US3973406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Containment boom
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-26
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1994-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible, quickly deployable floating boom barrier comprises an elongated curtain-like partition of strong, flexible, impervious material supported in a substantially vertical position in the water by a plurality of outrigger-type flotation units spaced along the partition. The partition is in the form of an elongated, flexible belt which has a smooth surface on the side opposite the flotation units, and the smooth side surface engages the material to be contained by the barrier. The barrier has sufficient longitudinal flexibility to encircle an oil spill or a ship that might be unloading or loading oil, and the outrigger flotation units support the partition or belt at a height above the surface of the water which is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the partition width. Each outrigger flotation unit comprises a frame and a float. The frame is connected to the side of the partition or belt for pivoting action about a vertical axis extending parallel and immediately adjacent to the side of the belt, and the float is connected to the frame for pivoting action about a horizontally extending axis. This articulation of the frame and float provides a self-stabilizing action of the outrigger flotation units. It also permits each float and frame to be folded back flat against the side of the belt to facilitate deployment of the floating barrier through narrow passageways such as between ships and piers. This articulation also permits the barrier to be folded accordian fashion for compact storage and transport.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald J. Casey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:27
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0828; E02B15/0842
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein each outrigger support means includes a pivotal connection between the frame and the belt, and including a pivotal connection between the float and the frame, and wherein the frame is mounted for pivoting movement about a vertical axis and the float is mounted for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein each outrigger support means includes a pivotal connection between the frame and the belt, and including a pivotal connection between the float and the frame, and wherein the frame is mounted for pivoting movement about a vertical axis and the float is mounted for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the float is a generally rectangular-shaped member and is mounted for pivoting movement about an axis extending through the width of the float and wherein the horizontal pivot axis of the float is laterally offset from the vertical pivot axis of the frame to accomodate the thickness of the float and to permit the float and the frame to be rotated back substantially parallel to the surface of the belt so that the barrier can be accordian-folded for compact storage and transport.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
251 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt having a substantially smooth containment surface on one side for engagement with the materials to be contained by the barrier and a support surface on the other side, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side only of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the support surface of the belt and effective to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means is free of floats and frames and has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein the frame includes a vertically extending rod at one side of the frame and including pivot means for connecting the rod to the belt for swinging movement of the frame about a vertical axis provided by the rod so that the outrigger support means can be rotated back against the side of the belt to reduce the width of the floating barrier to facilitate deployment of the floating barrier through narrow passageways such as between ships and piers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
251 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt having a substantially smooth containment surface on one side for engagement with the materials to be contained by the barrier and a support surface on the other side, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side only of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the support surface of the belt and effective to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means is free of floats and frames and has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein the frame includes a vertically extending rod at one side of the frame and including pivot means for connecting the rod to the belt for swinging movement of the frame about a vertical axis provided by the rod so that the outrigger support means can be rotated back against the side of the belt to reduce the width of the floating barrier to facilitate deployment of the floating barrier through narrow passageways such as between ships and piers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
271 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein the frame includes a vertically extending rod at one side of the frame and including pivot means for connecting the rod to the belt for swinging movement of the frame about a vertical axis provided by the rod so that the outrigger support means can be rotated back against the side of the belt to reduce the width of the floating barrier to facilitate deployment of the floating barrier through narrow passageways such as between ships and piers, and wherein each float is a generally rectangular-shaped member and wherein the frame has a horizontally extending rod extending through the width of the float and including a pivotal connection of the float on the horizontally extending rod of the frame which permits the float to rotate about said horizontal rod and to provide a self-stabilizing action of the outrigger support means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
271 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein the frame includes a vertically extending rod at one side of the frame and including pivot means for connecting the rod to the belt for swinging movement of the frame about a vertical axis provided by the rod so that the outrigger support means can be rotated back against the side of the belt to reduce the width of the floating barrier to facilitate deployment of the floating barrier through narrow passageways such as between ships and piers, and wherein each float is a generally rectangular-shaped member and wherein the frame has a horizontally extending rod extending through the width of the float and including a pivotal connection of the float on the horizontally extending rod of the frame which permits the float to rotate about said horizontal rod and to provide a self-stabilizing action of the outrigger support means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
261 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein one end of the floating barrier is folded back along said one side of the belt and connected to a plurality of said frames to provide a double-belted loop at said one end of the barrier and including a resilient spring means connected to the frame means at said end of the barrier for providing a spring end construction which is relatively rigid but with sufficient flexibility to be resiliently deflectable by an applied force, and wherein two floating barriers are aligned with the spring ends engaged to form a self-closing opening in the barrier which can readily be entered by small boats by engaging the prow of the boat with the spring ends to deflect the spring ends far enough to permit the boat to pass through the barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
261 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by materials such as oil spills and other floating debris, said barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt, and a plurality of outrigger support means connected to one side of the belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt while permitting free flexing of the belt between the support means, each outrigger support means including a frame and a float connected to the frame, and wherein the side of the belt opposite that supported by the outrigger support means has a substantially smooth surface for the engagement with the material to be contained by the barrier, and wherein one end of the floating barrier is folded back along said one side of the belt and connected to a plurality of said frames to provide a double-belted loop at said one end of the barrier and including a resilient spring means connected to the frame means at said end of the barrier for providing a spring end construction which is relatively rigid but with sufficient flexibility to be resiliently deflectable by an applied force, and wherein two floating barriers are aligned with the spring ends engaged to form a self-closing opening in the barrier which can readily be entered by small boats by engaging the prow of the boat with the spring ends to deflect the spring ends far enough to permit the boat to pass through the barrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
239 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by material such as oil spills and other floating debris, such barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt having a containment surface on one side for engagement with the materials to be contained by the barrier, and a support surface on the opposite side, a plurality of outrigger support means operatively associated with said support side of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt in a vertical position in which the belt has a skirt portion extending below the water surface and a freeboard portion extending above the water surface, each outrigger support means including a frame having a vertically extending member providing a frame pivot axis, frame connecting means for connecting said vertically extending member to said one side of the belt for horizontal swinging movement of the frame about said frame pivot axis, a horizontally extending member providing a float pivot axis disposed at right angles to said vertically extending member, a generally rectangular-shaped float pivotally mounted on said horizontally extending member for swinging movement of the float about said float pivot axis so that the float can tilt about the float pivot axis and the frame can swing about the frame pivot axis to accomodate wave action on the water surface while providing a self-stabilizing action of the outrigger support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
239 words
A floating barrier of the kind used on bodies of water to prevent and control pollution caused by material such as oil spills and other floating debris, such barrier comprising, an elongated flexible belt having a containment surface on one side for engagement with the materials to be contained by the barrier, and a support surface on the opposite side, a plurality of outrigger support means operatively associated with said support side of the belt to hold the belt upright in the water along one edge of the belt in a vertical position in which the belt has a skirt portion extending below the water surface and a freeboard portion extending above the water surface, each outrigger support means including a frame having a vertically extending member providing a frame pivot axis, frame connecting means for connecting said vertically extending member to said one side of the belt for horizontal swinging movement of the frame about said frame pivot axis, a horizontally extending member providing a float pivot axis disposed at right angles to said vertically extending member, a generally rectangular-shaped float pivotally mounted on said horizontally extending member for swinging movement of the float about said float pivot axis so that the float can tilt about the float pivot axis and the frame can swing about the frame pivot axis to accomodate wave action on the water surface while providing a self-stabilizing action of the outrigger support means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the belt is a reinforced urethane-coated plastic and has a substantially smooth face on the containment surface for minimizing sticking or entanglement of the material to be contained by the barrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the horizontally extending member is offset from the vertically extending member sufficiently far to accomodate the thickness of the float to permit the float and frame to fold back flat against the side of the belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the frame connecting means include a vertically extending hinge construction which provides a minimum of interference with the bending and flexing of the belt along the length of the belt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |