Barrier device with foam interior

Abstract

A barrier device comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls and opposed side walls interconnected to form a hollow interior in which the inner surface of each wall is covered with a layer of foam material and then the remainder of the hollow interior is filled with a ballast material such as water, sand, rubber, concrete and the like. Alternatively, the entire hollow interior is filled with foam.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A barrier device, comprising: 
 a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to form a hollow interior adapted to be at least partially filled with a ballast material, each of said walls having an inner surface located within said hollow interior and an outer surface;    a foam material connected to said inner surface of at least said bottom wall, said opposed side walls, and said opposed end walls, said foam material being effective to resist leakage of ballast material from said hollow interior.    
     
     
         2 . The barrier device of  claim 2  in which said foam material is connected to said inner surface of said top wall.  
     
     
         3 . The barrier device of  claim 1  in which each of said walls is formed of a linear low density polyethylene material.  
     
     
         4 . The barrier device of  claim 3  in which each of said walls has a thickness measured between said inner and outer surfaces, said thickness of said walls being about 0.25 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The barrier device of  claim 1  in which said foam material is a polyethylene foam having a thickness in the range of about ½ to 6 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The barrier device of  claim 5  in which said polyethylene foam has the following properties:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Density: 
                   7 lb/ft 3   
                 
                     
                   Compression modulus: 
                   800 psi 
                 
                     
                   Shrinkage: 
                   0.010-0.015 in/in 
                 
                     
                   Thermal conductivity: 
                   0.435 BTU in/hr ft 2  ° F. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         7 . The barrier device of  claim 5  in which said polyethylene foam has the following properties:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Density: 
                   4 lb/ft 3   
                 
                     
                   Compression modulus: 
                   180 psi 
                 
                     
                   Shrinkage: 
                   0.010-0.015 in/in 
                 
                     
                   Thermal conductivity: 
                   0.384 BTU in/hr ft 2  ° F. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         8 . The barrier device of  claim 5  in which said polyethylene foam has the following properties:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Density: 
                   2 lb/ft 3   
                 
                     
                   Compression modulus: 
                   35 psi 
                 
                     
                   Shrinkage: 
                   0.010-0.015 in/in 
                 
                     
                   Thermal conductivity: 
                   0.357 BTU in/hr ft 2  ° F. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a number of individual barrier devices, each of said barrier devices including: 
 (i) a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to collectively form a hollow interior;  
 (ii) a foam material at least partially filling said hollow interior of each of said barrier devices;  
   a coupling device which connects barrier devices together end-to-end, said interconnected barrier devices substantially filled with said foam material forming a barrier wall which is capable of floating in water.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which said foam material is two-component polyether-based, low density pour-in-place urethane foam.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which said foam material substantially fills said hollow interior of each of said barrier devices.