Pneumatically sealable flood panel assembly

Claim 1

A flood panel assembly or the like adapted for installation in doorways and other access openings of factory and office buildings and other structures, comprising a. a conversion frame adapted for permanent installation in an existing access opening of generally rectangular outline, b. said conversion frame having upstanding side walls and a bottom wall, c. the bottom and side walls of said conversion frame forming an effectively uninterrupted sealing surface about at least the lower regions of said access opening and providing arcuate sealing surfaces in the region of the lower corners of the access opening, d. a panel member adapted for removable reception in said conversion frame and providing a barrier wall in said access opening, e. an inflatable sealing element carried by the panel member and extending about at least its sides and bottom, f. said sealing element being expandable under inflation pressure to seal off the clearance space between the panel and the conversion frame, and g. mechanical positioning means provided on at least one of said frame or panel for effecting initial proper positioning of the panel prior to inflation of said sealing element, h. said mechanical positioning means including means extending laterally from the upper portion of the panel and engageable by upper end portions of the conversion frame.