Portable flexible sealing device for grated openings

Abstract

A lightweight watertight cover that is easily installed and positively secured in place, which provides a reliable seal to prevent flood water from entering openings such as subway ventilation shaft gratings and other porous openings that serve as entry point for flood water.

Claims

1. A portable flexible cover device with a seal on a periphery of the cover device, that is sized and shaped to seal a grated opening from entry of water into at least one selected from the group consisting of buildings, underground architecture and systems; said portable flexible cover device comprising a segmented assembly of rigid plates, the segmented assembly of rigid plates being encapsulated by at least one selected from the group consisting of a coated fabric and membrane that allow the flexible cover device to adapt to irregular surfaces, wherein the rigid plates do not encompass all of the area of the portable flexible cover device such that at least a central portion of the portable flexible cover device is free of rigid plates and comprises only the coated fabric or membrane; a seal on the periphery of the portable flexible cover device; the flexible cover device additionally comprising at least one rigid rib, the at least one rigid rib being positioned beneath at least one of the rigid plates; and a series of anchors; at least one of the series of anchors being positioned between the at least one rigid rib and the seal and passing through the rigid plate; whereby the application of a compressive force on at least one of the anchors against at least one of the rigid plates causes the at least one rigid rib to act as a fulcrum and the rigid plate to act as a lever to exert pressure on the seal of the portable flexible cover device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable flexible cover device comprises a segmented assembly of rigid plates encapsulated by a coated fabric.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the cover device is quadrilateral and the cover device comprises at least four rigid ribs; each of the four rigid ribs lying parallel to one of the edges of the quadrilateral and further comprising a series of anchors, each of the series of anchors lying between one of the four rigid ribs and the seal; whereby the application of a compressive force on each of the anchors against the rigid plates causes each rigid rib to act as a fulcrum and each rigid plate to act as a lever to exert pressure on the seal of the portable flexible cover device.

4. The device in claim 3, wherein fasteners are provided to attach each of the anchors of the portable flexible cover device to a grating such that the portable flexible cover device will remain in place when exposed to any one from the group consisting of high winds, rushing water and debris impact.

5. The device in claim 1, in combination with at least one selected from the group consisting of flat gratings and gratings that are non-flat gratings.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the perimeter seal conforms to topographical irregularities around a grated opening.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the perimeter seal is comprised of at least one selected from the group consisting of single or multiple foam or extruded flexible materials.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the perimeter seal comprises a compliant material that conforms to a surface topography and creates a water tight seal when under compression.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover device may be used to seal a grated opening that is located in any one of horizontal, vertical, or intermediate position relative to ground level.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable flexible cover device can be folded one or more times for compact storage or transport.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the perimeter seal will maintain its sealing function with hydrostatic pressure of several inches to several feet of water.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the perimeter seal is water tight for several days allowing for the scenario of extended periods of use.

13. The device of claim 1, in combination with a second cover device according to claim 1, wherein the portable flexible cover device and the second cover device can be abutted adjacent one another with gasket materials under the abutments.

14. The device in claim 1, wherein the rigid plates comprise laminated rigid plates.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a compressive material between the at least some of the series of anchors which each pass through a hole in both the at least one of the rigid plates and the coated fabric or membrane of the portable flexible cover device and the coated fabric or membrane, wherein the compressive material seals the holes; and, the at least some of the series of anchors are attachable to the grating below the portable flexible cover device such that the anchors, when tensioned against the at least one of the rigid plates, compress both the peripheral seal to seal the periphery of the cover device and the compressive material to seal the holes.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the rigid plates extend from the perimeter of the cover to at least a third of the way to the center of the cover.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the rigid plates extend from the perimeter of the cover to at least a half of the way to the center of the cover.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein there are at least two rigid ribs.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein there are at least four rigid ribs.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable flexible cover device can be folded one or more times and in two or more planes.

21. A portable flexible cover device comprising at least one rigid plate encapsulated by a coated fabric or membrane, the cover device further comprising a peripheral seal; the cover device being sized and shaped to attach over a grated opening and seal the opening from entry of water into at least one selected from the group consisting of buildings, underground architecture and systems; a series of anchors to hold the cover device over the grated opening; and at least one rigid rib positioned beneath the at least one rigid plate; at least some of the anchors in the series of anchors being positioned between the at least one rigid rib and the peripheral seal, such that the at least one rigid rib, under compression of the plate by at least one of the series of anchors acts as a fulcrum and the at least one rigid plate acts as a lever to compress the perimeter seal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates the side view of the vent cover with anchors in position before installation.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the schematic of the anchor in vent cover.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the view from the bottom in relation to the installed position of the vent cover.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the top view of the vent cover with anchors in position for installation.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the cross-sectional view of a vent cover installed over a grating of vent opening.

(6) FIG. 6 shows the position of the anchors with hook engages with the grating of vent opening.

(7) FIG. 7 shows the vent cover in a folded configuration without the anchors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows the side view of one embodiment of the vent cover. in this embodiment, the vent cover is rectangular in shape with all of its components including the rigid laminate 101, anchor assembly 102, rigid rib 301 at the fulcrum point, and the compressive gasket seal 103 that is attached at in a continuous line around the edges of the rigid laminate to create a barrier for entry of liquid media and other contaminants against which a seal is desired. The vent cover has two sides in relation to its installation and function. The side of the vent cover that has the anchor plate 201 is the top side and the side which has the gasket seal 103 and rigid rib 301 is the bottom side of the vent cover.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the anchor assembly. The anchor plate 201 is connected to the bolt 206. In this embodiment a holding pin 202 is attached into the anchor plate to facilitate positioning the anchor assembly between the bars of gratings or grilles 210, but it is not necessary to the function of the anchor assembly and can be left out, The anchor plate 201 is positioned between the gasket seal 103 and the rigid rib 301, which acts as the fulcrum point on the vent cover. In this embodiment, the anchor plate 201 has a layer of compressive material 203 underneath that acts as a seal for the anchor assembly when inserted into the hole in the rigid laminate. This anchor plate 201 and compressive material 203 together perform the functions of evenly distributing the force from clamping of the anchor plate against the top surface of the vent cover and also acts as a seal against water during flooding. This layer is held in place in the intended position of the anchor assembly by a retainer ring 204. The section of the anchor assembly that has screw threads 206 to facilitate the bolting of the anchor assembly also has a hook 205 and a termination feature 207 to prevent the hook from accidently sliding from the anchor assembly.

(10) FIG. 3 shows the bottom view of the vent cover. The rigid rib 301 is positioned at an optimum distance from the fastener insertion hole in the cover with the objective to transferring maximum force to the gasket 103 when the fastener is tightened, which is directly linked to how effective the gasket seal is in minimizing the entry of water through the grated opening.

(11) FIG. 4 shows show the top view of the vent cover with a location of the anchor assembly represented by the anchor plates.

(12) FIG. 5 shows the cross-section view of the cover in its installed position over the grating. The hooks are positioned and locked against the bars of the grating.

(13) FIG. 6 shows the close-up view of the hooks in the anchor assembly locked in with the grating bars.

(14) FIG. 7 shows the vent cover folded at the center to allow for easy transportation and installation.