Abstract:
An inside stay berm unit incorporates a plurality of inside stays each stay connected to the interior of the berm unit by a plurality of stay securement tapes. Each respective stay is a respective closed ring after the stay is threaded through and retained within at least one respective wing aperture in at least one floor stay securement tape and at least one wing aperture in at least one sidewall stay securement tape and through at least one wing loop aperture in a sidewall top edge stay securement tape and closed by a closure means. The invention allows easy removal and replacement of any damaged stays.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    In modern society, efforts are ongoing to prevent or lessen environmental impacts resulting from leaking of petroleum products and other chemicals into the environment. Efforts are made by petroleum industry workers, chemical industry workers, transportation industry workers, military personnel, governmental workers, and other workers involved in liquid and chemical containment to guard against environmental contamination resulting from undesired release into the environment of various liquids and chemicals. Various portable spill prevention capture and control berm units and systems have been developed as tools in the ongoing efforts by society to contain liquids and other flowable materials. Many spill prevention capture and control berm units are constructed from petroleum and chemically resistant flexible coated fabrics including polyester yarn fabrics coated with polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride or other suitable coating material and many of these spill prevention capture and control berm units have flexible sidewalls held in an erect condition by sidewall stays. 
         [0002]    An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and easily deployable (erectable) berm unit having a plurality of novel easily replaceable cooperating inside stays and a plurality of stay securement tapes that is more convenient and easier to use than prior art berm units. 
         [0003]    Another object of the invention is to provide a undeployed, compactly folded berm unit that can be quickly retrieved from a convenient storage location by a user or retrieved from within a motor vehicle by an operator of the motor vehicle and deployed (erected) quickly to capture or control spilling or leaking of materials at the location or from the motor vehicle. 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a novel inside stay berm unit incorporating a plurality of novel inside stays each stay connected to the interior of the berm unit by a plurality of stay securement tapes. Each respective stay is a respective closed ring after the stay is threaded through and retained within at least one respective wing aperture in at least one floor stay securement tape and at least one wing aperture in at least one sidewall stay securement tape and through at least one wing loop aperture in a sidewall top edge stay securement tape and closed by a closure means. The invention allows easy removal and replacement of any damaged stays. 
         [0005]    Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of inside stays that can be selectively and quickly shifted between a collapsed condition and an erect condition. 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to a novel inside stay and inside stay berm unit that improves the utility of a portable berm unit used to contain liquids and chemicals and that helps protect against release of the liquids and chemicals into the environment. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A principal objective of this invention is to help a person who uses a flexible portable inside stay berm unit to place more easily the berm unit in a deployed (erected) condition; selectively to maintain the unit in the deployed condition; selectively to let down a sidewall or portion of the sidewall of the berm unit; and to selectively reestablish the deployed condition. The invention is a novel inside stay berm unit using a plurality of stays attached to a plurality of stay securement tapes and thus helps lessen the likelihood of environmental contamination by liquids and chemicals contained within the control berm unit. 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when open before being incorporated into a berm unit, each stay  10  has a generally long and flat shape. Each stay is preferably made from flexible coated fabric layers joined around three generally rod shaped reinforcing members with at least one of the reinforcing members (a sidewall leg reinforcing member  56 ) being generally rigid. 
         [0009]    Referring to  FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c , the propping leg reinforcing member  52  preferably is a semi-rigid natural rubber rod with a Shore A hardness of 60 to 90 that in other embodiments of the stay could be generally rigid or could be a two-piece member  152  or a three-piece member  252 . The two-piece member  152  comprises a propping leg reinforcing member proximal portion  154  located away from a base leg portion  30  and a propping leg reinforcing member distal portion  156  nearer said base leg portion. The three-piece member  252  comprises a propping leg reinforcing member alternate proximal portion  254  located away from a base leg portion  30 , adjacent a propping leg reinforcing member intermediate portion  256 , adjacent a propping leg reinforcing member alternate distal portion  258  nearer said base leg portion. Preferably, the proximal portions  154  and  254  and the alternate distal portion  258  are generally rigid and the intermediate portion  256  and the distal portion  156  are semi-rigid. 
         [0010]    The stay, when folded together end to end and then closed by a closure means, forms a closed triangular ring. When incorporated into a berm unit, the stay is removably and securely attached to and between an inside sidewall and an inside portion of a floor of the berm unit. 
         [0011]    The stays and securement tapes may be sized in a range of sizes to accommodate the various sizes and dimensions of berm units having various sizes and dimensions in use in our society. 
         [0012]    The berm unit wall and floor blanks and stay securement tapes are preferably made from flexible coated fabric, sewn, glued, welded together, or otherwise joined and when erected by a plurality of stays form an open-topped container. In an alternative embodiment, the blanks may also be made from flexible polyethylene sheet material or some other suitable flexible impervious material. 
         [0013]    A further object of the invention is making available to users an inside stay berm unit that is durable, easy to use, easy to secure in position, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is easy to deploy and undeploy. 
         [0014]    Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inside stay berm unit  8 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inside stay  10  shown in  FIG. 1  having two female loops  38  attached to a sidewall leg  16  said female loops bracketing a male loop  24  attached to a propping leg  18 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   b  is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of an inside stay  210  having two female loops  38  attached to a propping leg  18 ′ said female loops bracketing a male loop  24  attached to a sidewall leg  16 ′; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   c  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an inside stay  310  having two female loops  38  attached to a sidewall leg  16  said female loops bracketing a male loop  24  attached to a propping leg  18  and showing the outer ends of the female loops sealed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2   d  is a partial perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an inside stay  410  having two female loops  38  attached to a propping leg  18 ′ said female loops bracketing a male loop  24  attached to a sidewall leg  16 ′ and showing the outer ends of the female loops sealed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a exploded top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the inside stay  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an alternative flat outer stay layer  18 ′; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the inside stay  10  shown in  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the inside stay  10  shown in  FIG. 2   a  after assembly using preferably RF welding techniques and before closing of the stay into a triangular closed ring by a closure pin  68  and a closing cap  74 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view of a preferred one piece propping leg reinforcing member  52 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view of a two-piece propping leg reinforcing member  152  having a reinforcing member proximal portion  154  adjacent, end to end to a reinforcing member distal member portion  156 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7   c  is a perspective view of a three-piece propping leg reinforcing member  252  having a reinforcing member proximal portion  254  adjacent, end to end to a reinforcing member intermediate member portion  256 , and said intermediate member portion adjacent, end to end to a reinforcing member distal portion  258 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective exploded view of a closure pin  68  having a closure pin end cap portion  70  and a closure pin receiving slot  72 ; and a cooperating closing cap  74  having a slot engaging probe  76 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the closure pin  68  joined and secured to the cooperating closing cap  74  by inserting said slot engaging probe  76  into said closure pin receiving slot  72 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10   a  is an exploded partial top plan view of the closure pin  68  and the closing cap  74  (the dashed lines represent horizontal engaging ledges of the receiving slot  72  that closely receive in a cooperating relationship the ledges of the engaging probe  76 ); 
           [0030]      FIG. 10   b  is an assembled partial top plan view of the closing pin  68  and the closing cap  74  joined coaxially together (the dashed lines represent horizontal engaging ledges of the receiving slot  72  that closely receive in a cooperating relationship the ledges of the engaging probe  76 ); 
           [0031]      FIG. 10   c  is an assembled partial side plan view of the closing pin  68  and the closing cap  74  joined coaxially together (showing the engaging ledges of the receiving slot  72  closely receiving in a cooperating relationship the ledges of the engaging probe  76 ); 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the inside stay  10  shown in  FIG. 2   a  closed into a triangular closed ring in an erect condition with a free tip  67  of the propping leg  12  showing within the closed ring and resting upon an inner surface of a base leg  14  away from a sidewall leg  16  of the inside stay; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the inside stay shown in  FIG. 11  in a transition folding condition between being in the erect condition and being in a collapsed condition; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the inside stay shown in  FIG. 11  in a collapsed condition; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the inside stay shown in  FIG. 11  being warped downward from the erect condition towards a collapsed condition and showing a bowing of the propping leg  12  in the direction of arrow A and the free tip  67  of the propping leg still retained within the closed ring; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the inside stay shown in  FIG. 14  showing the free tip of the propping leg having escaped outside the closed ring allowing folding of a sidewall leg  16  in the direction of arrow B down towards and alongside a base leg  14 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is a partially exploded top plan view of a flat inside stay berm unit  8  (stays not shown) showing a wall and floor blank  80 ; the floor blank comprising a central floor portion  82  surrounded by an encircling sidewall portion  84 ; the sidewall portion having a sidewall outer free edge; a plurality of floor stay securement tapes  110 ,  110 ′ distributed around and joined to the central floor portion spaced outward from the center of the floor portion towards the sidewall portion; a plurality of lower sidewall stay securement tapes  118 ,  118 ′ distributed along and joined to the sidewall portion spaced from the outer free edge; and a plurality of sidewall outer free edge stay securement tapes  126 , and  126 ′ distributed along, joined to, and proximal to the outer free edge; the stay securement tapes for receiving and retaining a plurality of inside stays (not shown); showing dashed line fold lines for forming the sidewalls and folded corner portions  86  of the sidewall; and showing a plurality of handle and hold-down anchor straps  136  with attaching hardware (rivets  98  and washers  100 ); 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  is a partial cross-sectional view along a line  17 - 17  shown in  FIG. 16  showing the physical relationship between three stay securement tapes and a portion of the sidewall and a portion of the floor; 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is a partial perspective view from above of an inside corner portion of the berm unit wall and floor blank  80  shown in  FIG. 16  assembled into an erect condition and showing a plurality of inside stays  10  received in and retained by a plurality of stay securement tapes  110 ,  110 ′,  118 ,  118 ′,  126 , and  126 ′ and showing the threading of an open stay through cooperating apertures  116 ,  124 , and  132  of respective tapes; showing the closure pin  68  and closing pin cap  74  poised for insertion into and retention in the loops  38  and  24  once the loops are interlaced to close the stay into a closed ring; and showing dashed fold lines marking a transition zone between the floor  82  and the sidewall  84 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  is a top plan view of a handle and hold-down stay strap  140  showing a stay strap anchor aperture  142  and two stay strap stay apertures  146 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  is a partial perspective view from above of a hold-down stay strap  140  laced onto and connected to a propping leg  12  of a stay  10 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  is a partial top view of a corner portion  86  of the berm unit wall and floor blank  80  shown in  FIG. 16  before folding into a formed corner and showing dashed fold lines; 
           [0043]      FIG. 22  is a partial perspective view from above of the corner portion shown in  FIG. 21  showing an initial fold step in the folding of the corner portion into a formed corner; 
           [0044]      FIG. 23  is a partial perspective view from above of the corner portion shown in  FIG. 22  showing a second fold step in the folding of the corner portion into a formed corner; 
           [0045]      FIG. 24  is a partial perspective view from above of a corner of portion shown in  FIG. 23  showing a third fold step in the folding of the corner portion into a formed corner and showing four fastener holes  96 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 25  is a partial perspective view from above of the corner portion shown in  FIG. 24  showing the formed corner before an additional folding together into a facing relationship of the upper portions of wedge portions  90 ,  92  and showing a flexible handle and hold-down anchor strap  136  overlaying for attachment between the wedge portions shown; 
           [0047]      FIG. 26  is a partial perspective view from above of the corner portion shown in  FIG. 25  showing the formed corner after the additional folding together into a facing relationship of the upper portions (anchor strap not shown); 
           [0048]      FIG. 27  is a partial perspective view from above and from the outside of the corner portion shown in  FIG. 26  showing the formed corner and showing the anchor strap sandwiched between and joined to adjacent and facing portions of the corner portion by joining means (pop rivets  98 ) in a manner well known in the art and showing the anchor strap partially folded outward and downward away from the interior of the berm unit; 
           [0049]      FIG. 28  is a partial perspective view from above and from the outside of the corner portion shown in  FIG. 27  showing the anchor strap pulled downward and outward away from the corner portion and folding over the spine of the corner; 
           [0050]      FIG. 29  is an exploded top plan view of an alternative berm unit and showing a flat rectangular berm unit wall and floor blank  280 , associated stay securement tapes  210 ,  210 ′,  218 ,  218 ′,  226 , and  226 ′, and showing dashed fold lines for forming the sidewalls and folded corners and showing a floor portion  282  surrounded by sidewall portions  284 ; and 
           [0051]      FIG. 30  is a top plan view of the alternative berm unit wall and floor blank  280  shown in  FIG. 29  showing fold lines for forming the sidewalls and folded corners and showing the bottom edges of the sidewall portions before folding is done and before insertion and retention of a plurality of inside stays and showing stay securement tapes joined to sidewall portions and stay securement tapes joined to the floor portion  282 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 31  is a top plan view showing a pattern for a CNC single ply fabric cutter for cutting tessellated stay securement tapes  110 ,  118 , and  126  along common lines with a minimum of waste material; and 
           [0053]      FIG. 32  is a top plan view showing a second pattern for a CNC single ply fabric cutter for cutting tessellated stay securement tapes along common lines with a minimum of waste material and showing an alternative sidewall outer free edge stay securement tape  326  with a plurality of spaced singular wing loop apertures  232  for use with the alternative stays  210  and  410  shown in  FIGS. 2   b  and  2   d.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]      FIGS. 1 ,  18 , and  20  show an inside stay berm unit  8  comprising a flexible berm unit wall and floor blank  80  having a floor portion  82 , the floor portion peripherally surrounded and connected to at least one sidewall portion  84 , a plurality of inside stays  10  with each respective stay secured between the floor portion and the sidewall portion by a plurality of stay securement tapes  110 ,  110 ′,  118 ,  118 ′,  126 , and  126 ′. The stay securement tapes are joined to the blank  80 ,  280  by joining means, preferably by hot air welding. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 32 , a motor vehicle operator, heavy equipment operator, or other user can possess for ready use a compactly folded, undeployed berm unit  8  conveniently stowed in a motor vehicle, a piece of heavy equipment, or a workplace. The berm unit  8  has a flexible blank  80 ,  280  having a floor portion  82 ,  282  and at least one sidewall portion  84 ,  284  that can be deployed (erected) by stays  10 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410  to contain and control a potential spill of a liquid or other flowing material. When deployed and erected, the berm unit  8  forms an open-topped container. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 2   a ,  3 ,  5 , and  6 , an inside stay  10  comprises a propping leg  12 , pivotally connected to a base leg  14 , and the base leg pivotally connected to a sidewall leg  16 . The inside stay  10  comprises a flat outer stay layer  18  having a male end portion  20  adjacent a propping leg portion  22  adjacent a base leg portion  30  adjacent a sidewall leg portion  32  adjacent a female end portion  34 ; said male end portion having a male loop  24 ; said female end portion having a loop forming window  36  located adjacent said sidewall leg portion  32  to form said female end portion into two female loops  38  sized to cooperate with said male loop  24 ; said propping leg portion  22  having a generally u-shaped propping leg portion slot  26  aligned along said propping leg portion  22  with the legs of said propping leg portion slot  26  aligned towards said male end portion  20  and the bottom of said propping leg portion slot  26  closer towards said base leg portion  30 ; said propping leg portion slot  26  defining an outer stay layer prop flap  28  between the legs of said propping leg portion slot  26  and defining an initial propping leg window  65 ; said propping leg portion  22  underlaying in facing opposing relationship a flat intermediate propping leg stay layer  40  and secured by a joining means to said propping leg stay layer  40 , said propping leg stay layer  40  having a prop flap portion  42  sized to overlay in facing opposing cooperating relationship said outer stay layer prop flap  28 ; said prop flap portion  42  having a propping leg registration window  44  centrally located; an intermediate stay layer  46  overlaying in facing opposing relationship and secured by said joining means to said sidewall leg portion  32 , said base leg portion  30 , and said propping leg portion  22 ; said intermediate stay layer  46  having an intermediate stay layer free edge  58  said free edge bridging across and blocking over the end of said initial propping leg window  65  away from said male end portion  20  defining a shorter final propping leg window  66 ; said intermediate stay layer  46  having a base leg registration window  48  centrally located over said base leg portion  30  and a sidewall leg registration window  50  centrally located over said sidewall leg portion  32 ; a one-piece propping leg reinforcing member  52  or a two-piece propping leg reinforcing member  152  or a three-piece propping leg reinforcing member  252  registered in said propping leg registration window  44  (see  FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c ); a base leg reinforcing member  54  registered in said base leg registration window  48 ; a sidewall leg reinforcing member  56  registered in said sidewall leg registration window  50 ; a flat inner stay layer  60  having an inner stay layer u-shaped slot  62  sized and located to overlay said propping leg portion slot  26  and defining an inner stay layer flap  64  between the legs of said inner stay layer u-shaped slot  62 , said inner stay layer  60  overlaying in facing opposing relationship said intermediate propping leg stay layer  40  and said intermediate stay layer  46  and overlaying said reinforcing members and secured by said joining means to said intermediate propping leg stay layer  40  and said intermediate stay layer  46 ; and a closure means for securing said male end portion to said female end portion. 
         [0057]    Preferably, the final propping leg window  66  is shorter in length than the joined outer stay layer prop flap  28 , the prop flap portion  42 , and the inner stay layer flap  64  that sandwich the propping leg reinforcing member  52 ,  152 ,  252  thereby restricting the sandwiched propping leg reinforcing member to a normal position within the closed ring of the stay as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  11  to  14 ; but will allow nondestructive resisted movement of the sandwiched propping leg reinforcing member through the final propping leg window under abnormal or excessive load. 
         [0058]    Joining means include radio frequency welding, heat fusing, hot air welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesive gluing, sewing, riveting, or another suitable method of joining known in the art. 
         [0059]    Preferably, the male end portion  20  has a male loop  24  formed by folding over and attaching the distal end of the male end portion to said propping leg portion  22  and the female end portion  34  has two spaced coaxial female loops  38  formed by folding over and attaching the distal end of the female end portion to said sidewall leg portion  32  said female loops defined by the parallel sides of the loop forming window  36 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8  to  10   c , preferably, the closure means for each stay comprises a closure pin  68  having a closure pin end cap portion  70  at one end and a closure pin receiving slot  72  at the other end with said closure pin inserted and retained in said male loop  24  and in said female loops  38  after said loops are interlaced coaxially with said male loop between said female loops and secured within said loops by a cooperating slot engaging probe  76  of a closing pin cap  74  engaging and being retained by said receiving slot. Preferably, the closure pin is made of a material with a shape memory such as POM that allows the probe to snap fit into the slot after temporary deformation of the slot by the entrance of the probe. 
         [0061]    Alternatively, the closure means for each stay may comprise a closing pin  78  for insertion and retention in said male loop  24  and in said female loops  38  after said loops are interlaced coaxially with said male loop between said female loops.  FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d  show the outer annular portions of the female loops  38  pinch sealed together in a manner understood in the art and thereby securing within the loops the closing pin  78 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 16  preferably an inside stay berm unit  8  comprises a plurality of stays  10  operatively connected to a flat wall and floor blank  80 ; said floor blank having a central floor portion  82  surrounded by an encircling sidewall portion  84 ; said sidewall portion having a sidewall outer free edge; a plurality of floor stay securement tapes  110 ,  110 ′ distributed around said central floor portion and spaced outward from the center of said floor portion towards said sidewall portion; each said floor stay tape  110 ,  110 ′ having a joined portion  112 ,  112 ′ attached to said floor portion by a joining means and each said floor stay tape having a plurality of floor tape wings  114 ; said floor tape wings each respectively having a floor tape wing aperture  116 ; a plurality of lower sidewall stay securement tapes  118 ,  118 ′ distributed along said sidewall portion and spaced from said outer free edge; each said sidewall stay tape  118 ,  118 ′ having a joined portion  120 ,  120 ′ attached to said sidewall portion by a joining means and each said sidewall stay tape having a plurality of sidewall tape wings  122 ; said sidewall tape wings each respectively having a sidewall tape wing aperture  124 ; and a plurality of sidewall outer free edge stay securement tapes  126 , and  126 ′ distributed along and proximal to said outer free edge; each said sidewall outer free edge stay tape  126 ,  126 ′ having a joined portion  128 ,  128 ′ attached to said sidewall portion by a joining means and each said sidewall outer free edge stay tape having a plurality of sidewall outer free edge tape wings  130 ; said sidewall outer free edge tape wings each respectively having a sidewall outer free edge tape wing aperture  132 ; said stay securement tapes sized for receiving and retaining a plurality of inside stays  10 . 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIGS. 16 ,  18 , and  21  to  28 , preferably the floor blank further comprises a plurality of square corner portions  86  of said sidewall portion; each respective corner portion having an inner corner closest to the center of the floor blank and each respective corner portion having a first wedge portion  88  having a vertex at said inner corner adjacent a second wedge portion  90  having a vertex at said inner corner adjacent a third wedge portion  92  having a vertex at said inner corner adjacent a fourth wedge portion  94 ; preferably said wedge portions each having a vertex angle at said inner corner of about 22.5 degrees; said first wedge portion folded up and over to partially overlay said second wedge portion in facing relationship leaving an uncovered second wedge portion; said fourth wedge portion folded up and over to partially overlay said third wedge portion in facing relationship leaving an uncovered third wedge portion; said uncovered second wedge portion and said uncovered third wedge portion first folded up and over to partially overlay and sandwich portions of said first wedge portion and said fourth wedge portion and second folded inwardly together in facing relationship and secured together by joining means such as rivets  98  and washers  100  in fastener holes  96 . A flexible handle and hold-down anchor strap  136  may attached between said second wedge portion facing said third wedge portion. Hold-down anchor strap  136  preferably has an anchor strap aperture  138 . 
         [0064]    Joining means include sewing, radio frequency welding, hot air welding, heat fusing, ultrasonic welding, gluing with an adhesive, or another suitable method of joining means known in the art. 
         [0065]    The male loop  24  and the cooperating female loops  38  in each stay are closed after incorporation into a berm unit by a closure means. The preferred closure means is a respective closure pin  68  inserted into the interlaced loops ( 38 ,  24 ,  38 ) of each stay connected to a closing cap  74 . 
         [0066]    Another closure means can be a respective closing pin  78  inserted into the interlaced loops ( 38 ,  24 ,  38 ) of each stay and the outer annular ends of the female loops being sealed by a joining means to retain the closing pin within the interlaced loops. 
         [0067]    Another closure means can be a flexible closing cable (not shown) substituted for the closure pin  68  to serially close a plurality of stays  10  to hold erect a sidewall  84  of a berm unit. The free ends of the closing cable can be secured one to another to make the assembled berm unit more secure by tying the free ends together or by using a lock mechanism known in the art to selectively lock the free ends together. The flexible closing cable can be a wire cable, a nylon rope, a plastic rope, or a length of cordage made from another suitable material. 
         [0068]    The blanks  80  and  280 ; stay securement tapes  110 ,  110 ′,  118 ,  118 ′,  126 , and  126 ′, and  326 ; the anchor strap  130 , and the hold-down stay strap  140  can be made from a suitable flexible material such as a coated fabric made of polyester yarn or other suitable yarn coated with a polyurethane coating, a polyvinyl chloride coating, or another coating material that will remain impervious to the transmission of contamination through the material or they can be made from polyethylene sheet material or other suitable sheet material. 
         [0069]    The anchor strap  130  and the hold-down stay strap  140  also can be made from a common nylon webbing, coated flexible fabric, or another suitable strap material. 
         [0070]    The propping leg reinforcing member  52 , the propping leg reinforcing member proximal portion  154 , the propping leg reinforcing member distal portion  156 , the propping leg reinforcing member alternative proximal portion  254 , the propping leg reinforcing member alternative intermediate portion  256 , the propping leg reinforcing member alternative distal portion  258 , and the base leg reinforcing member  54  preferably are each rod-shaped and selectively made from a generally rigid fiberglass, metal, wood, composite, or other suitable material, but may also be selectively made from a semi-rigid rubber compound having a Shore A hardness of 60 to 90 or from other similar materials with similar flexing and shape-memory properties. 
         [0071]    The sidewall leg reinforcing member  56  preferably is rod-shaped and made from a generally rigid fiberglass, metal, wood, plastic, ceramic, composite, or other suitable material, but may also be selectively made from a semi-rigid rubber compound having a Shore A hardness greater than 90. 
         [0072]    The closure pin  68 , the closing cap  74 , and the closing pin  78  preferably are made from acetal plastic commonly known as POM (polyoxymethylene) an engineering thermoplastic also known as polyacetal, but could also be made from a nylon material or other suitable material. 
         [0073]    The preceding description and exposition of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they fairly, legitimately and equitably are entitled.