Abstract:
A levee apparatus is constructed of base panels connected end to end and supported by an underlying support such as the earth&#39;s surface. Side panels interlock with the base panels and with each other to form a generally triangular transverse cross section and a hollow interior that can be filled with a selected fill material. Interlocking projections on the side panels interlock with apertures of the base and with notches or recesses of other side panels.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/989,162, filed Nov. 20, 2007, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to portable and/or quickly constructed levees. More particularly, the present invention relates to a levee apparatus that employs base panels and inclined panels that interlock to provide a generally triangular cross section with an interior that can be filled with a selected fill material (e.g. soil, sand, gravel, etc.), wherein alternating projections and sockets/apertures along edges of the panels interlock to form a connection of each panel to other of the panels. 
   2. General Background of the Invention 
   Levees are often constructed of earthen material. In some locations the side of an earthen levee is lined with concrete. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has for years constructed earthen levees with a portion of a side of the levee being covered with a layer of reinforced concrete. At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility at Vicksburg, Miss., concrete levee mats have been fabricated for years. 
   Portable levee systems have been patented as noted in the following table of possibly related art. 
   The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Pat. No. 
               TITLE 
               ISSUE DATE 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               274,449 
               Building Brick 
               Mar. 20, 1883 
             
             
               277,732 
               Method of Constructing Levees and 
               May 15, 1883 
             
             
                 
               Embankments 
             
             
               390,175 
               Hollow Building Block or Brick 
               Sep. 25, 1888 
             
             
               945,859 
               Building Block 
               Jan. 11, 1910 
             
             
               1,002,161 
               Sea Wall Construction 
               Aug. 29, 1911 
             
             
               1,552,077 
               Block for Building Construction 
               Sep. 01, 1925 
             
             
               2,466,343 
               Jetty 
               Apr. 05, 1949 
             
             
               3,441,140 
               Drain Filter 
               Apr. 29, 1969 
             
             
               3,645,100 
               Leaching Chamber Unit for Soil 
               Feb. 29, 1972 
             
             
                 
               Absorption System 
             
             
               4,073,245 
               Levee Forming Apparatus and Method 
               Feb. 14, 1978 
             
             
               4,175,888 
               Block for Constructing Breakwater 
               Nov. 27, 1979 
             
             
               4,189,252 
               Undersea Platform Construction System 
               Feb. 19, 1980 
             
             
               4,192,628 
               Flow Distributor for Leaching Fields 
               Mar. 11, 1980 
             
             
               4,341,050 
               Construction Module 
               Jul. 27, 1982 
             
             
               4,345,856 
               Composition and Process for Stabilizing 
               Aug. 24, 1982 
             
             
                 
               Embankments 
             
             
               4,431,337 
               Wave Dissipation Caisson 
               Feb. 14, 1984 
             
             
               4,465,399 
               Artificial Reef Assembly Construction 
               Aug. 14, 1984 
             
             
                 
               and a Method 
             
             
               4,661,014 
               Prefabricated Civil Engineering 
               Apr. 28, 1987 
             
             
                 
               Module, Method for the Construction 
             
             
                 
               of a Structure Including Said Module 
             
             
                 
               and Resulting Structure 
             
             
               4,869,620 
               Method and Apparatus for Constructing 
               Sep. 26, 1989 
             
             
                 
               Seawalls and Docks 
             
             
               4,903,782 
               Levee Squeezer 
               Feb. 27, 1990 
             
             
               4,954,013 
               Means and Method for Stabilizing 
               Sep. 04, 1990 
             
             
                 
               Shorelines 
             
             
               5,017,042 
               Fluid Directing Systems 
               May 21, 1991 
             
             
               5,118,222 
               Method and Apparatus for Constructing 
               Jun. 02, 1992 
             
             
                 
               Seawalls and Docks 
             
             
               5,403,125 
               Method and Apparatus for Providing 
               Apr. 04, 1995 
             
             
                 
               Underground Barrier 
             
             
               5,599,136 
               Structure for Topography Stabilization 
               Feb. 04, 1997 
             
             
                 
               and Runoff Control 
             
             
               5,971,661 
               Water Containment Device and Levee 
               Oct. 26, 1999 
             
             
                 
               for Impeding a Flow of Water 
             
             
               6,012,872 
               Flood Control System 
               Jan. 11, 2000 
             
             
               6,390,154 
               Portable Levee System and Portable 
               May 21, 2002 
             
             
                 
               Levee System Bag 
             
             
               6,443,652 
               Aggregate Chamber Leach Lines for 
               Sep. 03, 2002 
             
             
                 
               Leaching Effluent and Associated 
             
             
                 
               Method 
             
             
               6,485,230 
               Submersible Modular Dike and Method 
               Nov. 26, 2002 
             
             
                 
               for Segregating Body of Water 
             
             
               2002/0197112 
               Structure and Method for Detecting 
               Dec. 26, 2002 
             
             
                 
               an Inflated State of a Flexible Mem- 
             
             
                 
               brane Dam 
             
             
               6,558,075 
               Permanent and Semi-Permanent Groyne 
               May 06, 2003 
             
             
                 
               Structures and Method for Shoreline 
             
             
                 
               and Land Mass Reclamation 
             
             
               2003/0118407 
               Transportable Dam and a Method of 
               Jun. 26, 2003 
             
             
                 
               Erecting the Same 
             
             
               2003/0156903 
               Frame Members for a Portable Dam 
               Aug. 21, 2003 
             
             
               6,637,474 
               Portable Levee System 
               Oct. 28, 2003 
             
             
               2004/0047688 
               Liquid Containment/Diversion Dike 
               Mar. 11, 2004 
             
             
               2004/0131430 
               Retaining Wall Block and Drainage 
               Jul. 08, 2004 
             
             
                 
               System 
             
             
               2004/0156680 
               Beach Stabilizing Blocks 
               Aug. 12, 2004 
             
             
               2004/0234340 
               Mobile Levee System 
               Nov. 25, 2004 
             
             
               2004/0261890 
               Portable Levee System 
               Dec. 30, 2004 
             
             
               2005/0053429 
               Modular Retaining Wall 
               Mar. 10, 2005 
             
             
               2005/0158122 
               Method for Constructing Check Dam 
               Jul. 21, 2005 
             
             
                 
               or Fire Prevention Dam Using Gear- 
             
             
                 
               Type Block 
             
             
               2005/0260038 
               Hydraulic Dam 
               Nov. 24, 2005 
             
             
               2006/0000179 
               Building Block 
               Jan. 05, 2006 
             
             
               2006/0275081 
               Modular Dike for Shore Protection 
               Dec. 07, 2006 
             
             
               7,214,005 
               Sectionalized Flood Control Barrier 
               May 08, 2007 
             
             
               2007/0116522 
               Flood Levee and Barrier Module and 
               May 24, 2007 
             
             
                 
               System 
             
             
               2007/0154264 
               Portable Dike and Floatation Device 
               Jul. 05, 2007 
             
             
               2007/0196178 
               Portable Levee System 
               Aug. 23, 2007 
             
             
               JP56-77413 
               Dam 
               Jun. 25, 1981 
             
             
               JP2112512 
               Wave Dissipation Submerged Dike 
               Apr. 25, 1990 
             
             
               JP6041934 
               Submerged Breakwater 
               Feb. 15, 1994 
             
             
               ES2097789 
               Breakwater 
               Apr. 16, 1997 
             
             
               WO99/03659 
               Concrete Block, Joint for the Same, 
               Jan. 28, 1999 
             
             
                 
               and Structure of Concrete Blocks 
             
             
               WO99/11868 
               Dike Module 
               Mar. 11, 1999 
             
             
               WO99/57376 
               A Technique and a Device for Building 
               Nov. 11, 1999 
             
             
                 
               Protective Sea Walls or Artificial 
             
             
                 
               Reefs Made of Modular Parts 
             
             
               EP1,193,348 
               Modular Elements to be Cast and 
               Apr. 03, 2002 
             
             
                 
               Fixed in Seabeds or the Like for the 
             
             
                 
               Re-formation of Aquatic Life 
             
             
               WO02/068770 
               Fluent Material Confinement System 
               Sep. 06, 2002 
             
             
               EP1,418,376 
               Method and Structure for Connecting 
               May 12, 2004 
             
             
                 
               Difficult&amp;minus; TO&amp;minus; Join 
             
             
                 
               Pipes to be Used at High 
             
             
                 
               Temperature 
             
             
               EP1,508,643 
               Flood Barrier 
               Feb. 23, 2005 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved levee apparatus that employs multiple interlocking panels to form an elongated hollow structure with an interior that accepts a selected fill material such as sand, gravel, soil or the like. 
   In various embodiments reinforcement is provided in the interlocking panels, such as re-bar and/or wire mesh. In one embodiment reinforcement can be used to lock one or more of the interlocking panels. 
   In one embodiment one or more of the panels can comprise concrete. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of one of the side panel portions of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an end view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of one of the base panel portions of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating installation of one of the inclined side panels upon the base panels; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, showing use of the side panels without the base panels; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-8  and  13  show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 6-8 . Levee apparatus  10  provides a base panel  12  that interlocks with a pair of inclined side panels  29 . Base panels  12  are place end-to-end. Side panels  29  are then connected to the base panels  12 . Side panels  29  are connected to each other at apex  66 . The panel  12  and the inclined side panels  29  are connected in a staggered, brick lay type pattern as shown in  FIGS. 5-8  and  13 . Once connected together, the panels  12 ,  13  form a generally triangular cross section (see  FIG. 7 ). 
   In  FIGS. 1-2 , a side panel  29  is shown in more detail. Side panel  29  has end edges  30 ,  31 , upper surface  44 , lower surface  45 , upper edge  49  and lower edge  50 . Side panel  29  has projections  32  that are spaced apart along upper edge  49 . A gap  33  is placed between each pair of projections  32 . 
   At end edge  31 , there is a notch  34  near upper edge  49  and a notch  35  next to lower edge  50 . Similarly, there are projections  36  and gaps  37  along lower edge  50 . A beveled or inclined surface  40  is provided next to each gap  37 . These surfaces  40  are bearing surfaces that bear against contact area  43  on the upper surface  20  of base panel  12 . Surfaces  40 ,  41 ,  42  surround each gap  37 . Each gap  33  can be generally rectangular in shape, surrounded by three surfaces that are normal to both the upper  44  and the lower  45  surfaces of side panel  29 . Projections  38 ,  39  are next to end edge  30 . Each projection  38 ,  39  can share an edge with end edge  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Base panel  12  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Base panel  12  has end edges  13 ,  14  and side edges  15 ,  16 . A plurality of apertures  17  are provided along each edge  15 ,  16  as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . Each aperture  17  extends through panel  12 , communicating with upper surface  20  and lower surface  21  as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . 
   Notches  18 ,  19  are provided on panel  12 . Notch  18  is positioned next to the side edge  15  and communicating with the end edge  13 . Notch  19  is positioned next to the side edge  16  and communicating with the end edge  14 . 
   Each aperture  17  is bordered by a beveled or inclined surface  22  that forms an acute angle with panel  12  lower surface  21  as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . Each aperture  17  is also surrounded by or bordered by surfaces  23 ,  24 ,  25  that are surfaces preferably normal to surfaces  20 ,  21 . Each notch  18 ,  19  is surrounded by or bordered by surfaces  26  (beveled or inclined),  27 ,  28 . A contact or load transfer area  43  on base panel  12  is engaged and contacted by a diagonally extending or beveled surface  40  of a side panel  29  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and  13 . Each base panel  12  and side panel  29  can be reinforced with reinforcing steel  71  or any other suitable reinforcement. 
   To erect levee apparatus  10 , base panels  12  are placed end-to-end as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The end edge  13  of one base panel  12  is place next to and aligned with the end edge  14  of another base panel  12 . Side panels  29  can be attached to base panels  12  in an alternating, brick layered type pattern of  FIGS. 5-6  and  13  (see arrows  46 ,  67 ). Each side panel  29  thus preferably attaches to a pair of base panels  12  as well as to a pair of side panels  29  at apex  66  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
   Bolted connections  52  can be used to affix each pair of side panels to support  47  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Each bolted connection  52  can employ a bolt or fastener  53  that engages an internally threaded opening  54  in support panel  47 . An opening  55  is a bolt opening that enables each fastener to pass through a panel  29 . 
   An air space  56  is provided below the erected side panels  29  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Fill opening  57  enables a selected fill material  59  (e.g. sand, soil, gravel) that is suitable for the construction of levees to be added to space  56 . Cap or cover  58  seals or covers fill opening  57  before and after filling space  56  with fill material  59 . 
     FIGS. 9-11  show an alternate levee apparatus  11  that uses a plurality of inclined panels  63  secured to a water bed  61  that is under a water body  60 . Piling  62 , triangular panels  63  and fill material  65  hold panels  63  in an inclined position. In various embodiments the angle of inclination can be about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 89, and 90 degrees with the water bed  61 . In various embodiments the angle of inclination can be in a range of between about any two of the above referenced angles. 
   Once piling  62 , panels  63 ,  64  and fill material  65  have been erected, levee apparatus  10  ( FIGS. 1-8  and  12 - 13 ) can be erected upon fill material  65  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   Arrows  68  in  FIG. 11  show water flow over levee  11  during a storm surge. Water flows over levee  11  carrying accretions  69  that accumulate to form a new land mass that supports plant life  70  for replenishment of wetlands that have eroded. 
     FIG. 12  illustrates that side panels  29  can be erected and interlocked at apex  77  and held in position using piling  62  rather than base panel  12 . In  FIG. 12 , the side panels  29  would be interlocked and brick layed staggered fashion as with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-11 . However, pilings  62  support two panels  29  in an inclined position forming a generally triangularly shaped levee which can be back filled with a selected fill material such as sand, gravel, soil, or the like. In  FIG. 12 , notice that the side panels  29  can be of differing sizes to accommodate changes in elevation of water bottom  61 . 
     FIGS. 14 and 15  show an additional alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  72 . Levee apparatus  72  is comprised of a plurality of sections  73 ,  74 ,  75  and possibly additional sections that are connected end to end as shown in  FIG. 14 . Each section provides a first end portion  76  that interlocks with a second end portion  77 . The end portion  76  provides a socket  78  that is receptive of an end portion  77  of another section as shown in  FIG. 15 . A stop  79  limits the amount of penetration of end portion  76  into socket  78  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   Each section  73 ,  74 ,  75  can provide an opening  80  that can be closed using a cap  81 . Opening  80  and cap  81  enable fill material such as sand, gravel, soil, or other suitable fill material to be added to the interior  82  of each section  73 ,  74 ,  75 . The levee apparatus  72  shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  could be employed in situations such as those shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 1-13 . 
   As an alternative to the sections  73 ,  74 ,  75  shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , similarly connecting interlocking sections could be provided wherein each section has a gradual taper along its length. An end portion of each section is of a slightly larger, generally triangular cross section. The other end portion of that section is of a smaller, generally triangular cross section. In such a case, an end portion of one such tapered section fits into the end portion of another such tapered section. In this embodiment a section can be pulled longitudinally from a mold for forming the panel. Alternatively, the mold can be made in interlocking sections which lock when section is poured and cured, and unlock after section has cured. 
   In one alternative embodiment can be included a variation of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 through 11 . In this embodiment the upper portion of the levee barrier (panels  29 ) does not span from edge to edge of the lower portion of the barrier (panels  63 )—as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Instead, a smaller portion (with spaced apart edges) compared to the larger lower portion is used. In various embodiments the upper portion can span about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and 95 percent of the width of the upper part of the lower portion. In various embodiments the spanning percentage can be in a range of between about any two of the above referenced percentages. 
   The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               PARTS LIST 
             
           
        
         
             
               Part Number 
               Description 
             
             
                 
             
             
               10 
               levee apparatus 
             
             
               11 
               levee apparatus 
             
             
               12 
               base panel 
             
             
               13 
               end edge 
             
             
               14 
               end edge 
             
             
               15 
               side edge 
             
             
               16 
               side edge 
             
             
               17 
               aperture 
             
             
               18 
               notch 
             
             
               19 
               notch 
             
             
               20 
               upper surface 
             
             
               21 
               lower surface 
             
             
               22 
               diagonally extending surface 
             
             
               23 
               surface 
             
             
               24 
               surface 
             
             
               25 
               surface 
             
             
               26 
               diagonally extending surface 
             
             
               27 
               surface 
             
             
               28 
               surface 
             
             
               29 
               inclined side panel 
             
             
               30 
               end edge 
             
             
               31 
               end edge 
             
             
               32 
               projection 
             
             
               33 
               gap 
             
             
               34 
               notch 
             
             
               35 
               notch 
             
             
               36 
               projection 
             
             
               37 
               gap 
             
             
               38 
               projection 
             
             
               39 
               projection 
             
             
               40 
               diagonally extending surface 
             
             
               41 
               surface 
             
             
               42 
               surface 
             
             
               43 
               contact area 
             
             
               44 
               upper surface 
             
             
               45 
               lower surface 
             
             
               46 
               arrow 
             
             
               47 
               support 
             
             
               48 
               lower surface 
             
             
               49 
               arrow 
             
             
               50 
               upper edge 
             
             
               51 
               lower edge 
             
             
               52 
               bolted connection 
             
             
               53 
               fastener 
             
             
               54 
               internally threaded opening 
             
             
               55 
               bolt opening 
             
             
               56 
               air space 
             
             
               57 
               fill opening 
             
             
               58 
               cap 
             
             
               59 
               fill material 
             
             
               60 
               water body 
             
             
               61 
               waterbed 
             
             
               62 
               piling 
             
             
               63 
               inclined panel 
             
             
               64 
               triangular panel 
             
             
               65 
               fill 
             
             
               66 
               apex 
             
             
               67 
               arrow 
             
             
               68 
               arrow 
             
             
               69 
               accretions 
             
             
               70 
               plant life 
             
             
               71 
               reinforcing steel 
             
             
               72 
               levee apparatus 
             
             
               73 
               section 
             
             
               74 
               section 
             
             
               75 
               section 
             
             
               76 
               first end portion 
             
             
               77 
               second end portion 
             
             
               78 
               socket 
             
             
               79 
               stop 
             
             
               80 
               opening 
             
             
               81 
               cap 
             
             
               82 
               interior 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
   The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.