Hydraulic and earth engineering – Fluid control – treatment – or containment – Flow control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-21
2002-09-03
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Fluid control, treatment, or containment
Flow control
C405S107000, C405S110000, C405S112000, C405S285000, C052S169200, C052S169900, C052S169140, C052S780000, C256S013000, C256S031000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06443655
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to flood barriers forming a temporary dam, adapted to be raised in a short time, to protect a flood prone area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are other flood barrier devices designed for protecting flood prone areas. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,301 issued to Jean-Paul Sovran on Mar. 28, 2000.
Another patent was issued to Daniel C. E. Fish on Mar. 30, 1982 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,774. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,373 was issued to Robert C. Coffey on May 1, 1990 and still yet another was issued on Aug. 20, 1991 to Glen Hendrix as U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,919.
Another patent was issued to Joseph F. Younes on Jun. 2, 1992 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,217. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,316 was issued to Cecil A. Richardson on Aug. 8, 1995. Another was issued to Christopher T. Hughes on Nov. 28, 1995, as U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,177.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,301
Inventor: Jean-Paul Sovran
Issued: Mar. 28, 2000
A barrier forming a temporary dam that may be erected quickly alongside a river in spate to protect a flood-prone area. The barrier mainly consists of extractable piles fitted in holes in the ground, and removable water-tight members that may be mounted between the piles once they have been drawn out of the respective holes. The watertight members may be made of a stack of metal beams and thick bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,774
Inventor: Daniel C. E. Fish
Issued: Mar. 30, 1982
A flood barrier comprising a flexible membrane the end and base parts terminating in a beading of polypropylene rope. The side parts of the barrier are located in vertical channel in the side walls and the base in a horizontal extending channel in the floor. In normal conditions the barrier is stowed in the recesses and erected in the event of a flood warning.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,929
Inventor: Travis B. Clark
Issued: Mar. 8, 1983
A protective flood barrier comprising panels sealingly attachable to one another to form a continuous barrier around a building structure and sealingly attachable to a fixed foundation surrounding the structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,373
Inventor: Robert C. Coffey
Issued: May 1, 1990
A fluid containing barrier having a frame with a plurality of legs and a flexible container supported by the frame. The flexible container has a high point vent and low point drain. The flexible container is capable of holding fluid. A series of individual frames and flexible containers interlock to form a wall or flood barrier which is used as a dam structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,919
Inventor: Glen Hendrix
Issued: Aug. 20, 1991
A containment structure for controlling flood water or spilled liquids comprising an elongated, triangular flexible container to be placed where needed to form a stable, water tight barrier. The containment structure has a spout for introduction of water into the container, a front flap for anchoring the container, and has end pieces adapted ti be used for sealing the end of the container against irregular objects or another container. A floating pump assembly can be provided for filling the container with flood waters.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 5,118,217
Inventor: Joseph F. Younes
Issued: Jun. 2, 1992
A movable flood barrier requires a permanent channel in the path of expected flood waters and is normally closed by a removable cover. The barrier consists of a series of units dimensioned to be removably seated in the channel and detachably interconnected. Each unit includes at least one panel disposed to face flood waters and a reinforcement to which the panels are attached. The junctions between panels are sealed and seals extend lengthwise of the barrier and are secured to the panels thereto and detachably secured to the channel wall first in the path of the flood waters. Where required, a brace for each unit is detachably secured thereto and to a permanent normally covered socket on the leeward side of the channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,316
Inventor: Cecil A. Richardson
Issued: Aug. 8, 1995
A reusable flood barrier is provided to erect reusable flood barrier banks. The flood barrier comprises a front panel having a front face, a top edge, a pair of side edges, and a base; a rear support attached to the rear face of the panel to prop the front panel on the base; and an elongated clamp removably and adjustably affixed to the front face of the front panel. The clamp has an edge disposed proximate and substantially parallel to each side edge of the front panel respectively. The clamp is capable of anchoring a long edge of an elongated interconnection gasket. The gasket is capable of placement over the gap between a side edge of the front panel of a first flood barrier and an abutting side edge of the front panel of an adjacent flood barrier. The anchoring action of the clamp on adjacent flood barrier front panels enables the gasket to provide a water seal between the front panels.
While these flood barriers may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. It is thus desirable to provide a flood barrier device forming a temporary dam that will be erected at flood prone areas. It is further desirable to provide a flood barrier system comprising a barrier structure that can be easily assembled prior to any storm producing tidal surge warnings to protect coastal communities and property from catastrophic flooding.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a flood barrier unit designed to be used in a flood barrier system to stop flood waters from destroying property and coastal communities.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flood barrier unit designed to be used in a flood barrier system that may be assembled prior to flood surge warnings.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flood barrier unit designed to be used in a flood barrier system comprising concrete pillar footings containing threaded holes into which pillars are mounted and threaded.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flood barrier unit designed to be used in a flood barrier system consisting of concrete brace member footings into which brace members are inserted.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flood barrier unit designed to be used in a flood barrier system comprising three erectable pillars each being mounted by means of a threaded rod located at the bottom of the pillar, to a concrete pillar footing.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a flood barrier unit designed to be used in a flood barrier system consisting of a plurality of barrier panels that are bolted to the pillars and are tongue-and-groove connected. Also a vapor barrier covers the flood side of the panels and contains a weighted bottom device sewn into the vapor barrier.
Each unit within the flood barrier system has three pillars that are threadably attached to concrete pillar footings implanted in the ground surface. Each pillar footing has an associated brace member footing for receiving one or more brace member ends, the other end of each brace member being received near the top of the pillars.
Each brace member has two portions joined by a turnbuckle, the manipulation of which forces the brace member ends against the pillar and the brace member footing until the brace member is in compression.
The pillars have bolt holes for the attachment of barrier panels. The barrier panels form a solid wall, made even more watertight by the use of tongue-and-groove joinder along the adjacent top and bottom edges of the barrier panels. A brace plate on the flood side of the barrier panels ensures the integrity of the attachment.
A vapor barrier is draped over the units in the system, with the top edge being fastened between the barrier panels and the pillars. The vapor barrier has a weighted bottom to properly position the vapor
Kroll Michael I.
Mayo Tara L.
Will Thomas B.
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