Floatation Spar for an Oil Containment Boom

Abstract

A floatation spar for an oil containment boom having a vertically suspended oil containment curtain is provided. The floatation spar includes a buoyant body having an attachment surface and a retainer strip having a plurality of surface penetrating fasteners projecting from and spaced along an inwardly facing side of the retainer strip. The retainer strip is secured to the attachment surface with the containment curtain sandwiched between the retainer strip and the attachment surface by the fasteners penetrating through the attachment surface and into the body. The body is elongated and hollow at its lower end and includes apertures at the lower end into the interior thereof, the body is weighted at the lower end and includes a buoyant material at its upper end, wherein when the body is dropped onto a body of water, it will self-right and float in a generally vertical orientation.

1 . A spar for an oil containment boom having a containment curtain, the spar comprising:
 a vertically elongated and buoyant body, said body being extensible and having an upper body portion and a lower body portion movably connected to said upper body portion such that said lower body portion is movable relative to said upper body portion to extend and retract said body, said body having a flat attachment surface extending only along an exterior surface of said upper body portion;   said lower body portion is hollow and includes apertures into the interior thereof and said lower body portion being weighted so that when said body is dropped onto a body of water said lower body portion moves relative to said upper body portion so that said body will self-right and float in a generally vertical orientation;   a retainer strip having a plurality of surface penetrating fasteners projecting from and spaced along an inwardly facing side of said retainer strip;   said retainer strip being securable to said attachment surface with the containment curtain sandwiched between said retainer strip and said attachment surface by said fasteners penetrating through said attachment surface and into said upper body portion.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The spar of  claim 1 , wherein said lower body portion is slidingly connected to said upper body portion for reciprocating movement relative to said upper body portion between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         5 . The spar of  claim 1 , wherein said lower body portion is hingedly connected to said upper body portion for rotation towards and away from said upper body portion between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         6 . The spar of  claim 1 , wherein said lower body portion is telescopically received by said upper body portion for reciprocating movement relative to said upper body portion between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         7 . The spar of  claim 6 , wherein said lower body portion includes two or more telescopic members. 
     
     
         8 . A spar for an oil containment boom having a containment curtain, the spar comprising:
 a vertically elongated and buoyant body, said body being extensible and having an upper body portion and a lower body portion movably connected to said upper body portion such that said lower body portion is movable relative to said upper body portion to extend and retract said body, said body having a flat attachment surface extending only along an exterior surface of said upper body portion;   said lower body portion is hollow and includes apertures into the interior thereof and said lower body portion being weighted so that when said body is dropped onto a body of water said lower body portion moves relative to said upper body portion so that said body will self-right and float in a generally vertical orientation;   a plurality of rivets projecting outwardly from and spaced along said attachment surface;   a retainer strip having a plurality of through holes cooperative with said plurality of rivets; and   said retainer strip being securable to said attachment surface with the containment curtain sandwiched between said retainer strip and said attachment surface with a rivet extending through each through hole in said retainer strip, the ends of said rivets being deformable to prevent withdrawal of said retainer strip.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The spar of  claim 8 , wherein said lower body portion is slidingly connected to said upper body portion for reciprocating movement relative to said upper body portion between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         12 . The spar of  claim 8 , wherein said lower body portion is hingedly connected to said upper body portion for rotation towards and away from said upper body portion between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         13 . The spar of  claim 8 , wherein said lower body portion is telescopically received by said upper body portion for reciprocating movement relative to said upper body portion between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         14 . The spar of  claim 13 , wherein said lower body portion includes two or more telescopic members.