MODULAR GABION SYSTEM, STRUCTURE AND METHOD THEREOF

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

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to gabion structures and, more specifically, the present invention relates to coupling multiple panels to form the gabion structures.

BACKGROUND

Gabion structures are a popular type of architecture used in landscaping, retaining walls, and for outdoor aesthetic purposes. Gabion structures are typically made of metal materials, such as metal mesh panels. Such mesh panels are typically welded or loosely coupled together with flexible wire pieces to form a container type structure that may be filled with rocks, for example. Although gabion structures are more traditionally employed for functional purposes in landscaping projects, they are fast becoming popular for aesthetic residential settings as well as public or commercial settings, such as outdoor seating areas of restaurants, parks, or business settings. Gabion structures are very expensive and time consuming to design and build. For example, gabion structures are typically customized for a specific function and/or aesthetic purpose and, therefore, go through a design process. As such, most gabion type structures are unique in size and require a metal fabricator and/or welder to build a given structure. This process of designing, fabricating the desired size of the mesh panels, and then piecing the mesh panels together with wire or welding the mesh panels together to build the customized gabion structure is extremely expensive, time consuming, and limits the ability for most consumers to employ such gabion structures at their residence, for example.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to various embodiments of a modular gabion system configured to hold filler material. In one embodiment, the gabion system includes multiple framed panels configured to removably interconnect with each other so that the framed panels extend to define a first gabion structure. The first gabion structure includes a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side, the front side positioned opposite and generally parallel to the rear side, and the first side positioned opposite and generally parallel to the second side. Each of the multiple framed panels including a panel, an upper bar, a lower bar, an angle bar, and upper and lower tabs. The panel extends with a multi-cellular structure so as to define an upper end, a lower end, a first end, and a second end. The upper end of the panel is opposite the lower end of the panel, and the first end of the panel is opposite the second end of the panel. The upper and lower bars extend along the respective upper and lower ends of the panel such that the upper bar extends generally parallel relative to the lower bar. The angle bar extends between, and is coupled to, end portions of the upper bar and the lower bar so as to extend along the first end of the panel. The upper tab is coupled to one end of the upper bar and the lower tab coupled to one end of the lower bar such that the upper and lower tabs are positioned adjacent the second end of the panel.

In another embodiment, the upper and lower tabs of one of the multiple framed panels are sized and configured to be removably coupled to the angle bar of an adjacently positioned other one of the multiple framed panels. In another embodiment, the multiple framed panels interconnect together with the upper and lower tabs of one of the framed panels being removably coupled to the angle bar of another one of the multiple framed panels. In still another embodiment, the upper and lower tabs each include a hole extending therethrough, the hole of the upper and lower tabs configured to be aligned and correspond with openings defined in the angle bar of another panel adjacently positioned thereto. In another embodiment, the upper bar and the lower bar of at least two of the framed panels include openings defined therein, the openings each sized to receive a bolt.

In another embodiment, the gabion system further includes one or more crossbars, the one or more crossbars extending between oppositely positioned ones of the multiple framed panels. In another embodiment, the one or more crossbars includes vertical extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. In still another embodiment, the one or more crossbars include lateral extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. In yet another embodiment, the one or more crossbars includes lateral extensions set-back from opposite ends of the one or more crossbars.

In another embodiment, the gabion system further includes a second gabion structure, the second gabion structure having the multiple framed panels removably interconnected together, the second gabion structure removably coupled to the first gabion structure. In another embodiment, the second gabion structure is removably coupled to a top side of the first gabion structure. In another embodiment, the second gabion structure is removably coupled to one of the front side, the rear side, the first side and the second side of the first gabion structure.

In another embodiment, the gabion system further includes a seat panel removably coupled to a top side of the first gabion structure. In another embodiment, the multiple framed panels include various sized panels, the various sized panels configured to form various sized gabion structures.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for forming a gabion structure is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing multiple framed panels each having a wire panel, an upper flat bar, a lower flat bar, and an angle bar, the wire panel extending to define an upper end, a lower end, a first end and a second end, the upper end being opposite the lower end and the first end being opposite the second end, the upper flat bar fixed to the upper end of the wire panel, the lower flat bar fixed to the lower end of the wire panel, the angle bar fixed to end portions of the upper and lower flat bar and fixed to the first end of the wire panel, the upper and lower flat bars each including an upper tab and a lower tab fixed to one end of the upper and lower flat bars and positioned adjacent to the second end of the wire panel; and interconnecting the multiple framed panels to each other so that the framed panels extend to define a front side, a rear side, a first side, and a second side to at least partially form the gabion structure.

In another embodiment, the method step of interconnecting includes removably coupling the upper tab and the lower tab of one of the multiple framed panels to the angle bar of another one of the multiple framed panels. In another embodiment, the method further includes the step of coupling one or more crossbars between oppositely positioned ones of the multiple framed panels. In another embodiment, the method further includes the step of assembling multiple gabion structures and coupling the multiple gabion structures together. In still another embodiment, the step of coupling the multiple gabion structures together includes vertically stacking the multiple gabion structures together with a crossbar having vertical extensions, the vertical extensions coupled to a lower and upper gabion structure in a stacked arrangement. In another embodiment, the step of coupling the multiple gabion structures together includes horizontally coupling the multiple gabion structures together with bolts extending through one or more of the angle bar, the upper flat bar, and the lower flat bar of adjacently positioned framed panels of any two of the multiple gabion structures. In another embodiment, the method further includes positioning a seat panel over a top side of the multiple framed panels interconnected together to form the gabion structure. In another embodiment, the step of providing the multiple framed panels includes providing the multiple framed panels having different sizes; and the interconnecting the multiple framed panels includes assembling multiple gabion structures having different sizes.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modular gabion system is provided. The modular gabion system includes multiple framed panels configured to removably interconnect to each other to form a gabion structure, each of the multiple framed panels including a panel, an upper and lower elongated piece, an angled piece, and upper and lower tabs. The panel extends with a multi-cellular structure, the panel extending to define an upper end, a lower end, a first end, and a second end, the upper end being opposite the lower end of the panel, the first end being opposite the second end of the panel. The upper and lower elongated pieces extending along the respective upper and lower ends of the panel such that the upper elongated piece extends generally parallel relative to the lower elongated piece. The angled piece extends between, and is coupled to, end portions of the upper elongated piece and the lower elongated piece so as to extend along the first end of the panel. The upper tab is coupled to one end of the upper elongated piece and the lower tab is coupled to one end of the lower elongated piece such that the upper and lower tabs are positioned adjacent the second end of the panel.

In another embodiment, the multiple framed panels interconnect together with the upper and lower tabs of one of the framed panels being removably coupled to the angled piece of another one of the multiple framed panels. In another embodiment, the upper and lower tabs each include a hole extending therethrough, the hole of the upper and lower tabs configured to be aligned and correspond with openings defined in the angled piece of another panel adjacently positioned thereto. In another embodiment, the upper bar and the lower bar of at least two of the framed panels include openings defined therein, the openings each sized to receive a bolt.

In another embodiment, the gabion system further includes one or more crossbars, the one or more crossbars extending between oppositely positioned ones of the multiple framed panels. In another embodiment, the one or more crossbars include vertical extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. In another embodiment, the one or more crossbars include lateral extensions on opposite ends of the one or more crossbars. In still another embodiment, the one or more crossbars include lateral extensions set-back from opposite ends of the one or more crossbars.

In another embodiment, the gabion system further includes a second gabion structure, the second gabion structure having the multiple framed panels removably interconnected together, the second gabion structure removably coupled to the gabion structure. In another embodiment, the second gabion structure is removably coupled to a top side of the gabion structure. In still another embodiment, the second gabion structure is removably coupled to one of the framed panels of the gabion structure.

In another embodiment, the gabion system further includes a seat panel removably coupled to a top side of the gabion structure. In another embodiment, the multiple framed panels include various sized panels, the various sized panels configured to form various sized gabion structures. In another embodiment, the panel of the framed panels extends to define a periphery, the periphery extending to define at least one of a square shape, a rectangular shape, and a trapezoidal shape. In another embodiment, the framed panels are interconnected to define one of a cuboid type structure and a truncated pyramid type structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of a framed gabion structure 10 is shown in assembled and disassembled states. The framed gabion structure 10 may be formed by employing a modular system with multiple modules or multiple framed panels 12. Such multiple framed panels 12 may be readily assembled or disassembled via a tab system, see, e.g., FIGS. 2A and 3A. Each framed panel 12 may extend with a generally square or rectangular shaped panel with frame pieces on at least three sides and one or more tabs on one of the sides of the square or rectangular shaped panel. The tab system may facilitate the framed panels 12 to readily be interconnected together to form the framed gabion structure 10. Further, such framed panels 12 may be pre-fabricated with various components and in various sizes to form various sized gabion structures, see, e.g., FIGS. 1, 9 and 11, discussed further herein. Also, such pre-fabricated components may be welded together to form pre-determined sizes of the framed panels 12.

With reference to FIG. 1, the various components of the framed gabion structure 10 with its multiple framed panels 12 will now be described. The framed gabion structure 10 may be referenced as a gabion structure or framed gabion or framed structure. The multiple framed panels 12 may include an upper bar 14 and a lower bar 16. The upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may extend parallel to one another. Further, the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may be coupled to an angle iron 18. The angle iron 18 may extend vertically between the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16. The multiple framed panels 12 may also include a wire panel 20. The wire panel 20 may be coupled to the upper bar 14, the lower bar 16, and the angle iron 18. In this manner, the wire panel 20 may extend along or between each of the upper bar 14, lower bar 16 and the angle iron 18. The upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may extend from the angle iron 18 to an opposite end where tabs 22 may be coupled thereto. The tabs 22 may include tab openings 24 (FIG. 2). The tabs 22 and the tab openings 24 (FIG. 2) may be sized and configured for a coupling bolt 26 to extend therethrough. Furthermore, the tabs 22 may be configured to couple to the angle iron 18 of an adjacently positioned framed panel 12, such that, the coupling bolt 26 may extend through the tabs 22 and the angle iron 18. With this arrangement, the multiple framed panels 12 may interconnect to form the framed gabion structure 10. Further, the upper and lower bars 14, 16 may be elongated flat structures or elongated flat pieces that may also be referenced as flat bar, a common term for such type of material. Furthermore, the angle iron 18 may also be elongated angled pieces that may also be referenced as angle bar, as it is a common term for such type of material that may be employed as the angle iron 18.

The gabion structure 10 may form multiple shapes, sizes or configurations when the multiple framed panels 12 are coupled to one another. The multiple framed panels 12 that may extend parallel to one another may be similar in size and shape. In one embodiment, at least two of the multiple framed panels 12 may extend with the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 extending at a length which may be longer than the angle iron 18, defining a first framed panel 28 and a second framed panel 30. The first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may extend parallel to one another. Another two of the multiple framed panels 12 may be positioned adjacently perpendicular to ends of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 to define a third framed panel 32 and a fourth framed panel 34. The third framed panel 32 and the fourth framed panel 34 may extend with similar structure as the first and second framed panels 28, 30, but may be sized differently. For example, the third and fourth framed panels 32, 34 may include other ones of an upper bar 14′ and the lower bar 16′ each extending and coupled to an angle iron 18′. The upper and lower bars 14′, 16′ of the third and fourth framed panels 32, 34 may be shorter than the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 with the angle iron 39 being similar in size, or the same. As such, the third framed panel 32 and the fourth framed panel 34 may extend at a shorter length than the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30. Further, the third framed panel 32 and the fourth framed panel 34 may extend parallel to one another. In this configuration, the framed gabion structure 10 may form a rectangular shaped profile or cuboid type structure without framed panels along bottom and top sides thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, as previously set forth, the multiple framed panels 12 may include the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16, but may include different sizes. The upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may extend from a first end 36 to a second end 38 of the multiple framed panels 12. Further, the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may extend parallel to one another. The lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may extend laterally from the first end 36 to the second end 30 of the multiple framed panels 12. The lower bar 16 may extend to define lower holes 40 thereon. The lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the lower bar 16 of the second framed panel 30 may extend parallel to one another. Further, the lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the lower bar 16 of the second framed panel 30 may include the lower holes 40 positioned thereon. As such, the lower holes 40 on the lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may be positioned directly in line and parallel to one another. The lower holes 40 may be sized and configured for lower bolts 42 to extend therethrough. Similar to the lower bars 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30, the upper bars 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may extend laterally from the first end 36 to the second end 38 of the multiple framed panels 12. Further, the upper bars 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may extend to include upper holes 44 defined thereon. As such, the upper holes 44 defined on the upper bar 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may be positioned directly parallel to one another. The upper holes 44 may be sized and configured for upper bolts 46 to extend therethrough.

The first end 36 of the multiple framed panels 12 may include the angle iron 18 coupled to the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16. The angle iron 18 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16. Further, the angle iron 18 may also extend in an L-shape so as to define a first side 48 and a second side 50 of the angle iron. The first side 48 may extend in-line with the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16. The second side 50 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16. In some embodiments, the angle iron 18 may define a corner 52 or an edge along the multiple framed panels 12. Such corner 52 or edge of a given one of the framed panels 12 may be one of the corners 52 and edge of the gabion structure 10.

The wire panel 20 may be a rail type or wire type metal panel with multiple wires or rods evenly spaced and longitudinally extending vertically over multiple wires or rods that may be evenly spaced and longitudinally extending horizontally. Such wires or rods spaced relative to each other may extend to define a mesh or multi-cellular structure. In another embodiment, the wire panel 20 may be a steel mesh material. In another embodiment, the wire panel 20 may be referenced as a mesh panel. In another embodiment, the wire panel 20 may be referenced as a panel with a mesh structure or multi-cellular structure. In some embodiments, the mesh structure may include rods extending perpendicular relative to each other in an angled or crisscross pattern so as to extend transverse relative to the framed pieces, i.e., upper and lower bars and angle iron. As such, it can be well appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the wire panel 20 may extend with a variety of mesh type structures and patterns.

The wire panel 20 may extend from the first end 36 to the second end 38 of the multiple framed panels 12. In this manner, the wire panel 20 may extend between the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16. Further, the wire panel 20 may extend from the angle iron 18 to the second end 38 of the multiple framed panels 12. As such, the wire panel 20 may be coupled to the upper bar 14, the lower bar 16, and the angle iron 18. Further, the wire panel 20 may include longitudinal wires 54 and lateral wires 56. The longitudinal wires 54 and the lateral wires 56 may extend to form multiple shapes or patterns, such as, a square or rectangular patterns, or, in another embodiment, a diamond pattern. When the gabion structure 10 may be formed, the wire panel 20 may allow for an interior 58 of the gabion structure 10 to be viewed. Therefore, the interior 58 of the gabion structure 10 may be filled with rock filler 11 (FIG. 5) or another type of filler material that is viewable from an exterior side of the gabion structure 10. Other types of filler material may include glass pieces, metal pieces, plastics or any other type of filler material as desired, such as, decorative Christmas ball ornaments, for example.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 2A and 3A, as previously set forth, the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may extend from the first end 36 to the second end 38 of the multiple framed panels 12 to tabs 22 coupled thereto. The tabs 22 may extend to define an inward end 60 and an outward end 62. The outward end 62 may extend past the upper bar 14 or the lower bar 16 for which the tabs 22 may be coupled to. Further, the tabs 22 may include the tab openings 24 defined on the outward end 62. The first side 48 of the angle iron 18 may include first holes 64 and the second side 50 of the angle iron 18 may include second holes 66 defined thereon. The second holes 66 may be positioned on an upper end 68 and a lower end 70 of the angle iron 18. The tab openings 24 and the second holes 66 of the angle iron 18 may be configured to be similar in size. As such, the tab openings 24 may be aligned to the second holes 66 on the second side 50 of angle iron 18 of an adjacently positioned one of the multiple framed panels 12. The tabs 22 may be coupled to the second side 50 of the angle iron 18 by the coupling bolt 26 extending through the tab openings 24 and the second holes 66 of the angle iron 18. Also, a coupling nut 72 may further secure the coupling bolt 26 to each of the tabs 22 and the angle iron 18. With this arrangement, tabs 22 of each one of the framed panels 12 may couple to adjacently positioned other ones of the framed panels 12 to form the gabion structure 10. As previously stated, the first side of the angle iron may include the first holes 64. The first holes 64 may also be positioned adjacent the upper end 68 and the lower end 70 of the angle iron 18. The first holes 64 may be sized for the coupling bolts 26 to also extend therethrough. The coupling bolts 26 extending through the first holes 64, in some embodiments, may not be utilized for coupling to other panels or gabion structures, but rather, the coupling bolts 26 may be for aesthetic and design purposes.

Now with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, as previously stated the upper bar 14 and the lower bar 16 may include the upper holes 44 and the lower holes 40 defined therein, respectively. The lower bolts 42 may be configured to couple a standard crossbar 74 (or referenced as a crossbar) to the lower bars 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30. The standard crossbar 74 may extend from the lower bar 16 of the first panel 28 directly across to the lower bar 16 of the second framed panel 30. In other words, the standard crossbar 74 may extend from the lower hole 40 defined on the lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 to the parallel positioned and aligned lower hole 40 defined on the lower bar 16 of the second framed panel 30. In this configuration, the standard crossbar 74 may extend perpendicular to the lower bars 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30. Similarly, the upper holes 44 may be sized and configured for the upper bolt 46 to extend therethrough and couple the standard crossbar 74 to the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30. As such, the standard crossbar 74 may extend from the upper hole 44 of the upper bar 14 of the first framed panel 28 to the parallel positioned and aligned upper hole 44 of the upper bar 14 of the second framed panel 30. As such, the standard crossbar 74 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30.

Now, the standard crossbar 74 may define a flat piece 76 and extension pieces 78. The extension pieces 78 may be bent or coupled to opposite ends of the flat piece 76 and extend perpendicular thereto. Further, the extension pieces 78 may extend in the same direction as one another. The extension pieces 78 may include bolt holes 80 defined therein. The bolt holes 80 may be sized and configured for the lower bolts 42 or the upper bolts 46 to extend therethrough. As such, the bolt holes 80 of the extension pieces 78 may be aligned to the lower holes 40 or the upper holes 44. When the standard crossbar 74 may be coupled to the lower bars 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30, the extension pieces 78 may extend upwards from the flat piece 76 towards the upper bars 14. In this manner, the lower bolt 42 and a lower nut 82 may couple the standard crossbar 74 to the lower bars 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30. When the standard crossbar 74 may be coupled to the upper bars 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30, the extension pieces 78 may extend downwards from the flat piece 76 towards the lower bars 16. In this manner, the upper bolt 46 and an upper nut 84 may couple the standard crossbar 74 to the upper bars 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30.

As previously set forth, the lower bar 16 and the upper bar 14 may include the lower holes 40 and the upper holes 44, respectively. The lower holes 40 and the upper holes 44 may be defined in groupings 86 of at least two lower holes 40 or two upper holes 44, respectively. In one embodiment, there may be at least two groupings 86 of the lower holes 40 defined on the lower bar 16, and, there may be at least two groupings 86 of the upper holes 44 defined on the upper bar 14. The groupings 86 of the lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may be aligned and parallel to one another. Likewise, the groupings 86 of the upper bar 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30 may be aligned and parallel to one another. With at least two groupings 86 defined on the lower bars 16 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30, at least two standard crossbars 74 may be coupled to the lower bars 16, such as one standard crossbar 74 per grouping 86. The bolt holes 80 of the extension pieces 78 of the standard crossbar 74 may be aligned to at least one of the lower holes 40 in the grouping 86 positioned on the lower bar 16 of the first framed panel 28. As such, the standard crossbar 74 may extend directly across to the parallel positioned grouping 86, and, more specifically, the parallel positioned lower hole 40 defined on the lower bar 16 of the second framed panel 30. Similarly, the bolt holes 80 of the extension pieces 78 of the standard crossbar 74 may be aligned to at least one of the upper holes 44 in the grouping 86 positioned on the upper bar 14 of the first framed panel 28. As such, the standard crossbar 74 may extend directly across to the parallel positioned grouping 86, and, more specifically the parallel positioned upper hole 44 on the upper bar 14 of the second framed panel 30. With at least two groupings 86 defined on the upper bars 14 of the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30, at least two standard crossbars 74 may be coupled to the upper bars 14. In this manner, at least four standard crossbars 74 may be utilized to provide structure to the gabion structure 10. Now, at least one of the lower holes 40 and the upper holes 44 of the groupings 86 may not be utilized to couple standard crossbars 74 to the first framed panel 28 and the second framed panel 30. As such, at least one of the lower holes 40 and the upper holes 44 in the groupings 86 may be configured for aesthetic and design purposes. As such, the lower hole 40 may include the lower bolt 42 extending therethrough, however, the lower bolt 42 may not be utilized to couple the standard crossbar 74 thereto. Similarly, the upper bolt 46 may extend through the upper hole 44 and may not be utilized for coupling the standard crossbar 74 thereto. Upon securing the standard crossbars 74 to the gabion structure 10, the gabion structure may then be positioned at a suitable location where it is intended to be positioned long term to then receive filler material, such as rock filler 11 (FIG. 5) or the like. As such, the crossbars 74 may provide the structural integrity to the gabion structure needed to handle the weight provided by the filler material over long periods of time. Further, the tabs 22 and structural arrangement of each of the framed panels 12 facilitate ready assembly of a given gabion structure 10, as set forth herein.

Now with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in another embodiment of the present invention, a gabion structure 100 including multiple framed panels 102 and a seat panel 104 is provided. The gabion structure 100 may be configured similarly to the previous embodiment. As such, the multiple framed panels 102 may include an upper bar 106, a lower bar 108, an angle iron 110, and a wire panel 112. The upper bar 106, the lower bar 108, the angle iron 110, and the wire panel 112 may be coupled to one another as described in the previous embodiment. In this manner, the upper bar 106 and the lower bar 108 may include tabs 114 coupled thereto. The tabs 114 may couple to a second side 116 of the angle iron 110 with coupling bolts 118 and coupling nuts 120, similar to the previous embodiment.

The gabion structure 100 may define a first framed panel 122, a second framed panel 124, a third framed panel 126, and a fourth framed panel 128, as in the previous embodiment. Further, the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124 may extend parallel to one another. The third framed panel 126 and the fourth framed panel 128 may be coupled to opposite ends of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. The upper bars 106 and the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124 may include upper bolts 134 and lower bolts 136 extending therethrough, respectively. Similar to the previous embodiment, the upper bolts 134 and the lower bolts 136 may be defined may be configured to correspond with holes in groupings 138 of at least two on the upper bars 106 and the lower bars 108. There may be at least two groupings 138 for the upper bolts 134 defined on the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124, and, there may be at least two groupings 138 for the lower bolts 136 defined on the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124.

The lower bolts 136 may couple a standard crossbar 140 to the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. The standard crossbar 140 may define a flat piece 142 and extension pieces 144. The extension pieces 144 may be positioned on opposite ends of the flat piece 142 and may extend perpendicular to the flat piece 142. The extension pieces 144 may be configured to couple to the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124, similar to the previous embodiment. In this manner, the standard crossbar 140 may extend perpendicular to the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. Further, the standard crossbar 140 may be coupled by the lower bolt 136 of the lower bar 108 of the first framed panel 122 and may extend therefrom to the parallel positioned lower bolt 136 of the lower bar 108 of the second framed panel 124. As previously set forth, the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124 may include at least two groupings 138 of holes defined therein. As such, at least two standard crossbars 140 may be coupled to the lower bars 108 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124 with the lower bolts 136 being inserted into corresponding holes.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7A, and 8, as previously set forth, the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124 may include at least two groupings 138 of holes defined therein to receive the upper bolts 134. With at least two groupings 138 of holes defined in the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124, at least two bench crossbars 146 may be coupled thereto with the upper bolts 134. The bench crossbar 146 may be configured similar to the standard crossbar 140. As such, the bench crossbar 146 may define a long flat piece 148 and coupling extension pieces 150. The coupling extension pieces 150 may be positioned along the length of the long flat piece 148. The coupling extension pieces 150 may be positioned at a length such that the coupling extensions pieces 150 may be positioned against the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. Further, the coupling extension pieces 150 may include bolt openings 152 defined thereon. The bolt openings 152 may be configured to be aligned to where the upper bolts 134 of the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124 may be positioned to extend therethrough. Further, the bolt openings 152 may allow for the upper bolt 134 to extend therethrough and couple the bench crossbar 146 to the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. In this embodiment, the long flat piece 148 may extend past the coupling extension pieces 150. Further, the long flat piece 148 may include bench holes 154 defined therein. When the coupling extension pieces 150 may be coupled to the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124, the long flat piece 148 may be positioned on the upper bars 106 of the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. More specifically, the long flat piece 148 may be positioned on an upper periphery 156 of the gabion structure 100. Further, the long flat piece 148 may extend past or beyond the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124. With at least two bench crossbars 146 coupled to the first framed panel 122 and the second framed panel 124, the seat framed panel 104 may be positioned thereon and secured thereto via fasteners or the like extending through the bench holes 154. In this manner, the seat panel 104 may be secured to the gabion structure 100 with the bench crossbars 146. In another embodiment, the seat panel 104 may simply rest on the bench crossbars 146 of the gabion structure 100. In another embodiment, the seat panel 104 may be adhesively attached to the bench crossbars 146 of the gabion structure.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment of a gabion structure 170 with multiple framed panels 172 is provided. The gabion structure 170 may be similar in structure to the previous embodiments. As such, the multiple framed panels 172 may include an upper bar 174, a lower bar 176, an angle iron 178, and a wire panel 180. Further, the multiple framed panels 172 may extend to define a first end 182 and a second end 184. The upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176 may extend from the first end 182 to the second end 184, parallel to one another. The angle iron 178 may be coupled to ends of the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176, such that, the angle iron 178 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176. Further, the angle iron 178 may be coupled to the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176 at the first end 182 of each of the multiple framed panels 172. The wire panel 180 may be coupled to the upper bar 174, the lower bar 176, and the angle iron 178. As such, the wire panel 180 may extend between the first end 182 and the second end 184 of each of the multiple framed panels 172. The angle iron 178 may extend in an L-shape to define a first side 186 and a second side 188. The first side 186 may extend in-line with the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176. The second side 188 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176. In this manner, the angle iron 178 may define a corner 190 or edge of the gabion structure 170.

