Patent Publication Number: US-2022213708-A1

Title: Tube for preventing water from entering a basin

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/659,430, filed Oct. 21, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Basins need a temporary means for protecting them while not in use. Basins include swimming pools, fracking pools, above-ground tanks, in-ground tanks, and other means for containing relatively large quantities of fluids. When empty, basins can be subjected to various forms of damage, such as damage from debris, rain damage, flooding damage, and other natural disaster damage. Additionally, it is desirable to prevent humans and animals from accidentally falling into the basin when not in use. 
     Conventional methods, such as covers and liners, have a number of drawbacks. For example, conventional covers are often not strong enough to support the weight of an animal, such as a deer, or a child, or are otherwise made out of strong material that is expensive. Additionally, covers and liners offer little protection from flood damage or other natural disasters. A superior and more cost-efficient means of protecting basins is necessary. 
     SUMMARY 
     A containment tube designed to fit within the dimensions of the basin is filled with a filling fluid and sits within the otherwise empty basin. The containment tube is made of a flexible and water-tight material and has a valve for filling and a valve for draining. When not filled, the containment tube can be rolled up and stored conveniently. When filled with a filling fluid, such as water or air, the containment tube takes the shape of the basin and sits within the basin to prevent unwanted debris, animals, and other items or living beings from entering the basin or contaminating the containment fluid. The filled containment tube may also prevent damage to the basin. The filled containment tube fits snugly within the walls of the basin and re-distributes force evenly via hoop stress. In some embodiments, the containment tube has a zipper for ease of access to the interior of the tube for inspection or cleaning. Some embodiments include an exterior protective liner for protecting the containment tube from puncture. 
     The filled containment tube prevents objects from entering the basin. For example, the filled containment tube can support the weight of a small animal or child by re-distributing the weight throughout the tube, there preventing accidental injuries. Similarly, the containment tube protects the basin from damage by debris by inhibiting the debris from coming in contact with the basin, since the containment tube fills the interior of the basin. The containment tube also prevents unwanted fluid from filling and damaging the basin, such as flood damage or rain damage, because the unwanted fluid cannot enter water-tight containment tube nor can it seep through the contact between the water-tight containment tube and the walls of the basin. The containment tube can be manufactured to fit basins of different shapes and sizes in a relatively cost-effective manner. Additionally, the containment tube can be easily assembled and filled, and easily drained and put away for storage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  show a schematic of a process of manufacture of a top portion or a base portion of a containment tube in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  show a schematic of a process of manufacture of a side portion of the containment tube in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  show a schematic of a process of assembly of a containment tube, including the top portion, the base portion, and the side portion in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of a filled containment tube sitting within a basin in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process for assembling a containment tube in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Figures (FIG.) and the following description relate to preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without departing from the principles of the embodiments. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable, similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments for purposes of illustration only. 
     Overview 
     A containment tube is water-tight and does not have any open sides. The containment tube is configured to receive a filling fluid, such as any liquid substance, such as water, wet concrete, other fluid, or even an expanding and hardening foam (such as polyurethane foam) or gas in certain configurations, which may be pumped into the tube. The containment tube is constructed from a waterproof and flexible material, such as vinyl-coated polyester, polyvisqueen or other material that prevents intrusion of fluid through its surface. In an embodiment, the polyvisqueen is between 5-15 millimeters in thickness. In some embodiments, the polyvisqueen is reinforced, for example, with an embedded webbing material such as nylon strands (e.g., string). The edges between pieces of water-tight material can be sealed together by at a seam using glue, pressing, wedge welding, or another sealing method. 
     A basin is a concave structure with an enclosed bottom and sides for holding a fluid and an open top, such as, swimming pools, fracking pools, above-ground tanks, in-ground tanks, and other means for containing relatively large quantities of fluids. The basin has a cross-sectional area and shape for both the bottom of the basin and the top opening of the basin. Some basins may have the same cross-sectional area and shape from the bottom to the top opening, whereas other basins may have different shape or size cross-section at one end. The basin also has a depth, which is the distance from the top opening of the basin to the bottom of the basin. 
     Example Containment Tube Assembly and Structure 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  show a schematic of a process of manufacture of a top portion or a base portion of a containment tube. For simplicity, this section primarily refers to the portion as the top portion. The process of manufacture is used to construct the necessary base portion of the containment tube as well, as described in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a schematic of a sheet  100  of flexible, waterproof material. The sheet  100  has a length of  120  and a width of  130 , which are greater than or equal to the dimensions of the cross-section of the top opening of the basin (or the cross-section of the bottom of the basin, if in relation to the base portion). The sheet  100  may be assembled piecewise to be the desired dimensions by sealing seams  110  from multiple pieces of flexible, waterproof material. Piecewise assembly of the sheet  100  enables less material to be wasted, thereby keeping costs down, while maintaining the water-tight properties desired. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a schematic of a sheet of  100  overlaid with an outline of a top portion  140 . The size and shape of the top portion  140  is determined based on the cross-sectional area of the top opening of the basin. The top portion  140  is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the top opening of the basin. The top portion  140  has a size dimensions slightly less than the size dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the top opening of the basin, such that the top portion of the containment tube will fit within and span substantially all of the cross-sectional area of the top opening of the basin (see  FIG. 4  for an example). For example, the schematic of the top portion  140  depicted in  FIG. 1B  is circular in shape with a diameter  150 , and thereby is for a basin that has a cross-sectional top opening that is also circular in shape and has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter  150 . While the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 1C  show a circular top portion intended for a circular cross-sectional top opening, it should be noted that the top portion and corresponding cross-sectional top opening can be any shape, including but not limited to an oval, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, or a trapezoid. 
       FIG. 1C  shows a schematic of the top portion  140 . The top portion  140  depicted in  FIG. 1C  is the top portion  140  of  FIG. 1B  that has been cut out from the sheet  100 . The top portion  140  has the sealed seams  110  of the larger sheet  100  and is waterproof and flexible even with the sealed seams  110 . 
     Because the containment tube has both a top portion and a bottom portion, the above process of manufacture must either be performed to produce both portions. In some embodiments, the process of manufacture is repeated to produce a second portion. In one embodiment, the process of manufacture is repeated with different cross-sectional areas or shapes, if the basin requires such in order for the containment tube to fit snugly. For example, a basin may be a pool with sides that slope inwards towards the bottom of the pool. Accordingly, the top portion will be of a larger size than the base portion. In another embodiment, where the top portion and the base portion are the same shape and size, both portions can be manufactured simultaneously by layering two sheets of waterproof material for cutting. 
     In some embodiments, the top portion has a first valve for filling the containment tube with a fluid. Similarly, in some embodiments, the top portion has a second valve for draining the fluid contained within the containment tube. Example fluid filling or draining apparatuses to attach to the valves may include a pump or hose or pipe, which may be supplied with fluid by a pump or gravity, and in the case of gas, a pressurized canister or compressor. In some embodiments, the top or bottom portion has a zipper for inspecting or cleaning the inside of the containment tube. These features can be added to the top and/or bottom portion after the stage of assembly shown in  FIG. 1C . 
       FIGS. 2A-2B  show a schematic of a process of manufacture of a side portion  230  of the containment tube.  FIG. 2A  shows a schematic of a two-dimensional view of a sheet  200  to be constructed into the side portion  230 . The sheet  200  is a made of a waterproof, flexible material, such as those previously discussed in the overview section and in relation to  FIG. 1A . The sheet  200  has a height  210  and a width  220 . The height  210  and width  220  of the sheet  200  are determined dependent upon the dimensions of the basin. The height  210  is determined to be slightly less than or equal to the depth of the basin, such that when assembled, the containment tube fits within the basin. The length  220  is described in relation to  FIG. 2B . 
       FIG. 2B  shows a schematic of a three-dimensional construction of the sheet  200  into the side portion  230 . To form the side portion  230 , the sheet  200  is positioned such that the height-wise edges are overlapped and sealed  240 . Thereby, the length  220  of the sheet  200  must be long enough that the sheet  200  can create the seal  240  and fit substantially within the basin while making contact with the walls of the basin. In practice, the length  220  of the sheet  200  may be equal to or slightly longer than the perimeter (or largest perimeter) of the basin, depending on the width of the overlap formed for the seal. Alternately, the length  220  can be described as that, when sealed  240 , the perimeter of the side portion  230  is the same as the perimeter of the top portion and the bottom portion (or the greater of the two if the top portion and bottom portion have different perimeters). For example, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the side portion has the same diameter  150  as the top portion  140  of  FIGS. 1B-1C . 
     In some embodiments, side portion  230  may be assembled piecewise. That is, multiple pieces of flexible, waterproof material may be assembled piecewise with waterproof seams to achieve the desired height  210  and width  220  of the sheet  200 . In some embodiments, the piecewise assembly of the sheet  200  is similar to that of the sheet  100  of  FIGS. 1A-1C . Additionally, after the side portion  230  is assembled from the sheet  200 , the height of the side portion  230  can be increased by stacking a second assembled side portion  230  on top and attaching with a waterproof seam around the circumference of the two side portions  230 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  show a schematic of a process of assembly of a containment tube  320 , including the top portion  140   a,  the base portion  140   b,  and the side portion  230 . The top portion  140   a  and the bottom portion  140   b  refer to two physically distinct portions assembled by the process described in relation to  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
       FIG. 3A  shows an alignment  300  of the top portion  140   a,  the base portion  140   b,  and the side portion  230 . The top portion  140   a  is aligned above one opening of the side portion  230  and the bottom portion  140   b  is aligned below another opening of the side portion  230 , opposite the top portion  140   a.    
       FIG. 3B  shows the containment tube  320  constructed when the top portion  140   a  and the bottom portion  140   b  have been attached to the side portion  230 . The top portion  140   a  and the bottom portion  140   b  are attached to the edges of the side portion  230  by the seals  320  in accordance with the alignment  300  shown in  FIG. 3A . The seals  320  are water-tight. In some embodiments, the seals  320  are air-tight. The seals  320  may be formed by the methods as described in the overview. 
     In one embodiment, after assembly of the containment tube  320 , the containment tube  320  may be put through various tests prior to use in the basin. For example, the containment tube  320  may be filled with a filling fluid to check that the seals  320  are strong and not leaking. To test for water-tightness of the seals, the containment tube  320  is filled with water or another liquid. To test for air-tightness of the seals, the containment tube is filled with air or another gas. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of a filled containment tube  400  sitting within a basin  410 . The containment tube  400  may be the same or similar to the containment tube  320 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the basin  410  is an above-ground swimming pool with a circular cross-section top opening and bottom. The containment tube  400  has a circular top portion that fits within and spans substantially all of a cross-sectional top opening of the basin  410 . That is, the containment tube  400  sits within the basin  410  such that the side-portions of the containment tube  400  are in contact with the side walls of the basin  410 , and the top and bottom portions of the containment tube  400  are sealed to the side portion and may or may not be in direct contact with the walls of the basin  410 . Thereby, the seals between the side portion and the top portion enable the containment tube  400  to span the entirety of the opening of the basin  410  and prohibit any objects from entering the basin  410 . Hence, while the top portion itself may or may not span the entirety of the cross-sectional top opening of the basin  410 , the top portion spans substantially all of the top opening to enable sealing with the side portion and enable containment tube  400  to prohibit entrance of objects into the basin  410 . While the basin  410  and the containment tube  400  are both circular in cross-sectional shape in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the basin  410  and the containment tube  400  can take on other cross-sectional shapes, including but not limited to oval, triangular, square, rectangular, or trapezoidal. 
     The top portion of the containment tube  400  has a first valve  420  and a second valve  430 . The first valve  420  is configured for receiving a filling fluid. The second valve  430  is configured for draining the filling fluid. In some embodiments, the containment tube  400  may have only one valve which is configured to both receive and drain a filling fluid. In other embodiments the first valve  420  or the second valve  430  may be located elsewhere on the containment tube such as the side portion or the bottom portion. 
     In some embodiments there is a protective sleeve between the containment tube  400  and the basin  410 . The protective sleeve is a flexible material, such as nylon. The protective sleeve protects the containment tube  400  from puncture, wear, or other damage that may be caused by the interior of the basin  410 . The damage could be cause by sharp edges or imperfections in the walls or bottom of the basin  410 , or be debris that had fallen into the basin  410  prior to the insertion of the containment tube  400 . In one embodiment, the protective sleeve covers the side portion of the containment tube  400 . In another embodiment, the protective sleeve covers the bottom portion of the containment tube  400 . In another embodiment, the protective sleeve covers both the side portion and the bottom portion of the containment tube  400 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process  500  for creating a containment tube. A top portion is created  510  from a flexible and waterproof material, the top potion fits within a top opening of a basin. A bottom portion is created  520  from a flexible and waterproof material, the bottom potion fits within a bottom of the basin. A side portion is created  530  from a flexible and waterproof material. The top portion is sealed  540  to a first side of the side portion. The bottom portion is sealed  550  to a second side of the side portion, wherein the second side of the side portion is substantially opposite the first side of the side portion. Substantially opposite refers to the top portion and the bottom portion being opposite one another, though not necessarily parallel, and separated by the side portion. 
     Additional Considerations 
     Upon reading this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional designs through the disclosed principles of the embodiments. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.