Patent ID: 7497644

Claim:
An automatic liquid barrier system for an accessway of a structure, said system comprising: a float housing installed adjacent the accessway having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a float assembly moveably received within said float housing, a barrier pivotally interconnected to said float assembly and moveable therewith, said barrier rotatably interconnected to a hinge plate via a flexible hinge member along substantially an entire length of a bottom periphery of the accessway, wherein said flexible hinge member comprises a liquid resistant material structured to substantially prevent a flow of liquid therethrough, said float assembly positionable within said float housing relative to a liquid level therein, and said barrier automatically rotating into a sealing engagement with a portion of a periphery along each side of the accessway when a predetermined liquid level is present in said float housing, wherein said sealing engagement is at least partially defined by a liquid resistant seal being formed between said barrier and the portions of the periphery along each side of the accessway and along the bottom periphery of the accessway to substantially prevent a liquid from entering therethrough.