Patent Publication Number: US-2010124628-A1

Title: Geosynthetic Assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a geosynthetic assembly, more particularly to a geosynthetic assembly including a plurality of first and second interlocking members that form a continuous passageway for a connectoring member to extend therethrough, such that first and second bodies of the geosynthetic assembly may be easily and quickly interconnected. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional geosynthetics, which include geotextiles and geogrids, are generally manufactured to a predetermined size. In use, a predetermined number of geosynthetics are interconnected in order to obtain a geosynthetic assembly of a desired size. 
       FIG. 1  shows a conventional geotextile assembly  10  including a first fabric  101  and a second fabric  102 , which are interconnected by sewing, such as by using a Z seam, a J seam, a prayer seam or a butterfly seam. However, such sewing is complicated and time-consuming. 
       FIG. 2  shows a conventional geogrid assembly  1  including a first geogrid body  11 , and a second geogrid body  12  that is disposed on and that overlaps the first geogrid body  11 . The overlapping portions of the first and second geogrid bodies  11 ,  12  are interconnected using connectors  13 , e.g., metal anchorages, plastic strips, or buckles. However, labor-intensive and time-consuming processes are associated with the use of such connectors  13 . In addition, when the first and second geogrid bodies  11 ,  12  are made from a material having insufficient strength, the interconnection between the first and second geogrid bodies  11 ,  12  is weak. 
       FIG. 3  shows another geogrid assembly  2  including first and second geogrid bodies  21 ,  22 . The first geogrid body  21  is disposed on and overlaps the second geogrid body  22 . The first and second geogrid bodies  21 ,  22  are interconnected using a steel bar  23 , which is weaved through the first and second geogrid bodies  21 ,  22  where the same overlap. However, such interconnection of the first and second geogrid bodies  21 ,  22  is difficult and time-consuming. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a geosynthetic assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
     According to the present invention, a geosynthetic assembly comprises: a first geosynthetic unit including a first body, and a first connector connected to the first body and having a plurality of first interlocking members which are spaced apart from each other along a direction and which define respectively first through-holes; a second geosynthetic unit including a second body, and a second connector connected to the second body and having a plurality of second interlocking members which are spaced apart from each other along the direction and which define respectively second through-holes, the first and second interlocking members being alternately disposed along the direction such that the first and second through-holes are aligned along the direction to form a passageway that extends along the direction; and a connecting member extending through the passageway. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary schematic top view of a conventional geotextile assembly, illustrating interconnection of first and second geotextile bodies by sewing; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary schematic top view of a conventional geogrid assembly, illustrating interconnection of first and second geogrid bodies by anchorages; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary schematic top view of another conventional geogrid assembly, illustrating interconnection of first and second geogrid bodies by a steel bar; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a geosynthetic assembly according to this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary assembled perspective view of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary assembled perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a connecting member fixed on an anchoring unit; and 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a geosynthetic assembly, which could be a geotextile assembly, according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the first preferred embodiment of a geosynthetic assembly according to this invention. 
     The geosynthetic assembly includes: a first geosynthetic unit  3  including a first body  31 , and a first connector  32  connected to the first body  31  and having a plurality of first interlocking members  322  which are spaced apart from each other along a direction (X) and which define respectively first through-holes  323 ; a second geosynthetic unit  4  including a second body  41 , and a second connector  42  connected to the second body  41  and having a plurality of second interlocking members  422  which are spaced apart from each other along the direction (X) and which define respectively second through-holes  423 , the first and second interlocking members  322 ,  422  being alternately disposed along the direction (X) such that the first and second through-holes  323 ,  423  are aligned along the direction (X) to form a passageway that extends along the direction (X); and a connecting member  5  extending through the passageway so as to interconnect the first and second geosynthetic units  3 ,  4 . 
     In this embodiment, a plurality of first recesses  324 , each of which is defined between each two adjacent ones of the first interlocking members  322 , are sized such that each two adjacent ones of the first interlocking members  322  tightly receive a respective one of the second interlocking members  422  therebetween, and a plurality of second recesses  424 , each of which is defined between each two adjacent ones of the second interlocking members  422 , are sized such that each two adjacent ones of the second interlocking members  422  tightly receive a respective one of the first interlocking members  322  therebetween. As a result, the passageway is substantially continuous along the direction (X), as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In this embodiment, the first connector  32  further has a first connecting portion  321  connected to the first body  31  and extending between the first body  31  and the first interlocking members  322 , and the second connector  42  further has a second connecting portion  421  connected to the second body  41  and extending between the second body  41  and the second interlocking members  422 . 
     In this embodiment, the first and second connectors  32 ,  42  are connected to the first and second bodies  31 ,  41  by sewing. In other embodiments, the first and second connectors  32 ,  42  are connected to the first and second bodies  31 ,  41  by adhering the same thereto, by fusing the first and second connectors  32 ,  42  to the first and second bodies  31 ,  41 , or by integrally forming the first and second connectors  32 ,  42  with the first and second bodies  31 ,  41 . 
     In some embodiments, with reference to  FIG. 6 , the geosynthetic assembly further includes an anchoring unit  6  disposed next to the first and second geosynthetic units  3 ,  4 . One end of the connecting member  5  is connected to the anchoring unit  6  so as to prevent undesired removal of the connecting member from the first and second through-holes  323 ,  423 . 
     Preferably, the anchoring unit  6  is made of concrete, but may be made of another material. 
     Preferably, the connecting member  5  is one of a rope and a steel rod. 
     In this embodiment, the first and second bodies  31 ,  41  of the first and second geosynthetic units  3 ,  4  are made from a stiff material having a grid-like structure. That is, in this embodiment, each of the first and second bodies  31 ,  41  is formed as a geogrid. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second preferred embodiment of the geosynthetic assembly according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first preferred embodiment, but differs from the first preferred embodiment in that the first and second bodies  31 ,  41  of the first and second geosynthetic units  3 ,  4  are made from a fabric material. That is, in the second preferred embodiment, each of the first and second bodies  31 ,  41  is formed as a geotextile. 
     By disposing alternately the first and second interlocking members  322 ,  422  along the direction (X) such that the first and second through-holes  323 ,  423  are aligned along the direction (X) to form the passageway for the connecting member  5  to extend therethrough, the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the prior art can be eliminated. 
     With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as recited in the appended claims.