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  BarrierUSPTO Application #: 20060124913Title: Barrier Abstract: Disclosed is a flood barrier which, in one embodiment, comprises a resiliently deformable barrier mounted removably via frame members on post footing. At least some embodiments of the barrier may be more rapidly and easily deployable and may be considerably lighter and cheaper to manufacture and yet provide surprising durability and resistance to water flows compared to conventional barrier constructions. (end of abstract) Agent: Stites & Harbison PLLC - Alexandria, VA, US Inventor: Clive Keedwell USPTO Applicaton #: 20060124913 - Class: 256012500 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fences, Driftage Control The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060124913. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This invention relates to environmental protection barriers, and particularly, but not exclusively to barriers for protection against coastal erosion and flooding. [0002] The problems associated with coastal erosion and flooding are only too familiar, and damage caused by flooding and erosion runs into hundreds of millions of pounds each year. In extreme circumstances the damage can extend to human injuries and fatalities. [0003] Many different types of coastal defence schemes and wave erosion barriers have been proposed in the past. Such schemes typically rely on the use of massive constructions to dissipate the wave energy. Examples include concrete sea walls, rock revetments and groynes. Such defences typically cost over .English Pound.3000 per metre to employ. [0004] Prior art flood protection measures include very large scale, high expenditure schemes, such as earthworks or reinforced concrete walls. At the other end of the scale sandbags are often used in flood situations, however these offer very limited resistance, especially to fast flowing water, and once breached, the sand can actually add to the weight of the flood water, increasing the possible damage caused. [0005] It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved environmental protection barrier which overcomes or ameliorates disadvantages in prior art barriers. It is a further object to provide an environmental protection barrier which is inexpensive and quick and simple to employ. [0006] In a first aspect the invention provides an environmental protection barrier for providing protection from a moving body of water, said barrier comprising a resiliently deformable barrier portion and means for securing said barrier portion in the path of said body of water, wherein said barrier portion is adapted to deform or move reversibly from an initial configuration to absorb or deflect energy from said moving body of water. [0007] In this way, energy from water impacting onto the barrier is dissipated as the resilient portion flexes or moves. Although prior art barriers have typically relied on having a very large mass, the novel arrangement of this invention has been found to be surprisingly effective at dissipating energy, despite being relatively lightweight and quickly deployable. The material for the resiliently deformable portion is suitably chosen to have high hysteresis for maximum energy dissipation. It is advantageous that the resilient portion does not undergo permanent deformation. At the same time sufficient structural rigidity is provided by the securing means to maintain the deformable portion in the path of the fluid. It should be understood that references to water will include any sediment and debris carried in the water, and may extend to slurries and mud flows for example. In one embodiment the barrier portion is substantially impermeable [0008] In one embodiment, the means for securing comprises a plurality of substantially rigid upwardly extending posts. This arrangement is advantageous for providing a flood barrier with the posts securing the deformable barrier substantially perpendicular to the ground. Such an embodiment has been found to be able to withstand lateral pressures of the order of 100 tonnes per square metre. [0009] Said means for securing may additionally comprise a plurality of substantially rigid frame members, each frame member adapted to be located between said posts. The frame members are suitably include a number of horizontal and/or vertical braces. The barrier portion, as flat sheets, can advantageously be attached directly to the frame members by adhesive or screws or such like. The frame members may merely provide a means for attaching the resilient portion to the posts, and may not be intended to add any structural rigidity to the barrier. Of course the resilient portion could be secured to the posts directly if desired. [0010] In this way a composite structure is effectively formed having a substantially rigid matrix with deformable portions between the posts and cross braces. [0011] In one embodiment the posts include channels to allow the frame members to be located by sliding. Suitably the channels extend vertically, and the frame members and are located by sliding vertically downwards into locating channels of adjacent posts. In certain arrangements nothing further is required to attach the frame members to the posts. The posts need not be arranged in a straight line, and can be offset so as effectively to provide a curved barrier. The vertical sliding arrangement is advantageous in this respect, since each frame member can be angled relative to the next, without requiring any, or only very little modification to post or frame member. [0012] A rigid blade member can usefully be fitted to the base of each frame member, adapted to be inserted into the ground In one embodiment the blade is driven into the ground when the frame member is slid into position, the weight of the frame providing a driving force. The blade member suitably extend the length of the frame, and when driven into the ground helps prevent water flowing under the barrier and/or washing away the surface layer. An alternative arrangement is to provide a deformable lip at the base of each frame to engage the ground, most simply achieved by extending the barrier portion below the edge of the frame. [0013] While in the majority of embodiments each post must be substantially parallel to the next, these features allow slight variations in height between posts, the lip or blade arrangement accommodating a slight slope. [0014] The posts are advantageously removably deployable onto post footings, to allow the barrier to be quickly and easily assembled, and disassembled as and when required. In one embodiment the post footings include a substantially flat plate adapted to be secured to the ground by bolts or pins. The post footings may be embedded or partially embedded in the ground, either permanently or temporarily. Alternatively the footings may be secured to any sufficiently rigid anchor surface (eg bolting to a concrete surface). It may be advantageous for footings to be substantially flush with the ground level so that they are unobtrusive when in place. Different posts in the same barrier may use different types of footings as desired. [0015] In one embodiment the posts are further supported by stays which extend from the posts to the ground, at an angel to the posts. [0016] In one embodiment the posts and frame portions are modular, allowing substantially any number of barrier portions to be erected on top of one another and side by side. Thus a simple kit of common modular parts can be employed to erect a barrier of any width or height within practical limits. [0017] Different embodiments of the invention may employ a resiliently deformable barrier portion having thicknesses specified as follows: [0018] Greater than 5 mm [0019] Less than 50 mm [0020] Between 10 and 20 mm [0021] Although the thickness may vary these figures are intended to refer to a representative measure of thickness such as average thickness, or the thickness of a representative portion. Different embodiments of the invention may employ a resiliently deformable barrier portion having a mass per unit area specified as follows: [0022] Greater than 5 kg per square metre. [0023] Between 5 and 20 kg per square metre [0024] Approximately 10 kg per square metre Continue reading... Full patent description for Barrier Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Barrier patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Barrier or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Compact privacy fence kit including mating fence components and a kit storage and transport case Next Patent Application: Baluster aligning apparatus and method Industry Class: Fences ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Barrier patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.44446 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
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