Patent Publication Number: US-2004052584-A1

Title: Ballast system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] The present invention relates to ballast systems and, more particularly, to ballast systems for flood control barriers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved ballast system, particularly for flood barriers.  
       [0003] Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ballast system, comprising a flexible elongated member provided with a number of pockets or pouches adapted to hold a ballast material.  
       [0004] The elongated member can comprise a net structure.  
       [0005] Each pocket or pouch can be selectively opened and closed, for instance via co-operating Velcro™ strips. Typically, the pockets or pouches extend transversally of the elongated member.  
       [0006] The elongated member is adapted to be rolled up in a storage position and to be carried in the storage position.  
       [0007] The ballast system may comprise at least one attachment member for connecting the ballast system with at least one other similar ballast system. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ballast system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a storage and transport position thereof;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the ballast system of FIG. 1;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ballast system of the present invention, shown in a partly expanded position thereof and in the process of being filled with a ballast material;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ballast system of the present invention, shown as it is being unrolled to a ballast position thereof and being laid in position onto an article to be held thereby;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first, previously laid, ballast system in its ballast position that is being assembled to a second ballast system that is itself partly laid; and  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a top schematic view of the ballast system in its ballast position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0015] A ballast system S of the present invention provides a rapid, clean and re-usable method to apply a uniform weight, for instance on a ground surface and which will follow the unevenness thereof. The ballast system  1  takes the form, in its storage position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, of a roll  10  made up of a series of transversal pockets  12  each adapted to contain a ballast material. The ballast system S includes a strap  14  to retain it in its rolled attitude, and this strap  14  doubles as a handle to carry the roll  10 . By releasing the strap, the system S unrolls towards a ballast position thereof (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The weight of the system S is generally reasonable such that it can be carried by a user.  
     [0016] As seen in FIG. 3, each pocket  12  is detachably closed at one of its ends such that it can be filled up with the ballast material, for instance by way of a funnel  16 . The ballast material may be gravel, sand and other suitable materials. The end opening of each pocket  12  can be closed by folding over the edge  18  provided, for instance, with one half of a Velcro™ strip onto the other half of the Velcro™ strip provided at  20  in FIG. 3. The Velcro™ thus ensures that each pocket  12  is firmly closed. FIG. 4 shows the ballast system S being installed on a ground surface.  
     [0017] The ballast system S may be made of a suitable polyester which may take the form of a strong netting such as to allow water to seep into the pockets  12  with the ballast material being then obviously big enough such as to prevent it from escaping the pockets  12  through the netting. The netting also ensures that no significant air pockets are formed in the pockets  12  of the ballast system S.  
     [0018] The ballast system S is advantageous in that it is easy to manipulate, is relatively compact for storage, water drips therefrom rapidly, it is quick to dry, washable, it does not rust, it is not subject to mold, it is ecological, resistant, flexible, unbreakable and noiseless. It is noted that a plurality of ballast systems S can be attached one next to the other (i.e. in a collinear end-to-end relationship) by way of Velcro™ strips (see FIG. 5).  
     [0019] In FIG. 6, A shows the polyester netting sewn to form the plurality of pockets  12 ; B shows a female Velcro™ strip to assemble two ballast systems S; C is a female Velcro™ strip used to retain the ballast system S in the rolled up attitude of FIGS. 1 and 2; D is the actual handle part of the strap  14 ; and E is a male Velcro™ strip that can be used either to attach two ballast systems S together or to connect the strip C to keep the ballast system S rolled up.  
     [0020] Therefore, the present ballast system S is made of a flexible elongated member provided with a number of ballast material holding pockets or pouches. More particularly, the elongated member can comprise a net structure and each pocket can be selectively opened. Typically, the elongated member can be rolled up in a storage position and can be carried in this position. Finally, the ballast system S preferably can be connected with other similar ballast systems S.