Liquid containment system for use with load-supporting surfaces

A system for preventing the leakage of liquid from a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on the ground without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface, the load-supporting surface having at least two interconnected planar mats forming a perimeter thereof, each mat being constructed of impermeable plastic and including a plurality of locking pin holes each configured to accept a releasable locking pin therethrough, the perimeter of the load-supporting surface including at least four sides, at least first and second perimeter sides having an upper lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and spaced above the ground, and at least third and fourth perimeter sides having a lower lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and resting on the ground, the system comprising:

• a plurality of spacers, each said spacer being planar and constructed of impermeable plastic, each said spacer having a first section configured to be positioned on the ground below the upper lip of a portion of at least one among the first and second perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface and a second section extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, each said spacer including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one of said locking pin holes of each said spacer being configured to be aligned beneath a locking pin hole of an adjacent mat and accept a locking pin therethrough for releasably securing said spacer and the adjacent mat together;
• a plurality of berm members each having first and second ends, each said berm member being constructed of impermeable plastic and being positionable around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member including at least one horizontal base and at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said at least one horizontal base, each said berm member being configured so that each said horizontal base is positionable atop and releasably engageable with at least one among the second section of at least one said spacer and at least one lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface, each said horizontal base including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one said locking pin hole of each said horizontal base configured to be aligned over at least one of said plurality of locking pin holes of said spacer upon which said horizontal base rests or the lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides upon which said horizontal base rests and accept a locking pin therethrough, each said berm member on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface being configured to prevent the leakage of liquid from the load-supporting surface around its perimeter without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface,
• wherein each said berm member is configured to releasably sealingly engage adjacent said berm members on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member further including first and second vertically-extending end supports disposed at said first and second ends thereof, respectively, each said end support including a plurality of laterally-oriented holes formed therein;
• and
• at least one releasable fastener configured to extend through aligned said holes of said end supports of adjacent said berm members disposed on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface for releasably interconnecting said adjacent berm members, wherein said at least one releasable fastener includes at least one among bolts, zip ties, quick-twist connectors and hitch pins.

A system for preventing the leakage of liquid from a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on the ground without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface, the load-supporting surface having at least two interconnected planar mats forming a perimeter thereof, each mat being constructed of impermeable plastic and including a plurality of locking pin holes each configured to accept a releasable locking pin therethrough, the perimeter of the load-supporting surface including at least four sides, at least first and second perimeter sides having an upper lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and spaced above the ground, and at least third and fourth perimeter sides having a lower lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and resting on the ground, the system comprising:

• a plurality of spacers, each said spacer being planar and constructed of impermeable plastic, each said spacer having a first section configured to be positioned on the ground below the upper lip of a portion of at least one among the first and second perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface and a second section extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, each said spacer including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one of said locking pin holes of each said spacer being configured to be aligned beneath a locking pin hole of an adjacent mat and accept a locking pin therethrough for releasably securing said spacer and the adjacent mat together;
• a plurality of berm members each having first and second ends, each said berm member being constructed of impermeable plastic and being positionable around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member including at least one horizontal base and at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said at least one horizontal base, each said berm member being configured so that each said horizontal base is positionable atop and releasably engageable with at least one among the second section of at least one said spacer and at least one lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface, each said horizontal base including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one said locking pin hole of each said horizontal base configured to be aligned over at least one of said plurality of locking pin holes of said spacer upon which said horizontal base rests or the lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides upon which said horizontal base rests and accept a locking pin therethrough, each said berm member on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface being configured to prevent the leakage of liquid from the load-supporting surface around its perimeter without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface,
• wherein each said berm member is configured to releasably sealingly engage adjacent said berm members on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member further including first and second vertically-extending end supports disposed at said first and second ends thereof, respectively, each said end support including a plurality of laterally-oriented holes formed therein;
• and
• at least one releasable fastener configured to extend through aligned said holes of said end supports of adjacent said berm members disposed on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface for releasably interconnecting said adjacent berm members,
• wherein each said end support includes an outer face disposed on the outwardly facing side thereof and an inner face on the opposite side thereof, said outer face of said first end support of each said berm member including at least one protrusion extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and said outer face of said second end support of each said berm member including at least one recess formed therein, at least one said protrusion of said outer face of said first end support of one said berm member being matable with at least one said recess of said outer face of said second end support of an adjacent said berm members disposed on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface.

A system for preventing the leakage of liquid from a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on the ground without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface, the load-supporting surface having at least two interconnected planar mats forming a perimeter thereof, each mat being constructed of impermeable plastic and including a plurality of locking pin holes each configured to accept a releasable locking pin therethrough, the perimeter of the load-supporting surface including at least four sides, at least first and second perimeter sides having an upper lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and spaced above the ground, and at least third and fourth perimeter sides having a lower lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and resting on the ground, the system comprising:

• a plurality of spacers, each said spacer being planar and constructed of impermeable plastic, each said spacer having a first section configured to be positioned on the ground below the upper lip of a portion of at least one among the first and second perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface and a second section extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, each said spacer including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one of said locking pin holes of each said spacer being configured to be aligned beneath a locking pin hole of an adjacent mat and accept a locking pin therethrough for releasably securing said spacer and the adjacent mat together;
• a plurality of berm members each having first and second ends, each said berm member being constructed of impermeable plastic and being positionable around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member including at least one horizontal base and at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said at least one horizontal base, each said berm member being configured so that each said horizontal base is positionable atop and releasably engageable with at least one among the second section of at least one said spacer and at least one lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface, each said horizontal base including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one said locking pin hole of each said horizontal base configured to be aligned over at least one of said plurality of locking pin holes of said spacer upon which said horizontal base rests or the lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides upon which said horizontal base rests and accept a locking pin therethrough, each said berm member on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface being configured to prevent the leakage of liquid from the load-supporting surface around its perimeter without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface;
• and
• at least one elongated drain channel constructed of impermeable plastic and configured to extend across the length of the load-supporting surface, each said drain channel including at least one fluid passageway extending along the length thereof, said drain channel being configured to collect fluid introduced onto the load-supporting surface and direct the collected fluid off the load-supporting surface,
• wherein each said drain channel includes a plurality of feed paths extending at least partially across the width thereof and angled downwardly toward and in fluid communication with at least one said fluid passageway thereof, said feed paths configured to assist in allowing fluid on the load-supporting surface to drain into said at least one fluid passageway.

