Abstract:
An apparatus to protect an aperture of a building and/or a closure means associated with the aperture from floodwater has a barrier housing ( 40 ), which is removably fixable to at least a portion of the periphery of the aperture. The banner housing ( 40 ) includes a channel ( 44 ) into which a barrier member ( 10 ) can slide, forming a seal. A resilient layer ( 61 ) is included between the barrier housing ( 40 ) and the barrier member ( 10 ). The resilient layer ( 61 ) can include one or more splines ( 62 ). A compression means ( 90 ) can be included to urge the housing ( 40 ) and the barrier member ( 10 ) together to form a seal. Further sealing material, in the form of a member of strips ( 70 ), can be included between adjacent barrier members ( 10 ). The strips ( 70 ) are attached to the in-use upper surface of a barrier member ( 10 ), and engage the in-use lower surface of an adjacent barrier member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention concerns an apparatus for use in preventing flood water reaching an entry point such as a door, window or air brick of a building. The apparatus is particularly adapted to be demountable and to be used with existing doorways and windows.  
         BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Floodwaters, particularly from swollen rivers and high tides can cause widespread and costly damage. The damage caused is not only to crops, roadways and other externally located constructions which become at least partially submerged, but also to the interiors of properties such as warehouses or domestic dwellings. The apparent increase in the frequency of floodwater causing such damage has highlighted the costs involved in reparation and that these costs are borne principally by insurance companies or property owners.  
           [0003]    The problem of the flooding of domestic dwellings has recently increased, due to changes in government policy regarding where new housing may be located. Previously, it has been the case that due to the number of houses which needed to be built, and the amount of land available, locations for new houses could be chosen which did not lie in areas known to be prone to flooding, such as areas of a river&#39;s flood plain. However, due to the increased drive towards the construction of new homes and the lack of suitable space now available, the criteria for assessing whether land is fit for the purposes, of construction have been relaxed and an increasing number of buildings are now at risk.  
           [0004]    Furthermore, the increased coverage of formerly agricultural or open land with concrete has the result that less rainwater is absorbed by the ground. Instead, the water flows rapidly over the concrete into the sewerage system and then into already swollen streams and rivers. The streams and rivers therefore reach a higher water level, more rapidly than was previously the case, placing buildings, which were formerly safe from flooding, at risk.  
           [0005]    A number of methods are known, which reduce or prevent from flood water from entering into a dwelling. The most common of these methods is to stack sand bags against the particular entry point which is at risk. This can however be a difficult and arduous task and is not at all suitable for those who are infirm or who have difficulty in lifting and manoeuvring the sand bags into position. Furthermore, even where a sand bag barrier has been constructed, it is normally not water-tight, but allows water to seep either through the main body of the sand bag, or between neighbouring sand bags. Moreover, once the flood water has passed, the user is then left with the problem where to store the sand bags and also with the problem of how to prevent the material from which the bag itself is formed from rotting. The latter problem is particularly acute where sacking is used to form a bag.  
           [0006]    An alternative solution is to provide a housing around a portion of the periphery of an aperture. Housing known in the art often has a U-shaped channel into which panels are slotted, panels co-operating to form a barrier. Sealing material, often formed of strips of rubber is provided on either or both of the panel or the channel so that a water-tight seal is produced. The rubber strips need therefore to engage closely with another part of the barrier in order to produce a good seal. Due to the close engagement of the act of pushing a barrier into a U-shaped channel can be difficult and also cause damage to the sealing material due to friction.  
           [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide an apparatus which provides a removable barrier to prevent flood water entering a building.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to reduce the need to employ sand bags or the number of sand bags required to prevent water from entering through an aperture of a building.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus to protect the aperture of a building and/or the usual closure means associated with the aperture, for example a door or a window, the apparatus acting to prevent or substantially hinder water from penetrating said aperture, the apparatus comprising:  
           [0010]    a barrier housing removeably fixable to at least a portion of the periphery of the aperture; and  
           [0011]    a barrier member sealingly engageable with the housing to provide a water-tight seal,  
           [0012]    a compression means to urge the barrier member into sealing engagement with the barrier housing,  
           [0013]    whereby, when it is anticipated that flood waters will rise high enough to penetrate an aperture of a building, the housing is fixed into position around a portion of the periphery of the aperture, the barrier member sealingly engages and co-operates with the housing to form a barrier to prevent floodwater entering the aperture.  
           [0014]    The compression means increases the strength of a seal and can enable a barrier to be rapidly assembled. The compression means also obviates the need for the barrier housing to include a U-shaped channel as the compression means can hold the barrier member in the correct sealing position.  
           [0015]    A resilient layer is preferably included between the barrier housing and the barrier member, the resilient layer improving the water sealing properties of the apparatus. Optionally, the resilient layer is permanently attached to the barrier housing.  
           [0016]    The barrier member is preferably planar, rectangular in shape in order to be easily stackable and storable when the apparatus is not in use. Advantageously, the barer member is hollow and includes one or more strengthening members to strengthen the panel. A balance between strength and weight is thereby achieved for the panel.  
           [0017]    A sealing means is preferably included between the barrier housing and the building to prevent ingress of water between the housing and the building. The sealing means is advantageously a strip of resilient material, such as rubber or closed cell silicone material, the strip flowing under pressure to conform with the shape of the building and/or the barrier housing and thus provide a water-tight seal.  
           [0018]    One or more strips of sealing material, can be provided along the barrier member, again to increase the water resistant properties of the apparatus.  
           [0019]    The barrier housing advantageously includes a channel into which the barrier member can slide, the barrier member thus being easily engageable and removable with the housing.  
           [0020]    The compression means optionally includes a pawl, rotatable between a rest position and a housing-engaging position. Advantageously, rotation of the pawl causes the barrier member and the barrier housing to be urged together. A cam mechanism can be included to provide the force necessary.  
           [0021]    The or each barrier member can include one or more barrier member-engaging portions to enable a number of barrier members to be fitted together to form a barrier of increased size. The barrier can thus be increased in height sequentially, as the height of the flood water rises. The step-wise assembly of a barrier, has a number of advantages. Firstly the problems of transportation and storage of a number of smaller barrier sections is smaller than is the case when one large section is involved. Secondly, where an eventually high flood water level is expected, but the level is still at a relatively low level, the aperture may continue to be used with the minimum of difficulty.  
           [0022]    According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of preventing water from entering an aperture, the method comprising the steps of:  
           [0023]    (i) fixing a housing around a portion of the periphery of the aperture;  
           [0024]    (ii) engaging a barrier member with the housing;  
           [0025]    (iii) compressing the barrier member against the housing to produce a water-tight seal;  
           [0026]    (iv) maintaining the compressive force between the barrier member and the housing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only two embodiments of a flood water prevention apparatus. In the drawings:  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 a  is a sectional view of the side of a first embodiment of a panel;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 b  is a front view of the panel of FIG. 1 a,    
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the side of a second embodiment of a panel;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 illustrates the interaction of two panels according to FIG. 1 to construct a barrier;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a section through a first embodiment of a peripheral housing member;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a section through a second embodiment of a peripheral housing member;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 illustrates the side of a panel located within the peripheral housing as shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 shows a top sealing member in cross-section;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a partial front perspective view of panels assembled together;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a further partial rear perspective view of panels assembled together;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of panel;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the panel shown in FIG. 10;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12 is a top view of the panel shown in FIG. 10 secured within a peripheral housing member;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 13 is a sectional view through a third embodiment of a peripheral housing member;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a neoprene moulding seal;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 15 illustrates a compression latch; and  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 16 is a further sectional view through the panel shown in FIG. 10. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]    In FIG. 1, a panel  10  comprises a surface  11 , which, in use, faces and engages the flood waters and prevents their entry through an aperture of a building. The panel  10  has an upper panel-engaging portion  12  and a lower panel-engaging portion  13 . The upper and the lower panel-engaging portions  12 , 13  run the length of the panel  10 , and in use co-operatively sealingly engage with the corresponding lower and upper portions of further panels  10 . The upper panel-engaging portion  12 , has two flanges  14 , 15  extending inwardly. The panel  10  is hollow, a cross-piece  16  providing additional strengthening to the panel.  
