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US 5,511,902 AGranted
Instant levy block system
OwnerLeslie T. Centerinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerLeslie T. Centerinventor
Estimating the term…
An instant block levy system, for constructing a levy, comprising a plurality of blocks, a plurality of connecting pegs, and a plurality of stakes. The block has a top surface and bottom surface, upper shaftways extending vertically into the top surface, and lower shaftways extending vertically into the bottom surface. The block has a ballasting chamber, and a fill hole in fluid communication with the ballasting chamber. The blocks may be stacked, such that a lower shaftway from a top block is concentric with a upper shaftway from a bottom block, so that the upper and lower shaftways can be connected with the connecting peg. The block has stake shaftways, extending through the block from the top surface to the bottom surface, so that the stake may be inserted therethrough, to anchor the block to the ground.
An instant levy block system, for creating a levy, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Temporary dykes: with a filling, e.g. filled by water or sand
Retaining or protecting walls: made up of similar modular elements stacked without mortar
Hydraulic engineering
Foundations
Term ended 9 Feb 2014 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The invention relates to an instant levy block system. More particularly, the invention relates to a system of modular, reusable blocks, for creating a levy.
Severe flood conditions have occurred throughout the country in the recent era. Although flooding is expected by those living on coastal shorelines, flooding can also occur in unexpected locations. Flood damage can be as devastating as any other natural or man-made disaster.
Other attempts at preventing flood damage by creating a dam or levy involve apparatus that is complicated in manufacture and on-site assembly, is heavy and cumbersome, and does not provide adequate protection.
In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals throughout the several views. The drawings are briefly described below.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical single block of the instant invention.
FIG. 2 is a top elevational view, taken in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block 20, which is the basic unit of the levy system of the present invention, by which a plurality of blocks 20 are combined to form a levy. The block 20 is in the form of a rectangular prism, and has a top surface 22, a bottom surface 24, and four sides 25.
The top surface 22 has a fill hole 26, for receiving a fill plug 28, having a threaded fill shaft 30. The fill hole 26 has a file hole counterbore 29, so that the fill plug 28, when fully inserted into the fill hole 26, can rest below the top surface 22. Upper shaftways 32 extend vertically into the block 20 from the top surface 22. The upper shaftways 32 have substantially the same diameter, and extend substantially the same distance into the block 20.
Stake shaftways 34 extend vertically through the block 20 from the top surface 22 to the bottom surface 24. A stake 36, approximately the same diameter as the stake shaftway 34 can be used to anchor the block to the ground. The stake 36 may have an enlarged optional stake head 38. The stake 36 is further illustrated in FIG. 6. The stake has a sharp end 39, opposite the stake head 38.