Flood control devices and methods

Abstract

Flood control apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, a flood control apparatus includes a structural frame. The structural frame has an elongated length in a longitudinal direction. The structural frame includes a plurality of transverse support structures, that are generally aligned in the transverse direction, and that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. The structural frame includes one or more longitudinal coupling structures that couple the plurality of transverse support structures together. One or more sheets of material are coupled to the structural frame. When in use, earth may be used to substantially fill an inner region of the apparatus that is enclosed by the one or more sheets of material coupled to the structural frame.

1 . A flood control apparatus comprising:
 a structural frame,   the structural frame being longitudinally elongated;   the structural frame including a plurality of generally triangular shaped transverse support structures,   the structural frame including a coupling structures that are generally aligned in the longitudinal direction and that couple the plurality of transverse support structures together;   one or more sheets of material coupled to the structural frame and wrapping around the frame to form a matrix of interconnected cellular material traps;   an inner region of the apparatus that is enclosed by the one or more sheets of material coupled to the structural frame to receive earth therein.   
     
     
         2 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of generally triangular shaped transverse support structures comprise a plurality of A-frames. 
     
     
         3 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the A-frames has two legs that are coupled at the top and diverge downward at an angle relative to one another, and a crossmember coupling bottom portions of the legs with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a brace coupling crossmembers of a plurality of the A-frames. 
     
     
         5 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein male and female members of the brace and the crossmembers are coupled together. 
     
     
         6 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the brace is capable of being coupled and decoupled from the crossmembers. 
     
     
         7 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated length is at least 100 feet. 
     
     
         8 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a width of the apparatus in a transverse direction ranges from 2 to 10 feet, and wherein a height of the apparatus ranges from 1 to 6 feet. 
     
     
         9 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a ratio of the width to the height ranges from 1.5 to 3.5. 
     
     
         10 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sheets of material coupled to the structural frame comprise a trench portion at a bottom of the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the generally triangular shaped transverse support structures comprises a connector at a corner thereof, the connector to connect the generally triangular shaped transverse support structure to another generally triangular shaped transverse support structure. 
     
     
         12 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second structural frame stacked over the structural frame. 
     
     
         13 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid panel coupled along a length of a side of the apparatus, the rigid panel coupled to adjacent transverse support structures. 
     
     
         14 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sheets comprise a sheet of a material selected from woven polypropylene, woven plastic, polypropylene, un-woven flexible plastic, burlap, duck cloth, duck canvas, canvas, cotton duck, woven cotton fabric, linen duck, jupe, fabric, cloth, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sheets comprise a sheet of a material coupled to a generally triangular shaped transverse support structure through at least one of a hook-and-loop fastener, a rivot, a screw, a bolt, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the generally triangular shaped transverse support structures and the one or more longitudinal coupling structures are coupled together as a sawhorse. 
     
     
         17 . A flood control apparatus comprising:
 a structural frame being elongated at least 100 feet, the structural frame including:   a plurality of transverse support structures, the transverse support structures generally aligned in a transverse direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction; and   one or more longitudinal coupling structures that couple the plurality of transverse support structures together;   one or more sheets of material coupled around the structural frame and wrapping around the frame to form a matrix of interconnected cellular material traps;   an inner region of the apparatus that is enclosed by the one or more sheets of material coupled to the structural frame, the inner region to receive earth therein.   
     
     
         18 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a second structural frame stacked over the structural frame. 
     
     
         19 . The flood control apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising earth at least substantially filling the inner region. 
     
     
         20 . A flood control kit comprising:
 an unassembled structural frame, the unassembled structural frame including:   a plurality of support structures, each of the support structures having a width that ranges from 2 to 10 feet and a height that ranges from 1 to 6 feet; and   one or more coupling structures operable to couple the plurality of support structures together;   one or more sheets of material capable of being coupled around the structural frame and wrapping around the frame to form a matrix of interconnected cellular material traps;   instructions to assemble the structural frame, the instructions including:   instructions to couple the plurality of support structures together using the one or more coupling structures, in which the assembled structural frame is elongated at least 100 feet, and in which the support structures are to be generally aligned in a transverse direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction, and in which the transverse support structures are to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction; and   instructions to couple the one or more sheets of material around the structural frame.   
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled)