Reversible flood barrier

Abstract: An assembly (10) for protecting a house interior from floodwater. The assembly comprises an open-ended frame (20) for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway (50), the open-ended frame having groove means (22) extending around its inner periphery; and a panel (20) configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, in which the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible.

Description: The present invention relates to an assembly for protecting a house interior from floodwater. Sandbags have long been used to barricade doorways and/or windows to protect the interior of dwellings in flood conditions. However, sandbags present difficulties in use and in storage on account of their weight and bulk. Moreover, it is extremely difficult to achieve anything like a watertight seal with sandbags. Flood barriers for protecting a house interior and the like are known from GB 2346168A, GB 2253873A, GB 2245297A, GB 2114199A, GB 2106165A and WO 97/47846A. Further, from GB 2 253 873 A and GB 2 361 733 A flood barriers with a pressed out or producing centre region to strengthen rigidity are known. The inventor has appreciated the need for an improved arrangement for resisting floodwater damage to house interiors. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame having groove means extending around its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, wherein the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible to improve the seal. The open-ended frame can be fixed temporarily to the walling in advance of flood conditions. Alternatively, the open-ended frame can be fixed permanently to the walling. The panel can be stored apart from the open-ended frame, thus allowing for unimpeded passage through the doorway. Only when a flood threatens is it necessary to slide the panel into the open-ended frame to create a barrier against floodwater. Once the threat of a flood or the floodwater has subsided the panel can be removed from the open-ended frame and returned to storage. Similar considerations apply to other building apertures (e.g. windows) in addition to doorways. The panel may be compliant and held in place, possibly taut, by the frame when in use. Thus, the panel may comprise a waterproof membrane, for example comprising a textile fabric. Alternatively, the panel may be self-supporting. The panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge. The panel may be formed from flexible sheet material and thus a non-planar profile may lend rigidity to the panel. The non-planar profile may perhaps have a substantially convex front surface and a correspondingly substantially concave back surface. The terms 'substantially concave/convex', as used herein, are not limited to smooth surfaces of spherical or paraboloidal shape but include faceted surfaces of other shapes that protrude from a plane surround. The facets on the front and back surfaces of the panel may be defined by a plurality of lines in the panel. The non-planar profile of the panel is reversible under an applied load. For example, the panel may be reversed such that the substantially convex front surface becomes substantially concave and the substantially concave back surface becomes substantially convex. The panel might, for instance, be reversed by manually applying pressure to its front surface. The open-ended frame may have a profile which urges the peripheral edge of the panel against one side of the groove when the panel is reversed in situ in the open-ended frame. In this way, reversing the panel improves the seal between panel and open-ended frame. The profile may include a member which projects from an opposing side of the groove. The member may be flange-like, perhaps extending along the groove. A sealing gasket may be provided for use between panel and open-ended frame. The sealing gasket may be mounted adjacent the peripheral edge of the panel, perhaps on one side of the panel. The sealing gasket may be of a resilient material, for instance foamed rubber. When the panel is in situ in the open-ended frame, the sealing gasket may be located in the groove. The sealing gasket might be a continuous strip. Upon reversal of the non-planar profile of the panel, the sealing gasket may be urged against a side of the groove. The panel may be substantially rectangular. Furthermore, the front surface of the panel may be pyramidal in shape. The angle of an apex of a panel which is pyramidal in shape may be obtuse. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of protecting a house interior from flood water, comprising: attaching an open-ended frame to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame having groove means extending around its inner periphery; and providing a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, wherein the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible to improve the seal. The open-ended frame may be temporarily or permanently attached to the walling of the house doorway. A seal between the open-ended frame and the walling may be provided by disposing a filler, e.g. mastic, between open-ended frame and walling. The frame and/or panel may include a locking member for locking the panel in position once introduced in the frame. The locking member may prevent undesirables from tampering with any seal created. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: at least one elongate member having groove means extending along its length, the at least one elongate member being configurable into an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway such that the groove means extends around its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, wherein the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible to improve the seal. The at least one elongate member can be assembled as an open-ended frame and attached to the walling around a doorway in advance. When a flood threatens, the panel can be inserted into the open-ended frame. Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the description of the specific embodiment provided hereinafter. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of an assembly embodying the present invention; Figures 2a and 2b are views of the assembly of Figure 1 when in use; Figure 3a is a view of a section through the frame of the assembly of Figure 1 when the panel is in the engaged condition; Figure 3b is a view of the section of Figure 3a when the panel of the assembly of Figure 1 is in the engaged and reversed condition; Figure 4 is a schematic of an alternative panel; and Figure 5 is a schematic of a section through an alternative "reversible" frame. Figure 1 shows an assembly 10, embodying the present invention, which comprises an open-ended frame 20 and a panel 30. The open-ended frame 20 is substantially U-shaped and has a groove 22 extending around its inner periphery. The panel 30, which is formed from sheet material, is shown in Figure 1 in side elevation as panel 30a and in plan view as panel 30b. The panel 30, which is substantially rectangular in shape, has a substantially convex front surface 32 and a correspondingly substantially concave back surface 33. The open-ended frame can be temporarily or permanently fixed to the walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, thus allowing for unimpeded passage through the doorway. When a flood threatens, the panel 30 can be inserted into the open-ended frame 20. The open-ended frame 20 is made of a material such as a metal or a plastics material. The panel 30 is made of a material such as a metal or a plastics material. The substantially convex front surface 32 and the substantially concave back surface 33 have three facets 34 which are defined by a plurality of lines 36, 38. A first line 36 is provided along a centre line of the panel 30 and extends from a lower edge 40 of the panel to an apex 42, which is situated towards an upper edge of the panel. Second and third lines 38 extend from the apex 42 to the top left hand corner and the top right hand corner of the panel respectively. Thus, the panel 30 is substantially pyramidal in shape. A sealing gasket 44 is provided adjacent the periphery of the front surface 32 of the panel 30. Figure 2a shows the open-ended frame 20 attached to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway 50. To bring the panel 30 into use, the lower edge 40 of the panel 30 is inserted, with the front face 32 facing away from the doorway, into the groove 22 at the open upper end of the open-ended frame 20. The panel 30 is then slid down until it fits snugly within the open-ended frame with the peripheral edge of the panel located in the groove, as shown in Figure 2b. Figure 3a is a view of a section through the open-ended frame 20 with the panel 30 in position in the groove 22. A member 62 projects from a side of the open-ended frame 20. When the panel 30 is fitted snugly in the open-ended frame 20, the sealing gasket 44 is located on the side of the panel 30 opposite the member 62. A seal between the open-ended frame 20 and the panel 30 is improved by reversing the panel, when the panel is in the engaged position shown in Figure 3a. Reversal of the panel involves the substantially convex front surface of the panel becoming substantially concave and the substantially concave back surface of the panel becoming substantially convex. Reversal can be achieved by applying a force to the front surface of the panel. During reversal, the member 62 acts as a fulcrum with the periphery of the panel 30 rotating about the member 62 to thereby urge the sealing gasket 44 against the side of the groove opposite the member 62, as shown in Figure 3b. As the panel reverses, the panel flexes, in particular along the lines 36, 38, which are shown in Figure 1. Reversal of the panel 30 is aided by the presence of a crease 46, which extends between the apex 42 and the top edge of the panel as a continuation of the line 36, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic of an alternative panel 70. The alternative panel 70, which is substantially rectangular in shape, has a domed profile. Thus, the alternative panel 70 has substantially smooth front and back surfaces instead of the faceted surfaces of the panel 30 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a schematic of a section through an alternative "reversible" frame 80. The "reversible" frame 80 has a symmetric groove 82. Thus, surface 'A' or surface 'B' of the frame 80 may be fixed to the walling of a house doorway.

Claims: An assembly (10) for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: an open-ended frame (20) for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway (50), the open-ended frame having groove means (22) extending around its inner periphery; and a panel (30) configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, wherein the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge, characterised in that the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible to improve the seal. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the open-ended frame has a profile configured to urge a peripheral edge of the panel against one side of the groove when the panel is reversed in situ in the open-ended frame. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the profile comprises a member which projects from an opposing side of the groove. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the member is flange-like. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the member extends along the groove. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a sealing gasket is provided for use between panel and open-ended frame, and the sealing gasket is urged against a side of the groove when the panel is reversed. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a front surface of the panel is pyramidal in shape. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which an angle of an apex of the front surface of the panel is obtuse. A method of protecting a house interior from flood water, comprising: attaching an open-ended frame (20) to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway (50), the open-ended frame having groove means (22) extending around its inner periphery; and providing a panel (30) configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, wherein the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge, characterised in that the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible. A kit of parts for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: at least one elongate member having groove means (22) extending along its length, the at least one elongate member being configurable into an open-ended frame (20) for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway (30) such that the groove means extends around its inner periphery; and a panel (30) configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, wherein the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge characterised in that the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible.

Inventors: FAIRBROTHER GERALD MICHAEL, FAIRBROTHER, GERALD MICHAEL
Applicants: FAIRBROTHER GERALD MICHAEL, FAIRBROTHER, GERALD MICHAEL
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9