Securable device having a substantially flexible shaft and one or more protrusions and method for securing the same

A device comprising a corkscrew; a substantially flexible shaft operably attached to the corkscrew at a first end of the shaft; and one or more protrusions extending from the shaft between the first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft. Methods of using the device are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Erosion caused by hydraulic scouring of material and sediments has significant effects on hard structures, such as bridges, underwater supports, pipeline, cables, as well as ecological areas such as marsh, wetlands, and/or swamp areas, deltas, beaches, shores, barrier islands, fluvial environments, shore communities and low-lying cities.

Further, shorelines are being stripped and/or eroded away by increasingly powerful storm surges, leading to impacts on the quality of life and economic activity of shore communities dependent on their beach economy. Vulnerable communities experience greater frequency of flood disasters and sea water penetration due to shore and dune loss.

Increased storm surge flooding has resulted in greater infrastructure damage and loss of life.

Further, valuable wetland habitats are being degraded by edge-erosion of cord grasses, marsh grasses and other plant species, leading to habitat loss and economic loss due to collapse of fisheries both commercial and recreational.

Typically, rigid structures are used to guard against and/or reduce the amount of scouring, but these rigid structures have many drawbacks, including their overall ineffectiveness, tendency to have unintended consequences of promoting or redirecting scouring elsewhere, disruption of ecosystems including the blocking of species movement, and their weight makes transport and installation/removal difficult. These traditional “hard” beach erosion controls, such as jetties, groins, seawalls, breakwaters etc. are ineffective and have fallen out of favor.

Sand replacement, referred to by the industry as “beach nourishment”, is a current response to beach sand loss, but this strategy has many negative drawbacks including that nourishment is (a) expensive, (b) causes beach closings as beaches are unavailable to be used by the public during re-sanding and with it economic loss; (c) appropriate quality replacement sand is getting harder and harder to source; (d) replacement sand particles are of different size, shape, composition, or color from existing naturally accrued sand, leading to negative ecological consequences; (e) added sand is less stable than naturally accrued sand so it erodes at accelerated rates, resulting in continuous need to re-sand; and (f) beach nourishment off-shore sand dredging destroys sea creatures at the dredging sites, and destroys shore creatures where and when the sands is deployed. This negatively and drastically alters beach ecology, reefs, and off-shore habitat, and commercial and recreational fishing.

What is desired is a device that overcomes these drawbacks and is easier to transport, install, reposition and/or remove with minimal tools and costs. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices and methods that address the above needs.

Further, what is desired is protection from storm surge penetration into low-lying cities, communities and vulnerable areas, which needs to be suppressed to limit damages to infrastructure and prevent loss of life. The devices of the present disclosure can be utilized to absorb and disrupt wave energy, acting as a limiting force on the penetrating waves. The devices of the present disclosure can be installed in multiple ways, including torque driving into sediments layers, bolting into hard substrates, screwing into plates, welding, insertion into sleeves, attached to temporary structures etc. to create a flexible limiting barrier to storm surge and wave penetration.

Further, what is desired are devices and methods to mitigate edge-erosion of wetlands and shorelines.

Further, what is desired are devices and methods to protect vulnerable seedling plantings during thin-layer placement planting projects. Devices and methods of this disclosure can include various streamers and/or predator decoys to discourage grazing of new seedling plantings.

Further what is desired are devices and methods to protect sediment that has been added to shorelines, during beach nourishment, until it can substantially stabilize through compaction by natural processes.

Further, what is desired are devices and methods to accumulate and hold sediment, and to release the sediment by a positional change at a higher, or pre-determined water flow rate to increase and/or influence sediment loads at sediment diversion projects.

Further what are desired are devices and methods to accumulate and hold sediment, in a determined area, and to release the sediment by a positional change at a higher, or pre-faster water flow rate to allow sediments to be swept pass an area meant to be remain clear of sediments, such as a harbor, dock or shipping lanes.

Further what is desired are methods and devices to prevent sediment scour and/or accumulate sediments on seabed, river, lake or ocean floor.

Further, what is desired are devices and methods that can influence hydraulic directional flow, such as by instigating unequal water flow pressure. Devices and methods can cause unequal water flow pressure, thereby causing current to flow to areas of lesser pressure or resistance, producing mixing of water columns.

Further what is desired are devices and methods to trap, hold and accumulate wind-blown sand or sediment to promote creation of dunes, or mounds, where desired. These methods and devices can be of varying heights, and can form substantially rounded mound-like structures of varying shapes and sizes, and be deployed alone or in arrays to produce desired lengths and/or contours and formations.

Further what is desired are devices and methods to protect unstable sand, newly applied or otherwise, from wind erosion.

Further what are desired are devices that can accumulate wind-blown sand to form dunes. Once sediments have been accumulated, these devices can be repositioned and/or adjusted upwards or sideways by un-torquing, which in turn, allows new sediments to additionally be accrued, leading to nuanced control of height and shape of dunes.

Further what is desired are devices and methods to trap, hold and accumulate water-borne sediment flowing into basins for the purposes of wetland, splay marsh or land creation.

Further what is desired are devices that can be deployed in small or large numbers, as an absorptive breakwater field, to act in a similar manner as an “artificial wetland” to reduce storm surge by hydrodynamic energy absorption.

Further what is desired is an easily deployable and re-deployable device that creates niches, cubbies or pockets, that can function as artificial reef-like habitat providing nursery habitat, predator refuge, etc for nektonic and stationary species.

Further what is desired is a device that can reduce turbidity in large bodies of water by capturing sediment run-off from creeks, streams and rivers flowing into these larger bodies of water. Increased turbidity due to increased water-borne sediments entering the ocean, seas, sounds etc. has negative effects on flora and fauna.

Further what is desired are devices that are relatively easily installed and removed, which could function as an attractive medium and habitat for wild oyster pediveliger larvae to attach to. These devices could be driven into estuarine and marine sediments in waters where wild oyster free-swimming larvae are located and relatively plentiful. Once oyster larvae attach to this oyster larvae accumulation/habitat device, the device can remain in place until the oyster spat is well established on the protrusions, and then the entire device be removed and relocated to another place where it can be re-driven into the environment. This second location can be in an area where oyster presence and/or oyster reefs are desired for commercial oyster production, water filtering, cleaning, turbidity reduction, remediation of pollution, creation of an oyster-based ecosystem, seeding of new wild oyster populations when the collected oysters spawn, and/or wave and surge mitigation purposes.

Further, what is desired are devices that contain cubbies, niches and/or pockets, that can be relatively easily and securely attached to a loose-sediment-morphology cliff face to hold naturally accrued sediment or be manually filled with a sediment and/or plant growing medium. The structure of the device can provide structural stabilization to allow vegetative growth on this sediment medium, which in turn flora would send root systems into the existing cliff face, acting to lock and/or bind the existing sediment matix in a way to mitigate and/or prevent erosion, landslip and/or landslides. After vegetation stabilizes, the devices could be removed and reused to secure another area. Or these devices can be fabricated from bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, mycelium plastics, or any other degradable material allowing the frame structure to decompose while the coil can be reused at new locations. Multiple devices could be driven into the cliff escarpment, forming a lattice of cubbies. The completed installation would be slurry hydroseeded. Sprouted flora would send root systems into the loose sediment, binding the matrix.

Further what is desired are relatively light-weight and portable breakwater devices that can be relatively easily installed, removed and/or relocated. Traditional breakwaters are immobile rock, stones, concrete or similar heavy material designed to withstand the force of waves, while influencing the wave trajectory. The disclosed devices can be substantially hollow and can be composed of any suitable material that contains holes and so the internal cavity can at least partially fill with water. The device can include at least one vertical tunnel-hole which allows at least one corkscrew device to pass through the device. A flange on the top of the coil can be larger than the tunnel-hole diameter, thus maintaining the configuration of the corkscrew device and the breakwater device. A torqueable head can be attached to the flange allowing the coil to be torqued and driven into the bed of the body of water for installation, so that the breakwater device can remain substantially fixed over time.

Further what is desired is a device with one or more horizontal shafts, which can move vertically on another shaft, so that the one or more horizontal shafts can remain on a surface of the water the device is installed in as the water height changes. These one or more horizontal shafts can reduce wave energy and/or current energy of the water the device is installed in.

Further what are desired are replacement protrusions, that are removable from a shaft, and can be replaced with other replacement protrusions when a first replacement protrusion, or an originally installed protrusion is worn down, and/or breaks, and/or is not functioning as desired due to interaction with the environment.

These replacement protrusions can be formed of any suitable material, such as a woven material that is substantially flexible.

Further what is desired are floating platforms containing and/or coated with a biota attractant material such as a calcium comprising material, a carbonate comprising material or a calcium carbonate comprising material. These floating platforms can be anchored to the bed of a body of water, and if two or more floating platforms are included, they can be connected to each other. The floating platforms can be buoyant so that they are floating within the water column, affecting wave energy as it passes through the water column. These floating reefs can provide platforms for shellfish such as mussels and oysters, which in turn would provide sustenance farming, or food for fish and other species, re-establishing natural species balance.

Further what is desired is a device that includes a current generation mechanism, such as triboelectrical devices (TENGS) which can generate electric power through kinetic energy influence from the wind and/or water moving a portion of the device.

Further what is desired are devices to attach to bridge foundations, fluvial or marine structural footings, turbine and drilling platforms, etc. to mitigate hydrodynamic scouring. These devices would absorb hydrodynamic energy by flexing, producing friction, creating chaotic water currents, and disruption of water flow.

Further what are desired are devices that can be deployed by a ship or barge to prevent hydrodynamic scouring that leads to unearthing of pipelines & cables beneath the seabed. Absorbent protrusions act to accumulate sediments and mitigate erosion. Deployed by ship or barge, these devices, with pointed bottoms and stabilizing flanges, sink to the seafloor and passively embeds to mitigate scour unearthing and protect against rupturing of these conduits.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a device comprising a corkscrew; a substantially flexible, or non-flexible, shaft operably attached to the corkscrew at a first end of the shaft; and one or more flexible, or non-flexible, protrusions extending from the shaft between the first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft.

The methods and devices disclosed herein can be implemented and be operational for many different uses and outcomes. In this section a discussion of some of the possible impacts are discussed.

Modification and control of hydrodynamic water flow:

Devices of the disclosure can produce hydraulic modulation.1. Devices of the disclosure can be installed into or onto sand, mud, soil, riverbed, riverbank, beach, shoreline, sea floor, or other ground substrates.i. Devices of the disclosure can be driven into substrates by applying torque (such as to a top bolt cap), which transmits torque through the shaft of the device to a coil with a pointed bottom tip. The twisting of the device causes the coil to enter the substrate in a corkscrew manner, which can secure the device.ii. Devices of the disclosure can also be installed to substrates by various types of mechanical attachment to pilings, columns, bases, footings, foundations, rock formations, breakwaters, concrete embankments, or other types of structural supports, themselves secured to the intended substrate by other typical means.iii. Devices of the disclosure can be attached to a weighted base, deployed at the water's surface, and sunk to the river or lake bed, ocean bed or sea floor, and held in place by the weighted base and stabilizing flange1. In some embodiments flexible dynamic members are attached to a weighted and pointed base. These can be deployed onto a desired area by dropping off of a ship or barge into the water.2. The weighted pointed assembly would sink to the water bed or ocean floor, anchor itself and function accordingly.3. The pointed shape allows penetration into the sediment, while the flange acts to stabilize the assembly.4. Once deployed these devices would function to prevent scour of anchored structural supports including drilling platforms, and wind turbine towers. Also to prevent unearthing of buried infrastructure, pipe or cables, by both accumulating and by mitigating sediment from being eroded away.2. Devices of the disclosure function to influence and modulate water flow and can cause head-loss, energy-absorption, disruption, deflection, deceleration, impediment, blocking, wave reduction, turbulence, chaotic current dynamics, current modulation and/or friction loss.3. Devices of the disclosure can be deployed in substantial enough numbers to create arrays or groupings in which the effect of an individual device is amplified, multiplied and/or synergistically increased by the entire group.4. Devices of this disclosure can function in a manner of an artificial wetland, absorbing wave and storm surge energy.

Modification and control of water waves, storm surge, tidal forces and currents:1. Slowing or disruptions of sediment-carrying currents leads to sediment dropping out of suspension. Sediment dropping out of water-suspension results in depositional building and accumulation of sediment layers.i. Devices of the disclosure can accumulate sediments to increase elevations of marsh or shore habitat.ii. Devices of the disclosure can accumulate sediments to capture sand at beach shorelines.iii. Devices of the disclosure can accumulate sediment and prevent scour unearthing of underwater buried pipeline and cables and/or undermining of underwater structural supports.iv. Devices of the disclosure can accumulate, hold and subsequently release sediment for sediment diversion projects.v. Devices of the disclosure can directionally modulate water current flow.2. Decreasing of wave energy leads to decreased beach and sediment scour.

Modification and control of fluvial processes:1. Devices of the disclosure can function to accumulate, trap, capture, and/or secure sediment deposition during a slow fluvial (low water level) water flow rate.i. Devices of the disclosure can be passively oriented in an upright vertical position during slow and low water flow rates. During this upright positional phase, perforated baffles trap, accumulate and hold sediment.1. Vertical position promotes sedimentation, and traps and holds sediment.2. Devices of the disclosure can function to release secured sediment at a fast fluvial (high water level) flow rate, by passively tipping to a horizontal position, due to increased water pressure on the baffles. Release point can be regulated by modifying barrel/antennae spring buckling threshold.i. Devices of the disclosure can tilt during high and fast fluvial flow.ii. Increased water flow causes lateral pressure on the baffles, buckling the spring and causing the tilting of the device. This produces a change of orientation from vertical to horizontal.iii. Devices of the disclosure no longer accumulates or holds sediment while oriented in a horizontal position. Accumulated sediment is now free to be swept away by the high and fast fluvial flow.1. Horizontal position occurs when river water level is high and subsequent current flow is fast.2. Horizontal position releases stored sediment into the fast current3. Devices of the disclosure can function to control fluvial processes to allow engineering control of sediment deposition and movement. This control is advantageous for sediment diversion projects.i. Devices of the disclosure can collect and store sediment when low/slow-river flow disqualifies the opening of diversion floodgates, and releases sediment when high/fast-river flow results specifies an opening of floodgates to allow sediments to be swept inside.ii. This results in an increased net-gain of sediment load available to flow into floodgates and reach intended flood basins with land-building sediment.4. Devices of the disclosure can be deployed to capture and hold fluvial sediments upstream from an area desired to be free from sediment deposition, while river flow is low/slow. Devices would tip to horizontal position and release captured sediment when river flow is high/fast/strong enough to sweep sediment past area desired to be free from depositional sediment buildup.i. This function could be utilized to help keep downstream shipping channels free from sediment accumulation and decrease the need for dredging.5. Devices of the disclosure can function to promote mixing of fluvial water columns and/or influence water currents by redirection of existing water flow whether upward, downward or side-to-side.i. Device produces variations in pressure to influence the direction of water flow.ii. Device can direct water flow upward or downward to control the mixing of water columns and allow influence regarding water column turbidity, salinity, biota, oxygen level, pathogen-viability, contamination, concentration of total and dissolved solids, water flow speed, etc.1. Ability to control mixing of fluvial water columns allow nuanced engineering control of restoration, remediation and/or sediment diversion projectsiii. Device function that affects upward or downward current flow can promote sediment deposition or promote sediment evacuation.1. Device can strongly direct fluvial current flow downward to cause sediment evacuation and removal by river currents.2. Device can strongly direct evacuated fluvial sediment flow upward to cause sediment removal transport by river currents.3. Device can direct fluvial flow downward to influence deposition in a prescribed area.

Prevention of sediment scour and/or accumulate sediments on water bed or floor:1. Devices of the disclosure can have fins that have a horizontal, or partial horizontal plane to the current flow. The horizontal plane acts to create a wobble effect as minute fluctuations in the currents cause the fin to rise and fall rapidly. Points of resonance can be created which would further increase the movement of these fins. The vertical movement of the fins further absorb energy and create eddies in the current stream, disrupting the steady flow. This disruption decreases structural scour capabilities.

Influence of hydraulic directional flow by instigating unequal water flow pressure:1. Devices of the disclosure can have finds with unequal dimensional width. The fins are arranged to create a gradient from small to large, or large to small.2. Causing unequal water flow pressure causes current to flow to area of lesser pressure or resistance, producing mixing of water columns3. Mixing of water columns4. Fins can be designed to form one or several levels of cones.5. Water flow across the diagonal plane of a cone causes directional alteration.

The disclosure can also be directed to a method of installing a device comprising the steps of: contacting an upper surface of a substrate with a first end of the device, wherein the device comprises: a corkscrew; a substantially flexible shaft operably attached to the corkscrew at a first end of the shaft; and one or more protrusions extending from the shaft between the first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft; and applying a torque to the corkscrew.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the discussion and claims herein, the term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or device. For example, for some elements the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±0.1%, for other elements, the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±1% or ±10%, or any point therein.

As used herein, the term “substantially”, or “substantial”, is a broad term and is used in its ordinary sense, including, without limitation, being largely but not necessarily wholly that which is specified, which is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a surface that is “substantially” flat would mean either completely flat, or so nearly flat that the effect would be the same as if it were completely flat.

As used herein terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration.

As used herein, terms defined in the singular are intended to include those terms defined in the plural and vice versa.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, some embodiments” or “an embodiment”, indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention, as it is oriented in the drawing figures. The terms “overlying”, “atop”, “positioned on” or “positioned atop” means that a first element, is present on a second element, wherein intervening elements interface between the first element and the second element. The term “direct contact” or “attached to” means that a first element and a second element are connected without any intermediary element at the interface of the two elements.

The present disclosure is directed to a device100as seen inFIG.1. The device100includes a corkscrew102that can be any suitable length, such as from 1 inch to about 50 feet. Although the corkscrew102is shown as being helically wound in a clockwise direction in the embodiment ofFIG.1, in other embodiments the corkscrew102can be helically wound in counter-clockwise direction.

A first end of the corkscrew104can be substantially blunt or substantially pointed, and is configured to contact a substrate, and upon receipt of a rotational force, as described below, penetrate into an upper surface of the substrate. Upon penetrating the substrate, as continued rotational force is applied through the first end of the corkscrew104, the device100is drawn further into the substrate until at least a portion of the corkscrew102is within the substrate.

An optional stop can also be included at any portion of the corkscrew102to stop or reduce rotational progress of the corkscrew102and/or to provide stability to the device100.

As used herein the term “substrate” can be any man-made and/or naturally occurring substance, such as but not limited to sand, gravel, dirt, mud, clay, and combinations thereof, that is at least somewhat capable of being shifted to allow for the corkscrew2to penetrate the substrate a suitable distance.

The upper surface of the substrate can be under water, with the water being salt and/or fresh water. In other embodiments the upper surface of the substrate can be partially underwater, and/or partially out of the water depending on tides, etc. In other embodiments the upper surface, or the entirety of the substrate can be above water.

The cross sectional size of the corkscrew102can be any suitable size, such as about 1/16″ to about 30″ across. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the corkscrew102can be any suitable shape, such as a circle, triangle, rectangle, square, ellipse, pentagon, star, cross six or more sided polygon, or an erratic chape.

The corkscrew102can be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal(s), carbon-based materials, elastomer, rubber, and combinations thereof, and can be rigid, substantially rigid, flexible, or substantially flexible. Further, varying portions of the corkscrew102can be formed of different materials and/or can have different flexibilities as compared to other portions of the corkscrew102.

As used herein the term “rigid”, or any derivative thereof, is a broad term used in its ordinary sense and refers to the flexural rigidity of a material that generally avoids substantial deformation and/or maintains very close to its original form after pressure has been applied to it.

As used herein the term “flexible”, or any derivative thereof, is a broad term and can refer to a material that is substantially deformable and able to be bent, unbent, expanded, contracted, folded, unfolded, or otherwise substantially deformed or caused to change shape upon application of a force. The material can be of any suitable flexibility, such as having a flexibility factor of about 0.1 GPa-about 10,000 GPa, about 0.1 GPa-about 1,000 GPa, about 0.1 GPa-about 100 GPa, about 1 GPa-about 50 GPa, about 10 GPa-about 25 GPa, etc. and substantially or wholly return to its original shape after force ceases.

The corkscrew102can be of any suitable diameter, such as having an outer diameter110of between about ½″ to about 60″. Also, the corkscrew102can have any suitable pitch108between adjacent axially aligned portions of the corkscrew102, such as a pitch of between ½″ to about 60″.

A second end106of the corkscrew102is operably attached to a shaft120at a first end of the shaft122. In some embodiments the corkscrew102and the shaft120are formed of a single piece of material. In other embodiments the corkscrew102and the shaft120are joined together/operably attached in any suitable way, such as through mechanical coupling (e.g. welding, a coupling, a bracket, bolting, connection through a separate elastic element, etc.) and/or an adhesive. Further, the corkscrew102and the shaft120can be operably attached to each other at any portion between the end of the helical twist of the corkscrew102. The corkscrew102can be configured to allow for a central plug of sediment to remain intact within the structure of the corkscrew102itself, with that plug of sediment having connection(s) to the surrounding sediment field.

Optionally, a substantially planar disc124of any suitable shape and size can surround or partially surround the shaft104near the first end of the shaft120.

Also optionally, a disc or other protrusion(s) of a bar-like shape can extend from near the vicinity of the first end of the shaft120, which can act as a stop and can provide a stabilizing force to the device100. This optional disc or other protrusion(s) can also limit side-to-side movement being transmitted down to the coil.

Optionally, a pilot hole can be made first by an auger post digger, which would start initial staging of the device100to start at below ground surface, allowing deeper penetration of the corkscrew102. The pilot hole can also act as a stabilizing cradle to hold the device100as it is torqued.

The cross-sectional size of the shaft120can be any suitable size, such as about 1/16″ to about 10″ across. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the shaft120can be any suitable shape, such as a circle, triangle, rectangle, square, ellipse, pentagon, star, cross six or more sided polygon, or an erratic shape.

Further, varying portions of the shaft104can be formed of different materials and/or can have different flexibilities as compared to other portions of the shaft104. Specifically, the shaft104can be flexible or substantially flexible along one or more portions of its length between the first end of the shaft122and a second end of the shaft126. Also, the shaft104can be flexible or substantially flexible along its entire length between the first end of the shaft122and the second end of the shaft126.

Further, the flexibility of the shaft104can absorb forces from waves and/or flowing water, and/or wind, which, in some embodiments, act to reduce forces against the substrate the device100is placed in and may reduce a scour affect. Further, the device100can reduce the overall power and travel distance of waves and storm surge. Further, in some embodiments, the flexibility of the shaft104can, by slowing water flow, cause sediment to drop out of the water and/or wind suspension, thereby limiting the travel distance and inland penetration of waves and/or other moving water.

As can be seen inFIG.1, one or more protrusions128extend from the shaft126between the first end of the shaft122and the second end of the shaft126. In this embodiment a plurality of protrusions128are shown, but in other embodiments, one protrusion, two, or more can be included, such as any number of protrusions from between one to about 10,000 or more protrusions. The one or more protrusions128can act to increase turbulence, such as by head loss, friction loss, and/or chaotic current flow, etc., in water around the device100, which may impede flow of water past and/or through the device100and/or absorb forces from waves and/or flowing water, and/or wind, which, in some embodiments, act to reduce forces against the substrate the device100is placed in. The one or more protrusions128can also act to slow the flow of water past and/or through the device100such that the then slower water may be more prone to cause any suitable sediment and/or sand particle to drop out of suspension. In this embodiment the one or more protrusions128begin a distance away from the corkscrew102on the shaft120, however, in other embodiments, the lowest of the one or more protrusions128can be in contact with or near the corkscrew102, so that little or no shaft120is visible between the lowest of the one or more protrusions128and the corkscrew102.

In some embodiments each of the one or more protrusions128can be operably attached to the shaft126in any suitable way, such as through a fixed, mechanical coupling (e.g. welding, a coupling, a bracket, bolting, a snug fit, a loose connection, connection through a separate elastic element, etc.), and/or a loose fitting/ability to freely rotate in one or both directions, and/or an adhesive.

In other embodiments the one or more protrusions128can be configured as curved so that forces act differently on different portions of the one or more protrusions128. Additionally, the one or more protrusions128can be configured so that they only produce torque in one of a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft120, and can be prevented from rotating in the other direction from which they are configured to rotate. If the one or more protrusions128are configured to only rotate in a direction that is opposite the helical configuration of the corkscrew102(such that the one or more protrusions128are prevented from rotating in the same direction as the helical configuration of the corkscrew102) the one or more protrusions128can act as a helical driving force to the corkscrew102upon receiving a force that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the one or more protrusions128, such as a force from a wave or a current of water, or the like.

The one or more protrusions128can be any suitable size and shape and can be spaced any suitable length apart between the first end of the shaft122and the second end of the shaft126. Additionally, the one or more protrusions can be spaced at any suitable location about the circumference of the shaft122.

In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more protrusions128can be curved in one or more directions and/or planes in a configuration to absorb more force on one side of each of the one or more protrusions128due to an energy transfer produced from both incoming and outgoing waves and/or water flow. This curvature can cause the production of rotational pressure on the shaft120, and subsequently the corkscrew102.

The one or more protrusions128can be formed of a unitary piece of material, or the one or more protrusions128can be formed of two or more pieces of material that are coupled together. The one or more protrusions128can be all be formed of the same material or different materials as compared to other protrusions128. The one or more protrusions128can be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal(s), carbon-based materials, elastomer, rubber, rope, cable, thread, wire, string, chain, twisted twine, twisted mason line, synthetic fibers, fishing line, sisal, coconut fiber and combinations thereof, and can be rigid, substantially rigid, flexible, or substantially flexible.

In one embodiment, the one or more protrusions128can be bristle-like and extend about ¾″ to about 60″ from the shaft120. In yet other embodiments, the one or more protrusions128can be a mesh material or any other perforated material.

In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown inFIGS.1and2, the one or more protrusions128can include one or more plates130that extend from an inner, central support132(shown inFIG.3A). In other embodiments, the one or more protrusions128can include one, two, four or more plates up to about100plates. The one or more plates130(including the central support132) can be formed of a unitary piece of material or the one or more plates130and the central support132can be formed of two or more pieces of material that are operably connected.

A more detailed view of the one or more protrusions128can be seen inFIG.2. The one or more protrusions128can have any suitable height between the first end of the shaft122and the second end of the shaft126, such as about ¾″ to about 12″, and extend about ¾″ to about 60″ from the shaft120. Some or all of the one or more protrusions128can include a domed portion near its center, where the shaft122passes through the one or more protrusions128, to cause the one or more protrusions128to be spaced apart a distance away from each other.

Optionally, the plate130can have one or more through holes109that pass through the plate130in the depth direction. All plates130of the device100can include through holes109, some plates130of the device100can include through holes109, or no plates130of the device100can include through holes. The through holes can be any suitable number, such as one to 100, and can be any suitable size, such as about 1/16″ to about 10″. Additionally, the through holes109can be located in any suitable location and pattern within each plate130.

On the second end of the shaft126an optional torquing mechanism134can be included. The torquing mechanism134can be any structure that is configured to transmit torque to the shaft120, such as a bolt head (as shown inFIG.2), a handle, etc. This torquing mechanism134can be operably attached to the second end of the shaft126in any suitable way and can prevent the one or more protrusions128from dislodging from the shaft120. The torquing mechanism134can also transmit a torque to the corkscrew102to install or remove the corkscrew102from the substrate.

A more detailed view of the one or more protrusions128can be seen inFIG.3A.FIG.3Ais a view of one of the one or more protrusions128alone, without other elements. As can be seen in this embodiments, four plates130are included and are joined about the central support132. The central support132is dimensioned to extend around the periphery of the shaft120.

Another embodiment of the one or more protrusions128is shown inFIG.3B. This embodiment of the one or more protrusions128includes a dome133, which can create a separation space between adjacent protrusions128when they are arranged on the shaft120. This dome133can be any suitable height, such that any suitable distance between adjacent protrusions128can be substantially maintained and this dome133can be formed of an additive material (operably connected to the central support132in any suitable way), or dome133can be formed as a singular piece of material with a surface of the central support132.

Embodiments of the device100can optionally include an extension shaft135operably attached to the second end of the shaft106. This extension shaft135can include a flag137, or any other suitable marking element that may make device100easier to see.

Another embodiment of a device, device200is shown inFIG.5.

Elements shown inFIG.5are comparable to those ofFIG.1, with the first digit in this embodiment being 2 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment. For example, the corkscrew102of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew202of the device200embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

In device200a protrusions228, including one or more plates230(in this embodiment without through holes) extend along a length of an upper shaft220B. The upper shaft220includes a first end226B, with a first end226B of the upper shaft220B being operably connected to a barrel spring221, with the barrel spring221connected to a second end226A of a lower shaft220A. A first end222A of the lower shaft220A can be operably connected to a substantially planar disc224or directly to a portion of the corkscrew202. This barrel spring221can be any suitable size, have any suitable spring constant be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal(s), carbon-based materials, elastomer, rubber, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “barrel spring” can refer to any elastic element of any material and/or to any device having a spring constant or other elastic properties, of any material, including but not limited to a torsion springs, extension springs, compression springs and barrel springs. The term “barrel spring” can also refer to a substantially cylindrical arrangement of wound coils, with the substantially cylindrical arrangement having one substantially the same diameter, or two or more diameters of coil along the length of the substantially cylindrical element. The “barrel spring” can be non-telescoping or can be telescoping, which allows for smaller coils to squeeze down or up to be located within larger coils during compression/expansion.

The barrel spring221can alternatively be further vertically, such that one or more plates230are on the lower shaft220A and one or more plates230are on the upper shaft220B.

The barrel spring221provides more flexibility to the device200, beyond the flexibility of the upper shaft220A and/or the lower shaft220A.

A more detailed view of the device200, including the barrel spring221can be seen inFIG.6. As can be seen the barrel spring221is operably attached at its upper end to the first end222B of the upper shaft220B, and at its lower end to the second end226A of a lower shaft220A. In addition to being included in device200, the barrel spring221can be included in any embodiment of this disclosure, in any suitable location.

Another magnified view of the device200is shown inFIG.7, which illustrates the corkscrew202and the substantially planar disc224, which is operably attached to the corkscrew202at one or more points. The corkscrew202can optionally be operably attached to itself at connection point203, alternatively, the portions of the corkscrew202are just in contact at connection point203.FIG.8provides another magnified view of the device200, with the substantially planar disc224being seen. In this embodiment, as well as in any other embodiment of the application, the substantially planar disc224can be any suitable shape, such a rectangular shape as seen inFIG.8. In this embodiment, the substantially planar disc224can be operably attached to the corkscrew at each opposing end of the substantially planar disc224.

Another embodiment of a device, device300is shown inFIGS.9A-9D.

Elements shown inFIGS.9A-9Dare comparable to those ofFIGS.1and5, with the first digit in this embodiment being 3 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment or 2 in the device200embodiment. For example, the corkscrew102of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew302of the device300embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

In device300ofFIG.9A, a plurality of protrusions are included, with protrusions328A of a first, larger diameter, provided above protrusions328B of a second, smaller diameter. In this embodiment the protrusions328A are further from the corkscrew302as compared to the protrusions328B, however, in other embodiments, protrusions with a larger diameter can be nearer the corkscrew302than protrusions of a smaller diameter.

In other embodiments, protrusions of three or more differing diameters can be included along the length of the shaft320, in any suitable pattern.

In the device300ofFIG.9B, a plurality of protrusions are included, with a protrusion328C being the smallest diameter, and as the protrusions are further away from the substantially planar disc324, their diameter increases to the larges diameter protrusion, protrusion328D. This increase in diameter can be a constant, step-wise increase for each additional protrusion, and/or can be a variable increase for each additional protrusion.

In the device300ofFIG.9C, a plurality of protrusions are included, with a protrusion328C being the smallest diameter, and as the protrusions are closer to the substantially planar disc324, their diameter increases to the larges diameter protrusion, protrusion328D. This increase in diameter can be a constant, step-wise increase for each additional protrusion, and/or can be a variable increase for each additional protrusion.

In the device300ofFIG.9D, there are three sets of shafts and protrusions325. Each set of shaft and protrusion325can be the same or similar to any other device of the present disclosure. InFIG.9Dthree sets of shafts and protrusions325are shown, however, in other embodiments, one, two, four or more shafts and protrusions325can be operably attached to the substantially planar disc. Also, each of the sets of shafts and protrusions325are shown as having the same dimensions inFIG.9D, however, in other embodiments, each set of shaft and protrusion325can have the same dimensions as all other sets of shafts and protrusions325, or each set of shaft and protrusion325can have different dimensions as compared to all other sets of shafts and protrusions325.

Another embodiment of a device, device400is shown inFIG.10. Elements shown inFIG.10are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5, and9, with the first digit in this embodiment being 4 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, or 3 in the device300embodiment. For example, the corkscrew102of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew402of the device400embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

FIG.10is a magnified view of device400. In this embodiment, a protrusion428is composed of a plate holder401and one or more plates430. The plate holder401, shown in more detail below, is configured to extend around a portion, majority, or whole of a shaft420. The plate holder401can be rotatable in both directions about shaft420, rotatable around only one direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise), or the plate holder401can be fixed to the shaft420. The shaft420can be operably attached to the substantially planar disc424. Additionally, in this embodiment, each plate holder401can be oriented to be offset from the plate holder above401, such that the one or more plates430from each layer of plate holder401are not aligned.

The plate holder401maintains each of the one or more plates430in a fixed position as compared to the plate holder401itself. In this embodiment, the plate holder401is shown as maintaining six plates430at substantially even intervals around the circumference of the plate holder401. However, in other embodiments each of the one or more plates can be at any interval around the circumference of the plate holder401. Also, in other embodiments, the plate holder401can maintain one plate, two plates, three plates, four plates, five plates, seven plates, or more. The plate holder401is shown in more detail inFIG.11. The plate holder401includes a shaft cavity405, which allows the plate holder401to have the shaft420pass through the shaft cavity405and maintain the position of the plate holder401. The plate holder401also has at least one plate channel407, such as, in this embodiment, six individual plate channels407. Each of the at least one plate channels407, as well as the plate holder401itself, is dimensioned so as to accommodate a portion of a plate430within the plate channel407. The portion of the plate430can be operably attached to the plate channel407so that the plate430is maintained during operation of the device400.

Two more views of the protrusion428are shown inFIGS.12and13A-13D.FIG.12is a view of the protrusion428with the plate holder401including six plates430, one plate in each plate channel407. In the embodiment ofFIG.12, each of the plates430includes a plurality of through holes432. In the embodiment ofFIG.13A, another view of the protrusion428with the plate holder401including six plates430, one plate in each plate channel407, is shown. In the embodiment ofFIG.13A, each of the plates430does not include any through holes.

In the embodiment ofFIG.13B, each of the plates430′ is contorted into a spiraled, or twisted configuration. In the embodiment ofFIG.13Beach of the plates430′ are contorted along an axis that is substantially parallel to the shaft cavity405of the plate holder401. In the embodiment ofFIG.13B, each of the plates430′ does not include any through holes, however, in other embodiments, one or more of the plates430′ could include through hole(s).

In the embodiment ofFIG.13C, each of the plates430″ is a fractal structure with a main branch431attached to the plate holder401, with each main branch431having one or more sub branches431′, with those sub branches431′ having one or more sub, sub branches431″. Those of skill in the art understand that further branches can be possible for each of plates430″. In the embodiment ofFIG.13C, each of the plates430″ does not include any through holes, however, in other embodiments, one or more of the plates430″ could include through hole(s).

In the embodiment ofFIG.13D, each of the plates430″′ is in a curvilinear configuration, with any suitable radius of curvature being possible for any portion of each of the plates430″′. In the embodiment ofFIG.13Deach of the plates430″′ curves to each side of an axis that is substantially parallel to the shaft cavity405of the plate holder401. In the embodiment ofFIG.13D, each of the plates430″′ does not include any through holes, however, in other embodiments, one or more of the plates430″′ could include through hole(s).

Each plate holder401can be any suitable dimension, thus, the shaft cavity405can be any suitable size and shape to accommodate any suitably sized and shaped shaft420. Additionally, each plate holder401can be any suitable dimension, thus, a height of the plate holder401, and dimensions of the plate channel407, can be modified to accommodate any plate430of any suitable thickness and width.

In the embodiment ofFIG.13E, each of the plates430″″ each of the plates430′ is contorted into a spiraled, or twisted configuration. In the embodiment ofFIG.13Eeach of the plates430″″ are contorted along an axis that is substantially parallel to the shaft cavity405of the plate holder401. In the embodiment ofFIG.13E, each of the plates430″″ does not include any through holes, however, in other embodiments, one or more of the plates430″″ could include through hole(s).

Each of the plates430″″ includes a substantially flat portion431, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. The substantially flat portion431can modulate water energy as water passes around the substantially flat portion431. Alternatively, or in addition to the modulation of water energy, as water passes the substantially flat portion431, the plate430″′ may flex and or vibrate up and/or down due to contact from the water.

Another embodiment of a device, device500is shown inFIG.14.

Elements shown inFIG.14are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9, and10, with the first digit in this embodiment being 5 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, or 4 in the device400embodiment. For example, the corkscrew102of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew502of the device500embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

InFIG.14, the device500is shown, from a perspective of a second end526of a shaft520. In this embodiment the shaft520extends from the second end526, and is operably attached to the substantially planar disc524.

In this embodiment, a plurality of protrusions528are shown, with each plate530extending from a plate holder501.

FIG.15is a top view of device500, from the perspective of being vertically above the second end526of the corkcsrew502.FIG.16is an under view of device500, from the perspective from being vertically below the bottom of the corkscrew502.

Elements shown inFIG.17are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10, and14, with the first digit in this embodiment being 6 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, or 5 in the device500embodiment. For example, the protrusion128of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the protrusion628of the device600embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

In this embodiment a cord639is operably attached to a shaft620of the device600. The cord639can be operably attached so as to rotate clockwise around the shaft620, rotate counter-clockwise around the shaft620, rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise around the shaft620, or be fixed to the shaft620without rotation. In this embodiment two cords639are shown, but in other embodiments, one cord, three cords or more can be interspersed at any suitable location along the shaft620.

Each cord639can be formed of any synthetic and/or natural material, and can be a single length of material or several lengths of material braided and/or joined together. For example, each cord639can be formed of one or more lengths of flexible or substantially inflexible material such as man-made and/or natural material, such as but not limited to, rope, cable, thread, wire, string, chain, twisted twine, twisted mason line, synthetic fibers, fishing line, sisal, coconut fiber, and combinations thereof.

Each cord639can extend a predetermined distance from the shaft620with each cord639being substantially the same length as other cords, and/or each cord being a different length from other cords.

Elements shown inFIG.18are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14, and17with the first digit in this embodiment being 7 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment or 6 in the device600embodiment. For example, the corkscrew102of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew702of the device700embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

In the embodiment ofFIG.18, a plurality of cords739act as protrusions that extend from the shaft720. In this embodiment there are several vertical layers that extend along substantially the entire length of the shaft720, but in other embodiments, the plurality of cords739can extend along a portion of the shaft720, with other portions of the shaft720having no protrusions, or protrusions similar to those ofFIGS.1-17.

Additionally, each cord739can extend a predetermined distance from the shaft720with each cord739being substantially the same length as other cords, and/or each cord being a different length from other cords.

In this embodiment each of the plurality of cords739are operably attached to a shaft720of the device700(shown in more detail inFIG.19). Each of the plurality of cords739can be operably attached so as to rotate clockwise around the shaft720, rotate counter-clockwise around the shaft720, rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise around the shaft720, or be fixed to the shaft720without rotation.

A magnified view of device700is shown inFIG.19. InFIG.19it can be seen that each of the plurality of cords is attached to a cord holder701. The cord holder701in this embodiment has six cords739operably attached to it, but, in other embodiments, each cord holder701can have one cord, two cords, three cords, four cords, five cords, seven cords or more. Additionally, each layer of the plurality of cords739is created by those cords attached to the cord holder701, with about seventeen “layers” of cord holder701viewable inFIG.19.

Elements shown inFIG.20are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17, and18with the first digit in this embodiment being 8 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment or 7 in the device700embodiment. For example, the plate130of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the plate830of the device800embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

In the embodiment ofFIG.20, rather than a plurality of protrusions828being secured to a shaft with a corkscrew, or other anchoring mechanism, the plurality of protrusions of device800are operably attached to a structural shaft861. This structural shaft861can be any device that supports a structure over a body of water. In this embodiment, as one example, a roadway bridge863is supported by the structural shaft861. Although not shown, the structural shaft861is configured to be totally submerged or partially submerged within a water body, such as a stream, river, creek, channel, lake, or any portion of any ocean, pond, lake, etc. As an example, the water level of that water body could be at any level represented by dashed lines859A,859B,859C, or any other portion of the adjacent structural shaft861.

The structural shaft861can be any suitable cross sectional shape such as a circle, triangle, rectangle, square, ellipse, pentagon, star, cross six or more sided polygon, or an erratic shape. The plate holder801can be a corresponding shape, with each plate holder801able to be secured to a plate holder801vertically above and/or below it. Additionally, each plate holder801can rotate clockwise around the shaft structural shaft861, rotate counter-clockwise around the structural shaft861, rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise around the structural shaft861, or be fixed to the structural shaft861without rotation. In the embodiment ofFIG.20seven plate holders801can be seen, but in other embodiments, one, two, three, four, five, six, eight or more plate holders801can be placed on various portions of the structural shaft861.

A magnified view ofFIG.20is shown inFIG.21. InFIG.21each of the plate holders801is configured to hold twenty four plates830. However, in other embodiments, each plate holder801can be configured to hold between one and twenty three plates, or twenty five plates or more.

A top view ofFIG.21is shown inFIG.22, with the structural shaft861removed for explanation purposes. As can be seen inFIG.22, each of the plates830is operably attached to the plate holder801at a plate channel807, with, in this embodiment, a shaft cavity405being shown in a substantially circular cross section.

Elements shown inFIG.23are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18and20with the first digit in this embodiment being 9 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment or 8 in the device800embodiment. For example, the corkscrew102of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew902of the device900embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

In the embodiment ofFIG.23, a protrusion928is shown, with the protrusion928including four plates930. A perspective view is shown inFIG.25for a further view of the plates930. In this embodiment protrusion928includes four plates930, but in other embodiments, protrusion928can include one plate, two plates, three plates, five plates, or more.

In the configuration of the device900shown inFIG.23, the protrusion928is in a floating configuration due to (i) a water level925being sufficiently high on the surface of the protrusion928(away from the substantially planar disc924) to cause the protrusion928to be sufficiently buoyant, (ii) water at the water level925moving at or below a speed threshold, and/or (iii) the force of the barrel spring921being sufficient to maintain the protrusion928in the configuration shown inFIG.23. In this embodiment the protrusion928can be operably attached/connected along at least a majority of a length of an upper shaft920B, with the upper shaft920B operably attached to a barrel spring921. The barrel spring921is also operably attached to the lower shaft220A, which is operably attached to the substantially planar disc924. The substantially planar disc924is in turn operably attached to corkscrew902.

In this embodiment, each of the plates930are attached to eachother to form the protrusion928, with space between the four plates to contain the upper shaft920B, which extends from the barrel spring921towards a first end926B. However, in other embodiments, a plate holder can include a shaft cavity and plate channels to operably attach each of the plates to the plate holder.

In this embodiment, each of the plates930include a through hole area931and a solid area929. The size of the through hole area931, the size of the through holes themselves and pattern of the through holes themselves can be modified to suit any suitable outcome for a specific environmental condition or for a specific desired outcome of use of device900.

In this embodiment the protrusion928is operably attached to the shaft920B. The protrusion930can be operably attached so as to rotate clockwise around the shaft920B, rotate counter-clockwise around the shaft920B, rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise around the shaft920B, or be fixed to the shaft920B without rotation.

In the floating configuration ofFIG.23, which typically occurs when water movement is below a speed threshold, device900contacts water and sediment within that water, and the device900acts to impede sediment in the water, causing an increase in sedimentation in the vicinity of the device900.

A magnified view of the device900ofFIG.23is shown inFIG.24. As seen inFIG.24, through holes932are arranged in a pattern in the through hole area931.

FIG.25provides a perspective view of device900, in the floating configuration, without a water level being shown. As can be seen inFIG.25, each of the four plates928is substantially perpendicular to a neighboring plate928, but in other embodiments the angle between plates and the number of plates928can be increased or decreased.

FIG.26is a view of the device900in a non-floating configuration. In this view, the protrusion928is in a non-floating configuration due to (i) a water level925being sufficiently low (towards the substantially planar disc924) on the surface of the protrusion928to cause the protrusion928to not be sufficiently buoyant, (ii) water around the device900moving above a speed threshold, and/or (iii) the force of the barrel spring921being insufficient to maintain the protrusion928in the configuration shown inFIG.23.

As can be seen inFIG.26, the barrel spring921has extended and the upper shaft920B is substantially perpendicular to the lower shaft920A. However, in other embodiments, any suitable angle can be formed between the upper shaft920B and the lower shaft920A. The angle between the upper shaft920B and the lower shaft920A during any water or flow situation can be customized by control of (i) the buoyancy of the protrusion928, and/or (ii) the spring force of the barrel spring921.

A side view of the protrusion928in the non-floating configuration is shown inFIG.27.

Elements shown inFIG.28are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20and23with the first digits in this embodiment being 10 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment or 9 in the900embodiment. For example, the protrusion128of the device100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the protrusion1028of the device1000embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

The device1000is shown inFIG.28. Although not seen, the protrusions1028are operably connected to a shaft, with that shaft being operably connected to a substantially planar base1054. The substantially planar base1054is in turn operably attached to an anchor1056. In some embodiments, substantially planar base1054and anchor1056are a single, unitary structure. In this embodiment anchor1056is shown as being substantially conical, but in other embodiments anchor1056can be any suitable shape.

The device1000is configured to be placed on a lower surface of a body of water, with the anchor1056being configured to penetrate a portion the lower surface and substantially maintain the location of the device on the lower surface. The substantially planar base1054is configured to substantially maintain the orientation of the device1000by contacting portions of the lower surface.

Elements shown inFIG.29are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20,23, and28with the first digits in this embodiment being 11 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment, 9 in the900embodiment or 10 in the1000embodiment. For example, the shaft1120of the device1100is comparable, in formation and composition, to the shaft120of the device100embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

The device1100is shown inFIG.29. The protrusions1128are operably connected to a shaft1120, with that shaft being operably connected to a substantially planar base1154. The substantially planar base1154is in turn operably attached to an anchor1156. In some embodiments, substantially planar base1154and anchor1156are a single, unitary structure. In this embodiment anchor1156is shown as being substantially conical, but in other embodiments anchor1156can be any suitable shape.

In this embodiment of device1100, three conical protrusions1128are operably attached to the shaft1120. However, in other embodiments, one conical protrusion, two conical protrusions, four conical protrusions, or more can be included, and can be tapered vertically upward and/or vertically downward.

The device1100is configured to be placed on a lower surface of a body of water, with the anchor1156being configured to penetrate a portion the lower surface and substantially maintain the location of the device on the lower surface. The substantially planar base1154is configured to substantially maintain the orientation of the device1100by contacting portions of the lower surface.

The device1100is configured to be dropped from a vessel into relatively deeper water, where it will rest on the floor, held substantially in place by the anchor1156. In this embodiment, the conical protrusions1128function to direct water currents downwards (and/or upwards), in order to impact scouring of sediment directly beneath, and in the vicinity of, the device1100. In this embodiment the substantially planar base1154has several openings, which can be configured to redirect waterflow to access the sediment directly below the device1100.

Elements shown inFIG.30are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20,23,28, and29with the first digits in this embodiment being 12 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment, 9 in the900embodiment, 10 in the1000embodiment, or 11 in the1100embodiment. For example, the one or more protrusions1228of the device1200are comparable, in formation and composition, to the one or more protrusions128of the device100embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1100, device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

The device1200is shown inFIG.30. The protrusions1228are operably connected to a shaft1220, with that shaft being operably connected to a substantially planar base/anchor1256. In some embodiments, substantially planar base/anchor1256is a single, unitary structure. In this embodiment the substantially planar base/anchor1256is shown as having a substantially conical section that penetrates at least a portion of a substrate1271, but in other embodiments substantially planar base/anchor1256can be any suitable shape. The substrate1271can be any seabed, riverbed, lake floor or ocean floor.

In this embodiment of device1200, a plurality of protrusions1228are operably attached to the shaft1220. In this embodiment, the shaft1220can be substantially flexible and can be formed of any suitable flexible material, such as rope, cable, thread, wire, string, chain, twisted twine, twisted mason line, synthetic fibers, fishing line.

The device1200is configured to be placed on a lower surface of a body of water, with the substantially planar base/anchor1256being configured to penetrate a portion the lower surface and substantially maintain the location of the device on the lower surface. One end of the shaft1220can be operably connected to the substantially planar base/anchor1256at a substantially planar base/anchor connection point1269. Another end of the shaft1220can be connected to a float1265at a float connection point1273.

The float1265is configured to maintain at least a portion of the shaft1220a distance away from the substrate1271. In some embodiments the float1265can be in the water column, a distance away from the substrate1271, but itself still be underwater. In other embodiments, such as shown inFIG.30, the float can be wholly or partially above a water level1267.

The float1265can be any suitable material (such as foam, plastic, wood, rubber, glass, metal, combinations thereof, etc.) and construction (such as solid, hollow, partially solid, partially hollow) so that the float1265is of sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least a portion of the shaft1220a distance away from the substrate1271.

The device1200is configured to be dropped from a vessel, or placed by a person or robot, into relatively shallow water, where it will rest on the floor, held substantially in place by the substantially planar base/anchor1256.

Elements shown inFIGS.31-33are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20,23,28,29, and30with the first digits in this embodiment being 13 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment, 9 in the900embodiment, 10 in the1000embodiment, 11 in the1100embodiment, or 12 in the1200embodiment. For example, the corkscrew1302of the device1300are comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew102of the device100embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1200, device1100, device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

The device1300is shown inFIG.31. The protrusions1328are operably connected to a shaft1320, with that shaft1320being operably connected to a substantially planar disc1324(or in some embodiments to the corkscrew1302directly). In this embodiment of device1300, a plurality of protrusions1328are operably attached to the shaft1320.

These plurality of protrusions1328can be spaced apart from each other on the shaft1320by any suitable spacing mechanism or structure. Also, the number of protrusions1328can be any suitable value, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20 or more. The corkscrew1302is configured to penetrate into an upper surface of a substrate upon a rotational force such that the shaft1320is partially or wholly under water. Details of the protrusions1328are shown inFIGS.32and33.

As can be seen inFIG.32, the protrusion1328includes four plates1330. In this embodiment protrusion1328includes four plates1330, but in other embodiments, protrusion1328can include one plate, two plates, three plates, five plates, or more. Although not shown, each of the plates1330can include one or more through holes.

Each of the protrusions1328can be the same shape as other protrusions1328, or they can be different from each other, such as protrusion128of the100embodiment, for example. Each protrusion1328can be substantially concave, as is shown inFIGS.31and32, each protrusion1328can be substantially flat, or each protrusion1328can be substantially convex.

Each protrusion1328includes a shaft cavity1305, which is configured to extend around the shaft1320. The shaft cavity1305can be configured itself, or in conjunction with another mechanism, to allow rotation of the protrusion1328in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft1320, in just a clockwise direction about the shaft1320, in just a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft1320, or be fixed so that the protrusion1328does not rotate about the shaft1320.

Any portion of the protrusion1328can be at least partially embedded, at least partially formed of and/or at least partially coated with an attractant material that is configured to attract biota, such as but not limited to plankton, nektonic species and/or benthonic species. The benthonic species can include animals of the Mollusca phylum, such as but not limited to bivalves, which include but are not limited to clams, oysters cockles, mussels, and scallops. The attractant material can be any suitable material, such as a calcium comprising material, a carbonate comprising material and a calcium carbonate comprising material. Any portion of the protrusion1328can also include grooves and/or indentations and/or a roughened surface, any and all of which can act as a way to increase the ability of biota to attach and/or hold onto the protrusion1328.

The plates1330(if protrusion1328includes two or more plates1330) are spaced apart laterally from each other by an optional plate gap1311. Each plate can include one or more optional protrusions1313, that can be located in any dimension, and can be any shape on an upper surface of the plate1330and/or a lower surface of the plate1330.

A top view is shown inFIG.33for a further view of the plates1330. As can be seen inFIG.33.

Elements shown inFIGS.34and35are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20,23,28,29,30, and31-33with the first digits in this embodiment being 14 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment, 9 in the900embodiment, 10 in the1000embodiment, 11 in the1100embodiment, 12 in the1200embodiment, or 13 in the1300embodiment. For example, the corkscrew1402of the device1400are comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew102of the device100embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1300, device1200, device1100, device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

The device1400is shown inFIG.34. In this embodiment a protrusion1428is configured to be secured to a relatively loose-sediment morphology, such as a cliff face. The protrusion1428can include one or more protrusion cells1443, with each protrusion cell having a protrusion aperture1445. In this embodiment many protrusion cells1443are shown, but in other embodiments fewer or more protrusion cells1443can be included in one protrusion1428, in any suitable pattern and size. Additionally, each protrusion cells1443is shown as being in a hexagonal shape, but in other embodiments each protrusion cell1443can be the same shape as other protrusion cells1443, or different shapes from other protrusion cells1443, with each protrusion cell1443being any suitable polygonal, curved and/or erratic shape.

The device1400also includes a securing flange1441at one end of the shaft1420, with the securing flange1441including a torquable element, such as a bolt head, which can translate rotation from the securing flange1441, to the corkscrew1402. The device1400can be installed into the morphology until a bottom surface of the protrusion1428contacts at least a portion of the morphology.

Optionally, a user can fill one or more protrusion apertures1445with further morphology and/or vegetation (including seeds). As each protrusion aperture1445is open, roots of any vegetation can enter the existing morphology.

The protrusion1428can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal(s), carbon-based materials, elastomer, rubber, and combinations thereof. The suitable material of the protrusion1428can be a biodegradable material, such that the corkscrew1302could be removed and the protrusion1428could remain in the installed morphology over time.

Although in this embodiment only one device1400is shown, several devices1400can be installed adjacent and/or touching each other along any portion of the periphery of each device1400's protrusion1428.

A side view of the device1400is shown inFIG.35. In other embodiments, the protrusion1428can have a concave shape, a convex shape, or an erratic shape.

Elements shown inFIGS.36and37are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20,23,28,29,30,31-33, and34-35with the first digits in this embodiment being 15 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment, 9 in the900embodiment, 10 in the1000embodiment, 11 in the1100embodiment, 12 in the1200embodiment, 13 in the1300embodiment, or 14 in the1400embodiment. For example, the corkscrew1502of the device1500are comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew102of the device100embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1400, device1300, device1200, device1100, device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

The device1500is shown inFIG.36, in an unassembled state. In this embodiment a protrusion1528is configured to be secured to a bed of a body of water and/or an exposed sand/sediment/granular/mud/soil surface. The protrusion1528can be solid, partially solid or substantially hollow. In this embodiment the protrusion1528is shown in a truncated pyramidal shape, but in other embodiments, the protrusion1528can be any suitable polygonal, curved and/or erratic shape, and any suitable size.

The protrusion1528includes at least one corkscrew tunnel1547, but in other embodiments, the protrusion1528can include two or more corkscrew tunnels1547so that two or more corkscrews1502can be used with the protrusion1528to secure the protrusion1528in the desired location.

The device1500also includes a securing flange1541at one end of the shaft1520, with the securing flange1541including a torquable element, such as a bolt head, which can translate rotation from the securing flange1541, to the corkscrew1502. The device1500can be installed into the morphology, such that the corkscrew1502passes through the corkscrew tunnel1547, the securing flange1541contacts an upper surface of the protrusion1528, and until a bottom surface of the protrusion1528contacts at least a portion the surface of the bed of the body of water or the exposed sand/sediment/granular/mud/soil surface.

The protrusion1528can include one or more protrusion fill holes1549, which are configured to allow entry of water/sand/sediment/granular/mud/soil to enter an internal cavity of the protrusion1528.

The protrusion1528can be configured to be, when not filled with water and/or sand/sediment/granular/mud/soil, to be relatively light weight and manually portable for a human user.

The device1500is shown inFIG.36, in an assembled state, with the corkscrews1502passing through the corkscrew tunnel1547, and the securing flange1541contacting an upper surface of the protrusion1528.

Elements shown inFIGS.38and39are comparable to those ofFIGS.1,5,9,10,14,17,18,20,23,28,29,30,31-33,34-35, and36-37with the first digits in this embodiment being 16 rather than 1 in the device100embodiment, 2 in the device200embodiment, 3 in the device300embodiment, 4 in the device400embodiment, 5 in the device500embodiment, 6 in the device600embodiment, 7 in the device700embodiment, 8 in the device800embodiment, 9 in the900embodiment, 10 in the1000embodiment, 11 in the1100embodiment, 12 in the1200embodiment, 13 in the1300embodiment, 14 in the1400embodiment, or 15 in the1500embodiment. For example, the corkscrew1602of the device1600are comparable, in formation and composition, to the corkscrew102of the device100embodiment. Thus, all reference numbers with the last two numbers being the same between device1500, device1400, device1300, device1200, device1100, device1000, device900, device800, device700, device600, device500, device400, device300, device200and the device100are comparable, or the same, in formation and composition.

A perspective view of the device1600is shown inFIG.38. In this embodiment a horizontal shaft1620′ is attached to a vertical shaft1620′, through a shaft connector1651. The shaft connector1651is configured to slide vertically up and down on vertical shaft1620′, depending on the buoyancy of the device1600, and the height of water the device1600is placed in. In some embodiments, the device1600can be designed with a sufficient buoyancy so that the horizontal shafts1620″ remain at a varying water level, or within a few inches, or a few feet, of a varying water level.

In this embodiment the shaft connector1651is attached to four horizontal shafts1620″, however, in other embodiments, shaft connector1651can be attached to one, two, three, five of more horizontal shafts1620″. The horizontal shafts1620″ can act to reduce wave energy and/or current energy of the water the device1600is installed in.

Each horizontal shaft1620″ can include a protrusion1628, which can be fixed to the horizontal shaft1620″, rotate just clockwise about the horizontal shaft1620″, rotate just counter-clockwise about the horizontal shaft1620″, or rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise about horizontal shaft1620″. Each protrusion1628can be any suitable structure and size as any other protrusion noted herein, and include or not include through holes as any other protrusion noted herein.

Another embodiment of device1600is shown in the side view ofFIG.39. In this embodiment, a horizontal shaft float1653is included. This horizontal shaft float1653can be operably connected to one or more of the horizontal shafts1620″ and/or the shaft connector1651. Horizontal shaft float1653can be any suitable structure, shape, size and material that is buoyant.

Two additional embodiments of protrusions are shown inFIGS.40-43. The protrusions ofFIGS.40-43are designed to be removable from a shaft and/or placed onto a shaft, to be replaced themselves or to replace originally installed protrusions if any protrusion becomes worn down, and/or breaks, and/or is not functioning as desired due to interaction with the environment.

One embodiment of a replacement protrusion1728R1is shown inFIGS.40and41. In this embodiment four plates1730are shown, but in other embodiments, one, two, three, five or more plates1730can be included. The plates1730can be substantially flexible and form a shaft cavity1705of a sufficient diameter/circumference to extend around a shaft of any device of the disclosure.

As seen inFIG.41, a plate extension1730′ extends a distance up an adjacent plate1730, and is attached by a connecting mechanism1755. The connecting mechanism1755is any structure capable of maintaining the position of plate extension1730′ relative to the adjacent plate1730′, such as a buckle mechanism, a fastener, a ratchet mechanism, a clip mechanism, a zipper mechanism, a zip tie mechanism, an adhesive, etc.

The replacement protrusion1728R1can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal(s), carbon-based materials, elastomer, rubber, woven materials such as nylon and combinations thereof.

A second embodiment of a replacement protrusion1728R2is shown inFIGS.42and43. The protrusion1728R2ofFIG.42is one length of a material, which can be folded to contact itself along 4 different plates1730″. The portions of the material that contact each other at plate seams1757can be attached to each other through any suitable way, such as by adhesive, sewing, stapling, etc.

The connecting mechanism1755is any structure capable of maintaining the position of two portions of the plate1730″ relative to the each other, such as a buckle mechanism, a fastener, a ratchet mechanism, a clip mechanism, a zipper mechanism, a zip tie mechanism, an adhesive, etc.

The replacement protrusion1728R2can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, glass, ceramic, metal(s), carbon-based materials, elastomer, rubber, woven materials such as nylon and combinations thereof.

The plates1730″ can be substantially flexible and form a shaft cavity1705of a sufficient diameter/circumference to extend around a shaft of any device of the disclosure.

The device1800is shown inFIG.44. The device1800includes a substantially planar base/anchor1856. In some embodiments, substantially planar base/anchor1856is a single, unitary structure. In this embodiment the substantially planar base/anchor1856is shown as having a substantially conical section that can penetrate at least a portion of a substrate, but in other embodiments substantially planar base/anchor1856can be any suitable shape. The substrate can be any seabed, riverbed, lake floor or ocean floor.

In this embodiment of device1800, three protrusions1828are operably attached to three shafts1820. In this embodiment three protrusions1828are shown, but in other embodiments, one, two, four or more protrusions1828can be included.

In this embodiment, three shafts1820are shown, but in other embodiments, one, two, four or more shafts1820can be included. The shaft1820can be substantially flexible and can be formed of any suitable flexible material, such as rope, cable, thread, wire, string, chain, twisted twine, twisted mason line, synthetic fibers, fishing line.

The device1800is configured to be placed on a lower surface of a body of water, with the substantially planar base/anchor1856being configured to penetrate a portion the lower surface and substantially maintain the location of the device on the lower surface. Each protrusion1828is sufficiently buoyant, so as to remain at least partially in the water column. Each protrusion1828can be any suitable material (such as foam, plastic, wood, rubber, glass, metal, combinations thereof, etc.) and construction (such as solid, hollow, partially solid, partially hollow) so that the protrusion1828is of sufficient buoyancy to maintain at least a portion of the shaft1820a distance away from the anchor1856.

A vertical cross-section of the device1800is shown inFIG.45. As can be seen in this embodiment, each protrusion1828includes a hollow portion to create buoyancy.

A shaft *20is shown inFIG.46. Shaft *20can be any shaft, or a portion of any shaft, in this disclosure. In this embodiment, shaft *20includes an electricity generation element75. In this embodiment, the electricity generation element75can be a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) element. In this embodiment a charge-generating layer75A and a charge-collecting layer75B are illustrated, with other components such a charge-trapping layer and a charge storage layer being present but not being illustrated. However, in other embodiments, the electricity generation element75can be any structure capable of converting mechanical movement to electrical charge, such as a piezoelectric element.

In addition, the shaft *20is included with can also include an electricity storage device, such as a battery. Alternatively, the shaft *20can be electrically connected to wire and/or one or more other shafts *20, to transmit gathered electricity a distance away from each shaft *20.

While in use, the shaft *20would be subject to many environmental forces, such as wave, tide, current and/or wind forces, for significant amounts of time. Thus, during use, the electricity generation element75of the shaft *20can receive such physical forces and convert them to electrical charges.

A top view of the shaft *20is shown inFIG.47.

A shaft **20is shown inFIG.48. Shaft **20can be any shaft, or a portion of any shaft, in this disclosure. In this embodiment, shaft **20is substantially hollow, and is at least partially filled with strands77, which can extend at least a portion of shaft * *20. In this embodiment seven strands77are illustrated, but in other embodiments, one, two, three, four, five, six, eight or more strands77can be within shaft *20, with each strand77being the same cross sectional shape or a different shape, including any polygon, curved, or erratic shape.

The strands77can be included in shaft **20to modify the flexibility and/or the rigidity of the shaft *20depending on environmental conditions and operational targets.

The disclosure is further described in the Example(s) below.

For 18 days in March, controlled tests were conducted to determine and measure what impact the devices of the present disclosure have on sediment accretion in a natural system. To conduct this test one device, similar to the device ofFIG.1, was installed after four days of base data measurement. This device included a corkscrew and shaft, with 20 protrusions located along the shaft and with each protrusion including 6 plates. Each of the 6 plates were about 1 inch in height and about 6 inches in length, with each of the 6 plates including six through holes. Each of the protrusions extended around the shaft, with each of the protrusions being configured to rotate freely in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction.

On day 1, a section of wetland that formed a portion of a flowing river, which periodically reversed its flow in accordance with the tides, was chosen. The chosen portion is a portion of a tidal river that is in communication with a portion of the Great South Bay of Long Island, N.Y. A substantially flat section of this wetland/river was specifically selected. Particularly, the site of implementation of the device in the wetland/river was exposed during low tide, and was submerged about 20 inches during high tide. The wetland/river was about 8 feet wide at the location of the installed device.

On Day 1, four yard sticks (referred to as 1, 2, 3, and 4) were each pushed about 12 inches into the substrate of the wetland/river. Yardstick 1 was placed adjacent to the future site of the installed device, with yardsticks 2, 3, and 4 installed both upstream and downstream, in the locations shown inFIG.49.

Sediment accretion data was then gathered for the next 4 days without the device of the present disclosure installed. After the 4 days, the disclosed device was installed in a location adjacent to yardstick 1. After installing the device, daily measurements were gathered for a total of 18 days, with each measurement being conducted at low tide conditions. These measurement data are shown inFIG.50.

As can be seen inFIG.50, for the location adjacent the disclosed device (Yardstick 1), a significant increase in sediment depth was measured within a few days, and that increased level was substantially maintained, and slightly increased, for the duration of the disclosed device being installed.

The described embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive and are not intended to represent every embodiment or example of the present disclosure. While the fundamental novel features of the disclosure as applied to various specific embodiments thereof have been shown, described, and pointed out, it will also be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the disclosure may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. Further, various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.