RECEIVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU ON

20 OCTOBER 2014 (20.10.2014)

CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. (Currently Amended) A shoreline protection system comprising: a first barrier assembly comprising:

a first pile extending into a bottom of a body of water;

a second pile extending into the bottom of the body of water, wlierein the first pile and the second pile are spaced apart and essentially parallel relativ< to each other; and a first screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a plurality of apertures extending fterethrough, wherein the first screen extends between t lie first pile and the second pile, and wherein the lower edge of the first screen is spac ed from the bottom of the body of water;

a second barrier assembly comprising:

a third pile extending into the bottom of the body of water;

a fourth pile extending into the bottom of the body of water, where in the third pile and the fourth pile are spaced apart and essentially parallel relative to each other; and a second screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a pi urality of apertures extending therethrough, wherein the second screen extends between the third pile and the fourth pile, wherein the lower edge of the second screen is spaced from the bottom of the body of water, and wherein the second screen is essentialb parallel relative to the first screen.

2. (Canceled)

3. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, whereir the first screen is movable along the first pile and the second pile, wherein the first s Teen is lockable in position along the first pile and the second pile.

4. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, wherein the first pile comprises an upper end and a lower end, wherein a distance between the upper end of the first pile and the bottom of the body of water is smaller than a distance between the bottom of the body of water and the lower end of the first pile.

5. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, when in the first barrier assembly further comprises: an upper beam extending between the first pile and the second pile adjacent the upper edge of the first screen supporting the first screen; and

a lower beam extending between the first pile and the second pile jdjacent the lower edge of the first screen supporting the first screen.

6. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, wherein the first barrier assembly further comprises:

a first tubular member positioned about the first pile, wherein the first tubular member maintains the first screen in position relative to the first pile; and

a second tubular member positioned about the second pile, whereii the second tubular member maintains the first screen in position relative to the second pile.

7. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, where ti the first barrier assembly further comprises:

a first sleeve positioned about the first pile, wherein the first sleeve connects the first screen with the first pile; and

a second sleeve positioned about the second pile, wherein the second sleeve connects the first screen with the second pile.

8. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, wherein the first pile and the second pile extend above a surface of the body of water.

9. (Original) The shoreline protection system of claim 1, where ..n the first screen comprises a polymer, a composite material, or combinations thereof.

10. (Currently Amended) A metliod of protecting a shoreline against tl e erosion effects of waves with a barrier assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a first pile into a bottom of a body of water;

inserting a second pile into the bottom of the body of water;

providing a first screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a plurality of apertures; positioning the first screen between the first pile and the second pile;

moving the first screen vertically to position the lower edge of (he first screen at a distance from the bottom of the body of water; and locking the first screen in position along the first and second piles;

inserting a third pile into the bottom of die body of water; inserting a fourth pile into the bottom of the body of water;

providing a second screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a plurality of apertures;

positioning the second screen between the third pile and the fourt L pile, wherein the second screen is essentially parallel relative to the first screen;

moving the second screen vertically to position the lower edge of the second screen at a distance from the bottom of the body of water; and

locking the second screen in position along the third and fourth piks.

11. (Original) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of inserting the first pile into the bottom of the body of water comprises inserting the first pile into the bottom of the body of water, such that a portion of the first pile extends above a surface of the body of water, and wherein the step of inserting the second pile into the bottom oil the body of water comprises inserting the second pile into the bottom of the body of water, such that a portion of the second pile extends above the surface of the body of wai -τ.

12. (Original) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of inserting t ie first pile into the bottom of the body of water comprises inserting more than half c-f tl i,e first pile into the bottom of the body of water, and wherein the step of inserting the i.econd pile into the bottom of the body of water comprises inserting more than half of die second pile into the bottom of the body of water.

13. (Original) The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of positioning an upper beam between the first pile and the secoi i pile adjacent the upper edge of the first screen to support the first screen; and

positioning a lower beam between the first pile and the second pi]..: adjacent the lower edge of the first screen to support the first screen.

14. (Original) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of positioiiing the first screen between the first pile and the second pile comprises the steps of: providing a first tubular member in connection with the first screen;

providing a second tubular member in connection with the firsl sci .sen;

positioning the first tubular member about the first pile to maintain the first screen in position relative to the first pile; and positioning the second tubular member about the second pile to maintain the first screen in position relative to the second pile.

15. (Canceled)

16. (Original) The method of claim 15, further comprising posirionii:.g a support beam between the first pile and the third pile to add structural support to the barrier assembly.

17. (Original) A barrier for protecting waterfront area from erosion due to waves, the barrier comprising:

a first pile comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein tin; lower end of the first pile is insertable into a bottom of a body of water;

a second pile comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein trie lower end of the second pile is insertable into the bottom of the body of water; and

a first screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, wherein the first screen is connectable to llie first pile and the second pile at a distance from the bottom of the body of water.

18. (Original) The barrier of claim 17, wherein the upper end of tin- first pile extends above a surface of the body of water, wherein the upper end of the ,ecOnd pile extends above a surface of the body of water.

19. (Original) The barrier of claim 17, wherein the first screen is mo . able along the first pile and the second pile.

20. (Original) The barrier of claim 17, further comprising

a third pile comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein t ie lower end of the third pile is insertable into the bottom of the body of water;

a fourth pile comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the fourth pile is insertable into the bottom of the body of water; and a second screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, wherein the second screen is connectable :o the third pile and the fourth pile at a distance from the bottom of the body of water.