Floating barrier wall

Abstract

A floating barrier wall includes a number of individual barrier units each comprising a housing formed in the general shape of a highway barrier having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls, and, opposed side walls interconnected to form a hollow interior which is preferably partially or completely filled with a foam material. A ballast weight is secured to each barrier unit, either along or beneath the bottom wall, to maintain them in an upright position in the water. Cables, couplers and/or other connectors are employed to mount adjacent barrier units end-to-end to form a barrier wall which can encircle a vessel or otherwise isolate an area within a seaport to provide security.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A floating barrier unit, comprising: 
 a housing having a hollow interior;    said hollow interior of said housing being at least partially filled with a foam material;    a ballast weight connected to said housing which is effective to assist in maintaining said housing in a predetermined orientation when placed in the water.    
     
     
         2 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 1  in which said housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to form said hollow interior.  
     
     
         3 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 2  in which said ballast weight is connected to said housing such that said housing is maintained in an upright orientation in the water wherein said top wall is out of the water and said bottom wall is in the water.  
     
     
         4 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 2  in which a recess is formed in said bottom wall which extends into said hollow interior, said ballast weight being mounted within said recess.  
     
     
         5 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 2  in which said ballast weight is connected to said opposed side walls of said housing in position spaced from said bottom wall.  
     
     
         6 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 1  in which said ballast weight is located within said hollow interior of said housing.  
     
     
         7 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 1  in which said hollow interior of said housing is completely filled with foam material.  
     
     
         8 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 1  in which said housing has an inner surface located within said hollow interior, said inner surface mounting a layer of foam material.  
     
     
         9 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 8  in which said layer of foam material has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 to 6 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 1  in which said foam material is located within said hollow interior in position to substantially prevent the leakage of water into said hollow interior.  
     
     
         11 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 1  in which said housing is formed in the shape of a highway barrier having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls, each of said side walls including a curb reveal connected to said bottom wall, an intermediate section extending at an angle from said curb reveal and an upper section connected between said intermediate section and said top wall.  
     
     
         12 . A floating barrier wall, comprising: 
 a number of individual floating barrier units each including: 
 (i) a housing having a hollow interior;  
 (ii) said hollow interior of said housing being at least partially filled with a foam material;  
 (iii) a ballast weight connected to said housing and located externally of said hollow interior thereof, said ballast weight being effective to assist in maintaining said housing in a predetermined orientation when placed in the water;  
   a connecting device extending between adjacent floating barrier units which is effective to connect said floating barrier units end-to-end.    
     
     
         13 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 12  in which said housing of each of said floating barrier units includes a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to form said hollow interior.  
     
     
         14 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 13  in which each of said end walls is formed with a recess, said connecting device including a coupler having one end insertable within said recess in said end wall of one floating barrier unit and an opposite end insertable within said recess in said end wall of an adjacent floating barrier unit.  
     
     
         15 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 14  further including a strap which extends over said coupler to retain it in place within said recesses.  
     
     
         16 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 13  in which each of said floating barrier units is formed with at least one opening extending through said hollow interior from one of said side walls to the other side wall, said connecting device including a connector element extending from said at least one opening of one floating barrier unit to said at least one opening of an adjacent floating barrier unit.  
     
     
         17 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 16  in which said connector element is a strap which extends through said opening of each of two adjacent barrier units.  
     
     
         18 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 13  in which said connector device includes at least one mounting element connected to said housing of each barrier unit, and a connector element extending between and carried by said mounting elements of adjacent barriers.  
     
     
         19 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 18  in which said mounting element is an eyebolt having one end secured to each side wall of said housing of each barrier unit, and an opposite end formed with an eyelet.  
     
     
         20 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 19  in which said connector element is a cable extending through said eyelets of said eyebolts mounted to adjacent barrier units.  
     
     
         21 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 18  in which said mounting element is an eyebolt having one end connected within an opening formed in said housing of each barrier unit which extends from said top wall toward said bottom wall thereof, the other end of said eyebolt having an eyelet spaced from said top wall of said housing.  
     
     
         22 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 21  in which said connector element is a cable extending through said eyelets of said eyebolts mounted to adjacent barrier units.  
     
     
         23 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 13  in which said connecting device includes at least one tube extending through said hollow interior of said housing of each barrier unit between said opposed, end walls, and a shackle for connecting one end of said tube of one barrier unit to one end of said tube of an adjacent barrier unit.  
     
     
         24 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 23  in which said ballast weight of each of said floating barrier units is connected to said at least one tube and spaced from said bottom wall thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 24  further including at least one mounting arm connected to said ballast weight and at least one sleeve mounted to said at least one tube within said hollow interior of each of said floating barrier units, said at least one mounting arm being telescopically received within said at least one sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 25  in which at least one of said at least one mounting arm and said at least one sleeve is formed with a number of vertically spaced holes to permit adjustment of the vertical position of said at least one mounting arm within said at least one sleeve.  
     
     
         27 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 23  in which said ballast weight of each of said floating barrier wall is a hollow member filled with a ballast material.  
     
     
         28 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 13  in which said ballast weight is connected to said opposed side walls of said housing in position spaced from said bottom wall.  
     
     
         29 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 12  in which said hollow interior of said housing is completely filled with foam material.  
     
     
         30 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 12  in which said housing of each of each of said floating barrier units has an inner surface located within said hollow interior, said inner surface mounting a layer of foam material.  
     
     
         31 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 30  in which said layer of foam material has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 to 6 inches.  
     
     
         32 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 12  further including a platform which mounts at least two of said floating barrier units side-by-side, said platform being positioned in between two floating barrier units within said floating barrier wall.  
     
     
         33 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 12  in which said housing is formed in the shape of a highway barrier having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls, each of said side walls including a curb reveal connected to said bottom wall, an intermediate section extending at an angle from said curb reveal and an upper section connected between said intermediate section and said top wall.  
     
     
         34 . A floating barrier wall, comprising: 
 a number of individual floating barrier units each including: 
 (i) a housing having a hollow interior;  
 (ii) said hollow interior of said housing being at least partially filled with a foam material;  
 (iii) a ballast weight located within said hollow interior of said housing, said ballast weight assisting in maintaining said housing in a predetermined orientation when placed in the water;  
   a connecting device extending between adjacent barrier units which is effective to connect said floating barrier units end-to-end.    
     
     
         35 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 34  in which said ballast weight is located along said bottom wall of said housing within said hollow interior thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 35  in which said ballast weight is a layer of concrete.  
     
     
         37 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 34  in which said housing of each floating barrier unit includes a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to form said hollow interior.  
     
     
         38 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 37  in which said bottom wall of each barrier unit is formed in the general shape of the hull of a vessel.  
     
     
         39 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 37  in which said bottom wall of each floating barrier includes first and second spaced pontoons extending from one of said side walls, and third and fourth spaced pontoons extending from the other of said side walls, said first and second pontoons being spaced from said third and fourth pontoons along said bottom wall of said housing.  
     
     
         40 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 39  in which each of said first, second, third and fourth pontoons includes a generally vertically extending wall and an angled wall.  
     
     
         41 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 39  in which each of said first, second, third and fourth pontoons has a hollow interior within which ballast weight is located.  
     
     
         42 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 34  in which said hollow interior overlying said ballast weight is filled with foam material.  
     
     
         43 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 34  in which said housing of each of said floating barrier units has an inner surface located within said hollow interior, said inner surface mounting a layer of foam material in position overlying said ballast weight.  
     
     
         44 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 43  in which said layer of foam material has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 to 6 inches.  
     
     
         45 . A floating barrier wall, comprising: 
 a number of individual floating barrier units each including: 
 (i) a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to form a hollow interior;  
 (ii) said hollow interior of said housing being at least partially filled with a foam material;  
 (iii) a ballast weight located within said hollow interior of said housing, said ballast weight being effective to assist in maintaining said housing in a predetermined orientation when placed in the water;  
   a connecting device including at least one tube extending through said hollow interior of said housing of each floating barrier unit between said opposed end thereof, and a coupling element which mounts said at least one tube of one floating barrier unit to said at least one tube of an adjacent floating barrier unit.    
     
     
         46 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 45  in which said ballast weight is a layer of concrete.  
     
     
         47 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 45  in which said bottom wall of each barrier unit is formed in the general shape of the hull of a vessel.  
     
     
         48 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 44  in which said bottom wall of each floating barrier includes first and second spaced pontoons extending from one of said side walls, and third and fourth spaced pontoons extending from the other of said side walls, said first and 
 second pontoons being spaced from said third and fourth pontoons along said bottom wall of said housing.  
 
     
     
         49 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 47  in which each of said first, second, third and fourth pontoons includes a generally vertically extending wall and an angled wall.  
     
     
         50 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 48  in which each of said first, second, third and fourth pontoons has a hollow interior within which ballast weight is located.  
     
     
         51 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 45  in which said hollow interior overlying said ballast weight is filled with foam material.  
     
     
         52 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 45  in which said housing of each of said floating barrier units has an inner surface located within said hollow interior, said inner surface mounting a layer of foam material in position overlying said ballast weight.  
     
     
         53 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 52  in which said layer of foam material has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 to 6 inches.  
     
     
         54 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 45  in which said coupling element of each of said floating barrier units is a shackle.  
     
     
         55 . A floating barrier unit, comprising: 
 a housing having a hollow interior, said housing being formed in the shape of a highway barrier including a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls, each of said side walls having a curb reveal connected to said bottom wall, an intermediate section extending at an angle from said curb reveal, and an upper section connected between said intermediate section and said top wall;    a ballast weight connected to said housing, which, when said housing is placed in the water, is effective to assist in maintaining said bottom wall in the water and said top wall out of the water.    
     
     
         56 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 55  in which a recess is formed in said bottom wall which extends into said hollow interior, said ballast weight being mounted within said recess.  
     
     
         57 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 55  in which said ballast weight is connected to said opposed side walls of said housing in position spaced from said bottom wall.  
     
     
         58 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 55  in which said ballast weight is located within said hollow interior of said housing.  
     
     
         59 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 55  in which said hollow interior is at least partially filled with foam material.  
     
     
         60 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 59  in which said foam material is located within said hollow interior in position to substantially prevent the leakage of water into said hollow interior.  
     
     
         61 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 55  in which said hollow interior of said housing is completely filled with foam material.  
     
     
         62 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 55  in which said housing has an inner surface located within said hollow interior, said inner surface mounting a layer of foam material.  
     
     
         63 . A floating barrier wall, comprising: 
 a number of individual floating barrier units each including: 
 (i) a housing having a hollow interior, said housing being formed in the shape of a highway barrier including a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls, each of said side walls having a curb reveal connected to said bottom wall, an intermediate section extending at an angle from said curb reveal, and an upper section connected between said intermediate section and said top wall;  
 (ii) a ballast weight connected to said housing, which, when said housing is placed in the water, is effective to assist in maintaining said bottom wall in the water and said top wall out of the water;  
   a connecting device extending between adjacent barrier units which is effective to connect said floating barrier units end-to-end.    
     
     
         64 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 63  in which said connecting device includes at least one tube extending through said hollow interior of said housing of each barrier unit between said opposed end walls, and a shackle for connecting one end of said tube of one barrier unit to one end of said tube of an adjacent barrier unit.  
     
     
         65 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 64  in which said ballast weight of each of said floating barrier units is connected to said at least one tube and spaced from said bottom wall thereof.  
     
     
         66 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 65  further including at least one mounting arm connected to said ballast weight and at least one sleeve mounted to said at least one tube within said hollow interior of each of said floating barrier units, said at least one mounting arm being telescopically received within said at least one sleeve.  
     
     
         67 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 66  in which at least one of said at least one mounting arm and said at least one sleeve is formed with a number of vertically spaced holes to permit adjustment of the vertical position of said at least one mounting arm within said at least one sleeve.  
     
     
         68 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 64  in which said ballast weight of each of said floating barrier wall is a hollow member filled with a ballast material.  
     
     
         69 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 63  in which said hollow interior of said housing of each said barrier units is at least partially filled with foam material.  
     
     
         70 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 69  in which said foam material is located within said hollow interior in position to substantially prevent the leakage of water into said hollow interior.  
     
     
         71 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 63  in which said hollow interior of said housing is completely filled with foam material.  
     
     
         72 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 63  in which said housing has an inner surface located within said hollow interior, said inner surface mounting a layer of foam material.  
     
     
         73 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 63  in which said bottom wall of each barrier unit is formed in the general shape of the hull of a vessel.  
     
     
         74 . The floating barrier unit of  claim 73  in which said ballast weight is located within said hollow interior of each of said barrier units along said bottom wall thereof.  
     
     
         75 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 63  in which said bottom wall of each floating barrier includes first and second spaced pontoons extending from one of said side walls, and third and fourth spaced pontoons extending from the other of said side walls, said first and second pontoons being spaced from said third and fourth pontoons along said bottom wall of said housing.  
     
     
         76 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 75  in which each of said first, second, third and fourth pontoons includes a generally vertically extending wall and an angled wall.  
     
     
         77 . The floating barrier wall of  claim 75  in which each of said first, second, third and fourth pontoons has a hollow interior within which ballast weight is located.