Portable containment

Abstract

A portable containment for receiving spilled fluid having collapsible end and side walls which in combination with a floor form a containment area when held in an upright position by braces position along the walls. In use certain of the walls and braces are collapsed into folded or down positions to allow vehicle entry into the containment area. Skids are positioned beneath the braces associated with certain walls. Flotation members are secured along the upper edges of at least the certain walls. The flotation members are capable of elevating the certain walls in the event spillage occurs prior to the certain walls being repositioned into the upright position. Elevation of the certain walls causes the associated braces to slide over the skids to assure their upstanding position which maintaining the walls in their upright position.

1. A portable containment for containing spilled material:
 said containment having a bottom, opposed end walls and opposed side walls formed of flexible material and forming a containment area;  
 a flotation member carried by upper edges of at least said end walls;  
 a plurality of braces connected with upper portions of at least one of said walls, said braces being positionable in locked upstanding positions in which said at least one wall is held in a raised position and a lowered folded position in which said at least one wall is in a down entry/exit position;  
 a plurality of skids formed of low friction synthetic material arranged along said bottom supporting said braces between said folded position and said upstanding position; wherein,  
 in response to upward movement of said at least one wall, said  
 braces are adapted to slide along said skids from said folded position into said upstanding position maintaining said at least one wall in said raised position.  
 
     
     
       2. The containment of  claim 1  wherein said flexible material forming said containment comprises polyurethane coated fabric. 
     
     
       3. The containment of  claim 1  wherein said synthetic fabric forming said strap and said skid are coated on one side, said coated side being unexposed. 
     
     
       4. The containment of  claim 1  wherein said end wall, side walls, bottom, braces and skids forming said containment are united by welding. 
     
     
       5. The containment of  claim 1  wherein said skid comprises a low friction synthetic fabric. 
     
     
       6. The containment of  claim 5  wherein;
 each said brace includes a rigid first leg, a rigid second leg, a rigid third leg and a flexible strap, said first leg being carried by said wall in fixed position, said second leg being hinged at a first end with an upper portion of the associated of said walls and at a second end with said bottom, a first end of said strap and a first end of said third leg, said strap being connected at a second end with a lower portion of the associated said walls.  
 
     
     
       7. The containment of  claim 6  wherein;
 each said brace forms a triangle in said upstanding position with said third leg being positioned above said strap along said bottom between a lower end of said first leg and said second end of said second leg.  
 
     
     
       8. The containment of  claim 5  wherein said strap comprises a synthetic fabric, said fabric forming said strap and said fabric forming said skid allowing said sliding action of said brace during movement into said upstanding position. 
     
     
       9. The portable containment of  claim 5  wherein; said bottom extends outwardly beyond said end walls, said skids being secured with said bottom extensions. 
     
     
       10. A portable containment for containing spilled material comprising;
 a bottom formed of flexible material;  
 a pair of foldable side walls formed of flexible material; and,  
 a pair of foldable end walls formed of flexible material, said side walls being interconnected with said end walls along opposed ends forming corners and said side walls and said end walls being connected along respective lower edges with said bottom forming a containment area;  
 a plurality of braces engaged with said side and end walls to assist in maintaining said side and end walls in a raised position;  
 a plurality of pivotal braces connected at a first end adjacent upper edges of said end and side walls and at a second end with said bottom, said pivotal braces having an extended position maintaining said side and end walls in said upstanding position for containing said spilled material and a folded position in which said side and end walls may be lowered into a down position for permitting vehicle drive over;  
 flotation devices carried by pocket members arranged along upper edges of at least said end walls, whereby,  
 in the absence of said braces being positioned in said upstanding position said flotation devices will elevate and maintain at least said end walls from said down position to a position above the level of said spilled material preventing contamination.  
 
     
     
       11. The portable containment of  claim 10  wherein; at least said end wall comprises each said end wall. 
     
     
       12. The portable containment of  claim 10  wherein; said flotation devices comprise strips of polyurethane foam. 
     
     
       13. The portable containment of  claim 12  wherein; said polyurethane foam strip has a cross section which is one of rectangular, square, triangular, circular and half-circular. 
     
     
       14. The portable containment of  claim 10  including pockets secured on the inner side of said end walls for supporting said flotation devices. 
     
     
       15. The portable containment of  claim 14  wherein; said pockets comprise folded over upper edges of said end walls. 
     
     
       16. The portable containment of  claim 10  wherein; said braces are permanently connected with said bottom inwardly of said end and side walls. 
     
     
       17. The portable containment of  claim 10  wherein said flotation members are spaced by said brace members. 
     
     
       18. A portable containment for containing fluid:
   said containment having a bottom, opposed end walls and opposed side walls formed of flexible material and forming a containment area;        a flotation member carried by upper edges of said walls;        a plurality of braces connected with upper portions of at least said side walls, said braces being positionable in locked upstanding positions in which at least said side walls are held in a raised position and a lowered folded position in which at least said side walls are in a down position; wherein,        reception of fluid into said containment area causes said walls to move upward, in response to said upward movement of said walls, said braces are adapted to slide from said folded position into said locked upstanding position maintaining at least said side walls in said raised position.     
     
     
       19. The containment of  claim 18  wherein said flexible material forming said containment comprises coated fabric. 
     
     
       20. A portable containment for containing spilled material comprising:
   a bottom formed of flexible material;        a pair of foldable side walls formed of flexible material; and,        a pair of foldable end walls formed of flexible material, said side walls being interconnected with said end walls along opposed ends forming corners and side walls and said end walls being connected along respective lower edges with said bottom forming a containment area;        a plurality of pivotal braces connected at a first end adjacent upper edges of at least said side walls and at a second end with said bottom, said pivotal braces having an extended position maintaining at least said side walls in a generally upstanding position for containing said spilled material and a folded position in which at least said side walls may be lowered into a down position permitting folding for transport; and        flotation devices inserted into pocket members arranged along upper edges of at least said end walls; whereby,        in the absence of said braces said flotation devices will elevate and maintain at least said end walls from said down position to said generally upstanding position preventing spillage and contamination.     
     
     
       21. The portable containment of  claim 20  wherein; said flotation devices comprise strips of synthetic foam. 
     
     
       22. The portable containment of  claim 21  wherein; said polyurethane foam strip has a cross section which is one of rectangular, square, triangular, circular and half- circular.   
     
     
       23. The portable containment of  claim 20  wherein said pocket members are arranged on the inner side of said end walls and are open ended for receiving said flotation devices. 
     
     
       24. The portable containment of  claim 20  wherein said side walls include said flotation devices secured along upper edges thereof, and said braces engaged with said side walls are carried from said folded position into said extended position during elevation of said side walls from said down position into said upstanding position. 
     
     
       25. A portable containment easily spread over the ground for containing spilled fluid comprising:
   flexible sheeting for overlaying the ground forming a flooring;        generally upstanding walls interconnected at opposed ends and connected along lower edges with said flooring, said walls forming a containment area having opposed side and end walls;        said sheeting forming a skirt outward of at least said side walls;        flotation devices carried in upper edges of at least said end walls, said flotation devices functioning to raise at least said end walls into said generally upstanding position as fluid fills said containment area;        a plurality of braces connected with at least said side walls and adjacent areas of said skirt, said braces having an extended position in which at least said side walls are held in said generally upstanding position and a folded position in which at least said side walls may be moved into a lowered position allowing said containment to be folded for transport;        each said brace comprising at least three semi - rigid stays, the first of said stays being engaged with at least said side walls, the second of said stays being engaged with said skirt generally perpendicular of said first stays and the third of said stays being positioned to engage with outer ends of said first and second stays when said braces are in said extended position, said braces acting to maintain at least said side walls in said generally upstanding position and to provide support against outward movement of at least said side walls, said stays being positioned in generally juxtaposed parallel positions when said braces are in said folded position; wherein,        said flotation devices act to allow at least sections of said end walls to be depressed into said lowered position during vehicle overpass and        to raise said end wall sections into said generally upstanding position after vehicle overpass.     
     
     
       26. The containment of  claim 25  wherein;
   each said brace includes a rigid first leg, a rigid second leg, and a rigid third leg, said first leg being carried by said wall, said second leg being hinged at a first end adjacent an upper portion of said first leg and at a second end adjacent an end of said third leg, being engaged with said bottom.     
     
     
       27. The containment of  claim 26  wherein;
   each said brace forms a triangle in said upstanding position.     
     
     
       28. The containment of  claim 25  wherein each of said upper edges of at least said end walls includes an open ended pocket which is adapted to receive said flotation device.