Device with an inflatable cofferdam for protecting a building opening from flood hazards

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device (1) for a building opening (P), comprising an inflatable cofferdam (100) and shaped to be installed vertically, in its inflated configuration, in an opening of said opening (P) between its two lateral jambs so as to seal tightly at least a lower portion of said opening, said cofferdam (100) having an external envelope (110) delimited by a front wall (111), a rear wall (112), two side walls, a lower wall (115), and a top wall (116), of which said inflatable cofferdam (100) has at least one internal horizontal reinforcing partition (140) extending longitudinally between said front (111) and rear (112) walls of said external envelope (110), and transversely between said side walls of this same external envelope (110).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an inflatable cofferdam protection device for a building opening against the risks of flooding.

[0002] Faced with the increase in extreme weather events, flood management has become a global priority. Water damage can not only severely damage infrastructure but also jeopardize the safety of building occupants in at-risk areas.

[0003] Urban areas, densely populated and heavily paved, are particularly vulnerable to flooding. The proliferation of concrete surfaces prevents natural water infiltration into the soil, exacerbating the effects of heavy rainfall or river flooding. Buildings and their openings (front doors, windows, garages, basements, bay windows, etc.) then become major points of weakness through which water quickly seeps in.

[0004] Comprehensive solutions, such as dikes or large-scale drainage systems, while effective, are not always sufficient to protect buildings from water intrusion during a flood.

[0005] In order to better protect these individual structures, such as homes, businesses, and public buildings, from water intrusion, ilIt is common practice to implement flood control devices designed to be quickly installed in or in front of openings so as to create a watertight barrier between the outside and inside of the building, preventing water from entering while allowing for quick and easy deployment by the occupants themselves.

[0006] We know of removable protective devices comprising a rigid panel classically made of a metallic material with high mechanical resistance such as aluminium or steel and which is inserted into lateral rails fixed on the two lateral jambs of the opening.

[0007] Some protective devices may include several rigid panels inserted successively one above the other in such lateral rails in order to adjust to the height required to provide protection against different water levels.

[0008] However, such rigid panel devices do not guarantee a complete seal against the opening embrasure.

[0009] Document FR 2 964 999 A1 discloses a flood protection device comprising a watertight flashing and means for securing this watertight flashing against the exterior facade of a building on either side of a doorway. These securing means include a load-bearing structure equipped at its base with a ballast and at its top with means for suspending the flashing. The load-bearing structure comprises a dihedral profile with a ground support wall that is raised by a support wall against the exterior facade of the building. The ballast consists of a watertight casing attached to the flashing and designed to be filled with water.

[0010] However, such a protective device is only suitable for low water levels.

[0011] We also know, in particular from documents GB 2283524 A and WO 2016 / 177983 A1, of protective devices for a building opening received in an embrasure delimited by two lateral jambs, a threshold and a lintel, these devices comprising an inflatable cofferdam intended to be filled with air and shaped to be installed vertically, in its inflated configuration, in said embrasure between its two lateral jambs so as to seal in a watertight manner at least a lower portion of said embrasure.

[0012] The cofferdam has an external envelope delimited by a front wall intended to be oriented towards the outside of said building, a rear wall intended to be oriented towards said opening, two side walls intended to rest in a watertight manner against the two side jambs of the embrasure of said opening, a lower wall intended to rest in a watertight manner against the threshold of said embrasure, and an upper wall intended to be oriented towards the lintel of said embrasure or to rest in a watertight manner against said lintel.

[0013] In the event of flooding, the watertight cooperation between, on the one hand, the lateral walls of its external envelope and the lateral jambs of the embrasure, and on the other hand between the lower wall of this envelope and the threshold of this embrasure, makes it possible to ensure a certain restraint of this cofferdam in order to prevent it from being pushed towards the interior of the building by the force of the water.

[0014] However, when the water level above the sill of the embrasure reaches a certain point, the cofferdam may fold back on itself around a nearly vertical axis due to the shear stresses it undergoes, which are caused by the combination of: on the one hand, the pressure force, directed longitudinally towards the interior of the building, exerted by the water against the front wall of its external envelope, and on the other hand, friction forces, directed longitudinally towards the exterior of the building, exerted between the lower and upper lateral walls of this external envelope and the lateral jambs of the embrasure.

[0015] It is understood that such a folding of the cofferdam onto itself unfortunately leads to a loss of watertightness between this cofferdam and the embrasure, resulting in water infiltration inside the building.

[0016] Finally, we also know, in particular from documents DE 297 13 378 U1 and EP 2 236 725 A1, of protective devices for a building opening received in an embrasure delimited by two lateral jambs, a threshold and a lintel, these devices comprising an inflatable cofferdam intended to be filled with air and shaped to be installed vertically, in its inflated configuration, in said embrasure between its two lateral jambs so as to hermetically seal at least a lower portion of said embrasure, said cofferdam having an external envelope delimited by a front wall intended to be oriented towards the outside of said building, a rear wall intended to be oriented towards said opening, two lateral walls intended to rest in a hermetically sealed manner against the two lateral jambs of the embrasure of said opening, a lower wall intended to rest in a hermetically sealed manner against the threshold of said embrasure,and an upper wall intended to be oriented towards the lintel of said embrasure or to rest in a watertight manner against said lintel. However, such devices remain bulky and therefore involve a long and tedious inflation phase, which can prevent rapid deployment and placement of the protective device, which can prove detrimental in the aforementioned emergency situations where every minute counts: an excessively long inflation time would render the use of such devices inappropriate in an emergency.

[0017] The present invention therefore aims to improve such a situation.

[0018] To this end, it proposes a protective device for a building opening received in an embrasure delimited by two lateral jambs, a threshold and a lintel, said device comprising an inflatable cofferdam intended to be filled with air and shaped to be installed vertically, in its inflated configuration, in the embrasure of said opening between its two lateral jambs so as to hermetically seal at least a lower portion of said embrasure, said cofferdam having an external envelope delimited by a front wall intended to be oriented towards the outside of said building, a rear wall intended to be oriented towards said opening, two lateral walls intended to rest in a hermetically sealed manner against the two lateral jambs of the embrasure of said opening, a lower wall intended to rest in a hermetically sealed manner against the threshold of said embrasure,and an upper wall intended to be oriented towards the lintel of said embrasure or to rest in a watertight manner against said lintel.

[0019] According to the invention, said inflatable cofferdam comprises: at least one internal horizontal reinforcing partition extending longitudinally between said front and rear walls of said external envelope, and transversely between said side walls of said same external envelope; and a flexible internal conduit fluidly connected to at least one inflation valve provided on said external envelope, the two ends of said conduit opening respectively into an upper end zone and into a lower end zone of the internal volume of this cofferdam.

[0020] The presence of at least one such internal horizontal reinforcement partition reduces the risk, in the event of flooding or high water, of the cofferdam collapsing around a nearly vertical axis due to the shear stresses it is subjected to. The presence of a flexible internal conduit with the specific arrangement described above permet d'assurer a faster inflation of said cofferdam.

[0021] In order to more effectively reduce this risk of folding back on itself around a substantially vertical axis, the inflatable cofferdam preferably includes several internal horizontal reinforcement partitions distributed regularly along its height according to a predetermined spacing.

[0022] In order to also reduce the risk of folding back on itself around a substantially horizontal axis due to the shear stresses it is subjected to, said inflatable cofferdam also advantageously includes at least one internal vertical reinforcement partition extending longitudinally between said front and rear walls of said external envelope, and vertically between said lower and upper walls of said same external envelope.

[0023] In order not to make it too difficult to return to its deflated configuration by folding the said front, rear and side walls of its said outer envelope in an accordion fashion, the said inflatable cofferdam preferably includes a single internal vertical reinforcement partition extending along the median vertical longitudinal plane of the said outer envelope.

[0024] The said internal reinforcing partition(s) are advantageously made of the same material as the said external envelope, which makes it easier in particular to fix them to the external envelope of the cofferdam for example by heat welding or gluing.

[0025] The internal reinforcing partition(s) define, within the external envelope, various compartments delimited at least partially by internal walls formed by the internal reinforcing partition(s). To facilitate inflation, these compartments are preferably fluidly connected to one another via openings in the internal walls.

[0026] In order to preserve good rigidity of said internal reinforcing partition(s) while allowing sufficiently rapid inflation of the entire said cofferdam, each said internal wall of a said compartment advantageously presents a single said orifice whose surface dimensions represent between 10 and 20% of the surface of this internal wall.

[0027] In order to improve the seal between its lower end and the threshold of the opening embrasure, said inflatable cofferdam preferably comprises a sealing bead made of elastomeric material extending transversely against and along the outer face of said lower wall of said outer casing to which il is fixed, and is intended to rest against the threshold of said embrasure.

[0028] In order to prevent any movement of said inflatable cofferdam towards the interior of the building after its placement in the opening embrasure, said external envelope advantageously comprises, at its front end, at least two vertical lateral edges projecting transversely from said lateral walls and designed to rest against the facade of said building on either side of said embrasure.

[0029] In order to ensure even better retention of the inflatable cofferdam, said outer envelope may also include, again at its front end, a projecting upper vertical rim above said upper wall and designed to rest against said facade of said building above said embrasure.

[0030] To facilitate its installation from inside the building, said inflatable cofferdam preferably includes at least one gripping handle fixed against the external face of said rear wall of said external envelope.

[0031] According to an advantageous construction, said inflatable cofferdam may include at least one pair of said two gripping handles arranged symmetrically on either side of the median vertical longitudinal plane of said outer envelope.

[0032] To facilitate its implementation, said protection device preferably includes means for inflating said cofferdam, the outlet of which is fluidly connected to a pipe equipped with a connector designed to fluidly connect to said at least one inflation valve.

[0033] Furthermore, in order to guarantee simultaneous and homogeneous inflation of the upper and lower parts of said cofferdam, the two ends of said flexible inner conduit are preferably each provided with a vent calibrated to open when the pressure prevailing in this inner conduit reaches the same predetermined threshold value.

[0034] In addition, said cofferdam may include at least one pocket fixedly attached to the outer face of a wall of said outer envelope and suitable for housing a compressed air cylinder.

[0035] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an example embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, on which: there figure 1 represents a perspective view, approximately three-quarters front, of a device according to the invention for protecting a building opening against flooding with an inflatable cofferdam; the figure 2 is a perspective view, roughly from a three-quarter rear angle, of the flood protection device of the figure 1 ; there figure 3 represents a side elevation view of the flood protection system of the figure 1 ; there figure 4 a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical longitudinal plane of the flood protection system of the figure 1 mounted in the doorway of a building; the figure 5 represents an enlargement of detail V of the figure 4 ; and the figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a horizontal plane of the flood protection system of the figure 1 mounted in the embrasure of said door.

[0036] THE figures 1 à 6 represent a protection device 1 according to the invention of a building opening (such as a door P as shown on the figures 4 à 6 , a garage door, a window or even a bay window) received in an opening delimited by two side jambs, a threshold and a lintel.

[0037] With respect to this protective device 1, we define an orthogonal coordinate system XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular to each other in pairs, namely: an X axis, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction; a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane parallel to the ground; and a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

[0038] In the following description and with reference to the frame defined above, the terms "longitudinal" or "longitudinally" will refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms "transverse" or "transversely" will refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" will refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0039] On the other hand, the terms "front" and "back" will be used to specify the longitudinal positioning of certain elements relative to the orientation of the X axis. Similarly, the terms "upper" and "lower" will be used to specify the relative position of certain elements relative to the orientation of the Z axis.

[0040] With reference to figures 1 to 6, the protection device 1 includes an inflatable cofferdam 100 designed to be filled with air and shaped to be installed vertically, in its inflated configuration, in the embrasure of the opening P between its two lateral jambs so as to seal tightly at least a lower portion of said embrasure.

[0041] As illustrated by the figures 4 And 6 , the cofferdam 100 is preferably shaped to seal the entire opening of the opening P, so that the lintel of this opening exerts on the inflatable cofferdam 100 a downward vertical thrust force reinforcing the level of sealing between the lower end of this cofferdam 100 and the threshold of this opening.

[0042] The inflatable cofferdam 100 comprises a flexible outer casing 110 which, in its inflated configuration, is substantially in the shape of a rectangular prism (or parallelepiped), this outer casing 110 being delimited by: a front wall 111 intended to be oriented towards the outside of the building, a rear wall 112 intended to be oriented towards the opening P, two side walls 113, 114 intended to rest in a sealed manner against the two side jambs of the embrasure of this opening P, a lower wall 115 intended to rest in a sealed manner against the threshold of this embrasure, and an upper wall 116 intended to be oriented towards the lintel of this embrasure or to rest in a sealed manner against this lintel.

[0043] According to unrepresented variants, the external envelope 110 could be in the form of a block flared at the bottom in order to improve its stability.

[0044] This outer casing 110 is preferably made of a flexible, waterproof synthetic material that is sufficiently resistant to abrasion and tearing to meet often extreme conditions of use.

[0045] For example, and particularly advantageously, this 110 envelope can be made of thermoplastic polyurethane (commonly referred to by the acronym TPE-U or TPU) which combines excellent mechanical strength and elasticity properties with very good resistance to chemicals and ultraviolet (UV), giving it great durability and allowing it to be used repeatedly and over a long period.

[0046] In order to reduce the cost of the protective device 1 according to the invention, this enclosure 110 could alternatively be made of reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) whose characteristics of impermeability, flexibility and lightness coupled with a good level of resistance to abrasion and tearing also make it a relevant choice.

[0047] For industrial uses in which the cofferdam 100 is likely to be subjected to high water pressure, the outer casing 110 may be made of a synthetic rubber such as ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (commonly referred to by the acronym EPDM) or butadiene-acrylonitrile (commonly referred to by the Anglo-Saxon acronym NBR for "nitrile butadiene rubber").

[0048] In order to combine the properties of lightness, strength and impermeability, this outer casing 110 could alternatively be made of a composite material consisting of a textile base, for example polyester or nylon fabric, coated with a waterproof thermoplastic coating made for example of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In order to improve the seal between its lower end and the threshold of the opening, the cofferdam 100 may advantageously include a sealing bead made of elastomeric material 120 extending transversely against and along the outer face of the lower wall 115 of the outer casing 110 to which it is fixed for example by gluing.

[0049] Preferably cylindrical in shape and made, for example, of natural rubber or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), this 120 mm bead is designed to rest against the threshold of the opening P, as illustrated in the figure 5 .

[0050] In the event of flooding, the friction forces exerted between the side walls 113, 114 of the outer envelope 110 and the side jambs of the embrasure, as well as those exerted between the lower wall 115 of this outer envelope 110 and the threshold of this embrasure, and possibly those exerted between the upper wall 116 of this outer envelope 110 and the lintel of this embrasure, make it possible to oppose the thrust force exerted by the water against the lower portion of the front wall 111 of this same outer envelope 110 so as to reduce the risk of pivoting of the lower part of the cofferdam 100 towards the interior of the building which could lead to a loss of watertightness between the lower end of the cofferdam 100 and the threshold of the embrasure and water infiltration into the building.

[0051] To prevent the inflatable cofferdam 100 from moving inwards towards the building after being placed in the opening of the P, the outer casing 110 preferably has, at its front end, at least two vertical lateral edges 117, 118 projecting transversely from the side walls 113, 114 and provided, as illustrated by the figure 6 , to come and rest against the facade F of the building on either side of the embrasure.

[0052] When the cofferdam 100 is shaped to seal the entire opening of the sash P, its outer casing 110 may also include, at its front end, a projecting upper vertical rim 119 above the upper wall 116, as illustrated by the figure 4 , to come and rest against the facade F of the building above the embrasure.

[0053] Furthermore, in the case where the cofferdam 100 is intended to close the opening of an opening P such as a window or a door whose threshold is raised in relation to the exterior front of the building, its external envelope 110 may also include, still at the level of its front end, a lower vertical rim not shown projecting below the lower wall 115 and intended to rest against the facade F of the building below the opening.

[0054] To facilitate its installation from inside the building so that, in particular, the edges 117, 118, 119 of its external envelope 110 come to rest against the facade F of the building around the opening of the opening P, the cofferdam 100 preferably includes at least one gripping handle 130 advantageously made of the same material as the external envelope 110 and fixedly attached, for example by heat-welding or gluing, against the external face of the rear wall 112 of this external envelope 110.

[0055] In an advantageous manner and as illustrated by the figure 2 , the cofferdam 100 shall include at least one pair of two said gripping handles 130 arranged symmetrically on either side of the median vertical longitudinal plane of the outer envelope 110, so as to allow the user to make with both hands an effective pressing of each of the lateral edges 117, 118 of this outer envelope 110 against the facade F of the building on the perimeter of the opening embrasure P.

[0056] In order to ensure that each of these lateral edges 117, 118 is perfectly pressed against the facade of the building around the perimeter of the opening P, the cofferdam 100 will, even more advantageously, include several pairs of gripping handles 130, distributed at regular intervals along the height of its external envelope 110.

[0057] As illustrated in particular by the figures 1 And 4, the inflatable cofferdam 100 also includes at least one internal horizontal reinforcing bulkhead 140 extending longitudinally between the front walls 111 and rear walls 112 of the outer envelope 110 to which it is attached, and transversely between said side walls 113, 114 of the outer envelope 110 to which it is also attached.

[0058] The presence of at least one such internal horizontal reinforcing partition 140 makes it possible, in the event of flooding or high water, to limit the risk of the cofferdam 100 folding back on itself around a substantially vertical axis due to the shear stresses it undergoes, which are caused by the combination: on the one hand, the pressure force, directed longitudinally towards the interior of the building, exerted by the water against the front wall 111 of its external envelope 110, and on the other hand, the friction forces, directed longitudinally towards the exterior of the building, exerted between the lateral walls 113, 114, lower 115 and upper 116 of this external envelope 110 and the lateral jambs of the embrasure.

[0059] Such a folding of the cofferdam 100 on itself around a substantially vertical axis could indeed lead to a loss of sealing between this cofferdam 100 and the embrasure resulting in water infiltration inside the building.

[0060] In order to reduce more effectively this risk of folding back on itself around a substantially vertical axis, this cofferdam 100 preferentially includes several internal horizontal reinforcement partitions 140 distributed regularly over its height according to a predetermined spacing e1 advantageously between 10 and 30 centimeters and preferably equal to 20 centimeters.

[0061] In an advantageous manner, and as illustrated in particular by the figures 1 And 6 , the inflatable cofferdam 100 may also include at least one internal vertical reinforcement bulkhead 150 extending longitudinally between the front 111 and rear 112 walls of the outer envelope 110 to which it is attached, and vertically between said lower 115 and upper 116 walls of the envelope 110 to which it is also attached.

[0062] The presence of at least one such internal vertical reinforcement partition 150 allows, in the event of flooding or high water, to limit the risk of the cofferdam 100 folding back on itself around a substantially horizontal axis due to the shear stresses it is subjected to.

[0063] Such a folding of the cofferdam 100 on itself around a substantially horizontal axis could indeed also lead to a loss of sealing between this cofferdam 100 and the embrasure resulting in water infiltration inside the building.

[0064] In this case, and in order to avoid making it too difficult to return to its deflated configuration by folding the front 111, rear 112 and side 113, 114 walls of its outer shell 110, the cofferdam 100 will preferably not include, as illustrated by the figures 1 And 6, that a single internal vertical reinforcing partition 150 extending along the median vertical longitudinal plane of this external envelope 110.

[0065] To further reduce the risk of the cofferdam 100 collapsing around a substantially horizontal axis, this cofferdam 100 may, according to variations not shown, include several internal vertical reinforcing partitions 150. These partitions could, for example, be arranged parallel to each other along vertical longitudinal planes, distributed regularly across the transverse width of the cofferdam 100 at a spacing e2 advantageously between 10 and 30 centimeters, and preferably equal to 20 centimeters. Alternatively, these internal vertical reinforcing partitions 150 could be arranged accordion-style, connected in pairs at one of their forward or aft ends.

[0066] The internal horizontal 140 and / or vertical 150 reinforcement partitions are advantageously made of the same material as the external envelope 110 and fixedly attached, for example by heat welding or gluing, against the internal faces of the corresponding walls 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 of this external envelope 110.

[0067] As illustrated by the figure 1 , the internal reinforcing partition(s) 140, 150 thus define within the external envelope 110 of the cofferdam 100 different compartments C delimited at least partially by internal walls formed by this or these internal reinforcing partition(s) 140, 150. These compartments C are fluidically connected to each other by means of orifices O provided in these internal walls.

[0068] More specifically, and as illustrated by the figure 1 , each internal wall of a said compartment C preferably has a single said orifice O of advantageously circular shape whose surface dimensions represent between 10 and 20% of the surface of this internal wall in order to preserve good rigidity of the internal partitions 140, 150 while allowing to ensure a sufficiently rapid inflation of the whole cofferdam 100.

[0069] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the cofferdam 100, equipped with nine internal horizontal reinforcing partitions 140 and a single vertical reinforcing partition 150, has a transverse width of about 90 centimeters (cm), a longitudinal depth of about 20 centimeters, and a height of about 200 centimeters.

[0070] For such an example of implementation, the dimensions of compartments C are thus approximately 45 centimeters wide by 20 centimeters deep and 20 centimeters high, so that the surface area of ​​their horizontal internal walls is approximately 900 cm² while that of their vertical internal walls is approximately 400 cm².

[0071] The surface dimensions of the orifices O provided in these horizontal internal walls will advantageously be between 90 and 180 cm² (10 to 20% of 900 cm², which roughly corresponds for a circular orifice shape to a diameter between 11 and 15 cm) while those of the orifices O provided in these vertical internal walls will advantageously be between 40 and 80 cm² (10 to 20% of 400 cm², which roughly corresponds for a circular orifice shape to a diameter between 7 and 10 cm).

[0072] As illustrated on the figures 2 And 3, in order to ensure faster inflation of the cofferdam 100, it also includes a flexible internal conduit 180, shown in dashed lines on the figures 2 And 3 , fluidically connected to at least one inflation valve 160 provided on said outer casing 110. The two ends of said conduit 180 open respectively into an upper end zone and a lower end zone of the internal volume of this cofferdam 100. Preferably and as illustrated by the figures 2 And 3, the protection device 1 may also include means for inflating the cofferdam 100 comprising in this case a compressed air cylinder 200 whose outlet fitted with a manual pressure relief valve 210 is fluidly connected to a pipe 220 having at its distal end, opposite this cylinder 200, a connector 230 intended to be fluidly connected to said at least one inflation valve 160 provided on the outer casing 110 of this cofferdam 100.

[0073] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the inflation means could include a gas generator whose activation is controlled by the emission of an electrical signal transmitted by monitoring means equipped with at least one humidity sensor capable of detecting the presence of water at an altitude representative of a flood risk.

[0074] According to other unrepresented embodiments, these inflation means could include a simple manual air pump or a pump associated with a compressor and possibly equipped with digital controls.

[0075] Advantageously, said at least one inflation valve 160 may consist of a first inflation valve 160 provided on the rear wall 112 of its outer casing 110, so as to allow a user to fluidly connect the compressed air cylinder 200 to the cofferdam 100 and then activate the inflation of this cofferdam 100 from inside the building.

[0076] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the cofferdam 100 may also include a second inflation valve 160 provided on the front wall 111 of its outer casing 110, so as to allow a user to fluidly connect the compressed air cylinder 200 to the cofferdam 100 and then activate the inflation of this cofferdam 100 from outside the building.

[0077] The cofferdam 100 may also include at least one pocket 170 fixedly attached (for example by heat-welding or gluing) against the outer face of a wall of its outer casing 110 and suitable for housing the compressed air cylinder 200.

[0078] Such a pocket 170 can for example be provided on the rear wall 112 of the outer envelope 110 by being advantageously made of the same material as that of this outer envelope 110.

[0079] In order to ensure simultaneous and homogeneous inflation of the upper and lower parts of the cofferdam 100, these two ends of the flexible internal conduit 180 will advantageously each be provided with a vent 190, for example of the valve type, calibrated to open when the pressure prevailing in this internal conduit 180 reaches the same predetermined threshold value.

[0080] After inflating the cofferdam 100 from inside the building, the hose 220 is advantageously disconnected from the inflation valve 160 to which it was connected, while the compressed air cylinder 200 is removed from the pocket 170 in which it was housed, so as to allow the opening P to be closed, which then comes close to the rear wall of the outer casing 110 of the cofferdam 100 as illustrated by the figures 4 à 6 .

[0081] Many other embodiments are also possible and it should be recalled in this regard that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all the execution variants within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Protective device (1) for a building opening (P) received in an embrasure delimited by two lateral jambs, a threshold and a lintel, said device comprising an inflatable cofferdam (100) intended to be filled with air and shaped to be installed vertically, in its inflated configuration, in said embrasure between its two lateral jambs so as to seal tightly at least a lower portion of said embrasure, said cofferdam (100) having an external casing (110) delimited by a front wall (111) intended to be oriented towards the outside of said building, a rear wall (112) intended to be oriented towards said opening (P), two lateral walls (113, 114) intended to rest in a sealed manner against the two lateral jambs of the embrasure of said opening (P), a lower wall (115) intended to rest in a sealed manner against the threshold of said embrasure,and an upper wall (116) intended to be oriented with respect to the lintel of said opening or to rest in a watertight manner against said lintel; said inflatable cofferdam (100) comprising at least one internal horizontal reinforcing partition (140) extending longitudinally between said front (111) and rear (112) walls of said outer casing (110), and transversely between said lateral walls (113, 114) of said same outer casing (110); characterized in that said inflatable cofferdam (100) further comprises an internal flexible conduit (180) fluidly connected to at least one inflation valve (160) provided on said outer casing (110), the two ends of said conduit (180) opening respectively into an upper end zone and a lower end zone of the internal volume of this cofferdam (100).

2. Protective device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid inflatable cofferdam (100) includes several said internal horizontal reinforcement partitions (140) distributed regularly over its height according to a predetermined spacing (e1).

3. Protective device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said inflatable cofferdam (100) also includes at least one internal vertical reinforcement partition (150) extending longitudinally between said front (111) and rear (112) walls of said outer envelope (110), and vertically between said lower (115) and upper (116) walls of said same outer envelope (110).

4. Protective device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said inflatable cofferdam (100) comprises a single internal vertical reinforcement bulkhead (150) extending along the median vertical longitudinal plane of said external envelope (110).

5. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatsaid internal reinforcing partition(s) (140, 150) are made of the same material as said external envelope (110).

6. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said or said internal reinforcing partitions (140, 150) define within said external envelope (110) different compartments (C) delimited at least partially by internal walls formed by said or said internal reinforcing partitions (140, 150); characterized in that said compartments (C) are fluidically connected to each other through orifices (O) provided in said internal walls.

7. Protective device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that each said internal wall of a said compartment (C) has a single said orifice (O) whose surface dimensions represent between 10 and 20% of the surface of this internal wall.

8. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said inflatable cofferdam (100) includes a sealing tube made of elastomeric material (120) extending transversely against and along the external face of said lower wall (115) of said outer envelope (110) to which it is attached, and being intended to rest against the threshold of said opening.

9. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said outer envelope (110) has, at its front end, at least two vertical lateral edges (117, 118) projecting transversely from said side walls (113, 114) and intended to rest against the facade (F) of said building on either side of said embrasure.

10. Protective device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in thatsaid outer envelope (110) also includes, again at its front end, a vertical upper rim (119) projecting above said upper wall (116) and intended to rest against said facade (F) of said building above said embrasure.

11. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said inflatable cofferdam (100) includes at least one gripping handle (130) fixedly attached to the external face of said rear wall (112) of said outer casing (110).

12. Protective device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that said inflatable cofferdam (100) includes at least one pair of said two gripping handles (130) arranged symmetrically on either side of the median vertical longitudinal plane of said outer envelope (110).

13. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in thatit includes means for inflating said cofferdam (100) the outlet of which is fluidly connected to a pipe (220) equipped with a connector (230) intended to fluidly connect to said at least one inflation valve (160).

14. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the two ends of said flexible internal conduit (180) are each provided with a vent (190) calibrated to open when the pressure prevailing in this internal conduit (180) reaches the same predetermined threshold value.

15. Protective device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said cofferdam (100) includes at least one pocket (170) fixedly attached to the outer face of a wall of said outer envelope (110) and suitable for housing a compressed air cylinder (200).

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