GABION DEPLOYMENT PLATFORM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gabion deployment platform for storing a folded multi-compartment gabion and from which the gabion can be deployed, the deployment platform comprising: a base element for supporting the folded multi-compartmental gabion, the base element comprising a first member configured to extend along at least a part of a first side of said folded multi-compartment gabion, and a second member, extending transversely from said first member, said second member configured to extend along at least a part of a second side of said folded multi-compartmental gabion; and at least one retaining element, coupled at a first end thereof to said base element, said at least one retaining element being releasably attached, connected or retentively engaged, at least at one point of said at least one retaining element, by way of at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means, to a portion of a compartment of said folded multi-compartment gabion, said at least one retaining element configured to extend from said base element, over at least a portion of said folded multi-compartment gabion, said at least one retaining element serving to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the gabion to the base element when the gabion is folded but to release the gabion from the base element when the gabion is deployed.

Claims

1.-63. (canceled)

64. A gabion deployment platform (80) for storing a folded multi-compartment gabion (22) and from which the gabion can be deployed, the deployment platform (80) comprising: a base element (82) for supporting the folded multi-compartmental gabion (22), the base element (82) comprising a first member (84) configured to extend along at least a part of a first side of said folded multi-compartment gabion (22), and a second member (86), extending transversely from said first member (84), said second member (86) configured to extend along at least a part of a second side of said folded multi-compartmental gabion (22); and at least one retaining element (88), coupled at a first end thereof to said base element (82), said at least one retaining element (88) being releasably attached, connected or retentively engaged, at least at one point of said at least one retaining element (88), by way of at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98), to a portion of a compartment of said folded multi-compartment gabion (22), said at least one retaining element (88) configured to extend from said base element (82), over at least a portion of said folded multi-compartment gabion (22), said at least one retaining element (88) serving to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the gabion (22) to the base element (82) when the gabion (22) is folded but to release the gabion (22) from the base element (82) when the gabion (22) is deployed.

65. A gabion deployment platform as claimed in claim 64, wherein said at least one retaining element (88) is releasably attached, connected or retentively engaged, by way of said at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98), at a plurality of spaced intervals to a portion of a respective plurality of individual compartments forming said folded multi-compartment gabion (22); and/or optionally wherein a first releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is situated to couple the at least one retaining element (88) to a side wall (16, 18) between first and second compartments of the gabion (22) or between first and second units (10) of the gabion (22), a second releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is situated to couple the at least one retaining element (88) to a side wall (16, 18) between second and third compartments of the gabion (22) or between second and third units (10) of the gabion (22), a third releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is situated to couple the at least one retaining element (88) to a side wall (16, 18) between third and fourth compartments of the gabion (22) or between third and fourth units (10) of the gabion (22), and an nth releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is situated to couple the at least one retaining element (88) to a side wall (16, 18) between nth and (n+1)th compartments of the gabion (22) or between nth and (n+1)th units (10) of the gabion (22).

66. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 64, wherein an element of the gabion deployment platform (80) comprises a pallet (100), said pallet (100) arranged to form a base of said gabion deployment platform (80) and configured to receive a multi-compartment gabion (22) thereon; or optionally wherein said base element (82) is securely attached to the pallet (100).

67. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 64, wherein one of the base element (82), when dependent upon claim 1 or 2, or pallet (100), when dependent upon claim 3, is configured to serve as a towable sled from which a multicompartmental gabion (22) is deployable directly therefrom.

68. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 67, wherein one, or both, of the base element (82) or pallet (100) comprises a nose portion (101) located to form a front-end of said sled; and optionally wherein said nose portion (101) is integral with one, or both, of said base element (82) or pallet (100); or optionally wherein said nose portion (101) is removably attachable to said base element (82).

69. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 64, wherein said at least one retaining element comprises a strap (88); and optionally wherein the strap (88) is frangibly or releasably secured to the gabion (22) sequentially at a plurality of locations; and optionally wherein said at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is located at each of said plurality of locations, said at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) coupled to said gabion (22) at respective locations and arranged to frangibly or releasably engage said strap (88); and/or optionally wherein the respective locations correspond to different compartments, cells or units (10) of the multi-compartmental gabion (22).

70. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 64, wherein the at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is one of the group comprising: a folded gabion compartment edge section; a frangible loop (114); a frangible ring (108); a frangible part of the gabion; a deformable member; a helical member; a clip; a frangible coupling (140) on, or part of, said at least one retaining element (88); a frangible portion (142) of said at least one retaining element (88); a strap for releasable connection with said at least one retaining element (88); and optionally wherein the loop (114), frangible ring (108), frangible part of the gabion, frangible coupling (140) on said at least one retaining element (88), or frangible portion (142) of said at least one retaining element (88) has a point of weakness to encourage the attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) to break at a predetermined position and/or load.

71. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 64, wherein the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is adapted to release at a predetermined load; and optionally wherein the predetermined load corresponds substantially with a towing force applied to the gabion (22) or deployment platform (80).

72. A gabion deployment platform according to claim 64, wherein the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is formed integrally with the gabion (22); and/or optionally wherein said base element (82) is configured such that the apparatus can be stored and/or transported and/or a gabion (22) deployed therefrom with the first member (84) in a lowermost position, and/or such that the apparatus can be stored and/or transported and/or a gabion (22) deployed therefrom with the second member (86) in a lowermost position.

73. A gabion (22) of the type comprising: hingedly or pivotally attached, connected sidewalls (16, 18) and cross-members or partitions (12) such that it can be folded for storage and deployed for use; and at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) suitable for attaching, connecting or retentive engaging the gabion (22) to at least one retaining element (88) of a gabion deployment platform (80) according to any one of the preceding claims; wherein the at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98) is adapted to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the gabion (22) to the at least one retaining element (88) when the gabion (22) is folded but to release the gabion (22) from the at least one retaining element (88) when the gabion (22) is deployed.

74. A gabion according to claim 73, comprising opposed side walls (16, 18) which comprise a plurality of side wall elements connected together at spaced intervals by a plurality of partition walls (12) such that spaces between neighbouring pairs of partition walls (12) define, together with the side walls (16, 18), individual compartments of the gabion (22), adjacent side (16, 18) and partition walls (12) being connected to one another by pivotal connections enabling the gabion (22) to be folded between fully flattened and deployed configurations, wherein at least one of the pivotal connections is a releasable connection which when released allows a side wall element to open with respect to the gabion (22) to allow access from the side of the gabion (22) to any contents of the gabion compartments; and optionally wherein the releasable connection comprises a hinge member (14, 20) associated with an edge of each adjacent wall to be connected; and/or optionally wherein the pivotal interconnection between connected walls and/or wall elements (12, 16, 18) is achieved by providing interconnected walls and/or wall elements with a row of apertures along an interconnection edge thereof and by providing a coil member helically threaded through a plurality of apertures along the interconnection edge; and optionally wherein a single coil member is helically threaded through the connection edge apertures of two or more neighbouring walls, wall sections and/or wall elements (12, 16, 18) to achieve pivotal interconnection therebetween.

75. A gabion according to claim 74, wherein the or each releasable connection comprises a releasable locking member releasably securing the hinge members (14, 20) of each pivotal connection to one another; and/or optionally wherein release of the locking member allows a first neighbouring side wall element to be disconnected from a second neighbouring side wall element; and/or optionally wherein release of the locking member allows the first side wall element to move pivotally, by means of its pivotal connection with an opposite neighbouring side wall element, with respect to the compartment of the gabion (22) bounded by the first neighbouring side wall element to open said compartment through the side wall of the gabion (22) and allow access to any contents of said compartment; and/or optionally wherein the pivotal connections allow the gabion (22) to fold concertina-wise for storage or transport; and optionally wherein the pivotal connections cause adjacent walls of the gabion (22) to fold about a plurality of pivot axes; and optionally wherein the pivot axes are spaced apart to enable adjacent walls to lie face-to-face when the gabion (22) is in a folded configuration.

76. A gabion according to claim 74, wherein the pivotal interconnection between connected side wall elements is releasable and is achieved by providing the interconnected side wall elements with a row of apertures along an interconnection edge thereof and by providing a first coil member helically threaded through a plurality of apertures along the interconnection edge of a first side wall element, a second coil member helically threaded through a plurality of apertures along the interconnection edge of a second side wall element, connected to the first side wall element along the interconnection edge, and a releasable locking member threaded through overlapped first and second coil members; and/or optionally wherein each side wall section comprises a single side wall element; and optionally wherein the releasable interconnection between neighbouring side wall elements is located between neighbouring side wall sections; and optionally wherein the releasable interconnection between neighbouring side wall elements and the partition wall (12) marking the boundary between corresponding neighbouring side wall sections is openable to allow the first neighbouring side wall element to be released both from the second neighbouring side wall element and from the partition wall (12).

77. A gabion according to claim 14, wherein each side wall section comprises a plurality of side wall elements; and optionally wherein the releasable interconnection is provided between neighbouring side wall elements of a given side wall section.

78. A gabion according to claim 74, wherein the releasable interconnection between at least a plurality of neighbouring side wall elements is provided by a hinge member (14, 20) therebetween, and a releasable locking member cooperating with the hinge member (14, 20) releasably to secure the connection; and optionally wherein the releasable interconnection between each neighbouring side wall element is provided by a hinge member (14, 20) therebetween, and a releasable locking member cooperating with the hinge member (14, 20) releasably to secure the connection; and/or optionally wherein a first hinge member (14, 20) is provided on the first side wall element and a second hinge member (14, 20) is provided on the second neighbouring side wall element; and optionally wherein the releasable locking member cooperates with both first and second hinge members (14, 20) releasably to secure the connection.

79. A gabion according to claim 75, wherein the releasable locking member comprises means for engaging, cooperating or interfering with at least one of the hinge members (14, 20) or with the associated side (16, 18) or partition wall (12), and/or wherein means are provided for securing the releasable locking member to at least one of the hinge members (14, 20) or to the associated side (16, 18) or partition wall (12) to make it more difficult to release the releasable locking member; and optionally wherein the engaging or interfering means resistively engages, cooperates or interferes with said at least one of the hinge members (14, 20) or with said associated side (16, 18) or partition wall (12) when the releasable locking member is released; and/or optionally wherein the releasable connection is achieved by providing each adjacent wall to be connected with a row of apertures along an interconnection edge thereof and by providing a coil member helically threaded through a plurality of apertures along the interconnection edge of each wall to define the hinge member (14, 20), and a releasable locking member threaded through overlapped coil members; and/or optionally wherein the releasable locking member has a proximal end and a distal end and the engaging or interfering means is located: at or near the proximal end; or at or near the distal end; and optionally wherein the walls have a proximal edge corresponding to the proximal end of the releasable locking member, the gabion (22) further comprising a flexible material on an edge or surface of at least one of the adjacent walls to be connected; and optionally wherein a portion of the flexible material is folded over the proximal edge of the wall and fastenably secured to the wall to define a loop of material along at least a portion of the proximal edge of the wall; and optionally wherein the engaging or interfering means comprises a laterally extending protrusion which engages, cooperates or interferes with the loop of material; and optionally wherein said portion of material is folded over and conceals said laterally extending protrusion when forming said loop.

80. A gabion deployment system comprising: a gabion deployment platform for retaining a gabion; and a gabion as claimed in claim 74, wherein the gabion deployment platform comprises a gabion deployment platform (80) for storing a folded multi-compartment gabion (22) and from which the gabion can be deployed, the deployment platform (80) comprising: a base element (82) for supporting the folded multi-compartmental gabion (22), the base element (82) comprising a first member (84) configured to extend along at least a part of a first side of said folded multi-compartment gabion (22), and a second member (86), extending transversely from said first member (84), said second member (86) configured to extend along at least a part of a second side of said folded multi-compartmental gabion (22); and at least one retaining element (88), coupled at a first end thereof to said base element (82), said at least one retaining element (88) being releasably attached, connected or retentively engaged, at least at one point of said at least one retaining element (88), by way of at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (92, 94, 96, 98), to a portion of a compartment of said folded multi-compartment gabion (22), said at least one retaining element (88) configured to extend from said base element (82), over at least a portion of said folded multi-compartment gabion (22), said at least one retaining element (88) serving to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the gabion (22) to the base element (82) when the gabion (22) is folded but to release the gabion (22) from the base element (82) when the gabion (22) is deployed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] One or more embodiments of the invention are described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0092] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a prior art single unit gabion;

[0093] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a prior art multiple unit gabion in a folded configuration;

[0094] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a prior art multiple unit gabion in a deployed configuration;

[0095] FIG. 4 shows a schematic prior art container gabion deployment system of a first type;

[0096] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c, 6 and 7 show schematic prior art container gabion deployment systems according to a second type;

[0097] FIG. 8 shows a schematic gabion containment apparatus according to the present invention;

[0098] FIGS. 9a to 9c show schematically a deployment of a gabion from the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8;

[0099] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the gabion containment apparatus of FIG. 8 mounted on a pallet;

[0100] FIG. 11a shows schematic gabion containment apparatus according to the present invention in a particular orientation for storage and/or transport and/or deployment;

[0101] FIGS. 11b and 11c show schematically a deployment of a gabion from the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 11a;

[0102] FIGS. 12 to 16 show side views of releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means; and

[0103] FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of a modification to the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0104] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a prior art single unit gabion 10, which comprises a pair of spaced-apart end walls 12 that are hingedly 14 connected to side walls. The side walls comprise two panels each 16 and 18 that are hingedly connected to one another 20 as well as to the end walls 14. Alternative gabion designs suitable for use with the present invention comprise single-panel side walls. Side walls comprising more than two panels are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. Each wall 12, 16 & 18 is constructed from a wire mesh. The hinge connections 14 & 20 are typically helical wire members that engage corresponding edge wires of adjacent walls 12, 16 & 18. The hinges 14 & 20 are sometimes separable from the walls 12, 16 & 18 (for which see our previous application GB0424321.8). Different configurations are possible, such as providing side walls constructed from substantially closed panels rather than mesh panels.

[0105] Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a prior art multiple-unit gabion is shown 22. The construction is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, with side walls 16 & 18 and an end wall 12 constituting a repeat unit that can be added as many times as necessary to produce a gabion 22 of desired length.

[0106] The gabion 22 can be stored in a folded configuration (FIG. 2) and extended to a deployed configuration (FIG. 3) by applying a tensile force as indicated by Arrows A. Conversely, the gabion 22 can be folded by applying a compressive force in the opposite sense to Arrows A.

[0107] Once deployed, a gabion can be filled with any suitable fill material (e.g. rocks, sand, earth, ice etc.) to produce a wall-type structure. Gabions generally have a liner (not shown) made of a sheet material to inhibit egress of filling material through the holes in the mesh.

[0108] In FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11a a gabion 22 is represented by showing only a succession of end walls 12 for clarity. The side walls are represented by dotted lines, which show that the end walls 12 are attached, connected to one another. In FIGS. 9a to 9c, 11b and 11c, folded portions of a part-deployed gabion 22 are represented by showing only a succession of end walls 12 for clarity. However, deployed portions of the part-deployed gabion 22 illustrated in FIGS. 9a to 9c, 11b and 11c are represented showing end walls 12, panels 16, 18 of side walls, and hinges 20.

[0109] One convenient way of transporting gabions 22 is in containers as illustrated by FIG. 4. A container 30 generally comprises a base 32, side and end walls 34 and a roof 36. The base 32 has apertures tabs 38 that engage with pins 40 provided (in this case) on a lorry 42. The container 30 has eyelets 44 to enable it to be loaded onto and off the lorry 42 using a crane (not shown).

[0110] The gabion 22 is deployed by pulling on the first end wall 12 as indicated by Arrow B such that the gabion extends, usually in a unit-by-unit manner. The pull B can be effected by pulling on the end wall 12, holding the end wall 12 and driving the lorry in the direction indicated by Arrow C or a combination of both.

[0111] A major problem with transporting and deploying gabions 22 in this manner is that when the gabion 22 is to be deployed on inclined ground 46, there is a tendency for the gabion 22 to topple out of the container 30. Because the various parts of the gabion 22 are attached or connected to one another 48, once it has begun toppling, a large part, if not all of the gabion 22 is likely to spill out onto the ground behind the lorry 42. This can be extremely hazardous to persons nearby. A further problem is that the gabion 22 can become tangled or break, which can be inefficient, wasteful, and time-consuming to rectify.

[0112] Another known way of transporting gabions 22 in containers is illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5c, with known methods of deployment in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 5a, a container 30 is shown having a roof 36. From opposite ends of the underside of the roof 36 depend eyelets 37 to which a retaining means in the form of a retaining cable 50 is attached, connected by way of snap hooks 39. End walls 12 of the gabion 22 are attached or connected to the retaining cable 50 by way of discontinuous rings 66.

[0113] The retaining cable 50 prevents the gabion 20 from spilling out of the container 30 without the attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 first being broken or deformed.

[0114] In FIG. 5b it can be seen that each end wall 12 is provided with a pair of attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 for attaching, connecting or retentive engaging to a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel retaining cables 50.

[0115] It is possible to provide non-parallel retaining cables 50 for support such that the gabion 22 becomes more difficult to slide therealong as it approaches the door of the container 30.

[0116] In this prior art arrangement, gabion 22 may have been factory-assembled, provided with attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 and folded. One or more retaining cables 50 are threaded through the attaching, connecting or retentive engaging rings 66 for support and clip fasteners 39 attached, connected or retentively engaged to ends of the cable or cables 50. The gabion 22 is then loaded into a container 30 and the clip fasteners 39 attached, connected or retentively engaged to roof eyelets 37.

[0117] In FIG. 5c, the container 30 has a retaining means 50 disposed on the underside of the roof 36. The retaining means comprises an attachment 52 to which a retaining cable 54 is attached, connected or retentively engaged. An extendible/retractable attachment 56 is attached, connected or retentively engaged to the other end of the retaining cable 54. The extendible/retractable attachment 56 comprises a support bar 58 that is slidably engageable with a sheath 60. An end-stop 62 is provided to prevent the support bar from sliding beyond a desired extent. The support bar 58 depends from the sheath 60 and has an undulation 64 therein to inhibit movement of the gabion 22 therealong.

[0118] Associated with each end wall 12 of the gabion 22 is a releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 that connects respective end walls 12 of the gabion 22 to either the retaining cable 54 or the support bar 58. The height of the retaining cable 54 and support bar 58 is such that the majority of the weight of the gabion 22 is supported by the floor of the container.

[0119] In use, as illustrated by FIG. 6, the door of the container 30 is opened and the first end wall 12 of the gabion 22 pulled in the direction indicated by Arrow D. The support bar 58 slides beyond the periphery 68 of the container 30 such that a part of the gabion 22 is suspended beyond the periphery 68. The support bar 58 is prevented from disengaging the sheath 60 by virtue of the end-stop 62.

[0120] The releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 can be configured to disconnect 66 under the weight of a part of the gabion or to disconnect when an additional force E is applied thereto. Thus, the gabion 22 can be deployed unit-by-unit by a user (not shown) by first pulling a desired number of units out D, then pulling down E to release a desired number of units of the gabion 22. If the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 are configured to disconnect under just the weight of the gabion 22, then the user need only pull the first unit out D and the rest will follow if the lorry 42 is advanced F.

[0121] FIG. 7 shows how the gabion neither deploys nor spills out of the container 30 when the lorry 42 is on inclined ground 46. The releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 are configured to support the weight of the gabion 22 thereby preventing it from spilling out unless an additional force E is applied. Furthermore, the undulation 64 in the support bar 58 limits the number of gabion units that advance beyond the periphery of the container 30, thereby limiting the load on the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 66 to prevent additional forces E from being applied thereto.

[0122] A problem with storing and/or transporting gabions 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5c, 6 and 7 is that the container 30 adds to the weight and size of the material to be stored/transported when the gabions 22 are in a folded configuration. Also, once a gabion 22 has been deployed from container 30, a user is left with an empty container 30 with which the user may need to dispose.

[0123] Various versions of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11 of the drawings.

[0124] A gabion containment apparatus 80 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0125] The gabion containment apparatus 80 comprises a bracket 82 upon which the gabion 22 is located. The bracket 82 comprises a first plate 84 which comprises a member extending beneath the gabion 22 to support the gabion during storage/transport/deployment. A second plate 86, comprising a member extending transversely from an end of the first plate 84 is arranged to support an end of the gabion 22. The first and second plates 84, 86 are arranged in an L-shape configuration to form bracket 82.

[0126] In the illustrated arrangement, first and second plates 84, 86 comprise elongate members. However, this need not be the case, and the first and second plates 84, 86 may comprise wider or narrower members as appropriate.

[0127] A retaining element comprising a retaining strap 88 is coupled, by way of coupling element 90, to a portion of second plate 86 (e.g. an end of second plate 86 remote from the region where second plate 86 joins first plate 84). In the illustrated arrangement, the retaining strap 88 extends upwardly from the end of second plate 86, over a top end-edge 91 of the gabion 22, and across a top surface of gabion 22.

[0128] The retaining strap 88 is releasably attached, connected or retentively engaged to the top surface of gabion 22 at least at one point along the length of the strap. In the illustrated arrangement of FIG. 8, the retaining strap 88 is releasably attached, connected or retentively engaged to the top surface of gabion 22 at four points along its length by releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 respectively. In a particular arrangement, releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 releasably attach, connect or retentively engage the retaining strap 88 to, for example, respective end walls of a cell/compartment of each unit forming the multiple-unit gabion 22. In optional arrangements, each unit comprises ten cells/compartments. However, in other, optional, arrangements, the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 may releasably attach, connect or retentively engage the retaining strap 88 to any suitable portion of a cell/compartment of each unit forming the multiple-unit gabion 22.

[0129] In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8, the retaining strap 88 extends over a portion of the top surface of gabion 22 only. However, in an optional arrangement, the retaining strap 88 may extend over the entire top surface of gabion 22 and, optionally, may extend over another top end-edge 93 of gabion 22 (opposite top end-edge 91) and extend downwardly therefrom to be coupled to an end of first plate 84 remote from the point it meets second plate 86.

[0130] The retaining strap 88 and the bracket 82 serve, in combination, to prevent the gabion 22 from spilling, falling, or being inadvertently deployed from bracket 82 without the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (hereinafter engaging means for brevity) 92, 94, 96, 98 first being broken, deformed, disconnected or released from engagement with the retaining element.

[0131] In an optional arrangement, the retaining strap 88 comprises a Velcro strap and each of the engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 comprise Velcro straps coupled at one end thereof to parts of the gabion, and arranged for engagement with the retaining strap 88.

[0132] Although only one retaining strap 88 is illustrated in FIG. 8, optionally, multiple retaining straps may be provided in one or more of the above described configurations with respect to the gabion 22 and the bracket 82.

[0133] It is envisaged that the gabion containment apparatus 80 will be assembled in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 in a factory. To inhibit movement of the gabion relative to the bracket 82 during transport (which may cause disengagement of at least one of the engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 from the retaining strap 88), further strapping may be provided around the gabion 22. This further strapping may be conventional strapping, e.g. plastic strapping. This further strapping can be removed prior to deployment steps. The gabion containment apparatus 80 may then be loaded onto a suitable transport vehicle for conveyance to a location at which it is to be deployed. The gabion 22 may be deployed from the folded state illustrated in FIG. 8 directly from the transport vehicle to a deployed configuration. Optionally, the gabion containment apparatus 80 may be unloaded from the transport vehicle and deployed from the gabion containment apparatus 80 located at ground level, or some other base level.

[0134] The gabion containment apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8 and described above may serve as a gabion deployment and/or packaging platform upon which a multicompartmental gabion may be packaged for storage and/or transport and also from which a multicompartmental gabion may be deployed.

[0135] FIGS. 9a to 9c illustrate steps in a deployment process.

[0136] In FIG. 9a, a first end wall 12 of the gabion 22 is pulled in the direction indicated by arrow G. This causes at least one single unit gabion 10 of the gabion 22 to deploy from the gabion containment apparatus 80. Continued application of force in the direction indicated by arrow G causes further single unit gabions 10 of the gabion 22 to be deployed from the gabion containment apparatus 80 until a point is reached where the applied force is transferred through the deployed single unit gabions 10 to an outermost single unit gabion to which the retaining strap 88 is coupled via engaging means 98. From that outermost single unit gabion, the applied force is transferred to the engaging means 98 itself.

[0137] The engaging means 98 is configured to disconnect 98 under continued application of force in the direction of arrow G. This causes the outermost single unit gabion to which the retaining strap 88 is coupled to be released from the retaining strap 88 and allows deployment of that single unit gabion.

[0138] Continued application of force in the direction indicated by arrow G causes further engaging means 92, 94, 96 to disconnect 96 (FIG. 9b), 94, 92 (FIG. 9c) sequentially in the sequence 96, 94, 92 until the gabion 22 is free from the retaining strap 88 such that it can be pulled from the bracket 82 entirely (FIG. 9c). Thus, from the position illustrated in FIG. 9c, the gabion 22 is free to be fully deployed. This may be by continuing application of force indicated by arrow G to pull the gabion 22 free from the bracket 82 and/or may be by applying an additional force in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow G to pull the bracket 82 from beneath the folded/part-folded portion of the gabion 22.

[0139] In an optional deployment arrangement, the bracket 82 may be used as a skid from which the gabion 22 can be deployed from the folded configuration (FIG. 8), through the part-deployed configurations illustrated in FIGS. 9a to 9c, to a fully deployed configuration.

[0140] In this optional deployment arrangement, at least one outermost (i.e. remote from second plate 86) single unit gabion of gabion 22 may be pulled to extend the at least one outermost single unit gabion to a fully deployed configuration. Fill material may then be added to at least one cell/compartment of this single unit gabion. This serves to anchor an end of the gabion 22. A deployment force may then be applied in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow G in FIGS. 9a to 9c to pull the bracket 82 away from the anchored end of the gabion 22. Such a force may be applied by attaching a coupling element such as a chain, rope, etc. between bracket 82 and a suitable towing vehicle and then advancing the vehicle in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow G. This serves to pull the bracket 82 and folded portion of gabion 22 away from the anchored end of the gabion 22. Release of the folded portion of gabion 22 from retaining strap 88 then occurs in a similar manner to that described in relation to FIGS. 9a to 9c.

[0141] FIG. 10 illustrates a top-perspective view of the gabion containment apparatus 80 situated on a pallet 100. This arrangement may allow for convenient movement of the gabion containment apparatus 80 by, for example, a fork-lift truck or pallet truck.

[0142] Optionally, the gabion 22 may be deployed directly from pallet 100 using one of the methods described above. In such an arrangement, the bracket may be attached to the pallet so that the pallet and bracket form an integral gabion packaging platform which may be suitable for the packaging, transport and deployment of multicompartmental gabions. In a particular arrangement, deployment may be achieved by coupling a towing vehicle to the pallet and/or the bracket using a coupling element such as a chain, rope, etc. and advancing the vehicle to apply force to the pallet and/or bracket. This serves to pull the pallet, bracket and folded portion of gabion away from the anchored end of the gabion.

[0143] In the illustrated arrangement, an upper surface of pallet 100 is provided with guide runners 102, 104 which are located adjacent edges of the pallet upper surface and which are configured to inhibit lateral movement of the gabion containment apparatus 80 relative to the pallet 100. These guide runners 102, 104 are optional features and may not be present in some arrangements.

[0144] An optional gabion containment apparatus 80 storage and/or transport configuration is illustrated in FIG. 11a and an optional deployment method from the storage and/or transport configuration is illustrated in FIGS. 11b and 11c.

[0145] In the optional configuration illustrated in FIG. 11a, the gabion containment apparatus 80 is oriented such that the second plate 86 forms the base of the gabion containment apparatus 80 in a normal orientation.

[0146] This configuration may be convenient to optimise space in a storage/transport facility and/or during storage/transport in a vehicle. A particular arrangement which may be employed to try to minimise empty space in a storage container is discussed later. As will be appreciated from FIG. 10, the footprint of an end of the gabion containment apparatus 80 is smaller than the footprint of the base of the gabion containment apparatus 80 in the orientation illustrated in FIG. 10. By orienting the gabion containment apparatus 80 on its end, the space required for the gabion containment apparatus during storage/transport may be reduced.

[0147] Further, in this configuration, the gabion 22 may become compressed under its own weight and so may not extend as far along first plate 84 as it does in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 10. This may allow additional single gabion units to be added to the gabion 22 on the gabion containment apparatus 80. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the capacity of the gabion containment apparatus may be increased to carry a gabion 22 comprising more single unit gabions using this configuration.

[0148] The gabion containment apparatus 80 illustrated in FIG. 11a is similar to that described in relation to FIGS. 8 to 10, and like reference numerals denote common features. The gabion containment apparatus 80 differs from the earlier described apparatus by way of a curved lip 106 at a remote end of first plate 84 which serves to assist deployment of the gabion 22 from the gabion containment apparatus 80 in this orientation.

[0149] An optional deployment method of the gabion 22 from the gabion containment apparatus 80 in this orientation is illustrated in FIGS. 11b and 11c and occurs in a similar manner to that described above. It differs, however, in that outermost single unit gabions follow a curved path over curved lip 106 upon application of a force in a direction indicated by arrow H.

[0150] Deployment continues from the state illustrated in FIG. 11b to that illustrated in FIG. 11c under continued application of the force in the direction indicated by arrow H.

[0151] It may be the case that application of the force in the direction indicated by arrow H causes the gabion containment apparatus 82 to tip in the direction indicated by arrow L (see FIG. 11c). In this case, then deployment may continue in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9c and described above in relation to that figure.

[0152] In an optional arrangement, the gabion containment apparatus may be stored and/or transported in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 11a, i.e. with the second plate 86 in a lowermost position. However, deployment of the gabion from the gabion containment apparatus may be via the deployment steps illustrated in FIGS. 9a to 9c, and as described above, i.e. with the first plate in a lowermost position.

[0153] Turning now to FIGS. 12 to 16, various possible types of releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 are shown.

[0154] In FIG. 12, the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 comprises a metal ring 108 having a notch 110 therein. The notch is configured such that it causes the ring 108 to break when a predetermined hoop-stress therein is attained.

[0155] In FIG. 13, a metal ring 108 is shown having a discontinuity 112 therein. Upon application of a force, the ring 108 deforms and the discontinuity 112 enlarges (as indicated by the dotted line) causing the gabion to be released from the retaining strap 88.

[0156] In FIG. 14, the end wall 12 of the gabion 22 has a loop 114 formed integrally therewith through which the retaining strap 88 or the like can be threaded. The loop 114 has a point of weakness 116 therein (in this case a notch) such that the loop 114 breaks under a predetermined load. The loop 114 could be formed integrally with any part of the gabion 22, such as a side wall 16, 18 or a hinge 14, 20. It is envisaged that such a feature would be provided on a portion of each single unit gabion of multi-compartment gabion 22.

[0157] FIG. 15 shows a releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 in the form of a camming member. An aperture 118 is provided in the body 120 thereof through which the retaining strap 88 can be threaded. Optionally, the means 92, 94, 96, 98 of this arrangement can be fixedly located at spaced intervals on the retaining strap 88.

[0158] A cam member 122 is provided that is pivotally mounted within the body 120 about a pivot 124. One side of the cam member 122 has a cut-out 126 for receiving a part 128 of a gabion 22. The part 128 of the gabion 22 is retained by the corresponding cam member cut-out 126 and a cut-out 130 in the body 120. The cam member 122 is held in-situ by a sprung ball-bearing 132.

[0159] When an excessive load I is applied to the gabion 22, the cam member 122 rotates J and the sprung ball-bearing 132 is depressed K. The cam member 122 eventually over-centres, and the cam member cut-out 126 no longer coincides with the body cut-out 130 thereby releasing the part 128 of the gabion 22. The force I required to cause disconnection of the gabion from the releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 can be configured by adjusting the compressive force applied by the sprung ball-bearing 132 to the cam member 122.

[0160] FIG. 16 illustrates an optional arrangement where a releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means 92, 94, 96, 98 is integral with the retaining strap 88.

[0161] The retaining strap 88 is formed with a plurality of hoops 140 through which parts 138 of gabion 22 pass. The hoops 140 have a frangible portion 142 therein which is configured such that it causes the hoop 142 to break when a predetermined hoop-stress is attained.

[0162] Optionally, the frangible portion 142 may comprise a notch and/or a discontinuity and/or a perforation in the material of retaining strap 88.

[0163] Further optionally, the frangible portion 142 need not be coincident with the hoops 140, but rather may be formed in portions of the retaining strap 88 between hoops 140.

[0164] In further optional arrangements, the means for releasably attaching, connecting or retentively engaging the retaining strap 88 to a part, or parts, of gabion 22 may comprise any other suitable type of clip. For example, a karabiner-type clip or a sprung-cam type clip may be used.

[0165] In yet further optional arrangements, the means for releasably attaching, connecting or retentively engaging the retaining strap 88 to a part, or parts, of gabion 22 may comprise any combination of one or more of the above-described releasably attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means.

[0166] FIG. 17 illustrates a side-view of a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 10. As with FIG. 10, FIG. 17 shows a gabion containment apparatus 80 situated on a pallet 100. This arrangement of gabion containment apparatus 80 and pallet 100 may form an integral gabion packaging platform from which the gabion may be deployed directly. In such an arrangement, deployment may be achieved by coupling a towing vehicle to the pallet and/or the bracket using a coupling element such as a chain, rope, etc. and advancing the vehicle to apply force to the pallet and/or bracket. This serves to pull the pallet, bracket and folded portion of gabion away from an anchored end of the gabion in a direction indicated by arrow J.

[0167] The pallet serves as a skid or sled which is effectively dragged across terrain as the vehicle is advanced.

[0168] In the illustrated arrangement, the pallet 100 is provided with a nose 101. The nose 101 is located at the towing end, or front end of the pallet (i.e. the end of pallet 100 which is at the front when the pallet is moved in the above-manner). An underside of the nose 101 is arranged to form a continuous surface with the underside of the pallet and extends at an angle and/or extends as a curve upwardly from a lower front edge of the pallet 100. This upwardly angled/curved surface is configured to allow the nose 101 to ride-up over obstacles in the path of the pallet 100 when it is being pulled over terrain. Thus, it may serve to ease the passage of the pallet 100 over terrain, particularly rough and/or uneven terrain.

[0169] The nose 101 optionally forms part of the pallet 100, i.e. it is integral with the pallet 100. In another optional arrangement, the nose 101 comprises a detachable element which can be fixedly attached to the pallet using any suitable fixing means and/or optionally by push-fitting the nose 101 onto an end of the pallet 100. In such an arrangement, the nose 101 may be attached to the pallet 100 prior to a gabion deployment process, and may be removed thereafter, e.g. for re-use with other pallets.

[0170] In yet another optional arrangement, the nose 101 forms part of the bracket 82, i.e. it is integral with the bracket 82. It is envisaged that the nose 101 would extend from the bracket 82 adjacent a region where the first plate 84 joins second plate 86. This arrangement may be convenient for the deployment arrangement discussed above in relation to FIGS. 8 and 9a to 9c, i.e. where the bracket 82 may be used as a skid or sled from which the gabion 22 can be deployed from the folded configuration (FIG. 8), through the part-deployed configurations illustrated in FIGS. 9a to 9c, to a fully deployed configuration.

[0171] Again, however, the nose 101 need not be integral with the bracket 82 and may, optionally, comprise a detachable element which can be fixedly attached to the appropriate part of the bracket 82 using any suitable fixing means and/or optionally by push-fitting the nose 101 onto a portion of the bracket 82. In such an arrangement, the nose 101 may be attached to the bracket 82 prior to a gabion deployment process, and may be removed thereafter, e.g. for re-use with other brackets.

[0172] The nose 101 may be constructed from suitably rugged materials which can withstand buffeting and/or impacts with stones, rocks, tree-stumps, and other types of debris and/or vegetation which may be encountered when the pallet 100 is pulled over terrain. In an optional arrangement, the nose 101 may be formed from steel plates.

[0173] In a particular optional arrangement, the nose 101 may comprise an elongate upper plate element. The upper plate element comprises four edges, with first and second side edges being opposite to each other, and leading and trailing edges being opposite to each other and extending transversely between said first and second side edges. First and second side plate elements may extend transversely downwards from first and second side edges respectively of the upper plate element. A bottom plate extends downwardly, at an angle and backwards from the leading edge. The bottom plate is arranged to form an underside of the nose 101. As noted above, the nose 101 may be located at an end of the pallet 100 by push-fitting the nose 101 onto the end of the pallet 100. In an optional arrangement, a rear plate may extend from the trailing edge transversely downwards toward an edge of the bottom plate remote from the leading edge. The nose 101 may be fixed to the end of the pallet 100 by fixing the rear plate to the end of the pallet 100 using suitable fixing means.

[0174] The nose 101 may also serve to protect the front end of the pallet 100 from damage which may be caused through buffeting and/or impacts with stones, rocks, tree-stumps, and other types of debris and/or vegetation which may be encountered when the pallet 100 is pulled over terrain. This may allow the pallet 100 to be re-used.

[0175] In a particular optional arrangement, a height of the multicompartmental gabion may be 1 m. It may be desirable to employ as a pallet forming part of the gabion containment apparatus, a pallet of the following dimensions: height 0.125 m, width 0.915 m, length 2.2 m. With the multicompartmental gabion located upon the pallet, the overall height of the package is 1.125 m. The width of the package is 0.915 m and the length of the package is 2.2 m. It may be convenient to use pallets of the above dimensions and multicompartmental gabions of the above height for the purposes of logistical efficiency. For example, pallets and multicompartmental gabions dimensioned as described may be selected to minimise empty space within a conventional shipping container when a number of packages are located within a conventional shipping container. A conventional shipping container (e.g. intermodal container) may have an internal width of around 2.4 m and an internal height of 2.5 m. Different length containers are available. A package of the above-dimensions may be located within such a container so as to fit by extending lengthwise across the width of the container. With a first package located upon the floor of the container adjacent a rear wall of the container, a further package can be stacked upon the first package. Additional pairs of packages in the same configuration can be located in front of the first pair of packages from the rear of the container toward the doors of the container. It may be possible to fit packages of the above-dimensions in standard containers using multiples of the above arrangements to minimise empty space.

[0176] In another optional arrangement, the gabion containment apparatus may be suitable for storing, transporting, and allowing deployment therefrom, a multi-compartmental gabion of a first form of the recoverable type. Such a multi-compartmentalgabion comprises pivotal connections between neighbouring compartments and openable pivotal connections between neighbouring side wall elements. Locking pins may be used to lock together the openable pivotal connections between neighbouring side wall elements.

[0177] In another optional arrangement, the gabion containment apparatus may be suitable for storing, transporting, and allowing deployment therefrom, a multi-compartmental gabion of a second form of the recoverable type. The second form of multi-compartmental gabion of the recoverable type may comprise opposed side walls connected together at spaced intervals along the length of gabion by a plurality of partition walls defining, together with side walls, individual compartments of multi-compartmental gabion. Individual compartments of the multi-compartmental gabion may be bounded by opposed side wall sections of the respective opposed side walls. Partition walls are pivotally connected to side walls at hinge points. However, unlike the recoverable gabion of the first form referred to above, each side wall section of the second form comprises a single side wall element, with openable pivotal connections being provided at the junction between the side wall sections and the partition walls, and secured by locking pins. The locking pins may be removed to allow the side wall elements to be moved pivotally to open the gabion compartment from the side.

[0178] Pivotal connection between side wall sections (and/or partition walls) in recoverable gabions of the first and second forms referred to above may be effected by a helical coil which is helically threaded through mesh apertures of neighbouring wall panels.

[0179] Any references made herein to orientation (e.g. top, bottom, front and back) are made for the purposes of describing relative spatial arrangements of the features of the apparatus, and are not intended to be limiting in any sense.