GB2369646A

GB2369646A - Flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2369646A
Application number: GB0126351A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Michael Pugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-02
Filing date: 2001-11-02
Publication date: 2002-06-05
Also published as: GB0026798D0; GB0126351D0

Abstract

A flood barrier has a panel 9 is releasably secured over an aperture to be protected, preferably by sliding within a channel 4 of a frame 3. The frame is screwed 5 to the building and the channel includes a seal (8, figure 2). Also disclosed is the use of more than one panel (figure 4), with a seal (13) between. A handle may be provided on the panel to assist insertion and removal and there may be a mechanism to urge the panel into contact with the seal.

Description

BARRIER The present invention relates to apparatus for providing a substantially watertight barrier across all or part of an opening in a building or the like and particularly, but not exclusively, for providing a watertight barrier over all or part of a doorway.

Conventional outside doors of buildings do not effect a watertight seal with the doorway in which they are installed when they are closed. As such they are unable to prevent ingress of water into a building when the area surrounding the building is subject to flooding.

A conventional way of seeking to prevent ingress of flood water into a building is to form a temporary barrier with sandbags by piling them in the doorway of a building. Sandbags, however, have a number of disadvantages. They do not form a barrier of sufficient integrity to substantially prevent ingress of water. They are also bulky, making them difficult to store in sufficient number to deploy in the event of a flood, and heavy making them unsuitable for rapid construction of a barrier, particularly by the elderly.

The present invention seeks to provide alternative and improved means for providing a substantially watertight barrier.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for providing a substantially watertight barrier across all or part of an opening in a building or the like comprising a panel impervious to water and means

for releasably securing the panel across all or part of the opening and effecting a substantially watertight seal between the panel and at least part of a surface of the building or the like surrounding the opening.

The panel preferably comprises a panel of sheet material for example glass or plastics material such as polycarbonate. The panel may be about 10mm thick.

The means for releasably securing preferably comprises a channel into which an edge of the panel may be received. The channel preferably includes means for forming a seal between the channel and the panel when received therein. The means for forming a seal may comprise a resilient member received into the channel.

The channel is preferably defined by a formation, for example a metal extrusion. The formation is preferably arranged to be fastened around the periphery of an opening in a building or the like. Means may be provided to effect a watertight seal between the formation and the building or the like. Alternatively, the channel may be defined by a formation in conjunction with a building or the like to which it is fastened.

In one embodiment a formation defines, either alone or in conjunction with a building or the like, two substantially parallel, spaced apart, opposed channels and a third channel extending between the two and the panel comprises two substantially parallel edges arranged to be received into the spaced apart channels, and a third edge arranged to be received into the

third channel. All three channels may be defined by a single formation. All three channels may be continuous. The formation is preferably adapted to be fastened to a doorframe. Alternatively or additionally a channel or channels for receiving a panel may be comprised in a doorframe. In one preferred arrangement a channel extends down each of two opposite upright sides of a doorframe and along a slot in the ground between the two upright sides of the doorframe.

The panel may include means to enable it to be more easily handled, for example one or more handles, apertures or recesses.

In another embodiment the panel comprises a seal and means are provided for urging the panel against a surface surrounding an opening to effect a seal between the panel and the surface.

The apparatus may comprise more than one panel in which case means are preferably provided for effecting a seal between the panels, particularly adjacent edges of the panels.

The apparatus allows for easy installation and removal of a watertight barrier across an opening in a building or the like. Installation is quicker and easier and the integrity of the barrier better than with the use of sandbags.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows apparatus according to the invention installed in a

doorway with a cut-away showing part of the apparatus extending below ground level ; Figure 2 shows a cut-away view of part of the channel formation of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an expanded cross-sectional view of part of the channel formation of Figure 1 fastened to a doorframe; and Figure 4 shows how two panels may be installed in a doorway.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows a doorway 1 in which a conventional doorframe 2 comprising two upright members joined at their uppermost ends by a horizontal member is installed. The lowermost ends of the upright members of the doorframe 2 are supported on the ground.

For clarity no door is shown in the doorway.

An aluminium channel formation 3 is fastened to the doorframe 2.

The formation 3 extends down the lower part of each upright member of the doorframe 2 and between the upright members of the doorframe in a slot extending below ground level between those members. As such a substantial part of the lowermost portion of the formation 3 is sunk into the ground.

The formation 3 is formed from an aluminium extrusion of generally square J-shaped cross-section and as such defines a channel 4. The channel 4 is directed inwardly relative to the doorframe. The wider of the two substantially parallel sides defining the channel 4 is positioned towards

the doorframe 2 and the narrower side away from the doorframe 2. The formation 3 is secured to the doorframe 2 by means of fasteners 5, for example screws, extending through apertures 6 in the wider side of the formation 3 positioned nearest to the doorframe 2. The increased width of this side allows access to the screws 5 with a screwdriver.

A sealing means 7 is disposed between the formation 3 and the doorframe 2 to effect a watertight seal between the two. The sealing means 7 may comprise an adhesive or sealant applied as a liquid prior to fastening the formation 3 to the doorframe 2. Alternatively and/or additionally it may comprise a gasket. Similarly a suitable sealant (not shown) is disposed between the formation 3 and the slot extending in the ground between the upright portions of the doorframe 2.

A seal 8 is also disposed in the channel 4 defined by the formation 3. The seal 8 comprises an extrusion of generally square U-shaped crosssection formed from a suitable resilient material, for example a rubber material. The seal 8 defines a channel within the channel 4.

The channels defined by the formation 3 and seal 8 are arranged to receive a glass panel 9. The panel is generally rectangular in shape and sized so that it may slide into the formation 3 so that three of its edges are received into the channel 4 defined by the formation 3 with the seal 8 effecting a watertight seal between the panel 9 and the formation 3. Since the formation 3 is fastened to the doorframe 2/ground with a watertight seal

it will be appreciated that the panel 9, when inserted into the formation 3, forms a watertight barrier across part of the doorway 1.

The panel 9 is shown only partially inserted into the channels 4. In use it would be fully inserted and extend slightly below ground level.

The panel includes six apertures 10 through which a person may insert their fingers to facilitate lowering the panel 9 into, or removing it from, the formation 3.

The panel 9 can be easily and quickly inserted into the formation 3 to form a watertight barrier and, when no longer required, can be easily removed and stored. As the barrier only extends over about half the height of the doorframe it can easily be traversed to permit passage of persons and goods through the doorway 1.

It will be appreciated, however, that if the level of water reaches that of the apertures 10 formed through the panel 9 or, in any event, the top edge of the panel 9, water can pass through the doorway 1. In these circumstances, a second panel 11 may be fitted above the first panel.

Figure 4 shows such a second panel 11 which comprises a glass or plastics panel surrounded by an aluminium frame 12. A sleeve member 13 is placed partially over the top edge of the first, lower, panel 9 sufficient to cover the apertures 10 in that panel and the second, upper, panel 11 is received into the remainder of the sleeve member 13. The sleeve member 13 serves to support the second panel 11 as well as cover the apertures 10 in the first

panel 9. The sleeve member 13 includes sealing means (not shown) to prevent ingress of water between the panels 9, 11 and the sleeve member 13. A seal (not shown) in the form of a resilient tube is fastened around the surface of the frame 12 of the second panel 11 directed towards the doorframe 2. The second panel is urged towards the doorframe both by the sleeve member 13 and brackets 14 which are screwed to the doorframe. 2 This serves to effect a seal between the second panel 11 and the doorframe 2.

When the illustrated apparatus is installed in a doorway of a building the channel 3 may be installed on the side of the doorframe directed to either the inside or outside of the building.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only.

Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for providing a substantially watertight barrier across all or part of an opening in a building or the like comprising a panel impervious to water and means for releasably securing the panel across all or part of the opening and effecting a substantially watertight seal between the panel and at least part of a surface of the building or the like surrounding the opening.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a sheet of glass or plastics material.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel comprises a sheet of polycarbonate.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for releasably securing comprises a channel into which an edge of the panel may be received.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the channel includes means for forming a seal between the channel and the panel when received therein.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for forming a seal comprises a resilient member disposed in the channel.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the channel is defined by a formation arranged to be fastened around the periphery of an opening in a building or the like.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the formation defines two substantially parallel, spaced apart, opposed channels and a third channel extending between the two and the panel comprises two substantially parallel edges arranged to be received into the spaced apart channels, and a third edge arranged to be received into the third channel.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8 comprising a doorframe and wherein at least a part of the channel (s) is/are defined by the doorframe.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel includes one or more handles, apertures or recesses to facilitate handling thereof.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel comprises a seal and means are providing for urging the panel against a surface surrounding an opening to effect a seal between the panel and the surface.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising more than one panel and means for effecting a seal between adjacent edges of the panels.
13. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.