GB2394499A

GB2394499A - Air brick flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2394499A
Application number: GB0224617A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Hobson
Original assignee: HOBEL DEFENDER Ltd
Current assignee: HOBEL DEFENDER Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-22
Filing date: 2002-10-22
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-22
Also published as: GB2394499B; GB0224617D0

Abstract

An air brick flood barrier has a cover 1 with at least one finger 5 on its rear face which is inserted in an appropriate aperture of the air brick. The fingers are preferably tapered and arranged in a rectangular array and may be rectangular in cross-section. The fingers and cover are preferably integral and may be formed from a single molding.

Description

AIR BRICK SEALER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to flood protection devices, and in particular to devices for preventing flood water from entering buildings via air bricks.

Background to the Invention

Air bricks are well known building components and are typically incorporated in brick and block outer skins of houses and other structures, to provide ventilation, especially to cavi-

ties in cavity walls. The air bricks are usually positioned low down, for example to venti-

late the under-floor area. As a result, they are vulnerable to flood water.

A typical air brick is shown, highly schematically, incorporated in a brick wall in Fig 1. The air brick 100 is cemented, surrounded bricks 111, by means of mortar 110. The air brick 100 has front face 109, and comprises a regular array of apertures 101. The aper-

tures provide ventilation passages through the brick and have mouths 102 at the front face 109. The air passages typically widen out slightly at their mouths, such that the walls of the passages present a tapering surface 103.

The figure shows an air brick comprising two rows of generally square apertures, but there are other forms of air brick available. For example, there are air bricks having a single row of rectangular apertures, more than two rows of apertures, and louvred air bricks in which the air passages are inclined with respect to the front face and have rec-

tangular mouths at the front face.

If there is a risk of flood water reaching a wall in which an air brick is incorporated, it is desirable to be able to seal the air brick so that water cannot flow through its air passages.

- 2 One attempted solution has been to permanently install a frame to a wall, around the air brick, the frame being sealed to the wall with mastic, and then to attach a removable cover to the frame when there is a risk of flooding. The cover and frame assembly incor-

porates a water-tight seal.

Although this approach has had some success, there are a number of problems associated with it. For example, the initial fitting of the frame is labour intensive and requires skill.

The seal between the frame and wall is critical, and it is difficult to form a reliable seal when the wall surface is particularly rough. Also, the permanently installed frame detracts from the otherwise neat appearance of the wall, and the cover must be stored when not required. Furthermore, the sealing surface of the frame is exposed to the elements and may deteriorate with time. This deterioration may reduce the effectiveness of the seal between the frame and cover.

Thus, there remains the need for an air brick sealing device, for use in times of flood risk, which can overcome, at least partially, one or more of the problems associated with the known devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use in preventing flood water from entering an air brick, the air brick being of the type having a front face and at least one aperture having a mouth at the front face to provide air flow through the brick, the device comprising: a cover having a front face, for exposure to flood water, and a rear face, for facing the front face of an air brick; and at least one finger attached to and extending from said rear face, whereby the finger may be inserted in an appropriately di-

mensioned said aperture in the front face of an air brick to locate the device with respect to the air brick with the rear face facing the front face of the airbrick.

- 3 The cover is thus for covering the air brick's front face. The size and shape of the cover may be selected according to the size and shape of the air brick to be protected. The cover should at least have sufficient extent to cover all of the apertures in the front face, and preferably covers the entire front face, such that a seal may be made to the periph-

eral surface of the front face. This perimetric/peripheral surface is typically substantially flat, and enables a good peripheral seal to be achieved. In alternative embodiments, the cover may have even greater extent, so that it covers, in use, the air brick and part of the surrounding wall surface. In such embodiments, the seal to protect the apertures from water ingress can be made between the rear face and the wall, and/or the perimeter of the air brick front face.

The seal may be made, for example, by applying a bead of sealant material to the rear face, to form a gasket, before inserting the finger or fingers into the air brick.

Advantageously, the rear face may be flat, to facilitate sealing.

Advantageously, it may comprise a groove or guide line to indicate where the bead of sealant should be applied, for example as a continuous bead around the periphery of the rear face, or at some other position to form a peripheral seal around the finger or array of fingers.

The incorporation of at least one finger enables the device to be located with respect to the air brick quickly, and without the need for separate fixings or other attachment means. The device can also be used, with appropriate sealing means (applied to, or at-

tached to the rear face) to form a water tight seal to an air brick without the need for any unsightly, permanent fixture to be made to the brick or surrounding wall. Also, when in use, so long as the sealing means provides a substantially water tight seal between the rear face of the cover and the front face of the air brick, the pressure of any flood water will maintain the device in place; it will exert a force on the front face of the cover, urging it towards the wall and so urging the finger into the air brick aperture.

- 4 It will be apparent that the device may be used in conjunction with sealing means in the form of gun-applied curable sealant, to form a watertight seal around the periphery of the apertures in an air brick.

Alternatively, the device may itself incorporate sealing means suitable for sealing to the front face of an air brick, or to a surrounding wall. It is preferable for the seal to be made to the perimeter of the air brick front face, which is typically smooth.

Advantageously, the sealing means is arranged to form the water tight seal with a peri-

metric portion of the front surface of the air brick, that perimetric portion enclosing the mouth or mouths of the air brick apertures. Many of the known, standard air bricks have a perimetric portion which is substantially flat, and embodiments of the invention exploit the fact that this flat perimeter surface is one against which a reliable water- tight seal can be made. Thus, in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the sealing means is arranged to form a seal against the air brick itself, rather than trying to seal to a relatively rough surface of the surrounding wall.

Preferably, the finger is tapered. If appropriately dimensioned, it can thus be wedged into an aperture of the air brick to locate the device more securely in place.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are intended for use with air bricks of the type having a plurality of apertures, and comprise a plurality of fingers. Conveniently, the fingers may be arranged and spaced apart so that each one can be inserted in a re-

spective one of the apertures of the air brick.

Advantageously, the device may be intended for use with an air brick comprising n aper-

tures where n is an integer, the device comprising n fingers, each of which may be ta-

pered. Thus, the device can have a finger to plug each and every aperture of the air brick.

- 5 This, in effect, provides secondary sealing, in addition to the primary seal provided by the sealing means between the rear face of the cover and the front face of the air brick.

By having a location finger for each and every one of the apertures in the air brick, the device provides the advantage that all apertures are kept clear of debris and blockage even if partial penetration of the primary seal occurs. Thus, when the device is removed from the air brick, when the flood risk has subsided, all air passages are clear and the air brick can immediately function effectively.

Standard air bricks are known having 8, 12, 18 and 36 apertures (i.e. air holes) and so n may conveniently be 8,12, 18 or 36. Other values are possible.

Preferably, a device embodying the invention may comprise a plurality of fingers arranged in an array. This array may be rectangular.

Preferably, the array comprises two rows of n fingers each, where n is an integer.

Preferably, the device comprises at least four fingers, each one arranged at a respective corner of a rectangular array. These four fingers may be the only fingers, or alternatively there may be other fingers in the pattern. Conveniently, the four fingers may be ar-

ranged to be inserted in the extreme corner apertures of the air brick and so provide se-

cure and stable location of the device in place.

For embodiments having a plurality of fingers, it is preferable that at least some of those fingers are tapered, narrowing away from the rear face of the cover. Tapering fingers can provide a better fit in the apertures, and if suitably dimensioned can enable the fingers to be wedged in place, thus providing at least partial sealing of the separate apertures.

In embodiments of the invention intended for use with non-louvred air bricks, the or each finger preferably extends generally perpendicularly to the rear face, which may be sub

- 6 stantially flat. In alternative embodiments, the or some of the fingers may extend from the rear face at an angle other than 90.

The, or each finger may be generally rectangular in cross section, and may be square.

The, or each finger may be substantially rigid.

Conveniently, the cover may comprise a plate. Preferably, the cover and finger or fingers are integral, and may, for example, be formed from a single moulding.

A particularly good material for the cover and fingers is plastic, and conveniently the cover and fingers may be a one-piece plastic moulding. In alternative embodiments, other materials may, of course, be used.

The cover may be substantially rigid, and preferably the rear face is substantially flat.

In alternative embodiments, however, the cover and/or the fingers may be formed from flexible material which can be deformed to enable a better seal to be made, especially to an irregular surface.

Preferably the sealing means comprises gasket means, attached to the rear face. If the gasket is suitably dimensioned for use with a particular style of air brick, it can provide a water tight seal selectively to the substantially flat, perimetric portion of the front face of the air brick, outside the area occupied by the mouths of the air passages.

The gasket means may comprise a frame of sealing material, rather than a continuous sheet. This provides the advantage that for a given flood water pressure, which exerts a force on the front face of the cover, the pressure experienced by the gasket material is greater than would be the case if the gasket material was in the form of a continuous sheet. In other words, by arranging the gasket material around just the perimeter of a

surface of the rear face, for a given force on the device the pressure exerted on the gas-

ket material is increased, causing it to deform to a greater extent and provide a better seal. Under greater pressure, the gasket material can give an improved seal to a surface which is not perfectly smooth.

The same advantage is achieved with embodiments where the seal is formed by gun-

applying a bead of sealant to the rear face, in a continuous line or track around the out-

side of the array of fingers.

Preferably the gasket means comprises rubber, which may, for example, be butyl. Suit-

able materials for gun-application of sealant gaskets include silicone rubbers. Others may be used.

Preferably the gasket means has an adhesive coating such that it can stick to a surface against which the gasket means is pressed. This coating may thus enable the device to be pushed in place on an air brick, with the finger or fingers inserted in the air passages and the adhesive may stick the gasket to a relatively flat portion of the front face of the air brick. Preferably, the bond should be as strong as possible, but in use, if the flood water rises up the wall, past the air brick, the pressure exerted by the flood water helps keep the device in place.

Alternatively, the gasket means may be provided in an uncured state, so that it can cure/harden in situ when the device has been applied to an air brick.

Preferably the device further comprises a peel-off cover covering the adhesive coating on the gasket means. In times of flood risk, the adhesive cover can simply be removed and the device stuck in place.

Preferably the gasket means is generally rectangular.

Advantageously, the gasket means may comprise a generally rectangular frame, defining a central window, the or each finger being located inside the window, i.e. the points of at-

tachment between the fingers and the rear face are located inside the rectangular frame gasket. The gasket means may comprise a bead of suitable sealing material, such as rubber for example. This bead may be semi-circular in cross-section. Alternatively, the gasket means may be formed from a plurality of strips of sealing material. Preferably, these strips have flat faces, so that rather than presenting a rounded surface to the air brick, the gasket means presents a flat surface for better sealing with the flat perimeter rim of the air brick.

Although the gasket means may be fabricated from a number of pieces, it is preferable for the gasket means to be continuous, comprising no joints. A convenient way of producing such a gasket is to cut it from a continuous sheet of sealing material, such as butyl rubber.

Alternatively, it can be applied as a continous bead or layer, for example using a mastic gun. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a flood prevention kit comprising a device of the type described above, together with a container of sealant ma-

terial for applying a bead of sealant material to the rear face of the device before its finger or fingers are inserted into the apertures of an air brick.

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a device for sealing an air brick against flood water, the air brick being of the type having a front face and at least one aperture, providing air flow through the brick and having a mouth at the front face, the device comprising: a cover for covering a front face of the air brick, the cover having a front face, for exposure to flood water, and a rear face, for facing the air brick; at least one finger attached to and extending from said rear face, for insertion in an aperture of the air brick to locate the device relative to the air brick; and sealing means

for forming a substantially watertight seal between said rear face and the front face of the air brick.

