Flood barrier

Abstract

A flood barrier for blocking the flow of water into a building opening comprises a frame and a panel mutually-engageable therewith. The frame has a base element and a pair of spaced upright elements and is permanently sealed to a building around an opening thereof. The panel is releasably attachable to the frame such as to extend between the upright elements. The frame may also comprise an upper element such that the frame surrounds the building opening. The base element has a hook element which urges the panel into sealing contact with the frame.

1 . Anti-flooding apparatus for at least resisting ingress of flood water into an opening of a building, said apparatus comprising: 
 a frame having a pair of spaced apart upright elements, a base element extending therebetween, and a hook element provided on the base element, said frame being adapted for permanent sealed attachment to a building about an opening thereof; and    a panel adapted for releasable attachment to said frame such that said panel extends between said upright elements and is urged against said upright elements and said base element by said hook element thereby to provide sealed engagement.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the panel is provided with a depending element adapted for engagement with the hook element on the frame, such that said panel may be brought into registration with the frame by inserting said depending element between said hook element and the upright elements, and pivoting said panel about said hook element.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the hook element comprises a connecting element and an upwardly extending projection directed at an acute angle thereto, said connecting element extending between the base element and said upwardly extending projection.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the depending element extends at an obtuse angle relative to a front plane of the panel.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said acute and obtuse angles are supplementary.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the hook element extends along substantially the entire length of the base element.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the depending element extends along substantially the entire length of an edge of the panel.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the frame additionally comprises an upper element also extending between the upright side elements such that said frame is capable of encompassing an opening of a building, and the panel is adapted for releasable attachment to the frame such  5  that said panel extends also between the base element and said upper element.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said panel is provided with upwardly-directed recesses adapted to receive the upright elements of the frame.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a layer of sealing material is applied to an inward face of said panel to provide said sealed engagement when the frame and the panel are brought together.  
     
     
         11 . A method for at least resisting ingress of flood water into an opening of a building, said method comprising the steps of: 
 permanently attaching a frame to a building about an opening thereof, said frame having a pair of spaced apart upright elements, a base element extending therebetween, and a hook element provided on the base element; and    releasably attaching a panel to the frame, such that said panel extends between the upright elements of the frame and is urged against said upright elements and the base element by the hook element, thereby to provide sealed engagement.