Reusable water permeable toe tube for construction perimeters

Abstract

A multi-use reusable tubular barrier to be placed along the edges of construction sites to contain debris formed of a woven mesh material body carrying particulated fill within a medial chamber defined by the body. Tabs carrying grommets at opposing end portions of the body and spacedly arrayed about an outer surface of the body allow secure releasable interconnection with adjacent bodies in a variety of alignments.

Claims

1: A multi-use reusable debris barrier comprising in combination: a tubular body having a closed first end portion and a closed second end portion and defining a medial chamber extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; fill within the medial chamber to provide a diameter and mass; and; a releasable fastening means at the closed first end portion and at the closed second end portion to allow interconnection with adjacent tubular bodies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0028] Specific forms, configurations, embodiments and/or diagrams relating to and helping to describe preferred versions of our invention are explained and characterized herein, often with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and all features shown therein also serve as part of the disclosure of our invention, whether described in text or merely by graphical disclosure alone. Such drawings are briefly described below.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a sketch of an orthographic side view of the toe tube, showing the end tabs fully extended and two overlap tabs sewn on the exterior of the toe tube spacedly inward from each end portion.

[0030] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sketch of a cross-section of the toe tube taken at line 13 of FIG. 1, showing the plasticized woven product forming the body and the particulated fill within the medial chamber.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a sketch of an orthographic top view of three toe tubes interconnected in end-to-end alignment for use.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a sketch of an orthographic top view of three toe tubes interconnected in an overlapping configuration connected using the overlap tabs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The readers of this document should understand that the embodiments described herein might rely on terminology used in any section of this document and other terms readily apparent from the drawings and the language common therefore as may be known in a particular art and known or indicated or provided by dictionaries. Dictionaries were used in the preparation of this document. Widely known and used in the preparation hereof are Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1993), The Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition, 1989), The New Century Dictionary (2001-2005) and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th Edition 2000) all of which are hereby incorporated by this reference for interpretation of terms used herein to more adequately or aptly describe various features, aspects and concepts shown or otherwise described herein.

[0034] This document is premised upon using one or more terms or features shown in one embodiment that may also apply to or be combined with other embodiments for similar structures, functions, features, and aspects of the invention. Wording used in the claims is also descriptive of the invention and the text of both claims and abstract are incorporated by reference into the description entirely. Terminology used with one, some or all embodiments may be used for describing and defining the technology and exclusive rights associated herewith.

[0035] The readers of this document should further understand that the embodiments described herein rely on terminology and features used in any section or embodiment shown in this document and other terms readily apparent from the drawings and language common or proper therefore.

[0036] Our toe tube 1 generally provides an elongate body 4 having a first end portion 11 and a spaced apart second end portion 12 and defines a medial chamber 32 extending between the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12. The body 4 is preferably formed of flat sheets of woven fabric material 31, which are sewn into a tube 4 and sealed at the first and second end portions 11, 12 respectively. Particulated fill 36 is carried within the medial chamber 32.

[0037] The body 4 is preferably formed of a fabric material 31 that is durable, flexible, non-staining, environmentally friendly, and water-permeable such as, but not limited to, a plasticized woven product.

[0038] The fill 36 is particulated to allow the body 4 to be bendable, flexible and has a density and mass to provide the body a generally consistent diameter 40 of approximately 3 1/2 inches to 6 1/2 inches. Diameter 40 ensures that a vertically uppermost portion of the body 4 is sufficiently vertically above a supporting surface to comply with local, state, and federal standards for similar construction safety barriers and to prevent passage of debris there-over. The fill 36 is anticipated to be ground rubber, ground to a diameter of approximately one inch or less per piece. It is envisioned that recycled tires could be the source of the fill 36, although other materials and processes may likewise provide the required characteristics of the fill 36.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment, the first and second end portions 11, 12 respectively are formed into tabs 3, 10 by compressing diametrically opposed portions of the fabric material of the body 4 radially inwardly so that opposing inner portions of the fabric material are in direct physical contact with one another. The contacting fabric portions are folded inwardly to a truncated taper and then permanently interconnected to one another such as with stitching, riveting and/or gluing.

[0040] Tab 3 at the first end portion 11 and tab 10 at the second end portion 12 each carry at least one grommet 2 defining a medial through hole which allows a plurality of the toe tubes 1 to be interconnected end-to-end. (FIG. 3).

[0041] Overlap tabs 6, 7 are permanently affixed, such as by stitching, to an exterior surface 33 of the body 4 at spacedly arrayed positions thereon, preferably spacedly inward of the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12. Grommets 2 are carried by the overlap tabs 6, 7 to allow plural bodies 4 to be interconnected in an overlapping fashion. (FIG. 4).

[0042] Exterior surface 33 of the body 4 may be any color although it is envisioned that Construction Orange, which is commonly referred to as Phizatec #426 may be a standard color.

[0043] In a further embodiment, the fill 36 may be specially designed and engineered to selectively absorb certain fluids but not others, such that hazardous fluids would be absorbed but non-hazardous fluids may pass through. Diatomaceous earth is particularly contemplated as a fill 36.

[0044] Having described the structure of our toe tube safety apparatus, its operation may be understood.

[0045] Assuming use at a construction site wherein a multi-story building is being constructed, and above-grade floor decks are not enclosed with exterior walls, a user would place a plurality of toe tubes 1 on the raised work area spacedly inward from outer edges of the floor deck, and also around unprotected holes in the floor deck, such as elevator shafts and stairwells.

[0046] A fastener (not shown) such as, but not limited to a cable tie, zip tie, or a wire may be used to interconnect plural toe tubes 1 in an end-to-end configuration (FIG. 3) or an overlapping configuration (FIG. 4).

[0047] The plurality of toe tubes 1 may be aligned in an end-to-end orientation such that a tab 3, 10 of one toe tube 1 is proximate to a tab 3, 10 of an adjacent toe tube 1. The toe tubes 1 and the tabs 3, 10 are manually manipulated so that the grommets 2 (shown atop each other) carried by the tabs 3, 10 are concentrically aligned so that a fastener (not shown) may be simultaneously inserted through the hole defined by both aligned grommets 2. The fastener (not shown) is thereafter secured in its customary fashion to prevent inadvertent movement of the toe tubes 1 such that an opening or break in the otherwise continuous safety barrier is formed. The process is repeated interconnecting the tabs 3, 10 of adjacent toe tubes 1 extending continuously around the perimeter of the floor deck.

[0048] In locations where it is impractical, difficult, or impossible to interconnect adjacent toe tubes 1 in an end-to-end orientation, (FIG. 3), such as where the toe tubes 1 are too long for end-to-end attachment, the toe tubes 1 may be interconnected using the overlap tabs 6, 7 (FIG. 4) using a similar fastener and a similar process.

[0049] The foregoing description of our invention is necessarily of a detailed nature so that a specific embodiment of a best mode may be set forth as is required, but it is to be understood that various modifications of details, sizes, and rearrangement, substitution and multiplication of the parts may be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essence, or scope.

[0050] Having thusly described our invention, we file this Utility patent application.