US3903701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating boom
Assignee: UNIROYAL PLASTICS COMPANY Inc WORLD HEADQUARTERS MIDDLEBURY CT 06749 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-04-22
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1991-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A floating boom in which a flexible sheet forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid for confining materials, e.g., pollutants floating thereon. A plurality of floats support the sheet such that portions of the latter extend above and beneath the surface of the liquid. Stiffeners reinforce the sheet and cooperate therewith in resisting external forces applied thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 George J Gauch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:19
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
A floating boom comprising an elongate sheet member of flexible material, a plurality of resilient stiffener members secured upon and extending in parallel relation laterally of said sheet member, said stiffener members being spaced from one another longitudinally of said sheet member and defining therebetween flexible sheet zones universally responsive flexibly to undulating surges of liuqid flow thereagainst, said stiffener members each comprising spring steel and having a common narrow extent of substantially lesser dimension than the extent of said flexible sheet zones longitudinally of said sheet member, and a plurality of elongate float members secured in colinearly endwise spaced relation upon and extending in a common longitudinal direction with said sheet member, said float members bridging respective pairs of said stiffener members which are spaced from one another longitudinally of said sheet member through the intermediary of respective alternate flexible sheet zones, said float members overlying respective portions of flexible sheet zones which are disposed between the stiffener members of each bridged pair and which alternate with said alternate flexible sheet zones, said float members being intermediately disposed between longitudinally extending marginal edges of said sheet member such that the latter is generally divided longitudinally into an upper debris-confining section and a lower fluidsubmergible section, said boom thereby being flexible both longitudinally and laterally thEreof, whereupon, when subjected to undulating surges of liquid flow thereagainst, said alternate flexible sheet zones which are disposed between respective bridged pairs of stiffener members, said flexible sheet zones which are respectively disposed between the stiffener members of each bridged pair, and said stiffener members all flexibly respond as an energy absorbing array which is at least partially reinforced against buckling by said float members which bridge the respective pairs of said stiffener members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
A floating boom comprising an elongate sheet member of flexible material, a plurality of resilient stiffener members secured upon and extending in parallel relation laterally of said sheet member, said stiffener members being spaced from one another longitudinally of said sheet member and defining therebetween flexible sheet zones universally responsive flexibly to undulating surges of liuqid flow thereagainst, said stiffener members each comprising spring steel and having a common narrow extent of substantially lesser dimension than the extent of said flexible sheet zones longitudinally of said sheet member, and a plurality of elongate float members secured in colinearly endwise spaced relation upon and extending in a common longitudinal direction with said sheet member, said float members bridging respective pairs of said stiffener members which are spaced from one another longitudinally of said sheet member through the intermediary of respective alternate flexible sheet zones, said float members overlying respective portions of flexible sheet zones which are disposed between the stiffener members of each bridged pair and which alternate with said alternate flexible sheet zones, said float members being intermediately disposed between longitudinally extending marginal edges of said sheet member such that the latter is generally divided longitudinally into an upper debris-confining section and a lower fluidsubmergible section, said boom thereby being flexible both longitudinally and laterally thEreof, whereupon, when subjected to undulating surges of liquid flow thereagainst, said alternate flexible sheet zones which are disposed between respective bridged pairs of stiffener members, said flexible sheet zones which are respectively disposed between the stiffener members of each bridged pair, and said stiffener members all flexibly respond as an energy absorbing array which is at least partially reinforced against buckling by said float members which bridge the respective pairs of said stiffener members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 1 wherein said upper debris-confining section and said lower fluid-submergible section have respective extents laterally of said sheet member in the ratio of approximately 1:2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said stiffener members comprises at least one substantially rigid strut connected to and extending transversely of a respective float member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 1, wherein each said float member comprises first and second oppositely directed buoyant members overlapping one another throughout at least a common longitudinal portion of each said float member, said sheet member being interposed between said buoyant members within the common longitudinal portion of each said float member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 4, wherein said stiffener members are respective struts, one of said struts being in a spaced relationship lengthwise of said float member with the other of said struts and interposed between said buoyant members of each said float member within the common longitudinal portion of each said float member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 5, further comprising a pair of cover pieces, one of said cover pieces having its upper marginal edge portion folded back over and against the upper end portion of said one of said struts and its lower marginal edge portion folded back over and against the lower end portion of said one of said struts, said cover pieces being secured to said sheet member so as to form a substantially liquid-tight pocket for said one of said struts, the other of said cover pieces having its upper marginal edge portion folded back over and against the upper end portion of said other of said struts and its lower marginal edge portion folded back over and against the lower end portion of said other of said struts, said other of said cover pieces being secured to said member so as to form a substantially liquid-tight pocket for said other of said struts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 6, further comprising first and second reinforcing strips, said first reinforcing strip extending lengthwise of said sheet member and being folded back over and against the upper marginal edge portion of said pair of cover pieces and extending beyond said pair of cover pieces against said pair of struts, said sheet member having its upper marginal edge portion folded back over said first reinforcing strip and fastened to itself so as to secure said first reinforcing strip to the upper portion of said sheet member, said second reinforcing strip extending lengthwise of said sheet member and being folded back over and against the lower marginal edge portion of said pair of cover pieces and extending beyond said pair of cover pieces against said pair of struts, said sheet member having its lower marginal edge portion folded back over said second reinforcing strip and fastened to itself so as to secure said second reinforcing strip to the lower portion of said sheet member, said first and said second reinforcing strips thereby providing additional stiffness and tensile strength at the corresponding upper and lower marginal edge portions of said sheet member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said buoyant members of each said float member is made substantially from a solid material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 4, wherein said sheet member is made substantially from a polymer coated fabric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 1, further comprising non-buoyant weight means secured to the lower marginal edge portion of said sheet member so as to maintain said sheet member extending substantially in a vertically downwardly direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A floating boom as recited in claim 10 wherein said weight means includes a plurality of weighted elements spaced from one another longitudinally of said sheet member and disposed in each of said flexible sheet zones between respective pairs of stiffening members bridged by said float members and between unbridged stiffening members.
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) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |