WO2004106692A1

WO2004106692A1 - Barrier for sealing an opening

Info

Publication number: WO2004106692A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/050789
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Alexander Deschamps
Original assignee: John Alexander Deschamps
Priority date: 2003-05-30
Filing date: 2004-05-27
Publication date: 2004-12-09
Also published as: GB2418951A; GB0525874D0

Abstract

A barrier (10) for sealing an opening defined by a door frame comprises a body (16) comprising a first body part (18), a second body part (20) and a third body part (22). The second and third body parts are movable relative to the first body part in directions A and B, thereby to permit adjustment of the size of the barrier (10). A sealing tube (24) extends at least partially along a periphery of the body (16) for sealing a gap between the barrier (10) and the door frame defining the opening.

Description

BARRIER FOR SEALING AN OPENING

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a barrier for sealing at least part of an opening, such as a bottom region of a door of a house against flooding from outside.

In US patent 4,682,443 there is disclosed a temporary and removable flood protection device which, when installed in a building doorway, provides a substantially watertight barrier to entry of floodwater

through the doorway. The flood protection device comprises an inner water resistant core and an outer or peripheral inflatable flexible sealing tube. The inner core has a bottom and spaced apart ends which in use respectively extend generally parallel to a doorsill and

door jambs of the doorway. The tube is water tightly attached to the inner core and extends along the ends and bottom thereof, so that, in use, the tube may be located in a narrow gap defined between the

core on the one hand and the jambs and sill on the other hand. Once

the tube is inflated, it is also in sealing contact with the sill and jambs and therefore forms a substantially watertight seal.

One disadvantage of the device is that it is not adjustable in size and therefore only fits into a doorway of a specified size. Another disadvantage is that often the doorjambs are not parallel to one another and/or not perpendicular to the sill, and hence the device may not form a proper seal.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier

with which the applicant believes the aforementioned disadvantages may at least be alleviated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a barrier for sealing at

least part of an opening defined in an external body, the barrier comprising:

a barrier body comprising a first body part and at least a second body part which is adjustable relative to the first body part, thereby to permit adjustment of the size of the barrier; and a sealing device disposed at least partially along a periphery of the

barrier body for sealing a gap between the barrier body and the

external body. The external body may be a wall of a building and the opening may have mounted therein a door or a window.

The first body part may be mounted intermediate the second body part and a similar third body part. The barrier body may be generally rectangular and the second and third parts may be slideable relative to

the first part in line with a main or longitudinal axis of the barrier body.

The barrier may further comprise means for securing the first body part to the second and third body parts respectively. The .securing means

may comprise a link comprising at least one of a slidable part and a flexible part. The flexible part may permit pivotal movement of the second and/or third body parts relative to the first body part about an

axis which is substantially normal to said longitudinal axis.

The sealing means may comprise a fluid inflatable flexible tube. The tube preferably extends along at least part of opposed ends of the barrier

body, through corner regions thereof and along an operative bottom side

thereof.

The tube may comprise at least one internal rigid tube in each corner

region to facilitate fluid transfer through the corner regions. The corner regions of the barrier body are preferably radiussed. The barrier may further comprise separate corner inserts each comprising a radiussed region complementary to the corner regions of the barrier body.

In one embodiment of the invention the barrier body is hinged to a frame in the external body to slant away from the frame from a top side of the barrier body towards a bottom side thereof.

In another embodiment of the invention the barrier body is slidably mounted in a frame in the external body between opposed guides on the frame. In this embodiment comer inserts may be integral with the guides.

The invention further includes within its scope a barrier system as herein defined and described and a method of sealing an opening in an external

body as herein defined and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAMS The invention will now further be described, by way of example only,

with reference to the accompanying diagrams wherein: figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first embodiment of the barrier according to the invention; figure 2 is a diagrammatic enlarged perspective view of a corner region of the barrier in figure 1 ; figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of part of a bottom region of the barrier in figure 1 ;

figure 4(a) is a diagrammatic eievational view of the barrier with an optional corner insert spaced from the barrier; figure 4(b) is a view similar to figure 4(a), but with the insert in

position;

figure 5 is a diagrammatic end view of the barrier of figure 1 when in position in a doorway; figure 6(a) is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the barrier according to the invention and a doorway;

figure 6(b) is a diagrammatic perspective view of the barrier of figure

6(a) partially in position in a doorway; and figure 6 (c) is a similar view with the barrier fully in position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of a flood barrier according to the invention for an

opening defined in an external body such as a wall of a building is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in figures 1 and 5. The wall is shown at 12 in figures 6(a) to (c) and the opening is designated 14.

Referring to figure 1 , the barrier 10 comprises a barrier body 16 comprising a first body part 18 and a second body part 20, which is manlpulatable relative to the first body part, thereby to permit selective adjustment of the size of the body 1 6. A similar third body part 22 is similarly connected to the first body part. A flexible and

inflatable member 24 is provided along at least part of a periphery 26

of the body 1 6.

The first body part comprises a rectangular sheet 28 of a watertight

material such as metal, plastic or the like. The sheet is rigidly mounted

on a beam 30 extending along one side of the sheet, which in use serves as an operatively top side of the barrier. A stepped formation 32 is provided along an opposite and operatively bottom side of the

sheet. Towards each end of the beam 30 there is provided an axially

extending and moveable spring biased locating pin 34 and 36 respectively. Each pin is secured in a respective housing 38, 40 rigidly mounted on the beam. The second body part 20 and the third body part 22 are similar in configuration and therefore only the third body part 22 will be described in more detail hereinafter. Referring to figures 1 to 3, the third body part 22 comprises a core 41 mounted between opposed flanges 42 and 44 of sheet metal, plastic or any other suitable material. The flanges define a peripheral channel 46 between them

extending partially about the core. Towards the operative top side, the flanges are slidably mounted on the beam 30 and towards the opposite side, the core and channel are radiussed as shown at 48. The channel 46 receives the aforementioned sealing means 24. The

third body part further comprises a web 50 which is superimposed on

an end region of the sheet 28. The web 50 defines a plurality of

parallel and axially extending slots 52.1 to 52.n. The web terminates at a bottom region thereof in a stepped formation 54. On the stepped formation there is provided a lug 56 standing proud from the formation and which defines a hole 58.

The barrier further comprises an elongate stepped link element 60. The

element 60 comprises a body 62 and a lug 64 standing proud from the body 62 and defining a hole 66. A resiliently flexible washer 68

(shown in figure 3) defining a hole 70 is mountable between lugs 56 and 64, as will hereinafter be described. The third body part 22 is mounted on the first part 18 with a bottom face of web 50 abutting on a top face of sheet 28. Suitable water sealing means (not shown) is provided between the faces. A threaded pin 71 (shown in figure 2) on sheet 28 extends through slot 52.n. A cooperating nut 72 is used to secure the two members to one another as will hereinafter be described. The third body part is further secured to the first body part by a flexible link 86 (shown in figures 3,4{a) and 4(b)) comprising the aforementioned link element 60. Stepped body 62 of link element 60 is axially received underneath stepped formation 32 of first body part 18. Lugs 56 and 64 are brought into alignment and washer 68 is sandwiched between the lugs, so that the holes 58, 70 and 66 are in register. Threaded bolt 74 (shown in figure 2) and a cooperating nut are used to secure the two lugs to one another. The sizes of the aforementioned holes are configured such that pivotal movement about an axis Y transverse to a longitudinal axis X of the barrier is allowed, as shown in figures 4(a) and 4(b).

Referring again to figure 1 , the sealing means 24 comprises a collapsible and inflatable tube. The tube 24 may be inflated by any suitable fluid which may be a gas or a liquid. The tube extends in channel 46 along at least part of both ends and also along the bottom region of the barrier body. At each of the aforementioned radiussed comers, a rigid hollow elbow formation 76 is provided on the inside of the tube to facilitate distribution of the fluid through the tube 24, while the tube is in a collapsed state.

As illustrated in figures 4(a) and (b) the barrier may also comprise

separate radiussed corner inserts 77. The radius provided at 79 by the

insert is substantially complementary to that at 48 (shown in figure 2)

of core 41 . The insert 77 is a removable fit in the channel 46.

In use, the size of the barrier body 1 6 is adjusted to suit a particular opening by moving the second and third body parts 20 and 22 in the directions A and B shown in figures 1 and 4(a) and 4(b) relative to the

^■first body part 18. Once a desired size has been reached, the parts are locked in the selected positions relative to one another utilizing the

pins 71 and cooperating nuts 72. In cases where a sill of a door

(shown at 80) in figure 6(b) is not straight or perpendicular to the

jambs 82 and 84, the flexibility of the link 86 (shown in figures 4(a) and (b)) between the bottom parts of the body parts 18,20,22 and the

aforementioned pivotal movement between the parts as shown at β in figures 4(a) and 4(b) may be used to improve the fit of the barrier 10

in the opening. The aforementioned first embodiment of the barrier 10 is mounted in a doorway 90 as illustrated in figure 5. Securing pins 34 and 36 are positioned in suitable holes in the jambs 82 and 84 so that the body of the barrier slants away from the door 92 in a direction from a top thereof to a bottom thereof. When the tube is inflated as hereinbefore described, the tube seals the region between the barrier body 10 and the sill and jambs. A body of water 94 on the outside of the door

wedges the barrier towards the door and hence further improves the

seal.

In the embodiment shown in figures 6(a) to 6(c), opposed slides 100 and 102 with integral corner inserts 104, which are similar to separate inserts 77, are secured to the door jambs 82 and 84. The barrier is

then mounted in the doorway by lowering the barrier in direction C

with the guides or rails 100 received in opposed regions of channel 46

of the barrier. The final position is shown in figure 6{c) and the barrier

is locked in this position by opposed pins 34 and 36 cooperating with suitable holes in the guides 100.

It will be appreciated that there are many variations in detail on the barrier, system and method according to the invention without

departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A barrier for sealing at least part of an opening defined in an external body, the barrier comprising: a barrier body comprising a first body part and at least a second body part which is adjustable relative to the first

body part, thereby to permit adjustment of the size of the barrier; and

a sealing device disposed at least partially along a periphery of the barrier body for sealing a gap between the barrier body and the external body.

2. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the external body is a wall of a building and the opening has mounted therein one of a door and a window.

3. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first body part is mounted intermediate the second body part and a third body part.

4. A barrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the barrier body is

generally rectangular and the second and third body parts are slideable relative to the first body part in line with a longitudinal axis of the barrier body.

5. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 3 and 4 wherein the

barrier body further comprises a link for securing the first body part to the second and third body parts respectively.

6. A barrier as claimed in claim 5 wherein the link comprises at least one of a slidable part and a flexible part.

7. A barrier as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flexible part of the link permits pivotal movement of at least one of the second body part and the third body part relative to the first body part about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the

barrier body.

8. A barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing device comprises a fluid inflatable flexible tube.

9. A barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein the tube extends along

at least part of opposed ends of the barrier body, through corner regions thereof and along an operative bottom side thereof.

10. A barrier as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tube comprises at least one internal rigid tube in each corner region to facilitate fluid transfer through the corner regions.

1 1 . A barrier as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the corner regions of the barrier body are radiussed,

12. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 1 comprising separate corner

inserts each comprising a radiussed region complementary to the corner regions of the barrier body.

13. A barrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein

the barrier body is hinged to a frame in the external body to slant away from the frame from a top region of the barrier body

towards a bottom region thereof.

14. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the

barrier body is slidably mounted in a frame in the external body

between opposed guides on the frame.

1 5. A barrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the separate corner

insets are integral with the guides.