GB2370854A

GB2370854A - Domestic flood barrier with a reversible, flexible panel

Info

Publication number: GB2370854A
Application number: GB0100210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Michael Fairbrother
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-05
Filing date: 2001-01-05
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Also published as: ATE270379T1; GB0100210D0; EP1223294B1; DE60104081D1; EP1223294A1

Abstract

A flood barrier for doors and windows has a U-shaped frame 20 of channel shaped cross section for sealingly holding a flexible non-planar barrier panel 30. The face of the panel may project away from or towards the building and this direction is reversible by flexing the panel. The frame may have a projecting portion 62 that acts as a pivot for the flexing panel, levering the panel edges against the frame and compressing a sealing gasket 44 mounted on the panel periphery. The panel may comprise planar facets (figure 1) or it may be continuously curved (figure 4).

Description

( TITLE: ASSEMBLY FOR

PROTECTING A HOUSE INTERIOR

10 DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an assembly for 15 protecting a house interior from floodwater.

Sandbags have long been used to barricade doorways and/or windows to protect the interior of dwellings in flood conditions. However, sandbags present difficulties in use and in storage on account of their weight and bulk.

20 Moreover, it is extremely difficult to achieve anything like a watertight seal with sandbags.

The inventor has appreciated the need for an improved arrangement for resisting floodwater damage to house interiors. 25 According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame having groove means

r À: : extending around its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal 5 wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame.

The open-ended frame can be fixed temporarily to the walling in advance of flood conditions. Alternatively, the open-ended frame can be fixed permanently to the walling. The panel can be stored apart from the open 10 ended frame, thus allowing for unimpeded passage through the doorway. Only when a flood threatens is it necessary to slide the panel into the open-ended frame to create a barrier against floodwater. Once the threat of a flood or the floodwater has subsided the panel can be removed from 15 the open-ended frame and returned to storage. Similar considerations apply to other building apertures (e.g. windows) in addition to doorways.

The panel may be compliant and held in place, possibly taut, by the frame when in use. Thus, the panel 20 may comprise a waterproof membrane, for example comprising a textile fabric. Alternatively, the panel may be self-

supporting and may have a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge. The panel may be 25 formed from flexible sheet material and thus a nonplanar profile may lend rigidity to the panel. The non-planar profile may perhaps have a substantially convex front surface and a correspondingly substantially concave back

:1 À À

l : i i ' surface. The terms 'substantially concave/convex', as used herein, are not limited to smooth surfaces of spherical or paraboloidal shape but include faceted surfaces of other 5 shapes that protrude from a plane surround. The facets on the front and back surfaces of the panel may be defined by a plurality of lines in the panel.

The non-planar profile of the panel may be reversible under an applied load. For example, the panel may be 10 reversed such that the substantially convex front surface becomes substantially concave and the substantially concave back surface becomes substantially convex. The panel might, for instance, be reversed by manually applying pressure to its front surface.

15 The open-ended frame may have a profile which urges the peripheral edge of the panel against one side of the groove when the panel is reversed in situ in the open ended frame. In this way, reversing the panel may improve the seal between panel and open-ended frame. The profile 20 may include a member which projects from an opposing side of the groove. The member may be flange-like, perhaps extending along the groove.

A sealing gasket may be provided for use between panel and open-ended frame. The sealing gasket may be 25 mounted adjacent the peripheral edge of the panel, perhaps on one side of the panel. The sealing gasket may be of a resilient material, for instance foamed rubber. When the panel is in situ in the open-ended frame, the sealing

? " '. ". f gasket may be located in the groove. The sealing gasket might be a continuous strip. Upon reversal of the non planar profile of the panel, the sealing gasket may be urged against a side of the groove.

5 The panel may be substantially rectangular.

Furthermore, the front surface of the panel may be pyramidal in shape. The angle of an apex of a panel which is pyramidal in shape may be obtuse.

According to another aspect of the present invention, 10 there is provided a method of protecting a house interior from flood water, comprising: attaching an open-ended frame to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame having groove means extending around its inner periphery; and providing a 15 panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame.

The open-ended frame may be temporarily or 20 permanently attached to the walling of the house doorway.

A seal between the open-ended frame and the walling may be provided by disposing a filler, e.g. mastic, between open-

ended frame and walling.

