BUOYANCY SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to systems and devices that are configured to float, be buoyant and maintain a fluid, such as water a distance away from an item(s) and/or structure.

What is desired is a system, devices, and methods to create a barrier that maintains a vertical barrier at varying fluid heights. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices and methods that address the above needs.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a system that includes a buoyant body, the buoyant body extending around at least a periphery of an upper perimeter; a length of film having a first end and a second end, the first end of the film operably connected to the upper perimeter; and a base, wherein the second end of the film is operably connected to the base, wherein the base extends around a base perimeter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following drawings, which are provided as illustrative of certain embodiments of the subject application, and not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1-10 are views of a first embodiment of a buoyant system of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11-13 are views of a second embodiment of a buoyant system of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the discussion and claims herein, the term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or device. For example, for some elements the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±0.1%, for other elements, the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±1% or ±10%, or any point therein.

As used herein, the term “substantially”, or “substantial”, is a broad term and is used in its ordinary sense, including, without limitation, being largely but not necessarily wholly that which is specified, which is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a surface that is “substantially” flat would mean either completely flat, or so nearly flat that the effect would be the same as if it were completely flat.

As used herein terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration.

As used herein, terms defined in the singular are intended to include those terms defined in the plural and vice versa.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, some embodiments” or “an embodiment”, indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention, as it is oriented in the drawing figures. The terms “overlying”, “atop”, “positioned on” or “positioned atop” means that a first element, is present on a second element, wherein intervening elements interface between the first element and the second element. The term “direct contact” or “attached to” means that a first element and a second element are connected without any intermediary element at the interface of the two elements.

Reference herein to any numerical range expressly includes each numerical value (including fractional numbers and whole numbers) encompassed by that range. To illustrate, reference herein to a range of “at least 50” or “at least about 50” includes whole numbers of 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, etc., and fractional numbers 50.1, 50.2 50.3, 50.4, 50.5, 50.6, 50.7, 50.8, 50.9, etc. In a further illustration, reference herein to a range of “less than 50” or “less than about 50” includes whole numbers 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, etc., and fractional numbers 49.9, 49.8, 49.7, 49.6, 49.5, 49.4, 49.3, 49.2, 49.1, 49.0, etc.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a buoyant system 100 of the present disclosure. Specifically, system 100 includes a buoyant body 2, which extends around at least a portion of a periphery of an upper perimeter 3 of the system. In this embodiment, buoyant body 2 extends around the entire upper perimeter 3, but in other embodiments the buoyant body 2 can only be in one or more discrete portions about the upper perimeter 3, in any suitable size and shape. In this disclosure, the upper perimeter 3 can be formed of solely buoyant body 2 (as seen in FIG. 1), of the upper perimeter 3 can be formed of a combination of one or more discrete buoyant bodies 2 and a supporting structure formed of any suitable material capable of substantially maintaining the shape shown in FIG. 1.

The buoyant body 2 can be formed of any suitable material that floats (or includes a cavity of a gas to cause the body 2 to float). Floating of the buoyant body 2 is meant to refer to at least some portion of the buoyant body 2 (or at least a portion of at least one of the upper perimeter 3) is above the upper surface of a liquid once the buoyant body 2 and/or the upper perimeter 3 is suspended by the liquid. The liquid can be any aqueous liquid, including but not limited to water, freshwater, brackish water, saline water, and can come from any source, such as rain, underground transport, and/or above ground flow.

A length of film 4 is shown as extending between the upper perimeter 3 and the base 6. A first end 5 of the film 4 is operably connected to the upper perimeter 3 in any suitable way, such as by a frictional connection (e.g. wrapping several layers of film 4 about the upper perimeter 3 and/or buoyant body 2), a mechanical connection (such as a clip element or clamp element) and/or by a suitable adhesive. The geometry of the connection of the first end 5 and the upper perimeter 3 can be one or many orientations discussed throughout this disclosure and shown in more detail in further figures.

The base 6 can be formed of any suitable material capable of substantially maintaining a base perimeter 9 (which is perimeter of the shape of the base 6 shown in FIG. 1.) The base 6 can include an adhesive so that the base 5 can substantially adhere to a floor surface 11 of a floor 10, and/or the base 5 can be configured for a mechanical connection (e.g. screws, bolts, clipped elements, rivet elements, etc.) to a floor surface 11.

The film 4 extends, circumferentially, around the base perimeter 9 of the base 6 and around the upper perimeter 3 and forms an internal cavity 14. The film 4 can be a single film, such that each angular portion 12 is a fold or bend (for example line 8 of FIG. 1) in the film 4 and/or the film 4 can be two or more pieces of film such that one or more angular portions 12 are the result of a seam (for example line 8 of FIG. 1) between the two or more pieces of film 4.

As used herein, the term “film” is a polymer (inclusive of a plastic web), regardless of whether it is film or sheet, and can be one or more layers of material. The film can encompass any substance, such as organic, synthetic, and/or processed materials that comprise polymers and can be made into structures such as 3-dimensional constructs and 2-dimensional constructs, such as, for example, films, sheets, laminates, filaments, and similar structures. The film can have a total thickness of about 0.05 mm or less, about 0.10 mm or less, about 0.15 mm or less, about 0.20 mm or less, about 0.25 mm or less, about 0.30 mm or less, about 0.35 mm or less, about 0.40 mm or less, about 0.50 mm or less, about 0.60 mm or less, about 0.70 mm or less, about 0.80 mm or less, about 0.90 mm or less, about 1 mm or less, about 2 mm or less, about 3 mm or less, about 5 mm or less, about 7.5 mm or less, about 10 mm or less, or a thickness of from about 1.5 mils to about 10 mils, or from about 1.5 to about 5 mils, or from about 1.8 mils to about 4 mils, or from about 2 mils to about 3 mils. Further, the film can be attached in any suitable way (or be adjacent) to another material, which may add to the overall thickness.

In some embodiments, the film 4 can be rolled and/or folded, such that the rolled and/or folded portions of the film 4 contact other adjacent portion of the film 4. In other embodiments, a liner sheet 13 (such as a paper material, a woven material (such as an organic, woven or webbed material), an organic, synthetic, and/or processed materials that comprises polymers can be interplaced with the film 4, such that adjacent portions of film 4 do not directly contact other rolled and/or folded portions of the film. This liner sheet is shown in FIG. 4, for example.

Alternatively or in addition to liner sheet 13, a powder and/or a lubricant can be interplaced with the film 4, such that adjacent portions of film 4 do not directly contact other rolled and/or folded portions of the film.

Although some figures illustrate the film 4 as being in a rolled configuration, any embodiment can include a rolled configuration of film 4 or a folded configuration of film 4, as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the system 100. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 has caused the buoyant body 2 to float from a resting position near base 6 to the position shown in FIG. 2. As the water level 15 has risen away from floor surface 11, the buoyant body 2 has risen, extending film 4 from a folded, compact configuration, to at least a partially expanded configuration, between a portion of the buoyant body 2 and the base 6. As a result of the rising of buoyant body 2, water has substantially been prevented from entering internal cavity 14. As the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the buoyant body is configured to substantially maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 2, such that water level 15 does not extend over the vertical upper surface (a surface of buoyant body 2 furthest from the floor surface 11). Also as the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the film 4 expands or contracts to allow for the vertical movement of the buoyant body 2.

In another embodiment, a water level can rise within the internal cavity, filling the internal cavity and causing the buoyant body to rise. For example, a hot water heater can be placed within the perimeter of the base, such that if the hot water heater leaked, the internal cavity (which would include the hot water heater) could fill and the buoyant body could float, maintaining the water level within the internal cavity.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of the system 100. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 has caused the buoyant body 2 to float from a resting position near base 6 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the buoyant body 2 is separated from the film 4 by a buoyant body arm 18, which extends between the buoyant body 2 and a film axle 16 that film 4 is wound about.

As the water level 15 has risen away from floor surface 11, the buoyant body 2 has risen, causing the film 4 to unroll in a clockwise direction, extending film 4 from a rolled, compact configuration, to at least a partially unrolled configuration, between a portion of the buoyant body 2 (and film axle 16) and the base 6. As a result of the rising of buoyant body 2, water has substantially been prevented from entering internal cavity 14. As the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the buoyant body is configured to substantially maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 3, such that water level 15 does not extend over the vertical upper surface (a surface of film 4 furthest from the floor surface 11). Also as the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the film 4 unrolls or can re-roll (due to an optional spring force provided by e.g. a coil spring not shown) to allow for the vertical movement of the buoyant body 2.

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of the system of FIG. 3, with a liner sheet 13 included. As can be seen, the liner sheet 13 is interplaced and wound around the film axle 16 (and either attaches to the film axle, a portion of the film 4, or is not attached) with the film 4. In this figure, the liner sheet 13 is shown as not extending vertically down the entire distance of the film 4, but in other embodiments, liner sheet 13 can be attached to a first end of the film 4, or any portion of the base, 6, or any portion of the film between its first and second end, or not be attached.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of the system 100. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 has caused the buoyant body 2 to float from a resting position near base 6 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the buoyant body 2 at least partially, or substantially surrounds an exterior surface of the rolled film 4 and the film axle 16 the film 4 is wound about, with the buoyant body having an opening along its circumference to allow the length of film 4 to increase as the buoyant body 2 moves further from the floor surface 11.

As the water level 15 has risen away from floor surface 11, the buoyant body 2 has risen, causing the film 4 to unroll in a counter-clockwise direction, extending film 4 from a rolled, compact configuration, to at least a partially unrolled configuration, between a portion of the buoyant body 2 (and film axle 16) and the base 6. As a result of the rising of buoyant body 2, water has substantially been prevented from entering internal cavity 14. As the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the buoyant body is configured to substantially maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 5, such that water level 15 does not extend over the vertical upper surface (a surface of film 4 furthest from the floor surface 11 and/or a surface of the buoyant body 2 furthest from the floor surface 11). Also as the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the film 4 unrolls or can re-roll (due to an optional spring force provided by e.g. a coil spring not shown) to allow for the vertical movement of the buoyant body 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of the system 100. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 is either not present, or not sufficiently high to cause the buoyant body 2 to float from its resting position near base 6. In this embodiment the film 4 is wound about the buoyant body 2 (in this embodiment in a clockwise direction, and in this embodiment the buoyant body 2 rests outside of the internal cavity 14 as compared to the base 6, but in other embodiments, buoyant body 2 could rest on base 6, or on the floor surface 11 within the internal cavity 14).

Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of the system 100. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 is either not present, or not sufficiently high to cause the buoyant body 2 to float from its resting position near base 6. In this embodiment the film 4 is wound about the buoyant body 2 (in this embodiment in a counter-clockwise direction, and in this embodiment the buoyant body 2 rests outside of the internal cavity 14 as compared to the base 6, but in other embodiments, buoyant body 2 could rest on base 6, or on the floor surface 11 within the internal cavity 14).

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the embodiment of the system 100 shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 has caused the buoyant body 2 to float from a resting position near base 6 to the position shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment the film 4 is wound around the buoyant body 2.

As the water level 15 has risen away from floor surface 11, the buoyant body 2 has risen, causing the film 4 to unroll in a counter-clockwise direction, extending film 4 from a rolled, compact configuration (FIG. 6), to at least a partially unrolled configuration (FIG. 8), between a portion of the buoyant body 2 and the base 6. As a result of the rising of buoyant body 2, water has substantially been prevented from entering internal cavity 14. As the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the buoyant body is configured to substantially maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 8, such that water level 15 does not extend over the vertical upper surface (a surface of film 4 furthest from the floor surface 11). Also as the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the film 4 unrolls or can re-roll (due to an optional spring force provided by e.g. a coil spring not shown) to allow for the vertical movement of the buoyant body 2.

Referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the embodiment of the system 100 shown in FIG. 7. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 has caused the buoyant body 2 to float from a resting position near base 6 to the position shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment the film 4 is wound around the buoyant body 2.

As the water level 15 has risen away from floor surface 11, the buoyant body 2 has risen, causing the film 4 to unroll in a clockwise direction, extending film 4 from a rolled, compact configuration (FIG. 7), to at least a partially unrolled configuration (FIG. 9), between a portion of the buoyant body 2 and the base 6. As a result of the rising of buoyant body 2, water has substantially been prevented from entering internal cavity 14. As the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the buoyant body is configured to substantially maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 9, such that water level 15 does not extend over the vertical upper surface (a surface of film 4 furthest from the floor surface 11). Also as the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the film 4 unrolls or can re-roll (due to an optional spring force provided by e.g. a coil spring not shown) to allow for the vertical movement of the buoyant body 2.

Also as seen in FIG. 9, a base sheet 20 is shown. The base sheet 20 can be formed of any suitable material and configured to contact and/or be operably connected to all portions of the base perimeter 9. This base sheet 20 substantially or wholly separates the internal cavity 14 from the floor surface 11.

Although not shown, the base 6 and base sheet 20 can also be suspended and/or connected to an element that is secured to another structure, for example a frame secured to wall. This frame can be any suitable frame, such as a framed art work or a frame of an electrical component such as a television, monitor, etc. In some embodiments the base 6 can extend around a periphery of the frame, such as a lower periphery and/or an upper periphery, with an edge of the frame contacting or nearly contacting the base sheet 20.

This base 6 can be secured to a surface of that frame that is nearest the floor/ground of where the frame is located. Alternatively/in addition to the base 6 nearest the floor/ground of where the frame is located, a base 6 can be secured to any surface of the frame, such as the surface furthest from the floor/ground of where the frame is located, or any surface between the surfaces nearest the floor/ground of where the frame is located and the surface furthest from the floor/ground of where the frame is located.

If a water level reaches the base buoyant body 2 connected to the base 6, the buoyant body 2 can float as discussed above such that the film 4 is between the frame and the water level.

Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another portion of another embodiment of the system 100. As can be seen the base 6 is substantially adhered to the floor surface 11 of the floor 10, and a water level 15 has caused the buoyant body 2 to float from a resting position near base 6 or resting on an upper surface of base 6 to the position shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment the film 4 is wound around the film axle 16 within a cavity formed by base 6. The film axle 16 can be supported by a film axle support arm 19, which extends from a portion of the base 6 to the film axle 16.

As the water level 15 has risen away from floor surface 11, the buoyant body 2 has risen, causing the film 4 to unroll in a clockwise direction, extending film 4 from a rolled, compact configuration, to at least a partially unrolled configuration, between a portion of the buoyant body 2 and the base 6. As a result of the rising of buoyant body 2, water has substantially been prevented from entering internal cavity 14. As the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the buoyant body is configured to substantially maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 10, such that water level 15 does not extend over the vertical upper surface (a surface of the buoyant body 2 furthest from the floor surface 11). Also as the water level 15 continues to rise away from the floor surface 11, or falls towards the floor surface 11, the film 4 unrolls or can re-roll (due to an optional spring force provided by e.g. a coil spring not shown) to allow for the vertical movement of the buoyant body 2.

Also as seen in FIG. 10, a cover sheet 22 is shown. The cover sheet 22 can be formed of any suitable material (such as a material of film 4) and of any suitable thickness (such as a thickness of film 4), and configured to contact and/or be operably connected to a portion of or all portions of the upper perimeter 3. This cover sheet 22 can substantially or wholly separates the internal cavity 14 from the outside of the system 100.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of another embodiment of a buoyant system 200 of the present disclosure. Buoyant system 200 includes a base 202 operable connected, along its perimeter, a side wall 204. One or both of the base 202 and the side wall 204 are buoyant and are formed of any suitable material that floats (or includes a cavity of a gas to cause the base 202 and side wall 204 to float). Floating of the base 202 and side wall 204 is meant to refer to at least some portion of the base 202 and/or side wall 204 is above the upper surface of a liquid once the base 202 and/or side wall 204 is suspended by the liquid. The liquid can be any aqueous liquid, including but not limited to water, freshwater, brackish water, saline water, and can come from any source, such as rain, underground transport, and/or above ground flow.

A cross sectional view of the buoyant system 200 is shown in FIG. 12. As can be seen in this view the base 202 side wall 204 can be formed of a single piece of material, or the base 202 and side wall 204 can be formed of two or more pieces of material operably joined together. In this view, the base 202 is resting on floor surface 211 of floor 210, and a water level 215 is fairly close to the floor surface 211, and low enough not to cause flotation of the buoyant system 200.

Although the base 202 is not connected to the floor and can include a small level of adhesion (such as, for example adhesion similar to a yellow sticky note) or no adhesion, the buoyant system 200 does include an anchor 206. Anchor 206 is operably connected to the floor 210 in any suitable way, such as through an adhesive and/or mechanically, such as by welding, bolting, screwing, nailing, etc. Anchor 206 is connected to base 202 via a tether, shown in FIG. 13.

In FIG. 13, as the water level 215 has risen away from the floor surface 211, the base 202 and side wall 204 have risen, causing tether 208 to maintain the base 202 within a distance of the anchor 206. The tether 208 can be any suitable cord, rope, chain, etc. that can maintain the base 202 within a distance of the anchor 206. Further, the tether 208 can be a single length of material, or tether 208 can be coiled, rolled, spooled about a portion of one or both of the anchor 206 and the base 202, and extend/contract in length as the water level 215 increases or decreases.

Although not shown, buoyant system 200 can include a cover sheet. This cover sheet can be formed of any suitable material (such as a material of film 4) and of any suitable thickness (such as a thickness of film 4), and configured to contact and/or be operably connected to a portion of or all portions of the side wall 204. This cover sheet can substantially or wholly separates an internal cavity (formed by a space between the base 202, side wall 204 and cover sheet) from the outside of the system 200.

Although not shown, the base 202 can also be suspended and/or connected to an element that is secured to another structure, for example a frame secured to wall. This frame can be any suitable frame, such as a framed art work or a frame of an electrical component such as a television, monitor, etc. This base 202 can be secured to a surface of that frame that is nearest the floor/ground of where the frame is located. Alternatively/in addition to the base 202 nearest the floor/ground of where the frame is located, a base 202 can be secured to any surface of the frame, such as the surface furthest from the floor/ground of where the frame is located, or any surface between the surfaces nearest the floor/ground of where the frame is located and the surface furthest from the floor/ground of where the frame is located.

If a water level reaches the base 202 attached to the frame, the base 202 can act as source of buoyancy and substantially maintain the frame above a water line.

Further, any disclosed buoyant system can also include a sensor that detects that a water level has reached a certain height and/or that detects that any portion of the buoyant system has moved position. This sensor can include one or more sensors, with the one or more sensors being locatable on any suitable portion of the buoyant system. The one or more sensors can be configured to emit a sound and/or light upon detecting a water level and/or movement event. Alternatively, or in addition to, the sensor can transmit a signal to a mobile device through any suitable protocol, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication, etc. such that a user's mobile device can alert the user to the water level and/or movement event.

The described embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment or example of the present disclosure. While the fundamental novel features of the disclosure as applied to various specific embodiments thereof have been shown, described and pointed out, it will also be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the disclosure may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. Further, various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.

BUOYANCY SYSTEM

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Date Filed

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

Claims

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)