GB2462676A

GB2462676A - Flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2462676A
Application number: GB0815202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Allan Bailey
Original assignee: Lameek Ltd
Current assignee: Lameek Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-20
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-20
Also published as: GB2462676B; GB0815202D0

Abstract

A floor barrier for an opening in a building, the flood barrier comprising accessible enclosures (18 Figure 4) located at the side and bottom of the opening, the enclosures each containing a section of impervious or water resistant membrane material 3. When deployed the sections of membrane material are joined together to form a barrier, there may also be an enclosure at the top of the opening which contains attachment points 6 14 for the top of the membrane. The membrane material may be flexible. The sections may be joined together using a waterproof zip or zipper 5 10. The top attachment points on the membrane may be holes, eyelets 6 which attach to hooks 14. Once deployed the flexible membrane may be supported against deflection by the door/grille etc. located in the opening, alternatively a temporary barrier may be used to support the flexible membrane.

Description

FLOOD SHIELD

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a device providing a method for constructing a shield to an opening or to a louvre, a grille, a door, a window, a frame, or other form of vertical or inclined opening or aperture construction in a wall or structure, such that it can be rapidly protected so as to stop or greatly reduce the ingress of water and/or other liquids and floating debris and detritus into a building and in particular but not exclusively into an underground railway station, an underground tunnel, electrical sub-station, hospital, residential establishment, house, basement, or other such location to be protected.

It is a particular feature of this invention that the shield is a permanent part of the opening or aperture construction that it can be activated when a warning of an impending flood or other threat is received and which, apart from a key or other means of restricting access to the operative parts of the device if so required, is complete and functions without the need for detachable or loose components.

Therefore, it is the purpose of this invention to provide a means of permanently storing in a concealed manner in a device or construction fabricated from stainless steel, aluminium, wood, plastic, or other similar material, an impermeable membrane, from rubber or similar materials, that can be erected quickly without specialised knowledge or tools.

Accordingly, a first aspect of this invention resides in special bottom frame or base unit in the form of a box or tray, fabricated from stainless steel, aluminium, or other metal, or of wood or plastic, and fitted with a hinged, pivoted, or removable lid or access panel and generally located in the bottom member of the opening construction.

A second aspect of the invention resides in a membrane from rubber or other flexible material that is located within the special bottom frame or base unit or units, and which is clamped or bonded or otherwise secured along the lower edge to the inner surface of the enclosure or enclosures in a generally watertight manner, the membrane being provided with eyelets or alternative attachments along the opposing upper edge for the purposes of securing the membrane in position when deployed as later described A third aspect of the invention resides in the provision of one half of a zip, or other closure mechanism, of generally watertight design fixed along each of the side edges of the membrane, which is to be are arranged in a vertical or upwardly sloping aspect once the membrane has been deployed, one half of the zip or closure mechanism in the unzipped conditionh being so attached 4O as described and the other half whilst still attached to the other half at the lowermost extremity, residing in the enclosure in the special side frame members as later described A fourth aspect of the invention resides in the provision of special side frame units in the form of a box or tray, fabricated from stainless steel, aluminium, or other metal, or of wood or plastic, and fitted with a hinged, pivoted or removable lid or access panel and generally located in the upright or upwardly sloping side member of the opening construction, the enclosure so formed providing a housing for the other half of the zip or closure mechanism, the outer side of the half-zip being bonded or clamped or otherwise secured in a generally watertight manner to the inner surface of the side frame enclosure. so

A fifth aspect of the invention resides in the provision of special top frame unit or units in the form of a box or tray, fabricated from stainless steel, aluminium, or other metal, or of wood or plastic, and fitted with a hinged, pivoted or removable lid or access panel and generally located in the top member of the opening construction, the enclosure so formed providing a housings for 5'S hooks or other means of attaching the top edge of the deployed membrane so as to hold the membrane in the vertical or upwardly sloping position as previously mentioned A sixth aspect of the invention resides in an assembly of a number of special bottom frame or base units similarly constructed and fixed end to end, together with a number of top frame or head units 0 similarly fixed end to end, thereby when assembled effectively forming a continuous box or tray of greater width dimension where required.

A seventh aspect of the invention resides in the provision of enlarged side enclosures extending above the top of the opening or aperture which, together with a membrane of greater dimensions, may provide a shield to a greater height than the top of the opening itself.

It is the purpose of the assemblies described above that, when required to provide a shield or protection, against the entry of water and/or other liquids and debris and detritus through the form of vertical or inclined opening or aperture, the lid or access panel to the bottom enclosure or enclosures may be opened and the membrane be deployed from the bottom enclosure, remaining attached by its lower edge to the inner surface of the enclosure as previously described, and be unfolded and attached to fixing points at the top of the opening or aperture, the half-zips on the side edges of the membrane then being united with the other half on each side of the opening, having been revealed by opening of the lids or access panels in the side enclosure in a similar 1-5 manner to the bottom, so as to complete a watertight or substantially watertight barrier.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of the flood shield will now be described by way of example referenced to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a special bottom frame or base unit consisting of a bottom box (1) with a hinged, pivoted, or removable bottom lid or access panel (2) enclosing a folded or rolled membrane from rubber or other flexible non-permeable material (3) clamped or bonded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the enclosure (4) and provided with one half 5 of a zip or other closure mechanism attached to each of its side edges (5), and provided with eyelets or rings in the top edge(6) for attachment when the membrane is deployed, the frame or base unit forming the bottom member or members being part of the framing of an opening or aperture, a louvre, a grille, a door, a window or similar element (7), set in a building or structure (7A) and being sealed into the building or structure with a mastic seal or similar (7B).

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through a special side frame or jamb unit consisting of a side box (8) with a hinged, pivoted, or removable side lid or access panel (9) enclosing the other half of the zip or other closure mechanism (10), with the outer edge of the zip or other closure mechanism clamped or bonded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the enclosure (11), the side frame or jamb unit forming the side member or members being part of the framing of an opening or aperture, a louvre, a grille, a door, a window or similar element (7), set in a building or structure (7A) and being sealed into the building or structure with a mastic seal or similar (7B).

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a special top frame or head unit consisting of a top box (12) with a hinged, pivoted, or removable top lid or access panel (13), enclosing hooks or similar devices (14) for attaching the eyelets or rings in the top edge of the membrane so as to secure the membrane in position when deployed, the top frame or head unit forming the top member or members being part of the framing an opening or aperture, a louvre, a grille, a door, a window or similar element (7) set in a buildimg or structure (7A), and being sealed into the building or structure with a mastic seal or similar (7B).

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the opening or aperture (7), with the bottom frame unit box (1) and lid (2) in the closed position, the side frame unit box (8) and lid (9) in the closed position, and the top frame unit box (12) and lid (13) in the closed position, the frame units framing an opening or aperture (7).

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the opening with the membrane (3) deployed so as to shield the opening as previously described, the bottom, side and top frame unit lids being in the open position (2), (9) & (13) respectively, the membrane being sealed along the bottom edge (4), the two halves of the respective zips (5)+(1O) on the side edges being united and zipped up, and the eyelets or rings on the top edge (6) being attached to the hooks or devices (14) such as to retain the membrane in position.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of an opening (7) with extended special side frame units (15) so that an extended membrane may be deployed and attached to external hooks or devices (16) so as to provide a shield to a greater depth than the opening or aperture.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An anti-flooding device consisting of accessible enclosures at the bottom and to each side, and where required to the top, of an opening in the structure of a building, the opening being clear or containing a grille, a louvre, a window, a door or similar building element, the bottom and side accessible enclosures each containing a section of an impervious or water-resistant membrane material which, when the sections of the membrane are joined together, form a barrier or shield against the passage of water through the openings in the structure, the top accessible enclosure containing attachment points for the support of the deployed membrane when required.
2. An anti-flooding device according to Claim I wherein the bottom accessible * * * ** * enclosure contains a central section of membrane material, folded or rolled when * I *.S.* : *: :* stored, with the lower edge of the central section of membrane material being fixed and sealed to the frame of the device and with one half of a watertight or water-resistant zip-type mechanism fixed to one of the side edges of the central membrane section and a similar half of another watertight or water-resistant zip-type mechanism fixed to the opposing side edge of the membrane, together with smaller side sections of membrane material each stored in the side accessible enclosures with the left hand edge of the side membrane section in the left hand enclosure being sealed to the frame of the device and with the second half of the zip-type mechanism on the left hand edge of the central membrane in the lower enclosure being attached to the right hand edge of the left hand side membrane section and similarly a side section of membrane material stored in the right hand accessible enclosure being attached and sealed on its right hand edge to the frame of the device and with the second half of the zip-type mechanism on the right hand side edge of the central membrane in the lower enclosure being attached to the left hand edge of the right hand side membrane section.
3. A device according to Claims 1 and 2 above whereby once the covers to the accessible enclosures have been opened and the sections of membrane have been unfolded, the respective Sections of the zip-type mechanisms can be united on each side of the central membrane section so as to form water resistant joints and thereby forming a joined-up and continuous membrane as between the lower and side edges of the frame of the device and so provide anti-flood protection to the opening.
4. A device, according to any preceding claim, wherein the joined-up sections of membrane material have provision for holes, eyelets, or similar mechanisms, along the top edge so as to allow the membrane to be attached to a hook, hooks, or a clamp or clamps, located in the top accessible enclosure of the device. :
5. A device, according to any preceding claim, consisting of any number of central *...

*** 40 section membranes whereby the outer edge of the left and right hand central section *:** membranes are joined by zip-type mechanisms to the left and right hand side sections of membrane material respectively and as previously described and the other edges of the central section membranes are joined to the adjacent central *..: section membranes by zip-type mechanisms so as form a continuous membrane across a wide opening of unrestricted length.
6. A device, according to any preceding claim, whereby the united membrane assembly, once deployed, is supported against deflection by water excluded by the membrane by the grille, louvre, door, window, or other building element, located in the opening.
7. A device, according to any preceding claim, wherein the united membrane assembly, once deployed, is supported by a temporary barrier erected in the opening so as to provide support against deflection by water excluded by the membrane.
8. A device, according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane assembly is mounted onto an opening in an inclined surface.
9. A device, according to any preceding claim, whereby the membrane assembly is fitted to an opening which is curved or faceted on plan. * * * ** . * **. * S S.. * S. * S * * SISS..... * *S S * * I *S