Isolation device

Claim 2

A buoyant isolation device comprising a continuous elongated member having flexible fluid distensible sidewalls and a top portion and a bottom portion, means for retaining fluid between said sidewalls, means spaced longitudinally along said continuous elongated member for dividing said member into a plurality of fluid chambers, and coupling means having a pair of slots cooperating with said elongated member to confine contamination floating upon the surface of a body of water and facilitate its concentration when said continuous elongated member is in a loop configuration.

Claim 3

An isolation device in accordance with claim 1 in which said fluid chambers have a volume greater than the displacement of said isolation device in a body of water, and contain a quantity of fluid less dense than water Sufficient to form a buoyancy portion and a curtain portion when placed in a body of water with said buoyancy portion being in communication with said curtain portion.

Claim 4

An isolation device in accordance with claim 1 in which said continuous elongated member has fastening means on at least one end.

Claim 5

An isolation device in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of surge vents, and a plurality of weights are provided adjacent said bottom portion of said flexible fluid distensible sidewalls of said continuous elongated member.

Claim 6

An isolation device in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of loop means are provided adjacent said upper portion of said flexible fluid distensible sidewalls of said continuous elongated member.

Claim 7

A buoyant barrier for contamination floating upon the surface of a body of water comprising a continuous indivisible elongated member having flexible fluid distensible sidewalls and a top portion and a bottom portion, closure means at opposite ends of said member for retaining fluid between said sidewalls, partition means spaced longitudinally along said continuous elongated member for dividing said member into a plurality of substantially uniform chambers, said chambers having a volume greater than the displacement of said barrier in a body of water, and containing a quantity of fluid less dense than water sufficient to form a buoyancy portion and a curtain portion when placed in a body of water with said sidewalls of said buoyancy portion being substantially distended and said sidewalls of said curtain portion being substantially undistended and in a substantially parallel relationship and with said buoyancy portion being in communication with said curtain portion whereby the configuration of said sidewalls is determined by water pressure.

Claim 8

A buoyant barrier for contamination floating upon the surface of a body of water comprising a continuous indivisible elongated member having flexible fluid distensible sidewalls and a top portion and a bottom portion, closure means at opposite ends of said member for retaining fluid between said sidewalls, partition means spaced longitudinally along said continuous elongated member for dividing said member into a plurality of substantially uniform chambers, said chambers having a volume greater than the displacement of said barrier in a body of water, and containing a quantity of fluid less dense than water sufficient to form a buoyancy portion and a curtain portion when placed in a body of water with said sidewalls of said buoyancy portion being substantially distended and said sidewalls of said curtain portion being substantially undistended and in a substantially parallel relationship and with said buoyancy portion being in communication with said curtain portion whereby the configuration of said sidewalls is determined by water pressure.

Claim 9

A barrier in accordance with claim 6 in which the longitudinal dimensions of said chambers prior to placement in water are essentially equal to the vertical dimensions of said chambers.

Claim 10

A barrier in accordance with claim 6 in which said continuous elongated member has fastening means on at least one end.

Claim 11

A barrier in accordance with claim 6 in which a plurality of surge vents, and a plurality of weights are provided adjacent said bottom portion of said flexible fluid distensible sidewalls of said continuous elongated member.

Claim 12

A barrier in accordance with claim 6 in which a plurality of loop means are provided adjacent said upper portion of said flexible fluid distensible sidewalls of said continuous elongated member, said loop means including a cable extending continuously along said member, said cable being arranged in loops at spaced intervals along said cable.

Claim 13

A barrier in accordance with claim 1 in which the longitudinal dimensions of said chambers prior to placement in water are essentially equal to the vertical dimensions of said chambers.