US20110129170A1

US20110129170A1 - Flood Proof Container

Info

Publication number: US20110129170A1
Application number: US12/950,166
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E. Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-27
Filing date: 2010-11-19
Publication date: 2011-06-02

Abstract

A flood proof container is provided. The flood proof container includes a flexible bag, a water-tight seal, and one or more pressure release valves. A method of using the flood proof container is also provided.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/264,779 filed Nov. 27, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Each year, millions of dollars of damage to business and personal property in the United States is caused by dust, insects, or rodents as a result of prolonged storage or by flooding that is a result of heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, or hurricanes. The usual solution of boxing or wrapping belongings in paper or thin plastic may prevent damage for a short time, but the lack of proper sealing for plastic and the porous nature of cardboard boxes eventually will let in dust and insects. Larger pests, such as rodents, will chew their way into boxes or through thin plastic. In addition, depending on where the property is stored, changes in weather may also cause mildew and mold to form on or in the storage container and ruin the contents. Storage in a controlled facility can be used to avoid these problems, but the expense of moving goods to and paying rental fees for the storage space can be prohibitive in the long run.
Flooding causes additional problems. Many times an attempt is made to keep water out of a business or residence with the use of sand bags, which may help protect the land or the building, but is not always an aid in protecting property. Typically, as flood waters rise, the initial reaction is to put goods at a higher level in the building. Unfortunately, this usually leaves the expensive items, such as furniture or equipment, on the floor as the support for the possessions that are easily moved. Attempting to move property to another location out of the way of rising waters is another solution; however, this option is usually not considered until the floodwaters are too high to allow for easy access and transfer, and this solution becomes, at best, costly and time consuming at a time when neither money nor time may be available.
What is needed is a flood proof container that is durable, lightweight, inexpensive, and easily stored that may be loaded and sealed by a single user within a short period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The flood proof container, as described herein, uses the basic idea of wrapping or bagging items. The flood proof container may be suitable for providing protection from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, rodents, insects, or a combination thereof, for objects, such as equipment, appliances, and motor vehicles, or a combination thereof. By using the flood proof container, a business owner may safeguard all types of furniture, electronic equipment, supplies, or expensive equipment that would be difficult to replace, thereby ensuring that business could continue as soon as the emergency was over. Similarly, a business owner may use the flood proof container for safe long-term storage without worrying about the effects of insect and/or rodent infestations. The flood proof container has several other advantages including, for example, military use to protect equipment and supplies from sand and weather related damage and as a flood mitigation device.
The present invention provides a flood proof container. The flood proof container includes a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap; a water-tight seal for sealing the opening including: a first closure device including an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof: a second closure device including a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and one or more pressure release valves.
In one embodiment, each bottom seam, one or two optional side seams, or a combination thereof, between the front side and the back side of the flexible bag are sealed together by hot-melting or ultrasound. In one embodiment, the first closure device includes an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side. In one embodiment, each of the one or more pressure release valves allows air to pass out of and prevents water from entering into the flood proof container.
In one embodiment, each of the one or more pressure release valves includes butterfly valves, ball port valves, V-port valves, or rotary valves. In one embodiment, each of the one or more pressure release valves is located on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof includes a water resistant adhesive.
In one embodiment, the water resistant adhesive includes a polyvinyl acetate, a polyurethane, a cyanoacrylate, an acrylate, a methacrylate, a copolymer of an acrylate and a methacrylate, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap is formed by a double heat sealing device. In one embodiment, the double heat sealing device is a hand-held battery or electric double heat sealing device.
In one embodiment, the flood proof container protects one or more items stored inside the sealed flood proof container from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, insects, rodents, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the flexible bag includes a flexible water impermeable plastic material. In one embodiment, the flexible water impermeable plastic material includes one or more single-layer films or one or more multiple-layered films including polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorinated butyl, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the flexible bag is transparent. In one embodiment, the flood proof container is loaded and sealed by a single user.
The present invention further provides a flood proof container. The flood proof container includes: a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap, wherein the flexible bag includes a flexible water impermeable plastic material; a water-tight seal for sealing the opening including: a first closure device including an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side: a second closure device including a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and one or more pressure release valves, wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves allows air to pass out of and prevents water from entering into the flood proof container, and wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves are located on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof.
The present invention also provides a method of protecting one or more items. The method includes: unfolding a flood proof container having an opening for inserting one or more items including: a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap; a water-tight seal for sealing the opening including: a first closure device including an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof: a second closure device including a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and one or more pressure release valves; loading one or more items into the flood proof container; and sealing the flood proof container with the water-tight seal by removing a release liner from the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof; pressing the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof against either the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof, to provide a permanent water resistant adhesive seal; and sliding a heat-sealing device across the flexible bag adjacent to the permanent water resistant adhesive seal to form a double heat seal.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the flood proof container, as described herein, will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention may be best understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings, which illustrate such embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side-view drawing illustrating an exemplary flood proof container.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart schematically representing an exemplary method for protecting items from damage.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The flood proof container, as described herein, uses the basic idea of wrapping or bagging items. The flood proof container may be suitable for providing protection from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, rodents, insects, or a combination thereof, for objects, such as equipment, appliances, and motor vehicles, or a combination thereof. By using the flood proof container, a business owner may safeguard all types of furniture, electronic equipment, supplies, or expensive equipment that would be difficult to replace, thereby ensuring that business could continue as soon as the emergency was over. Similarly, a business owner may use the flood proof container for safe long-term storage without worrying about the effects of insect and/or rodent infestations. The flood proof container has several other advantages including, for example, military use to protect equipment and supplies from sand and weather related damage and as a flood mitigation device.
The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural, and logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Before the present invention is described in such detail, however, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular variations set forth and may, of course, vary. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process act(s) or step(s), to the objective(s), spirit or scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims made herein.
Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. Furthermore, where a range of values is provided, it is understood that every intervening value, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the invention. Also, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein.
The referenced items are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such material by virtue of prior invention.
Unless otherwise indicated, the words and phrases presented in this document have their ordinary meanings to one of skill in the art. Such ordinary meanings can be obtained by reference to their use in the art and by reference to general and scientific dictionaries, for example, Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., Springfield, Mass., 1993, and The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Houghton Mifflin, Boston Mass., 1981.
The following explanations of certain terms are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. These terms have their ordinary meanings given by usage in the art and in addition include the following explanations.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to a variation of 10 percent of the value specified; for example about 50 percent carries a variation from 45 to 55 percent.
As used herein, the term “and/or” refers to any one of the items, any combination of the items, or all of the items with which this term is associated.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only,” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.
As used herein, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature and/or such joining may allow for the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals or communication between two members. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.
As used herein, the terms “include,” “for example,” “such as,” and the like are used illustratively and are not intended to limit the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.
As used herein, the terms “front,” “back,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “right,” and “left” in this description are merely used to identify the various elements as they are oriented in the FIGS, with “front,” “back,” and “rear” being relative to the direction of the flood proof container. These terms are not meant to limit the element which they describe, as the various elements may be oriented differently in various applications.
In one embodiment, the flood proof container would measure about 10 feet wide and about 10 feet tall, with a pleated bottom that can expand to about 6 feet in width. This size would enable a home owner to completely enclose many pieces of furniture, the largest sectional sofa, bedding, appliances, clothing, or lawn equipment to protect them from damage. Different sizes, larger as well as smaller, are also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure.
In one embodiment, the flood proof container is typically constructed from two sheets of polyethylene plastic which have a thickness of at least 10 mil (1 mil=0.001 inch) to provide a thick layer of protection around the property. The sheet, which forms the rear of the container, may be longer than the front side, thereby forming a flap that may be folded over the front side. The sheets may be hot melted together at the sides and bottom in order to provide strength and durability. The thickness of the plastic is well suited to protecting property from dampness and water damage.
In one embodiment, the flood proof container includes two separate and different seals to close the container. The first seal, located on the end of the flap formed by the rear sheet, may be a wide adhesive strip that is pressed into place on the front side of the container itself, thereby providing maximum protection to the property enclosed in the container. Suitable adhesive strips for the flood proof container, as described herein, include, for example, Command™ Water-Resistant Strips from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. The second seal may be double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap.
In one embodiment, the typical flood proof container may also include a pressure release valve by which any air trapped in the bag could be released after the seals had been activated. This pressure release valve may be fabricated from Gortex or similar fabric in the form of a patch, heat sealed into the polyethylene plastic of the bag at the time of manufacture. The patch would typically be made of multiple overlapping flaps that would stay closed until a minimum opening pressure was exerted on the exterior of the bag. This pressure on the exterior would cause an increase in the pressure on the patch from the interior, and the flaps would open enough to allow air to escape from the interior. Removal of pressure from the exterior of the bag would allow the flaps on the patch to close and the bag would return to its original security.
In another embodiment, a pressure release valve consisting of a patch having a small flexible tube with an attached plug, much like the inflation device of a plastic beach ball, would be heated sealed into the plastic of the bag at manufacture. If release of air from the bag was required after the adhesive strip were sealed and the double heat seal made, the tube would be unfolded from under the lip of the patch and extended, the plug would be removed from the tube, and pressure on the exterior of the bag would be exerted (if not already present from flood waters, etc.) When pressure was removed from the exterior of the bag (or an adequate amount of air released from the interior of the bag in response to environmentally applied external pressure, typically from flood water), the plug would be reinserted into the tube, and the tube would be refolded under the lip of the patch, thereby securing the bag. This embodiment contemplates the intervention of an individual for releasing pressure, which is accomplished automatically in other embodiments of the pressure release valve.
In yet another embodiment, the typical flood proof container may also include a pressure release valve by which any air trapped in the bag could be released after the seals had been activated. This pressure release valve may be a butterfly valve, a ball port valve, a V-port valve, or a rotary valve. This pressure release valve may be heat sealed into the polyethylene plastic of the bag at the time of manufacture. Suitable pressure release valves may include, for example, Series 500 Miniature check valve from Smart Products, Morgan Hill, Calif. The pressure release valve would stay closed until a minimum opening pressure was exerted on the exterior of the bag. This pressure on the exterior would cause an increase in the pressure on the pressure release valve from the interior, and the pressure release valve would open enough to allow air to escape from the interior.
FIG. 1 is a perspective side-view drawing illustrating an exemplary flood proof container 100. The flood proof container 100 includes a flexible bag 101, a water resistant adhesive strip 102, a double heat seal 103, and a pressure release valve 104.
The flexible bag 101 may be manufactured as a single piece of flexible tube made of water impermeable sheeting material, such as plastic or vinyl, and may extend from the top opening to a bottom opening. The flexible bag 101 may include a permanently sealed bottom seam and an opening at the opposite end. The permanently bottom seam may be watertight and airtight. It may further be possible to manufacture the flexible bag 101 from two rectangular sheets of flexible and water impermeable sheeting material that are joint together by permanent water tight seals at three of the four sides of the flexible bag 101. The size of the flood proof container 100 may be chosen according to the size of an item (not shown) to be stored inside the flood proof container 100. The item may be, for example, an appliance, a piece of electrical equipment, or any other item that may be damaged by elevated water condition, for example, during a flood or due to a leaking roof. More than one item may be stored in the flood proof container 100. The flood proof container 100 may be folded for easy storage when not in use.
One or more weights may be placed inside the flood proof container 100, for example, after the item was loaded into the flood proof container 100. The weights may keep the loaded flood proof container 100 from floating in the floodwaters or other elevated waters. The number of weights used may depend on the weight and size of the loaded item. Weights may include, for example, sand bags and iron weights. The weights may have blunt edges. Additional weights may be placed on top of the flood proof container 100. It may further be possible to place the weights inside the item, for example, if the item is a cabinet.
Removing air from the sealed flood proof container 100 by the user applying external pressure to the sealed flood proof container 100 may provide for compactor storage and may reduce the buoyancy of the loaded flood proof container 100. More than one pressure release valve 104 may be integrated in the flexible bag 101.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart schematically representing an exemplary method 200 for protecting items from damage during elevated water conditions. The method 200 may involve a step where the flood proof container 100 is unfolded and laid out flat on the ground. An item may then be loaded into the flood proof container 100 through the opening, which may be held open by the user. The release liner is removed from the water resistant adhesive strip 102 and the rear flap is folded over on the water resistant adhesive strip 102 to from a water-resistant seal. A double heat seal 103 is formed by moving a double heat sealing device across the sealed flap. These steps may be carried out by a single user within a relative short time frame.
In the claims provided herein, the steps specified to be taken in a claimed method or process may be carried out in any order without departing from the principles of the invention, except when a temporal or operational sequence is explicitly defined by claim language. Recitation in a claim to the effect that first a step is performed then several other steps are performed shall be taken to mean that the first step is performed before any of the other steps, but the other steps may be performed in any sequence unless a sequence is further specified within the other steps. For example, claim elements that recite “first A, then B, C, and D, and lastly E” shall be construed to mean step A must be first, step E must be last, but steps B, C, and D may be carried out in any sequence between steps A and E and the process of that sequence will still fall within the four corners of the claim.
Furthermore, in the claims provided herein, specified steps may be carried out concurrently unless explicit claim language requires that they be carried out separately or as parts of different processing operations. For example, a claimed step of doing X and a claimed step of doing Y may be conducted simultaneously within a single operation, and the resulting process will be covered by the claim. Thus, a step of doing X, a step of doing Y, and a step of doing Z may be conducted simultaneously within a single process step, or in two separate process steps, or in three separate process steps, and that process will still fall within the four corners of a claim that recites those three steps.
Similarly, except as explicitly required by claim language, a single substance or component may meet more than a single functional requirement, provided that the single substance fulfills the more than one functional requirement as specified by claim language.
All patents, patent applications, publications, scientific articles, web sites, and other documents and materials referenced or mentioned herein are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and each such referenced document and material is hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if it had been incorporated by reference in its entirety individually or set forth herein in its entirety. Additionally, all claims in this application, and all priority applications, including but not limited to original claims, are hereby incorporated in their entirety into, and form a part of, the written description of the invention. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this specification any and all materials and information from any such patents, applications, publications, scientific articles, web sites, electronically available information, and other referenced materials or documents. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into any part of this document, including any part of the written description, the claims referred to above including but not limited to any original claims.

Claims

1. A flood proof container comprising:

a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap;

a water-tight seal for sealing the opening comprising:

a first closure device comprising an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof:

a second closure device comprising a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and

one or more pressure release valves.

2. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein a bottom seam, one or two optional side seams, or a combination thereof, between the front side and the back side of the flexible bag are sealed together by hot-melting or ultrasound.

3. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein the first closure device comprises an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side.

4. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves allows air to pass out of and prevents water from entering into the flood proof container.

5. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves comprise butterfly valves, ball port valves, V-port valves, or rotary valves.

6. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves are located on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof.

7. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof comprises a water resistant adhesive.

8. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein the water resistant adhesive comprises a polyvinyl acetate, a polyurethane, a cyanoacrylate, an acrylate, a methacrylate, a copolymer of an acrylate and a methacrylate, or combinations thereof.

9. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein the double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap is formed by a double heat sealing device.

10. The flood proof container of claim 9, wherein the double heat sealing device is a hand-held battery or electric double heat sealing device.

11. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein the flood proof container protects one or more items stored inside the sealed flood proof container from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, insects, rodents, or a combination thereof.

12. The flood proof container of claim 1, wherein the flexible bag comprises a flexible water impermeable plastic material.

13. The flood proof container of claim 12, wherein the flexible water impermeable plastic material comprises one or more single-layer films or one or more multiple-layered films comprising polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorinated butyl, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof.

14. A flood proof container comprising:

a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap, wherein the flexible bag comprises a flexible water impermeable plastic material;

a water-tight seal for sealing the opening comprising:

a first closure device comprising an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side:

one or more pressure release valves, wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves allows air to pass out of and prevents water from entering into the flood proof container, and wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves are located on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof.

15. The flood proof container of claim 14, wherein a bottom seam, one or two optional side seams, or a combination thereof, between the front side and the back side of the flexible bag are sealed together by hot-melting or ultrasound.

16. The flood proof container of claim 14, wherein the double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap is formed by a double heat sealing device.

17. The flood proof container of claim 16, wherein the double heat sealing device is a hand-held battery or electric double heat sealing device.

18. The flood proof container of claim 14, wherein the flood proof container protects one or more items stored inside the sealed flood proof container from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, insects, rodents, or a combination thereof.

19. A method of protecting one or more items comprising:

unfolding a flood proof container having an opening for inserting one or more items comprising:

a water-tight seal for sealing the opening comprising:

one or more pressure release valves;

loading one or more items into the flood proof container;

sealing the flood proof container with the water-tight seal by

removing a release liner from the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof;

pressing the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof against either the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof, to provide a permanent water resistant adhesive seal; and

sliding a heat-sealing device across the flexible bag adjacent to the permanent water resistant adhesive seal to form a double heat seal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising removing air trapped inside the flood proof container after sealing the flood proof container.