Abstract:
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 multiple materials connected by seams. Some or all of these materials can be fire resistant or fireproof, thereby creating a firebreak in the barrier, which can prevent the fire from spreading to the entire protective barrier and the rest of the building where the protective barrier has been deployed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This device relates to protective barriers that are typically installed beneath ceilings during construction work being performed on ceilings or roofs of buildings to protect areas below. A protective barrier can comprise sections connected by seams. Such protective barriers are typically made from flammable plastics, and therefore, can catch fire under certain circumstances. However, these seams or the entire protective barrier can be designed to be fire resistant or fireproof. Furthermore, one or more of the seams can be designed to create a firebreak in the protective barrier to prevent the fire from spreading if it catches on fire. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    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 being repaired. Such barriers are commonly constructed from polyethylene sheets or similar materials, which have proven to be durable, easy to work with, and inexpensive. However, these materials tend to be flammable, as mentioned above. Furthermore, some of the work that is performed in close proximity to such protective barriers can create sparks, flames or heat, which may be sufficient to ignite the barrier. A fire created by such an ignition could quickly spread to the entire protective barrier and to the building itself. 
         [0003]    A current method for addressing this problem is to only perform a portion of the work at a particular time. This minimizes the amount of polyethylene or similar flammable material required to be deployed at a given time, and therefore minimizes the potential damage from a spreading fire caused by the ignition of the protective barrier. However, working on only a fraction of a construction project at a time can be more expensive and is often not feasible. Even is this method is used, the entire protective barrier, though smaller, is still subject to becoming completely engulfed if any part of it catches fire. 
         [0004]    Another solution to this problem can involve the use of a fire resistant or fireproof material to construct the protective barrier. Unfortunately, nearly all of the potentially applicable, fire resistant or fireproof materials currently available are neither translucent nor inexpensive. In other words, these materials allow little or no light to be transmitted from a ceiling, where the lights are typically located, through the protective barrier to the floor, where the light is required and it would be cost prohibitive to construct the entire barrier from these materials. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a protective barrier that can perform its primary function of protecting people and property from falling dust and debris, and also has the ability to prevent the spread of fire, if the barrier happens to ignite. The barrier must also be capable of allowing light to be transmitted through it and should comprise less costly and readily available materials. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an aspect of the present device to provide a protective barrier which can protect people and property from falling dust and debris, and also has the ability to prevent the spread of fire, if the barrier happens to ignite. The barrier must also be capable of allowing for the transmission of light from the lights above the barrier to the area below the barrier and cannot be cost prohibitive. 
         [0007]    The above aspects can be obtained by a protective barrier for preventing dust and debris from passing through it, comprised of a fire resistant or fireproof material. 
         [0008]    The above aspects can also be obtained by a protective barrier, comprising a first section made of translucent or transparent material and a second section made of a translucent or transparent material and a seam comprising a fire resistant or fireproof material, the seam joining the first section and second section and completely separating and surrounding the first section and the second section. 
         [0009]    The above aspects can also be obtained by a method that comprises providing a planar sheet further comprising a fire resistant or fireproof material and elevating the planar sheet above a floor, wherein the planar sheet prevents dust or debris from reaching the floor. 
         [0010]    These together with other aspects and advantages which will become 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 
         [0011]    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: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier comprised of a fire resistant or fireproof material according to an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier comprising fire resistant or fireproof seams, according to an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective, cross-sectional drawing of a protective barrier installed beneath a ceiling; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, cross-sectional drawing of a protective barrier installed beneath a ceiling, wherein a portion of the protective barrier has caught fire; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective, cross-sectional drawing of a protective barrier installed beneath a ceiling, wherein a seam has created a firebreak, preventing the spread of the fire to the entire protective barrier. 
       
    
    
     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 fire resistant or fireproof material according to an embodiment. 
         [0020]    A protective barrier  100  can be comprised entirely of a fire resistant or fireproof polymer, which can prevent dust and debris from reaching a protected area. This protective barrier will not be subject to fire created by sparks, flames or heat as typical polymers used for this purpose would. The protective barrier  100  can be comprised of a polymer comprising polyimides, boron-containing polymers, antimony-containing polymers, flame retardants further comprising halogenated groups, hydrates, or phosphorus containing groups, Nomex® or any other suitable fire resistant or fireproof material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the protective barrier  100  can be comprised of a fire resistant or fireproof coating, such as an intumescent or any other suitable fire resistant or fireproof material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of a protective barrier  200  comprising fire resistant or fireproof seams  201 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0022]    A protective barrier  200  comprising fire resistant or fireproof seams  201  can be comprised of sections  202  of standard, low cost, translucent or transparent 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 fire resistant or fireproof materials. Such seams  201  can comprise strips of fire resistant or fireproof materials which can be connected to the edges of the sections  202  by stitchings, adhesives, glues, rivets, staples, or any other similar devices known to those with ordinary skill in the art (not pictured). The seams  201  can be comprised of a polymer comprising polyimides, boron-containing polymers, antimony-containing polymers, flame retardants further comprising halogenated groups, hydrates, or phosphorus containing groups, Nomex® or any other suitable fire resistant or fireproof material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the seams  201  can be comprised of a fire resistant or fireproof coating, such as an intumescent or any other suitable fire resistant or fireproof coating known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0023]    Seams  201  comprising these fire resistant or fireproof materials, can prevent the spread of fire from one section  202  to another effectively creating a firebreak and preventing a fire from spreading to the entire protective barrier  200 . This system would allow the use of standard polymers which are typically cheaper and more translucent than fire resistant or fireproof materials. In this way, the protective barrier  200  could allow an adequate amount of light to pass through it, but could also contain a fire consuming part of the protective barrier  200 . Note that the seams  201  completely surround each section of the protective barrier  200  so that a fire in the barrier  200  would be prevented from spreading by the seams  201 . Also note however, that it is not required that every section in the barrier be completely surrounded by a seam. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier  300  installed beneath a ceiling (not pictured). 
         [0025]    A protective barrier  300  comprising fire resistant or fireproof seams  301  can be comprised of sections  302  of standard, translucent or transparent 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 fire resistant or fireproof seams  301  made from materials, or treated with fire resistant or fireproof chemicals that prevent the spread of a fire  303 . These fire resistant or fireproof seams  301  can prevent a fire in a section  302  of the protective barrier  300  from spreading to other sections  302  of the barrier. 
         [0026]    The material(s) used for the seams in any of the embodiments described herein can cost more than the translucent or transparent material used in the sections  302 . Thus, by combining the seams and sections as described herein, a more cost effective protective barrier  300  can be produced. Furthermore, in addition to the square checkerboard pattern illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sections and seams can be formed and connected using other shapes as well, such as triangles, diamonds, polygons, arbitrary shapes, etc. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier  400  installed beneath a ceiling, wherein a portion of the protective barrier  400  has caught fire  410 . 
         [0028]    The protective barrier  400  can be located in close proximity to an ignition source, such as sparks, flames or heat (not pictured). The protective barrier  400  can comprise sections  402  of standard, translucent or transparent 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 flammable and can be connected by seams  401  made from fire resistant or fireproof materials, or any other material that will prevent the spread of fire  410  from one of the sections  402  to other sections  402  thus creating a firebreak. While the fire  410  may easily spread through a section  402  made from a flammable material, the fire&#39;s  410  spread is prevented when it comes into contact with the seams  401  made from fire resistant or fireproof materials. 
         [0029]    When no fire  410  is present, this protective barrier  400  can also prevent dust and debris from reaching the protected area located beneath it. The sections  402  can be transparent or translucent so that light is permitted to pass from the area above the barrier  400  to the area below. However, if one section  402  catches on fire  410 , the flames can be contained to the section  402  or sections that were originally ignited. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of a protective barrier  500  installed beneath a ceiling, wherein one or more seams  501  have successfully created a firebreak, preventing the spread of the fire to the entire protective barrier  500 . 
         [0031]    A section  502  of the protective barrier  500  can be made of a flammable material, which can be ignited by sparks, flames or other heat source used in close proximity to the section  502 . The flames can spread and burn all or part of section  502  until they reach one of the seams  501 . The seams  501  can be made from a fire resistant or fireproof material, which can act as a firebreak and prevent the flames from spreading to other sections  502  and continuing to burn the entire protective barrier  500 . The seams  501  can be approximately twelve inches wide or any other width that is sufficient to prevent the spread of fire from one section  502  to another. 
         [0032]    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.