Patent Publication Number: US-6334736-B1

Title: Flood barrier

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 08/902,860, filed Jul. 30, 1997, and entitled “Water Containment Device and Levee for Impeding a Flow of Water” (U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,661). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the present invention relates to barriers and, in particular, the present invention relates to apparatus for impeding fluids, primarily water as may be experienced in a flood. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems have existed for many years relating to an effective use of barriers for impeding flood waters. Typically, sandbags have been placed end to end to form a horizontal barrier and stacked one upon another to form a levee to impede the flow of water. The use of sandbags for this purpose has many disadvantages, because use of the sandbags requires transportation of a large quantity of sand for filling the bags, a great number of people to fill the sandbags, a long period of time to fill the sandbags, and environmental disposal of the sandbags, after the flow of water has subsided, as a result of oil, fuel, and other toxic chemicals that may have seeped into the sandbags. 
     The present invention eliminates the above difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art by providing a barrier and to a levee system made of a plurality of the barriers, with each barrier including a fluid-fillable body made of a non-rigid sheet material, a plurality of planar support members within the body for maintaining a desired shape of the barrier, and a port for introducing fluid into the barrier. 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to a barrier and a levee system made of a plurality of the barriers, wherein each barrier includes a body portion made of a non-rigid sheet material and having a first end, a second end in opposed relation to the first end. 
     The body portion includes first side attached to the first and second ends. A first planar support member made of a substantially rigid sheet material and having a width substantially equal to the width of the first side is attached to an interior surface of the first side for substantially maintaining the form of the first side. 
     A second side of the body portion is attached to the first and second ends and the first side, and a second planar structural support member made of a substantially rigid sheet material and having a width substantially equal to the width of the second side, is attached to an interior surface of the second side for maintaining the form of the second side; and a base is attached to the first and second ends and the first and second sides. The first and second ends and the first, second, and the base define the body portion, and a port is provided in fluid communication with an interior chamber of the body portion for introducing liquid into the interior chamber of the body portion. 
     A further aspect of the invention relates to a barrier and a levee system made of a plurality of the barriers, wherein each barrier includes a fluid-fillable body made of a plurality of portions of a non-rigid sheet material secured to a pair of planar support members, and a port for introducing fluid into the body. 
     A still further aspect of the invention relates to a barrier and a levee system made of a plurality of the barriers, wherein each barrier includes first and second planar support members made of a substantially rigid material and a plurality of a non-rigid sheet material portions attached to portions of the planar support members to define a continuous, fluid impervious enclosure. The non-rigid sheet material portions include first and second end portions, a bottom portion and an upper portion. At least one port is provided in fluid communication with the enclosure for introducing fluid into the enclosure. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an apparatus for impeding a flow of water of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1C is an end view of the apparatus of the present invention in a folded position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a levee of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the levee of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the levee of the present invention showing a dual fill and purge position points along the levee. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the levee of the present invention showing a corner construction. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the levee of the present invention formed in a ninety degree angle. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a barrier in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end view of the barrier of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is an end view showing a pair of supports for use in the barrier of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a close-up view of a portion of the supports of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a support member. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a barrier in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the barrier of FIG.  12 . 
     FIGS. 14 a - 14   c  shows steps in the manufacture of the barrier of FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1A-6 
     Commencing with FIG. 1A, a barrier apparatus  10  is shown for impeding a flow of water. The apparatus  10  includes a body portion  12  that is elongated, and is preferably triangular in shape and forms an isosceles triangle. The body portion  12  is substantially hollow and includes an interior space for receiving a liquid substance therein that adds weight and stability to the apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  includes a first end  14   a  and a second end  14   b , which are attached to the body portion  12 , and axially opposed. The apparatus  10  further includes a base  42   c  to which is attached a first side  42   a  and a second side  42   b . Preferably, the first side  42   a  and second side  42   b  each project at a 60° angle from the base  42   c  thereby forming the isosceles triangle. 
     At least one valve is disposed in the first end  14   a  for introducing a liquid substance into the body portion  12 . In preference, however, two valves are disposed in the first end  14   a  that comprise a fill valve  18  and a bleed valve  16 . The fill and bleed valves  18  and  16 , can be flush with the first end  14   a  but preferably protrude outward from the first end  14   a  for easy access. The bleed valve  16  is for releasing air contained within the substantially hollow body portion  12  while the liquid substance is being introduced therein via the fill valve  18 . The apparatus  10  further includes a first flange  22   a  that is disposed around and attached to the first end  14   a . The first flange  22   a  protrudes outward from the first end  14   a  a distance greater than the fill and bleed valves  18  and  16 . Similarly, a second flange  22   b  is disposed around and attached to the second end  14   b  of the body portion  12 . Preferably, the first and second flanges  22   a  and  22   b  are integrally formed with the body portion  12 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by placing two apparatuses in axial alignment such that the first flanges  22   a  of each of the apparatuses  10  abut, dual fill and purge position points  34  and  36  are created such that an operator may simultaneously fill and purge two of the apparatuses  10  at a singular position. This will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1B, the apparatus  10  further includes a first support  24   a  attached to the first side  42   a  on the interior space of the body portion  12  for maintaining form of the first side  42   a  and for impeding the first side  42   a  of the body portion  12  from collapsing under weight of another apparatus stacked thereon. The apparatus  10  also includes a second support  24   b  that is attached to the second side  42   b  on the interior space of the body portion  12  for maintaining form of the second side  42   b  and for impeding the second side  42   b  from collapsing under weight stacked thereon. The first and second supports  24   a  and  24   b  also serve as baffles to quell movement of the liquid substance within the interior space of the body portion  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1C, the body portion  12  is collapsible for storage. To collapse the body portion  12 , the base  42   c  is deformed into the interior space of the body portion  12  between the first and second sides  42   a  and  42   b . The apparatus  10  may then be easily stacked for transportation and storage. 
     Preferably, the body portion  12 , the fill and bleed valves  18  and  16 , the first and second ends  14   a  and  14   b , the flap  20 , and the first and second flanges  22   a  and  22   b , are formed from a non-porous, liquid repelling material such that any toxins or environmentally unsafe contaminants contained within the flow of water do not penetrate the apparatus  10 . Therefore, the apparatus  10  may be reused and will not need to be disposed of in an environmentally safe fashion. Also preferably, the non-porous, liquid repelling material is comprised of Poly-Vinyl Chloride (“PVC”). 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a levee  30  for impeding the flow of water is shown and which comprises a plurality of apparatuses  10 , each having the designs and functions stated above. The levee  30  includes a first level  44 , a second level  46 , and a third level  48  that each has at least one or a first apparatus  10  that includes a body portion  12  with a first end  14   a , a second end  14   b , a base  42   c  , and a first side  42   a  and a second side  42   b  attached to the base  42   c  as described above. The first apparatus  10  also includes a flap  20  attached to the body portion  12  and extending outward therefrom. The flap  20  can receive another apparatus thereon and thereby prevent movement of the first apparatus  10 . The first level  44 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a body portion  12  of the second apparatus  10   b  has a first end  14   a , a second end  14   b , a base  42   c , a first side  42   a  and a second side  42   b  attached to the base  42   c , and a flap  20  attached to the body portion  12  and extending outwardly therefrom. The flap  20  is for receiving another apparatus  10  thereon and impeding movement of the second apparatus  10   b . The first level  44  further includes a third apparatus  10   c  disposed between the first and second apparatuses  10   a  and  10   b  such that a first side of the third apparatus  10   c  is abutting the first side  42   a  of the second apparatus  10   b . Moreover, a second side of the third apparatus  10   c  is abutting the second side  42   b  of the first apparatus  10   a  such that the base  42   c  of the second apparatus  10   b  is at least partially disposed on the flap  20  of the first apparatus  10   a . When this occurs, and the second apparatus  10   b  is filled with the liquid substance via fill valve  18 , the first apparatus  10   a  will be secured in place via weight of the second apparatus  10   b  being applied to the flap  20 . Also, in construction of the first level  44  of the present invention, the flap  20  of the third apparatus  10   c  is overlain at least part of the first side  42   a  of the first apparatus  10   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 3, if the flow of water  32  rises above the first level  44 , or to a level greater than the entire levee  30 , the flow of water  32  will be diverted away from flowing between the first side  42   a  of the third apparatus  10   c  and the second side  42   b  of the first apparatus  10   a  thereby keeping the levee  30  in tact. The levee  30  further includes a second level  46  that includes a fourth apparatus  10  having a body portion  12  with a first end  14   a , a second end  14   b , a base  42   c  and a first side  42   a  and a second side  42   b  attached to the base  42   c . The base of the fourth apparatus is disposed on the base  42   c  of the third apparatus  10   c . It is understood, however, that only a singularly row of apparatuses need be used to form the levee  30  of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, dual fill and purge position points  34  and  36  are provided along the levee  30  so that an operator can simultaneously fill and bleed two of the apparatuses  10  from a singular position and from any level of the levee  30 . To accomplish this task, the apparatuses  10  must be axially aligned such that the first ends of two apparatuses are placed adjacent to each other so that the fill and bleed valves  18  and  16  can be accessed simultaneously for the two apparatuses. All of the apparatuses  10  used in the levee  30  are preferably constructed of a non-porous liquid repelling material. Preferably, the liquid repelling material is comprised of PVC, and the entire levee is therefore constructed of liquid repelling material because the individual apparatuses are all comprised of the liquid repelling material. Also, any two apparatuses  10  contained in any level of the levee  30  can be filled simultaneously if the apparatuses are placed such that the first end of each apparatus are adjacent. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby a 90° corner is formed in the levee  30 . To form the corner, two levees of equal height each having a plurality of apparatuses  10 , preferably having first and second sides  42   a  and  42   b  extending at 60° angles from the base  42   c , are placed perpendicular. A gap will be created between the two perpendicular levees such that the gap is equal in height to the upper most level of the two levees and has two sides extending at 30° angles. To fill the gap, a plurality of wedge shaped devices  38  are provided, each having an elongated triangular shaped body portion  40  with one angle being at a 90° or right angle. Similar to the apparatuses  10  making up the perpendicular levees, the wedge shaped apparatuses  38 , which fill the gap therebetween have fill and bleed valves  18  and  16  for filling the wedge shaped devices  38  with a liquid substance while bleeding air from the body portion  40 . 
     FIGS. 7-11 
     With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a barrier  100  in accordance with the invention. The barrier  100  includes a body portion  102  made of a non-rigid sheet material and having a first end  104 , a second end  106  in opposed relation to the first end, a first side  108  attached to the first and second ends, a second side  110  attached to the first and second ends and the first side, and a bottom  112  attached to the first and second sides  108 ,  110  and the first and second ends  104 ,  106 . The barrier  100  is preferably triangular in cross-section but may have other geometric configurations, such as trapezoidal, with all sides except the ends and bottom preferably having a planar support member therewith. 
     With additional reference to FIGS. 8-11, a first planar support member  114  made of a substantially rigid sheet material and having a width substantially equal to the width of the first side  108  is attached to an interior surface  116  of the first side  108  for maintaining the form of the first side  108 . A second planar structural support member  118  made of a substantially rigid sheet material and having a width substantially equal to the width of the second side  110  is attached to an interior surface  120  of the second side  110  for maintaining the form of the second side  110 . The support members  114  and  118  preferably each have a length L and a width W substantially corresponding to the length and width of the sides  108  and  110 , with one support member being utilized for each side. Alternatively, the support members  114 ,  118  may have a length that is substantially less than the length of the side with which they are used, with a plurality of support members being utilized in a number sufficient to substantially span the width of the side of the body portion  102 . 
     The support members  114  and  118  are preferably made of a substantially rigid plastic sheet materials such as polyvinyl chloride having a thickness of from about 0.05 to about 0.25 inches. The support members  114  and  118  may be attached to the surfaces  116  and  120  as by adhesive or heat sealing. 
     A port  122  is provided in fluid communication with an interior chamber  124  of the body portion  102  for introducing fluid, such as water, into the interior chamber  124  of the body portion  102 . The port  122  preferably includes a removable cap for selectively sealing the port  122 . The port  122  can be used for both introducing and removing fluid from the chamber  124 , however, it is preferred that the port  122  have an internal one-way valve to only allow fluid to enter the chamber  124  and that a separate port  126  be provided, preferably at an opposite end of the chamber  124 , for draining fluid from the chamber. In this regard, the port  122  is preferably adjacent the juncture of the first and second sides  108 ,  110 , and the port  126  adjacent the juncture of the side  108  and the bottom  112 . 
     A flap  128 , similar to the flap  20  previously described in connection with FIGS. 1-6, preferably extends from the bottom  112 . The flap  128  is preferably attached as by heat sealing a length portion of the flap  128  to the bottom  112 . In this regard, it will be appreciated that the components of the body portion  102  are preferably made of a substantially water impervious and flexible material such as plastic sheeting, preferably reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The juncture of each component of the body portion  102  is preferably substantially water-tight and provided by overlapping the joined components and heat sealing them along the region of overlap so that the heat seal is substantially continuous and the fused material provides a fluid impervious seal between the joined components. 
     With further reference now to FIGS. 9-11, each support member  114  and  118  is preferably of one-piece construction and includes a substantially flat portion  130  having an inner surface  132  opposite an outer surface  134 , with the outer surface  134  being the surface that is attached to the inner surface  116  of the body portion  102 . In addition to the flat portion  130 , each member  114  or  118  preferably includes a lower end  138  that is curved away from the surface  132  to provide a leg portion  140  that extends along the length of the support member and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface  132 . In addition, end portions  142  and  144  preferably extend perpendicularly away form the surface  132  adjacent the ends of the flat portion  130 . Apertures  146  and  148  extend through the end portions  142  and  144 , respectively, adjacent the ends thereof opposite the leg portion  140  for receiving fasteners  150  to hindgedly connect a pair of the members  114 ,  118  together, as best seen in FIG.  10 . For example, the members  114  and  118  are placed with the inner surfaces  132  generally facing one another and the apertures  148 ,  146  of each aligned. The fastener  150 , such as a cotter pin, is placed through each pair of aligned apertures to connect the members  114  and  118  together. The hinge action enables the barrier  100  to be folded in the manner previously described in connection with the barrier  10  of FIGS. 1-6. Likewise, a plurality of the barriers  100  may be stacked and otherwise arranged in the manner described for the barrier  10 . 
     FIGS. 12-14 c    
     With reference to FIGS,  12 - 14   c , there are shown perspective views of an alternate embodiment of a barrier  200  in accordance with the invention. The barrier  200  includes a pair of substantially rigid support members  202  and  204  hingedly connected together by fasteners, such as pins  206 . The barrier  200  is fillable, foldable and stackable in the manner previously described for the barrier  10 . 
     The support members  202  and  204  are preferably identical to the support members  114  and  118  previously described in connection with FIGS. 7-11. Accordingly, the support member  202  includes a substantially flat portion  206  having an inner surface  208  and an outer surface  210 , a leg portion  212  and an end portion  214  at each end thereof. Likewise, the support member  204  includes a substantially flat portion  216  having an inner surface  218  and an outer surface  220 , a leg portion  222  and an end portion  224  at each end thereof. A pair of ports  226  and  228  preferably extend through the flat portion  206  for introducing and removing fluid from the barrier  200 . 
     A substantially fluid impervious chamber  230  within the barrier  200  (shown via cutout C) is provided for receiving fluid, such as water, by surrounding the edges of the support members  204  and  206  with portions of a flexible material, such as PVC and attaching the edges of the flexible material to the support members  204  and  206 . For example, the barrier  200  preferably includes portions of flexible material such as an upper portion  240 , a bottom portion  242 , end portions  244  and  246 , and flap portion  248 . 
     FIGS. 14 a - 14   c  show a preferred method of assembling the barrier  200 . For example, as shown in FIG. 14 a , the bottom portion  242  is first secured, by adhesive or heat sealing, to the bottoms of the leg portions  212  and  222  of the support members  204  and  206 , then wrapped around the lowermost edges of the support members  204  and  206  and sealed thereto. The flap portion  248  may then be attached to the bottom portion  242 . Next, in FIG. 14 b , the end portions  244  and  246  are wrapped around the edges of the support members  204  and  206  (overlapping portions of the bottom portion  242 ) and sealed in place. Finally, the upper portion  240  is folded as shown and laid over the gap between the upper portion of the support members  204  and  206  and sealed in place. 
     While the invention has been described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.