Maintaining water barrier above rising water
OwnerVictor Paul Farmerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arrangement for causing a water impermeable barrier conventionally lain on a ground surface to float above rising water or flooding, rather than being entrapped above the barrier, is shown and described. This invention applies particularly to ground coverings in building crawl spaces. In an embodiment, one or more floats are placed below the water impermeable barrier and above the ground. When flood waters recede, the float(s) and the water impermeable barrier return to their preflood locations above the ground surface. Floats may comprise blocks, sheets, strips, and other configurations of closed cell polymeric foam, for example. The float or floats may be coupled to the water impermeable barrier or alternatively, may be left decoupled therefrom.
Claims16
A method of preparing a crawl space of a building for occupancy and use of the building in locations susceptible to flooding, the method comprising the steps of:
- covering an upper ground surface of the crawl space with a water impermeable barrier of density less than a density of flood water;
- and
- causing the water impermeable barrier to remain above the flood water when the flood water is in the crawl space by locating a plurality of floats between the upper ground surface and the water impermeable barrier, whereby the barrier will be induced to float when the flood water covers the upper ground surface.
A building having a crawl space above an upper ground surface of the crawl space, wherein the crawl space is prepared for occupancy and use of the building in a location susceptible to flooding of the crawl space, the building comprising:
- a foundation supported in natural ground and surrounding an upper ground surface of the crawl space, the foundation including at least one opening enabling fluid communication between the crawl space and an exterior of the foundation;
- a building above the crawl space and supported on the foundation;
- a water impermeable barrier of density less than a density of flood water, the water impermeable barrier located between the building and the upper ground surface;
- and
- means for maintaining the water impermeable barrier above flood water when the flood water is in the crawl space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.