Patent ID: 12203323

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

FIG.1shows front perspective view of a flood panel barrier system100having a support structure in accordance with some embodiments. A flood panel is a discrete section of a barrier that is connected to adjacent panels in a series around a structure, or across an opening or openings in the structure through which water could enter the structure, such as doors, for example. Each of the panels is also connected to a hardened and generally level ground surface, such as concrete, and which also acts as a water barrier. At the ends of the barrier system, the end panels can be connected vertically to a wall or other portion of the structure being protected, or the panels can be arranged in a ring around the structure without being connected to the structure. All of these connections are substantially water tight, and prevent water on the outside of the barrier from passing to the inside of the barrier system, where the structure being protected is located.

In addition toFIG.1,FIG.2shows a front elevational view of a section of a flood panel barrier system, and reference to both of these drawings should be made in the following discussion. A series102of panels104are connected together across an opening in the structure108behind the panels104. In this case, the opening is window system106that extends to the ground110, which is a bricked surface here. Each of the panels are rigid members that have a water-impermeable construction, and are configured to withstand the pressure of water against them at one side, and not buckle or otherwise substantially deform. The panel104at the end, our outer edge of the series102of panels, where the wall108is located, includes a side extension109that is connected to a flange122in a water tight manner. The flange122is parallel to the front surface of the building108, or a sufficient portion thereof, and pressed against the building, with a gasket member120between the flange122and the building. The gasket member120is compliant and compressible and forms a substantially water tight seal between the flange122and the building108. Likewise, across the bottom of the panels104, at their front side, is an angled plate114that is a rigid elongated angled plate having one portion (114b) configured to interface with the ground surface110, and another portion (114a) at a right angle that is configured to interface with one or more of the panels104. A front ground gasket116sits under the angled plate114and extends under the panels104as well. Fastening units112are provide along the length of the angled plate114in both portions114a,114b. The fastening units112in portion114bfasten the panel system to anchors in the ground, while the fastening units112in portion114ajoin the angled plate114to the panels104, and to other portions of the system100. Each fastening unit112includes a bolt member that extends through an opening in the angled plate114. Along portion114athe bolt passes through the panels104as well, and into a rivet nut on the other side of the panel114. Along portion114bthe bolts pass through the gasket116and into an anchor that is embedded in the ground surface110. More detail of the fastening units will be discussed in regard toFIG.3. The fasting units bear against the top side or surface of portion114band front side of portion114a.

In the series102of panels104, the panels104are joined to vertical support member118at the edges of the panels104. For the sake of terminology herein, a “side” of a panel104refers to one of the two major surfaces, i.e. the front side and the back side. The front side faces outward from the building and the back side faces toward the building, although the panels104can be reversible so the front and back sides aren't defined until the panels are installed in the series102. The panels also have edges where the sides end. The edges also define surfaces of the panels, but these surfaces are very small (in area) compared to the front and back side surfaces.

As show hereinFIGS.1and2, the panels are rectangular, and have two opposing vertical edges, a top edge along the top of the panel, and a bottom edge along the bottom of the panel. The bottom edge of each panel104rests on the bottom gasket116. Since the panels104are rectangular, and homogenous in construction, their orientation may be dictated by the row of openings adjacent opposite vertical edges; the top edge is therefore whichever edge is oriented to the top of the panel104when the panel is installed, and likewise, the bottom edge is defined at installation. Fastening units112along the bottom portion114bof the angled plate114compress the panels against the gasket116to form a substantially water tight seal along the bottom edge of each of the panels104. The vertical support member118sits immediately behind, and in contact with the back sides of the panels104adjacent a vertical edge to connect the panels104together via the vertical support members118. Several fastening units112are coupled through the panels and to the vertical support members118. The vertical support members118are also fastened to the ground surface110, as will be explained in more detail herein. The panels104, being arrange in a series102, define edge to edge interfaces where the vertical edge of one flood panel is adjacent to the vertical edge of another flood panel. The vertical support members118are positioned at these edge-to-edge interfaces.