The incorporation of at least one finger enables the device to be located with respect to the air brick quickly, and without the need for separate fixings or other attachment means. The device can also form a water tight seal to the air brick without the need for any unsightly, permanent fixture to be made to the brick or surrounding wall. Also, when in use, so long as the sealing means provides a substantially water tight seal between the rear face of the cover and the front face of the air brick, the pressure of any flood water will maintain the device in place; it will exert a force on the front face of the cover, urging it towards the wall and so urging the finger into the air brick aperture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, of which: Fig 1 is a schematic representation of an air brick cemented in place in a brick wall; Fig 2 is a view of the rear of a device embodying the invention; Fig 3 is a side view of the device shown in Fig 2; Fig 4 is a plan view of the rear face of the device of Fig 2; Fig 5 is a plan view of the front face of the device shown in Fig 2; Fig 6 is an end view of the device shown in Fig 2;

- 1 0 Fig 7 is a view of the rear of a further embodiment; Fig 8 is a view of the rear of yet another embodiment; and Fig 9 is a schematic cross section of a further embodiment, in use.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring firstly to Fig 1, the front faces of many standard air bricks comprise a relatively flat perimetric portion 105 at or towards the edge of the front face. The perimetric por-

tion 105 encloses, i.e. surrounds, the mouths of the air holes 101. Certain preferred em-

bodiments of the invention exploit the presence of this flat portion 105, between the broken lines A and B in the figure, to form a water tight seal. Certain embodiments in-

corporate a sheet, frame, ring or other gasket of sealing material which is arranged to be pressed against the flat portion 105 of the front face 109.

Moving on to Fig 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention is sealing device 1 which has a cover 2 in the form of a plate. This plate has a front face and a rear face 4. An array of 18 fingers 5 extends outwardly from the rear face 4 of the cover 2. Each finger 5 is at-

tached to the rear face 4 and extends generally perpendicularly from it. Each finger is generally rectangular in cross-section, and is tapered, such that its slightly rounded end face 59 is smaller in area than its rectangular base 52. In this embodiment the central 14 fingers 53 are all of substantially the same size, whilst the 4 fingers 54 at the corners of the array are slightly smaller.

The device further comprises sealing means 6 in the form of a gasket 61 constructed from two short lengths 612 and two long lengths 611 of rubber bead. Thus, the gasket 61 forms a rectangular frame around the array of fingers, the points of attachment between the fingers and rear face 4 being positioned in the window 613 defined by the frame.

This gasket 61 is not perfectly continuous, there being joints between bead sections at the corners of the frame. These joints are glued to improve the performance of the gasket.

- 1 1 The device shown in Fig 2 is intended to seal an air brick having 18 air passages, arranged in an array corresponding to the regular array of fingers 5 of the device. The gasket 61 is coated with an adhesive. In use, the device is positioned next to the air brick and the fin-

gers 5 are pushed into the air vents, one finger to each vent, bringing the adhesive coated gasket 61 into contact with the relatively flat, edge portion of the front face of the air brick. The device is held in place at least partially by the bond between the gasket 61 and the front face of the air brick. The wedging of the tapered fingers 5 in the respective holes may also assist in holding the device in place. It will be appreciated that no further fixings, or attachments means are required. The device is therefore very quick and easy to fit.

Figs 3, 4, 5 and 6 show other views of the device from Fig 2. In Fig 3, which is a side view of the device, a peel-off paper cover 62 has been placed over the adhesive coated surface of the rubber sealing member 61. This cover is simply removed just before the device is inserted in place on the air brick. The profiles of the tapered fingers, with rounded ends, can also be seen. Fig 4 shows a plan view of the rear of the device, but the array of fin-

gers 5 has been omitted. As can be seen, the rubber sealing means is in the form of a rec-

tangular frame which is positioned towards the edges of the rectangular rear face 4 of the device. This rubber seal is thus in the form of a gasket 61 having a central aperture, i.e. a window 613. In use, the seal formed between the rear face of the device and the air brick is thus only around the perimeter of the air brick apertures; the gasket makes no seals between adjacent apertures.

Fig 5 shows that the front face of this first embodiment is simply a plain rectangle, but it will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the front face may have a different overall shape and may indeed be contoured.

Fig 6 is an end view, and shows two of the corner fingers 54 at the ends of the adjacent rows.

- 1 2 In the embodiment shown in Figs 2-6 the cover 2 and fingers 5 are integral parts of a sin-

gle, substantially rigid, plastic moulding.

Moving on to Fig 7, in a second embodiment the device 1 has a single tapered finger 55 extending outwards from a flat rear face 4 of a plate forming the cover 2. The finger 5 has a rectangular top face 55, rectangular side faces 56 which are inclined with respect to each other, and trapezium-shaped vertical end faces 57. The base of the finger 5 is at-

tached to the flat rear face 4 of the cover 2, inside the central aperture, i.e. window, of a continuous rectangular gasket 61. This gasket is formed from a rubber sheet, out of which a central rectangle has been cut to form the window 613. The gasket has a flat up-

per face 69 for presenting to the front face of an air brick, and substantially flat side faces 67. The flat, rectangular gasket is dimensioned so as to seal to the flat perimeter portion of the front face of an air brick.

Moving on to Fig 8, in this final embodiment, the device 1 has a cover 2 which has a curved front face 3 and a generally flat rear face 4. A rectangular array of four location fingers 5 is attached to the rear face. The fingers are not tapered in this embodiment, each one being generally cylindrical. The four fingers define the corners of the rectangu-

lar array and are intended for insertion in the outermost apertures of an air brick having a plurality of apertures arranged in an array. Sealing means in the form of a generally flat, rectangular sheet of sealing material 6 is bonded to the rear face 4 of the cover 2, and the cylindrical location fingers 5 extend outwards from the rear face 4 through holes 68 in the sheet. In this embodiment, adhesive can be applied to the exposed surface of the seal-

ing sheet 6 just before it is required. The device is then positioned, with the fingers 5 be-

ing inserted in the corresponding apertures in the air brick, bringing portions of the adhe-

sive coated surface of the sheet 6 into contact with corresponding portions of the front face of the air brick. In this embodiment, the sealing means 6 can form a seal to portions of the front face of the air brick between the location pegs 5, as well as to an edge/perimeter section.

- 1 3 Referring now to fig 9, a further embodiment comprises a device 1 having a curved front face 3 and a flat rear face 2, from which an array of tapered fingers 5 extend. The device is a one-piece plastic moulding. In use, each finger is wedged into, and seals, a respective hole 101 in the air brick 100. Prior to use, a bead of sealant material was applied as a rough gasket 6 to the rear face, just inside its perimeter. The device was then pushed into place so that the sealant formed a good seal, when cured, to the surface of the brick wall 111 surrounding the air brick. In this example the sealant is silicone rubber.

It will be appreciated that, by incorporating an integral locating finger or fingers, embodi-

ments of the present invention provide the advantage that there is no need for separate screw fixings or other attachment means to secure the device in place. Thus, the configu-

ration of the present invention facilitates fitting.

Furthermore, the sealing device of the present invention is a single item, which further facilitates fitting. Unlike some of the prior art arrangements, there is no need to pre-fit

and seal a frame to a wall and there is no need for separate attachment devices.

It is preferable for the device to have one finger for each aperture of the air brick that it is to be used with. This makes the device more stable in use, holds it better in the air brick, keeps each hole clear from blockage by any water-borne debris, and can provide a solid plug for each hole, in addition to the primary sealing provided by the sealing means (e.g. a gasket). The tapered fingers provide better location within the apertures of the air brick, enable the apertures to be plugged more effectively, and enable a range of aperture sizes to be accommodated, so taking into account any variations in hole sizes resulting from manufac-

turing tolerances.

Preferably, the sealing means used in embodiments of the invention is an annular gasket around the perimeter of the rear face.

Claims

- 1 4 Claims

1. A device for use in preventing flood water from entering an air brick, the air brick being of the type having a front face and at least one aperture having a mouth at the front face to provide air flow through the brick, the device comprising: a cover having a front face, for exposure to flood water, and a rear face, for facing the front face of an air brick; and at least one finger attached to and extending from said rear face, whereby the finger may be inserted in an appropriately dimensioned said aperture in the front face of an air brick to locate the device with respect to the air brick with the rear face facing the front face of the airbrick.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said finger is tapered, narrowing away from the rear face.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a plurality of said fin-

gers.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said plurality of fingers are arranged in a regular array, whereby the fingers may be inserted in a corresponding array of aper-

tures in the front face of an air brick, each finger in a respective aperture.

5. A device in accordance with Claim 4, wherein said array is rectangular.

6. A device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein said array comprises two rows of n fingers each, wherein n is an integer.

7. A device in accordance with any preceding claim comprising at least four said fin-

gers, each arranged at a respective corner of a rectangular array.

- 1 5

8. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein at least one of said fingers is tapered.

9. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein each finger is tapered.

10. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the or each finger ex-

tends generally perpendicularly from said rear face.

11. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the, or each finger is rectangular in cross section.

12. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the, or each finger is substantially rigid.

13. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises a plate, the front and rear faces of the cover being faces of the plate.

14. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the cover and finger, or fingers, are integral.

15. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the cover and finger, or fingers, are formed from a single moulding.

16. A device in accordance with Claim 15, wherein the cover and finger(s) comprise plastic.

17. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the cover is substantially rigid.

- 16

18. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the rear face is substan-

tially flat.

19. A device in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising sealing means provided on the rear face and arranged to provide a substantially watertight seal between the rear face and a front face of an airbrick in which the finger or fingers are inserted.

20. A device in accordance with claim 19, comprising an array of fingers, the sealing means being arranged to provide a seal around the periphery of the array.

21. A device in accordance with claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the sealing means comprises a bead of sealing material.

22. A device in accordance with claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the sealing means is ar-

ranged to provide a seal around a peripheral surface of the rear face.

23. A device in accordance with any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the sealing means comprises gasket means, attached to the rear face.

24. A device in accordance with Claim 23, wherein the gasket means comprises rub-

ber.

25. A device in accordance with Claim 23 or Claim 24, wherein the gasket means comprises an adhesive coating for adhering the gasket means to the front face of an air-

brick.

26. A device in accordance with Claim 25, further comprising a peel-off cover cover-

ing the adhesive coating on the gasket means.

- 17

27. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 23 to 26, wherein the gasket means is arranged to form a substantially watertight seal to a perimetric portion of the front face of the airbrick, the perimetric portion enclosing the mouths of all apertures in the air brick.

28. A device in accordance with any one of Claims 23 to 27, wherein the gasket means is generally rectangular.

29. A device in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein the gasket means comprises a generally rectangular frame, defining a central window, the or each finger being located inside said window.

30. A device in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the gasket means comprises a bead of sealing material.

31. A device in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the gasket means comprises a plurality of strips of sealing material.

32. A device in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 30, wherein the gasket means is continuous, comprising no joints.

33. A device in accordance with Claim 32, wherein the gasket means is formed from a continuous sheet of sealing material.

34. A device in accordance with claim 32 wherein the gasket means is formed by ap-

pling a bead of uncured sealant material, such as silicone rubber, to said rear face.

35. A flood protection kit comprising a device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18, and a container of sealant material for applying a bead of sealant material to the rear face of the device.

36. A device for sealing an air brick substantially as herein before described with ref-

erence to and/or as shown in Figures 2 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.