Flood protection system

Abstract

A dockside water shutoff system for a boat which includes a shutoff valve connected on an inlet end thereof to a fresh water supply. A conduit is connected to an outlet end of the shutoff valve for transferring water from the water supply to a plumbing system on a boat. A timer mechanism is operatively connected to the shutoff valve. The timer mechanism is configured to cause the shutoff valve to close after a predetermined period of time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flood protection system comprising: 
 a valve configured to open and close the supply of water to a boat; and    timer means operatively connected to the valve to close the valve after a predetermined period of time.    
     
     
         2 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the timer means is also operatively connected to the valve to open the valve at a beginning of the predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         3 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising switch means to energize the timer means.  
     
     
         4 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the switch means is a pushbutton switch.  
     
     
         5 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the valve is connected to a source of water supply on a dock.  
     
     
         6 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a conduit connected at a first end to an outlet side of the valve and connected at a second end to the boat.  
     
     
         7 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the conduit is a rubber hose.  
     
     
         8 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an electric solenoid operatively connected to the valve to open and close the valve.  
     
     
         9 . The flood protection system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the predetermined period of time is thirty minutes.  
     
     
         10 . A method of preventing a flood on a boat, the method comprising the steps of connecting a valve configured to open and close the supply of water to a boat to a source of water; and 
 energizing timer means operatively connected to the valve to open the valve for a predetermined period of time.    
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the source of water is on a dock.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the timer means is connected to a solenoid to open and close the valve.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising the step of closing the valve after the predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the predetermined period of time is thirty minutes.