The frame and/or panel may include a locking member 25 for locking the panel in position once introduced in the frame. The locking member may prevent undesirables from tampering with any seal created.

According to a further aspect of the present

c invention, there is provided a kit of parts for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: at least one elongate member having groove means extending along its length, the at least one elongate member being 5 configurable into an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway such that the groove means extends around its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-

ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in 10 use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame.

The at least one elongate member can be assembled as an open-ended frame and attached to the walling around a doorway in advance. When a flood threatens, the panel can 15 be inserted into the open-ended frame.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the description of the specific embodiment provided

hereinafter. 20 A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of an assembly embodying the present invention; 25 Figures 2a and 2b are views of the assembly of Figure 1 when in use; Figure 3a is a view of a section through the frame of the assembly of Figure 1 when the panel is in the engaged

t... r À À.

-. condition; Figure 3b is a view of the section of Figure 3a when the panel of the assembly of Figure 1 is in the engaged and reversed condition; 5 Figure 4 is a schematic of an alternative panel; and Figure 5 is a schematic of a section through an alternative "reversible" frame.

Figure 1 shows an assembly 10, embodying the present invention, which comprises an open-ended frame 20 and a 10 panel 30. The open-ended frame 20 is substantially U shaped and has a groove 22 extending around its inner periphery. The panel 30, which is formed from sheet material, is shown in Figure 1 in side elevation as panel 3Oa and in plan view as panel 3 Ob. The panel 30, which is 15 substantially rectangular in shape, has a substantially convex front surface 32 and a correspondingly substantially concave back surface 33. The open-ended frame can be temporarily or permanently fixed to the walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, 20 thus allowing for unimpeded passage through the doorway.

When a flood threatens, the panel 30 can be inserted into the open-ended frame 20.

The open-ended frame 20 is made of a material such as a metal or a plastics material. The panel 30 is made of a 25 material such as a metal or a plastics material.

The substantially convex front surface 32 and the substantially concave back surface 33 have three facets 34 which are defined by a plurality of lines 36, 38. A first

. . line 36 is provided along a centre line of the panel 30 and extends from a lower edge 40 of the panel to an apex 42, which is situated towards an upper edge of the panel.

Second and third lines 38 extend from the apex 42 to the 5 top left hand corner and the top right hand corner of the panel respectively. Thus, the panel 30 is substantially pyramidal in shape.

A sealing gasket 44 is provided adjacent the periphery of the front surface 32 of the panel 30.

10 Figure 2a shows the open-ended frame 20 attached to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway 50.

To bring the panel 30 into use, the lower edge 40 of the panel 30 is inserted, with the front face 32 facing away from the doorway, into the groove 22 at the open upper end 15 of the open-ended frame 20. The panel 30 is then slid down until it fits snugly within the open-ended frame with the peripheral edge of the panel located in the groove, as shown in Figure 2b.

Figure 3a is a view of a section through the open 20 ended frame 20 with the panel 30 in position in the groove 22. A member 62 projects from a side of the open-ended frame 20. When the panel 30 is fitted snugly in the open ended frame 20, the sealing gasket 44 is located on the side of the panel 30 opposite the member 62.

25 A seal between the open-ended frame 20 and the panel 30 is improved by reversing the panel, when the panel is in the engaged position shown in Figure 3a. Reversal of the panel involves the substantially convex front surface

À r À.

- of the panel becoming substantially concave and the substantially concave back surface of the panel becoming substantially convex. Reversal can be achieved by applying a force to the front surface of the panel.

5 During reversal, the member 62 acts as a fulcrum with the periphery of the panel 30 rotating about the member 62 to thereby urge the sealing gasket 44 against the side of the groove opposite the member 62, as shown in Figure 3b. As the panel reverses, the panel flexes, in particular along 10 the lines 36, 38, which are shown in Figure 1.

Reversal of the panel 30 is aided by the presence of a crease 46, which extends between the apex 42 and the top edge of the panel as a continuation of the line 36, as shown in Figure 1.

15 Figure 4 is a schematic of an alternative panel 70.

The alternative panel 70, which is substantially rectangular in shape, has a domed profile. Thus, the alternative panel 70 has substantially smooth front and back surfaces instead of the faceted surfaces of the panel 20 30 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a schematic of a section through an alternative "reversible" frame 80. The "reversible" frame 80 has a symmetric groove 82. Thus, surface 'A' or surface 'B' of the frame 80 may be fixed to the walling of 25 a house doorway.

Claims

- - - À. _. .. r CLAIMS:

1. An assembly for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: 5 an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame having groove means extending around its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open 10 ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the panel 15 has a nonplanar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in 20 which the panel has a substantially convex front surface and a correspondingly substantially concave back surface.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the substantially convex front surface and the substantially 25 concave back surface are faceted.

-

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which facets are defined on the substantially convex front surface and the substantially concave back surface by a plurality of lines in the panel.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to S. in which the nonplanar profile of the panel is reversible. 10

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which the open-

ended frame has a profile configured to urge a peripheral edge of the panel against one side of the groove when the panel is reversed in situ in the open-ended frame.

15

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which the profile comprises a member which projects from an opposing side of the groove.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which the 20 member is flangelike.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the member extends along the groove.

25

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a sealing gasket is provided for use between panel and open-ended frame.

- F À i' ?:' - 1- À me,. '

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, in which the sealing gasket is mounted adjacent a periphery of the panel. 5

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, in which the sealing gasket is mounted on one side of the panel.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, 10 in which the sealing gasket is of a resilient material.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, in which the sealing gasket is located in the groove when the panel is in situ in the open-ended frame.

16. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, in which the sealing gasket is a continuous strip.

17. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16 20 when dependent on any one of claims 6 to 10, in which the sealing gasket is urged against a side of the groove when the panel is reversed.

18. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding 25 claims, in which the panel is substantially rectangular.

À ' ':' -.'! À

19. An assembly as claimed in any one claims 2 to 18, in which a front surface of the panel is pyramidal in shape.

20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19, in which an angle 5 of an apex of the front surface of the panel is obtuse.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of providing a seal between the open-ended frame and the walling. 25

22. A kit of parts for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: at least one elongate member having groove- means extending along its length, the at least one elongate

member being configurable into an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway such that the groove means extends around 5 its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-

ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, in 10 which the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible.

21. An assembly for protecting a house substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of protecting a house interior from flood water, comprising: attaching an open-ended frame to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame 15 having groove means extending around its inner periphery; and providing a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means 20 forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of providing a seal between the open- ended frame and the 25 walling.

- - ^ À

24. A kit of parts for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: at least one elongate member having groove means extending along its length, the at least one elongate 5 member being configurable into an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway such that the groove means extends around its inner periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open 10 ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame.

lid Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS:

5 1. An assembly for protecting a house interior from floodwater, comprising: an open-ended frame for attachment to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame having groove means extending around its inner 10 periphery; and a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, in 15 which the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-planar profile of the panel is reversible.

20 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the panel has a substantially convex front surface and a correspondingly substantially concave back surface.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the 25 substantially convex front surface and the substantially concave back surface are faceted.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which facets

are defined on the substantially convex front surface and the substantially concave back surface by a plurality of lines in the panel.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the open-

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the profile comprises a member which projects from an opposing side of the groove.

15 7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which the member is flangelike.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the member extends along the groove.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a sealing gasket is provided for use between panel and open-ended frame.

25 lO. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the sealing gasket is mounted adjacent a periphery of the panel. -

lb 11. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, in which the sealing gasket is mounted on one side of the panel. 12. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the sealing gasket is of a resilient material.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, 10 in which the sealing gasket is located in the groove when the panel is in situ in the open-ended frame.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, in which the sealing gasket is a continuous strip.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 in which the sealing gasket is urged against a side of the groove when the panel is reversed.

20 16. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the panel is substantially rectangular.

17. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a front surface of the panel is pyramidal 25 in shape.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 17, in which an angle of an apex of the front surface of the panel is obtuse.

19. An assembly for protecting a house substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of protecting a house interior from flood water, comprising: attaching an open-ended frame to walling on either side of and beneath a house doorway, the open-ended frame 10 having groove means extending around its inner periphery; and providing a panel configured to be a snug fit within the open-ended frame, the panel having a peripheral edge which in use is slidably received in the groove means 15 forming a seal wherever the panel engages the open-ended frame, in which the panel has a non-planar profile with a central part of the panel projecting on one surface of the panel proud of the peripheral edge and in which the non-

planar profile of the panel is reversible.