GB2360813A

GB2360813A - Domestic flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2360813A
Application number: GB0104152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Georg Buck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-22
Filing date: 2001-02-20
Publication date: 2001-10-03
Also published as: ES1048429U; GB0104449D0; ITBZ20010003U1; FR2806123A3; ES1048429Y; DE20003159U1; GB2359846A; GB0104426D0; GB0104152D0

Abstract

A flood barrier for openings 11 in a house 10 comprises a barrier panel 5 and means for fixing 32, 42 temporarily the panel to the house in a watertight manner. The fixing means may be nuts and bolts, the nuts mounted in holes in the building wall and surrounded concentrically by watertight bushings 33. The join between the bolts and the panel may be sealed by two sealing washers (D2, R, figure 6). Mounting of the panel may be via inter-engaging frames on the panel and on the building. These frames may be of box, L or U shaped cross-section. The barrier may be flexible, allowing it to accommodate protrusions such as window cills and door handles.

Description

2360813 APPARATUS FOR FLOOD PROTECTION IN HOUSES The present invention

relates to an apparatus for the flood protection of houses. Numerous houses in coastal towns or near to lakes or rivers are in flood danger areas, in which floods occur again and again. Flooding has increased in the last few years due to climatic conditions and has led to considerable material damage amongst other things. Some houses in particularly endangered locations are under the threat of serious flooding several times a year. In most flood catastrophes houses are not completely flooded in the flood areas but rather the water usually only rises to the height of the first storey of the house. Where doors and windows are not of a watertight design the water penetrates through the doors and windows that lie underneath the water level into the house. The water that has entered the houses makes the houses uninhabitable and their inhabitants have to be evacuated. This is very time consuming and expensive. Additionally the water that has entered the property and the dirt carried with the water destroy furniture, fixtures and fittings, electrical equipment and all of the interior rooms of the houses, so that after the water has receded, consideiable renovation is required. This is also very time consuming and expensive.

It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide a well priced and simple apparatus that makes it possible to protect the interior rooms of houses from floodwater. It should also be possible to fit and remove the device easily and it should be easy to store.

A 2 According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for protecting houses from flood water, wherein the apparatus is provided substantially in two parts and comprises a water tight partiti6n wall adapted to be fitted and removed, and a first and second means for temporary fixing of the partition wall to the outside of a house, and wherein the partition wall and the means for temporary fixing are so formed that the partition wall is adapted to close an opening of a house in a watertight manner when mounted to the house.

The apparatus may be so formed that a window or a door can be closed in a watertight manner from the outside by means of the partition waH.

The fixing means may comprise the first fixing means arranged adjacent the opening of the house and connected to the house in a solid and watertight manner; and the fixing means may comprise the second fixing means connected to the partition wall in a watertight manner.

The first fixing means and the second fixing means may be adapted to be connected to each other in a watertight manner.

The first mcans may comprise a plurality of nuts in watertight bushings in a house wall, and the second means may comprise screws corresponding to the first means, which are arranged in suitable holes in the partition wall and at least one seal is arranged between the partition wall and house wall.

The first means for fixing may comprise a) a first solid frame, or 3 b) a first frame having L-shaped cross section, or c) a first frame having U-shaped cross section and the second means for fixing may comprise a second frame corresponding to the first frame and having a) U-shaped cross section or b) L-shaped cross section or c) a solid frame (4), wherein at least one seal is arranged on the frames.

The first and second frame may be closed and larger than the opening in the house.

The frames may be formed so that they have a U-shaped or L-shaped cross section that is 9 arranged substantially vertical to the house wall or the partition wall.

The frames may be formed so that they have a U-shaped or L-shaped cross section that is substantially vertical and on the ground side substantially parallel to the house wall or the partition wall.

The partition wall may be made substantially of wood, plastic or metal, and the fixing means and the frames may be made substantially of metal.

The partition wall may comprise a waterproof plastic sheet having a surface larger than the a surface including the frames and the partition wall may be connected in a watertight and canvas like fashion manner to the frame.

4 Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a shematic view of a house; Fig. 2a and b show a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the areas B in Fig. 2a and b in a fitted state and a section through the line A - A of Fig. 2a and b; Fig. 4a and 5a show a second embodiment of the invention; Fig 4b and 5b show a section through the line A-A of Fig. 4a and Fig Sa respectively; Fig. 4c and 5c show a modification of the embodiment of Fig 4b and 5b; Fig. 6a is an enlarged drawing of the area B in Fig. 4a, b and 5a, b in a fitted state and a section through the line A-A of Fig. 4a and 5a,- 4 Fig. 6b shows a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 6a; Fig 7a shows a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7b and c show a section through the line C -C and D-D respectively of Fig. 7a; g Fig. 8a shows a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8b shows a section through the line A-A of Fig. Sa during fitting; and Fig. 9a and 9b show further embodiment of the invention.

A basic object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for flood protection of houses, which is providedsubstantially in two parts and consists of a watertight partition wall that can be fitted and dismantled and additionally of means for temporarily fitting the partition wall to the outside of a house, so that the partition wall provides a watertight closure to an opening on the house. The means for temporary fixing ofthe partition wall comprise a first means for fixing, that is fitted in the vicinity of the opening on the house and connected to the house in a secure and watertight manner and also a second means for fixing that is connected in a watertight manner to the partition wall, whereby the first and second fixing means are formed in such a way that they can be connected to each other in a watertight manner.

To clarify the following detailed description of the embodiments, Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a house 1, having a house wall 10, a window 11, a door 11 A and a roof, and which is on a piece of land 14.

Fig. 2a and 2b show the window 11 in the house wall 10 with a first embodiment of a flood protection apparatus 2 of the invention, which is generally provided in two pieces. The apparatus 2 consists of a watertight partition wall 5 that can be fitted and dismantled, which is shown in Fig 0 2a and also includes means 3, 4 for temporary fixing of the partition wall to the outside of the wall 6 10 of a house 1. In so doing the first means 3 is arranged in the vicinity of the window 11 on the wall 10 and fixed tight to the wall and second means 4 for temporary fixing are arranged on the partition wall 5 corresponding with the arrangement of the first means 3 on the house wall 10.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged drawing of a section through the device 2 along line A -A of Fig. 2a, and b in a fitted state. In this embodiment of the invention the partition wall 5 consists of a wood, plastic or metal plate, the first means for fixing 3 are formed from watertight bushings 3 3 that are recessed in the wall 10 using nuts 3 2 anchored in them; and the second means for fixing 4 is formed by suitable screws 42 arranged in the partition wall 5. The partition wall 5 can now be brought into a suitable position so that the screws 42 can be screwed into the nuts 32, whereby the partition wall 5 is placed on the wall 10 so that it covers the window 11. There is also an elastic watertight layer D 1 on the partition wall 5 on the house wall side. The elastic layer D 1 is brought into press contact with the partition wall 5 as well as with the house wall 10 by suitable tightening of the screws 42, whereby the window 11 is closed watertight from the outside. The above embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for the windows and doors without projecting wall parts or window sills and with an evenly plastered wall surrounding the window 11 orthe door 11A.

Fig. 4a, b and c and Fig. 5a, b and c show a further embodiment of the flood protection apparatus 2 of the invgntion having a partition wall 5 and first 3 and second means 4 for temporary fixing of the partition wall 5 on the outside of a house 1. The first means for temporary fixing 3 consists of a closed frame 3 1 that is placed on the wall 10 of a house 1 and embedded in the wall 10 in a suitable way. The frame 31 is preferably provided closed and placed around the opening of a window 11, for example. As shown in Fig. 4b and c the frame can be a recess in the wall 10 or 7 a projection in the wall 10. The device 2 also consists of a partition wall 5 shown in Fig. 5a, on which a fraffle 41 built to correspond with frame 31 is placed in watertight fashion. The frame 41 is formed in such a way so that it provides the projections that correspond to the recesses of frame 31 or recesses that correspond with the projections in frame 3 1. Both frames 3 1 and 41 are connected to one another in a similar way as in the embodiment of Fig. 2 and 3, which will now be described with reference to Figures 8a and b.

Fig, 6a shows an enlarged view of the partition wall 5 with the frames 31 and 41 of Fig, 4 and 5 in a fitted state, as a section along the line A-A of Fig. 4a and 5a. A first frame 31 is let into a recess of a house wall 10 near to e.g. a window 11 and consists of a metal frame 3 1 with a suitable U-shaped cross section. An elastic seal DI is also fitted on the metal frame 3 1. Further several nuts 3 2 are arranged in watertight bushings 3 3 at the rear on the frame 3 1, which sit in deep recesses in the wall 10. Frame 3 1 and bushings 3 3 are connected to the wall in a watertight fashion. A frame 41 corresponding to the metal frame 31 is placed on the partition wall 5 and made watertight. The frame 41 can as shown in the drawing of Fig 6a be solid or also have a Ushaped cross section, whereby in this, case a seal D 1 is also arranged in the frame 41 in a suitable way. Screws 42 are placed in the frame 41 and the partition wall 5, which correspond to the arrangement ofthe nuts 3 2 on the frame 3 1, whereby suitable sealing rings R, D2 can be provided between the head of the screws 42 and the partition wall 5. The frames 31 and 41 are made of suitable metal and the partition wall 5 can be made of suitable wood, metal or plastic sheet.

The apparatus 2 of Fig. 6a, as well as the device 2 of Fig. 2 and 3, make it possible to connect the partition wall 5 in a watertight manner with the house wall 10, by screwing the screws 42 into the nuts 3 2 on the wall side frame 3 1, and the seal D 1 is brought into watertight press contact with 0 8 the wall side frame 31 and partition wall side frame 41. Apparatus 2 can also be removed from the house wall again by loosening the screws.

Fig. 6b shows a further embodiment 2 of the invention, a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 6a, having a separating wall 5, a separating wall side frame 41 and a house wall side frame 3 1. The house wall side frame 3 1 is also preferably recessed into the house wall 10 and also has a Ushaped cross section so that a recess is also formed in the frame 3 1, in which a first seal D 1 A is arranged. The frame 31 also has a nut 32 on the reverse for accepting a screw 42 arranged on the partition wall 5, whereby the nut 32 opposed to the nut of Fig. 6a is arranged in a second recess opposite to the first recess but offset laterally outwards, which is large enough for the screw 43 to be screwed into the nut. The second recess is also lined in a suitable way with a watertight bushing 33. A frame 41 with an L-shaped cross section is also arranged on the.partition wall 5 with the wall side frame 31 and connected in a watertight manner with the partition wall 5. The frame 41 is placed on the partition wall 5 so that a projection of the L-shaped cross section corresponds with the Ushaped section of the wall-side frame 3 1. The partition wall side section of the frame 41 also has a second seal D I B on the surface facing frame 3 1.

The partition wall 5 of the apparatus 2 of Fig. 6b is also easy to fit and dismantle, as are the partition walls 5 of Fig. 2,3 and 6a. The screws 42 arranged on the frame 41 and the partition wall 5 are screwed into the nuts 32 on the wall side frame 31 so that the seals D 1 A and D IB come into press contact with the frames 31 and 41 and the partition wall 5 is connected with the house wall in a water tight fashion or released from the nuts. Further seals D2 and R are advantageously arranged between screw head 42 and partition wall 5.

9 The embodiments of the invention described with reference to Figs 2 to 6 are particularly suitable to protect windows 11 without window sills from floods and the embodiments described with reference to Fig 4 to 6 can be used with any type of plastered walls 10.

The embodiments described can also be used as shown in Fig 3a for watertight closure of the opening of a door 1 IA near the ground. Usually this also requires that a suitable area 313 is created in the area of the door sill in ground 14 that makes it possible to connect the partition wall with the house wall 10 on the ground side. When the partition wall 5 is dismantled this area 3B in the ground 14 is covered with a suitable cover 3D. Fig 7a shows such a door 11 A near the ground with a wall side frame 3 1.

Figs. 7b and c show sections through the frame 31 of 7a along the lines C - C or D - D of Fig. 7a. The frame 31 of Fig. 7a, b and c can for example be U-shaped, as the previously described frame of Fig. 6a so that the frame 3 is closed, whereby the U-shaped recesses are arranged vertical to wall 10 and partition wall 5.

The floor side section of frame 31 can also advantageously be provided paraflel to the house wall 10 and partition wall 5. In this case a corresponding section of the partition wall side frame 41, 9 not shown in the drawing, is formed with a projecting section on both sides parallel to partition wall 5.

Figs 8a and b show a modification of the present invention in which suitable clamping devices K on wall 10 are fitted in such a way on the wall side frame 3 1 that the partition wall 5 is connected in a watertight manner to the house wall 10 whilst a swivel arm brings the clamping device K in 4 a suitable position above the partition wall 5 and the house wall 10 in press contact between the partition and house wall. This enables particularly simple fitting and removal of the protective apparatus 2 of the invention.

Figs 9a and b show a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the partition wall 5 consists of plastic sheet that is connected in a watertight manner with a frame 41, whereby the plastic sheet 5 is connected as canvas with frame 41. With this arrangement it is advantageously also possible to protect openings on a house from flood water, when combined with a frame 31 fitted on the wall side around a house 1 opening, even when there are projecting elements on the house wall 10 near these openings. The frame 3 1 and the frame 41 can also enclose an opening on a house, which has such elements as e.g. windowsills. Because the surface of the plastic sheet connected to the frame 41 as canvas is larger than the flat surface which includes the frame 4 1, the sheet can also cover the projecting elements in the area between house wall 10, house opening 11, 11 A and frames 31, 41. When the water rises the sheet 5 adapts itself to the contour of the house surface to which frames 3,4 are connected, whereby in the case of rising and non- flowing water, only slight side pressures act on generally vertically extending surfaces. This means that the sheet can be formed sufficiently large and thin. It will be appreciated that the sheet can also be made of elastic material.

The present invention makes it possible in a simple and effective way to protect the interior of houses from flood water and the damage connected with it and the costs which then arise. As has already been said it is simple to fit and remove and can also be stored in garages or gardens without requiring a special storage area.

Claims

1 An apparatus for protecting houses ftom flood water, wherein the apparatus is provided substantially in two parts and comprises a water tight partition wall adapted to be fitted and removed, and a first and second means for temporary fixing of the partition wall to the outside of a house, and wherein the partition wall and the means for temporary fixing are so formed that the partition wall is adapted to close an opening of a house in a watprtight manner when mounted to the house.

2 An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is so formed that a window or a door can be closed in a watertight manner from the outside by means of the partition wall.

3 An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing means comprise the first fixing means arranged adjacent the opening of the house and connected to the house in a solid 1 and watertight manner; and the fixing means comprise the second fixing means connected to the partition wall in a watertight manner.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the first fixing means and the second fixing means are adapted to be connected to each other in a watertight manner.

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5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the first means comprises a plurality of nuts in watertight bushings in a house wall, and the second means comprises screws corresponding to the first means, which are arranged in suitable holes in the partition wall and at least one seal is arranged between the partition wall and house wall.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first means for fixing comprises a a) a first sofid frame, or b) a first frame having L-shaped cross section, or c) a first frame having U-shaped cross section and the second means for fixing comprises a second fi---amecorresponding to the first fi---ame and having a) U-shaped cross section or b) L-shaped cross section or c) a solid ftame (4), wherein at least one seal is arranged on the frames.

7. An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the first and second frame are closed and larger than the opening in the house.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fi---amesare formed so that they have a U- shaped or L-shaped cross section that is arranged substantially vertical to the house wall A or the partition wall.

13 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the frames are formed so that they have a U- shaped or L-shaped cross section that is substantially vertical and on the ground side substantially parallel to the house wall or the partition wall.

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10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the partition wall is made substantially of wood, plastic or metal, and the fixing means and the frames are made of substantially of metal.

11. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the partition wall comprises a waterproof plastic sheet having a surface larger than the surface including the frames and the partition wall is connected in a watertight and canvas like fashion manner to the 4 frame.

12. An apparatus for protecting houses from flood water, the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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