Abstract:
Providing underwater marine structures having a primary component of sedimentary rock of biochemical origin that is fixated into an assemblage forming structure that is anchored into the marine environment to foster establishment of a reef ecosystem.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to artificial reefs and, more specifically, to marine structures having a primary component of sedimentary rock of biochemical origin that is fixated into an assemblage forming structure that is anchored into the marine environment to foster establishment of a reef ecosystem. 
     The present invention is a continuation of a process, typified in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,327, to develop artificial habitat conducive to reef dwelling marine life forms. The question of why the world&#39;s coral reef systems are dying whether a natural phenomena, pollution or global warming spells the same end for many marine species that depend on such ecosystems—the loss of habitat. 
     The present invention concerns itself with mooring artificial habitats that are conducive to receptive marine life forms, such as algae, worms, crustaceans, and small fish. Not only to stem the tide of loss but to enhance marine ecosystems wherever applicable. 
     A primary component of these artificial habitats is the use of biochemical rocks especially Limestone, a soft porous mostly calcite rock suitable for attachment to by marine life. Illustrated in the accompanying drawings is an example of an artificial structure comprising spaced apart stratified slabs anchored in a desired location as habitat for marine life. As aforementioned, the slabs, hereinafter referred to as bio-slabs are comprised primarily of rocks of biochemical origin joined to form a structure reintroduced into the marine environment as an inducement to colonization by receptive marine organisms there by initiating establishment of a seed culture with the intended creation of a self-sustaining reef ecosystem. The stratification of the reef foundation material in a spaced relationship increases the surface area within a given space and bestows an environment of variable dimensions when combined with water temperature, pressure and sunlight penetration at the various depths of bio-slab locations. 
     The present invention further provides for the formation of marine structures used for estuary enhancement, artificial reef, shoreline protection, erosion protection, dock enhancements to increase marine life, waterfront bulkhead replacement, oyster bed cultivation, juvenile fish habitat, coral reef replacement/substitution, fisheries restoration, and fish farming. The basic principal is to bind rocks within a cementitious material within a mold of varying shapes and dimensions so that when cured these aggregated rock structures have a long term life expectancy in a marine environment of both fresh and salt water that serve one or more of the aforementioned purposes. One type of rock having characteristics amenable to marine organisms is limestone owing to its formation from seashells and coral from ancestral seas. Since it is loosely consolidated, marine animals and crustaceans easily establish a culture which attracts fish and other marine organisms establishing a biosphere using the bio-slabs in an anchored or unanchored fashion as a single molded piece or in stacked fashion depending on the desired result. 
     The present invention further provides that the structures comprising anchor posts and positional slab-like platforms are very cost effective to transport and assemble at a desired site. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other structures designed for habitat by aquatic life forms. While these structures may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide artificial habitat structures for marine life. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide artificial habitat structures comprising at least one bio-slab anchored in a desired location. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide artificial habitat structures having a plurality of spaced apart bio-slabs anchored in a desired location. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide artificial habitat structures having spacers between the bio-slabs to fix their relative position from one to the other. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide artificial habitat structures wherein the spacing between the bio-slabs can be varied to accommodate variously sized marine life forms. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide bio-slabs comprising sedimentary rocks of biochemical origin cementitiously bonded into shapes of varying thicknesses, surface area and contour. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide bio-slabs that may have a throughbore for mounting on a post. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide artificial marine habitat structures that are cost effective to manufacture. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide artificial marine habitat structures that are easily shipped in their component parts and easily assembled onsite. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing underwater marine structures having a primary component of sedimentary rock of biochemical origin that is fixated into an assemblage forming structure that is anchored into the marine environment to foster establishment of a reef ecosystem. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a variation of an artificial reef of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the marine habitat structure of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a marine structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of a variation of a marine structure using biochemical rocks in a cementitious material; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrated view of an anchoring mechanism for a cast marine structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrated view of an anchoring mechanism for stratified cast marine structures of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the marine structures of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a marine structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative view of a mold of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an illustrative view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an illustrative view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an illustrative view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Marine Life Form Habitat of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Marine Life Form Habitat of the present invention     12  marine life     14  bio-slabs     16  rocks     18  bonding agent     20  water     22  limestone     24  cementitious material     26  mounting aperture     28  anchor post     30  coquina (south florida limestone)     32  outer surface of  28       34  top potion of  28       35  bottom portion of  28       36  rigid member of  28       38  eyelet of  36       40  square bio-slab     42  round bio-slab     44  rectangular bio-slab     46  fish     48  boring animals     50  crustaceans     52  coral     54  bio-slab mold     56  base of  54       58  stanchion of  54       60  form of  54       62  mold post of  54       64  feet of  28       66  spacer     68  platform of  66       70  separation shaft of  66       72  platform bottom     74  shaft bottom     76  top portion of  14       78  central throughbore of  66       80  shoreline     82  eco-reef     84  waves     86  piling     88  anchor portion of  86       90  anchor post of  86       92  stop of  80       94  hole for piling     96  support of  86         