FIG.3shows an exploded view of a fastener unit112for use with the inventive flood panel barrier system support structure, in accordance with some embodiments. The fastener unit112include a bolt300which can be a tap bolt. The bolt300includes a threaded shank302and a head304that can be a hex-head, as is well known. An adjustment knob306has a threaded through-hole308to allow the adjustment knob306to thread onto the shank302of the tap bolt300. The main body309is puck-shaped and can be knurled or fluted around the outside edge to allow for turning the knob306. The knob306further includes a standoff310that can also be puck-shaped, with have smaller diameter than the main body309, and through which the threaded hole308also passes. The bottom of the standoff portion310of the knob306bears against a washer312to exert a compressive force, which has an opening314that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the shank302of the bolt. Thus, the shank302can pass through the washer312without having to be threaded through the washer312. The washer312can be a dock washer and have a diameter of about three inches in some embodiments. The bolt300can have a length of four to six inches, such as a ⅜″×4″ tap bolt. The knob306and washer312are positioned on the outward facing side of the panels so that personnel can easily access and tighten or loosen the knobs306of each fastener unit112. The bolt shank302passes through the angled plate114, and/or a panel, or the vertical support member118, depending on where it is located. The distal end of the shank302threads into either a rivet nut316or an anchor324, depending on the location of the fastening unit112. The rivet nut316includes a threaded body320into which the shank302is threaded. A flange318extends outward and acts like a washer. There is a collapsible portion322that collapses when the bolt is tightened while the flange318is bearing against a surface, causing sections of the collapsible portion to collapse and extend outward. The anchor324can be a snake anchor and is intended to fit into a bore, such as a bore into the ground surface110, and frictionally engage the sides of the bore so as to become stuck fast in the bore. This can occur, for example, by making the inner diameter of the axial bore326slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the shank302of the bolt300, and the outside diameter of the body328of the anchor about the same as the diameter of the bore into which the anchor324is sunk. Thus, when the bolt300is threaded into the axial bore326, it will force the body328outward against the wall of the bore in which the anchor324is sunk. Fastening units that secure the panels to the vertical support members of the vertical portion of angled plates can be referred to as panel fastening units and use the rivet nut316. Fastening unit that secure the horizontal portion of angled plates to the ground can be referred to a ground or plate fastening units and use an anchor324.

FIG.4shows a top plan view of flood panel barrier system where two panels104meet, and the inventive support structure used to hold the panels in place, in accordance with some embodiments. Reference should be made toFIGS.5-7here as well as they show the vertical support member118coupled to the ground surface in a top plan view, side elevational view, and perspective view, respectively.

A vertical support member118is a vertically elongated “I” or “H” beam that extends substantially from the ground surface upwards. In most cases the beam will extend to the top edge of the panels104. The vertical support member118has a horizontal cross section in the shape of an “I” or “H” configuration, and includes front wall402that engages the back sides of the panels104. From the front wall402there is a central wall404extending from the center of the front wall402at a right angle to the back wall406. The “I”/“H” configured vertical support member118is one example of a possible configuration of a vertical support member in general.

A series of fastening units112are placed along the side of the panels104in a vertical series. Each one of the fastening units includes a bolt that passes through the panel104and the front wall402of the vertical support member118, and are anchored to a rivet nut316. Between the front wall402of the vertical support member118and the back side of the panel104there is a panel gasket408. The gasket408is elongated in the vertical direction, and planar between the panels and the front wall402of the vertical support member118, and extend from the ground surface, or from the horizontal gasket116.

InFIGS.5-7it can be seen that there are angled plates502fitted into the bottom of the vertical support member118on each side of the opposing sides of the central wall404, and between the front wall402and the back wall406, and against the central wall404. This arrangement “sandwiches” the bottom of the vertical support member between the opposing angled plates502. The angled plates502have a horizontal portion504that interfaces with the ground surface110and sits on a planar horizontal gasket508. The angled plates also have a vertical portion506that is against (in contact with) the central wall404of the vertical support member118. Both the horizontal and vertical portions504,506are as wide as the space between the front wall402and the back wall406of the vertical support member. Thus, the angled plates502fit tightly into the vertical support member118. A fastening unit112is placed on each angle plate502at the horizontal portion504, and the bolt300of each of those fastening units passes through the horizontal portion504, the gasket508, and into an anchor324that is sunk into the ground surface110. The angled plates502when arranged and anchored to the ground surface as shown, hold the vertical support member118upright, and resist movement of the vertical support member118due to the vertical portions506bearing against the walls402,404,406of the vertical support member118. This arrangement eliminates the need for an angled support behind the vertical support member. Meaning, a beam or post extending from the back wall of the vertical support member118to the ground surface at a distance away from the vertical support member, is not needed in at least some applications. An angled support member can still be used in some application, however. It will be appreciated thatFIG.7is a sectional view, where a portion of the barrier system to the left and right of the vertical support member118have been removed to show the angled plate502at the bottom of the vertical support member118. Further, a portion of the barrier system above a vertical plane section has been removed so that components of the connecting members can be more easily seen in detail.

FIG.8shows a detail perspective view of the lower portion of a flood panel barrier system and an end of the barrier, in accordance with some embodiments. In this example a vertical support member118is used at the end of a flood panel barrier system to connect to a vertical wall of a structure in a water ingress resistant manner. As withFIG.7, the portion shown here inFIG.8is a section view with substantial portions of the barrier system removed from the view to better show the details being described here. The arrangement here is similar to that ofFIG.7, where there are angle plates502on each side of the bottom of the vertical support member to hold the bottom of the vertical support member118in place and to help it resist movement. However, the back wall406of the vertical support member is interfaced to a vertical surface of the structure through a gasket802. The surface can be, for example, the outside wall of the structure. Fastening units112anchor the back wall406of the vertical support member to the structure. In addition, only one panel104is attached to the front wall402of the vertical support member118.

FIGS.9A and9Bshow detail perspective view of vertically joining panels104a,104bin a flood panel barrier system, in accordance with some embodiments. Although a single panel104can be as much as four feet high, a higher barrier may be desired or needed in some applications. In each drawing there is a lower panel104band an upper panel104a. Opposing angled plates114can be used to interface these panels104a,104bin a vertical manner. An upper angled plate is positioned at the bottom of the upper panel104a, and an inverted angled plate114is positioned at the top of the lower panel114b. A gasket116sits between the horizontal portions of the angled plates114and the panels104a,104b. Fastener units112are used to fasten the horizontal portions of the angle plates together (to each other) and the vertical portions of the angled plates114to the respective panels104a,104b. As inFIG.1, the angled plates114extend across the entirety of the panels104in the horizontal direction.

FIG.10shows a top plan view detail of a flood panel barrier system where two panels meet, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG.11shows the same section, from a perspective view, with the side and upper sections of the panels removed. The embodiment illustrated here is substantially similar to the embodiment ofFIGS.4-7, with the difference being that the vertical support member1002is “T” shaped instead of “I” or “H” shaped in its horizontal cross section. That is, the vertical support member1002has a front wall1006and a central wall1004that extend from the front wall1006at a right angle, and is centrally located along the width of the front wall1006in the horizontal direction. The same angled plated114are used at the front bottom of the panels104, the same gaskets408can be used between the panels104and the front wall1006of the vertical support member1002, the same angled plates502can be used at the bottom of the vertical support member1002to bear against the front and central walls1006,1004, and the same fasting units112are provided in the same locations, generally. When the water level at the front of the panels104rises, the pressure at the bottom of the panels is greatest, and pushing in a direction from the front to the back. This tends to counteract the force of the water against the vertical support member1002through the barrier system, because of the vertical portions506of the angled plates502bearing against the back side of the front wall1006of the vertical support member1002resists any tendency of the vertical support member1002to lean to the back.

FIGS.12A and12Bshow detail perspective view of end panels of a flood panel barrier system and different wall connections, in accordance with some embodiments. These details are similar to that ofFIG.8, but do not use a vertical support member to connect to the wall of the structure. Rather, the fastening units112on the vertical side of the panel104use anchors that are embedded in the wall of the structure. InFIG.12Athere is a spacer1202between the panel104and the gasket408, and inFIG.12Bthe spacer1202is not used. These simply show another way that the barrier system can be terminated at one end of the barrier system.

FIG.13shows a detail perspective view of a section of a flood panel barrier system configured for a stair step, or similar change in elevation of the ground surface, in accordance with some embodiments. This also shows a third alternative of a vertical support member, which here is created by using two angled plates1302,1304with a gasket1306between them. The angled plates1302,1304can be substantially the same as angled plates114, but are oriented vertically in their elongated direction. The two angled plates1302,1304act substantially like a “T” shaped vertical support member as inFIGS.10-11. However, this arrangement allows the angled plates502at the bottom of the vertically oriented angled plates1302,1304to be at the different elevations, just as the angled plates114are at different elevations on each side of the gasket1306.

FIG.14shows a side sectional view of a flood panel barrier system taken vertically through a panel section in which there is a cap system placed over the top of the panel(s), in accordance with some embodiments.FIG.15shows a front detail perspective view of a portion of a flood panel barrier system having a cap system. In this embodiment a cap is placed over the top of the panel to help increase its rigidity and prevent any tendency of the panel to bow outward from pressure created by water on the outside of the panel during a flood event.FIG.14shows the top edge of a panel104, which has a first cap member1402across the front of the panel104along the top edge, with an overlapping portion over the top edge. Likewise, cap member1404runs along the back side of the panel104along the top edge, and has a portion that overlaps along the top of the panels104. In fact the cap members1402,1404can breach the separation between the panels. The fastening units112can use knobs306on both sides of the panels to counter tighten against the cap member1402,1404.

FIG.16shows a rear perspective view of a flood panel barrier system including a support brace, in accordance with some embodiments. In this embodiment the “I” or “H” vertical support member118is used, as inFIGS.4-8. In some cases, where space allows behind the barrier, and angled support may be desirable to resist excessive forces against the barrier. For example, in flooding event caused by heavy rains, generally only water pressure will bear against the panels104. However, in situations such as storm surge, then there can be a current that increases the pressure against the panels, and the current may carry object/debris that can impact against the panels. Thus, in addition to the support provided at the bottom of the vertical support member118by the angled plates502, an angled support bar1606may be used to further support and stabilize the vertical support member against unexpected forces incident on the barrier system. The support bar1606is coupled between an upper bracket1602located at a point on the back wall406of the vertical support member that is about a distance1608equal to one third of the height of the panel104from the top of the panel (or ⅔rds from the bottom/ground surface). A support bracket1604is anchored to the ground surface at the lower end of the support bar1606. The upper bracket can be attached by adhesive or other mounting means, or it can be integrally formed on the vertical support member118. The angle of the support bar can be about forty five degrees in some embodiments.FIG.17shows a rear perspective view of a flood panel barrier system including a support brace, in accordance with some embodiments where the “T” shaped vertical support member1002is used. The only difference from the embodiment ofFIG.16is that the upper bracket1602is attached to the back side of the front wall1004of the vertical support member1002. The distance1702is equal to the distance1602.FIG.18shows a front perspective view of a flood panel barrier system including a support brace, in accordance with some embodiments. In this case the upper bracket1602is attached to the front side of the panel104, and the lower bracket1604is located in front of the barrier system, meaning it will be in the water if there is a flood event. Preferably the upper bracket1602will be opposing a similar bracket1602on the other side of the barrier, but that is not necessary for the front-mounted support bar to be effective.

The disclosed embodiments provide a flood panel barrier system and novel support structures that reduce the spacing necessary to deploy the flood panel barrier system. By using lightweight, rigid vertical support members that can be fixed in place using opposing angled plates that both anchor to the ground and interfere with movement of the vertical support member, the use of bracing arms is not necessary in most applications. The disclosed fastening units allow for rapid deployment of the disclosed flood panel barrier system because they do not require a wrench to tighten/loosen due to the provision of a puck-shaped knob on the tap bolt shank. Overall, these features provide a flood panel barrier system that is easier and faster to deploy and take down, and which requires less space than conventional barrier systems.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.