Patent Application
20250052022
The field of the present invention relates generally to inflatable containers used for flood barriers and water storage, and in particular inflatable containers that are portable, easily deployable, resistant to leaks from punctures and a reliable storage for potable water pre and post flood events.
Barriers of sand filled bags against flooding are the traditional defense used and the prior art is replete with innovative ways for even such a simple device. And for large barriers the filling of the sandbags is labor intensive and the bags filled with sand are heavy to stack. Furthermore, the removal of the sand and the bags after the flood conditions have subsided is also labor and equipment intensive, plus there is the challenge of sand disposal post threat.
Inflatable containers of sorts have been used to alleviate some of the sandbag disadvantages. A porous bag having a quantity of water absorbent and expandable material occupying a small volume within the bag have been proposed. However, there remains the problem of disposing of the bags after the flood conditions have subsided persists.
Other traditional flood barriers include large permanent installations, such as levees or dikes, and may consist simply of a large mound of dirt or of concrete and steel walls. Flood barriers may preferably be non-permanent, such that it can be deployed when a flood is threatened and removed once the threat is gone. Such deployable barriers can be used for infrequent flooding threats, for example, to protect a single building in a town where a permanent levee may fail, or to protect an area from the unexpected flooding from a town's water main pipe break. Thus a common deployable flood barrier is a simple pile of sand bags or array of inflatable containers. The problem of deconstruction and disposal persist.
While sandbags can be effective in some situations, they are not always the best solution against flooding for several reasons. Deploying sandbag barriers can be time-consuming to fill and place. Sandbags require a lot of manual labor to fill and place, which can be time-consuming and may not be feasible in situations where flooding is happening quickly. Sandbags have a limited effectiveness. They can only be used to create barriers against relatively low levels of flooding. In cases of more severe flooding, sandbags may not be able to contain the water.
There are the environmental concerns, where the use of sandbags can also have negative environmental consequences. The sand used to fill the bags may be taken from beaches or riverbanks, which can lead to erosion and other environmental damage. Additionally, used sandbags may need to be disposed of as hazardous waste due to potential contamination from floodwaters. Costs are relatively high, depending on the scale of the flooding and the number of sandbags needed, the cost of filling and placing sandbags can add up quickly, making it a less economical solution in the long term.
Therefore, while sandbags can be a useful tool in some situations, other flood prevention measures such as proper land use planning, elevation of buildings, and installation of flood barriers and drainage systems may be more effective in preventing or mitigating the impact of flooding when an entire community is concerned.
However, inflatable containers in replacement for sandbags for flood control for have several deficiencies. Water is much lighter than sand. Sandbags are heavy and dense, making them effective at keeping floodwaters at bay. In contrast, inflatable containers are much lighter, and they do not provide as much resistance to the force of rushing water. This means that inflatable containers not anchored in some fashion are not as effective at preventing floodwaters from entering an area. Sandbags are stable and remain in place once they are filled. Inflatable containers, on the other hand, can shift and move as water flows around them. This means that they are not as reliable for long-term flood control as sandbags unless there is additional resistance to movement or displacement of the individual inflatable containers.
In addition, sandbags are made of sturdy materials that can withstand the pressure and impact of rushing water. Inflatable containers, on the other hand, are generally made of plastic, which can be punctured or torn by debris in floodwaters. Moreover, filling sandbags requires labor, but it can be done quickly with a small crew. In contrast, filling inflatable containers requires a water source and a pump to fill them. This process takes much longer, and it can be difficult to obtain a reliable source of water during a flood. This is a show stopper for larger inflatable container defenses.
In some cases sandbags are a more reliable and effective option for flood control than inflatable containers. However, inflatable containers may have some limited uses and other advantages in some cases if deficiencies can be remedied, such as in small-scale flood prevention and for limited barrier lengths and heights.
What is needed is a inflatable container with resistance to movement from flood water impingement. What is needed is an inflatable container that can withstand impingement from floodwaters and debris. What is needed is a cohesive inflatable container, one that can provide defense in depth support from other inflatable containers for a smaller area, as an individual residence or small business, independent of other flood controls measures that are in place.
What is needed are inflatable container designs that resist punctures, leakage, have a cohesive structural integrity and provide barriers when engaged with other inflatable containers.
The present invention discloses an inflatable container for retaining a liquid for storage and is also stackable for as a self-supporting flood barrier. The inflatable container is comprised of liquid impervious material walls with re-enforced edge, container edge coupled to re-enforced loops contiguous with the re-enforced container edges, loops for coupling of filled inflatable container with adjacent stabilizing implantations. The inflatable container is formed by a vertical extrusion from a non-rectangular closed polygon base such that an inflatable container lateral side surface is conformably angular to an adjacent container lateral surface such that an external pressure from the container front face direction to a liquid filled inflatable container wall will transfer the external pressure to an adjacent lateral surface aligned container wall. The container also has an attached sheet of liquid impervious material, re-enforceably attached to the inflatable container base edge. The inflatable container has two liquid inlet orifices, whereby a singular inflatable container content can be reliably stored and a plurality of inflatable containers placed conformably with lateral angular sides in parallel build a structurally fluid filled container wall for a load transferring flood barrier.
Specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures.
In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
The leakage resistant durable inflatable container disclosed herein addresses the above needs and concerns in the following manner.
An object of the invention is to provide a portable ruggedized small or residential water barrier system and specifically useful and re-usable for storing water pre or post flooding, quickly and easily deployable, inflated and filled to provide a durable barrier to provide environmental remediation.
It is, therefore an object of the invention is to provide a inflatable container with resistance to movement from flood water impingement.
Another objective is to provide inflatable container designs that resist punctures from the ground surface
A still further objective if the invention is to provide waterbags the even when punctured can resist or retard leakage.
Yet another object is for a inflatable container that can integrate well with other individual inflatable containers to provide a cohesive structural integrity flood barriers.
Another objective is to provide a plastic inflatable container that can withstand punctures from debris in floodwaters or sharp surface artifacts.
Yet another object cohesive inflatable container, is to provide defense in depth with other inflatable containers for a limited area, as an individual residence or small business, independent of other flood controls measures that are in place.
Another object of the invention is to provide a way to invert the inflatable container for drying out purposes and followed by reuse.
Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide more than a single plug cap, so that any leak or contamination from a first cap plug will not leak the contamination to the container content.
The present invention discloses several embodiments for an inflatable container for retaining a liquid for storage or in plurality for a self-supporting flood barrier.
An inflatable container 101 for retaining a liquid for storage and for a stackable self-supporting flood barrier is shown. The inflatable container 101 is made from liquid impervious material walls with re-enforced edges 108 and the re-enforced inflatable container edge coupled to re-enforced loops 107 contiguous with the re-enforced container edges 108, loops 107 for coupling of filled inflatable container with adjacent stabilizing implentations. The inflatable container is formed by a vertical extrusion from a non-rectangular closed polygon base 116 such that an inflatable container lateral side surface 103 is conformably angular to an adjacent container lateral surface such that an external applied pressure to a liquid filled inflatable container wall will transfer the external pressure to an adjacent lateral surface aligned container wall.
An inflatable container attached sheet or flap 115 of liquid impervious material, re-enforceably attached to the inflatable container base 116 edge, with at least two inlet orifices, a first orifice 109 for inversion of the inflatable container 101 and a second inlet orifice 111 with a screw cap 113. Thus a singular inflatable container 101 content can be reliably stored and a plurality of inflatable containers placed conformably with lateral angular sides 103 in parallel build a structurally fluid filled container wall for a load transferring flood barrier. In an embodiment a re-enforced hook 103 can be located opposite an inversion orifice 109 for inverting the container for drying.
A re-enforceably attached flexible sheet or flap 115 extending substantially along the container length and extendable outward from the container for connectivity and stability with adjacent containers is coupled to the container base.
The inflatable container 101 can be made of uniform, impervious material with thickness commensurate with design pressure expected to be developed by the internal water pressure and the external acting pressure from vertical stacking for barrier height. A preferred embodiment is to have the water container transparent but the material can be any color. The lateral side surfaces 103 are at off ninety degree angles from a rectangular base 116.
In an embodiment a small portion of container gives weight to flap 115 and helps keeps a filled container in a barrier stable position. Re-enforced edges 108 from one end of the inflatable container to the other are contiguous with reinforcement loops 107 which may have grommets, for strengthening and reinforcing loops 107 at the corners and edges for the container 101, loops 107 used in connecting neighboring containers and stabilizing a water wall of containers. Containers 101 would be made from a flexible material, such as plastic, nylon or polyester, and would be designed to withstand the pressure of the water and any external stress that may be placed on it from movement and stability as the loops 107 are connected and become stress risers from transferring load from neighbor containers.
An inflatable container for retaining a liquid for storage and for a stackable flood barrier is formed by extrusion from a non-rectangular closed polygon base 205 container top view using a parallelogram base 203 shown. A set of non-rectangular closed polygons including a triangle 225, trapezoid, parallelogram 221, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon and octagon can also be used for a base in other embodiments. A front view for a closed angular triangle base container 227 wall is shown displaying a solid barrier structure from oncoming streams. Similarly a front view of a wall of parallelogram based closed angular polygon based containers show a self re-enforcing solid barrier against an on coming stream force. Each contain comes with a double concentric orifice 213 which can be placed on any of the container surfaces.
Another aspect of the inflatable container is the stackability of containers 219 to build barriers with adjustable heights. Flaps 217 from each container on an isometric view of filled containers shown stack 219, flaps 215 which can be used to connect and stabilize adjacent containers below. The caped orifices 217 are shown here on the sides of a triangular base container stack 219.
Some closed polygon base container shapes as viewed from the top view 201221225 including such polygon shapes as parallelogram 205221, triangle 225 are shown, although many other closed polygon shaped bases as trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and others are possible.
An embodiment if the invention is inflatable container is shaped with lateral sides that are not rectangular with a base but angular in shape, such that when containers are placed lateral side wall-to-lateral-side-wall, the lateral sides will complement each other is such a way as to transfer container front wall forces to lateral container side wall from filled container to filled container barrier members. This extruded closed polygon container shape design ensures that when reusable containers are stacked against each other side-to-side wall configuration or an end-to-end configuration, the internal pressure across the wall of containers will be transferred to the lateral wall of stacked neighbors to reinforce each water container individually by support from neighbor or laterally adjacent filled containers. The flood barrier from a wall front view of parallelogram base 223 and a triangle base 227 are shown.
Again, the angular shape of the lateral sides that align with neighbor filled containers allows for easy stacking for load transfer container barriers and also storage of the containers when not in use. The lateral sides ensuring that filled containers remain stable and secure during storage as well.
An adjacent filled container gives weight to the flap and keeps it in position to stabilize the water container wall with other containers with container side surfaces aligned for lateral transfer of pressure. In some embodiments an adjacent containers can be designed with an inlet plug that serves to give weight to the flap and keep it in position, stabilizing the inflatable container with other containers aligned below and on sides.
An inflatable container 305307309 for retaining a liquid for storage and for a stackable flood barrier 301 is shown coupled to adjacent container for continuity and cohesive flood 302 barrier stabilization.
The flood wall barriers are primarily for small to medium constructs allowing for quick response to flood conditions. Almost all home and business establishments have access to a hose and can easily fill containers with water and do not have to go to a central place to fill containers thus avoiding need to transport heavy containers home. In an aspect of the invention refillable containers allow people of limited strength to fill containers and also to store potable water which is often not available during flood conditions when water treatment plants fail. When water crises avert and water is no longer scarce it is an easy to empty container as opposed to finding a place to dispose the sand from a sand container.
The design of the inflatable container with angular lateral sides extruded from closed polygon shape bases is an effective way to ensure that internal pressure is transferred across the wall of container s and that lateral wall pressure is transferred to laterally stacked neighbors. An embodiment design also makes the container s stackable, reduce storage volume when dewatered, and require no transport from and external location, making them a versatile solution, stopping debris from plugging drains 310 adjacent to sidewalks 303 via baffles 309 by bottom container flaps 311, for a range of flooding or floating object scenarios stream 315 directions 302.
When placed side-by-side with other containers 302 end to end the angular sides will complement each other such that end-to-end stacking for container s will transfer the internal pressure across the wall of container s. This transfer of pressure to adjacent neighbors is not unlike the force transfer in an arch vertically positioned, whereby the arch members transfer vertical load to their adjacent neighbors which in turn transfer that load down eventually to the foundation. That is that the container s are not rectangular but have a trapezoidal midsection such that the lateral end faces are at perpendicular to the midsection and at the trapezoidal side angles so that stacked against other container s inverted or reversed will provide inflatable container lateral wall pressure to be transferred to the laterally stacked neighbors.
Co-joined containers creates ease of stacking and saves time in stacking and makes whole structure more resistant to liquid seeping through structure. Flaps helps seal the space between upper and lower container thus preventing water from seeping between containers. Flap also protects containers from floating objects that may cut into the container. The multiple inlets allows filling container quickly from almost any position and allows withdrawal of water from almost any direction. Moreover the inflatable container lateral sides will be angular such that placing the container s end to end the angular sides will complement each other such that end-to-end stacking for container s will transfer the internal pressure across the wall of container s. A aspect of the invention is a type of flood barrier made from reusable containers. These containers are designed to be filled with water and then stacked together to create a barrier that can prevent flooding or floating objects from entering an area.
Yet another aspect of the inflatable container is that it is stackable as a barrier to prevent flooding or floating objects. The water container will have a reinforced attaching flap 311 extending the container length such that the flap can be folded under adjacent containers 309 to prevent fluid seepage between adjacent container s while adding cohesion to a water container wall resisting larger objects from penetrating the water container wall.
In another embodiment an orifice has a dual cap 403 arrangement. This configuration includes a dual plug or cap construction is located on the same stem 413 of an orifice. A first cap 405, the outside cap, prevents contaminated fluid from contaminating a second cap 407, the inside cap, and thus serves to preserves the uncontaminated potable water. The outside cap 405 screws on the stem 413 outside threads and the inside cap 407 screws on the stem 413 inside threads.
In a cap counter cap embodiment of the invention a first cap prevents contaminated fluid from contaminating a second cap and thus preserves the uncontaminated fluid which can be used for cooking and drinking. This configuration includes a two plug or cap construction that are located on the same end of the container. A cap within a cap embodiment is designed to screw or snap the outside cap to the container wall, and when fully tightened, it seals off the compartment from the outside.
In an embodiment of the invention a container that can easily be emptied of fluid and a method to dry out the inside of the container so it can be stored thereafter is shown. Thus in an embodiment of the invention a container will have a concentric multi-cap construction. An outside cap is a ring embedded hard plastic on hard plastic container ring, into the container wall with a section inside that supports another and smaller cap, an inside cap. The inside cap provides an orifice for filling container with water or fluid. The outside cap is a ring made of a harder plastic or composite material that is embedded in the container wall having a complementing hard plastic ring with screws or snaps which mates with the outside cap for a fluid tight seal. The outside cap contains threads and is circular so the outside cap can be screwed into the container wall embedded hard plastic ring to make a fluid tight seal.
In another embodiment a second or inside cap is to have two zip lock sections at one end. The slide fasteners with interlocking members having substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener. To empty the fluid, the fluid is first discharged via the cap opening of zip lock section and then the container is turned inside out to allow it to dry. The container is made of easily deformed material which allows one to turn it inside out. After the inside has dried, the container is restored to its original configuration and stored.
An inflatable container 511 is illustrated having liquid impervious material exterior walls with at least one wall surface having raised material strips for increasing friction between adjacent surfaces.
An embodiment of the inflatable container will have liquid impervious material exterior walls with at least one wall surface 501 having raised portions of strips 501503 for increasing friction between adjacent surfaces, having at least one surface with raised portions or any feature that makes surface a bit rough creates a stronger bond between upper and lower surfaces due to friction. Add inflatable container top and bottom surface roughing to increase stabilizing grip and reduction in inflatable container slippage. To further increase the stabilizing grip and reduce inflatable container base slippage, top and bottom surface roughing can also be added to the containers.
The roughing can be achieved through the use of textured materials on the container surfaces, such as a roughened rubber or silicone coating. This coating would provide extra grip and friction between the container and touching surfaces, reducing the likelihood of them slipping or sliding out of place. A textured surface would also help to prevent damage to the container s from abrasion or puncture. It would provide an extra layer of protection between the container s and any sharp or rough surfaces they may come into contact with while increasing their stability and reducing the likelihood of them containers being moved or displaced by strong currents or other external forces.
Stabilizing implementations such as locking rods can be quickly installed and add strength to a flood barrier structure, the vertical rods 615 can have numeral markers to show how high the flood waters are as well.
In an embodiment of the invention connecting rings or re-enforced loop 611 are installed to lock containers 625 together be side by side or from connecting bottom container ring locks coupling container loops. Container connecting rods 615 act to further support and stabilize wall of containers connected by corner and edge loops or with a bar placed through the adjacent container loops, with bar extending down and driven into the ground
To stabilize a wall of containers corner and edge loops are used in conjunction with vertical bars 615 placed through the adjacent container loops 611, the bar 615 is inserted through loops of the adjacent containers connecting them to the rod 615 with rod extended down and anchored with bottom container loops and into the ground. In some embodiments off-center orifaces 619 with caps 623 are placed on the container top side, but containers can also have a second orifice 601.
Locking adjacent container 615 loops 611 at the container tops and bottoms also ensures impinging water forces are transferred to adjacent containers and prevents the barrier from shifting or toppling over, even in the face of strong currents or high winds. The bar can be made from a sturdy material, such as steel or reinforced concrete, to withstand the weight of the container s and any external forces that may be placed on them.
In another embodiment where the ground is hard, to stabilize the container is to use corner and edge loops 611 with rods with screwed 609 on finials 605 or tops to prevent loops 611 from sliding off of a rod and destabilizing the container barrier. The loops 611 can be engaged through a bar 615 or similar structure, which is then secured with finials 605 at the container bottom loops. This method offers more flexibility in terms of placement and can be used to create more complex wall configurations where there is not soft ground to drive in the rods 615.
The finial 605 locks the loops 611 onto rods in place and are easy to manufacture and at a low cost. Generally the finial 605 is more or less screwed 609 with a finial 605 diameter 607 slightly greater than a loop 611 to lock connection loops at the adjacent container edges. The three most common materials used to create finials 605 are stone, metal, plastic, wood and combinations. Reinforced corner and edge loops can also be added to the containers, with grommets, to aid in moving and stabilizing them.
In some embodiments the re-enforced container loops 611 would be strategically placed at the corners and along the edges of the containers, where they would be subjected to the most stress and strain. They would be made from a tougher material, such as nylon or polyester, to ensure that they can withstand the weight of the water and any external forces that may be placed on them. Grommets in the loops would allow for easy attachment of ropes or other securing devices, making it possible to move and stabilize the container s as needed. This feature would be particularly useful in emergency situations, where time is of the essence and quick deployment of the container s is critical.
The reinforced loops and grommets would also provide additional structural support to the container s, helping to prevent them from collapsing or losing their shape. This would make the container s more effective as a barrier against flooding or floating objects, as they would be better able to withstand external pressures and forces.
