Patent ID: 8348549

Claim:
An apparatus for a boom curtain for use in water, the water containing contaminants, comprising: a) a boom curtain comprising a series of panels joined together in series, each panel comprising flexible material and having an upper portion, a lower portion, a central section joining said upper and lower portions, and first and second side edges; b) wherein said flexible material is capable of absorbing contaminants, wherein said flexible material allows water to pass therethrough, and wherein the contaminants are absorbed from the water onto said flexible material; c) a buoyant member disposed proximate said upper portion, wherein said buoyant member is effectively buoyant to cause said curtain to float in the water; d) a weight being disposed proximate said lower portion, wherein said weight is effectively heavy to cause said lower portion to be biased downwardly from said upper portion when said curtain is in the water; e) a sheet of said flexible material disposed about said upper portion and said lower portion and having a central section of said flexible material extending between said upper and lower portions; f) a strip of hook and loop material extending along side edges of each said panel extending from a top edge of said panel to a bottom edge of said panel, said adjoining panels being interconnected by overlapping of said hook and loop material strips and whereby end edges of said upper and lower portions containing said buoyant member and said weight, respectively, abut each other whereby said flexible material of adjacent panels are aligned; g) a strap mounted on each said panel extending a full length of each panel and attached to said flexible material between said upper and lower portions, each strap having a connector at each end thereof, whereby adjacent panels are linked together by adjacent connectors to prevent flow of water between said panels and to provide a main support for holding individual panels together; and h) wherein said central section has a spunbound layer on one side of said flexible material and an outer mesh-like layer on an opposite side of said flexible material for allowing water flow through said central section.