Abstract:
A new breach filling device for plugging a hole in a structure, such as, for example, a boat. The inventive device includes a container having a plurality of reservoirs therein for holding components of a foaming material in the reservoirs. A flexible inflatable bladder has an interior space. A conduit system is for fluidly connecting the reservoirs of the container with the interior space of the inflatable bladder. The conduit system is designed to convey the components of the foaming material separately between the container and the inflatable bladder. The conduit system is designed to discharge the components into the interior space of the bladder such that mixing of the components occurs in the interior space and the foaming material forms a foamed material in the interior space for inflating the inflatable bladder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to hole plugging devices and more particularly pertains to a new breach filling device for plugging a hole in a structure, such as, for example, a boat. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of hole plugging devices is known in the prior art. One such type of device is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,870. While the device disclosed in that patent can be highly effective for closing and plugging holes, certain improvements have been desired for further simplifying the structure and function of the disclosed device. 
     The breach filling device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and improves upon my previously patented device, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of plugging a hole in a structure, such as, for example, a boat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of hole plugging devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new breach filling device construction wherein the same can be utilized for plugging a hole in a structure, such as, for example, a boat. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new breach filling device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the hole plugging devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new breach filling device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art hole plugging devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a container having a plurality of reservoirs therein for holding components of a foaming material in the reservoirs. A flexible inflatable bladder has an interior space. A conduit system is for fluidly connecting the reservoirs of the container with the interior space of the inflatable bladder. The conduit system is designed to convey the components of the foaming material separately between the container and the inflatable bladder. The conduit system is designed to discharge the components into the interior space of the bladder such that mixing of the components occurs in the interior space and the foaming material forms a foamed material in the interior space for inflating the inflatable bladder. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new breach filling device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the hole plugging devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new breach filling device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art hole plugging devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new breach filling device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new breach filling device which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new breach filling device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such breach filling device economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new breach filling device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new breach filling device for plugging a hole in a structure, such as, for example, a boat. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new breach filling device which includes a container having a plurality of reservoirs therein for holding components of a foaming material in the reservoirs. A flexible inflatable bladder has an interior space. A conduit system is for fluidly connecting the reservoirs of the container with the interior space of the inflatable bladder. The conduit system is designed to convey the components of the foaming material separately between the container and the inflatable bladder. The conduit system is designed to discharge the components into the interior space of the bladder such that mixing of the components occurs in the interior space and the foaming material forms a foamed material in the interior space for inflating the inflatable bladder. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new breach filling device that may be used to plug a breach in the hull of a boat from both inside and outside the boat. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new breach filling device that is portable so that it may be quickly and easily transported to the breach location. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a deflated bladder inflatable of a new breach filling device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the container of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention with the deflated inflatable bladder in use being inserted into a hole in a structure. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an inflated inflatable bladder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a detachable coupling of the conduit system of the present invention taken from the circle  5  on FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container of the present invention taken from line  6 — 6  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the inflatable bladder of the present invention with a portion broken away to reveal interior detail of the bladder. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the present invention in use plugging a hole in a structure. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new breach filling device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     In use, the breach filling device  10  is designed for providing a water-tight plug of a hole  2  in a structure  1  such as a breach in a hull or bulkhead of a boat. The breach filling device may be used from the interior side of the breach or from the water side of the breach to close the breach. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the breach filling device  10  generally comprises a container  11  having a plurality of reservoirs for holding a foaming material therein and a flexible inflatable bladder  20  having an interior space. The interior space of the inflatable bladder  20  is in fluid communication with the reservoir of the container  11  to permit passage of foaming material from the reservoirs of the container  11  into an interior space of the inflatable bladder  20 . The foaming material forms a foamed material in the interior space of the inflatable bladder  20  such that the foamed material inflates the inflatable bladder  20 . 
     In closer detail, the portable container  11  has a plurality of reservoirs therein for holding a foaming fluidic material therein. Ideally, the foaming material comprises a two component foaming polymer fluidic material  12 , 13 , such as a urethane and a reagent. Preferably, the reservoirs of the container  11  comprise separate first and second component reservoirs  14 , 15  for keeping the components  12 , 13  of the foaming material separate in the container  11 . In particular, the first component reservoir  14  is designed for holding one of the components  12  of the foaming material and the second component reservoir  15  is designed for holding the other component  13  of the foaming material. In the ideal embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the container  11  is generally dumbbell-shaped and has a pair of spaced apart end portions  16 , 17  and a generally cylindrical handle  18  portion connecting the end portions  16 , 17  of the container  11  together. The handle  18  is designed for permitting easy grasping of the container  11  by a user, while enhancing the size of the reservoirs in the container. 
     The breach filling device  10  also includes a flexible inflatable bladder  20  having an interior space. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 8, the inflatable bladder  20  is designed for inserting into a hole  2  in a structure  1  so that expansion or inflation of the inflatable bladder  20  closes the hole  2  in the structure  1 . Preferably, inflation of the inflatable bladder  20  provides a substantially water tight closure of the hole  2  in the structure  1 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inflatable bladder  20  may be generally spherical when inflated. Ideally, the inflatable bladder  20  comprises a rip resistant flexible material so that it can conform to unevenly shaped holes in a structure and will not be easily punctured by any sharp edges around the hole in the structure. The inflatable bladder  20  has an annular constriction  21 , or seam, around the circumference of the inflatable bladder  20 . The annular constriction  21  divides the inflatable bladder  20  into a pair of preferably generally hemispherical portions  22 , 23 . The annular constriction  21  defines an annular channel between the portions  22 , 23  of the inflatable bladder  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 8, the annular channel of the inflatable bladder  20  is designed for receiving the portion of the structure  1  around the periphery of the hole  2  in the structure  1  when the inflatable bladder  20  is inserted into the hole  2  in the structure  1  and inflated such that the structure  1  is sandwiched between the circumferences of the hemispherical portions  22 , 23  of the inflatable bladder  20 . 
     The interior space of the inflatable bladder  20  is selectively in fluid communication with the reservoirs of the container  11 . Preferably, an elongate conduit system  24  fluidly connects the interior space of the inflatable bladder  20  to the reservoirs of the container  11  to permit passage of foaming material from the reservoirs of the container  11  into interior space of the inflatable bladder  20 . In use, the foaming material forms a foamed material (such as solidifying polyurethane of the type used for foamed insulation) in the interior space of the inflatable bladder  20  such that the foamed material inflates the inflatable bladder  20  to close the hole  2  in the structure  1 . Ideally, the conduit system  24  comprises a pair of flexible tubes  35 , 36  or hoses and has a pair of opposite ends. One end of the conduit system  24  is fluidly connected to the reservoirs of the container  11  and the other end of the conduit system  24  is fluidly connected to the interior space of the inflatable bladder. The one end of the tubes of the conduit system  24  is preferably detachably attached to the container  11  while the other end of the tubes of the conduit system  24  are also preferably detachably attached to the inflatable bladder  20 . With reference to FIG. 5, ideally, the detachable attachments of the ends of the conduit system  24  comprise a quick release plug  25  and socket  26  fluid connector. In the ideal embodiment, the inflatable bladder  20  also has a pair of valves  27  for closing the opening into the inflatable bladder  20  when the other end of the conduit system  24  is detached from the inflatable bladder  20 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first tube  35  of the conduit system  24  has a first intake  28  opening into the first component reservoir  14  of the container  11  and the second tube  36  of the conduit system  24  has a second intake  29  opening into the second component reservoir  15  of the container  11 . The conduit system  24  also preferably has first and second valves  30 , 31 . The first valve  30  selectively closes the first intake  28  of one of the tubes of the conduit system  24  while the second valve  31  selectively closes the second intake  29  of another of the tubes of the conduit system  24 . A release switch  32  is operationally connected to the first and second valves  30 , 31 . The release switch  32  permits opening of the first and second valves  30 , 31  to permit the components of foaming material into the first and second intakes  28 , 29  of the conduit system  24 . Preferably, the switch  32  is mounted on the exterior of the container  11  so that a user grasping the container can easily open valves. The switch may be comprised of an electrical solenoid or mechanical linkage that actuates the valves to allow the pressurized contents of the first and second component reservoirs to exit into the conduit system. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, the conduit system  24  has an elongate nozzle  33  in the interior space of the inflatable bladder  20 . The nozzle  33  has an interior wall for preventing mixture of the two components of foaming material until both the components reach the interior of the bladder  20 . The nozzle  33  has a plurality of apertures  34  providing openings into the conduit system  24 . The apertures  34  of the nozzle  33  permit passage of foaming material from the conduit system  24  into the interior space of the inflatable bladder  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, the inflatable bladder  20  is ideally folded around the nozzle  33  when the inflatable bladder  20  is deflated to help make it easier to insert the deflated inflatable bladder  20  in a hole  2  in a structure  1  as illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     In use, the foaming material passes into the conduit system  24  through the intakes  28 , 29  of the tubes  35 , 36  of the conduit system  24  and exits from the apertures  34  of the nozzle  33  of the conduit system  24  into the interior space of the inflatable bladder  20  to form a foam material which inflates the inflatable bladder  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 8, the inflatable bladder  20  closes the hole  2  in the structure  1  from the both sides of the structure  1 . Once the inflatable bladder  20  is inflated, water pressure on the portion  23  of the inflatable bladder  20  on the side of the structure  1  exposed to the water (such as the exterior side of a hull of a boat) presses the portion  23  of the inflatable bladder  20  against the structure  1  to help further keep the closure of the hole  2  in the structure  1  water tight. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.