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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 13/965,053, filed Aug. 12, 2013, which was a continuation of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 12/616,817 filed Nov. 12, 2009, which claimed benefit to provisional application No. 61/243,866, filed on Sep. 18, 2009, each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This device relates to protective barriers that are typically installed beneath ceilings during construction work being performed on ceilings or roofs of buildings. A protective barrier can comprise sections connected by seams. These seams, or the entire protective barrier can be designed to fail when contacted by water, either by dissolution, melting or by some other destructive process. Failure of one or more of the seams can create access points from the ceiling through the protective barrier to the area being protected by the barrier. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Protective barriers, such as those described herein, prevent dust and debris from falling on floors, on people, or on equipment located below a ceiling or roof being repaired or constructed. In this way, the protective barrier protects from added costs from damage or injury resulting from this falling material and allows work to continue below the ceiling or roof Such barriers are commonly constructed from polyethylene sheets or similar materials, which have proven to be durable, easy to work with, and inexpensive. However, a problem can arise with this type or protective barrier when it is installed below a fire suppression sprinkler system, which is often required in order to meet performance expectations. Such an installation can impair the flow of water from the fire suppression sprinkler system to a fire located beneath the protective barrier. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a protective barrier that can perform its primary function of protecting people and property from falling dust and debris, but also has the capacity to allow water from a fire suppression sprinkler system to gain access to a fire located below the barrier. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an aspect of the present device to provide a protective barrier which can protect people and property from falling dust and debris, but also has the capacity to allow water from a fire suppression sprinkler system to gain access to a fire located below the barrier. 
         [0006]    The above aspects can be obtained by a protective barrier that comprises at least two sections of waterproof material and a plurality of seams comprising a water soluble material attaching the at least two sections of waterproof material. 
         [0007]    The above aspects can also be obtained by a protective barrier that comprises at least two sections of waterproof material and a plurality of seams comprising a material that reacts exothermically with water, the seams attaching the at least two sections of waterproof material. 
         [0008]    The above aspects can also be obtained by a method that comprises providing a planar sheet comprising a material that is either water soluble or reacts exothermically with water; and elevating the planar sheet above a floor and under a sprinkler system, wherein the planar sheet prevents dust or debris from reaching the floor. 
         [0009]    These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present device, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier comprised of a water soluble material or a material that reacts exothermically with water according to an embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier comprising water soluble seams, according to an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier comprising seams, which further comprise a material that can react exothermically with water, according to an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier installed beneath a fire suppression system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier installed beneath a fire suppression system, wherein a fire is located beneath the protective barrier and a sprinkler above the fire and protective barrier has been activated thereby releasing water; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier installed beneath a fire suppression system, wherein a seam has failed due to contact with water, creating an opening in the protective barrier and allowing water from a sprinkler to reach a fire. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
         [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier  100  comprised of a water soluble material or a material that reacts exothermically with water according to an embodiment. 
         [0020]    A protective barrier  100  can be comprised entirely of a water soluble polymer, which can prevent dust and debris from reaching a protected area when dry. This protective barrier can dissolve in full or in part when contacted by water allowing water from a fire suppression sprinkler system  101  to reach a fire  102  located below the protective barrier  100 . The protective barrier  100  can be comprised of a polymer comprising polyvinyl alcohol or any other suitable water soluble material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0021]    A protective barrier  100  can also be comprised entirely of materials that react exothermically with water, which can prevent dust and debris from reaching a protected area when dry. This exothermic reaction can cause the protective barrier to melt in full or in part when contacted by water allowing water from a fire suppression sprinkler system  101  to reach a fire  102  located below the protective barrier  100 . The protective barrier  100  can be comprised of a polymer or similar material further comprising magnesium metal or any other suitable material that react exothermically with water, that is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier  200  comprising water soluble seams  201 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0023]    A protective barrier  200  comprising water soluble seams  201  can be comprised of sections  202  of standard, waterproof or water resistant material, such as polyethylene, vinyl or some other suitable material known to those with ordinary skill in the art of protective barriers. These sections  202  can be connected by seams  201  made from water soluble materials. Such seams  201  can comprise strips of water soluble materials which can be connected to the edges of the sections  202 . These strips of water soluble material can be connected to the sections  202  by stitching, adhesives, glues, rivets, staples, or any other similar devices known to those with ordinary skill in the art (not pictured). Furthermore, the seams  201  can comprise water soluble stitchings, adhesives, glues, or similar connecting devices which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (not pictured). Seams  201 , comprising these water soluble materials, can dissolve upon contact with water allowing the sections  202  to fall to the floor or for openings to form between the sections  202  allowing water to pass by or through the protective barrier  200 . In this way, the protective barrier  200  could allow water from a fire suppression system (not pictured) to reach a fire located below the barrier  200 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier  300  comprising heat reactive seams  301 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0025]    A protective barrier  300  comprising heat reactive seams  301  can be comprised of sections  302  of standard, waterproof or water resistant material, such as polyethylene, vinyl or other suitable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art of protective barriers. These sections  302  can be connected by heat reactive seams  301  made from materials, or treated with chemicals that react exothermically with water to create heat sufficient to melt the heat reactive seams  301 . This reactive material can be magnesium metal or any other material known to sufficiently react exothermically with water so that the heat reactive seams  301 , comprising these heat reactive materials, can melt or otherwise disintegrate the heat reactive seams  301 , comprising the protective barrier  300 . This melting or disintegration can allow the sections  302  of the protective barrier to either fall to the floor or for openings to form between the sections  302  allowing water from a fire suppression sprinkler to pass by or through it  300 . 
         [0026]    The material(s) used for the seams in any of the embodiments described herein can cost more than the waterproof or water resistant material used in the sections. Thus, by combining the seams and sections as described herein, a more cost effective barrier can be produced. Furthermore, in addition to the square checkerboard pattern illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , the sections and seams can be formed and connected using other shapes as well, such as triangles, diamonds, polygons, curves, arbitrary shapes, etc.  FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier  400  installed beneath a fire suppression system. 
         [0027]    The protective barrier  400  is located below a fire suppression system  405 . The protective barrier  400  can comprise sections  402  of standard, waterproof or water resistant material, such as polyethylene, vinyl or other similar material known to those with ordinary skill in the art of protective barriers. These sections  402  can be connected by seams  401  made from water soluble materials, or materials that react exothermically with water and melt when contacted with water, or any other material that will cause the sections  402  to separate when exposed to water or fire. When dry, this protective barrier  400  can prevent dust and debris from reaching the protected area located beneath it. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier  500  installed beneath a fire suppression system  505 , wherein a fire  510  is located beneath the protective barrier  500  and a sprinkler  506  above the fire  510  and protective barrier  500  has been activated thereby releasing water  508 . 
         [0029]    Water  508  released by the sprinkler  506 , which is part of the fire suppression system  505 , contacts one or more seams  501  attaching sections of the protective barrier  500 . This water  508  can dissolve seams  501  comprising water soluble materials, reducing their tensile strength and causing them to fail. 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment, the entire protective barrier  0  can be comprised of one or more water soluble materials. Water  508  contacting any part of this protective barrier would cause the contacted part to dissolve resulting in openings in the protective barrier. 
         [0031]    In another alternative embodiment, water  508  released by the sprinkler  506 , contacts one or more seams  501  comprising the protective barrier  500 . This water  508  can react exothermically with the seams  501  which can be made from materials such as magnesium metal, which react with water to create heat. This heat can cause the seams to melt or to sufficiently reduce their tensile strength to cause them to fail. 
         [0032]    In another alternative embodiment, the entire protective barrier can be comprised of materials that react exothermically with water. Water  508  contacting any part of this protective barrier  500  would cause the contacted part to melt or disintegrate resulting in openings in the protective barrier  500 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier  600  installed beneath a fire suppression system  605 , wherein a seam  601  has failed due to contact with water  608 , creating an opening in the protective barrier  600  allowing water  608  from a sprinkler  606  to reach a fire  610 . 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment, wherein the entire protective barrier is made from water soluble materials, or materials which react exothermically with water, holes can be created in the barrier at any place where it is contacted by water. 
         [0035]    Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.

Summary:
A protective barrier that will typically be installed beneath ceilings during construction work being performed on ceilings or roofs of buildings. The protective barrier can be comprised entirely of one material or of different materials connected by seams. Some or all of these materials can be designed to fail when contacted by water via dissolution, melting or through some other destructive process initiated by contact with water. This failure can create access points from the ceiling through the protective barrier to the area being protected by the barrier, which can allow water from a fire suppression system to reach a fire located below the protective barrier.