Environmental barrier device

Abstract

An environmental barrier system that is supported relative to a base includes an environmental barrier device with at least a portion that is resiliently flexible. The environmental barrier device includes a first side and a bottom edge. The environmental barrier system also includes a bracket that couples the environmental barrier device to the base. The bracket includes a coupling member that couples to the base and a support member that is coupled to the coupling member. The support member includes a first portion that supports the first side of the environmental barrier device and a second portion that supports the bottom edge of the environmental barrier device.

1 . An environmental barrier system that is supported relative to a base, the environmental barrier system comprising:
 an environmental barrier device with at least a portion that is resiliently flexible, the environmental barrier device including a first side and a bottom edge; and   a bracket that couples the environmental barrier device to the base, the bracket including a coupling member that couples to the base and a support member that is coupled to the coupling member, the support member including a first portion that supports the first side of the environmental barrier device and a second portion that supports the bottom edge of the environmental barrier device.   
   
   
       2 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member defines a hanger through which a fastener extends to couple the coupling member to the base. 
   
   
       3 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener includes an enlarged surface that abuts against the coupling member adjacent the hanger. 
   
   
       4 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is insertable into the base to couple to the base. 
   
   
       5 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling member is disposed at a positive angle relative to the support member so as to extend into and couple to the base. 
   
   
       6 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the environmental barrier device includes a second side opposite to the first side, and wherein the support member further includes a third portion that supports the second side of the environmental barrier device. 
   
   
       7 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the support member includes an end that is angled so as to be disposed at a positive angle away from the first side of the environmental barrier device. 
   
   
       8 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a first support member and a second support member, wherein the bottom edge of the environmental barrier device defines an axis, and wherein the first portion of the first support member and the first portion of the second support member extend away from each other and are each disposed at a positive acute angle with respect to the axis. 
   
   
       9 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a first support member and a second support member, and wherein the coupling member is coupled to and disposed between the first support member and the second support member. 
   
   
       10 . The environmental barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member and the coupling member are integrally coupled. 
   
   
       11 . A method of coupling an environmental barrier device to a base, the method comprising:
 providing an environmental barrier device with at least a portion that is resiliently flexible;   providing a bracket having a coupling member and a support member, the support member including a first portion and a second portion;   coupling the coupling member to the base;   supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket such that the first portion of the support member supports a first side of the environmental barrier device and the second portion of the support member supports a bottom edge of the environmental barrier device.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling the coupling member to the base comprises inserting a fastener with an enlarged surface into a hanger defined by the coupling member such that the coupling member is disposed between the enlarged surface and the base. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling the coupling member to the base comprises embedding the coupling member in the base. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the bracket comprises bending an elongate member so as to define the coupling member and the support member. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the environmental barrier device includes an aperture and the base defines a top surface, and wherein supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket comprises supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket such that the aperture is disposed above the top surface of the base. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket further comprises supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket such that a third portion of the support member supports a second side of the environmental barrier device, the second side of the environmental barrier device being opposite to the first side of the environmental barrier device. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket further comprises supporting the environmental barrier device between the support member and the base. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the base includes an upright surface, wherein coupling the coupling member to the base comprises coupling the coupling member to the upright surface of the base, and wherein supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket comprises supporting the environmental barrier device upright adjacent the upright surface of the base. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positionally adjusting the environmental barrier device relative to the base after supporting the environmental barrier device on the bracket. 
   
   
       20 . An environmental barrier system that is supported relative to a base, the environmental barrier system comprising:
 an environmental barrier device with at least a portion that is resiliently flexible, the environmental barrier device including a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a bottom edge; and   a bracket comprising:
 a first support member having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion supporting the first side of the environmental barrier device, the second portion supporting the bottom edge of the environmental barrier device, and the third portion supporting the second side of the environmental barrier device, the first portion including an end that is disposed away from the environmental barrier device; 
 a second support member having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion supporting the first side of the environmental barrier device, the second portion supporting the bottom edge of the environmental barrier device, and the third portion supporting the second side of the environmental barrier device, the first portion including an end that is disposed away from the environmental barrier device; and 
 a coupling member that couples to the base, the coupling member integrally coupled to the third portion of the first support member and the third portion of the second support member so as to be disposed between the first support member and the second support member.