Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to a portable levee system and portable levee system bag. More particularly, this invention relates to both a trapezoidal-shaped continuous bag that is fed from a container to the ground and receives fill material, and a method for employing same to provide a levee as well as the levee system bag used. 
     2. Relevant Art 
     Common military-issue style sandbags have been used for years in flood control. A typical, but labor-intensive and time consuming, use of such sandbags is to utilize shovels to scoop up sand and deposit the sand into manually held open sandbags. One current device which utilizes such military sandbags includes a bin with three openings formed in the bottom to allow simultaneous filling of three regular sand bags at once. Sand is dumped in the bin and three users hold empty bags under the openings to receive the sand as it flows down through the openings. Another present device is a conveyor that attaches behind a dump truck. It feeds sand out, left and right, to chutes underneath and into bags manually held in place for filling. 
     Over 20,000,000 conventional sandbags were filled by hand and emplaced as levees along riverbanks during the spate of river floods which occurred in the 1990&#39;s. The use of hand-filled sandbags is inefficient when done on such a necessarily large scale. Augmenting such hand-filling operations were untold numbers of bulldozers, bob-cats, and the like, in order to provide sand and other fill material. Such a major commitment of resources in manpower and equipment was still not enough to stem the flow of river water through mid-America. Thus, what is needed is a portable levee system which features a bag that can be quickly and efficiently emplaced, is easy to use, and is sturdy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable levee system for use in flood control. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable levee system including a continuous collapsible bag stored in a container and dispensed for filling. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable levee system including bags which can be continuously dispensed and filled from a moving vehicle. 
     It is an even further object of the present invention to provide a portable levee system including a trailer for dispensing a continuous bag, and an auger for picking up and depositing fill material into the bag along a path of travel of the dispensing trailer. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of making a portable levee. 
     More particularly, and in accordance with the structure and the method of operation hereinafter discussed, the present invention provides a levee which can be constructed in a fraction of the time required to build an equivalently-sized levee utilizing current emergency levee construction systems. 
     Specifically, the present invention provides a continuous bag design which includes lateral webs formed therein to hold the bag to a preselected geometric shape. A preferred bag shape is trapezoidal, whereby the bag has a largest dimension at a base when viewed from an end. Guide sleeves containing a rope of sufficient diameter to keep the guide sleeve in the bag guides are sewn along two upper edges of the bag and fed into a pair of bag guides, each bag guide having two rails, thereby holding the bag in position for filling. The continuous bag is stored in a container, either on a roll, or compressed therein, accordion-style. In either storage method, a dispenser, for example a trailer, dispenses the bag from the container and onto the ground. While the bag is being paid out, available fill material, such as, for example, sand, gravel, or rocks is deposited into the bag. One embodiment of the present invention relies on the use of a bob-cat, or similar loader to lift and deposit fill material into the bag. However, a preferred embodiment utilizes an auger system including a chute that transports fill material via the auger system into an opening defined by the two upper edges and formed at a top of the bag. The fill material is deposited onto a grate or screen which is suspended over the opening whereby the grate sifts the fill material, as desired, in order to provide a uniform consistency of fill material. The auger system operates in conjunction with a dump truck, trailer, or other transport means for delivering fill material to the dispenser. 
     Although the present invention can be deposited on-site and remain stationary, a preferred dispenser is a wheeled or tracked vehicle such as, for example, a trailer or a self-propelled vehicle. Likewise, a preferred auger system is wheeled or tracked. Alternatively, the auger system can be lowered onto a support surface, such as, for example, the ground, whereby the auger system brings fill material up to the bag from the ground directly in its path and alongside the path of the dispenser. The latter option is most readily foreseen when filling sandbags near a river or stream bank, and soft mud/dirt along the bank is to be used for filling the bags. A typical base dimension for the bag is six feet across, but any dimension can be used. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following written description and the figures relating thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sandbag of a preferred embodiment of a portable levee system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of the sandbag of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of a portable levee system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of a portable levee system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a portable levee system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a alternative embodiment of the portable levee system bag of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an additional alternative embodiment for a portable levee system bag for the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of the male and female fastening clips for use on the portable levee system bags of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the portable levee system bag of the present invention wherein the attachment clips are affixed to the side panel of the bag. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the Figures is shown a portable levee system  10 . FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bag  12  which is continuous in that it has a length at least equal to its width, and preferably a length substantially greater than its width. The bag  12  includes one or more lateral webs  14  formed therein to define a preselected geometric shape. A preferred bag  12  shape is trapezoidal, whereby the bag  12  has a greatest dimension at a base  16  when viewed from an end. Guide sleeves  18 , containing guide ropes  20 , are sewn along two upper edges  22  of the bag  12 . The two upper edges  22  define an opening  24 . The bag  12  has a flap  26  hingedly attached to one side of the opening  24  and the flap  26  is of sufficient length and width to cover the opening  24  when in a closed position thereby sealing the sandbag  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3-5, a dispenser  30  includes a pair of bag guides  32 , each bag guide has two rails  34 , whereby the guide sleeves  18  are retained by the rails  34 , thereby holding the bag  12  in position for filling. The continuous bag  12  is collapsibly disposed within a container  40 , either on a roll, or compressed therein, accordion-style. The container  40  has an opening through which the bag  12  may pass as bag  12  is paid out. The container  40  is mounted on a forward portion of the dispenser  30  and the bag guides  32  are disposed immediately adjacent to an upper portion of the container  40  and running rearward from the container  40 . In this fashion, the bag guides slidably receive the guide sleeves  18 . The dispenser  30  such as, for an example shown in the Figures, a trailer, dispenses the bag  12  from the container  40  and onto a support surface  100 , such as, for example, a river shoreline, or other geographical terrain. While the bag  12  is being paid out, available fill material  102 , such as, for example, sand, gravel, or rocks is deposited therein. 
     One embodiment of the present invention relies on the use of a bob-cat, or similar loading equipment to lift and deposit fill material  102  into the bag  12 . However, a preferred embodiment includes an auger system  50  including a chute  52  that transports fill material  102  via the auger system  50  into the opening  24  of the bag  12 . 
     The auger system  50  is pivotably mounted to the dispenser  30  and includes a chute  52  which is adjustably positionable over a grate  36  and thereby disposed over the opening  24  formed at a top of the bag  12 . The auger system  50  includes a hopper  54  and auger compartment  56 , whereby hopper  54  receives fill material received from a dump truck, trailer, or other transport means, and the fill material  102  is collected into the auger compartment  56 . Once in the auger compartment  56 , the fill material  102  is transported to the dispenser  30  by rotation of augers  58  and  60 . In an alternate embodiment, the auger system  50  is lowered to dig directly into the support surface  100 , instead of receiving fill material  102  into the hopper  54 , whereby the auger system  50  brings fill material  102  in contact with auger  58  and therefrom to the bag  12 . In this embodiment, fill material  102  is received directly from ground surface  100  directly in the path of the auger system  50 , and alongside the path of the dispenser  30 . The latter option is most readily foreseen when filling bags  12  near a river or stream bank, and soft mud/dirt along the bank is to be used for filling the bags  12 . A brace  62  is attached between the auger system  50  and the dispenser  30  in order to maintain desired rigidity and support of the auger system  50 . 
     A hitch  64  and a power take-off connection  66  is provided at a forward portion of the dispenser  30 , whereby the dispenser  30  is towed and rotational energy is provided to a power transfer system (not shown) which, in turn, causes the augers  58  and  60  (when provided) to rotate, thereby depositing fill material  102  into bag  12 , after passing through the grate  36  which is removably suspended over the bag guides  32  and also over the opening  24 . The grate  36  sifts the fill material  102 , as desired, and allows the bag  12  to receive the sifted fill material  102 . In this fashion, fill material  102  is provided having a uniform consistency. As desired, the grate  36  may be removed in order to allow the use of coarser fill material  102  than would otherwise be able to pass through the grate  36 . 
     Although the present invention can be deposited on-site and there remain in a stationary position, a preferred dispenser  30  has wheels  70 , tracks (not shown), or skids (not shown). The example shown in FIGS. 3-5 is a trailer having a steering system (not shown) to be pulled by a tractor or a truck. However, other embodiments include, for example, a self-propelled vehicle (not shown). Likewise, a preferred auger system  50  has wheels, tracks (not shown), or skids (not shown). The dispenser  30  shown in FIGS. 3-5 has four wheels  70 . The auger system  50  shown likewise has a wheel  70  attached on an outer side. 
     Bag  12  is preferably made of sturdy material such as, for example, plastic-impregnated cloth, or conventional sandbag material. A typical base  16  dimension for the bag  12  is six feet across, but any other dimension may be used. 
     An alternative version of the portable levee system bag for the present invention is shown in FIG.  6 . The portable levee system bag  112  shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the bag shown in FIG. 1 with some minor additions. Initially, as can be seen by referring to FIG. 6, a plurality of partitions walls  113  are provided to extend between the front wall  117  and the rear wall  118  of the portable levee system bag. The bag  112  is comprised of the front wall  117 , rear wall  118 , first side-wall  115 , second side-wall  116 , bottom portion  119  and top flap  26 . As is found in the bag shown in FIG. 1 are upper edges  22  for the guide rail. Additionally, flap  26  is hingedly connected to the rear wall  118  such that it covers the top opening and entrance to each of the separate partitions openings  110 . The bag  112  is also provided with a plurality of reinforced loops  120  and  121 . Loops  120  are found on the top edge of the front wall  117  while reinforced loops  121  are found at the top edge of the rear wall  118  at the hinge point of flap  126  and rear wall  118 . The portable levee system bag  112  shown in FIG. 6 is provided with the plurality of partition walls  113  to define each partition section  110  which is to be filled with sand or the like material. The bag  112  may be utilized as a heavy duty reenforced version which may be utilized to fill a breech in an existing earthen levee. The plurality of loops  120  and  121  may be utilized for ease of movement of the filled bag as a bag filled with sand or a like material may be quite heavy and not readily moveable without machinery. Thus, loops  120  and  121  may be secured by chains or possibly a pipe or an extended steel bar may be laced therethrough. Thus, the portable levee system bag  112  shown in FIG. 6 may be readily moved after filling. 
     The plurality of partitioned openings  110  provide a reinforced levee system bag such that should one of the partitions become punctured, the remaining partitions in bag  112  remain in position. Loops  120  and  121 , as indicated as being reinforced, may be sewn to the wall material of the levee system bag  112  and may be comprised of plastics, nylons, or any strong reenforced material which is capable of supporting the high weight of the filled bags. 
     Turning to FIG. 7, an additional alternative embodiment of a portable levee system bag  212  is shown. This alternative embodiment may be utilized in military or other use. As is shown in FIG. 7, the bag  212  is partitioned into a plurality of sections  210 . The sections are defined by lateral partitioning walls  213  and longitudinal partitioning walls  214  which may be subdivided to any desired width and depth. A significant benefit of the design of the levee system bag  212  shown in FIG. 7 is such that with the added number of partitioned sections  210 , the bag becomes significantly more reinforced. Should any given partitioned section  210  become breached, the remaining portion of the bag will remain intact and fully capable of its initial function. Thus, in a potential military function, the alternative embodiment of the levee system bag  212  shown in FIG. 7 may be utilized so that any given partition  210  should they be breached by small arms fire or shrapnel would be contained in that smaller area and the remaining portion of the bag would remain intact for protection and use. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 7, the alternative embodiment of the levee system bag  212  is similarly comprised of a front wall  117 , rear wall  118 , side-walls  116  and  115  and bottom wall  119 . Flap  26  may be provided for covering the entry to the partitioned sections  210  and is hinged to the top section of rear wall  118 . 
     As previously mentioned, the embodiments  112  and  212  of the portable levee system bags of the present invention is desirably of a trapezoidal shape. Returning to FIG. 6, the dimensions of the bottom  119  of the portable levee system  112  is larger than the top flap  26 . Further, front wall  117  and rear wall  118  are angled slightly toward each other so that they taper toward one another thereby forming definite trapezoids on either side-walls  116  and  115  as can be seen in the Figures. 
     Turning to FIG. 8, the attachment or fastening clips  44  and  45  of the present invention are shown. It may be necessary such that multiple bags may be fastened together so that the end panels  115  of adjacent bags are securely affixed together thereby securing the entire system of filled bags. This may be desirable due to stability purposes and the like. The fastening clips  44  and  45  as shown in FIG. 8 are comprised of a female fastening clip  44  and a male fastening clip  45 . The female fastening clip has a channel  47  which will receive an extension  46  extending outward from the male fastening clip  45 . In this manner, the opposing fastening clips may be securely affixed and press-fit together so that adjacent bags are securely held in place. The fastening clips as shown in FIG. 8 may be attached to the side panel  115  of the dispensing bag  12  through use of a stapling device or plastic wing nut  43 . Thus, on one end panel  115  will be a row of female fastening clips  44  and on the adjacent bag which is secured next to it in the levee system or like structure will be male fastening clips  45 . As shown in the drawings, the fastening clips may be placed on the end panel  115  and similarly the fastening clips may be affixed to the opposite side panel or to the bottom panel of the levee system bag. In this manner, the entire structure may be secured together to provide a strong levee system which is comprised of a plurality of portable levee system bags, all of which are interconnected together for strength and stability purposes. Alternative fastening means may be readily used and full within the present teachings. 
     A method for providing a levee consists of the following steps: 
     1) dispensing a bag  12  from a container  40 ; 
     2) feeding the bag  12  onto guide rails  34 ; 
     3) lowering a base  16  of the bag  12  to a support surface  100 ; 
     4) expanding the bag  12  from a collapsed storage state; 
     5) disposing an opening  24  of the bag  12  into a condition to receive fill material  102 ; 
     6) transporting the fill material  102  via an auger system  50  to; 
     7) positioning a chute  52  of the auger system  50  above a grate  36 ; 
     8) depositing the fill material  102  onto the grate  36 ; 
     9) sifting the fill material  102  through the grate  36 ; 
     10) depositing the sifted fill material  102  into the bag  12  through the opening  24 ; 
     11) moving the dispenser  30  along a path of intended travel, thereby providing continuous expansion of the bag  12  for continued receiving of fill material  102 ; and, 
     12) replacing a filled bag  12  from an empty container  40  of the dispenser  30  with a new, collapsibly stored, bag  12 , whereby the new bag  12  is disposed to abut or otherwise rest, as desired, in proximity to said filled bag  12 . 
     The detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

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