Flood water barrier

Abstract

A flood barrier protection system has a first barrier support member having a channel therein. A second barrier member spaced from the first support member having a channel therein. A barrier member disposed within both channels is sealingly engageable with one surface of each the support member. The barrier member has a rigid front wall and a rigid rear wall spaced across a gap form each other to form a hollow body open at at least one end. An upper engaging portion and a lower engaging portion each extend from the hollow body in opposite directions.

1 . A barrier member for preventing a flood comprising:
 a solid front wall, a rear wall spaced from the front wall to form a hollow body having at least one open end;   an upper engaging portion extending from an upper portion of the hollow body; and   a lower engaging portion extending from a lower portion of the hollow body.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier member of  claim 1 , wherein the lower engaging portion includes a first finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second finger extending from the hollow body portion, each finger having a chamfered surface facing away from the hollow body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier member of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket extending along a length of the hollow body and disposed within the lower engaging portion. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier member of  claim 3 , wherein the lower engaging portion includes a first finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second finger extending from the hollow body portion, each finger having a chamfered surface facing away from the hollow body portion; the first finger and second finger form a receiving portion, the gasket having a body and a waist, the body being received within the receiving portion, and the waist receiving the fingers therein. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier member of  claim 1 , wherein the upper engaging portion includes a first finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second finger extending from the hollow body portion and being in facing relationship with the first finger. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier member of  claim 5 , wherein the first finger has a chamfered outer surface and the second finger has a second chamfered outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier member of  claim 6 , wherein the first finger and second finger define a receiving portion, and further comprising a gasket, the gasket being disposed in part in the receiving portion, and extending along the chamfered surface of the first finger and the chamfered surface of the second finger. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier member of  claim 7 , wherein said gasket member has a first chamfered surface substantially overlying the chamfered surface of the first finger and a second chamfered surface substantially overlying the chamfered surface of the second finger. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier member of  claim 3 , wherein the upper engaging portion includes a first upper engaging finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second upper engaging finger extending from the hollow body portion and being in facing relationship with the first upper engaging finger. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier member of  claim 9 , wherein the first upper engaging finger has a chamfered outer surface and the second upper engaging finger has a chamfered outer surface. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier member of  claim 10 , wherein the first upper engaging finger and second upper engaging finger define a receiving portion, and further comprising a second gasket, the second gasket being disposed in part in the receiving portion; and extending along the chamfered surface of the first upper engaging finger and the chamfered surface of the second upper engaging finger. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier member of  claim 11 , wherein said second gasket has a first chamfered surface substantially overlying the chamfered surface of the first upper engaging finger and a second chamfered surface substantially overlying the chamfered surface of the second upper engaging finger. 
     
     
         13 . A flood water barrier system comprising:
 a first barrier support member having a channel formed therein;   a second barrier support member having a channel formed therein; and   a barrier member sealingly engageable with the first support member and the second support member, the barrier member having a solid front wall and a rear wall spaced from the front wall to form a hollow body having at least one open end; an upper engaging portion extending from the hollow body and a lower engaging portion extending from the hollow body; the barrier member engaging the first support member and the second support member to create a seal against water intrusion;   a first gap formed between at least the first support member and at least one open end to allow water to enter the hollow body during a flood; and   a second gap between the front wall of the first barrier member and the first barrier support member to allow water to enter the first gap.   
     
     
         14 . The flood barrier system of  claim 13 , comprising at least a second barrier member sealingly engaged with the first support member and the second support member, the second barrier member having a front wall and a rear wall spaced from the rigid front wall to form a hollow body having at least one open end; an upper engaging portion extending from the hollow body and a lower engaging portion extending from the hollow body; and a second gap formed between at least the first support member and at least one open end of the at least second barrier member to allow water to enter the hollow body of the at least second barrier member during a flood. 
     
     
         15 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first barrier support member and second barrier support member has a substantially C-shape. 
     
     
         16 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first barrier support member and the second barrier support member has a substantially H-shape. 
     
     
         17 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , further comprising fasteners for fastening the first barrier support member and second barrier support member to a wall. 
     
     
         18 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , further comprising a first gasket disposed within the channel of the first barrier support member and a second gasket disposed within the channel of the second barrier support member. 
     
     
         19 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , wherein at least the first barrier support member has a first wall and a second wall, and a bottom plate, a first gusset plate extending from an exterior surface of the first wall to the bottom plate and at least a second gusset plate extending from an exterior surface of the second wall to the bottom plate. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 14 , further comprising a third gap between at least one of the front wall and rear wall of the second barrier member and the first barrier support member. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , further comprising a compression member adjustably extending into the channel of the first barrier support member and moveable between a first position for compressing the barrier member against the first barrier support member and a second position for releasing the barrier member from the first barrier support member. 
     
     
         24 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , further comprising a compression member for compressing the barrier member in a direction along the channel of the first barrier support member. 
     
     
         25 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 24 , further comprising a second compression member for compressing the barrier member in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction in which the compression member compresses the first barrier member. 
     
     
         26 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 19 , further comprising an embedded plate and a gasket disposed between the embedded plate and the bottom plate; and a fastener for fastening the bottom plate to the embedded plate. 
     
     
         27 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , wherein the lower engaging portion includes a first finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second finger extending from the hollow body portion, each finger having a chamfered surface facing away from the hollow body portion. 
     
     
         28 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 27 , wherein the first finger and second finger form a receiving portion, and further comprising a gasket, the gasket extending along the upper body portion having a body and a waist, the body being received within the receiving portion, and the waist receiving the fingers therein. 
     
     
         29 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper engaging portion includes a first finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second finger extending from the hollow body portion and being in facing relationship with the first finger. 
     
     
         30 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 29 , wherein the first finger has a chamfered outer surface and the second finger has a chamfered outer surface. 
     
     
         31 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 30 , wherein the first finger and second finger define a receiving portion, and further comprising a gasket, the gasket being disposed in the receiving portion, and extending along the chamfered surface of the first finger and the chamfered surface of the second finger. 
     
     
         32 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 31 , wherein said gasket has a first chamfered surface substantially overlying the chamfered surface of the first finger and a second chamfered surface substantially overlying the chamfered surface of the second finger. 
     
     
         33 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 31 , comprising at least a second barrier member sealingly engaged with the first support member and the second support member, the second barrier member having a front wall and a rear wall spaced from the front wall to form a hollow body having at least one open end; an upper engaging portion extending from the hollow body and a lower engaging portion extending from the hollow body; and a second gap formed between at least the first support member and at least one open end of the at least second barrier member to allow water to enter the hollow body of the at least second barrier member during a flood, wherein the lower engaging portion of the second barrier member includes a first finger extending from the hollow body portion and a second finger extending from the hollow body portion, each finger having a chamfered surface facing away from the hollow body portion, each finger of the second barrier member engaging the gasket of the first barrier member. 
     
     
         34 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 33 , further comprising a third gap between at least one of the front wall and rear wall of the first barrier member and the first barrier support member. 
     
     
         35 . The flood water barrier system of  claim 34 , further comprising a second gap between at least one of the front wall and rear wall of the second barrier member and the first barrier support member.