Reinforced composite matting

Claim 2

A reinforced composite matting for channel lining, comprising a fiber matrix held in place by a net reinforcement, said reinforcement having a bottom netting and a cuspated netting, said cuspated netting being three dimensional and defining the top and bottom of said matting, said fiber matrix being formed of a plurality of randomly oriented fibers, said fiber matrix being sandwiched between said bottom netting and said cuspated netting, said bottom netting being secured in spaced array through said fiber matrix to said cuspated netting.

Claim 3

The reinforced composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting comprises a grid defining a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures, each aperture having a substantially uniform spacing selected from one-sixteenth inch to two inches in length and from one-sixteenth inch to two inches in width.

Claim 4

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said cuspated netting comprises a grid defining a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures, each aperture having a substantially uniform spacing selected from one-sixteenth inch to two inches in length and from one-sixteenth inch to two inches in width.

Claim 5

The composite matting of claim 1, further comprising a top netting secured in spaced array to said cuspated netting adjacent to said ridges thereof, said top netting having a grid defining a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures, each aperture having a substantially uniform spacing selected from one-sixteenth inch to two inches in length and from one-sixteenth inch to two inches in width.

Claim 6

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting is formed of an ultra-violet stabilized plastic material.

Claim 7

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said cuspated netting is formed of an ultra-violet stabilized plastic material.

Claim 8

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said top netting is formed of an ultra-violet stabilized plastic material.

Claim 9

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting is secured to cuspated netting by stitching polyester black thread through said bottom netting and cuspated netting in spaced relation perpendicularly to said ridges and troughs of said cuspated netting.

Claim 10

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said top netting is secured to the cuspated netting by stitching polyester black thread through the top netting and the cuspated netting in spaced relation tangent to the plurality of ridges and troughs formed in the cuspated netting.

Claim 11

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting, the fiber matrix, the cuspated netting and the top netting are all secured together by stitching polyester thread in spaced relation tangent to the plurality of ridges and troughs formed in the cuspated netting.

Claim 12

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said fiber matrix comprises a plurality of elongated strands of coconut fibers.

Claim 13

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting each comprise grids formed of a plurity of substantially diamond shaped apertures.

Claim 14

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said ridges and troughs formed in the cuspated netting are selectively sized to extend from one-eighth inch to one inch in height between the top and bottom netting.

Claim 15

The composite matting of claim 1 further comprising a top netting, said top netting secured in spaced array adjacent to the ridges of the cuspated netting, said cuspated netting being between top and bottom netting.

Claim 16

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting, cuspated netting and top netting are each formed of ultra-violet stabilized plastic materials.

Claim 17

The composite matting of claim 1 wherein said cuspated netting has a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs extending in substantially parallel relation, said bottom netting being secured to said troughs of said cuspated netting.

Claim 18

The composite matting of claim 1, wherein said bottom netting, fiber matrix, and cuspated netting are all secured together by stitching thread in spaced relation substantially tangent to the plurality of ridges and troughs formed in the cuspated netting.

Claim 19

The composite matting of claim 17, wherein said bottom netting, the fiber matrix, the cuspated netting and the top netting are all secured together by stitching thread in spaced relation substantially tangent to the plurality of ridges and troughs formed in the cuspated netting.

Claim 20

The composite matting of claim 17, wherein said ridges and troughs of the cuspated matting are intended for installation substantially tangent to the intended direction of channel flow.

Claim 21

A reinforced composite matting for channel lining, comprising a fiber matrix held in place by a net reinforcement, said reinforcement having a bottom netting defining a grid of apertures, a cuspated netting defining a grid of apertures, said cuspated netting apertures having a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs extending in substantially parallel relation, said fiber matrix being sandwiched between said bottom netting and said cuspated netting, said bottom netting being secured in spaced array through the fiber matrix in close proximity to said troughs to said cuspated netting, and a top netting defining a grid of apertures, said top netting being secured in spaced array to said ridges of said cuspated netting.

Claim 22

A reinforced composite matting for channel lining, comprising a fiber matrix held in place by a net reinforcement, said reinforcement having a bottom netting defining a grid of apertures, a cuspated netting defining a grid of apertures, said cuspated netting apertures having a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs extending in substantially parallel relation, said fiber matrix being sandwiched between said bottom netting and said cuspated netting, said bottom netting being secured in spaced array through the fiber matrix in close proximity to said troughs to said cuspated netting, and a top netting defining a grid of apertures, said top netting being secured in spaced array to said ridges of said cuspated netting.

Claim 23

A three phase reinforced composite matting which traps sediment, mulch, leaves and thatch to expedite natural soil in-filling and plant root entanglement for improved erosion control as a channel lining, comprising a fiber matrix formed of a plurality of randomly oriented fibers held in place by a net reinforcement, said reinforcement having ultra-violet stabilized bottom netting defining a grid of apertures, and an ultra-violet stabilized cuspated netting, said cuspated netting having a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs extending in substantially parallel relation, said fiber matrix being sandwiched between said bottom netting and said cuspated netting, said bottom netting being secured in spaced array through the fiber matrix in close proximity to said troughs of said cuspated netting, wherein said bottom netting acts as a structural support in retention of said fiber matrix to eliminate fiber loss under high velocity channel flow, said cuspated netting forms a three dimensional structure in conjunction with said fiber matrix for trapping sediment and thatch and expediting natural soil in-filling and root reinforcement, said fiber matrix provides temporary and long term erosion control and mulch accumulation for the channel surface by retaining underlying soil, seed and moisture, said cuspated netting also contains in-filled soil leaves and thatch, ultimately forming a complete three dimensional structure providing a permanent matrix for plant root entanglement and reinforcement.

Claim 24

A three phase reinforced composite matting which traps sediment, mulch, leaves and thatch to expedite natural soil in-filling and plant root entanglement for improved erosion control as a channel lining, comprising a fiber matrix formed of a plurality of randomly oriented fibers held in place by a net reinforcement, said reinforcement having ultra-violet stabilized bottom netting defining a grid of apertures, and an ultra-violet stabilized cuspated netting, said cuspated netting having a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs extending in substantially parallel relation, said fiber matrix being sandwiched between said bottom netting and said cuspated netting, said bottom netting being secured in spaced array through the fiber matrix in close proximity to said troughs of said cuspated netting, wherein said bottom netting acts as a structural support in retention of said fiber matrix to eliminate fiber loss under high velocity channel flow, said cuspated netting forms a three dimensional structure in conjunction with said fiber matrix for trapping sediment and thatch and expediting natural soil in-filling and root reinforcement, said fiber matrix provides temporary and long term erosion control and mulch accumulation for the channel surface by retaining underlying soil, seed and moisture, said cuspated netting also contains in-filled soil leaves and thatch, ultimately forming a complete three dimensional structure providing a permanent matrix for plant root entanglement and reinforcement.