The invention generally relates to devices used in navigable and non-navigable waterways, and more particularly to barriers for such waterways, and more particularly to floats used for such barriers.
Contemporary barriers for waterways come in a variety of forms and perform in a variety of applications. For example, these barriers may be used in wildlife barrier applications to reduce/prevent wildlife such as fish from entering a given area of a waterway, e.g. the entrance of a hydroelectric dam or the like. As another example, such barriers are often times used as debris collection devices for collecting debris and cordoning the same to a specific area in the waterway. As yet another example, these barriers may be used in safety applications and thereby restrict access by boats, swimmers, etc. to a given area of a waterway.
While such barriers may come in many forms, they primarily consist of a number of elongated floats which are connected to one another in a row. These floats may include a variety of hardware integrated therewith for connecting the floats to one another, attaching underwater netting or barrier devices, attaching signage or upright fencing devices, etc. As a result, it is desirable that the floats be of a robust construction capable of being exposed to the elements for extended periods of time and capable of supporting the loading and structures mounted thereto.
Despite being of a robust construction as mentioned above, the floats of such barriers must be buoyant. To achieve this, contemporary waterway barrier floats are of a multi-component, multi-material construction. Indeed, they employ a hollow outer casing which is formed of a strong plastics material which provides the required degree of strength for the float. Inside this hollow outer casing is a low density urethane material used as a float body, which is desirable for its buoyancy capabilities and its light weight due to its low density construction.
Unfortunately, the above multi-component, multi-material construction of such floats has several drawbacks. First, the manufacture itself is a multi-stage process. It requires the manufacture of the hollow outer casing in a separate step from the manufacture of the internal float body. It also requires a separate step of attaching or forming any mounting hardware on the float. This step is typically done after the casing and float body are made and assembled.
Further, the outer casing of contemporary floats can become damaged inadvertently or intentionally, leaving the underlying float body exposed. Because the float body is formed from a low density urethane material, it is not nearly as robust as the hard outer casing. This low density urethane material may quickly become damaged from exposure to the elements, collisions, etc. Further, the low density urethane material is typically not the same color as the hard outer casing which itself is typically a bright orange or other safety oriented color. As such, once the hard outer casing is completely or partially obliterated, the underlying float body is much harder to see.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a float and a waterway barrier incorporating such a float which overcomes the above deficiencies. The invention provides as much. The invention provides the same. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.
In one aspect, the invention provides a float for a barrier of a waterway. An embodiment of a float according to this aspect includes a float body. The float body has a generally elongated shape extending between first and second ends. The float body is caseless such that it is in direct contact with the water of a waterway. The float body is formed of a high density urethane material.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the float body is configured for connection to at least one other float body. The float body may include mounting hardware at at least one of the first and second ends for connecting the float body to an external device.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the float body includes a passage extending longitudinally through the float body. The passage extends along a longitudinal central axis of the float body, and is configured to route a guide line for stringing multiple float bodies together. The float may also include a sleeve lining the passage. The sleeve is formed of a material which is different than the material of the float body.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the float body includes mounting hardware which is co-molded into the float body such that it is anchored in the float body. The float body may be pigmented with a color. The float body may have a circular cross section, or a non-circular cross section.
In certain embodiments, the float body has a density of between about 20 lb/ft3 and about 26 lbs/ft3.
In another aspect, the invention provides a barrier for a waterway. An embodiment of a barrier according to this aspect includes a plurality of floats connected to on another to form a row. Each float includes a float body formed of a single, homogenous material.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, each float body has a first and a second end. Each one of the plurality of floats may include mounting hardware for connecting its respective float body to an adjacent float body. The mounting hardware is situated at at least one of the first and second ends of the float body. The mounting hardware may be co-molded into the float body such that it is anchored in the float body.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the single homogeneous material is a high density urethane material.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the float body may include a passage extending longitudinally through the float body. The passage extends along a longitudinal central axis of the float body, and is configured to route a guide line for stringing multiple float bodies together to form the row of the waterway barrier. A sleeve may line the passage. The sleeve may be formed of a material which is different than the material of the float body.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for forming a barrier for a waterway. An embodiment of a method according to this aspect includes forming a caseless float body. The caseless float body is configured for direct contact with water of the waterway during normal operation. The method also includes providing mounting hardware on the float body. The mounting hardware is configured for connecting an external structure to the float body.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the step of forming includes forming the float body using a high density urethane material.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, the step of forming includes forming the float body of a single homogeneous material.
In certain embodiments according to this aspect, step of providing mounting hardware on the float body includes co-molding the mounting hardware with the float body.
Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Turning now to the drawings,
Float body 44 is formed of a single homogeneous material. As one example, float body 44 is formed of a high density urethane material which is molded to assume the shape of float 40. The Applicant has found that a density of between about 20 lb/ft3 and about 26 lbs/ft3 is particularly advantageous in that it on the one hand provides a desired strength and resiliency and on the other hand provides a desired buoyancy. The term “about” in the preceding density range is used to allow for those tolerances which are typical in density measurements of urethane foam in practice. The Applicant has found that float bodies of densities which are less than 20 lb/ft3 do not provide satisfactory resilience and can become damaged or destroyed. The Applicant has also found that float bodies of densities which are greater than 26 lb/ft3 are too dense, and have a tendency to over-submerge or sink.
This high density urethane material has the advantage of providing the strength benefits of a hard plastic outer casing without actually incorporating such a case. In other words, float 40 is caseless. “Caseless” as used herein means that float body 44 is not contained within an interior space defined by an outer casing, but is instead arranged and configured for direct contact with the water of a waterway in normal operation of float 40. “Normal operation” meaning the application of float 40 in its undamaged state in its intended environment. This is in direct contrast to those case-style designs described above and shown in
Such high density urethane material also provides the required buoyancy properties. Further such high density urethane material may be readily pigmented to assume a safety oriented color such as bright orange or the like. Such coloring is normally reserved for the hard outer casing in prior designs. Still further, other componentry such as mounting hardware 58 may be readily installed on float body 44, given that its high density urethane material may be molded to assume various shapes and is amenable to co-molding with such hardware, and given that such high density urethane may readily be subjected to conventional machining methods such as drilling and the like in order to incorporate such mounting hardware 58 into float 40.
It will be recognized that hardware 58 illustrated is only a schematic depiction. Any type of mounting hardware may be incorporated into float 40, either by co-molding the same into float body 44 as float body 44 is molded, or by subsequent attachment. Thus “mounting hardware” as used herein means any hardware used to connect float body 44 to an external device, such as another adjacent float body 44, barriers, signage, fencing, other mounting hardware, or any other device of the type used in contemporary barriers for waterways. Therefore, the particular shape of mounting hardware 58 should be taken as a non-limiting example only.
It will be recognized from the teachings herein that the various features shown in
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/579,632, filed Oct. 31, 2017, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6960047 | Knezek | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7337568 | Johnson | Mar 2008 | B2 |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190127027 A1 | May 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62579632 | Oct 2017 | US |