Expandable Waterproof Flood Protection Container with Buoyant Rim

Abstract

An expandable waterproof flood protection container. The flood protection container consists of flexible and waterproof sidewalls attached to a buoyant rim. The flood protection container is sized to accommodate boxes and consumer goods, which can be placed inside the flood protection container. If the storage area where the items in the flood protection container floods, the buoyant rim will rise with the rising water, which will draw up the waterproof sidewalls to protect the contents from the water.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A flood protection device comprising:
 a waterproof container having flexible sidewalls;   each of said flexible sidewalls having a top edge, wherein said top edges create an open top;   a buoyant rim attached to said top edges;   wherein the buoyant rim will rise if water rises around the waterproof container thereby drawing up said flexible sidewalls to protect contents of the waterproof container from the water.   
     
     
         2 . The flood protection device of  claim 1  wherein:
 said sidewalls are made of flexible material wherein when said waterproof container is set on a flat surface the buoyant rim is nearly placed upon the surface, thereby allowing easy access to the contains of the container. 
 
     
     
         3 . The flood protection device of  claim 2 , wherein said waterproof container is sized to protect boxes and small consumer electronic devices. 
     
     
         4 . The flood protection device of  claim 3 , wherein said sidewalls have a width of between two and three feet and a height of between four and five feet. 
     
     
         5 . The flood protection device of  claim 2  wherein said flexible material is high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The flood protection device of  claim 2  wherein said buoyant rim is made from a light, durable, and buoyant material. 
     
     
         7 . The flood protection device of  claim 6  wherein said buoyant rim is made from expanded polystyrene foam. 
     
     
         11 . A method of protecting consumer items from flooding, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a waterproof container having flexible sidewalls, wherein each of said flexible sidewalls having a top edge, wherein said top edges create an open top;   disposing a buoyant rim on said top edges;   placing said waterproof container on a flat surface;   setting items to be protected inside said waterproof container;   waiting for water to rise in area where said waterproof container is placed; wherein the buoyant rim will rise if water rises around the waterproof container thereby drawing up said flexible sidewalls to protect contents of the waterproof container from the water.