US3924412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil containment boom
Assignee: Bennett Pollution Controls Ltd
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Filing: 1975-03-03
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1995-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A floating oil containment boom especially adapted to remain continuously in the body of water in which it operates. The boom comprises an elongate, moderately flexible skirt, having an upper edge above the water surface and a lower weighted edge positioned below the water surface. Pairs of floats are mounted to the skirt at regularly spaced intervals along the length of the skirt. In a first embodiment, each float is mounted to the skirt by means of a tongue and groove connecting device, made up of a longitudinal groove in the float and two tongue members connected to the skirt and positioned at opposite ends of the groove of the related float. In a second embodiment the tongue and groove connection is made by a plurality of clips mounted to the skirt and defining a groove to receive upper and lower flanges of the float. Such tongue and groove mountings permit moderate relative longitudinal movement between the connecting portions of the skirt and float so that when the skirt is subjected to moderate elongation under tension loads, there is not undue wear of the connecting portions.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Bennett
- 👤 Ian R Mcallister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:17
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0835; E02B15/085; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A containment boom comprising: a. an elongate, generally planar, flexible skirt adapted to be positioned in a body of water at the surface thereof with a longitudinal axis of the skirt being generally parallel to the water surface, and with an upper lateral edge of the skirt being above the waTer surface and a lower lateral edge of the skirt being below the water surface, said skirt having sufficient strength and being arranged to be a primary load carrying member with respect to tensile forces along the length of the boom, with said skirt thus being subjected to moderate elongation under tensile loading; b. a plurality of floats adapted to be mounted to said skirt at spaced intervals along the length of the skirt, each of said floats having an outer exposed surface and a generally flat inner mounting surface adapted to fit against a surface of said skirt; c. a plurality of connecting means for said floats to connect the floats to the skirt, each of said connecting means comprising a tongue and groove interconnection between its related float and said skirt, said tongue and groove interconnection having a longitudinal engaging axis permitting limited movement along said axis between connecting portions of the skirt and float, whereby moderate elongation of said skirt does not cause substantial stress at the area of the connection between the float and the skirt, and d. stop means arranged to engage said floats so as to limit longitudinal movement thereof relative to the skirt and thus maintain the floats in proper position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A containment boom comprising: a. an elongate, generally planar, flexible skirt adapted to be positioned in a body of water at the surface thereof with a longitudinal axis of the skirt being generally parallel to the water surface, and with an upper lateral edge of the skirt being above the waTer surface and a lower lateral edge of the skirt being below the water surface, said skirt having sufficient strength and being arranged to be a primary load carrying member with respect to tensile forces along the length of the boom, with said skirt thus being subjected to moderate elongation under tensile loading; b. a plurality of floats adapted to be mounted to said skirt at spaced intervals along the length of the skirt, each of said floats having an outer exposed surface and a generally flat inner mounting surface adapted to fit against a surface of said skirt; c. a plurality of connecting means for said floats to connect the floats to the skirt, each of said connecting means comprising a tongue and groove interconnection between its related float and said skirt, said tongue and groove interconnection having a longitudinal engaging axis permitting limited movement along said axis between connecting portions of the skirt and float, whereby moderate elongation of said skirt does not cause substantial stress at the area of the connection between the float and the skirt, and d. stop means arranged to engage said floats so as to limit longitudinal movement thereof relative to the skirt and thus maintain the floats in proper position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The boom as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said floats is provided with a longitudinal groove at the inner mounting surface thereof, and tongue means mounted to said skirt and generally longitudinally aligned therewith, with said tongue means interfitting with said groove in connecting relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The boom as recited in claim 2, wherein said stop means comprises end stop means arranged to engage its related float and limit longitudinal movement thereof relative to the skirt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The boom as recited in claim 2, wherein said tongue means comprises two tongue members at opposite ends of its related float, each tongue member having a tongue connecting portion fitting into said groove, and as said end stop means a head portion with a shoulder arranged to engage said float and limit movement thereof along the longitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The boom as recited in claim 4, wherein said floats are arranged in pairs, with each pair comprising two floats positioned on opposite sides of said skirt, with adjacent matching tongue members being on opposite sides of said skirt, and a common connector for each matching pair of tongue members, said connector extending through said skirt and engaging its related matching pair of tongue members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The boom as recited in claim 1, wherein said floats are arranged in pairs, with each pair having its two floats on opposite sides of the skirt, each float having slanting surfaces which taper in a narrowing direction from the plane of the skirt, whereby each pair of floats collectively define an oblong tapered configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The boom as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said connecting means comprises a pair of spaced tongue members mounted to one of the skirt or related float, and means defining a matching groove mounted to the other of the skirt and the related float.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The boom as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said connecting means comprises tongue means mounted to its related float, and matching groove defining means mounted to the skirt and engaging the tongue means so as to permit relative longitudinal movement therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The boom as recited in claim 8, wherein said tongue means comprises upper and lower flanges connected to each float, and said groove defining means comprises upper and lower members connected to said skirt and overlapping said flanges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The boom as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said stop means comprises a stop member connecting its related float to the skirt at a single longitudinal location, so as to permit elongation of the skirt relative to the float.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The boom as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said stop means comprises a stop member connecting its related float to the skirt at a single longitudinal location, sO as to permit elongation of the skirt relative to the float.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The boom as recited in claim 8, wherein the tongue means for each float comprises upper and lower flange members connected to its related float, said groove defining means comprises sets of connecting clips mounted to the skirt at end locations of its related float so as to overlap the flange members of the float, and said stop means comprises a connecting member connecting the related float to the skirt at a single longitudinal location intermediate the clip 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) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |