Flexible modular liquid dam having stiffener rods

Abstract

A modular liquid dam comprising a plurality of individual elongated members or segments that can be assembled in an end-to-end relationship to form a temporary liquid retainer or diverter on a substrate surface. The dam members are provided with one or more longitudinal bores or passages that reduce the amount of material in each member, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. The bore members are open on at least one end of the dam member such that a stiffener rod or rods of varying rigidity greater than the rigidity of the dam members may be inserted into the dam members to increase and vary the rigidity of the dam member as desired.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid impermeable modular dam comprised of a plurality of dam members positioned in an end-to-end manner, each said dam member formed of a compressible, resilient, non-rigid, polymeric elastomer material, each said dam member comprising a longitudinal bore and a stiffener rod disposed within said bore, each said dam member comprising ends, said bore being open on at least one said end, said stiffener rod being of greater rigidity than said dam member, such that the rigidity of said dam member is increased when said stiffener rod is positioned within said bore. 
     
     
         2 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , wherein said bore is open on both ends. 
     
     
         3 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of interchangeable stiffener rods each having differing degrees of rigidity, wherein each of said stiffener rods is of greater rigidity than said dam member, and whereby the rigidity of said dam member is increased a different amount depending upon which of said stiffener rods is disposed within said bore. 
     
     
         4 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , further comprising physical connection members adapted to connect said dam members to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , wherein said dam members are formed of an elastomer material chosen from the group of elastomer materials consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene and polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         6 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , wherein said ends of adjoining dam members are configured to mechanically interlock with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , wherein said ends of adjoining dam members are configured to friction-fit with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , wherein the external cross-sectional dimension of said stiffener rod matches or is slightly smaller than the internal cross-sectional dimension of said bore. 
     
     
         9 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said stiffener rod matches the cross-sectional configuration of said bore. 
     
     
         10 . The modular dam of  claim 3 , wherein the external cross-sectional dimension of each said stiffener rod matches or is slightly smaller than the internal cross-sectional dimension of said bore. 
     
     
         11 . The modular dam of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional configuration of each said stiffener rod matches the cross-sectional configuration of said bore. 
     
     
         12 . The modular dam of  claim 1 , each said dam member comprising a plurality of said bores and a plurality of said stiffener rods disposed within said bores. 
     
     
         13 . The modular dam of  claim 12 , wherein the external cross-sectional dimension of each said stiffener rod matches or is slightly smaller than the internal cross-sectional dimension of each said bore. 
     
     
         14 . The modular dam of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional configuration of each said stiffener rod matches the cross-sectional configuration of each said bore. 
     
     
         15 . The modular dam of  claim 3 , each said dam member comprising a plurality of said bores and a plurality of said stiffener rods disposed within said bores. 
     
     
         16 . The modular dam of  claim 15 , wherein the external cross-sectional dimension of each said stiffener rod matches or is slightly smaller than the internal cross-sectional dimension of each said bore. 
     
     
         17 . The modular dam of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-sectional configuration of each said stiffener rod matches the cross-sectional configuration of each said bore. 
     
     
         18 . A liquid impermeable modular dam comprised of a plurality of dam members positioned in an end-to-end manner, each said dam member formed of a compressible, resilient, non-rigid, polymeric elastomer material, each said dam member comprising a longitudinal bore and a stiffener rod disposed within said bore, each said dam member comprising ends, said bore being open on at least one said end, said stiffener rod being of greater rigidity than said dam member, such that the rigidity of said dam member is increased when said stiffener rod is positioned within said bore, wherein the external cross-sectional dimension of said stiffener rod matches or is slightly smaller than the internal cross-sectional dimension of said bore and wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said stiffener rod matches the cross-sectional configuration of said bore, such that said stiffener rod is tightly retained within said bore. 
     
     
         19 . The modular dam of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of interchangeable stiffener rods each having differing degrees of rigidity, wherein each of said stiffener rods is of greater rigidity than said dam member, and whereby the rigidity of said dam member is increased a different amount depending upon which of said stiffener rods is disposed within said bore. 
     
     
         20 . The modular dam of  claim 18 , each said dam member comprising a plurality of said bores and a plurality of said stiffener rods disposed within said bores, each of said stiffener rods being of greater rigidity than said dam member.