GB2370065A

GB2370065A - Flood barrier for an aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2370065A
Application number: GB0126505A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Conrad Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-04
Filing date: 2001-11-05
Publication date: 2002-06-19
Also published as: GB0027022D0; GB0126505D0

Abstract

A flood barrier for an aperture in a building comprising a sheet of flexible water proof material 21, sealing means 23 incorporated into the edges of the sheet, and a releasable fixing means 23, 27 to secure the sheet around the opening in a waterproof fashion. Also disclosed are rigid flood barriers shaped to allow for door handles, door drips, etc., figure 11, having concave and or ribbed 33 sheets for extra strength, and flanges around their periphery. Other fixing methods are disclosed including hook and latch fixings and toggle fixings.

Description

IMPROVED FLOOD BARRIER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device to prevent flood water entering a building or similar structure.

Such barriers will be defined as barriers"of the kind in question".

Background to the Invention Flooding is a recurring problem in certain areas and represents an ever-present threat to the homes of people living in such parts of the country Furthermore, flash flooding can occur in areas not normally susceptible to floods as a result of freak weather conditions Once flood water enters a house or other building it can cause extensive damage both to the building fabric and contents The most usual remedy is to use sand bags either at the doors and windows or encircling the entire property. Not only do these sand bags provide only a temporary barrier against flood water, they suffer from a number of other disadvantages : (a) They are difficult and time consuming to fill single handed, (b) they depend on having an adequate supply of both bags and sand to hand ; (c) the bags can often rot or fray during storage and/or in use causing the barrier to become less effective (d) filling sand bags in any number is a time consuming and tiring business and any flood warning period may not give sufficient time for the task to be completed.

This problem has been address in part in UK application 95 01110.2, which describes a type of flexible barrier which can be fitted to the lower part of a door or window to keep flood water out. However, if the water level rises to above the level of the barrier then the whole of that floor of the building will also flood

This specification should be read in conjunction with GB 95 01110 2 and for the avoidance of doubt the text and drawings of GB 95 011102 is understood to be inserted here It is the object of the present invention to overcome these problems and to provide a barrier of this kind that can be fitted quickly and easily to virtually any building by the householder or by the emergency services Summary of the Invention According to the present invention in its broadest sense, there is provided a barrier of the kind in question comprising, (i) an imperforate sheet of water-resistant material, (ii) waterproof sealing means incorporated into some or all of the periphery of the said flexible sheet, (iii) releasable fixing means adapted to releasably fix the flexible sheet around the periphery in a waterproof fashion, characterised in that the sheet of water-resistant material is adapted to span across an opening in the building and being so sized and shaped to take into account irregularities and protrusions associated with the opening such as rain water drips, door handles and the like.

Such a barrier is intended to function in itself as an effective flood deterrent in, for example, domestic houses without the need for sand barriers or other reinforcement. The object of the invention is to provide a barrier which needs no such reinforcement in most instances.

Preferably the sheet is substantially rigid and incorporates a flanged area around its perimeter.

Preferably the sheet is concave in shape, the concave surface being directed towards the building such that the sheet is adapted to resist the pressure of flood water.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the sheet is ribbed or corrugated for additional strength.

Preferably a flange extends around substantially the whole of the periphery of the sheet, the flanged area corresponding to the size and shape of the frame or periphery of the aperture to be made water tight In a further embodiment the sheet is flexible Preferably the releasable fixing means comprises a hook and latch arrangement, said latch being incorporated into the frame or periphery of the aperture.

