Abstract:
A flood control system including a substantially rigid exterior shell and a flexible bladder having one or more valves for introducing and removing a desired amount of fluid, the shell including opposite first and second rigid sides hingedly connected to one another to permit the shell to be positioned in a desired orientation exterior to and substantially overlying the flexible bladder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to devices for impeding flood waters. More particularly, this invention relates to portable flood control devices that can be integrated for impeding flood waters over a relatively large area. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Improvement is desired in the construction of portable flood control devices. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a flood control system having improved construction. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the flood control system of the invention includes a substantially rigid exterior shell and a flexible bladder having one or more valves for introducing and removing a desired amount of fluid. The shell includes opposite first and second rigid sides hingedly connected to one another to permit the shell to be positioned in a desired orientation exterior to and substantially overlying the flexible bladder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features of preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale, wherein like reference numbers, indicate like elements through the several views, and wherein, 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flood control system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the flood control system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows exterior surfaces of a shell component of the flood control system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 shows interior surfaces of the shell of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a lower edge of the shell of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bladder of the flood control system of FIG. 1 in a filled state. 
     FIG. 7 shows the bladder of FIG. 6 in an unfilled state. 
     FIG. 8 shows an overlapping shell section for use with adjacent systems. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention relates to a flood control system  10  having as major components a substantially rigid exterior shell  12  which overlies a flexible bladder  14  configured for retaining a desired amount of a fluid, preferably a liquids such as water. The system  10  may be of any desired length and height, however, for the purpose of example the system has a length of about 6 feet and an erected height of about 2 feet. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the shell  12  is preferably of one-piece blow-molded plastic construction configured to have opposite rigid sides  16  and  18  hingedly connected to one another by a living hinge  20  that substantially bisects the shell  12 . The hinge  20  permits a range of motion such that the shell  12  may be oriented in a triangular orientation as seen in FIG. 1 during use. The range of motion also permits the shell  12  to be laid flat as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 or folded so that the sides  16  and  18  abut to provide a compact configuration for storage and transportation purposes. 
     The side  16  has exterior surface  22 , opposite interior surface  24 , opposite side edges  26  and  28 , lower edge  30  and upper edge  32  that connects to the hinge  20 . A pair of fill apertures  34  and  36  extend between the surfaces  22  and  24  adjacent the upper edge  32 . The side  16  preferably includes as molded features a plurality of handholds  38  defined on the exterior surface  22  to facilitate lifting of the shell  12  by a user. 
     To enhance the rigidity of the side  16 , a plurality of ribs  40  (FIG. 4) preferably extend across the width of the side  16 . Also, with reference to FIG. 5, apertures  42  may be provided at spaced apart intervals of the lower edge  30  for receiving conduit, such as aluminum conduit  44  for enhanced rigidity. The conduits  44  may also extend outside of the apertures  42  for engaging the ground surface upon which the shell  12  is placed. 
     The side  18  includes exterior surface  52 , opposite interior surface  54 , opposite side edges  56  and  58 , lower edge  60  and upper edge  62  that connects to the hinge  20 . A pair of drain apertures  64  and  66  extend between the surfaces  52  and  54  adjacent the lower edge  60 . The side  18  also preferably includes as molded features handholds  68  and ribs  70  corresponding to the handholds  38  and ribs  40 . The side  18  may also include apertures and conduits corresponding to the previously described apertures  42  and conduits  44 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the bladder  14  is elongated and preferably triangular in shape and forms an isosceles triangle when inflated as by filling with fluid. In this regard, the bladder  14  preferably includes bottom  72 , sides  74  and  76 , and opposite ends  78  and  80 . The bladder  14  is preferably made of a flexible plastic sheet material such as polyvinyl chloride, with fluid tight seams formed as by welds at the joints between the bottom, sides, and ends so that the interior of the bladder  14  defines a cavity for receiving and retaining fluid. The bladder  14  is preferably sized so that it fits under the erected shell  12 . As described below, the bladder  14  preferably has a length slightly greater than the length of the shell  12 . 
     The side  76  preferably includes a pair of fill valves  82  and  84  located adjacent opposite ends thereof and closely adjacent the junction of the side  78 . The fill valves  82  and  84  may be apertures with sealable caps and are preferably located to correspond to the locations of the fill apertures  34  and  36  of the shell  12  to permit introduction of fluid into the bladder  14 . Returning to FIG. 3, the apertures  34  and  36  each preferably include as co-molded topographical features an elongate recess  86  that spans the aperture, slots  88  adjacent each side of the aperture, and strap securement devices  90 , such as strips of hook or loop material secured to the recess as by adhesive. 
     The recess  86 , slots  88 , and securement devices  90  of each fill aperture of the shell  12  cooperate with straps  92  having loop or hook material on the ends thereof and associated with each of the fill valves  82  and  84  of the bladder  14  to releasably secure the valves  82  and  84  relative to the apertures  34  and  36 . For example, the valve  82  is positioned to extend through the aperture  32 , with the straps  92  thereof extending through the slots  88 . The hook/loop material at the ends of the straps  92  are then secured to the loop/hook material of the securement devices  90 . 
     The bladder  14  preferably includes a pair of drain valves  94  and  96  located adjacent opposite ends thereof and closely adjacent the junction of the bottom  72 . The drain valves  94  and  96  may be apertures with sealable caps and are preferably located to correspond to the locations of the drain apertures  64  and  66  of the shell  12  to permit release of fluid from the bladder  14 . In this regard, the drain valves  94  and  96  and the drain apertures  64  and  66  are preferably substantially similar in construction to the fill valves  82  and  84  and the fill apertures  34  and  36  and cooperate in a similar manner to releasably secure the valves  64  and  66  relative to the apertures  34  and  36 . The drain and fill valves are preferably located at each end to facilitate filling/draining of the system even if the system is used on sloping ground. 
     Each system  10  may be used to impede flood waters alone or in combination with multiple other of the systems  10 . For example, a plurality of the systems  10  may be placed end-to-end. In this regard, it is noted that the length of the bladder  12  is preferably slightly longer than the length of the shell  12  so that the bladder extends outwardly from each end of the shell  12 . For example, for a shell  12  having a length of about 65 inches, the bladder  14  preferably has a length of about 70 inches. This excess length of the bladder enables the bladders of adjacent systems to bear against one another to substantially seal the interface against passage of flood waters. This arrangement also enables the systems to be angularly oriented relative to one another without compromising their ability to impede flood waters. If desired, a shell section  100  (FIG. 8) corresponding to the shell  12  but having a length slightly greater than the length of the exposed bladder portions of the abutting bladders and a height slightly greater than the shell  12  (so as to overly the adjacent shells  12 ) may be positioned to overly the exposed portions of the abutting bladders to protect them from damage such as puncture and for aesthetics. Thus, the shell section  100  is preferably identical to the shell  12  and includes a pair of hingedly connected sides, but does not include apertures for valves and is shorter but wider to have a greater erected height so as to overlie the adjacent shells  12 . 
     The systems  10  may also be stacked, placed side to side, and otherwise arranged to provide a flood impeding barrier to fit a variety of flood situations. For example, the overall height of the barrier provided may be increased by placing two of the systems  10  side-by-side, with one of the systems  10  (or just the bladder  14  thereof) inverted between them. A further system  10  may then be stacked on top of the middle system or bladder to increase the barrier height. 
     The foregoing description of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for purposes of illustration only, and it is understood that numerous modifications or alterations may be made in and to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.