US3576109A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible wall means
Assignee: Hovercraft Development Ltd
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Filing: 1969-04-15
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A water dam is formed by a succession of flexible wall members in the form of upwardly open watertight bags. By filling the bags with water their adjacent sides are urged into sealing contact with each other and they are caused to sink into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin being dammed.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie Arthur Hopkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:58
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B7/00; E02B7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A water dam comprising a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members of a depth at least equal to the depth of the water to be dammed, each wall member having a middle portion to form a boundary surface of the dam, and a pair of side portions extending away from the said surface towards the body of water to be retained by the dam, the middle portion in use being downwardly inclined towards the said body of water, further wall means extending between the side portions of the wall members and being downwardly inclined away from the said body of water so as to define a succession of upwardly open substantially triangular watertight bags, and means for supporting at least the upper edges of the said middle portions and said fUrther wall means at a level not less than the level of the water to be dammed, so as to hold the wall members against deflection away from the body of water to be dammed, adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members being contiguously arranged, so that upon filling the said bags with water, the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members are urged together and the wall members are urged downwardly into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin to be dammed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A water dam comprising a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members of a depth at least equal to the depth of the water to be dammed, each wall member having a middle portion to form a boundary surface of the dam, and a pair of side portions extending away from the said surface towards the body of water to be retained by the dam, the middle portion in use being downwardly inclined towards the said body of water, further wall means extending between the side portions of the wall members and being downwardly inclined away from the said body of water so as to define a succession of upwardly open substantially triangular watertight bags, and means for supporting at least the upper edges of the said middle portions and said fUrther wall means at a level not less than the level of the water to be dammed, so as to hold the wall members against deflection away from the body of water to be dammed, adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members being contiguously arranged, so that upon filling the said bags with water, the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members are urged together and the wall members are urged downwardly into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin to be dammed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
297 words
A water dam comprising a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members of a depth at least equal to the depth of the water to be dammed, each wall member having a middle portion to form a boundary surface of the dam, and a pair of substantially triangular side portions extending away from the said surface towards the body of water to be retained by the dam, the middle portion in use being downwardly inclined towards the said body of water and each side portion having a free edge downwardly inclined away from the said body of water, further wall means extending between the side portions of the wall members and being downwardly inclined away from the said body of water so as to define a succession of upwardly open substantially triangular watertight bags, and means for supporting at least the upper edges of the said middle portions of the wall members and said further wall means at a level not less than the level of the water to be dammed, so as to hold the wall members against deflection away from the body of water to be dammed, adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members being contiguously arranged, so that upon filling the said bags with water, the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members are urged together and the wall members are urged downwardly into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin to be dammed, the said further wall means being arranged inwardly of the downwardly inclined free edges of the side portions, so as to leave strips of free material, adjacent strips of the side portions of neighboring wall members, when the dam is in use, being urged together by the pressure created by the head of water retained by the dam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
297 words
A water dam comprising a succession of independently deflectable flexible wall members of a depth at least equal to the depth of the water to be dammed, each wall member having a middle portion to form a boundary surface of the dam, and a pair of substantially triangular side portions extending away from the said surface towards the body of water to be retained by the dam, the middle portion in use being downwardly inclined towards the said body of water and each side portion having a free edge downwardly inclined away from the said body of water, further wall means extending between the side portions of the wall members and being downwardly inclined away from the said body of water so as to define a succession of upwardly open substantially triangular watertight bags, and means for supporting at least the upper edges of the said middle portions of the wall members and said further wall means at a level not less than the level of the water to be dammed, so as to hold the wall members against deflection away from the body of water to be dammed, adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members being contiguously arranged, so that upon filling the said bags with water, the adjacent side portions of neighboring wall members are urged together and the wall members are urged downwardly into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin to be dammed, the said further wall means being arranged inwardly of the downwardly inclined free edges of the side portions, so as to leave strips of free material, adjacent strips of the side portions of neighboring wall members, when the dam is in use, being urged together by the pressure created by the head of water retained by the dam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dam as claimed in claim 1 in which the wall members and further wall means are of a height substantially exceeding the depth of the water to be dammed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dam as claimed in claim 1 in which the further wall means form an angle of substantially 90* with the middle portions of the wall members.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of forming a dam across a water basin comprising the steps of spreading across the water basin a succession of flexible upwardly open substantially triangular watertight bags, each bag having substantially parallel side portions, securing the bags with adjacent side portions of neighboring bags in contiguous relationship to support means at a level not less than the level of the water to be dammed, so as to hold the said bags against deflection away from the body of water to be dammed, and filling the bags with water, so as to urge adjacent side portions of neighboring bags into sealing contact with each other and to cause the bags to be urged downwardly into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of forming a dam across a water basin comprising the steps of spreading across the water basin a succession of flexible upwardly open substantially triangular watertight bags, each bag having substantially parallel side portions, securing the bags with adjacent side portions of neighboring bags in contiguous relationship to support means at a level not less than the level of the water to be dammed, so as to hold the said bags against deflection away from the body of water to be dammed, and filling the bags with water, so as to urge adjacent side portions of neighboring bags into sealing contact with each other and to cause the bags to be urged downwardly into sealing engagement with the bed of the water basin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |