatus and Method

Abstract

An erosion control securing apparatus and method is disclosed. For example, an erosion control securing device is provided that includes a main shaft with a hexagonal-shaped head portion at its proximal end and a coil portion at its distal end. In one example, the coil portion of the erosion control securing device includes three turns. Further, a method of using the presently disclosed erosion control securing device for securing erosion control products is provided.

1 . An erosion control securing apparatus, comprising:
 a main shaft having a main shaft proximal end and a main shaft distal end:   a head portion at the main shaft proximal end, the head portion being substantially hexagonal in shape; and   a coil portion at the main shaft distal end, wherein the coil portion has three consecutive turns, with a first turn of the three consecutive turns having a first radius, a second turn of the three consecutive turns having a radius larger than the first radius, and a third turn of the three consecutive turns having a radius the same as the first radius.   
     
     
         2 . The securing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coil portion is formed via a tubular or rod-like member. 
     
     
         3 . The securing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first radius is about 0.156 inches and the second radius is about 0.675 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The securing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the three consecutive turns each has a radius ranging from about 0.125 inches to about 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The securing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main shaft, the head portion, and the coil portion are connected in a substantially continuous matter. 
     
     
         6 . The securing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the main shaft, the head portion, and the coil portion are substantially tubular with a radius of about 0.156 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The securing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a head transition segment between the head portion and the main shaft proximal end, wherein the main shaft is arranged substantially normal to the plane of the head portion. 
     
     
         8 . The securing apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a coil transition segment between the main shaft distal end and the proximal end of the coil portion, a tip at the distal end of the coil portion, and a tip transition segment between the distal end of the coil portion and the proximal end of the tip. 
     
     
         9 . The securing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the tip is about 0.44 inches long, wherein the coil transition segment is about 0.16 inches long, and wherein the tip transition segment is about 0.16 inches long. 
     
     
         10 . The securing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the overall length of the securing apparatus is about 8.156 inches, wherein the main shaft is about 4.25 inches long, and wherein the coil portion is about 3.00 inches long, and wherein the width of the head portion is about 1.47 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The securing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the head portion is formed by adjoining segments, the adjoining segments including a terminal end segment next to four central segments next to a head transition segment, the head transition segment connected to the main shaft, wherein the head transition segment is spaced apart from the terminal end segment. 
     
     
         12 . The securing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the terminal end segment is about 0.33 inches long, and wherein the four central segments are each about 0.85 inches long. 
     
     
         13 . The securing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the head transition segment includes three adjoining segments, the first of the three adjoining segments being connected to one of the four central segments, the second of the three adjoining segments being about the same length and the first of the three adjoining segments, and the last of the three adjoining segments being connected to the main shaft. 
     
     
         14 . An erosion control securing system kit, comprising:
 an erosion control securing device comprising: a main shaft having a main shaft proximal end and a main shaft distal end; a head portion at the main shaft proximal end, the head portion being substantially hexagonal in shape: and a coil portion at the main shaft distal end, wherein the coil portion has three consecutive turns, with a first turn of the three consecutive turns having a first radius, a second turn of the three consecutive turns having a radius larger than the first radius, and a third turn of the three consecutive turns having a radius the same as the first radius; and   a rotational drive mechanism for installing the securing device.   
     
     
         15 . The securing system kit of  claim 14 , wherein the rotational drive mechanism includes a socket with a body having a recess on one side, the recess being substantially hexagonal in shape and dimensioned to receive the head portion. 
     
     
         16 . The securing system kit of  claim 15 , wherein the substantially hexagonal recess includes a central recess that is substantially circular. 
     
     
         17 . The securing system kit of  claim 16 , further comprising an arrangement of engaging features within the substantially hexagonal recess and surrounding the central recess. 
     
     
         18 . The securing system kit of  claim 16 , further comprising a magnet within the central recess. 
     
     
         19 . The securing system kit of  claim 15 , wherein the body has a socket wrench receiver on the side opposing the one side. 
     
     
         20 . A method for using an erosional control securing system, comprising the steps of:
 providing an erosion control securing device comprising: a main shaft having a main shaft proximal end and a main shaft distal end: a head portion at the main shaft proximal end, the head portion being substantially hexagonal in shape; and a coil portion at the main shaft distal end, wherein the coil portion has three consecutive turns, with a first turn of the three consecutive turns having a first radius, a second turn of the three consecutive turns having a radius larger than the first radius, and a third turn of the three consecutive turns having a radius the same as the first radius:   providing a matting material:   laying out the matting material over an area:   installing the securing device into the matting material to secure the matting material to the area, wherein the head portion is on one side of the matting material and the main shaft and coil portion are on the opposing side of the matting material.