Patent ID: 8454269
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: E02B

Abstract:
1. A flood defence or water-retaining device comprising a hollow body of an elastomeric material having formations at opposite ends for sealing engagement with complementary formations on adjoining flood defence devices and having complementary formations on upper and lower sides for sealing engagement with complementary formations on lower and upper sides respectively of any similar devices disposed respectively above and below the first-mentioned device, the device having at least one filling opening through which water can be passed into the interior of the device to fill the same, wherein the flood defence device has a first opening into its interior at one end, and has a second, aligned opening at its other end, through a projecting spigot complementary with said first opening for sealing engagement with said first opening of an adjoining identical device when a plurality of such devices are fitted together end to end, whereby a whole horizontal course of such devices may be filled with water via a said opening at one end of such course, and wherein the spigot comprises a tubular stub having a sidewall arranged to deform in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the tubular stub, so that said sidewall folds to a position perpendicular to the center axis of the tubular stub when a shear force is applied to the spigot to permit placement of the adjacent device in position in engagement with the first mentioned device, and to spring back into position so that said sidewall moves to a position parallel to the center axis of the tubular stub when the engagement position is reached, in which position the spigot is in sealing engagement with the first opening of the adjoining device.