Automatic mechanical pop-up flood prevention device for doorways and windows

Abstract

A flood prevention device that uses a spring or bungee cord 5 to upwardly pull roller blind 4 of waterproof material around an axle (Fig 2, 9) after a water activated mechanical switch 7 is triggered

Description

Title of Invention: Automatic Mechanical Pop-Up Flood Prevention Device for Doorways and Windows Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to flood prevention mechanisms for homes and buildings, particularly an apparatus designed to prevent water from entering through doorways during flooding events. Background of the Invention: Flooding causes significant damage to properties, particularly through entry points such as doors. Traditional sandbags and other temporary flood defenses are cumbersome, require pre-installation, and are not always effective. There is a need for an automatic, easily deployable system to prevent water from entering homes and buildings through doorways. Existing flood protection solutions suffer from significant drawbacks. Traditional flood barriers require manual placement, which may not always be practical during emergencies. Automated flood barriers exist but rely on buoyancy to deploy, which can require considerable space for the structure, for example a trench, and are expensive to install. Others require power sources, making them vulnerable in power outages during severe weather events. Additionally, many existing solutions lack a method to securely seal the flood barrier against the doorframe, making them prone to leaks or displacement under pressure. This invention addresses these deficiencies by providing a compact, automatic flood barrier that is lightweight, retrofittable, and deploys without the need for external power or manual intervention. The mechanism is designed to be mounted on the ground outside the doorway. It employs a combination of springs or bungee cords and a water-activated mechanical switch to deploy a waterproof barrier across the doorway upon detecting water. The invention comprises a roller blind made of waterproof material, a mechanical water-activated switch for deployment, and a design that utilizes water pressure to enhance the seal and structural integrity against floodwaters. Prior Art: Several flood protection devices exist, but they do not provide the same level of automation, simplicity, and integration with the structure as the present invention, and are not suitable for retrofitting to house doorways. The following patents represent prior art: 1. US4377352A- Describes a barrier system using self-raising stanchions with flexible sheeting to create a flood barrier. Unlike the present invention, this design uses a rigid frame and requires a significant ground area for the frame to lie down when not deployed. 2. GB2323621A- Describes a self-raising flood barrier, which relies on buoyancy to lift the barrier into place. While automatic, it requires a holding trench and fixed concrete walls, making it unsuitable for lightweight and retrofit applications. 3. US9689129B2 - Describes a self-activating flood barrier that moves vertically in response to rising water. However, it requires a sizable rigid trench structure to hold it, making it unsuitable for lightweight and retrofit applications. The present invention improves upon these prior art references by using a roller blind mechanism with multiple water-activated switch variations, compact floor mounting, and enhanced waterpressure-assisted sealing. The present invention can be retrofitted to existing buildings without requiring structural work or significant ground space. Brief Description of the Drawings: Figure 1 shows a front view of a door with the flood-prevention device deployed, pressed tight against the doorway by water pressure to create a seal, and so creating an effective barrier to flood water. Figure 2 shows one way of making a water-activated switch. Detailed Description of the Invention: The invention consists of several parts connected together. A design for the invention is shown in Figure 1. - Roller Blind Mechanism: A roller blind 4 housed in a cartridge 3 fixed to the floor 8 outside the doorway 1 of a door 2, made from durable, waterproof material, which can unroll vertically upwards to create a flood barrier. A typical height for this barrier would be 0.5 metres. - Water-activated switch: The deployment of the roller blind is controlled by a mechanical water-activated switch 7 on the cartridge. Several implementations of this switch are: - One implementation of this switch uses a latch mechanism that prevents the roller from turning, and a float-lever system designed to lift the latch when it comes in contact with water, allowing the blind to deploy automatically. This could also be implemented using a lifting mechanism where the water floats the latch itself without a lever. - A design for this is shown in Figure 2, where the roller blind axle 9 has a latch cog 10 which is prevented from turning by a latch 11 on a lever 12 with a pivot 13, which can be raised by a float 14 that is lifted by the rising water level 15. - A second implementation uses the weight of the water pushing down to trigger a switch. - A third implementation uses a latch with a component that dissolves, disintegrates, or reacts with water to remove itself when flooded - for example, part of the latch could be made of cardboard, or from an “alka-seltzer” bicarbonate of soda and citric acid material. - A fourth implementation is an electronic water sensor and a servo-operated latch or an electromagnet release mechanism. A long-term battery can be used to provide power with independence from mains electricity, making it easier to fit and providing reliability against a power-cut during a flood. - Upwards Pull: Tension elements 5 made of bungee cords or springs are attached to the blind at one end and to the door frame at the other end. They provide swift and automatic deployment by pulling the blind upwards when the latch is released. This uses stored elastic energy which is another point of difference from prior art such as US4377352A where the energy for lifting the barrier comes from the rising water. - Sealing and Structural Support: Once deployed, the design of the roller blind against the doorway ensures that water pressure from flood waters 6 against the blind 4 enhances the waterproof seal against the doorway. Additionally, the water pressure pushes the blind against the door, leveraging the door’s structure to support and stabilize the blind, effectively resisting the floodwaters. - The edges of the roller blind can be lined with a high-grip material such as rubber to improve the seal and the stability of the barrier. The blind deploys upwards before the water has risen above the cartridge, so the high-grip material is not pressed against the doorframe at this point, and so does not impede the upwards motion. As the flood waters 6 rise, they then press the high-grip material against the doorframe 1.

Claims

1. A flood prevention device comprising: a roller blind made of waterproof material rolled around an axle; springs or bungee cords pulling the material upwards for deployment; a mechanical water-activated switch for automatic deployment; and a design that utilizes water pressure for sealing and structural support.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the water-activated switch features a latch which blocks the roller blind from going upwards, with a float and lever mechanism to raise the latch and release the roller blind, where the switch trigger is water lifting the float.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the water-activated switch features a latch which blocks the roller blind from going upwards, with a lever mechanism to lower the latch and release the roller blind, where the switch trigger is the weight of water pressing down on the lever.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the water-activated switch features a latch which blocks the roller blind from going upwards, where part of the latch is made from a substance which dissolves, disintegrates, or reacts with water to remove itself, thereby releasing the roller blind when flooded.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the roller blind is released by an electrical servo or by an electromagnet, where the switch trigger is an electrical water sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the roller blind is deployed to a height of 0.5 meters or similar to create an effective barrier against floodwaters.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the water pressure against the deployed blind forms a waterproof seal with the door and doorway.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the water pressure against the door allows the door to provide structural support for the roller blind when it has been released, and so the device itself can remain light.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein a high-grip material at the edges of the blind provides an improved seal under pressure from the rising flood waters.

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