In a further embodiment the releasable fixing means comprises a push-in fixing, said push-in fixing being adapted to engage in a co-operating manner in receiving fixings associated with the frame or periphery of the aperture, In a further embodiment the releasable fixing means comprises toggle fixings located at spaced intervals around the perimeter of the said opening, the periphery of the flexible sheet being adapted to engage said toggle fixings which, in use, retain the waterproofed sealing means in sealing contact with the surround of the opening Preferably the waterproof sealing means comprises a resilient flexible bead incorporated into the periphery of at least three sides of the flexible sheet, and a sealing strip adapted to be fixed around at least the lower portion of said opening, characterised in that the bead is a push-fit within the sealing strip and, once the bead and strip are engaged one with another, form a substantially waterproof seal therebetween.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a barrier according to a first embodiment awaiting installation round an opening, Figure 2 shows an enlargement of one corner of the barrier shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a typical arrangement of toggle fixings, Figure 4 shows an elevation of a batten around the periphery of a barrier according to the first embodiment ; Figure 5 shows a typical cross-section through a barrier adapted to accommodate a rain water drip on the bottom of a door, Figure 6 shows a box cornered reinforced plastic sheet, Figure 7,8, 8a and 9 show a second embodiment incorporating an alternative sealing means between the sheet and a door frame, Figure 10 shows face and side elevations of a flood barrier of a third embodiment together with cross-sectional views top and bottom of the barrier, Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the barrier in Figure 10,

Figure 12 shows a latch in perspective, Figure 13 shows a cross-section through a hook and latch fastener, Figure 14 shows a cross-section through A-A in Figure 13; Figures 15 to 18 show plan and cross-sectional views of two surface mounted fixings; Figure 19 shows various cross-sectional views of a screw and barrel fixing; and Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional view of a screw fixing Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this could be achieved. They are illustrated, and will now be described, by way of example only.

Figure 1 shows the main features of a first embodiment of the present invention. It illustrates a barrier 10 suitable for placing around a door or window opening of a building. It comprises a flexible sheet of waterproof material 11 formed into a so-called box section. The shape of the section is adapted to accommodate any irregularities in the door or window such as a rain water drip on the exterior of a door or a window sill. The two sides and the bottom of the sheet 11 are attached to a flexible plastic batten 12 which serves to stiffen this region as well as forming a backing for a foam rubber strip 13 of closed cell, and therefore waterproof, construction. The batten and rubber strip extend around three sides of the barrier 10.

In its simplest form this type of barrier requires no special preparation of the door or window surround. At the first warning of a flood it is simply taken out of store and secured around the opening in question, be it a door, window, airbrick or vent.

Any form of proprietary fixings such as screws, barbed nails or the like can be used. The components of the barrier are all flexible enough to deform around irregularities in the door or window frame and a foam rubber component 13 is deep enough to seal against the irregularities in brick work or the like.

Where the barrier 10 is required to be fixed in place very quickly i e where there is a known risk of flooding, fixings can be pre-inserted into the frame or brick work around each opening. A typical arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3 which shows toggle fixings 14 secured to a door frame 15 Space between the toggles corresponds to the spacing between elongate holes 16 in the batten 12 Now installation of the barrier becomes a very simple operation whereby the barrier is located over the toggles 14 which are turned through 900 one at a time The toggle fixings are placed close enough together to pull the rubber strip into sealing contact with the frame along its entire length This operation is so straightforward that it can be done in the dark and even whilst flood water is entering the building by"feeling"for the fixings under water Many other forms of proprietary fixings can be used to keep the sheet in place across an opening For example waterproof hook and loop fastening can be used by applying one side of the fastening around the opening using a waterproof adhesive to keep it in place The other side of the fastening is then fixed to the plastic batten 12 in place of the foam rubber strip 13 Pressing the batten against the opening then gives a waterproof connection This simplifies installation because alignment is no longer critical and a press fit is a particularly quick and easy operation to carry out in an emergency This also has the advantage that the connection between the two parts is continuous rather than intermittent as with the toggle fixings Magnetic strip fixings can be used in a similar fashion This alternative is particularly useful if the opening surround itself is magnetic since it avoids the need to install either a magnetic or metallic co-operating portion A further embodiment is shown in Figures 7,8, 8a and 9 In this case the waterproof seal between the sheet 21 and frame 25 is a push fit arrangement between a rubber bead 23 moulded into the edge of the plastic sheet 21 and the plastic moulding 27. The bead 23 runs around at least three sides of sheet 21 and, like the rubber strip 13, is of a closed cell construction such that water cannot penetrate through it. A plastic moulded strip 27 is secured around the opening, preferably as a continuous length There is sufficient flexibility in the plastic to allow it to form a gentle radius around the bottom of a door or window The jaws

28 of this moulding are resiliently deformable such that the beading 23 can be simply pushed into the body of the moulding as shown in Figure 8 The gripping action of holder 27 on the bead 23 creates a waterproof seal In Figure 8a, a frame 60 is fixed to a building 61 by means of a screw fixing 62.

The frame 60 has two beads 63 integrally moulded thereto. A fixing means 64 has two apertures 65 to receive the beads 63 in push-fit engagement A foam cell strip 66 forms a seal in the engaged position to prevent water from penetrating between the fixing means 64 and the frame 60.

The flexibility of the sheet 11, 21 is one of the essential features of this invention.

The sheet can be constructed from a wide variety of materials available to the materials specialist. Typically the types of materials used in pond liner construction are also suitable for this application. Reinforced polyethylene, polypropylene, synthetic rubbers and other polymers are all suitable Figure 10 shows the main features of a further type of barrier designed to fit completely over an aperture in a building such as a door or a window. It comprises a substantially rigid sheet 30 with a flange 31 around all sides. The main body of the sheet is curved such that it is concave on the face that fits against the building, presenting a convex surface to the flood waters. It incorporates a recess 32 along the bottom edge to accommodate a rain water drip on the bottom of the door or a window ledge. When fitted around a door it stands sufficiently proud to allow for door handles, door knockers or the like. These can, however, fit into specifically designed recesses (not shown) A particular feature of this embodiment is the method of reinforcing the sheet to withstand the weight of flood water should it become completely submerged In this example additional ribs 33 are incorporated at strategic points to provide extra strength The sheet itself may be made of corrugated material to give it strength without excessive weight.

The barrier must be strong enough to withstand a considerable weight of water and this will, to some extent, dictate the materials of construction. Plastics, composites and sheet metal materials can all be used and the reinforcing ribs 33 can be made of the same or different materials It is perfectly feasible to use a corrugated plastic sheet with metal reinforcing ribs for example. Furthermore, strength can be imparted to the fabric by means of suitable weaving.

Another inventive feature is the type of fixings used Figures 12 to 14 illustrate a type of so-called hook and latch mechanism A series of latches 35 are set into the frame around the aperture, the position of each latch corresponding with one of the holes 34 in the flange 31 The latch is preferably a flush fit with the frame surface to allow the rubber seal 36 to make good contact with the frame The latch incorporates a bar 37 which extends across a recess 38 In operation a hook 39 is inserted through the elongate hole 34 in the flange of the cover As it is inserted the end of the hook can pass by the bar whereas rotating the hook through 900 brings it into engagement with the bars 37. Once engaged the wing nut 40 is tightened to clamp that part of the flange against the frame This process is repeated for each fixing A different type of fixing is shown in Figure 19 In this case a hole is drilled or otherwise formed in the frame or periphery of the aperture and a fixing barrel 40 secured therein by screw 41. The top lip 42 of barrel 40 is flush with the frame surface The barrel incorporates an upper fixing 43 which has in its centre a hole 44, adapted to accept the shank of a screw or bolt, with a slot radiating from it This slot has a specific and important function. It will be appreciated that the loadbearing surface of a screw thread is not perpendicular to the screw shank due to the spiral nature of the thread itself The presence of the slot enables the upper fixing around the hole to deform sufficiently to engage the screw thread all round the screw shank As well as spreading the load evenly, this has the added advantage that the screw ends up substantially perpendicular to the flange It also means that, when taken together with the chamferred shape of the hole 44, the screw can be inserted by simply pushing it into the hole 44 whilst it can only be removed by unscrewing it with a screwdriver. A snap fit cover 46 can be fitted to the barrel when not in use. This keeps debris from entering the barrel but can be easily removed by inserting a screwdriver or coin into the slot 47 and levering the cover out of place.

Figure 20 illustrates a frame 70 fixed by means of a push-in screw 71, to a frame 72 mounted on a building 73 A membrane 74 is mounted to the frame 70, a closed cell foam material 74 forming a seal to prevent the penetration of water A modification of this idea is shown in Figures 15 to 18 inclusive. In this case the

Variations of this type of fixing are also possible For example, the screw 50 can be replaced by a push in fixing having parallel protrusions or flanges extending radially down opposing sides of a shank (i. e a serrated effect), the other sides being substantially free from serrations, giving the fixing an oblong as opposed to a circular cross-section (not illustrated) This type of fixing can be inserted into an elongate hole easily in one configuration but rotation through 900 engages the serrated teeth with the hole and it can only be removed by further rotation of the shaft It is thus now possible to make watertight all the openings around a building and to prevent the entry of flood water through doors, windows, air bricks and the like. All the barriers described herein are designed to be fixed rapidly in an emergency. Inwardly opening doors will still open and additional sealants can therefore be applied around the inside edge of the barrier in the unlikely event that this proves necessary.

Flood water can also enter a property through the foul water drainage system by way of a downstairs toilet. This problem can be overcome by installing one of these barriers over the door leading to the toilet, thus effectively isolating it from the rest of the house.

Penetrations such as airbricks or vents can be dealt with by providing a rectangular box-shaped sheet with sealing means around the entire periphery.

These will normally be fitted directly to brick or block work and in this case

proprietary adhesive can be incorporated into the batten 11 which will adhere to such surfaces even when wet or under water.

Alternatively a rigid or semi-rigid open-topped box can be provided, the open face of the box having a flange around its perimeter A rubber seal, as described above, is fastened onto the flange and the box placed over a vent or airbrick and fastened in place with gravity toggle bolt-type fixing, passing through and opening out behind one of the holes in the airbrick Thus even after flooding has occurred these barriers can be put in place and pumping out of the building started.

It should be appreciated that this specification is intended to encompass mechanical equivalents of all the features described herein and in GB 95 01110.2. It should be appreciated that this specification is intended to encompass mechanical equivalents of all the features described herein and in GB 95 01110 2

Claims

CLAIMS : A barrier for preventing water ingress into a building through an opening in said building such as a door, window or the like, said barrier comprising : (i) an imperforate sheet of water-resistant material, (ii) waterproof sealing means incorporated into some or all of the periphery of the said flexible sheet, (iii) releasable fixing means adapted to releasably fix the flexible sheet around the opening in a waterproof fashion, characterised in that the sheet of waterproof material is adapted to span across said opening and being so sized and shaped to take into account irregularities and protrusions associated with the opening such as rain water drips, door handles and the like.
2. A barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sheet is substantially rigid.
3 A barrier as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the sheet is concave in shape, the concave surface being directed towards the building such that the sheet is adapted to resist the pressure of flood water.
4. A barrier as Claims in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheet is ribbed or corrugated for additional strength,
5 A barrier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein a flange extends around substantially the hole of the periphery of the sheet the flange area corresponding to the size and shape of the frame or periphery of the aperture which is to be made watertight.
6 A barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sheet is flexible.
7. A barrier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a hook and latch arrangement, said latch being incorporated into the frame or periphery of the aperture

8 A barrier according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a push-in fixing, said push-in fixing being adapted to engage in a co-operating receiving fixing in the frame or perimeter of the aperture 9 A barrier as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the releasable fixing means comprises toggle fixings located at spaced intervals around the perimeter of the said opening, the periphery of the flexible sheet being adapted to engage said toggle fixings which, in use, retain the waterproof sealing means in sealing contact with the surround of the opening.

10 A barrier as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the waterproof sealing means comprises a resilient flexible bead incorporated into the periphery of at least three sides of the flexible sheet, and a sealing strip adapted to be fixed around at least the lower portion of said opening, characterised in that the bead is a push fit within the sealing strip and, once the bead and the strip are engaged one with another, form a substantially waterproof seal therebetween.

11 A barrier substantially as herein described with reference and as illustrated in any combination of the accompanying drawings