WO2002050380A2

WO2002050380A2 - Domestic flood control system

Info

Publication number: WO2002050380A2
Application number: PCT/GB2001/005537
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Sharples; Walthraud Sharples; David Mayhall; John Kelsey
Original assignee: Muir, Brian
Priority date: 2000-12-20
Filing date: 2001-12-13
Publication date: 2002-06-27
Also published as: WO2002050380A3

Abstract

A toilet seal consisting of a panel (2) fitting onto the top rim of each toilet pan secured and sealed in one embodiment by a one-bolt central locking option and in a further embodiment by four peripheral locking bolts (5). The flood control system also incorporates a domestic flood barrier, consisting of a frame permanently secured around doors, windows or air-vents, into which a panel or panels are inserted. Seals are an integral part of each panel, and no mechanical means are required other than toggle clips on multiple panels to compress horizontal seals.

Description

Domestic Flood Control System - Description

This invention relates to components of a domestic flood barrier system.

The realities of flood damage are currently impacting on a significantly increasing quantity of residential properties, with this trend expected to continue. The ingress of floodwater through doorways, windows and air vents combined with the back up of effluent through ground floor toilets, causes significant and costly damage to internal fixtures and fittings.

This system is designed to create an effective barrier against such damage through a device to seal toilets from 'backup' from the drains/sewers, and by providing an effective barrier against the ingress of floodwater through doors, windows and air- vents. Complete closure of doors, windows or air-vents can be achieved by use of a complete frame, including a modified top section, and the appropriate number of panels. It is an easy to use, low maintenance, re-useable system, most of which can be stored when not in use.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure: -

1. Is a top elevation of a multi-point embodiment toilet panel cover with four locking bolts in position.

2. Is a cross section view of one locking bolt in toilet panel cover.

3. Is a side elevation of multi-point toilet panel in situation on toilet pan.

4. Is a top elevation of a central locking embodiment toilet panel cover with one central locking bolt and locking plate in position.

5. Is a bottom elevation of a central locking embodiment toilet panel cover with one central locking bolt and locking plate in position.

6. Is a cross section view of a central locking embodimfent toilet panel cover in situation, with the locking plate in position, but not tightened.

7. Is a cross section view of a central locking embodiment toilet panel cover in situation, with the locking plate in position, and tightened against the inner toilet rim.

8. Is a cross section of the U-frame extrusion.

9. Is a horizontal cross section of the frame with a panel in situation.

10. Is an 'internal' view of three panels mounted on top of each other.

11. Is an 'external' view of three panels mounted in a frame.

12. An 'external' view of a bottom panel

13. An 'external' view of a second or subsequent panel.

The Toilet Panel Flood Stopper consists of a high pressure laminate or polypropylene panel, drilled with 5 holes (Ttem2 Figs 1&4), the underside of which has a seal m-ining the full circumference in the shape of a toilet rim (iteml Figs 1,2,4&5).

In its central locking embodiment a bottom locking plate (item 10 Fig 4,5,6&7) is attached to the upper panel (item2 Fig 4,5,6&7) by a single bolt through the central holes in the panel (item2 Fig 4,5,68c!) and plate (item 10 Fig 4,5,68.1). The locking plate has two opposing square comers and two opposing shaped comers to allow it to locate and lock firmly under the inner toilet rim.

The bolt passing through the panel (item2 Figs 4,5,6&6) has a rubber washer (item9 Fig 7), a flat metal washer (item 8 Fig 7) and a wing nut (item 7 Fig 6&7) with a 90 degree angled top (item 20 Figs 6&7). The bottom plate is locked between metal washers and locking nuts on each side of the plate (items 11 & 12 Figs 5,6&7) preventing movement of the plate on the bolt.

The panel is placed on the toilet bowl so that the seal (iteml Figsl, 2,4,5,6&7) fits onto the top edge of the toilet, the plate hanging below the inner rim. The bolt (Item 20 Figs 6&7) is turned clockwise, engaging the plate below the inner rim (Fig 6). The exposed wing nut (item 7 Fig 6&7) is then tightened to compress the plate against the inner toilet rim, creating a seal between the panel (item 2 Figs 1,2,4,5,6&7) and the top rim of the toilet.

In its alternative 'four locking bolt' embodiment, the central locking bolt and plate are replaced with four locking bolts (Fig 2) inserted into the panel through the four peripheral holes (Fig 1).

These bolts have a 'hooked' end, covered with a protective rubber sleeve (item3 Fig 2), with a rubber washer (item 9 Fig2), a flat metal washer (item 8 Fig2) and a wing nut (item 7 Fig 2) on the top side of the panel (item 2 Figs 1&2). A one-sided wing nut (item 4 Figs 1&2) and locking nut (item 5 Figs 1&2) are secμred to the top of the bolt to enable the bolt to be turned, and to indicate the direction of the 'hook.' With the four bolts inserted, the panel is placed on the toilet bowl and the bolts rotated so the 'hook' locates under the inner toilet rim. The exposed wing nuts are then tightened to compress the panel against the top rim of the toilet, creating a seal (Fig 3), the seal being attached to the panel and the seal being adjacent to the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

In both embodiments, any unused holes in the cover panel are plugged with rubber stoppers inserted from the underside. The toilet panel flood stopper is removed by reversing the above procedure.

The door, window or air-vent barrier, consists of a frame constructed from TJPNC extrusion (Fig 8). The frame is secured to the wall by: -

• The tongue (item 14 Fig8&9) locating into a pre-drilled channel in the wall of the house.

• The double flanges (Items 17 Figs 8&9) are drilled at appropriate distances and the frame secured to the wall with bolts or screws.

• Mastic being applied to the wall/back of the frame to provide a watertight seal between wall and frame.

The frame is mounted so that the internal 'U' (item 15 Fig 8) forms a channel to enable panels to be inserted. The inner comers of the frame (item 16 Figs 8&9) are rounded to avoid damage to the panels. The bottom comers of the frame are cut away (item 18 Fig 11) to avoid build up of dirt, and to facilitate cleaning. The panels are constructed from high pressure laminate with closed cell trice or Pure Para seals along the full vertical length of inner faces of the locating fins of all panels (Item2 Fig 10,12 & 13), and the full horizontal width and depth of the top of the first panel (Item 3 Figs 10,11&12) and the tops and bottoms of any subsequent panels (items 5 Figs 9,- 10, 11,128c 13). The locating fins of the panels, including the seals are one half mm. more in thickness than the channel (item 15 Fig8) into which they are located. The top of the first panel, and tops and bottoms of all subsequent panels include a box, or square section of aluminium (Itemό Figs 10), riveted flush to the edge of the panel, to accommodate horizontal seals. Where multiple panels are required, the 'outer' face of the panel is fitted with toggle clips (items 12 & 13 Figs 9, ll,12 & 13) to enable seals to be effectively compressed. These are the only mechanical elements of this construction.

The panel(s) are inserted into the frame (Item 19 Fig 11) by applying slight downward pressure until the first panel locates firmly at the bottom of the frame. Single panels require no other mechanical means, the seal effective due to the tight fit of the panels, and improving as water pressure builds on the outer surface. Subsequent panels are inserted into the frame in a si-n-ilar manner, and connected via the toggle clips (items 12&13 Figs 9 & 11) to compress the seals.

The barrier is removed by reversing the above process, and panels can be stored when not in use to avoid any deterioration to the seals from extremes of weather.

Claims

1. A toilet bowl sealing assembly comprising a cover having a strip seal attached thereto such that, in use, the cover is placed over the toilet bowl with the strip seal adjacent to the upper rim of the bowl, and wherein the cover is secured to the bowl by means of one or more bolts, one end of each bolt or plate attached thereto passing under the inner rim of the bowl.

2. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip seal is made from closed cell Nitrice Sponge or Pure Para.

3. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claim 1 & 2, wherein in one embodiment, the bolts are equally spaced from one another around the periphery of the cover.

4. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claims 1,2 & 3, wherein the end of each bolt passing under the rim of the toilet bowl is provided with a rubber sleeve.

5. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the other end of each bolt is provided with securing means comprising a rubber washer, a flat washer, a wing nut and a locking nut.

6. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claims 1-5, wherein at least one bolt is provided with a locked half wing nut which indicates the position of the end passing under the rim of the toilet bowl.

7. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claim 1 & 2, wherein in one embodiment, a bolt is inserted through a central hole in the panel with a plate secured to its lower end.

8. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the other end of the bolt is provided with securing means comprising a rubber washer, a flat washer, and a wing nut

9. A toilet bowl sealing assembly as claimed in claims 1,2,7 & 8 where a plate has two opposing square comers and two opposing shaped comers.

10. Toilet bowl sealing assemblies as claimed in claims 1-9 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A flood barrier arrangement comprising a U-shaped frame permanently secured and sealed to walls adjacent to doors, windows or air-vents and incorporating a seal-less channel into which is slid a variable number of removable panels, each with seals attached to the inward facing vertical side faces and to the top and bottom horizontal faces extending to the full depth of the box section.

12. A flood barrier arrangement as claimed in claim 11 where the frame is constructed from UPNC extrusion.

13. A flood barrier arrangement as claimed in claim 11 where said panels are constructed from high pressure laminate and fitted with closed cell Νitrice or Pure Para seals to the inward facing vertical side faces and to the top and bottom horizontal faces extending to the full width and depth of the box section.

14. A flood barrier arrangement as claimed in claim 11,12 & 13 where panels are fitted with toggle clips to one side only, to compress horizontal running seals.

15. A flood barrier arrangement as described herein and illustrated in attached drawings.