A system for preventing the leakage of liquid from a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on the ground without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface, the load-supporting surface having at least two interconnected planar mats forming a perimeter thereof, each mat being constructed of impermeable plastic and including a plurality of locking pin holes each configured to accept a releasable locking pin therethrough, the perimeter of the load-supporting surface including at least four sides, at least first and second perimeter sides having an upper lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and spaced above the ground, and at least third and fourth perimeter sides having a lower lip extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and resting on the ground, the system comprising:

• a plurality of spacers, each said spacer being planar and constructed of impermeable plastic, each said spacer having a first section configured to be positioned on the ground below the upper lip of a portion of at least one among the first and second perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface and a second section extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, each said spacer including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one of said locking pin holes of each said spacer being configured to be aligned beneath a locking pin hole of an adjacent mat and accept a locking pin therethrough for releasably securing said spacer and the adjacent mat together;
• a plurality of berm members each having first and second ends, each said berm member being constructed of impermeable plastic and being positionable around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member including at least one horizontal base and at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said at least one horizontal base, each said berm member being configured so that each said horizontal base is positionable atop and releasably engageable with at least one among the second section of at least one said spacer and at least one lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides of the load-supporting surface, each said horizontal base including a plurality of locking pin holes, at least one said locking pin hole of each said horizontal base configured to be aligned over at least one of said plurality of locking pin holes of said spacer upon which said horizontal base rests or the lower lip of the third or fourth perimeter sides upon which said horizontal base rests and accept a locking pin therethrough, each said berm member on the perimeter of the load-supporting surface being configured-to prevent the leakage of liquid from the load-supporting surface around its perimeter without the use of any liners beneath the load-supporting surface;
• at least one elongated drain channel constructed of impermeable plastic and configured to extend across the length of the load-supporting surface, each said drain channel including at least one fluid passageway extending along the length thereof, said drain channel being configured to collect fluid introduced onto the load-supporting surface and direct the collected fluid off the load-supporting surface;
• and
• at least one elongated load bearing cover configured to be disposed over at least one said fluid passageway of said at least one drain channel, said at least one cover being configured to cover said at least one passageway and bear the weight of structures, vehicles or other equipment on or moving across the load-supporting surface.

A modular system for containing and draining liquid introduced onto a reusable, load-supporting surface, the load-supporting surface including at least two planar mats forming a perimeter thereof, the perimeter having at least two sides and at least two corners, each mat being constructed of impermeable plastic, the modular system comprising:

• a plurality of releasably, sealingly interconnected berm members configured to releasably, sealingly engage the load-supporting surface around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface and extend upwardly relative thereto to prevent leakage of liquid from the load-supporting surface around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member being constructed of impermeable plastic and configured to sealingly engage the adjacent said berm members around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface;
• and
• at least one elongated drain channel constructed of impermeable plastic and configured to extend across the length of the load-supporting surface, each said drain channel including at least one fluid passageway extending along the length thereof, said at least one drain channel being configured to collect fluid introduced onto the load-supporting surface and direct the collected fluid off the load-supporting surface,
• wherein said plurality of berm members includes at least two elongated linear berm members and at least four corner berm members, said elongated linear berm members configured to be positioned along the respective sides of the perimeter of the load-supporting surface and each said corner berm member being configured to be positioned on one of corners of the perimeter of the load-supporting surface between two of said linear berm members,
• wherein the perimeter of the load-supporting surface is not formed in the shape of a single rectangle, wherein said corner berm members includes at least one inside corner berm member, said at least one inside corner berm member having a center portion and left and right elongated portions extending angularly backwardly from said center portion.

A modular system for containing and draining liquid introduced onto a reusable, load-supporting surface, the load-supporting surface including at least two planar mats forming a perimeter thereof, the perimeter having at least two sides and at least two corners, each mat being constructed of impermeable plastic, the modular system comprising:

• a plurality of releasably, sealingly interconnected berm members configured to releasably, sealingly engage the load-supporting surface around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface and extend upwardly relative thereto to prevent leakage of liquid from the load-supporting surface around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface, each said berm member being constructed of impermeable plastic and configured to sealingly engage the adjacent said berm members around the perimeter of the load-supporting surface;
• and
• at least one elongated drain channel constructed of impermeable plastic and configured to extend across the length of the load-supporting surface, each said drain channel including at least one fluid passageway extending along the length thereof, said at least one drain channel being configured to collect fluid introduced onto the load-supporting surface and direct the collected fluid off the load-supporting surface,
• wherein said at least one drain channel includes first and second ends disposed adjacent to opposing sides of the perimeter of the load-supporting surface and being offset relative thereto, said first end being disposed inward of the perimeter side of the load-supporting surface that is adjacent to said first end and said second end extending outward of the perimeter side of the load-supporting surface that is adjacent to said second end, further wherein a first said berm member includes an inwardly projecting protrusion engageable with said first end of said at least one drain channel and a second said berm member includes an outwardly projecting protrusion engageable with said second end of said at least one drain channel.