Abstract:
A liquid barrier system for protecting selected areas of flooring from liquid flow. The liquid barrier system includes a pair of end assemblies adapted for abutting a surface of a floor, and an elongate barrier assembly having two ends, each one of the barrier assembly ends being coupled to an associated one of the end assemblies.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to protective barriers and more particularly pertains to a new liquid barrier system for protecting selected areas of flooring from liquid flow. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art The use of protective barriers is known in the prior art. More specifically, protective barriers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,830,281; 4,178,717; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 370,755; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,671,743; 5,173,346; and 4,449,267. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new liquid barrier system. The inventive device includes a pair of end assemblies adapted for abutting a surface of a floor, and an elongate barrier assembly having two ends, each one of the barrier assembly ends being coupled to an associated one of the end assemblies. 
     In these respects, the liquid barrier system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting selected areas of flooring from liquid flow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of protective barriers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new liquid barrier system construction wherein the same can be utilized for protecting selected areas of flooring from liquid flow. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new liquid barrier system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the protective barriers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new liquid barrier system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art protective barriers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of end assemblies adapted for abutting a surface of a floor, and an elongate barrier assembly having two ends, each one of the barrier assembly ends being coupled to an associated one of the end assemblies. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new liquid barrier system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the protective barriers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new liquid barrier system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art protective barriers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new liquid barrier system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new liquid barrier system which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid barrier system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such liquid barrier system economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid barrier system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid barrier system for protecting selected areas of flooring from liquid flow. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid barrier system which includes a pair of end assemblies adapted for abutting a surface of a floor, and an elongate barrier assembly having two ends, each one of the barrier assembly ends being coupled to an associated one of the end assemblies. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid barrier system that is simple to setup and move. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new liquid barrier system that conforms to a variety of shapes. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new liquid barrier system in use according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an end assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the connecting receptacle and connecting plug of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new liquid barrier system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the liquid barrier system  10  generally comprises a pair of end assemblies  20  and a barrier assembly  40 . 
     Each of the end assemblies  20  is designed for abutting a surface of a floor  2 . 
     The barrier assembly  40  is elongate. The barrier assembly  40  is coupled to an end portion  22  of each of the end assemblies  20  such that the end assemblies  20  and the barrier assembly  40  form a barrier which extends from a first one of the end assemblies  20  to a second one of the end assemblies  20 . 
     The barrier assembly  40  is flexible such that a longitudinal axis of the barrier assembly  40  is conformable to a desired shape. 
     The barrier assembly  40  includes a cover portion  42 . The cover portion  42  is substantially non-absorbent such that a liquid on a first side of the barrier formed by the end assemblies  20  and the barrier assembly  40  is discouraged from flowing through the barrier assembly  40  when the barrier assembly  40  abuts the floor  2 . 
     The barrier assembly  40  is weighted such that a liquid on the first side of the barrier formed by the end assemblies  20  and the barrier assembly  40  is discouraged from flowing under the barrier assembly  40  when the barrier assembly  40  abuts the floor  2 . 
     The barrier assembly  40  includes an arcuate weighting member  44 . The weighting member  44  is coupled to an upper surface of the barrier assembly  40 . The weighting member  44  conforming to the upper surface. 
     Each of the end assemblies  20  includes a blocking portion  24 . The blocking portion  24  includes a connecting strip  26 , an elastomeric member  28 , and a squeegy member  30 . The barrier assembly  40  is coupled to the connecting strip  26 . The elastomeric member  28  is positioned substantially between a bottom surface of the connecting strip  26  and a top surface of the squeegy member  30 . 
     The squeegy member  30  comprises a non-absorbent material. The squeegy member  30  is designed for abutting the floor  2  and moving a liquid across a surface of the floor  2  when the squeegy member  30  is drawn across the surface of the floor  2 . 
     Each of the end assemblies  20  includes a plurality of connecting members  32 . Each of the connecting strips  26  includes a plurality of apertures. Each of the elastomeric members  28  includes a plurality of apertures, which are alignable with the apertures of the connecting strip  26 . Each of the squeegy members  30  includes a plurality of apertures. The apertures of the squeegy member  30  are alignable with the apertures of the elastomeric member  28  and the apertures of the connecting strip  26 . The connecting members  32  extend through the apertures of the connecting strip  26 , the elastomeric member  28 , and the squeegy member  30 . 
     Each of the end assemblies  20  includes a support portion  34 . The support portion  34  includes a support bracket  36  for coupling the support portion  34  to the blocking portion  24 . The support bracket  36  has two substantially L-shaped portions. The support portion  34  is designed for abutting the surface of the floor  2  for stabilizing the end assembly  20 . 
     The support portion  34  includes a weight member  38  and an elastomeric member  39 . The elastomeric member  39  is designed for abutting the surface of the floor  2  preventing the support portion  34  from sliding across the surface. The weight member  38  is for preventing the support portion from sliding. 
     Each of the end assemblies  20  includes a connecting receptacle  50 . The barrier assembly  40  includes opposite ends. Each of the opposite ends includes a connecting plug  52 . Each of the connecting plugs  52  is selectively couplable with the connecting receptacles  50  such that each of the opposite ends of the barrier assembly  40  is selectively couplable with an associated one of the end assemblies  20 . 
     In use, an area of flooring is selected, by the user, for cleaning and or waxing. The area adjacent to the selected area defines a perimeter. A first one of the end assemblies is placed at one end of the perimeter. The second one of the end assemblies is placed at the opposite end of the perimeter. The barrier assembly is then placed along the perimeter between the two end assemblies. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.