GB2359582A

GB2359582A - Flood barrier for architrave attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2359582A
Application number: GB9929913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Whyte
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-18
Filing date: 1999-12-18
Publication date: 2001-08-29
Also published as: GB9929913D0

Abstract

A flood barrier for architrave attachment of rectangular configuration comprising a U-shaped steel section frame 1 on three sides and square section steel at the top of the frame 3 and as cross-pieces (2). The frame 1 houses an inflatable rubber tube 4 within its U-shaped channels and the frame is enclosed with metal panels 10, held in place with bedding mastic and fixed with rivets 11. The inflatable tube may also have a stoppered plug 6 at one end and an air-valve 5 at the other for inflation in the same manner as an automobile wheel inner tube. The barrier may be placed in a door frame and locked against the architraves using screw adjusting clamps 8 to obtain a complete water seal when the tube has been inflated.

Description

1.

h % 1 2359582 1 FLOOD BARRIER FOR ARCHITRAVE ATTACHMENT This invention relates to a flood barrier which is intended for use in the domestic situation but which is equally applicable as a flood water divertor across any con- ventional rectangular shaped entrance to any building.

In recent years one has been confronted in television news bulletins with the sorry signt of householders standing knee-deep in flood water which has entered their houses and invariably the only source of protection available has been belatedly placed sandbags set in their doorways by the army or local authority workmen.

Sandbags are efficient in diverting the direction of flow of flood water 'out they are permeable to water and therefore do not constitute a true water barrier.

There is a need for a simple device which can be custom fitted to the botton section of household door frames and thereafter left aside in convenient storage so that they can be instantly fitted to all outside door architraves at the first warning of imminent flood conditions.

Such a device is the subject of the present invention where there is provided a flood barrier.9for architraval attachment,comprising a U-shaped frame composed of U-shaped channel section steel on three sides and a square section steel member,as the frame closing member,on the top side and where the frame is further strength- enedwith square section steel cross-pieces so that the now rigid frame can house a hollow cored inflatable rubber tube within the peripheral U-chahnels of the frame 1 $ 1 1 an( here the frame is enclosed with galvanised steel side panels which are pressed to the frame with bedding mastic and fixed in place with rivets and where the in- flatable tube has a stopper plug on one end and an air-valve at the other to allow for inflation in the manner of an automobile inner tube and where,when in use,the flood barrier is locked against the door architraves by the use of screw- adjustable abutment clamps which hold it in place so that a complete surround seal within the doorframe is accomplished after the peripheral rubber tube has been inflated.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described,by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flood barrier ready for fitment between the door architraves and the rubber tube thereafter inflated.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the flood barrier of Figure 1 with the side -oan- els removed to show the strengthened framework.

Referring to the drawings the flood barrier for architrave attachment comprises a U-shaped framework 1 of Uchannel section steel which has been strenghtened with square section steel cross-pieces 2 and topped with a frame closing member 3 of square section steel and where the framework 1 houses an inflatable rubber tube 4 with an air-valve 5 on one end and a sealing plug 6 on the other and where the square section top member 7 has closed ends which accomodate adjustable abutment clamps 8 with hexagonal heads 9 for spanner tightening against the door's upright architraves and where finally the barrier is enclosed with side panels 10 which 1 h - 3 1 are Aulked with mastic and fixed to the frame with rivets 11.

When fitting the flood barrier by abutment between the door architraves it will' usually be found that the bottom of the door frame joins the doorstep in a sharp right angled edge s6 it will be recommended that the barrier device be custom fit- ted by smoothing-off the doorstep/architrave junction with a run of sand/cement mixture so that a good water seal is obtained when the rubber tube is inflated.

4.

Claims

1. A flood barrier for architrave attachment and of rectangular configuration comprising a U-shaped frame composed of U-shaped channel section steel on three sides and a square section steel member,as a frame closing member,on the top side and where the frame is further strengthened with square section steel,as cross- pieces,so that the now rigid frame can house an inflatable rubber tube within the peripheral U-channels of the frame and where the frame is enclosed with galv- anised steel,or other metal,.side panels which are pressed to the frame with bed- ding mastic and fixed in place with rivets.

2.A flood barrier for architrave attachment according to Claim 1 wherein the infl- atable tube has a stoppered plug at one end and an air-valve at the other to allow for inflation in the same manner of an automobile wheel inner tube.

3.A flood barrier for architrave attachment according to any of the above Claims wherein the barrier frame can be placed in a door frame and locked against the architraves by the use of screw adjusting clamps which hold it in place so that a complete surround water seal is accomplished once the peripheral P-ubber tube has been inflated.

4. A flood barrier for architrave attachment substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.