         [0046]    The panel  20  of FIG. 2, illustrates a further configuration of a lower panel-engaging portion  21 . FIG. 3 illustrates two panels  10  co-operating to form a water-tight seal. Barriers to prevent flood waters from entering through an aperture can thus be built up in height, in accordance with the height of the flood water.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 4 illustrates a housing  40  to retain the panels  10 , 20  of FIGS. 1 and 2. The housing  40  is elongate in form and comprises a support element  41 , having a square cross-section. The housing  40  also has a panel retention element  42 , also having a substantially square cross-section, partially open along one of the edges  43 , forming a channel  44  to receive a panel. The housing  50  of FIG. 5, also rigged to retain panels, differs from the housing  40  of FIG. 4 in that the panel retention element  51  has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is moreover completely open along one edge to receive the panel.  
         [0048]    As illustrated in FIG. 6, the panel retention element  60  has inner edges lined with a lining  61 . The lining  61  is formed from a resilient material such as rubber or closed cell silicone material. The lining  61  is bonded to the surface of the retention element  60  by means of a suitable adhesive. In addition, a number of splines  62  protrude from the lining  61 , the splines engaging an edge of a panel  63  to form a water-tight seal.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 7 illustrates a further elongate sealing member  70 . The cross-section of the sealing member  70  has essentially two portions; a hemispherical portion  71  and a “T”-shaped portion  72 , which in use engages a panel  10 , 20 . The stem of “T”, passes between the flanges  14 , 15  of the upper panel-engaging portion  12 .  
         [0050]    In use, a housing  40  is fixed to the lower and side peripheral edges of a building aperture such as a door or window. The housing  40  comprises a number of holes (not illustrated) through which screws are passed to fix the housing  40  in position. A resilient layer is positioned between the housing  40  and the surface to which the housing  40  is to be secured, prior to the housing  40  being secured in position. The resilient layer forms thereby a water-proof seal to prevent flood water penetrating between the housing  40  and the building,  
         [0051]    A first panel  10  is slid down the side channels  44  until the panel  10  is located within the lower portion of the channel  44  which runs along the lower peripheral edge of the aperture. The seal formed between the panel  10  and the housing  40  prevents the entry of water between the panel  10  and the housing  40 . As the water level rises, a second panel  10  is also slid down the side channels  44  of the housing  40 . A seal is formed between the two panels  10 , when the lower panel-engaging portion  13  of the second panel engages the upper panel-engaging portion  12  of the first panel. Where a sealing member  70  of the type shown in FIG. 7 is present, the sealing member  70  provides an additional seal between the two panels to prevent penetration of water.  
         [0052]    The barrier can thus be increased in height, where it is anticipated that the flood water levels will continue to rise.  
         [0053]    When the flood waters are receding, the panels can be successively removed and eventually, the housing  40  removed from the building. The apparatus can be conveniently stored until required again.  
         [0054]    An alternative embodiment of a barrier which also includes additional sealing means is shown in FIGS.  8  to  15 . The panel  80  is again essentially rectangular. As the panel  80  is hollow, the sides of the panel  80  are blanked off and seam welded to prevent water ingress to the inner volume of the panel  80 . A number of ribs  80 A strengthen the panel  80  to enable the panel  80  to withstand the pressure of the floodwater. The panel  80  has a curved tongue  81  along the in-use top edge. The tongue  81  engages a corresponding portion  82  on the bottom of a neighbouring panel. The material from which the tongue  81  is formed, although rigid, possesses a certain amount of resilience. The shape of the tongue  81  together with its resilience enables a second panel to be fitted easily into position whilst at the same time forming a seal.  
         [0055]    Unlike the housing in the embodiments described above, the housing  83  does not have a U-shaped channel to receive the panels  80 , but provides support to the panels  80  on only two sides. It has been found that the panels can be quickly and easily inserted into position. There is also reduction on wear on sealing members, as the frictional engagement between these sealing members when a panel is slid into position, can cause damage to the sealing members.  
         [0056]    The panels  80  are held into position by means of a series of compression latches  90 . Each compression latch enables the panel to be quickly and easily pulled against a housing  83 . In order to achieve this, the compression latch  90  comprises a knob  91  which is rotationally mounted to a first end of a shaft  92 . A gasket  93  is located between the knob  91  and the face of the panel  80 . A mounting nut  94  and washer  95 , together with a latch assembly  96  are mounted in water-tight fashion about the shaft  92  between the walls of the panel  80 . At the second end of the shaft  92  is an offset pawl  97 . By operation of the knob  91 , the pawl  97  can be moved between a housing engaging and a release position. To assist the engagement the housing  83  includes a number of slots  98  to receive the pawl  97 . To ensure a better seal as the pawl  97  enters the slot  98 , the pawl  97  causes the panel  80  to be pulled towards the housing  83 . This can be achieved either by offsetting the slot  98  or the pawl  97 . Alternatively, a cam system can cause the force necessary.  
         [0057]    In order to make the seal effective, a number of sealing elements can also be provided. For example, the panel  80  of FIG. 8 has neoprene blocks  99  both to provide a seal with neighbouring panels and also to prevent entry of water into the panel where the panel is hollow. Where such blocks  99  are present, the tongue  81  does not extend the whole length of the panel, but is cut away.  
         [0058]    A moulding seal  130  runs the length of the housing  83  and provides an additional seal between the housing  83  and the panels. The moulding seal  130  includes flexible resilient projections  131  to improve the seal produced. A further closed cell, silicone strips  132  seals the gap between the housing and the structure to which it is mounted.  
         [0059]    The panel  160  in FIG. 16 includes a strengthening member  161  having a U-shaped section to increase the strength of the panel  160  and to minimise the amount by which the panel  160  bends under pressure from the water. The panel  160  also has two sealing strips  162  to further improve the seal formed with the neighbouring panel  163 .  
         [0060]    The panels can be made from a number of different materials, which are able to withstand the pressure of water without undergoing significant deformation. They can be formed, for example, from metal, wood or a suitable plastics material such as U-PVC. The panel should however be light enough to be easily lifted and positioned by the user. Aluminium has been found to be particular suitable in this respect.  
         [0061]    The sealing material between the housing and the surface on which the housing is mounted is provided by a strip of resilient material. The material can therefore, under the pressure applied by fixing the housing in position, and also of the pressure of the flood water, flow into the shape into the shape of the surface, for example a wall or door sill, to give an improved seal. Where necessary, mastic sealant can also be applied, the mastic however being less easy to remove from the building and apparatus when the apparatus is dismantled from the building.  
         [0062]    The dimensions of the elements of the apparatus will depend on the nature of the materials used in the construction and also on the size of the aperture to be protected. For example, where the material of construction is aluminum then (for a panel to cover the aperture of a main doorway) a height of 160 to 190 mm and a thickness of 20 to 30 mm for the main panel body has been found to be suitable. The height of the panel-engaging portions  12 , 13  can be 10 to 40 mm, but 20 to 30 mm has been found to be particularly suitable. The thickness of the walls for such an aluminium panel are typically from 1.5 to 5.0 mm in thickness, a thickness of from 2 to 3 mm being found to be particularly suitable. The thickness of the walls of the housing  40  are also from 2.0 to 5.0 mm in thickness, with 2.5 to 3.5 mm being preferred.  
         [0063]    It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.