Connection device for fastening expanded cell confinement structures and methods for doing the same

1. A connection device for fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures;

the connection device comprising:

(a) an insertion member having first and second opposite insertion ends and an insertion member extension therebetween;

(i) the insertion member having a first length between the first and second insertion ends;

(b) an integral shank extending generally perpendicular from the insertion member extension and being spaced from each of the first and second insertion ends; and

(c) an integral handle member extending generally perpendicular from the shank at an end of the shank remote from the insertion member; the handle member having first and second handle ends and a handle member extension therebetween;

(i) the shank being spaced from each of the first and second handle ends;

(ii) the handle member having a second length between the first and second handle ends;

(iii) the shank having a third length between the insertion member and the handle member;

wherein:

the second length is greater than the first length; and

the third length is less than half of the first and second lengths.

2. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein the handle member, insertion member, and shank are a solid piece.

3. A connection device according to claim 2 wherein the handle member, insertion member, and shank are a cast solid plastic.

4. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein the handle member extension includes first and second ears projecting therefrom.

5. A connection device according to claim 4 wherein the first and second ears are projecting away from the insertion member.

6. A connection device according to claim 4 wherein the first and second ears are projecting toward the insertion member.

7. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein the second length is at least 10% greater than the first length.

8. A connection device according to claim 1 further comprising a bearing member extending from the shank and spaced from each of the insertion member and handle member.

9. A connection device according to claim 8 wherein the bearing member includes a pair of arms extending from the shank; each of the arms has a width greater than a width of the insertion member and handle member.

10. A cellular confinement system comprising:

(a) a first unitary web of cells made from elongated plastic strips bonded together in spaced apart areas; the strips forming walls of the cells; at least some of the cells defining open slots;

(b) a second unitary web of cells made from elongated plastic strips bonded together in spaced apart areas; the strips forming walls of the cells; at least some of the cells defining open slots;

(i) at least one open slot of the first unitary web of cells being aligned with at least one open slot of the second unitary web of cells to result in a cell overlap region; the cell overlap region having opposite first and second sides; and

(c) at least one connection device fastening the first unitary web of cells and the second unitary web of cells together; the connection device including:

(i) an insertion member having first and second opposite insertion ends and an insertion member extension therebetween; the insertion member having a first length between the first and second insertion ends;

(A) the insertion member being located on the first side of the cell overlap region;

(ii) an integral shank extending generally perpendicular from the insertion member extension and being spaced from each of the first and second insertion ends;

(A) the shank extending through the cell overlap region by extending through both of the aligned one open slot of the first unitary web of cells and the one open slot of the second unitary web of cells;

(iii) an integral handle member extending generally perpendicular from the shank at an end of the shank remote from the insertion member; the handle member having first and second handle ends and a handle member extension therebetween; the shank being spaced from each of the first and second handle ends; and

(A) the handle member being located on the second side of the cell overlap region.

11. A cellular confinement system according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) the handle member has a second length between the first and second handle ends;

(b) the shank has a third length between the insertion member and the handle member;

(c) the second length is greater than the first length; and

(d) the third length is less than half of the first and second lengths.

12. A cellular confinement system according to claim 11 wherein the second length is at least 10% greater than the first length.

13. A cellular confinement system according to claim 10 further comprising a bearing member extending from the shank and spaced from each of the insertion member and handle member; the bearing member being located within a cell of the second unitary web of cells.

14. A cellular confinement system according to claim 10 wherein the at least one connection device includes a plurality of connection devices, each connection device fastening the first unitary web of cells and the second unitary web of cells together.

15. A cellular confinement system according to claim 10 wherein the connection device is positioned within the overlap region in a rotated position relative to an insertion position to lock the connection device within the overlap region.

16. A method of fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures together; the method comprising:

(a) aligning two expanded cell confinement structures so that at least one open slot defined by a first unitary web of cells is aligned with at least one open slot defined by a second unitary web of cells to form an overlap region having opposite first and second sides;

(b) inserting an insertion member of a connection device from the second side of the overlap region through the aligned open slots of the overlap region to provide:

(i) the insertion member on the first side of the overlap region;

(ii) a handle member of the connection device on the second side of the overlap region; and

(iii) a shank between the insert member and the handle member extending through the overlap region; and

(c) rotating the handle member to rotate the connection device within the overlap region.

17. A method of fastening according to claim 16 further including orienting a tendon to wrap around the handle member and extend through the aligned open slots of the overlap region.

18. A method of fastening according to claim 16 wherein the step of inserting an insertion member of a connection device includes using a connection device having:

(a) the insertion member having first and second opposite insertion ends and an insertion member extension therebetween;

(i) the insertion member having a first length between the first and second insertion ends;

(b) the shank extending generally perpendicular from the insertion member extension and being spaced from each of the first and second insertion ends; and

(c) the handle member extending generally perpendicular from the shank at an end of the shank remote from the insertion member; the handle member having first and second handle ends and a handle member extension therebetween;

(i) the shank being spaced from each of the first and second handle ends;

(ii) the handle member having a second length between the first and second handle ends;

(iii) the shank having a third length between the insertion member and the handle member;

wherein:

the second length is greater than the first length; and

the third length is less than half of the first and second lengths.

19. A method of fastening according to claim 16 wherein the step of rotating includes rotating the handle member approximately 90°.

20. A connection device for fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures;

the connection device comprising:

(a) an insertion member having first and second opposite insertion ends and an insertion member extension therebetween;

(i) the insertion member having a first length between the first and second insertion ends;

(b) an integral shank extending generally perpendicular from the insertion member extension and being spaced from each of the first and second insertion ends;

(i) the shank including a pair of shank plates, parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to define an open volume therebetween;

(c) an integral handle member extending generally perpendicular from the shank at an end of the shank remote from the insertion member; the handle member having first and second handle ends and a handle member extension therebetween;

(i) the shank being spaced from each of the first and second handle ends;

(ii) the handle member having a second length between the first and second handle ends;

(iii) the shank having a third length between the insertion member and the handle member;

wherein:

the second length is greater than the first length; and

the third length is less than half of the first and second lengths.

21. A connection device for fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures;

the connection device comprising:

(a) an insertion member having first and second opposite insertion ends and an insertion member extension therebetween;

(i) the insertion member having a first length between the first and second insertion ends;

(ii) the insertion member including a pair of insertion member plates, parallel to each other and joined by a bight section; the insertion member plates being spaced apart from each other;

(b) an integral shank extending generally perpendicular from the insertion member extension and being spaced from each of the first and second insertion ends; and

(c) an integral handle member extending generally perpendicular from the shank at an end of the shank remote from the insertion member; the handle member having first and second handle ends and a handle member extension therebetween;

(i) the shank being spaced from each of the first and second handle ends;

(ii) the handle member having a second length between the first and second handle ends;

(iii) the shank having a third length between the insertion member and the handle member;

wherein:

the second length is greater than the first length; and

the third length is less than half of the first and second lengths.

22. A cellular confinement system comprising:

(a) a first unitary web of cells made from elongated plastic strips bonded together in spaced apart areas; the strips forming walls of the cells; at least some of the cells defining open slots;

(b) a second unitary web of cells made from elongated plastic strips bonded together in spaced apart areas; the strips forming walls of the cells; at least some of the cells defining open slots;

(i) at least one open slot of the first unitary web of cells being aligned with at least one open slot of the second unitary web of cells to result in a cell overlap region; the cell overlap region having opposite first and second sides; and

(c) at least one connection device fastening the first unitary web of cells and the second unitary web of cells together; the connection device including:

(i) an insertion member having first and second opposite insertion ends and an insertion member extension therebetween; the insertion member having a first length between the first and second insertion ends;

(A) the insertion member being located on the first side of the cell overlap region;

(ii) an integral shank extending generally perpendicular from the insertion member extension and being spaced from each of the first and second insertion ends;

(A) the shank extending through the cell overlap region by extending through both of the aligned one open slot of the first unitary web of cells and the one open slot of the second unitary web of cells;

(B) the shank including a pair of shank plates, parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to define an open volume therebetween and to accommodate the bearing of the load of the cells upon the shank plates when placed into service under load;

(iii) an integral handle member extending generally perpendicular from the shank at an end of the shank remote from the insertion member; the handle member having first and second handle ends and a handle member extension therebetween; the shank being spaced from each of the first and second handle ends; and

(A) the handle member being located the second side of the cell overlap region.

23. A cellular confinement system according to claim 22 further including a tendon extending through the open volume in the shank and through the aligned one open slot of the first unitary web of cells and the one open slot of the second unitary web of cells.

24. A method of fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures together; the method comprising:

(a) aligning two expanded cell confinement structures so that at least one open slot defined by a first unitary web of cells is aligned with at least one open slot defined by a second unitary web of cells to form an overlap region having opposite first and second sides;

(b) inserting an insertion member of a connection device from the second side of the overlap region through the aligned open slots of the overlap region to provide:

(i) the insertion member on the first side of the overlap region;

(ii) a handle member of the connection device on the second side of the overlap region; and

(iii) a shank between the insert member and the handle member extending through the overlap region;

(c) rotating the handle member to rotate the connection device within the overlap region; and

(d) orienting a tendon to pass through a volume defined by the shank and through the overlap region.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the step of inserting an insertion member of a connection device includes inserting a connection device wherein the handle member, insertion member, and shank are a cast solid plastic.