Floating protection barrier gate

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. At least one of the barrier units includes a gate that allows passage of waterborne craft into and out of the protected body of water.

1 . A protection apparatus that is configured to float on a body of water, comprising: 
 a first composite-based barrier structure, the first composite-based barrier structure configured to hold a first net in place;    a second composite-based barrier structure, the second composite-based barrier structure configured to hold a second net in place; and    a third gate structure provided between the first and second composite-based barrier structures and respectively coupled at first and second ends to the first and second composite-based barrier structures,    wherein the protection apparatus protects an area in the body of water or abutting the body of water from waterborne craft, and    wherein the protection apparatus allows passage into and out of the area in the body of water by way of the third gate structure.    
   
   
       2 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one pontoon coupled to the barrier structure and configured to act as a floating component for the protection apparatus when the protection apparatus is placed in the body of water.    
   
   
       3 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pontoon includes at least four pontoons, wherein a first pontoon is coupled to a portion of the barrier structure adjacent to one end of the barrier structure, wherein a second pontoon is coupled to a portion of the barrier structure adjacent to an opposite end of the barrier structure, and wherein a third and a fourth pontoon are coupled to a portion of the barrier structure corresponding to a middle region of the barrier structure.  
   
   
       4 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second pontoons are of a first length, and 
 wherein the third and fourth pontoons are of a second length greater than the first length.    
   
   
       5 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier structure includes a first beam that spans an entire length of the first composite-based barrier structure, and a second beam that spans an entire length of the second composite-based barrier structure, and 
 wherein the first and second beams are a composite-based structure.    
   
   
       6 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the protection apparatus is in a range of 40 to 50 feet in length.  
   
   
       7 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of net holding units coupled to the first and second beams and disposed above the first and second beams when the protection apparatus is placed in the body of water, the plurality of holding units configured to hold the first and second nets in place on the protection apparatus and to provide support for the first and second nets when the first and second nets are subject to normal and/or tangential forces.    
   
   
       8 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the composite-based durable barrier structure is a fiberglass reinforced plastic durable barrier structure.  
   
   
       9 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a truss provided around the third gate structure, the truss providing a structural integrity to the protection apparatus.    
   
   
       10 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the truss comprises: 
 first and second vertical members; and    first and second horizontal members,    wherein the first and second vertical members and connected to the first and second horizontal members to thereby form a rectangular-shaped truss.    
   
   
       11 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 X-shaped bracing provided on the first and second horizontal members; and    Z-shaped bracing provided on the first and second vertical members.    
   
   
       12 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the truss is a steel member made of steel pipe.  
   
   
       13 . A protection apparatus that is configured to float on a body of water, comprising: 
 a left-side barrier structure, the left-side barrier structure configured to hold a first net in place;    a right-side barrier structure, the right-side barrier structure configured to hold a second net in place; and    a third gate structure provided between the left- and right-side barrier structures and respectively coupled at first and second ends to the left- and right-side barrier structures,    wherein the protection apparatus protects an area in the body of water or abutting the body of water from waterborne craft, and    wherein the protection apparatus allows passage into and out of the area in the body of water by way of the third gate structure.    
   
   
       14 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a truss provided around the third gate structure, the truss providing a structural integrity to the protection apparatus.    
   
   
       15 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the truss comprises: 
 first and second vertical members; and    first and second horizontal members,    wherein the first and second vertical members and connected to the first and second horizontal members to thereby form a rectangular-shaped truss.    
   
   
       16 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 X-shaped bracing provided on the first and second horizontal members; and    Z-shaped bracing provided on the first and second vertical members.    
   
   
       17 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the truss is a steel member made of steel pipe.  
   
   
       18 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the left- and right-side barrier structures are composite-based.  
   
   
       19 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the left- and right-side barrier structures are composite-based.  
   
   
       20 . The protection apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 at least one pontoon coupled to the barrier structure and configured to act as a floating component for the protection apparatus when the protection apparatus is placed in the body of water.