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a variation of an artificial reef of the present invention  10 . Illustrated is a version of a marine structure comprising spaced apart stratified bio-slabs  14  anchored in a desired location as habitat for marine life  12 . The bio-slabs  14  comprise rocks  16  which can be of biochemical origin joined to form a structure reintroduced into the marine environment as an inducement to colonization by receptive marine organisms  12  there by initiating establishment of a seed culture with the intended creation of a self-sustaining reef biosphere. The stratification of the reef foundation material in a spaced relationship increases the surface area within a given space and bestows an environment of variable dimensions when combined with water  20  temperature, pressure and sunlight penetration at the various depths of the bio-slab  14  locations. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the marine habitat structure of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention  10  provides various configurations of marine structures serving as estuary enhancement, artificial reef, shoreline protection, erosion protection, dock enhancements to increase marine life, waterfront bulkhead replacement, oyster bed cultivation, juvenile fish habitat, coral reef replacement/substitution, fisheries restoration, and fish farming. Depicted is one example of the aforementioned comprising a marine structure  10  forming a marine biosphere comprised of a plurality of spaced apart layered bio-slabs  14  with spacers therebetween providing habitat for marine life  12  with each bio-slab  14  comprising rocks  16 , preferably limestone  22 , bound together by a bonding agent  18  such as a cementitious material  24 . Varying the spacing between the bio-slabs  14  can provide stratified habitats within the same anchored marine structure. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a marine structure of the present invention  10  serving to enhance aquatic organisms&#39; habitat. The stratified shape of the design allows marine life to access inner areas of the structure by using small stones  16  instead of one large stone resulting in greater surface area exposed for the marine life to attach to the structure. In a variation using limestone  22  provides for marine animals and other marine life forms such as crustaceans to attach, attracting fish and other marine life to the artificial marine structure. Each bio-slab  12  has a centrally mounting aperture 
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of a variation of a marine structure using biochemical rocks  16  in a cementitious material  24 . The present invention  10  provides for the formation of structures used for estuary enhancement, artificial reef, shoreline protection, erosion protection, dock enhancements to increase marine life, waterfront bulkhead replacement, oyster bed cultivation, juvenile fish habitat, coral reef replacement/substitution, fisheries restoration, and fish farming. The basic principal is to bind rocks  16  within a cementitious material  24  within a mold of varying shapes and dimensions so that when cured these aggregated rock structures have a long term life expectancy in a marine environment of both fresh and salt water that serve one or more of the aforementioned purposes. One type of rock  16  having characteristics amenable to marine organisms is limestone  22  owing to its formation from seashells and coral from ancestral seas. A preferred type of limestone  22  is coquina  30 , considered south Florida limestone since it is loosely consolidated and also has a high calcite concentrate, marine animals and crustaceans easily establish a culture which attracts fish and other marine organisms establishing a biosphere using the bio-slabs  14  in an anchored or unanchored fashion as a single molded piece or in stacked fashion depending on the desired result. A mounting aperture  26  is provided to allow for the passage over the outer surface of an anchor post. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustrated view of an anchoring mechanism for a cast marine structure of the present invention  10 . Illustrated is a bio-slab  14  having an aperture  26  that accepts an anchored post  28  and encompasses the outer surface  32  thereof. The anchor post  28  has a top portion  34  with a rigid member  36  projecting therefrom with an eyelet  38  for receiving an eyehook or other such grasping device for lifting, transporting and lowering the marine structure in a desired location. The present invention  10  also provides that such structures are ideally suited for placement on pilings used in wharves and piers which not only serve as habitat for small fish but may also serve as anti erosion devices. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustrated view of an anchoring mechanism for stratified cast marine structures of the present invention  10 . Illustrated is a first bio-slab  14  disposed on the bottom portion  35  of the anchor post  28  and a second bio-slab  14  disposed at the top portion  34 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the marine structures of the present invention  10 . Bio-slab  14  configurations can vary in shape and form and can be fabricated with mounting apertures  26  or without. Shown are a square bio-slab  40 , a round bio-slab  42  and a rectangular bio-slab  44   
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a marine structure of the present invention  10 . Shown is the reef material and structure of the artificial reef of the present invention  10 . The porous nature of the limestone  22  allows marine life forms such as crustaceans  50  to attach thereto, attracting fish  46 , boring animals  48  and coral  52  and other marine life to the artificial reef. 
       FIG. 9  is an illustrative view of a mold  54  of the present invention  10 . Shown is a typical mold  54  which can be of variable shape and dimensions used to create the bio-slabs  14 . The mold  54  comprises a base  56 , a stanchion  58  and a form  60  with upwardly depending sidewalls  61  in which the limestone  22  and cementitious material  24  is placed to cure. An aperture mold post  62  projects from the center of the form  60  to provide a mounting aperture  26  when one is desired. This reef will have three purposes; 
     1. Artificial reef for marine life habitat. 
     2. Shoreline erosion protection and artificial reef estuary. 
     3. Installed under piers to increase estuary capacity, can use any rock, and can be installed on a pipe or piling that&#39;s driven into the bottom. The pipe or piling can have a stop to prevent the unit from sliding down or not. The pipe or piling could be short enough to only hold the reef together and the unit rests on the bottom without the pipe or piling penetrating the bottom.
 
