IP Library Granted Patent US 10,577,177
Granted Patent B2
US 10,577,177 · App. 15/713,228 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Flexible pond liner

Inventor: Andre A. Harvey (Spring Valley, CA)
Assignee: RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
B65D90/24B65D88/02B65D90/046B65D90/205E04H7/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,577,177
App. No.
15/713,228
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pond system includes a single-piece drop-in flexible liner sized and shaped to partially suspend within a rigid sidewall, creating a cavity that may function as a liquid reservoir. The single-piece drop-in flexible liner includes a base portion surrounded by a sidewall portion configured to rest adjacent to an interior-facing surface of the rigid sidewall. The single-piece drop-in flexible liner further includes multiple tensioning tabs each with a fixed end attached to the base portion and a free end opposite the fixed end. Each of the multiple tensioning tabs is configured to extend under the rigid sidewall and radially outward from the base portion. The pond system further includes a means for securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs at a location external to the perimeter enclosed by the rigid sidewall.

Claims (34)

1. A pond system including:

a rigid sidewall enclosing a perimeter;

a single-piece drop-in flexible liner including:

a base portion surrounded by a sidewall portion, the sidewall portion configured to rest adjacent to an interior-facing surface of the rigid sidewall; and

multiple tensioning tabs each having a fixed end attached to the base portion and a free end opposite the fixed end, each of the multiple tensioning tabs configured to extend under the rigid sidewall and radially outward from the base portion;

a means for securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs at a location external to the perimeter enclosed by the rigid sidewall.

2. The pond system of claim 1 , wherein the means for securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs includes a means for securing each one of the multiple tensioning tabs against an exterior-facing surface of the rigid sidewall.

3. The pond system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing mechanism attaches to an aperture on the free end of each one of the multiple tensioning tabs.

4. The pond system of claim 3 , wherein the aperture includes a hemmed loop and the means for securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs includes an object configured to thread through the hemmed loop of at least one of the multiple tensioning tabs.

5. The pond system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible liner further includes:

a baffle curtain portion attached to the base portion and extending along a length of the base portion, wherein an interface between the baffle curtain and the base portion of the flexible liner is liquid impermeable.

6. The pond system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the flexible liner further includes a rectangular pocket that includes an opening facing away from a center of the flexible liner and configured to receive a portion of a paddle wheel structure.

7. The pond system of claim 6 , wherein the opening is formed at a perimeter edge of the base portion.

8. The pond system of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion includes two pre-formed curved walls separated from one another by two elongated planar walls.

9. A method of assembling a pond system comprising:

positioning a flexible single-piece liner relative to a rigid sidewall such that a base portion of the flexible single-piece liner rests within the rigid sidewall, a sidewall portion of the flexible liner extends up over the rigid sidewall, and a plurality of tensioning tabs of the flexible liner extend under the rigid sidewall and radially outward from the base portion, each of the plurality of tensioning tabs having a fixed end attached to the base portion and a free end opposite the fixed end;

tensioning each of the plurality of tensioning tabs; and

securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs at a location external to a perimeter enclosed by the rigid sidewall.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the multiple tensioning tabs has a first end attached to the base portion and a second opposite end including an aperture, and wherein tensioning each of the plurality of tensioning tabs further comprises threading a securement mechanism through the aperture of each of the plurality of tensioning tabs.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aperture is a hemmed loop and the securement mechanism includes a cable that extends radially around at least part of the perimeter enclosed by the rigid sidewall and through the hemmed loop of each of the multiple tensioning tabs.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the flexible single-piece liner further includes:

a baffle curtain portion attached to the base portion and extending along a length of the base portion, wherein an interface between the baffle curtain and the base portion of the flexible single-piece liner is liquid impermeable.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the base portion of the flexible liner further includes a pocket with an opening facing away from a center of the flexible liner, the pocket sized and shaped to receive and secure a portion of a paddle wheel structure.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the opening of the pocket is formed at a perimeter edge of the base portion.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sidewall portion includes two pre-formed curved walls separated from one another by two elongated planar walls.

16. A flexible pond liner comprising:

a base portion and a sidewall portion that form a cavity when the sidewall portion is configured to be secured against a rigid supporting sidewall;

multiple tensioning tabs each with a fixed end attached to the base portion and a free end opposite the fixed end, each of the multiple tensioning tabs configured to extend under the rigid supporting sidewall and radially outward from the base portion;

a means for securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs up against an external surface of the rigid sidewall.

17. The flexible pond liner of claim 16 , where the means for securing the free end of each of the multiple tensioning tabs includes an object configured to thread an aperture on the free end of each one of the multiple tensioning tabs.

18. The flexible pond liner of claim 17 , wherein the flexible pond liner further includes:

a baffle curtain portion attached to the base portion that extends longitudinally along a length of the base portion.

19. The flexible pond liner of claim 17 , wherein the base portion of the flexible pond liner further includes a pocket with an opening facing away from a center of the flexible liner, the pocket sized and shaped to receive a portion of a paddle wheel structure.

20. The flexible pond liner of claim 19 , wherein the opening is formed at a perimeter edge of the base portion.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 14, 2023
From: RAVEN ENGINEERED FILMS, INC.
To: VIAFLEX, INC.
Reel/Frame 063336/0587 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2022
From: RAVEN ENGINEERED FILMS, INC.
To: CCP AGENCY, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059710/0827 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2022
From: RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: RAVEN ENGINEERED FILMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059789/0269 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2017
From: HARVEY, ANDRE A.
To: RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 043668/0652 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62398701 · Sep 23, 2016
Related Publication 20180086553A1 · Mar 29, 2018