Erosion-preventing laminate mat and assembly system

Abstract

An erosion-preventing laminate mat may include a first layer of slivers of a natural material, a second layer of slivers of a synthetic material, and, in embodiments, a third layer of an open mesh. A system for utilizing the erosion-preventing laminate may include a movable frame having an upper surface shaped to pass beneath a substantially flat sheet of tied block mat, the frame including a spindle below the upper surface for supporting a roll of the first mat, the first mat including the first layer of slivers of a natural material, the second layer of slivers of a synthetic material, and the third layer of an open mesh. In embodiments, a system for forming the mat includes a movable frame shaped to pass beneath a substantially flat sheet of the tied block mat, and including a spindle below the upper surface for supporting a roll of the first mat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An erosion-preventing laminate mat comprising:
 a first, lowermost lower layer consisting of slivers of a natural material, the slivers of natural material tangled with each other to form a first felt-like mat; 
 a second layer consisting of slivers of a synthetic material, the slivers of synthetic material tangled with each other to form a second felt-like mat; 
 wherein the second layer is superposed to positioned above, and contacts the first layer such that the slivers of the first layer and the slivers of the second layer engage and intermesh with each other at an interface of the first layer and the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock between the first layer and the second layer; and 
 a third layer of an open mesh, wherein the third layer is above the second layer such that the open mesh engages and interlocks with the slivers of the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock with the slivers of the second layer to maintain the first layer and the second layer in placewhen the mat is placed on a surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The laminate mat of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic material of the second layer continues to hold moisture adjacent the surface after decomposition of the first layer. 
     
     
       3. The laminate mat of  claim 1 , wherein the open mesh is a leno weave of synthetic material. 
     
     
       4. The laminate mat of  claim 1 , wherein the natural material is excelsior; and the synthetic material is a plastic. 
     
     
       5. The laminate mat of  claim 4 , wherein the excelsior is selected from wood fibers and coconut fibers. 
     
     
       6. The laminate mat of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth third layer of a tied block mat. 
     
     
       7. The laminate mat of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth third layer is a tied block mat above the third layer open mesh; the third layer open mesh is above the second layer; and the second layer is above the first layer; wherein the fourth third layer holds the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer open mesh in place on the surface. 
     
     
       8. The laminate mat of  claim 6 , wherein the tied block mat includes a plurality of concrete blocks attached to and interconnected by a mesh. 
     
     
       9. The laminate mat of  claim 8 , wherein the concrete blocks are spaced from each other and the mesh is a geogrid. 
     
     
       10. The laminate mat of  claim 9 , wherein the concrete blocks are shaped to permit the laminate to be formed into a roll. 
     
     
       11. A method for preventing erosion of a surface, the method comprising:
 placing or forming a first mat on the surface, the first mat including: 
 a first layer consisting of slivers of a natural material, the slivers of natural material tangled with each other to form a first felt-like mat; 
 a second layer consisting of slivers of a synthetic material, the slivers of synthetic material tangled with each other to form a second felt-like mat, and wherein the second layer is superposed to the first layer such that the second layer contacts the first layer so that the slivers of the first layer and the slivers of the second layer engage and intermesh with each other at an interface of the first layer and the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock between the first layer and the second layer; and 
 a third layer of an open mesh, wherein the third layer is above the second layer such that the open mesh engages and interlocks with the slivers of the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock with the slivers of the second layer to maintain the first layer and the second layer in placewhen the mat is placed on a surface. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein placing or forming the first mat on the surface includes placing or forming the first mat on the surface in which the first layer includes excelsior, the second layer includes plastic slivers, and the open mesh of the third layer includes synthetic material in a leno weave. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein placing or forming the first mat on the surface includes placing or forming the first mat on the surface such that the first layer is immediately adjacent and contacts the surface, the second layer is immediately adjacent, contacts, and is on top of the first layer, and the third layer open mesh is immediately adjacent, contacts, and is on top of the second layer. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising placing a tied block mat on top of the first mat. 
     
     
       15. A method for forming an erosion-preventing laminate mat having a layer of a first mat beneath a substantially flat, elongate sheet of tied block mat, the method comprising:
 placing the substantially flat, elongated sheet of the tied block mat on a first surface; 
 placing a roll of the first mat on a spindle of a frame, the frame having spaced apart rear wheels; 
 placing the frame on the first surface beneath a segment of the substantially flat, elongated sheet of the tied block mat, such that the segment of the sheet of the tied concrete block mat passes over and is supported by an upper surface of the frame; 
 moving the frame relative to and beneath the flat sheet of the tied block mat, and simultaneously paying out a sheet of the first mat from the roll of the first mat on the spindle between the spaced apart rear wheels of the frame such that the first mat is beneath the flat sheet of the tied block mat, such that the frame lifts the segment of the elongated sheet of tied block mat over the spindle as the frame moves along the strip of tied block mat; 
 forming a laminate of the tied block mat and the first mat into a roll; and 
 unrolling the laminate on the first surface. 
 
     
     
       16. A method for forming an erosion-preventing mat, the method comprising:
 placing a first, lowermost lower layer consisting of slivers of a natural material on a surface, the slivers of natural material tangled with each other to form a first felt-like mat; 
 placing a second layer consisting of slivers of a synthetic material on top of the first layer, the slivers of synthetic material tangled with each other to form a second felt-like mat; 
 such that the second layer is superposed to, and is positioned above and contacts the first layer such that the slivers of the first layer and the slivers of the second layer engage and intermesh with each other at an interface of the first layer and the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock between the first layer and the second layer; and 
 placing a third layer of an open mesh on top of the second layer, such that the open mesh engages and interlocks with the slivers of the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock with the slivers of the second layer to maintain the first layer and the second layer in place when the mat is placed on a surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising placing a tied block mat on top of the third layer open mesh. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising bonding the third layer open mesh to an upper surface of the second layer. 
     
     
       19. The laminate mat of claim 7, wherein the laminate mat is configured to permit replacement vegetation to grow up from a surface on which the mat is placed through the third layer. 
     
     
       20. The laminate mat of claim 19, wherein the first layer, second layer, open mesh, and third layer each contain gaps sufficient to permit replacement vegetation to grow up from a surface on which the laminate is placed through the third layer. 
     
     
       21. The laminate mat of claim 1, wherein the open mesh is a netting material. 
     
     
       22. The laminate mat of claim 1, wherein the layer of slivers of natural material contacts a surface on which the mat is placed. 
     
     
       23. The laminate mat of claim 1 wherein the slivers of the first layer and the slivers of the second layer engage and intermesh with each other at the interface in a generally planar direction. 
     
     
       24. The laminate mat of claim 1 wherein the first layer consists essentially of slivers of natural material, and wherein the second layer consists essentially of slivers of synthetic material. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 11 wherein the first layer consists essentially of slivers of natural material, and wherein the second layer consists essentially of slivers of synthetic material. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 11 wherein the first layer is first placed on the surface, followed by the second layer, and wherein the method further includes placing a layer of tied block mat on the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 16 wherein the first layer consists essentially of slivers of natural material, and wherein the second layer consists essentially of slivers of synthetic material. 
     
     
       28. An erosion-preventing laminate for promoting the growth of replacement vegetation, the laminate mat comprising:
 a first layer comprising slivers of natural material intertwined with each other to form a first mat;   a second layer comprising slivers of synthetic material intertwined with each other to form a second mat; and   a third layer comprising a tied block mat that includes a plurality of concrete blocks interconnected by a mesh;   wherein the first layer is configured to be in contact with a ground surface on which the laminate is placed such that:
 the second layer is above the first layer; and 
 the third layer is above the second layer; 
   wherein the slivers of natural material in the first layer and the slivers of synthetic material in the second layer intermesh with each other at the interface of the first and second layers to provide a mechanical interlock between the two layers; and   wherein the first, second, and third layers comprise sufficient gaps to permit replacement vegetation to grow up from the surface through the third layer comprising a tied block mat.   
     
     
       29. The laminate of claim 28 wherein the first layer consists essentially of slivers of natural material, and wherein the second layer consists essentially of slivers of synthetic material. 
     
     
       30. The laminate of claim 28 wherein the first layer is in contact with a ground surface on which the laminate is placed such that the second layer is above the first layer, and such that the third layer is above the second layer. 
     
     
       31. An erosion-preventing laminate mat comprising:
 a first, lower layer comprising slivers of a natural material, the slivers of natural material tangled with each other to form a first felt-like mat;   a second layer comprising slivers of a synthetic material, the slivers of synthetic material tangled with each other to form a second felt-like mat, wherein the second layer is configured, when the mat is positioned on a surface, to be positioned above and contact the first layer such that the slivers of the first layer and the slivers of the second layer engage and intermesh with each other at an interface of the first layer and the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock between the first layer and the second layer; and   an open mesh configured, when the mat is positioned on the surface, to be positioned above the second layer such that the open mesh engages and interlocks with the slivers of the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock with the slivers of the second layer to maintain the second layer in place.   
     
     
       32. The laminate mat of claim 31 further comprising a layer of a tied block mat configured to be positioned above the first and second layers when the mat is positioned on the surface. 
     
     
       33. A method for forming an erosion-preventing mat, the method comprising:
 placing a first, lower layer comprising slivers of a natural material on a surface, the slivers of natural material tangled with each other to form a first felt-like mat; and   placing on the first layer, a second layer comprising slivers of a synthetic material, wherein the slivers of synthetic material are tangled with each other to form a second felt-like mat such that the second layer is positioned above and contacts the first layer such that the slivers of the first layer and the slivers of the second layer engage and intermesh with each other at an interface of the first layer and the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock between the first layer and the second layer, wherein after the second placing step an open mesh is thereby positioned on top of the second layer, wherein the open mesh engages and interlocks with the slivers of the second layer to provide a mechanical interlock with the slivers of the second layer to maintain the second layer in place.   
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33 further wherein after the second placing step a layer of a tied block mat is positioned above the first and second layers.