4. Replaces waterfront bulkheads.
 
5. Oyster beds.
 
6. Juvenile fish habitat.
 
7. Coral reef substitute.
 
8. Fisheries restoration.
 
9. Fish farming.
 
       FIG. 10  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a plurality of bio-slabs  14  installed on the anchor post  28  having a plurality of perpendicularly projecting feet  64  for the base. This reef will have three purposes; 
     1. Artificial reef for marine life habitat. 
     2. Shoreline erosion protection and artificial reef estuary. 
     3. Installed under piers to increase estuary capacity, can use any rock, and can be installed on a pipe or piling that&#39;s driven into the bottom. The pipe or piling can have a stop to prevent the unit from sliding down or not. The pipe or piling could be short enough to only hold the reef together and the unit rests on the bottom without the pipe or piling penetrating the bottom. 
       FIG. 11  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the spacer  66  used to provide separation of the bio-slabs  14  when used in a stacked formation. The spacer comprises a platform  68  for supporting the bio-slab  14 , a separation shaft  70  projecting downward from the platform bottom  72  and a central throughbore  78  extending from the shaft bottom  74  through the platform bottom  72  for allowing the passage of the anchor post  28  therethrough. The shaft bottom  74  sits on the top surface  76  of the subjacent bio-slab  14 . 
       FIG. 12  is an illustrative view of the present invention. Shown is the relationship of the eco-reef  82  in rows offshore to protect shoreline  80  from wave  84  erosion. 
       FIG. 13  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use as a shore protection reef and marine habitat disposed on a piling  86 . Limestone or coquina rocks  16  are used to separate the bio-grids  14  instead of spacers to restrict the water flow therethrough. The anchor portion  88  of the piling  86  is embedded in the seabed and transitions to the anchor post portion  90  of the piling  86 . A stop member  92  is disposed at the transition point and is seated on the seabed and a recess  94  is provided at the top portion of said piling  86 . 
       FIG. 14  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 . Piling  86  will prevent the reef from moving or turning over and the stop  92  and support  96  will prevent settling. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.