Fillable barrier bag

Abstract

Apparatus and methods relating to a barrier bag are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the barrier bag is configured for installation in a doorway and includes a receiving cell for receiving a second barrier bag. The barrier bag may include removable attachment portions for attaching it to one or more additional barrier bags.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fillable barrier bag, comprising:
 a barrier bag at least partially defining a bottom and sides of an internal space and capable of receiving a flowable fill material in said internal space, said barrier bag having a receiving cell;   said barrier bag having a first end oppositely disposed a second end and extending in a longitudinal direction from said first end to said second end;   said receiving cell extending from said second end of said barrier bag, said receiving cell is substantially open-ended and configured to accept said first end; and   said receiving cell having at least one first mating portion, and at least one of said receiving cell and said barrier bag having at least one second mating portion, wherein said at least one first mating portion is configured to removably attach to said at least one second mating portion thereby allowing removable attachment of said barrier bag to another said barrier bag.   
     
     
         2 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 1  wherein said bottom and sides of said internal space are substantially defined by a bottom panel, a first side panel and a second side panel, and a first end panel and a second end panel of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         3 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 2  further comprising a lid attached to said second side panel, said lid removably attachable to said first side panel, wherein said lid substantially encloses a top of said internal space when said lid is removably attached to said first side panel. 
     
     
         4 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 2  wherein said receiving cell further includes a first side extension panel attached to and extending longitudinally outwardly from said second end of said barrier bag at a location adjacent said first side panel, a second side extension panel attached to and extending longitudinally outwardly from said second end of said bag at a location adjacent said second side panel, and a bottom extension panel attached to and extending longitudinally outwardly from said bottom panel of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         5 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 4  wherein said bottom extension panel is attached to said first side extension panel and to said second side extension panel, said receiving cell is substantially open-ended at one end and at a top of said receiving cell. 
     
     
         6 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 4  wherein said first end has a first cross-sectional shape substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction from said first end to said second end, and said receiving cell has a second cross-sectional shape substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, said first cross-sectional shape and said second cross-sectional shape is substantially the same. 
     
     
         7 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 1  wherein said internal space is interrupted by at least one baffle to form one or more loading cells. 
     
     
         8 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 1  further comprising a lid extending from said barrier bag, wherein said lid has at least one lid end attachment portion removably attachable to an end lid attachment portion located on at least one of said first end and said second end of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         9 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 1  further comprising a lid extending from said barrier bag, wherein said lid has at least one lid side attachment portion removably attachable to a side lid attachment portion located on a side of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         10 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 1  further comprising at least one handle attached to at least one of said first end and said second end of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         11 . A fillable barrier bag, comprising:
 a barrier bag having a bottom panel, a plurality of side panels, and a plurality of end panels collectively defining an open-top internal space capable of receiving flowable fill material, said barrier bag attached to a receiving cell;   said plurality of end panels including a first end panel oppositely disposed from a second end panel, said barrier bag extending in a longitudinal direction from said first end panel to said second end panel;   said plurality of side panels include a first side panel and an opposing second side panel, wherein said first side panel extends between said first end panel, said second end panel, and said bottom panel, and wherein said second side panel extends between said first end panel, said second end panel, and said bottom panel;   said receiving cell extending from said second end panel of said barrier bag, said receiving cell is substantially open-ended and configured to accept said first end panel and to accept a portion of said first side panel adjacent said first end panel and a portion of said second side panel adjacent said first end panel; and   said receiving cell having a first side extension panel attached to and extending longitudinally outwardly from said first end panel of said bag and a second side extension panel attached to and extending longitudinally outwardly from said second end panel of said bag;   at least one extension strap attached to at least one of said first side extension panel and said second side extension panel, said at least one extension strap having at least one first attachment portion extending longitudinally beyond said at least one of said first side extension panel and said second side extension panel; and   at least one second attachment portion removably attachable to said at least one first attachment portion, said at least one second attachment portion located on at least one of said barrier bag and said receiving cell, thereby allowing removable attachment of said barrier bag to another said barrier bag.   
     
     
         12 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 11  wherein said receiving cell further comprising a bottom extension panel attached to and extending longitudinally outwardly from said bottom panel of said barrier bag, said bottom extension panel attached to said first side extension panel and to said second side extension panel. 
     
     
         13 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 11  further comprising a lid attached to said second side panel, said lid removably attachable to said first side panel, wherein said lid encloses the top of said open-top internal space. 
     
     
         14 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 13  wherein said lid has at least one lid end attachment portion removably attachable to an end lid attachment portion located on at least one of said first end panel and said second end panel of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         15 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 13  wherein said lid has at least one lid side attachment portion removably attachable to a side lid attachment portion located on at least one of said plurality of side panels of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         16 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 13  wherein said open-top internal space is interrupted by at least one baffle extending transverse to said longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         17 . The fillable barrier bag of  claim 11  further comprising at least one handle attached to at least one of said first end panel and said second end panel of said barrier bag. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a barrier using a plurality of barrier bags, comprising the steps of:
 depositing a flowable fill material into a first barrier bag and a second barrier bag, wherein each of said first barrier bag and said second barrier bag have a base and a lid, a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, and a receiving cell adjacent said second end and extending longitudinally outwardly away from said second end;   inserting said first end of said first barrier bag at least partially into said receiving cell of said second barrier bag; and   removably attaching said first barrier bag to said second barrier bag with said first end of said first barrier bag at least partially inserted into said receiving cell of said second barrier bag.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of closing said first barrier bag by removably attaching said lid of said first barrier bag to at least one of said first end, said second end, and a side between said first end and said second end, each of said first barrier bag. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of closing said second barrier bag by removably attaching said lid of said second barrier bag to at least one of said first end, said second end, and a side between said first end and said second end, each of said second barrier bag. 
     
     
         21 . A barrier bag, comprising:
 at least one loading cell, wherein said at least one loading cell includes a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels creating an open-top internal space capable of receiving flowable fill material;   a first end panel and a second end panel at opposing longitudinal ends of said barrier bag; and   a substantially open-ended receiving cell at said second end panel of the barrier bag configured to removably attach to the first end panel of an additional barrier bag.   
     
     
         22 . The barrier bag of  claim 21 , wherein said open-top internal space may contain partitions separating individual loading cells. 
     
     
         23 . The barrier bag of  claim 21 , wherein said open-top internal space of one said at least one loading cell is substantially defined by a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first end panel, and a second end panel. 
     
     
         24 . The barrier bag of  claim 21 , wherein said receiving cell includes at least one of a bottom extension panel, a first side extension panel, and a second side extension panel extending longitudinally outwardly from said second end panel. 
     
     
         25 . The barrier bag of  claim 24 , wherein said receiving cell includes one or more extension straps extending longitudinally beyond a terminal end of said receiving cell configured to removably attach to respective attachment portions of another barrier bag. 
     
     
         26 . The barrier bag of  claim 21 , wherein said barrier bag further comprises a lid for enclosure of said open-top internal space. 
     
     
         27 . The barrier bag of  claim 26 , wherein said lid is removably attached to at least one of said first side panel and said second side panel. 
     
     
         28 . The barrier bag of  claim 26 , wherein said lid is removably attached to at least one of said first end panel and said second end panel. 
     
     
         29 . The barrier bag of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of said first end panel, said second end panel, said first side panel, and said second side panel includes one or more handles. 
     
     
         30 . The barrier bag of  claim 21 , wherein the said barrier bag is reusable. 
     
     
         31 . A process for creation of a barrier comprising a plurality of barrier bags further comprising the steps of:
 depositing flowable fill material into the internal space of one or more loading cells of each barrier bag, wherein each said barrier bag includes a first end panel opposite a receiving cell, wherein said receiving cell includes an opening defined by one or more extension panels;   at least partially inserting said first end panel of a first said barrier bag into said receiving cell of a second said barrier bag, wherein said first barrier bag extends longitudinally outwardly from said opening of said receiving cell of said second barrier bag; and   removably attaching said first barrier bag and said second barrier bag together by attaching one or more first attachments of said first barrier bag to one or more second attachments of at least one of said one or more extension panels of said second barrier bag receiving cell.