Moisture impervient barrier and method for making same

Claim 1

A device for providing a moisture impervient barrier comprising: a flexible base sheet member having an upper surface, a lower surface and a longitudinal axis, said base sheet member being comprised of a material which is gas permeable in any direction within the plane defined by said base sheet member so as to permit gases to escape through said base sheet member; a layer of water swellable bentonite resting on said base sheet member, said bentonite layer having a constant thickness; an elongated flexible top sheet member resting upon the top of said layer of bentonite; securing means comprising a plurality of thread stitches extending through said base sheet member, said bentonite, and said top sheet member at a plurality of locations for securing the same together, said stitches spanning the distance between said base sheet member and said top sheet member so as to maintain a substantially uniform thickness for said bentonite layer; said stitches dividing said spaced apart base and top sheet members into a quilted pattern forming a plurality of four sided compartments, each of said compartments containing a portion of bentonite.

Claim 2

A device for providing a moisture impervient barrier comprising: a flexible base sheet member having an upper surface, a lower surface and a longitudinal axis, said base sheet member being comprised of a material which is gas permeable in any direction within the plane defined by said base sheet member so as to permit gases to escape through said base sheet member; a layer of water swellable bentonite resting on said base sheet member, said bentonite layer having a constant thickness; an elongated flexible top sheet member resting upon the top of said layer of bentonite; securing means comprising a plurality of thread stitches extending through said base sheet member, said bentonite, and said top sheet member at a plurality of locations for securing the same together, said stitches spanning the distance between said base sheet member and said top sheet member so as to maintain a substantially uniform thickness for said bentonite layer; said stitches dividing said spaced apart base and top sheet members into a quilted pattern forming a plurality of four sided compartments, each of said compartments containing a portion of bentonite.

Claim 8

A method for making a water barrier comprising: placing a layer having a uniform thickness of water swellable bentonite in covering relation over an elongated flexible base member; placing a top sheet member made of biodegradable material on top of said layer of bentonite; securing said top sheet member to said bentonite and said base sheet member by forming thread stitches which extend through said top sheet member, said bentonite layer, and said base member at a plurality of locations; forming each of said stitches to span the distance between said base sheet member and said top sheet member so as to maintain a substantially uniform thickness for said bentonite layer; using said stitches to divide said spaced apart base and top sheet members into a quilted pattern forming a plurality of four sided compartments, each of said compartments containing a portion of bentonite.

Claim 9

A method for making a water barrier comprising: placing a layer having a uniform thickness of water swellable bentonite in covering relation over an elongated flexible base member; placing a top sheet member made of biodegradable material on top of said layer of bentonite; securing said top sheet member to said bentonite and said base sheet member by forming thread stitches which extend through said top sheet member, said bentonite layer, and said base member at a plurality of locations; forming each of said stitches to span the distance between said base sheet member and said top sheet member so as to maintain a substantially uniform thickness for said bentonite layer; using said stitches to divide said spaced apart base and top sheet members into a quilted pattern forming a plurality of four sided compartments, each of said compartments containing a portion of bentonite.

Claim 10

A device for providing a moisture impervient barrier comprising a flexible base sheet member having an upper surface and a lower surface, a layer having a uniform thickness of water swellable bentonite resting on said base sheet member, an elongated flexible top sheet member resting on top of said layer of bentonite, and thread means attaching said base sheet member to said top sheet member at a plurality of locations for securing said bentonite, said base sheet member, and said top sheet member into a unitary flexible laminated member, said device being made according to the process comprising: placing said layer having a uniform thickness of bentonite on said base layer in a dehydrated form; placing said top sheet member over said bentonite layer; extending said thread means through said base sheet member, said bentonite layer and said top sheet member to provide a plurality of stitches at a plurality of locations for securing the same together; spanning the distance between said base sheet member and said top sheet member with said thread means so as to maintain a substantialy uniform thickness for said bentonite layer; maintaining said bentonite continuously in a substantially dehydrated state for a period of time beginning before said bentonite is placed on said base sheet member and continuing until after said thread means have been extended through said base layer, said bentonite and said top layer, whereby said bentonite will remain substantially free from swelling during said period of time; and dividing said spaced apart base and top sheet members into a quilted pattern with said stitches so as to form a plurality of four sided compartments, each of said compartments containing a portion of bentonite.

Claim 11

A device for providing a moisture impervient barrier comprising a flexible base sheet member having an upper surface and a lower surface, a layer having a uniform thickness of water swellable bentonite resting on said base sheet member, an elongated flexible top sheet member resting on top of said layer of bentonite, and thread means attaching said base sheet member to said top sheet member at a plurality of locations for securing said bentonite, said base sheet member, and said top sheet member into a unitary flexible laminated member, said device being made according to the process comprising: placing said layer having a uniform thickness of bentonite on said base layer in a dehydrated form; placing said top sheet member over said bentonite layer; extending said thread means through said base sheet member, said bentonite layer and said top sheet member to provide a plurality of stitches at a plurality of locations for securing the same together; spanning the distance between said base sheet member and said top sheet member with said thread means so as to maintain a substantialy uniform thickness for said bentonite layer; maintaining said bentonite continuously in a substantially dehydrated state for a period of time beginning before said bentonite is placed on said base sheet member and continuing until after said thread means have been extended through said base layer, said bentonite and said top layer, whereby said bentonite will remain substantially free from swelling during said period of time; and dividing said spaced apart base and top sheet members into a quilted pattern with said stitches so as to form a plurality of four sided compartments, each of said compartments containing a portion of bentonite.