Similar to the previous embodiment, the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176 may include tabs 192 coupled thereto at on an opposite end of the angle iron 178. The tabs 192 may include tab openings 194 defined therein. The angle iron 178 may define an upper end 196 and a lower end 198. The first side 186 and the second side 188 of the angle iron 178 may include first holes 200 and second holes 202 defined therein, respectively. The tab openings 194 may be positioned and aligned to correspond with the second holes 202 of the second side 188 of the angle iron 178 of an adjacently positioned one of the multiple framed panels 172. In this manner, a coupling bolt 204 may extend through the tab openings 194 and the second holes 202 and, with a coupling nut 206, the coupling bolt 204 may couple the tab 192 to the angle iron 178 of a given one of the framed panels 172. In this manner, the multiple framed panels 172 may be coupled together to assemble the gabion structure 170.

Further, similar to previous embodiments, the gabion structure 170 may define a first framed panel 208, a second framed panel 210, a third framed panel 212, and a fourth framed panel 214. The first framed panel 208 and the second framed panel 210 may extend parallel to one another. The third framed panel 212 and fourth framed panel 214 may be coupled adjacent the first ends 182 and the second ends 184 of the first framed panel 208 and the second framed panel 210, respectively. The third framed panel 212 and the fourth framed panel 214 may extend parallel to one another. In one embodiment, the upper bar 174 and the lower bar 176 of the first framed panel 208 may extend at a similar length to the angle iron 178 of the first framed panel 208. As such, the first framed panel 208 may be similar to a square shape. Further, the second framed panel 210, the third framed panel 212, and the fourth framed panel 214 may be sized similar to the first framed panel 208. In this configuration, the gabion structure 170 may be assembled to define a generally square profile with a cubic structure 216 without a bottom or top panel.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, another embodiment of a gabion structure 220 including multiple framed panels 222 is provided. The multiple framed panels 222 may include an upper bar 224, a lower bar 226, an angle iron 228, and a wire panel 230. The upper bar 224, the lower bar 226, the angle iron 228, and the wire panel 230 may couple to one another similar to the previous embodiments. In this manner, the upper bar 224 and the lower bar 226 may extend perpendicular from the angle iron 228 towards tabs 232 coupled on an opposite end thereof. The wire panel 230 may be coupled to and extend between the upper bar 224, the lower bar 226, and the angle iron 228. Similar to previous embodiments, the angle iron 228 may extend in an L-shape to define a first side 234 and a second side 236. Further, the angle iron 228 may define an upper end 238 and a lower end 240. The first side 234 may extend in-line with the upper bar 224, the lower bar 226, and the wire panel 230. The second side 236 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 224, the lower bar 226, and the wire panel 230. The first side 234 and the second side 236 may include first holes 242 and second holes 244 defined on the upper end 238 and the lower end 240 of the angle iron 228.

The upper bar 224 and the lower bar 226 may extend from the angle iron 228 towards the tabs 232 coupled thereto. The tabs 232 may define tab openings 246 therein. Further, the tabs 232 may be sized and configured to be positioned on the second side 236 of the angle iron 228. In this manner, the tab openings 246 may correspond with the second holes 244 of the second side 236 of the angle iron 228. A coupling bolt 248 and a coupling nut 250 may be sized and configured to extend through the tab openings 246 and the second holes 244 to couple the tabs 232 to the angle iron 228. The multiple framed panels 222 may be coupled to one another in this manner to form the gabion structure 220. Similar to the previous embodiments, the first hole 242 may also include a coupling bolt 248 extending therethrough, however, the first hole 242 and the coupling bolt 248 extending therethrough may be for design and aesthetic purposes.

The gabion structure 220 may extend to define a first framed panel 252, a second framed panel 254, and third framed panel 256, and a fourth framed panel 258, each of which may be coupled together in a similar manner as described above and in previous embodiments. The first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may extend parallel to one another. Further, the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may be coupled to the third framed panel 256 and the fourth framed panel 258. The third framed panel 256 and the fourth framed panel 258 may extend perpendicular to the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254. Now, the upper bars 224 and the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may extend at a length which may be longer than the angle iron 228 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254. In this manner, the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may extend in a rectangular shape. The upper bars 224 and the lower bars 226 of the third framed panel 256 and the fourth framed panel 258 may extend at a similar length than the angle iron 228 of the third framed panel 256 and the fourth framed panel 258. In this manner, the third framed panel 256 and the fourth framed panel 258 may extend in a square shape. The angle irons 228 of the first framed panel 252, the second framed panel 254, the third framed panel 256, and the fourth framed panel 258 may extend with a similar height. In this configuration, upon the first framed panel 252, the second framed panel 254, the third framed panel 256, and the fourth framed panel 258 being coupled to one another, the gabion structure 220 may form a cuboid type structure 260, but without the bottom and top sides.

Similar to the previous embodiment, the upper bars 224 and the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may include upper holes 262 and lower holes 264 defined therein, respectively. The upper holes 262 defined on the upper bars 224 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may be aligned and parallel to one another. The lower holes 264 defined on the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may also be aligned and parallel to one another.

A standard crossbar 266 may be sized and configured to extend between either the upper bars 224 and/or the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254. The standard crossbar 266 may include a flat piece 268 and extension pieces 270. The extension pieces 270 may be coupled to ends of the flat piece 268. Further, the extension pieces 270 may extend perpendicular to the flat piece 268. The extension pieces 270 may include bolt holes 272 defined therein. The bolt holes 272 may be sized and configured to correlate with either the upper holes 262 of the upper bars 224 or the lower holes 264 of the lower bars 226. The bolt holes 272 may be positioned and aligned to the upper holes 262 of the upper bar 224 of the first framed panel 252, such that, the standard crossbar 266 may extend directly across to the upper holes 262 of the second framed panel 254. In this manner, an upper bolt 274 may extend through the upper holes 262 and the bolt holes 272 to couple the standard crossbar 266 to the upper bars 224 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254. When the standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to the upper bars 224 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254, the extension pieces 270 may extend downwards towards the lower bars 226. Similarly, the bolt holes 272 of the extension pieces 270 may be positioned and aligned to the lower holes 264 of the lower bar 226 of the first framed panel 252. As such, the standard crossbar 266 may extend directly across to the lower holes 264 of the second framed panel 254. In this manner, a lower bolt 276 may extend through the lower holes 264 and the bolt holes 272 to couple the standard crossbar 266 to the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254. When the standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254, the extension pieces 270 may extend upwards towards the upper bars 224.

The upper holes 262 and the lower holes 264 defined on the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may be positioned in groupings 278. The groupings 278 may be of at least two upper holes 262 or lower holes 264 positioned on the upper bars 224 or the lower bars 226, respectively. The groupings 278 defined on the upper bar 224 and the lower bar 226 of the first framed panel 252 may be positioned parallel and aligned to the groupings 278 defined on the upper bar 224 and the lower bar 226 of the second framed panel 254. As previously stated, the standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to the upper bars 224 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 by the upper bolt 274. As such, the standard crossbar 266 may extend from at least one of the upper holes 262 of the groupings 278 to the upper hole 262 that may be positioned directly across. Similarly, the standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 by the lower bolt 276. The standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to at least one of the lower holes 264 of the groupings 278 and may extend directly across to the parallel lower hole 264. In this configuration, at least one of the upper holes 262 and the lower holes 264 of the groupings 278 may not be coupled to the standard crossbar 266. However, the upper bolt 274 and the lower bolt 276 may extend through the upper hole 262 and the lower hole 264 which may not be utilized for coupling purposes. In this manner, the upper hole 262 and the lower hole 264 and the associated upper bolt 274 and the lower bolt 276, which may not be utilized for coupling, may be provided for aesthetic and design purposes.

The upper bars 224 and the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254 may include at least one grouping 278 of holes defined therein. As such, at least one standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to the upper bars 224, and, at least one standard crossbar 266 may be coupled to the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254. As previously stated, the gabion structure 220 may form the cuboid structure 260. With at least one standard crossbar 266 being coupled to the upper bars 224 and the lower bars 226 of the first framed panel 252 and the second framed panel 254, the gabion structure 220 may be defined as a medium type cuboid structure 280.

With reference to FIGS. 13, 14A, 14B, 15, 16A, and 16B, in another embodiment, a modular gabion system of multiple assembled gabion structures 290 may be removably interconnected together horizontally to form a larger gabion structure. Such interconnecting of the gabion structures 290 may demonstrate a horizontal type modularity feature. The variations of assembled gabion structures 290 may include the before described gabion structures of a small sized gabion structure or cubic gabion structure (see FIG. 9), a medium sized gabion structure or first cuboid gabion structure (see FIG. 11), and a large gabion structure or second cuboid gabion structure (see FIG. 1). For example, the horizontal type modularity feature may include employing a square gabion structure 292, a medium rectangular gabion structure 294, and a large rectangular gabion structure 296. The square gabion structure 292 may be similar to the cubic gabion structure previously described (see FIG. 9), which may include four panels that, upon being assembled, may extend with four generally square panels and appear to be cubic, but without a bottom and top side. The medium and large rectangular gabion structures 294, 296 may be similar to the cuboid gabion structures previously described (see FIGS. 1 and 11), which may also include four panels, but with two of the four panels elongated in comparison to the other two panels and, upon being assembled, do not exhibit a bottom or top panel.

The square gabion structure 292, the medium rectangular gabion structure 294, and the large rectangular gabion structure 296 may be assembled and formed similarly to the previous embodiments above. As such, the square gabion structure 292, the medium rectangular gabion structure 294, and the large rectangular gabion structure 296 may include at least four framed panels 298. The square gabion structure 292 may include at least four framed panels 298 extending in a square shape and coupled to one another. Further, the square gabion structure 292 may include frame panels, such as to define a panel A 300, a panel B 302, a panel C 304, and a panel D 306. The panel A 300 and panel B 302 may extend parallel to one another and be coupled to panel C 304 and panel D 306.

The medium rectangular gabion structure 294 and the large rectangular gabion structure 296 may include at least four framed panels 298. At least two of the framed panels 298 may extend in a rectangular shape and at least two of the multiple framed panels 298 may extend in a generally square shape. The medium rectangular gabion structure 294 may include framed panels, such as a panel E 308, a panel F 310, a panel G 312, and a panel H 314. The panel E 308 and panel F 310 may extend with a rectangular shape and parallel to one another. Further, panel E 308 and panel F 310 may be coupled to panel G 312 and panel H 314. Panel G 312 and panel H 314 may extend in a generally square shape. Similar to previous embodiments, panel E 308 and panel F 310 may include at least one standard crossbar 316 coupled thereto to provide support to the structure. In this manner, the multiple framed panels 298 may form the medium rectangular gabion structure 294.

The large rectangular gabion structure 296 may include frame panels to define a panel I 318, a panel J 320, a panel K 322, and a panel L 324. Panel I 318 and panel J 320 may extend parallel to one another in a rectangular shape. Further, panel I 318 and panel J 320 may be coupled to panel K 322 and panel L 324. Panel K 322 and panel L 324 may extend in a generally square shape. Similar to previous embodiments, panel I 318 and panel J 320 may include at least two standard crossbars 316 coupled thereto for support purposes. In this manner, the multiple framed panels 298 may form the large rectangular gabion structure 296.

Now with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14A-14B, similar to previous embodiments, the multiple framed panels 298 may include similar structural members. For example, each of the multiple framed panels 298 may define an upper bar 326 and a lower bar 328. The upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 may extend parallel relative to each other. Further, one end portion of the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 may be coupled to an angle iron 330 such that the angle iron 330 may extend laterally relative to the upper and lower bars 326, 328. The angle iron 330 may extend from an upper end 332 to a lower end 334. Further, the angle iron 330 may extend in an L- shape to define a first side 336 and a second side 338. The first side 336 of the angle iron 330 may extend in-line with the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328. Further, the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 may be coupled to the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328. The second side 338 of the angle iron 330 may extend perpendicular to the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328. Each of the multiple framed panels 298 may also include a wire panel 340, which may be coupled to the first side 336 of the angle iron 330, the upper bar 326, and the lower bar 328. As such, the wire panel may extend along the angle iron 330 and between the upper and lower bars 326, 328.

In addition, the multiple framed panels 298 may be coupled to an adjacently positioned one of the multiple framed panels 298, similar to the previous embodiments. As such, each of the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 may include a tab 342 coupled to one end thereof. The tabs 342 of one of the framed panels 298 may be coupled to the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of another one of the framed panels 298 by a coupling bolt 344 and a coupling nut 346 extending therethrough.

Similar to previous embodiments, the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 of the multiple framed panels 298 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 294 and the large rectangular gabion structure 296 may include upper bolts 348 and lower bolts 350 each associated with openings defined in the upper and lower bars 326, 328. Such upper and lower bolts 348, 350 may be sized and designed to extend through the openings for coupling to one or more gabion structures, depending on the larger gabion structure desired. Further, the upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 and their associated openings may be in groupings 352 of at least two upper bolts 348 and two lower bolts 350. The upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 may be sized and configured to couple the standard crossbar 316 to the upper bars 326 and the lower bars 328 of the rectangle shaped multiple framed panels 298, respectively. As stated in previous embodiments, at least one of the upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 of the groupings 352 may not be utilized to couple the standard crossbar 316. Rather, as previously set forth herein, some of the upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 and the openings associated therewith may not be employed to couple the standard crossbar 316 thereto and may be provided for design or aesthetic purposes. In another embodiment, these upper and lower bolts 348, 350 and the openings associated therewith that would otherwise be used for aesthetic purposes may be employed for coupling to other gabion structures.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16A-16B, the multiple gabion structures 290 may be coupled to one another horizontally in multiple different configurations. In one example, the square gabion structure 292, the medium rectangular gabion structure 294, and the large rectangular gabion structure 296 may be positioned adjacent one another to horizontally couple the multiple gabion structures 290 together. For example, panel A 300 of the square gabion structure 292 may be positioned adjacent panel J 320 of the large rectangular gabion structure 296. Panel A 300 may be shorter in length than panel J 320. As such, the upper bar 326 and lower bar 328 of panel A 300 may extend a partial length of the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 of panel J 320. With panel A 300 positioned against panel J 320, the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 of panel A 300 may be positioned against the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel K 322. Panel J 320 may couple to panel K 322 by the tabs 342 and the coupling bolt 344. The second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel D 306 may be positioned against the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 of panel J 320. The tabs 342 of panel A 300 may couple to the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel D 306. As previously stated, the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 may also include the coupling bolt 344 extending therethrough. With the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 of panel A 300 being positioned against the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel K 322, the coupling bolt 344 extending through the first side 336 of panel A 300 may also extend through the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel K 322, and thus, the tabs 342 of panel J 320. As previously stated, the upper bars 326 and the lower bars 328 may include the upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 that may either be utilized for coupling the standard crossbar 316 or not be utilized for coupling. With the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel D 306 being positioned against the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 of panel J 320, the upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 may also extend through the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel D 306. In this manner, panel A 300 may be positioned against and coupled to panel J 320, which results in the square gabion structure 292 being horizontally coupled to the large rectangular gabion structure 296.

Furthermore, panel E 308 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 294 may be positioned against panel L 324 of the large rectangular gabion structure 296. Upon panel E 308 being positioned against panel L 324, panel E 308 may extend a partial length of the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 of panel L 324. The first side 336 of the angle iron 330 of panel L 324 may be positioned against the upper bar 326 and the lower bar 328 of panel E 308. In this manner, the upper bolts 348 and the lower bolts 350 may extend through the corresponding holes defined therein and couple the upper bar 326 and lower bar 328 of panel E 308 and the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 of panel L 324. Further, the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel J 320 may be positioned against the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 of panel E 308. As such, the coupling bolts 344 extending through the corresponding holes of the second side 338 of the angle iron 330 of panel J 320 may also extend through and couple the first side 336 of the angle iron 330 of panel E 308. In this manner, panel E 308 may be positioned against and coupled to panel L 324, which may result in the medium rectangular gabion structure 294 being horizontally coupled to the large rectangular gabion structure 296.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, there may be multiple square gabion structures 292, medium rectangular gabion structures 294 and/or large rectangular gabion structures 296 that may be interconnected in various directions and positions relative to each other to form various larger gabion structures, as desired. Further, the ability to readily assemble (or disassembly) any one of the square gabion structures 292, medium rectangular gabion structures 294 and/or large rectangular gabion structures 296 to any other one of the square gabion structures 292, medium rectangular gabion structures 294 and/or large rectangular gabion structures 296 results in a modular gabion system that facilitates one to build-out to a wide variety of large framed gabion structures, as desired. As such, the building blocks of the square gabion structure 292, the medium rectangular gabion structure 294 and/or the large rectangular gabion structure 296 may provide the ability to create and modularly build-out various sized gabion structures in a horizontal manner while also having the advantageous ability to readily disassemble any such gabion structure. In this manner, the framed panels that form the various sized gabion structures described herein are modular with the ability to readily assemble and disassemble any of the gabion structures and, further disassemble each of the gabion structures into their respective framed panels. Further, upon disassembling a given gabion structure, the framed panels may be sized and configured to be stacked so that the structure of the framed panels may be placed into a compact position so as to readily be stored for later use or for transporting the panels of the various sized gabion structures, for example.

Now with reference to FIGS. 17, 18, 19A, 20 and 21A, another embodiment of a modular gabion system of multiple gabion structures 360 of the present invention that demonstrate modularity in a vertical stacking feature is provided. With respect to FIG. 17, for example, the multiple gabion structures 360 may include a square gabion structure 362, a medium rectangular gabion structure 364, and a large rectangular gabion structure 366. Similar to previous embodiments, the square gabion structure 362, the medium rectangular gabion structure 364, and the large rectangular gabion structure 366 may include multiple framed panels 368 to form such gabion structures 360. The multiple framed panels 368 may each include an upper bar 370, a lower bar 372, an angle iron 374, and a wire panel 376. The angle iron 374 may be coupled to the upper bar 370 and the lower bar 372, such that, the angle iron 374 may extend perpendicular or transverse relative to the upper bar 370 and the lower bar 372. The upper bar 370 and the lower bar 372 may extend generally or substantially parallel to one another. The wire panel 376 may extend along the angle iron 374 and between the upper and lower bars 370, 372. Further, each of the upper bar 370 and the lower bar 372 may include a tab 378 coupled to and extending from one end thereof. Such tabs 378 may each include an opening defined therein sized and configured to receive bolts for coupling to adjacently positioned ones of the framed panels similar to that described in the previous embodiments herein. As such, the tabs 378 may be sized and configured to couple to an adjacently positioned multiple panel 368 to form a given gabion structure.

Similar to the previous embodiments, the square gabion structure 362 may be formed with four similar sized framed panels 368. The upper bars 370 and the lower bars 372 of the multiple framed panels 368 may extend at a similar length as the angle iron 374 so as to define generally square framed panels 380. The medium rectangular gabion structure 364 may be formed with two multiple framed panels 368 with upper bars 370 and lower bars 372 extending at a length longer than that of the angle iron 374 for which the upper bars 370 and the lower bars 372 may be coupled to, defining rectangular framed panels 382. The medium rectangular gabion structure 364 may also include two generally square framed panels 380. In another embodiment, the generally square framed panels 380 may also be rectangular. The square framed panels 380 may be coupled to the rectangular framed panels 382. Similar to previous embodiments, the medium rectangular gabion structure 364 may also include at least one standard crossbar 384 coupled to the upper bars 370 and at least one standard crossbar 384 coupled to the lower bars 372 of the rectangular framed panels 382. Such crossbar 384 may be sized and configured to support the gabion structure relative to tension and/or compressive forces, depending on the use of such gabion structure.

The large rectangular gabion structure 366 may be formed similarly to the medium rectangular gabion structure 364. As such, the large rectangular gabion structure 366 may include two rectangular framed panels 382 extending parallel to one another and coupled to two square framed panels 380. The large rectangular gabion structure 366 may at least two standard crossbars 384 coupled to the upper bars 370 and at least two standard crossbars 384 coupled to the lower bars 372 of the rectangular framed panels 382.

The standard crossbars 384 may be formed similar to the previous embodiments. As such, the standard crossbar 384 may define a flat piece 386 and extension pieces 388. The extension pieces 388 may be coupled to opposite ends of the flat piece 386. The extension pieces 388 of the standard crossbar 384 may be sized and configured to couple to the upper bars 370 of the rectangular framed panels 382 or the lower bars 372 of the rectangular framed panels 382.

With reference to FIGS. 17, 18, and 19A, the gabion structures 360 may be interconnected and stacked vertically by employing a vertical crossbar 390. The vertical crossbar 390 may be employed with the gabion structures 360 at the same location where the standard crossbar 384 has been positioned, as described herein, as well as adjacent ends of a given gabion structure. Such vertical crossbar 390 may be sized and configured to allow for the gabion structures 360 to be vertically coupled to one another. The vertical crossbar 390 may be formed similarly to the standard crossbar 384. As such, the vertical crossbar 390 may include a flat elongated portion 392 and vertical extension pieces 394. The vertical extension pieces 394 may be positioned on opposite ends of the flat portion 392. The vertical extension pieces 394 may extend from a middle 396 to an outer periphery 398. Further, the vertical extension pieces 394 may extend upwards and downwards towards the outer periphery 398. Each of the vertical extension pieces 394 may include at least two openings 400 therein. The openings 400 may be defined on each end portion of the vertical extension pieces 394 so that the opening 400 in the downward extension of the vertical extension pieces 394 may couple to a given lower gabion structure similar to the standard crossbar, as set forth herein. The opening 400 in the upward extension of the vertical extension pieces 394 may couple to an upper gabion structure positioned or stacked upon the lower gabion structure, discussed further herebelow.

With this arrangement, the vertical crossbar 390 may be coupled to the upper bars 370 of the rectangular framed panels 382 in a similar manner as the standard crossbar 384. As such, the vertical extension pieces 394 may be positioned and coupled to the upper bars 370 with an upper bolt 402 extending through the openings 400 in the vertical crossbar 390 and corresponding holes defined in the upper bars 370. The vertical extension pieces 394 may be flush with the upper bars 370 and may extend upward beyond an upper periphery 404 of the gabion structure 360. In this manner, the flat portion 392 may extend perpendicular relative to the upper bars 370 of the rectangular framed panels 382.

With reference to FIGS. 17, 20, and 21A, as previously set forth, the vertical crossbar 390 may be configured to couple to the upper bars 370 of the rectangular framed panels 382, such that, the vertical extension pieces 394 may extend past the upper periphery 404 of the gabion structure 360. The vertical crossbar 390 may be sized and configured to vertically couple gabion structures 360 to each other. For example, multiple gabion structures may be coupled together horizontally, as previously described, to form a lower row 406 of gabion structures 360. The vertical crossbar 390, coupled to the gabion structures in the lower row 406, may be employed for stacking and coupling other gabion structures over the lower row 406 to form an upper row 408 of gabion structures 360. As such, prior to vertically coupling the multiple gabion structures 360, the gabion structures 360 of the lower row 406 may be horizontally coupled to one another, similar to that previously set forth. Further, the gabion structures 360 may be horizontally coupled to one another by positioning one side or one framed panel 368 of one assembled gabion structure 360 against one side of another assembled adjacently positioned gabion structure 360. The adjacently positioned framed panels 368 may then be coupled to one another by employing coupling bolts 410, upper bolts 412, and/or lower bolts 414, or a combination thereof as previously described. In this manner, the gabion structures 360 may be coupled to one another in either a straight row or many other configurations, as may be desired.

As previously described, the vertical crossbars 390 may couple gabion structures 360 vertically one to another. In one embodiment, the gabion structures 360 may vertically couple to other similar gabion structures 360. For example, the lower row 406 may include the large rectangular gabion structure 366 for which another large rectangular gabion structure 366 may couple vertically thereto. In another embodiment, the gabion structures 360 may vertically couple to dissimilar gabion structures 360. For example, the medium rectangular gabion structure 364 may vertically couple to the large rectangular gabion structure 366 positioned on the lower row 406. The lower row 406 may include several large rectangular gabion structures 366, such as a first large gabion structure 407, second large gabion structure 409, and third large gabion structure 411. The large rectangular gabion structures 366 may each include at least one vertical crossbar 390 and one standard crossbar 384 coupled to the upper bars 370 of the rectangular framed panels 382. In another embodiment, the large rectangular gabion structures may include four spaced vertical cross- bars 390 coupled thereto, one of the vertical crossbars 390 at each end of the large rectangular gabion structure 366. The upper row 408 may include the medium rectangular gabion structure 364, two large rectangular gabion structures 366, and the square gabion structure 362, by way of example. Upon vertically coupling gabion structures 360 to one another, a lower periphery 416 of the gabion structure 360 may be positioned on or over the upper periphery 404 of another gabion structure 360. The lower row 406 of gabion structures 360 may extend to define a first end 418 and a second end 420. The medium rectangular gabion structure 364 on the upper row 408 may be positioned adjacent to the first end 418 of the lower row 406. As such, the lower periphery 416 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 364 may be positioned on or over the upper periphery 404 of the first large gabion structure 407. The medium rectangular gabion structure 364 may extend a partial length of the first large gabion structure 407. In this manner, a portion of the first large gabion structure 407 may not be vertically coupled to another gabion structure 360.

With reference to FIGS. 17, 19A, 20, and 21A, as previously set forth, upon the vertical crossbar 390 being coupled to the upper bars 370 of the gabion structures 360, the vertical extension pieces 394 may extend above or beyond the upper periphery 404 of the gabion structure 360. The vertical extension pieces 394 of the vertical crossbar 390 coupled to the upper bar 370 of the first large gabion structure 407 may extend to be positioned on the lower bars 372 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 364. As such, the vertical extension pieces 394 may couple to the lower bars 372 of the rectangular framed panels 382 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 364. Further, upon the vertical extension pieces 394 being coupled to the lower bar 372 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 364, the vertical crossbar 390, and therefore, the vertical extension pieces 394 may be positioned where the standard crossbar 384 may have been positioned on the lower bars 372 of the medium rectangular gabion structure 364.

As previously provided, two large rectangular gabion structures 366 may be positioned on the upper periphery's 404 of the second large gabion structure 409 and the third large gabion structure 411. The two large rectangular gabion structures 366 of the upper row 408 may be defined as a first rectangular structure 422 and a second rectangular structure 424. The two large rectangular gabion structures 366 may be coupled horizontally to each other and the medium rectangular gabion structure 364 of the upper row 408. Further, the two large rectangular gabion structures 366 may extend over the second large gabion structure 409 and partially over the third large gabion structure 411. The vertical crossbar 390 coupled to the second large gabion structure 409 may be coupled to the lower bars 372 of the first rectangular structure 422 of the upper row 370. The vertical crossbar 390 may be positioned where at least one standard crossbar 384 may have been coupled to the lower bars 372 of the first rectangular structure 422. Similarly, the vertical crossbar 390 coupled to the third large gabion structure 411 may couple to the lower bars 372 of the second rectangular structure 424 of the upper row 408. The vertical crossbar 390 may be positioned and coupled to where at least one standard crossbar 384 may have been coupled to the lower bars 372 of the second rectangular structure 424. The square gabion structure 362 may be horizontally coupled to the second rectangular structure 424 of the upper row 408. In this manner, the square gabion structure 362 may be positioned and secured on the remaining portion of the third large gabion structure 411. The third large gabion structure 411 may not couple the square gabion structure 362 vertically, however, the horizontal coupling to the second rectangular structure 424 of the upper row 408 may secure the square gabion structure 362 thereon. In this configuration, the square gabion structure 362 may be positioned on the second end 420 of the lower row 406.

With this arrangement, the multiple gabion structures 360 may be assembled from multiple framed panels 368 so that the gabion structures 360 may be interconnected horizontally, similar to that described in the previous embodiment, and may also be interconnected in a vertical manner, as set forth above. Further, the gabion structures 360 may each be readily disassembled and separated into the multiple framed panels 368 that may be organized into stacks or into crates, for example, for storage and/or transportation purposes. Further, such stored framed panels may be assembled at a later time and at a different location to form the same sized gabion structure or another gabion structure having a different size or shape, as needed or desired. In this manner, the assembled gabion structures 360 are modular to build-out horizontally and vertically to form a wide variety of sizes of gabion structures, as desired, as well as having the ability to be readily disassembled. Some practical applications of the modular gabion system that facilitates interconnection of various sized gabion structures 360, horizontally and vertically, may include retaining walls, landscaping features for structural support or as a decorative feature, walkway barriers, architectural accent walls or privacy barriers or the like.

Now with reference to FIGS. 22-24, another embodiment of a modular gabion system 450, is provided. Similar to previous embodiments, this embodiment of the modular gabion system 450 may include multiple framed panels 452, lower crossbars 454, upper crossbars 456 and a bench panel 458. Further, the framed panels 452 may be removably interconnected relative to each other with a tab system 460, the tab system 460 associated with each of the framed panels 452. As will be readily ascertained, this embodiment of the modular gabion system 450 is similar to previous embodiments and, more particularly, most similar to the embodiment set forth in FIGS. 5-8 herein. In this embodiment, upon assembling the framed panels 452, the modular gabion system 450 may be assembled to exhibit an elongated truncated pyramid structure in an inverted position, as best shown in FIG. 23. The elongated truncated pyramid structure may include some structural characteristics similar to a trapezoidal prism type structure. The modular gabion system 450 may also be referenced as a framed gabion structure 451. As such, the framed gabion structure 451 of this embodiment may extend with framed panels 452, namely four framed panels, two of the four framed panels being elongated in comparison to the other two framed panels. Further, each of the framed panels 452 may extend with a trapezoidal shape. In another embodiment, the assembled elongated and truncated pyramid structure may be employed without inverting such structure.

The modular gabion system 450 may include the multiple framed panels 452 that may be first and second framed panels 462, 464 and third and fourth framed panels 466, 468. Each of the framed panels 452 may include an upper bar 470, a lower bar 472 and an angled bar 474 that may extend at least partially along a periphery of a panel 476, such as a wire panel or the like. The panel 476 may extend to define a trapezoidal shape and, as such, the framed panels 452 may also exhibit a trapezoidal shape. The panel 476 may extend to define a periphery, the periphery extending to define an upper end 477, a lower end 479, a first end 481 and a second end 483. In this embodiment, the trapezoidal shape may be oriented with the upper bar 470 being longer than the lower bar 472 in each of the framed panels 452, the upper and lower bars 470, 472 extending substantially parallel relative to each other and extending along and fixed to respective upper and lower ends 477, 479 of the panel 476. The angled bar 474 may extend between and be connected to one end of the upper and lower bars 470, 472 as well as extending along and fixed to the second end 483 of the panel 476. The other end of the upper and lower bars 470, 472 may each include a tab 472 fixed thereto, the tab 472 positioned adjacent the first end 481 of the panel 476. Each tab 472 may include a tab hole 480 defined therein. The angled bar 474 of a given one of the framed panels 452 may also include holes 482 that may be spaced to correspond with the tab holes 480 of an adjacently positioned other one of the framed panels 452. The angled bar 474 may extend relative to the upper and lower bars 470, 472 in a non-orthogonal angle. In one embodiment, the angled bar 474 may extend as an obtuse angle relative to the upper bar 470 and the angled bar 474 may extend as an acute angle relative to the lower bar 472. Similar to previous embodiments, the angled bar 474 may also be referenced as angle iron or angle stock type structure so as to exhibit two flat pieces coupled along their lengths such that the two flat pieces form a right-angled structure in its lateral cross-section.

As depicted in FIGS. 22 and 23, the first and second framed panels 462, 464 may be smaller than the third and fourth framed panels 466, 468. Further, the first framed panel 462 may be positioned opposite the second framed panel 464. The third framed panel 466 may be positioned opposite the fourth framed panel 468. The first and second framed panels 462, 464 may be substantially similar to each other. Likewise, the third and fourth framed panels 466, 468 may be substantially similar to each other. In another embodiment, the upper and lower bars 470, 472 of the first and second framed panels 462, 464 may be smaller than the upper and lower bars 470, 472 of the third and fourth framed panels 466, 468. In this manner, the framed gabion structure 451 may be elongated in its structure.

Similar to previous embodiments, the framed gabion structure 451 may be assembled by coupling the tabs 478 of the first framed panel 462 to the holes 482 of the angled bar 474 of the third framed panel 466. Such may be coupled by extending bolts 484 through the corresponding holes 482 and securing each of the bolts 484 with a nut 486. The other framed panels 452 may be similarly connected by coupling the tabs 478 of one framed panel 452 to the angled bar 474 of an adjacently positioned framed panel 452. For example, with the bolt 484 and nut 486 arrangement, the tabs 478 of the fourth framed panel 468 may be coupled to the angled bar 474 of the first framed panel 462, and the tabs 478 of the second framed panel 464 may be coupled to the angled bar 474 of the fourth framed panel 468. Further, with the appropriate bolts 484 and nuts 486, the tabs 478 of the third framed panel 466 may be coupled to the angled bar 474 of the second framed panel 464. In this manner, the framed panels 452 may be coupled together, similar to that described and depicted in other embodiments herein.

The lower crossbars 454 may be positioned and coupled between the lower bar 472 of the third and fourth frame panels 466, 468 with bolts 484 and nuts 486. The lower crossbar 454 may extend with a main elongated piece 488 with tab pieces 490 at or adjacent to opposing ends of the main elongated piece 488. The tab pieces 490 may be fixed and angled to correspond with the angle of the position of the corresponding one of the frame panels 452. In addition, the upper crossbars 456 may be positioned and coupled between the upper bar 470 of the third and fourth panels 466, 468 with bolts 484 and nuts 486. The upper crossbar 456 may include an elongated flat piece 492 with angled tabs 494. The angled tabs 494 may be positioned and oriented at the angle that corresponds with the position and angle of the corresponding one of the framed panels 452. Such angle corresponds with the angle of the trapezoidal shape of the framed panel 452. The elongated flat piece 492 may extend further or beyond the upper bar 470 of the third and fourth framed panels 466, 468 and may include an opening 496 defined in end portions 498 of the elongated flat piece 492. Such opening 496 may be utilized for securing the bench panel 458 thereto, as depicted in FIG. 24, and similar to that depicted in previous embodiments. With this arrangement, the framed panels 452 having a trapezoidal shape may be coupled together to form the framed gabion structure 451 that may receive the bench panel 458 secured thereto. In this manner, the framed gabion structure 451 having an elongated, truncated pyramid type structure (and oriented in an inverted manner) may be employed as a bench or the like.

In another embodiment, the assembled framed gabion structure 451 that may exhibit an elongated and truncated pyramid structure may be employed without inverting such structure. Further, such non-inverted framed gabion structure may be utilized with the needed structure to fasten a bench panel along the top side of the framed gabion structure. In another embodiment, the assembled elongated and truncated pyramid structure in the inverted position may be employed without the bench panel 458, similar to that depicted in FIG. 23, except the upper crossbar 456 may be replaced with an appropriately sized standard crossbar, similar to the standard crossbar 74 shown in FIG. 1.

Now with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26, another embodiment of a modular gabion system 500 is provided. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment with the modular gabion system 500, upon being assembled, exhibiting a framed gabion structure 501 that may provide a truncated pyramid structure or the like. The modular gabion system 500 may include multiple framed panels 502, namely, first, second, third and fourth framed panels 504, 506, 508, 510. In this embodiment, each of the framed panels 502 may exhibit a common size or may be sized so as to be substantially the same. Each of the framed panels 502 may include an upper bar 512, a middle bar 514, a lower bar 516, an angled bar 518 and a panel 520. The panel 520 may be any type of a multi-cellular structure or the like, such as a rod or wire like structure overlapping each other in a crisscross pattern. The upper, middle and lower bars 512, 514, 516 may be fixed to the panel 520 so as to extend parallel relative to each other. The angled bar 518 may extend along one side of the panel 520 so as to be fixed to one end of each of the upper, middle and lower bars 512, 514, 516. The angled bar 518 may extend with an angle iron type configuration, as known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The other end of each of the upper, middle and lower bars 512, 514, 516 may include a tab 522 fixed thereto, the tab 522 having a tab hole 524 defined therein. As in previous embodiments, the framed panels 502 may be coupled together by securing the tabs 522 of one framed panel 502 to the angled bar 518 of an adjacently positioned framed panel 502. In this manner, each of the first, second, third and fourth framed panels 504, 506, 508, 510 may be coupled together to form the framed gabion structure 501. Such coupling may be employed with threaded bolts 526 being positioned to extend through the tab holes 524 defined in the tabs 522 and also extending through holes 529 defined in the angled bar 518 of adjacently positioned framed panels 502. Further, each threaded bolt 526 may be secured with a nut 528.

As depicted in FIG. 26, upon assembling the framed panels 502, the framed gabion structure 501 may exhibit a truncated pyramid like shape. The framed gabion structure 501 may extend to define an upper side 530 and a lower side 532 with the framed panels 502 therebetween. Each of the upper side 530 and the lower side 532 of the framed gabion structure 501 may exhibit a respective upper and lower periphery 536, 538 each of which may exhibit a square profile or square periphery. In some embodiments, the upper side 530 and lower side 532 of the framed gabion structure 501 may also include one or more upper crossbars and one or more lower crossbars (not shown), similar to that described herein, see e.g., FIGS. 4 and 7. In some embodiments, the framed gabion structure 501 may receive filler material, such as rock filler or any other suitable filler material, as set forth herein. In other embodiments, the framed gabion structure 501 may include an upper crossbar that facilitates securing a seat panel so that the framed gabion structure 501 may be employed as a stool or the like. In other embodiments, the framed gabion structure 501 may be sized and configured to be inverted and act as a table, the inverted gabion structure having base crossbars (similar to the before described lower crossbars) with additional length for stabilization and upper crossbars for receiving a table panel. In another embodiment, the framed gabion structure 501 may act as an end table like structure such that the gabion structure may receive upper crossbars sized for holding an end table type panel with the desired size. In embodiments where the framed gabion structure 501 is employed as a stool, table or end table, or the like, such gabion structure 501 may not be filled with a filler material.

In another embodiment, the framed gabion structure 501 may be employed as an architectural accent. For example, the framed gabion structure 501 may be assembled and positioned around an existing column that may be structural to a home or building, such as along a front porch, patio, or even a flag pole. In another version, the framed gabion structure 501 may be assembled around a mail box pole or any other pole or column structure. In this manner, the gabion structure 501 may act as an architectural accent, in which a filler material may be added to the gabion structure, as set forth herein.

Other gabion structures may be employed for various types of indoor and outdoor furniture and décor. For example, the upper and lower periphery 536, 538 of the framed gabion structure 501, set forth in FIG. 26, may exhibit a square profile, the upper periphery 536 being smaller than the lower periphery 538. With a square profile at the upper and lower sides 530, 532 of the framed gabion structure 501, the framed panels 502 may be substantially similar in size so as to exhibit a truncated pyramid. In another embodiment, the upper and lower periphery may exhibit a rectangular profile, as depicted in the framed gabion structure 451 in FIG. 23. Such rectangular profile of the upper and lower periphery may result in an elongated structure. As such, as depicted in FIG. 23, the framed gabion structure 451 may be an inverted, truncated pyramid that may be elongated.

In other embodiments, the framed panels may be a trapezoid shape such that, upon being interconnected to form the framed gabion structure, the profile of the upper and lower sides of the framed gabion structure may be a triangular shape, a pentagon shape or a hexagon shape, or other shapes as desired. For example, in the version that a framed gabion structure includes the upper and lower profile with a triangular shape, the resulting framed gabion structure may be a three-sided truncated pyramid (not including the upper and lower sides). Similarly, in the version that the framed gabion structure includes an upper and lower profile with a pentagon shape, the resulting framed gabion structure may be a five-sided truncated pyramid (not including the upper and lower sides). Further, in the version that the framed gabion structure includes an upper and lower profile with a hexagonal shape, the resulting framed gabion structure may be a six-sided truncated pyramid (not including the upper and lower sides). As such, many variations of a framed gabion structure may be provided that also may be employed with various functions. Each of such variations of a framed gabion structure may be modular so as to be assembled and disassembled with a tab system, as set forth herein. Further, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the tab system or tabs integrated into each of the embodiments of the framed panels set forth herein readily facilitates the ability to form various sized and shaped framed gabion structures that may be interconnected horizontally as well as vertically, as set forth herein, as well as facilitating ready assembly and disassembly of the components so that the components can be stacked, stored and/or transported to then be assembled or reassembled.

The various structural components of the various embodiments of the gabion structures set forth herein may be formed from metallic materials, such as carbon steel, hot-rolled carbon steel, high strength low alloy steel, or the like, or any other suitable metallic material, as well as any other materials needed to form and manufacture the various components of the gabion structures, as known by one of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the structural components of the gabion structures set forth herein may be formed by employing known manufacturing techniques and processes, such as welding, molding, milling, drilling, bending, fastening, soldering, etc., as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. Further, the structural features of any one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined or replaced by any one of the structural features of another embodiment set forth herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.