SYSTEM AND DEVICES FOR PREVENTING WATER INFILTRATION

Abstract

A system, and methods, for preventing fluid infiltration. The fluid infiltration preventing system comprises a horizontal insert foam blocker and a vertical foam blocker. The fluid infiltration preventing system is configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids, such as water, and preferably wind driven water, into an interior region.

Claims

1. A fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region comprising: a horizontal insert foam blocker configured to be inserted into a horizontal sliding window slot comprising a first end, an opposing second end, and a main body separating said first end and said opposing second end.

2. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 1, wherein said first end contains a U-shaped region formed by a cut out region which forms a first arm and a second arm.

3. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 2, wherein a distance between said first arm and said second arm is a sufficient length to engage or cover one or more components of a horizontal sliding window slot of a window.

4. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 3, wherein said opposing second end contains a protuberance which extends outwardly away from said main body.

5. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 4, further including a vertical insertion foam blocker comprising an upper portion and a lower portion.

6. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 5, wherein said upper portion comprises a generally circular profile.

7. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 5, wherein said lower portion extends away from said upper portion.

8. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 1, wherein said interior region is a room separated from the outside by at least a window.

9. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is water.

10. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is wind driven water.

11. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids into an interior region according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is a high-pressure fluid having speeds of between 25 and 140 mph.

12. A fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent high pressure fluids from being driven from an exterior portion of a structure to the interior portion comprising: a horizontal insert foam blocker configured to be inserted into a horizontal sliding window slot of a sliding window when in an open position, and sized to occupy a space of said horizontal sliding window slot when said sliding window is in the closed position, thereby preventing or minimizing the risk of outside, storm or wind driven water infiltration; and a vertical insertion foam blocker configured to fit within a vertical slot and rest within a slider window-outside window vertical gap, thus preventing water from entering said interior of said structure through said slider window-outside window vertical gap.

13. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent high pressure fluids from being driven from an exterior portion of a structure to the interior portion according to claim 12, wherein said horizontal insert foam blocker is made of a closed cell foam material.

14. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent high pressure fluids from being driven from an exterior portion of a structure to the interior portion according to claim 13, wherein said vertical insertion foam blocker is made of a closed cell foam material.

15. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent high pressure fluids from being driven from an exterior portion of a structure to the interior portion according to claim 13, wherein said fluid is wind driven water.

16. The fluid infiltration preventing system configured to prevent high pressure fluids from being driven from an exterior portion of a structure to the interior portion according to claim 13, wherein said fluid is a high-pressure fluid having speeds of between 25 and 140 mph

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of the system for preventing water infiltration secured to a slider window in order to prevent water or other materials from breaching into an interior portion of a structure;

[0032] FIG. 1B is a close-up view of the system for preventing water infiltration secured to an additional slider window;

[0033] FIG. 1C is a close-up view of the system for preventing water infiltration secured to an additional slider window, shown with the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0034] FIG. 1D is a close-up view of the system for preventing water infiltration secured to an additional slider window, shown with the horizontal insert foam blocker and the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0036] FIG. 3 is an alternative perspective view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a right-side view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a left-side view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a top view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0041] FIG. 8 is a front view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0042] FIG. 9 is a back view of the horizontal insert foam blocker;

[0043] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0044] FIG. 11 is an alternative perspective view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0045] FIG. 12 is a right-side view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0046] FIG. 13 is a left-side view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0047] FIG. 14 is a top view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0048] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0049] FIG. 16 is a front view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0050] FIG. 17 is a back view of the vertical insert foam blocker;

[0051] FIG. 18 illustrates the horizontal insert foam blocker inserted into a frame of a sliding glass door;

[0052] FIG. 19 is an illustrative example of a door foam blocker;

[0053] FIG. 20 illustrates the door foam blocker attached to a door;

[0054] FIG. 21 is an elevation view of an embodiment mechanism for securing the door foam blocker to the door; and

[0055] FIG. 22 is a horizontal cross section through a door and foam blocker, illustrating the mechanism for securing the door foam blocker 86 to the door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 1A, an illustrative example of a system for preventing fluid infiltration, referred to generally as a fluid infiltration preventing system 10, is secured to a slider window 12 associated with a high rise residential structure is shown. The fluid infiltration preventing system 10 is configured to prevent penetration or infiltration of fluids, such as water, and preferably wind driven water, into an interior region. Accordingly, the fluid infiltration preventing system 10 is designed to prevent high pressure fluids, such as wind driven water from a storm having speeds of between 25 and 140 mph, from being driven from an exterior portion of a structure to the interior portion. While the fluid infiltration preventing system 10 is shown placed within a slider window 12, the placement of the fluid infiltration preventing system 10 therein is illustrative only, and can be placed in other areas which require preventing water or other materials from breaching into the interior portion, such as a slider door. FIG. 1A illustrates an inside sliding window 11 and an outside fixed window 13. The inside sliding window 11 slides within sliding window slot 15 when in an open position. In the closed position, as seen in FIG. 1A, storm or wind driven water from the outside can penetrate this area, allowing the storm or wind driven water to an area within the structure housing the inside sliding window 11 and outside fixed window 13. A vertical slot 17, running along an inner edge 19 of the outside fixed window 13 may also provide a source for storm or wind driven water infiltration.

[0058] The fluid infiltration preventing system 10 comprises a horizontal component, referred to herein as a horizontal insert foam blocker 14, and a vertical component, referred to herein as a vertical insertion foam blocker 16. Referring to FIGS. 2-9, an illustrative example of the horizontal insert foam blocker 14 is shown. The horizontal insert foam blocker 14 is designed to be inserted into the horizontal sliding window slot 15 that the sliding window 11 occupies when it is in the open position, see FIG. 1A. The horizontal insert foam blocker 14 is inserted into, and occupies the space of the horizontal sliding window slot 15 when the sliding window is in the closed position, thereby preventing or minimizing the risk of outside, storm or wind driven water infiltration. Preferably, the horizontal insert foam blocker 14 is made of a closed cell foam material (made by subjecting a rubber compound to a gas, such as nitrogen, under high pressure). The closed cell foam material may be flexible so that the horizontal insert foam blocker 14 can be bent or deformed to fit a space or area when a force is applied, but assume or maintain its original shape when the force is removed.

[0059] The horizontal insert foam blocker 14 comprises a first end 18, an opposing second end 20, and a main body 22 separating the first end 18 and the opposing second end 20. The main body 22 has a first surface 24, a second, opposing surface 26, and a continuous outer perimeter wall or edge 28) The first end 18 contains a U-shaped region 30, formed by a cut out region 31, forming a right arm 32 and a left arm 34. The distance D1 between the right arm 32 and the left arm 34 is preferably a sufficient length to engage and/or cover one or more components of the horizontal sliding window slot 15, and/or other associated window components as described below.

[0060] The opposing second end 20 contains a protuberance 36 which extends outwardly, or away from the main body 22. The length D2, measured from edge 38 to opposing edge 40, of the protuberance 36 is preferably less than the length D3 of the main body 22. The length D3 is defined as the distance between edge 42 and opposing edge 44. D1, measured as the distance between the right arm 32 and the left arm 34, is less than D3 and may be equal to, less than, or greater than D2. Shoulders 46 and 48 are formed in the area where the protuberance 36 extends out past the second end 20.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 10-17, an illustrative example of the vertical insertion foam blocker 16 is shown. At least a portion of the vertical insertion foam blocker 16 is configured to fit within the vertical slot 17 and rest within the slider window-outside window vertical gap 50 (see FIG. 1B), thus preventing water from entering the interior of the structure through the slider window-outside window vertical gap 50, see FIG. 1B. Preferably, the vertical insertion foam blocker 16 is made of a closed cell foam material (made by subjecting a rubber compound to a gas, such as nitrogen, under high pressure). The closed cell foam material may be flexible so that the vertical insertion foam blocker 16 is bent or deformed to fit a space or area when a force is applied, but assumes or maintains its original shape when the force is removed. The vertical insertion foam blocker 16 is comprised with an upper portion 52 and a lower portion 54. The upper portion 52 is shown having a generally circular profile. The lower portion 54 extends away from the upper portion 52, and as shown has an elongated, oval-like or tubular profile. The diameter 56 of the upper portion 52 is preferably greater than the length 58 between a first lower portion side 60 and an opposing, second lower portion side 62. While the upper portion 52 is shown having a generally circular profile, other shapes may be used as long as the upper portion 52 seals within the slider window-outside window vertical gap 50. The lower portion 54 has a sufficient length 64 to extend out of the vertical slot 17, thus providing a user a mechanism to remove the vertical insertion foam blocker 16 from the slider window-outside window vertical gap 50 when not needed.

[0062] In use, the horizontal insert foam blocker 14 is inserted into horizontal sliding window slot 15 so that arms 32 and 34 of the U-shaped region 30 straddle the window mullion 65. The arms 32 and 34 are sized and shaped to tightly fit space 66A defined by the right side wall 68 of the window mullion 65, wall 70, and sliding window slot side wall 72, and space 66B defined by the window mullion 65, side wall 74 and side walls 76 and 78, see FIGS. 1B and 1C. protuberance 36 is designed to fit within the space defined by the sliding window sill vertical frame 82 and 84. The vertical insertion foam blocker 16 is then placed within the vertical slot 17, see FIGS. 1A and 1D. Upper portion 52 is inserted into slider window-outside window vertical gap 50, with the lower portion 54 extending outwardly and away from the slider window-outside window vertical gap 50.

[0063] FIG. 18 illustrates the horizontal insert foam blocker 14 inserted into a frame 85 of a sliding glass door 87.

[0064] FIGS. 19-20 illustrate a door foam blocker 86. The door foam blocker 86 comprises of a support structure, illustrated as an aluminum angle 88 and a foam 90. The foam 90 may be made of the same material as described for the horizontal insert foam blocker 14 or the vertical insertion foam blocker 16. FIG. 20 illustrates the door foam blocker 86 secured to door 92, forming a barrier with the existing door threshold 94 and existing door vertical mullion 96. FIGS. 21 and 22 show an illustrative mechanism for securing the foam blocker 86 to the door jamb 98 utilizing a slide bolt 100.

[0065] All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0066] It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

[0067] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.