Containment Barrier

Abstract

A containment barrier is provided in a plurality of compartments, such as linearly arranged, with a supply of super absorbent polymer in each of the compartments. In a wetted configuration, the barrier can prevent the flow of fluid into a drainage, or even past a garage door. Compartments may be defined in an inner bag contained within an outer covering.

1 . A containment barrier comprising:
 a plurality of compartments integrally connected together each having a supply of super absorbent polymer therein;   wherein said containment barrier has a dry configuration in which the super absorbent polymer is not retaining a supply of fluid, and a wetted configuration in which the super absorbent polymer is retaining fluid; and   wherein said plurality of compartments are positionable relative to adjacent compartments in both the dry and wetted configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The containment barrier of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of compartments further comprises at least three compartments. 
     
     
         3 . The containment barrier of  claim 2  wherein the at least three compartments are similarly sized. 
     
     
         4 . The containment barrier of  claim 3  wherein the three compartments are disposed in a linear arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The containment barrier of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of compartments further comprise an additional two compartments linearly disposed on opposite sides of the linearly disposed three compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The containment barrier of  claim 5  wherein the two compartments are a different size than the three compartments. 
     
     
         7 . The containment barrier of  claim 1  having a length at least about five time greater than a width. 
     
     
         8 . The containment barrier of  claim 1  wherein the super absorbent polymer has an absorbency capacity of at least about 1/500 and a molecular weight of at least one. 
     
     
         9 . The containment barrier of  claim 1  further comprising an inner bag with the super absorbent polymer therein, and an outer casing about the inner bag with at least the inner bag divided into the compartments. 
     
     
         10 . A containment barrier comprising:
 a plurality of compartments connected together each having a supply of super absorbent polymer therein;   wherein said containment barrier has a dry configuration in which the super absorbent polymer is not retaining a supply of fluid, and a wetted configuration in which the super absorbent polymer is retaining fluid; and   wherein said plurality of compartments are linearly oriented relative to one another defining a length in an extended configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The containment barrier of  claim 10  wherein the length is at least three times greater than a width. 
     
     
         12 . The containment barrier of  claim 11  wherein the length is at least about five times greater than the width. 
     
     
         13 . The containment barrier of  claim 12  wherein the length is at least about ten times greater than the width. 
     
     
         14 . The containment barrier of  claim 10  wherein the compartments are positionable relative to connected adjacent compartments in the dry and wetted configurations. 
     
     
         15 . The containment barrier of  claim 10  further comprising an inner bag with the super absorbent polymer therein, and an outer casing about the inner bag with at least the inner bag divided into the compartments. 
     
     
         16 . The containment barrier of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of compartments further comprises at least three compartments. 
     
     
         17 . The containment barrier of  claim 16  wherein the three compartments are placed in the wetted configuration and then utilized to obstruct flow into a drainage comprising the steps of:
 placing the barrier about a drainage with the three components forming sides in combination with a curb, thereby restricting flow of fluid from outside the drainage into the drainage as obstructed by the barrier when in the wetted configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The containment barrier of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of compartments further comprises another two compartments, said additional two compartments extending parallel to the curb against the curb when the barrier is placed about the drainage. 
     
     
         19 . The containment barrier of  claim 10  further comprising handles extending perpendicular to the length of the barrier. 
     
     
         20 . The containment barrier of  claim 19  used to stop flooding past a garage door comprising the steps of:
 placing the handles under a garage door;   shutting the garage door; and   placing the containment barrier in the wetted configuration.