Patent ID: 9273816
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: E03B,F16L,G02B

Claim Text:
1. A system, comprising: an enclosure including a confined space where water can accumulate in ambient conditions that fluctuate between freezing and non-freezing water temperatures; a protected item within at least a portion of the confined space; and a compressible device, separate from the protected item and within at least the portion of the confined space, the compressible device compressing under pressure from an uncompressed state to a compressed state that increases the available volume for water within the confined space, wherein the compressible device includes a combination of materials that does not float in water, wherein the compressible device compresses from the uncompressed state to the compressed state under a first pressure force created by the expansion of frozen water within the enclosure, and wherein the first pressure force is less than a second pressure force capable of damaging one of the enclosure or the protected item.