Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Specified terranean relationship – With waterproofing means; e.g. – covering – coating – or lamina
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-01
2002-07-30
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Specified terranean relationship
With waterproofing means; e.g., covering, coating, or lamina
C052S408000, C052S409000, C052S741300, C052S741400, C052S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06425213
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protection device for protecting a structure from natural disasters such as floods, winds and the like, and to the method of using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many parts of the world, housing and structures are prone to water damage such as in the event of flooding or any other natural disasters. The foundation of houses is often built with concrete that will after a few months or years have, imperceptible or not, cracks. As it will be understood by anyone skilled in the art, this is just one of the ways from which flooding waters can infiltrate and seriously damage houses and parts of their content.
Housing basement will also often have appliances such as washing or drying machines. These are just examples of items that could be alternatively and desirably protected against water damage that could be caused at unpredictable times by broken pipes or other events of misfortune. Obviously, all those damages to either houses or appliances could results in costly repairs, if indeed the house or the appliance can be fixed.
It is already known to protect structures such as appliances or houses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,535 issued on Feb. 16, 1982 to Battle and entitled “Flood Protection Container for Vehicles” protects vehicles by placing them in a flexible container. This invention carries the strong disadvantage of preventing the use of the protected vehicle, or any other item, while it is being protected.
Another prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,089 issued on Mar. 2, 1993 to Jackson and entitled “Protective Collapsible Bag Assembly for Appliance Items”. This invention could not be installed on large structure such as houses. Finally, prior art described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,456 issued on Jul. 10, 1984 to Battle and entitled “Apparatus and Method for Protecting Structures from Flooding Waters” is certainly expensive to put together, and does not give protection at all times, i.e. it must be firstly installed, and then raised for protection when flooding is about to occur. In the event of the owner being away from home when protection is needed, this expensive system would become obsolete, thus money spent on an apparatus to protect the house would be lost, and damage would furthermore still be caused to the house and parts of its content.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a liner device for a temporary protection of a structure against natural disasters of the character described which obviates the above noted disadvantages.
An advantage of the present invention is that the proposed liner device for protection against natural disasters is water-impermeable, stretchable and adhering as to appropriately protect the structure or appliance it is covering.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the proposed liner device for protection against natural disasters can be installed alternatively on appliances, houses or other structures of various sizes.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the proposed liner device for protection against natural disasters does not necessarily prevent usage of the structure while being protected.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the proposed liner device for protection against natural disasters is not expensive and that can be easily installed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for protecting a structure from natural disasters using a water impermeable liner device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protection device for temporarily externally protecting a structure against natural disaster, the structure defining a base and external side walls, the base protruding out from a ground surface surrounding the structure, the external side walls defining a bottommost part thereof adjacent the base and generally extending upwardly therefrom, two adjacent of the external side walls of the structure defining wall-to-wall intersections therebetween, the structure including a plurality of heavy weights adjacent the ground surface, the device comprises:
a water impermeable and structure adhering elongated liner for continuously covering and wrapping over the base and the external side walls of the structure, the liner forming a generally elongated bottom layer, the bottom layer defining a bottom layer inferior section and a generally opposed bottom layer superior section extending integrally therefrom, the bottom layer superior section being configured and sized for lapping over the base and the bottommost part of the external side walls and wall-to-wall intersections, the bottom layer inferior section being configured and sized for folding over the ground surface so as to receive the plurality of heavy weights thereon;
the heavy weights being substantially uniformly distributed along the bottom layer inferior section for applying pressure thereon against the ground surface and providing a generally waterproof seal between the bottom layer and the ground surface.
Preferably, the liner further forms generally elongated adjacent wall layers, each of the wall layers defining a wall layer inferior section and a generally opposed wall layer superior section extending integrally therefrom, the wall layer inferior section of one of the wall layers overlapping the wall layer superior section of a previous adjacent one of the wall layers so as to successively upwardly extend protection of the structure, the wall layer inferior section of a lowermost of the wall layers overlapping the bottom layer superior section, the wall layers for continuously wrapping around the external side walls and the wall-to-wall intersections of the structure.
Typically, the liner further forms generally elongated adjacent wall layers, each of the wall layers defining a wall layer inferior section and a generally opposed wall layer superior section extending integrally therefrom, the wall layer superior section of one of the wall layers overlapping the wall layer inferior section of a previous adjacent one of the wall layers so as to successively downwardly extending protection of the structure, the wall layer inferior section of a lowermost of the wall layers overlapping the bottom layer superior section, the wall layers for continuously wrapping around the external side walls and the wall-to-wall intersections of the structure.
Typically, at least one of the wall-to-wall intersections is an internal corner, the device further comprises a retainer member for running along the internal corner for being secured thereto, the retainer member forcing the wall layers of the liner to assume the internal corner and remain in place, whereby the wall layers run between the internal corner and the retainer member.
Preferably, the retainer member is an elongated elasticized member.
Typically, the heavy weights are bags filled with generally small and dense material, preferably sand.
Preferably, the structure further defines a roof extending from the external side walls, the roof and the external side walls defining roof-to-side wall intersections, the liner further forms generally elongated adjacent roof layers, each of the roof layers defining a first longitudinal end and a generally opposed second longitudinal end, each of the roof layers substantially runs from the wall layers covering a first one of the external side walls of the structure up to the roof and back down to the wall layers covering a second one of the external side walls generally opposed to the first one, the first and second longitudinal ends sealably attaching to the corresponding wall layers, the roof layers for running adjacent the roof-to-side wall intersections so as to minimize air volume therebetween.
Preferably, the structure further defines a surrounding ground opening cover, the liner further forms generally elongated adjacent opening layers for covering the ground opening cover, each of the opening layers overlapping each successive adjacent one of the opening layers
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