Portable containment system for hazardous or other materials
A method includes wrapping one or more pieces of fabric around at least one piece of shape memory material. The method also includes attaching outer edges of the one or more pieces of fabric to other portions of the one or more pieces of fabric. The method further includes depositing liquid-impervious material onto the one or more pieces of fabric to form free-standing flexible walls and a floor of a containment structure. The floor is formed seamlessly with the walls. The wrapping could include attaching a bottom of the at least one piece of shape memory material to the one or more pieces of fabric at locations spaced apart from the outer edges of the one or more pieces of fabric. The wrapping could also include attaching sides of the at least one piece of shape memory material to the one or more pieces of fabric.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a containment structure comprising a floor and free-standing flexible walls, the floor comprising one or more pieces of fabric, the free-standing flexible walls comprising one or more pieces of shape memory material;
wherein a single one of the one or more pieces of fabric wraps around at least one of the one or more pieces of shape memory material such that the single piece of fabric encircles the at least one piece of shape memory material;
wherein liquid-impervious material is located on the one or more pieces of fabric.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
each piece of shape memory material has a cross-section with one or more outer surfaces; and
the single piece of fabric contacts each of the one or more outer surfaces of the at least one piece of shape memory material.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the single piece of fabric is attached to each of the one or more outer surfaces of the at least one piece of shape memory material using liquid-impervious material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one outer edge of the single piece of fabric is attached to at least one other portion of the one or more pieces of fabric to encircle the at least one piece of shape memory material.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one outer edge of the single piece of fabric is attached to the at least one other portion of the one or more pieces of fabric using liquid-impervious material.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
multiple tabs located at one end of the containment structure, each tab comprising liquid-impervious material on one or more additional pieces of fabric, the tabs defining openings configured to receive fingers of a forklift.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more handles, each handle connected to the containment structure and sealed to the containment structure using liquid-impervious material.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more pieces of fabric comprise one or more pieces of felt;
the one or more pieces of shape memory material comprises one or more pieces of memory foam; and
the liquid-impervious material comprises polyurea.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each piece of shape memory material is encircled by each of at least one piece of fabric.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a containment structure comprising a floor and free-standing flexible walls, the floor comprising multiple pieces of fabric, the free-standing flexible walls comprising one or more pieces of shape memory material;
wherein a single one of the pieces of fabric wraps around at least one of the one or more pieces of shape memory material such that the single piece of fabric encircles the at least one piece of shape memory material;
wherein liquid-impervious material is located on the pieces of fabric.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
each piece of shape memory material has a cross-section with one or more outer surfaces; and
the single piece of fabric contacts each of the one or more outer surfaces of the at least one piece of shape memory material.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the single piece of fabric is attached to each of the one or more outer surfaces of the at least one piece of shape memory material using liquid-impervious material.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one outer edge of the single piece of fabric is attached to at least one other portion of the pieces of fabric to encircle the at least one piece of shape memory material.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one outer edge of the single piece of fabric is attached to the at least one other portion of the pieces of fabric using liquid-impervious material.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
multiple tabs located at one end of the containment structure, each tab comprising liquid-impervious material on one or more additional pieces of fabric, the tabs defining openings configured to receive fingers of a forklift.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
one or more handles, each handle connected to the containment structure and sealed to the containment structure using liquid-impervious material.
17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the pieces of fabric comprise pieces of felt;
the one or more pieces of shape memory material comprises one or more pieces of memory foam; and
the liquid-impervious material comprises polyurea.
18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each piece of shape memory material is encircled by each of at least one piece of fabric.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a containment structure comprising a floor and free-standing flexible walls, the floor comprising multiple pieces of fabric, the free-standing flexible walls comprising multiple pieces of shape memory material;
wherein a single one of the pieces of fabric wraps around at least one of the pieces of shape memory material such that the single piece of fabric encircles the at least one piece of shape memory material;
wherein liquid-impervious material is located on the pieces of fabric.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein each piece of shape memory material is encircled by each of at least one piece of fabric.