GB2382372A

GB2382372A - Flood barrier with door jamb engaging attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2382372A
Application number: GB0128125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Heap
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-23
Filing date: 2001-11-23
Publication date: 2003-05-28
Also published as: GB0128125D0

Abstract

A flood barrier 10 attached to an external side of a door frame 28, comprises a barrier member 12 which overlies the frame, and a means for attaching the member to the frame, forming a watertight seal 24 between the barrier and the frame. The arrangement does not prevent the door 30 from closing onto the jambs 32. The seal 24, may be formed from rubber or neoprene, which preferably extends around the side and bottom edge regions of the barrier member. Preferably, the barrier attachment mechanism 34 engages an interior edge of the door jamb, to draw the barrier member towards and against the door frame to compress the seal. The mechanism may comprise pivoting handles 38 which lie flat against the internal side 14 of the barrier 12 when the barrier is attached in order to accommodate the door onto the jambs 32 (Fig 3c). The barrier member may comprise a rigid plastics board.

Description

Flood Barrier This invention relates to flood barriers for protecting doorways of buildings in the event of unusually high water levels. The flood barriers are particularly but not exclusively applicable to domestic doorways.

Various flood barriers are available which may be placed within doorways, to protect buildings in the event of unusually high water levels.

However, most of these flood barriers require special fittings on the doorways and can therefore be inconvenient and/or not appropriate for use in an emergency.

According to the invention there is provided a flood barrier for a doorway including an opening surrounded by a frame, the opening being selectively closeable by a door, the flood barrier including a barrier member for placing over part of the opening from an external side of the doorway so that outer edge regions of the barrier member overlie the frame and means for attaching the barrier member to the frame such that a water-tight seal is formed therebetween, wherein the barrier member when so attached does not prevent the door from closing the opening.

Preferably the barrier member may be placed over a lower part of the door opening. Preferably the barrier member includes a bottom edge region for overlying a bottom of the frame, and opposite side edge regions for overlying respective opposite sides of the frame.

Preferably the water-tight seal is formed between the edge regions of the barrier member and the frame. Preferably the edge regions of the barrier member are provided with resilient seal means, the seal means being located in use between the edge regions of the barrier member and the frame. The seal means may comprise strips of soft, water impermeable material such as rubber or neoprene. The material may comprise a closed cell foam. The seal means preferably extend along the side edge regions and the bottom edge region of the barrier member.

Preferably the frame includes a door jamb against which the door closes, an outer edge of the door overlying the jamb when the door is closed. Preferably the jamb projects inwardly from the remainder of the door frame into the door opening and is located on the external side of the outer edge of the door.

Preferably the means for attaching the barrier member to the frame includes means for engaging the door jamb. These means may include means for engaging an interior edge of the door jamb, to draw the barrier member towards and against the door frame and compress the seal means. These means may include means for causing the door jamb to be gripped between the attachment means and side edge region of the barrier member.

Preferably the flood barrier includes two attachment means, each being associated with a respective opposite side of the barrier member.

The attachment means may be alterable between a first position in which they do not engage the door jamb, so that the flood barrier may be initially be placed over the door opening, and a second position in which they engage the door jamb, holding the barrier member against the door frame with the seal means compressed. Preferably the attachment means cannot be altered from their second to their first position when the flood barrier is in place and the door closed.

The attachment means may be adjustable between their first and second positions by manipulation of a handle. The handle may be pivotally mounted, and pivotal movement of the handle may move the attachment means between their first and second positions. Preferably when the attachment means are in their second position, the handle lies flat against an interior face of the barrier member. Preferably the door lies across the interior face of the barrier member when closed, thus enclosing the handle.

Preferably the barrier member comprises a substantially rigid board. The barrier member may be made from a waterproof, plastics material. The barrier

member may comprise an expanded polystyrene centre sandwiched between two polyvinyl chloride sheets.

Preferably the barrier member is substantially rectangular. The barrier member may be between about 0. 4m and 1.5m in height and is preferably about 0.6m in height. The barrier member may be of any suitable width to fit a door, for example 1m. The thickness of the barrier member may be about 20 to 30mm.

The barrier member may be provided with a carrying handle which is preferably located near its top in use, in a central region thereof.

According to the invention there is further provided a doorway fitted with a flood barrier according to any of the preceding definitions.

An embodiment of the invention will be described for the purpose of illustration only in which: Fig. I is a diagrammatic side view of a flood barrier according to the invention, viewed from its inside; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view from above of the flood barrier of Fig. 1 in the process of being fitted to a doorway; and Figs. 3a to 3c are diagrammatic part sectional views from above illustrating the mechanism for holding the flood barrier in place within a doorway.

Referring to the drawings, a flood barrier 10 includes a barrier member in the form of a generally planar, rectangular board 12. The board 12 is approximately 0.6 metres in height and 1 metre in width and is made from a lightweight, rigid plastics material. The board 12 may comprise an expanded polystyrene centre sandwiched between polyvinylchloride sheets. The board 12 is about 5 cms in thickness, and includes an interior face 14 and an exterior

face 16.

An elongate sealing strip 22 of resilient material extends along a bottom edge region 18 of the interior face 14 of the board 12. Similar elongate sealing strips 24 of resilient material extend along each of two opposite side edge regions 20 of the interior face 14. The material of the sealing strips 22,24 may comprise a soft, closed cell foam of, for example, rubber or neoprene, capable of forming a watertight seal. Located inwardly of each sealing strip 24 on the interior face 14 of the board is an attachment mechanisms 34. Together the two attachment mechanisms may be used to attach the flood barrier 10 to a door opening, as described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, a door opening in a wall 26 is bounded by a door frame 28. When a door 30 mounted on the frame 28 is closed, the frame 28 surrounds the door. The frame 28 includes a door jamb 32 which extends inwardly into the door opening beyond the remainder of the door frame 28.

When the door closes, it closes against the door jamb 32, with the door jamb 32 being located on an exterior side of the door.

The attachment mechanisms 34 are able to attach the flood barrier 10 to the door frame 28, by gripping the door jamb 32. The mechanism 34 on the right as viewed in Fig. 1 will be described in detail. Referring to Fig. 1 and Figs.

3 to 3b, the attachment mechanism 34 includes a bracket 36 which is elongate, extending along most of the height of the board 12. The bracket includes two substantially planar arms 44a and 44b oriented at right angles to one another to form an elbow 42 therebetween. The elbow 42 is pivotally mounted from its ends on the board 12, such that the position of the elbow 42 relative to the board is fixed, but the arms may rotate relative to the elbow 42 and relative to the board.

A linkage 40a extends between a distal end of the arm 44a and a centre region of a handle 38. The handle 38 is mounted on an elongate pin 45 which is extends most of the way up the board 12 and which is able to pivot about its own axis. The handle 38 is located about half way up the pin 46 and the linkage

40a is thus positioned about half way up the height of the bracket 36. Similar linkages 40b and 40c (see Fig. 1) extend between the arm 44a and a lever (not illustrated) extending from the pin 46 in the top and bottom regions respectively of the pin.

Because the handle 38 is mounted on the pin 46, the handle is able to pivot about the axis of the pin 46. Pivoting of the handle in a clockwise direction pulls the arm 44a (to which the linkage 40 is attached) to the left as viewed in the figures. This causes the bracket 36 to pivot anti-clockwise about its elbow 42.

To fit the flood barrier 10 to the door frame 28, the attachment mechanism 34 is initially moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 3a. With the linkage in this position, the flood barrier 10 may be placed such that the interior face 14 of the board 12 lies against the door frame 28. The bottom and side edge regions 18 and 20 of the board 12 overlap the door frame, with the seals 22 and 24 being sandwiched between the board and the door frame. With the board 12 held in this position, each handle 38 may be manipulated from the position shown in Fig. 3a, through the position shown in Fig. 3b, to the position of Fig. 3c. Such manipulation pulls the linkage 40 to the left as viewed in the figures (or to the right for the opposite attachment mechanism) and therefore causes the bracket 36 to pivot anti-clockwise (or clockwise) about its elbow 42.

The arm 44 thus pushes against the door jamb 32 and, because the elbow 42 is fixed relative to the board 12, the pivoting movement of the bracket 36 pulls the board 12 into close engagement with the door frame 28, compressing the seals 22 and 24.

In the position of Fig. 3c, the handle 38 lies generally flat against the interior face 14 of the board 12. The door may be closed, the attachment mechanism 34 does not interfere with this, because it lies generally flush against the board 12 and the door jamb 32. Once the door is closed, the handle 38 cannot be manipulated to move the attachment mechanism back into the Fig.

3a position in which the flood barrier 10 may be removed from the door frame 28.

To release the flood barrier, the door 30 is opened, and the handles moved back into their Fig. 3a positions, to allow the board 12 to be released from the door frame 28.

There is thus provided a flood barrier which may be easily fitted to an existing door opening without the need for any modifications to the door frame.

When the flood barrier is in place, the door may be closed and when the door is closed, the flood barrier cannot be removed and therefore cannot be stolen.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the attachment mechanism may be slidably mounted such that it may be adjusted slightly for different door frames. The mechanism for attaching the barrier member to the door jamb may be modified and the materials from which the components are made may be altered.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A flood barrier for a doorway including an opening surrounded by a frame, the opening being selectively closable by a door, the flood barrier including a barrier member for placing over part of the opening from an external side of the doorway so that outer edge regions of the barrier member overlie the frame and means for attaching the barrier member to the frame such that a watertight seal is formed therebetween, wherein the barrier member when so attached does not prevent the door from closing the opening.

2. A flood barrier according to claim 1, wherein the barrier member may be placed over a lower part of the door opening.

3. A flood barrier according to claim 2, wherein the barrier member includes a bottom edge region for overlying a bottom of the frame, and opposite side edge regions for overlying respective opposite sides of the frame.

4. A flood barrier according to claim 3, wherein the water-tight seal is formed between the edge regions of the barrier member and the frame.

5. A flood barrier according to claim 4, wherein the edge regions of the barrier member are provided with resilient seal means, the seal means being located in use between the edge regions of the barrier member and the frame.

6. A flood barrier according to claim 5, wherein the seal means comprises strips of soft, water impermeable material such as rubber or neoprene.

7. A flood barrier according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the seal means extend along the side edge regions and the bottom edge region of the barrier member.

8. A flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame includes a door jamb against which the door closes, an outer edge of the door overlying the jamb when the door is closed.

9. A flood barrier according to claim 8, wherein the jamb projects inwardly from the remainder of the door frame into the door opening and is located on the external side of the outer edge of the door.

10. A flood barrier according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the means for attaching the barrier member to the frame includes means for engaging the door jamb.

11. A flood barrier according to claim 10, wherein the means for the door jamb to the frame includes means for engaging an interior edge of the door jamb, to draw the barrier member towards and against the door frame and compress the seal means.

12. A flood barrier according to claim 11, wherein the means for attaching the barrier member to the frame member include means for causing the door jamb to be gripped between the attachment means and side edge region of the barrier member.

13. A flood barrier according to any preceding claim, the flood barrier including two attachment means, each being associated with a respective opposite side of the barrier member.

14. A flood barrier according any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means are alterable between a first position in which they do not engage the door jamb, so that the flood barrier may be initially be placed over the door opening, and a second position in which they engage the door jamb, holding the barrier

member against the door frame with the seal means compressed.

15. A flood barrier according to claim 14, wherein the attachment means cannot be altered from their second to their first position when the flood barrier is in place and the door closed.

16. A flood barrier according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the attachment means are adjustable between their first and second positions by manipulation of a handle.

17. A flood barrier according to claim 16, wherein the handle is pivotally mounted, and pivotal movement of the handle moves the attachment means between their first and second positions such that when the attachment means are in their second position, the handle lies flat against an interior face of the barrier member.

18. A flood barrier according to claim 17, wherein the door lies across the interior face of the barrier member when closed, thus enclosing the handle.

19. A flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier member comprises a substantially rigid board, made from a waterproof, plastics material.

20. A flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier member is provided with a carrying handle which is preferably located near its top in use, in a central region thereof.

21. A doorway fitted with a flood barrier according to any preceding claim.

22. A floor barrier substantially as herein described with reference to the

accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.