The present invention relates to an assembly suitable for water-control in order to protect premises, buildings and the like against flooding, in which the assembly can also serve as a temporary raising of dikes or as a temporary barrier against high water.

The known manner to prevent flooding of premises and buildings and to offer protection against high water levels of for instance rivers, is to fill bags with sand, and to deposit these filled bags at places where they are most useful. Although this manner of water-control is efficient to a certain degree, it is rather labour-inten- sive, because of which the forming of a water-control structure of bags filled with sand cannot always be ef- fected quickly.

The present invention has the objective to provide an assembly suitable for water-control, which is less labour- intensive and which can be quickly erected.

The present invention provides for that purpose an as- sembly suitable for water-control, which assembly comprises a profiled element with a basis and a number of at least two legs extending from the basis in similar direction, each leg having a free end, the legs deter- mining a space there between and the free ends of the legs being provided with a leg-thickening for forming a constriction of the space, and at least one water-control element which can be secured in the space in a detachable snapping way. Because in the assembly according to the invention use is made of a detachable snapping securing between the profiled element and the water-control

element, it is possible to permanently fix the profiled element at locations beforehand in order to quickly form a water-control structure by snap securing of the water- control element should such a case arise. A permanent securing of the profiled element is for instance possible to walls of buildings and premises, in streets, pavements and the like. The profiled element can also be incor- porated in concrete, bitumen or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in which the number of legs is two, the at least one water-control element is a panel-shaped wall, at least one edge of the wall being provided with a wall- thickening which can be secured in the profiled element in a detachable snapping way. Alternatively the at least one water-control element is a foil impermeable to liquid which foil can be placed in the space, and the assembly is further provided with a string or cable-like element which can be secured in the space in a detachable snapping way, for impermeably connecting the foil and the profiled element in a detachable way.

In a further preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in which the number of legs is three, a first water-control element is formed by at least one panel-shaped wall, at least one edge of the wall being provided with a wall-thickening which can be secured in a detachable snapping way in the first space of the profiled element, and a second water-control element is formed by a foil impermeable to liquid which can be placed in the second space of the profiled element, and the assembly further being provided with a string or cable-like element which can be secured in a detachable snapping way in the second space, for impermeably connecting the foil and the profiled element in a detachable way.

The invention further relates to a profiled element

suitable for use in an assembly according to the inven- tion, which profiled element is provided with a basis- and a number of at least two legs extending from the basis in similar direction, each leg having a free end, the legs determining a space there between and the free ends of the legs being provided with a leg-thickening for forming a constriction of the space.

Some embodiments of the assembly suitable for water- control and a profiled element to be used in such an as- sembly according to the invention, will be described by way of example and further elucidated on the basis of the drawing. Shown is in: Figure 1 a first embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in which the number of legs is two and the water-control element is a foil; Figure 2 a first example of an operational water-control structure using the assembly according to figure 1; Figure 3 a second example of an operational water-control structure using the assembly according to figure 1; Figure 4 in rear view a third example of an operational water-control structure using the assembly according to figure 1; Figure 5 in side view the example of figure 4 before unfolding the foil; Figure 6 a second embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in which the number of legs is two and the water-control element is formed by panel-shaped walls; and Figure 7 a third embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in which the number of legs is three and

the water-control element is formed by panel-shaped walls and by a foil.

In figure 1 a first embodiment of an assembly according to the invention is shown. The assembly comprises a profiled element 1 with a basis and two legs 3, 4 extending from the basis 2 in similar direction. Each leg 3, 4 having a free end 5, 6. The legs 3, 4 determining a space 7 there between. Furthermore the free ends 5, 6 of the legs 3, 4 are provided with a leg-thickening 8, 9 for forming a constriction of the space 7. The assembly according to this embodiment further comprises at least one water- control element in the form of a foil 10 which is imper- meable to liquid, which can be placed in the space 7.

Furthermore a string or cable-like element 11 is provided which can be secured in the space 7 in a detachable snap- ping way, for impermeably connecting the foil 10 and the profiled element 1 in a detachable way.

The profiled element 1, as well as the string or cable- like element 11 are for economical and production tech- nical reasons preferably made of plastic or rubber. At high water, for instance, first the string or cable-like element 11 is removed from the profiled element 1. After that the foil 10, preferably made of plastic although other flexible materials impermeable to water are also suitable, is pressed in the space 7 of the profiled element 1 and the string or cable-like element 11 is pressed or tapped in the space 7 of the profiled element 1. Because of the leg-thickening 8, 9 a detachable snap connection is then created which ensures a snap connection impermeable to liquid which is detachable.

Figure 2 shows a first example of an operational water- control structure using the assembly according to figure 1. In the example shown the profiled element 1 has been incorporated in the pavement T. The foil 10 has been

secured in the profiled element 1 as described above. The foil 10 has been provided with securing eyes 12, so -that the foil 10 can be suspended from the securing hooks 13 which have been secured to a wall M of a building G. In this way the foil 10 covers the pavement T and abuts the wall M, and forms a temporary, removable water-control structure for it, and thus protects the building G, pavement T and the like against high water or other li- quids.

It goes without saying that also alternative suspensions of the foil to the wall are possible. Furthermore the profiled element can also be fixed or incorporated in a street, a wall or the like, and a deepened placing of the profiled element is preferable in order to make sure that the profiled element does not form an obstacle. In order to improve the liquid sealing the basis 2 of the profiled element 1 is provided with a recess 14 (see figure 1) in which a liquid proof sealant 15 can be placed. Preferably the sealant 15 is a cement.

Figure 3 shows a second example of an operational water- control structure using the assembly according to figure 1. In this example the assembly according to the invention is used as a temporary raising of a dike D or the like.

The profiled element 1 has been incorporated in the dike D, for instance in its concrete or asphalt strips 16. In the dike D, preferably in the concrete or asphalt strips 16, securing poles or panels 17 can be fixed, which serve for suspending the foil 10. Thus a water-control structure is obtained which can hold back the water W. The securing poles can for instance be made of plastic, although other materials are also applicable.

Figure 4 shows in rear view a third example of an operational water-control structure using the assembly according to figure 1, in the case of a temporary raising

of a dike D or the like. In this case the assembly further comprises a series of securing poles 17 placed next to one another fixed in the concrete or asphalt strips 16, each pole having a free end 17', and at least one cable (in the example shown two, namely 18, 18'), which can be secured near the free ends 17' of the securing poles 17. The foil 10 can be connected with the at least one cable 18, 18' or can be suspended from there in a detachable way. The cables 18, 18' can for instance be made of steel, although cables of other materials with high pulling strength can also be used.

Figure 5 shows in side view the example of figure 4 before the foil 10 has been attached in the profiled element.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of an assembly accor- ding to the invention, in which the profiled element 61 has two legs 63, 64 and the water-control element is formed by panel-shaped walls 65. At least one edge 66 of each wall 65 is provided with a wall-thickening, so that the wall 65 can be secured in the profiled element 1 in a detachable snapping way. Preferably the assembly is further provided with support elements 67 for supporting the panel-shaped walls 65. The panels 65, for instance made of plastic, are locked against lateral sliding in this way. Although the support elements may be separate elements, they are preferably integrated in the panel- shaped walls.

Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, in which the profiled element 71 has three legs 74, 75, 76 and the water-control element is designed double and is formed on the one hand by a panel- shaped wall or walls 77 and on the other hand by a foil 78. Between the middle leg 75 and one 74 of the outer legs a second space 79 is determined and between the middle leg 75 and the other one 76 of the outer legs a

first space 80 is determined. On the one hand the water- control element is formed by at least one panel-shaped wall 77, which has been provided with a wall-thickening 81 with which the wall 77 can be secured in the first space 80 of the profiled element 71 in a detachable snapping way. On the other hand the water-control element is formed by a foil 78 which is impermeable to liquid which foil can be placed in the second space 79. Just like the embodiment according to figure 1, the assembly is further provided with a string or cable-like element 82 which can be secured in the second space in a detachable snapping way.

Also in this embodiment the assembly is further provided with support elements 83 for lateral support of the panel- shaped wall 77, recesses 84 being provided for additional locking of the support elements. These recesses 84 can, when the assembly according to the invention serves as a dike raising, for instance be fixed in the concrete or asphalt strips of the dike.

Although the invention is described on the basis of protection of buildings and premises against flooding, the assembly according to the invention can also be used in a wider field of application, such as for instance in the field of building or chemical field, where foils or panels serve as the covering or protection.