Abstract:
A containment barrier is provided in a plurality of compartments, such as linearly arranged, with a supply of super absorbent polymer in each of the compartments. In a wetted configuration, the barrier can prevent the flow of fluid into a drainage, or even past a garage door. Compartments may be defined in an inner bag contained within an outer covering.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/174,518 filed May 1, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a containment barrier, and more preferably to a barrier adapted to be stored in a dry configuration, wetted for use, and then, preferably allowed to desorb to be re-stored in the dry configuration. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Sorb Sox™ sold at www.andax.com are a competitive product which has a compressive bandage type exterior containing textile products which absorb fluid to become a barrier, such as at a culvert, or drainage area proximate to a curb in a street. The product effectively forms a four, eight or twelve foot long 3″ diameter sausage which can be placed in an anticipated path of a spill. 
         [0004]    Sorb Sox™, once wet, must then often be treated as contaminated waste and placed in appropriately marked containers and sent to expensive bibbed landfills. 
         [0005]    An improvement of this prior art technology is believed to be necessary. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is a present object of the present invention to provide an improved containment barrier. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to a containment barrier which has a dry storage configuration and is capable of desorption in a timely manner for re-storage in the storage configuration. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a containment barrier having a plurality of compartments which may cooperate with a curb or other structure to divert fluid, at least temporarily, from entering the drains/culverts or other point of concern. 
         [0009]    In a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first fabric may be formed, preferably into a plurality of compartments by folding the fabric and then defining the compartments by sewing at desired locations. A second fabric may then encapsulate the first fabric with similar structural compartmentation once an appropriate desired amount of SAP is placed in the desired compartments. The first fabric is preferably a 100% cotton woven twill. The second fabric is preferably at least one of burlap and jute. Handles may be placed on the outer bag, for the ease of transportation. 
         [0010]    The containment barrier, once built, is preferably activated by pouring water onto or into it, and allowing it to take shape, preferably before being installed. The barrier can prevent, or at least retard contaminants from entering a culvert or other location of interest. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of inner fabric prior to being folded as shown in  FIG. 2  into an at least partially compartmentalized configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view showing the folding of the inner fabric; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the fabric shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is front plan view showing the compartmentalized nature of the inner bag prior to installation in an outer bag; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of an outer fabric prior to being sewn into compartmentalized sections about the inner bag; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is top perspective view showing the folding of the outer fabric; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view showing the compartmentalized nature of the outer bag with handles installed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows a top plan view of a drainage culvert of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention prior to installing the containment device of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown constructed in  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows a top plan view of the drainage culvert of  FIG. 8  with the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 7  installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIGS. 1-7  show construction of a containment barrier  10 . Barrier  10  may be constructed as shown and described herein. 
         [0022]    Inner bag  12  may be formed as shown in  FIG. 4  by starting with fabric  14  shown in  FIG. 1 . A 100×14 inch portion of fabric  14  may preferably be folded along fold  16  to provide folded fabric  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 . At specified intervals, seams A,B,C,D,E,F which may be provided perpendicularly or otherwise relative to fold  16 . Seams A,B,C,D,E,F may assist in defining chambers or compartments  20 , 22 , 24 , 26 , 28 . 
         [0023]    Tape  30  may be used over or along seams A,B,C,D,E,F as well as along edge  32  to assist in providing compartments  20 , 22 , 24 , 26 , 28 . In fact ¼ inch topstitched tape is utilized in the illustrated embodiment. Edges  32  and possibly  33  may be sewn together after a super absorbent polymer (SAP) is added to the openings  34 , 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 . In a preferred embodiment, about 24 grams or 26 milliliters of SAP with an absorption ratio of about 1/500 is added to compartment  20  and  28 . About 30 grams or 109 milliliters may be added to compartments  22 , 24 , 26 . A molecular weight greater than one for the SAP is helpful to keep the barrier from floating. Other amounts, and other numbers of compartments and sizes could be utilized with other embodiments. After finishing the inner bag  12 , it may have a finished dimensions of about 6½×99½ inches. 
         [0024]    It is then time to preferably add outer casing  44  over inner bag  12 . First outer material  46  may be folded along fold  48 . The dimensions may preferably be slightly greater than that of inner bag material  14 . 17×101 has been found effective. When folded, particularly with a ¾ inch foldback, the inner bag fits particularly well inside the casing  44 . Twill tape may then be utilized along seams  50 ,  52 , 54 , 56 , 58 ,  60  perpendicular to fold  48 . Twill tape may also be utilized along edge  62 . Loop handles  64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 , 74  may be formed while employing the tape  76  and in at least one preferred embodiment, handles  66 , 68 , 70 , 72  are connected to the outer casing  44  and not sewn through inner bag  12  while handles  64 , 74  are sewn through both inner bag  12  and outer casing  44 . Other embodiments may have different constructions. 
         [0025]    Nine to ten stitches per inch, or more or less, may be employed. The thread may be 100% polyester TXT 70 or other appropriate thread. The fabric of the outer casing  46  may be burlap or jute, such as 9 oz. fabric. The inner bag may preferably be China twill, such as 108×56 with 32 mesh weave made of 100% cotton. Stitches for the inner bag may be 100% polyester TXT 70 or other material. 9-10 stitches or more or less may be employed. Other fabrics and stitching may be utilized with other embodiments. Twisting of the inner bag  12  within the outer casing  44  may be avoided. 
         [0026]    Once constructed, the containment barriers  10  have an air permeability greater than or equal to  28  and are preferably stored dry in a storage configuration until ready to be deployed. Barriers  10  are then wetted such as with water from a truck tank and allowed to absorb the water. They are then placed in position relative to a curb and draining such as curb  78  and drainage  80  whereby they form a barrier with the curb  78  preventing flow of fluid into the drainage  80 . 
         [0027]    Instead as water rises (presumably contaminated water) it is directed around the drainage  80  to elsewhere. As an improvement over prior art constructions, once the barrier  10  has been utilized, it can be re-used relatively easily. By having handles, the handles  64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 , 74  can be pulled under a garage door to assist in preventing flooding under a garage door. Contamination will be limited to exterior surfaces  82  of the barrier  10 . Exterior surfaces  82  may be rinsed off as the contamination should not become entrapped in the SAP since the SAP can be “pre-loaded” with water prior to installation. 
         [0028]    After rinsing off the contamination, the barriers may desorb the water over a period of days, such as about 10-14 days of 60% or less humidity. The dry barriers  10  can then be re-stored and ready for re-use at a later date. This cannot happen with prior art Sorb Sox™ as the contamination cannot be as easily removed. They are typically placed in appropriate containers and sent to special bibbed landfills at a large cost. Instead, the applicant&#39;s product can be re-used. Once exhausted, or if the user desires to exhaust the SAP, a high pH solution can be employed to break down remaining bonds in the SAP for termination of the life of the barrier  10 . 
         [0029]    Compartments such as compartments  22 , 24 , 26  have larger volume/mass of SAP ratio than compartments  20 , 28 . Compartments  20 , 28  help hold the barrier  10  against the curb  78  when installed. Less ballooned compartments  22 , 24 , 26  can help in some embodiments to seal against the surface of the road to prevent leakage into drainage  80 . 
         [0030]    Due to the dry storage nature of the applicants&#39; barrier  10  which are particularly compact and light until wetted, significant advantages can be experienced over the prior art Sorb Sox even during deployment, over and above the retrieval issues described above. 
         [0031]    Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0032]    Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is: