GB2567688A

GB2567688A - Flood barrier gate

Info

Publication number: GB2567688A
Application number: GB1717326.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Turner Frederick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-10-20
Filing date: 2017-10-20
Publication date: 2019-04-24
Also published as: GB201717326D0

Abstract

The entryway comprises a door 24, a hinge H and a frame 10, 12, 26 with the door being hinged to the frame and the frame comprises at least one door jamb 45 proximate to the floor of the entry-way. The at least one door jamb comprises an inwardly rounded section 45 and the door comprises at least one outwardly rounded section 43 with both sections able to mate with one another such that the door is moveable into a closed position in which the outwardly rounded section of the door abuts the inwardly rounded section of the door jamb for forming a seal. The entryway may comprise a locking mechanism comprising an eccentric cam lock 36, the door may also comprise a latch 40 which is structured to mate with the cam such that the door panel can be driven down towards a floor and pushed outward towards the at least one door jamb. Also disclosed is a watertight re-closable entryway comprising complimentary rounded doo and door jamb sections and a watertight re-closable entryway comprising a locking mechanism with an eccentric cam.

Description

FLOOD BARRIER GATE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gate system and an apparatus for forming the same which provides a re-closeable flood-resistant entry way. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an accessible flood barrier gate which can, for example, be accessed by wheel chair users. The invention finds advantageous application in the safeguarding of industrial utility plants against flooding where access to buildings such as cabins, kiosks, equipment units and power generator stores may be required, whilst at the same time the integrity of a permanent or installed flood protection system is not compromised.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The protection of domestic dwellings and commercial buildings and plant from the devastating and damaging effects of floods is an important issue. In particular the safeguarding of industrial utility plants, such as water purification and power generation plants is a growing concern. Various kiosks or units on site such an industrial plant can be surrounded by flood barrier walls to protect them from flooding. However, on a day to day basis, practical and easy access through such flood barrier walls is needed by authorised personnel. Multiple personnel may require access into and out of the units and accordingly there is a requirement for entry-ways in flood barrier walls that are simple and easy to use, install and maintain. Authorised personnel may include wheelchair users and the physically impaired and accordingly there is a requirement for entry-ways in flood barrier walls that are accessible. The cost of such entryways is also an important consideration because of the number of them that may be required.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of flood-proof or floodresistant re-closeable entry-ways, gateways or doorways that has particular application for industrial or commercial sites. The invention may be utilised in domestic applications as well and may be retro-fitted into a dwelling, existing flood-barrier system or used as a supplementary flood-defence door-way installed in front of an existing door-way or gateway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention provide a key, a system, a vehicle and a method as claimed in the appended claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a re-closeable entry-way comprising a door, a hinge and a frame. The door may be hinged to the frame. The frame may comprise at least one door jamb proximate to a floor of the re-closeable entry-way. The at least one doorjamb may comprise a concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section. The door may comprise at least one convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section, the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section of the door jamb and the convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the door being relatively structured and arranged for mating with one another such that the door is movable into a closed position in which the convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the door abuts the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section of the doorjamb for forming a seal.

Optionally, the frame comprises a first and second doorjambs proximate to a floor of the recloseable entry-way, the first and second doorjambs each comprising a concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section; and wherein the door comprises first and second convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded sections, the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded sections of the first and second doorjambs and the first and second convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded sections of the door being relatively structured and arranged for mating with one another such that the door is movable into a closed position in which a convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the door abuts the first and second concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded sections of the door jamb for forming a seal.

Optionally, a sealing member is provided on at least part of the doorjamb.

Optionally, a sealing member is provided on at least part of the door.

Optionally, the sealing member at least partially covers the at least one convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the door for sandwiching the seal between the door and the door jamb once the door is moved into the closed position in which the convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the door abuts the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section of the doorjamb for forming a seal.

Optionally, the sealing member at least partially covers the first and second convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded sections of the door for sandwiching the seal between the door and the first and second door jambs once the door is moved into the closed position in which the first and second convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded sections of the door abut the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded sections of the first and second doorjambs for forming a seal.

Optionally,the sealing member at least partially covers a bottom edge of the door panel.

Optionally, the sealing member at least partially covers the first and second convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded sections of the door and the bottom edge of the door panel is provided by a single and continuous piece of material.

Optionally, the sealing member is formed from or comprises a resiliently compressible material.

Optionally, the re-closeable entry-way comprises a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising an eccentric cam lock and the door having or comprising a latch, the eccentric cam lock being structured and arranged for mating with the latch such that the door panel can be driven down towards a floor and pushed inwardly towards the at least one door jamb.

Optionally, the cam lock has a cylindrically shaped barrel portion and is driven by an off-centre lever such that its path of motion is eccentric.

Optionally, the latch has a concave upper surface for receiving or otherwise mating with the cylindrical barrel portion.

Optionally, the cam lock is linearly moveable toward and away from the latch.

Optionally, the cam lock is rotatably movable downwardly onto or upwardly away from the latch, and wherein the cam lock is rotatably movable in a direction generally toward or away from the doorjamb.

Optionally, the door is lockable in a sealed state by the cam lock being linearly movable toward the latch; the cam lock being rotatably movable downwardly onto the latch; and the cam lock being rotatably movable in a direction toward the doorjamb.

Optionally, in a closed, locked and sealed state, the re-closeable entry-way is water-tight.

Optionally, the re-closeable entry-way is suitable for use as a flood defence barrier for use in front of or instead of a doorway, gateway or other re-closeable entryway.

Optionally, the re-closeable entry-way is suitable for use in a flood defence barrier wall to provide a re-closeable opening in that flood defence barrier wall.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for forming a flood-proof or flood-resistant entry-way, the apparatus comprising:

(i) a gate comprising at least one convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section;

(ii) at least one doorjamb comprising a concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section;

(iii) a sealing member provided on at least a part of the at least one convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the gate or provided on at least a part of the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section of the at least one doorjamb; and (iv) a locking mechanism comprising an eccentric cam lock, the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section of the doorjamb and the convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the gate being relatively structured and arranged for mating with one another such that when the apparatus is assembled and an entryway is formed, the gate is movable into a closed, locked and sealed position in which the convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded section of the gate abuts the concavely shaped or otherwise inwardly rounded section of the door jamb with the sealing member therebetween for forming a flood-proof or floodresistant entry-way.

Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the locking mechanism is configured and arranged for applying a downward and/or inward force to the gate, once the apparatus is assembled into an entryway.

Optionally [don’t use preferably, but break up with...

Alternatively, or in addition...

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from the inside of a gate system according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein a door is in an unlocked and open state;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view from the inside of a gate system according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the door is a closed and partially locked state;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view from the inside of the gate system of Figure 2, wherein the door panel has been omitted from the illustration in order to show the relative position of a resiliently compressible sealing member which would at least partially cover first and second convexly shaped or otherwise outwardly rounded sections and a bottom edge of the door panel;

FIGURE 3A is a partial plan view from the inside of a gate system according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the door is unlocked, open and not in view;

FIGURE 3B is a partial plan view of the end of the gate system, wherein the door is closed and partially locked, the handle of the locking mechanism has been omitted from the Figure for ease of illustrating the position of a barrel of the locking mechanism relative to a seat of the locking mechanism; and

FIGURE 3C is a partial plan view from the end of the gate system, wherein the door is closed and locked, such that the door panel is under tension and is forced towards and downwardly onto the doorjambs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the re-closeable entry-ways and apparatus of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will be understood that the re-closeable entry-ways and apparatus described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

Figures 1 to 3C show a re-closeable entry-way 100 comprising a door 24, a hinge H and a frame 10, 26 and 12. The frame is optionally open-topped such that the re-closeable entryway 100 has the appearance of a gate-way, comprising a lock side rail 10, a sill or bottom rail 26 and a second side rail 12. In other embodiments, the frame may comprise a top-rail such that the re-closeable entry-way has an appearance more typically associated with a door-way. The door 24 is hinged to the second side rail 12 of the frame using a suitable hinging mechanism. The frame 10/26/12 comprises at least one doorjamb 45 proximate to the sill 26 or a floor of the re-closeable entry-way 100. In this arrangement two doorjambs are provided, one on either side of the opening. Each doorjamb comprises an inwardly rounded section 45.

As shown in Figure 1 a section of the doorjamb may be generally segment or wedge shaped - having side faces shaped as a right-angled triangle with a concave upper and an outer surface that is inwardly rounded i.e. concavely ramped. In a complimentary manner and shaped and sized in a similar fashion, the door comprises at least one outwardly rounded section 43. The inwardly rounded section of the door jamb 45 and the outwardly rounded section of the door 43 are structured and arranged relative to one another to ensure a very close fit between them In this way the door 24 is movable into a closed position in which two outwardly rounded sections 43 of the door abut and fit into the two inwardly rounded sections 45 of the door jamb for forming a seal.

The door 24 optionally comprises two separate and spaced apart outwardly rounded sections which may be described as comprising convexly shaped surfaces. In between the two outwardly rounded sections 43, the remainder of the bottom rail of the door may be squareshaped, in other words the door 24 may have a right-angled exterior bottom corner, with just two rounded sections at either end thereof.

The re-closeable entry-way 100, as shown, further comprises a sealing member 28 on at least part of the door 24. In other embodiments it is anticipated that the re-closeable entry-way may comprise a sealing member on at least part of the doorjamb. As illustrated in Figure 3, the sealing member 28 at least partially covers the two outwardly rounded sections 43 of the door 28 such that the seal 28 can be sandwiched between the door 24 and the doorjambs 45 once the door 24 is moved into the closed position in which the outwardly rounded sections 43 of the door 24 abut the inwardly rounded sections 45 of the doorjambs for forming a seal - see Figure 3C. The sealing member 28 at least partially covers a bottom edge of the door panel 24 - see Figures 1, 2 and 3. Optionally, the sealing member 28 that extends over the first and second outwardly rounded sections 43 of the door 24, the bottom edge of the door panel 24 and up the front edges of the door 24 is provided by a single and continuous piece of material. The sealing member 28 may be formed from any suitable material, may be replaceable, may be removable and may comprise a resiliency compressible material, for example rubber.

The re-closeable entry-way 100 comprises a locking mechanism 40/36/32/30. The locking mechanism 40/36/32/30 comprises an eccentric cam lock 36 and the door 24 has or comprises a latch 40. The eccentric cam lock 36 is structured and arranged for mating with the latch 40 such that the door 24 can be driven down towards a sill or floor and at the same time, also pushed outwardly towards the doorjambs 45.

As shown in Figure 1, the cam lock has a cylindrically shaped barrel portion 36 and is driven by an off-centre 35 (see Figure 3B) lever 32/30 (see Figures 1, 3A and 3C) such that its path of motion is eccentric. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3B, the latch 40 (or seat 40) has an inwardly rounded upper surface for receiving or otherwise mating with the cylindrical barrel portion 36 of the lock. The cam lock is linearly moveable toward and away from the latch 40 by sliding rod 32 in and out of a base plate 34 which affixes the cam lock to the wall adjacent lock side frame member 10. To lock the door 24 in the closed position the cam lock need only be slid such that the barrel portion 36 moves from being next to the wall adjacent lock side frame member 10, to being on top of the latch 40. Then, to put the gate into a sealed state, the lever or handle 32 is turned (in this illustrated arrangement, in a clockwise direction) thus eccentrically rotating the barrel portion 36 (see Figure 3B) and causing forces to be applied to the door 24, seal 28, doorjambs and sill to form a water-tight fit of the door 24. In this way the re-closeable entry-way 100 is suitable for use as a flood defence barrier for use in front of or instead of a doorway, gateway or other re-closeable entryway, or is suitable for use in a flood defence barrier wall to provide a re-closeable opening in that flood defence barrier wall.

As best shown in the end views of Figures 3B and 3C, the frame further comprises a sill 26, which has a gradient and slopes from a highest elevation on the outside of the re-closeable entry-way, to its lowest elevation on the inside of the re-closeable entry-way. An upper surface of the sill is smooth. The gradient of the sill 26 may be selected in correspondence with the radius of curvature of the inwardly rounded section 45 of the at least one doorjamb (see Figure 3B).

As shown in Figure 1, the door comprises a bottom edge which is straight, flat and not ramped. When the door 24 is closed, the bottom edge of the door friction fits tightly and sealingly against the sloped sill 26.

It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, in other embodiments of the invention it is envisaged that the sill may not be sloped and the bottom of the door may be sloped; the door and door jamb ay be oppositely shaped such that the doorjamb rounds outwardly and the door has a section that rounds inwardly. Additionally, the door may comprise other sealing or flood prevention features for example, a threshold, wiper or sealing member on the front bottom edge of the door.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as top, bottom, front, back, end, side, inner, outer, upper and lower do not necessarily limit the described parts or features to such orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish parts or features from one another or may serve to describe parts or features in a typical context.

As used herein, the term “re-closeable entry-way” refers to all manner of entry-ways that facilitates access into or through a building, flood-barrier, wall, fence, structural barrier and the like, which may take a range of suitable heights, from for example about 600mm; may be open at the top (like a typical gate), or closed at the top (like a typical door).

As used herein the terms “door” and “gate” refer to a rigid and generally planar member that is movable, on a hinge, to close an opening or other portal of entry for example into a building or through a wall. Such “doors” or “gates” may be formed of any suitable material and combination of materials, including for example and without limitation composite materials, metals for example aluminium, plastics, for example PVC, coated materials, laminated materials and may comprise wood. The “door” or “gate” may have a solid or hollow structure; may comprise one or more structural elements such as a top rail, bottom rail and one or more mid-rails; may comprise one or more panels; may or may not have a handle to help open and close the door.

As used herein the term “concave” may have its normal meaning, namely a line or surface that curves inward like the interior of a sphere, and may also refer to any generally sloped, ramped, rounded, arcuate, curved, radiussed or curvilinear shape, or surface that at least in part has an inwardly curved aspect. The “concave” surface may curve or dish in one direction like a ski-jump shape.

As used herein the term “convex” may have its normal meaning, namely a line or surface that curves outward like the exterior of a sphere, and may also refer to any generally rounded, arcuate, curved, radiussed or curvilinear shape, or surface that at least in part has an outwardly curved aspect. The “convex” shape may bulge or curve outward in one direction to form a rounded corner.

Claims

1. A re-closeable entry-way comprising a door, a hinge and a frame, wherein the door is hinged to the frame, and wherein the frame comprises at least one door jamb proximate to a floor of the re-closeable entry-way, the at least one door jamb comprising an inwardly rounded section; and wherein the door comprises at least one outwardly rounded section, the inwardly rounded section of the door jamb and the outwardly rounded section of the door being relatively structured and arranged for mating with one another such that the door is movable into a closed position in which the outwardly rounded section of the door abuts the inwardly rounded section of the door jamb for forming a seal.

2. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 1 wherein the inwardly rounded section of the at least one door jamb comprises a concavely shaped section; and wherein the door comprises at least one outwardly rounded section comprises a convexly shaped section.

3. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a first and second door jambs proximate to a floor of the re-closeable entry-way, the first and second door jambs each comprising an inwardly rounded section; and wherein the door comprises first and second outwardly rounded sections, the inwardly rounded sections of the first and second doorjambs and the first and second outwardly rounded sections of the door being relatively structured and arranged for mating with one another such that the door is movable into a closed position in which an outwardly rounded section of the door abuts a first or second inwardly rounded section of the doorjamb for forming a seal.

4. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 3 further comprising a sealing member on at least part of the doorjamb.

5. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 4 further comprising a sealing member on at least part of the door.

6. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 5 wherein the sealing member at least partially covers the at least one outwardly rounded section of the door for sandwiching the seal between the door and the doorjamb once the door is moved into the closed position in which the outwardly rounded section of the door abuts the inwardly rounded section of the doorjamb for forming a seal.

7. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 6 wherein the sealing member at least partially covers the first and second outwardly rounded sections of the door for sandwiching the seal between the door and the first and second doorjambs once the door is moved into the closed position in which the first and second outwardly rounded sections of the door abut the inwardly rounded sections of the first and second door jambs for forming a seal.

8. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 7 wherein the sealing member at least partially covers a bottom edge of the door panel.

9. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 8 wherein the sealing member at least partially covering the first and second outwardly rounded sections of the door and the bottom edge of the door panel is provided by a single and continuous piece of material.

10. A re-closeable entry-way according to any of claims 4 to 9 wherein the sealing member is formed from or comprises a resiliently compressible material.

11. A re-closeable entry-way according to any preceding claim comprising a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising an eccentric cam lock and the door having or comprising a latch, the eccentric cam lock being structured and arranged for mating with the latch such that the door panel can be driven down towards a floor and pushed outwardly towards the at least one doorjamb.

12. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 11 wherein the cam lock has a cylindrically shaped barrel portion and is driven by an off-centre lever such that its path of motion is eccentric.

13. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 12 wherein the latch has an inwardly rounded upper surface for receiving or otherwise mating with the cylindrical barrel portion.

14. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 13 wherein the cam lock is linearly moveable toward and away from the latch.

15. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the cam lock is rotatably movable downwardly onto or upwardly away from the latch, and wherein the cam lock is rotatably movable in a direction generally toward or away from the doorjamb.

16. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 14, wherein the door is lockable in a sealed state by the cam lock being linearly movable toward the latch; the cam lock being rotatably movable downwardly onto the latch; and the cam lock being rotatably movable in a direction toward the doorjamb.

17. A re-closeable entry-way according to any preceding claim wherein in a closed, locked and sealed state, the re-closeable entry-way is water-tight.

18. A re-closeable entry-way according to any preceding claim wherein the re-closeable entry-way is suitable for use as a flood defence barrier for use in front of or instead of a doorway, gateway or other re-closeable entryway.

19. A re-closeable entry-way according to any preceding claim wherein the re-closeable entry-way is suitable for use in a flood defence barrier wall to provide a re-closeable opening in that flood defence barrier wall.

20. A re-closeable entry-way according to any of claims 1 to 19 wherein the frame further comprises a sill, and wherein the sill has a gradient and slopes from a highest elevation on the outside of the re-closeable entry-way, to its lowest elevation on the inside of the re-closeable entry-way.

21. A re-closeable entry-way according to claim 20 wherein an upper surface of the sill is smooth.

22. A recloseable entry-way according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the gradient of the sill is selected in correspondence with the radius of curvature of the inwardly rounded section ofthe at least one doorjamb.

23. A recloseable entry-way according to claim 20, 21 or 22 wherein the gradient of the sill is selected in correspondence with the radius of curvature of the outwardly rounded section of the door.

24. A recloseable entry-way according to claim 22 or 23 wherein the door comprises a bottom edge and wherein the bottom edge is straight, flat and not ramped.

25. Apparatus for forming a flood-proof or flood-resistant entry-way, the apparatus comprising:

(v) a gate comprising at least one outwardly rounded section;

(vi) at least one doorjamb comprising an inwardly rounded section;

(vii) a sealing member provided on at least a part of the at least one outwardly rounded section of the gate or provided on at least a part of the inwardly rounded section of the at least one doorjamb; and (viii) a locking mechanism comprising an eccentric cam lock, the inwardly rounded section of the doorjamb and the outwardly rounded section of the gate being relatively structured and arranged for mating with one another such that when the apparatus is assembled and an entryway is formed, the gate is movable into a closed, locked and sealed position in which the outwardly rounded section of the gate abuts the inwardly rounded section of the door jamb with the sealing member therebetween for forming a flood-proof or flood-resistant entry-way.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the locking mechanism is configured and arranged for applying a downward and/or inward force to the gate, once the apparatus is assembled into an entryway.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch, the latch being provided as part of the gate, or the latch being affixed to the gate, and the latch being shaped to receivably mate with the cam lock once the apparatus is assembled and an entryway is formed.

28. A water-tight re-closeable entry-way comprising a door, a door jamb and a locking mechanism, wherein the door and doorjamb at respective lower portions thereof are complimentarily rounded in shape respectively such that in a closed state the door and doorjamb can mate together.

29. A water-tight re-closeable entry-way according to claim 28 comprising a sealing member.

30. A water-tight re-closeable entry-way comprising a door, a door jamb and a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an eccentric cam lock for applying a downward force on the door to sealingly mate the door with a floor or sill and for applying an inwardly directed force on the door to sealingly mate the door against the doorjamb.