US 6,960,047 B2Granted

Protection barrier apparatus

AssigneeInnovative Technology Application, Inc.

InventorsErick B. Knezek, Matthew A. Marcy, Robert C. Truston

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Abstract

A protection apparatus protects a harbor or an area in a body of water or adjacent to a body of water. The protection apparatus floats on the body of water, and includes a plurality of barrier units positioned side-by-side, each of the barrier units includes a composite-based durable barrier structure. The barrier structure is configured to hold a net in place in order to protect an area in the body of water or abutting the body of water from waterborne craft. The protection apparatus also includes connectors respectively provided between adjacently-positioned ones of the barrier units. Each of the connectors includes a tensile member and a dampening member for handling forces applied to the protection barrier and for maintaining the integrity of the protection barrier.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A protection apparatus that is configured to float on a body of water, comprising:

a composite-based durable barrier structure, the barrier structure configured to hold a net in place, wherein the protection apparatus protects an area in the body of water or abutting the body of water from waterborne craft;
and
at least three pontoons, wherein a first pontoon is coupled to a portion of the barrier structure adjacent to a first end of the barrier structure, wherein a second pontoon is coupled to a portion of the barrier structure adjacent to a second end of the barrier structure, and wherein a third pontoon is coupled to a portion of the barrier structure between the first and second ends of the barrier structure, and
wherein the barrier structure comprises:
a beam that is coupled to the first, second and third pontoons, and that extends longitudinally along a direction of the net;
and
a plurality of net holding members that extend upward from the beam;
a first brace that extends from the third pontoon to a position on the beam that is between the first pontoon and the third pontoon;
and
a second brace that extends from the third pontoon to a position on the beam that is between the second pontoon and the third pontoon.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/621,655Filed 18 Jul 2003 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 Aug 2002
Published: US 2004/0018060 A129 Jan 2004
Granted: 1 Nov 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F41H 11/05
Defence installations; Defence devices: net barriers for harbour defence
B63B 5/24
Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material: made predominantly of plastics
B63B 35/34
Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for: pontoons
B63B 2005/245
Made of a composite of plastics and other structural materials, e.g. wood or metal: made of a composite of plastics and metal