U.S. patent application number 09/210027 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-08 for prefabricated storm shelter and associated methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to Jacqueline E. Hartt. Invention is credited to RIECH, HARRY C..
Application Number | 20010037615 09/210027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26789092 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010037615 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RIECH, HARRY C. |
November 8, 2001 |
PREFABRICATED STORM SHELTER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
Abstract
The storm shelter includes a prefabricatable enclosure at a
remote site, and deliverable to the building construction site
following floor slab pouring and prior to wall construction. The
shelter includes a unitary solid enclosure having entry means and
an open bottom, the enclosure made of material having sufficient
strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather, such as
poured concrete. The shelter further includes devices for affixing
the enclosure to the building slab, which also have sufficient
strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather.
Inventors: |
RIECH, HARRY C.; (ORLANDO,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACQUELINE E HARTT
ALLEN DYER DOPPELT MILBRATH & GILCHRIST
255 SOUT ORANGE AVENUE SUITE 1401
P O BOX 3791
ORLANDO
FL
328023791
|
Assignee: |
Jacqueline E. Hartt
|
Family ID: |
26789092 |
Appl. No.: |
09/210027 |
Filed: |
December 11, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60094631 |
Jul 30, 1998 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/79.1 ;
52/169.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/14 20130101; Y02A
50/00 20180101; Y02A 50/14 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/79.1 ;
52/169.6 |
International
Class: |
E04H 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A storm shelter for forming part of a building to be constructed
comprising: a unitary solid enclosure having side walls, a door
opening in a side wall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the
enclosure having sufficient strength to withstand a storm of
predetermined magnitude; and means embedded in and projecting from
the side walls for affixing the enclosure to a slab at a building
site, the affixing means having sufficient strength to withstand a
storm of predetermined magnitude.
2. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the enclosure
comprises poured concrete.
3. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the side walls
comprise four side walls meeting in generally right angles to form
a rectilinear enclosure.
4. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, further comprising a
high-strength access door hingedly affixed within the door
opening.
5. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the affixing means
comprises means for affixing the enclosure to a footer having a
shape commensurate with a shape of a bottom of the enclosure.
6. The storm shelter recited in claim 5, wherein the affixing means
comprises a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down anchors, each
having a top portion affixable to a side wall and a side portion
protruding outwardly therefrom, the side portion adapted to be
embedded in the footer.
7. The storm shelter recited in claim 5, wherein the affixing means
comprises a plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods, each having
a top portion embedded in a side wall and a bottom portion
protruding therebeneath, the bottom portion adapted to be embedded
in the footer.
8. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the affixing means
comprises a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down anchors, each
having a top portion affixable to a side wall and a side portion
protruding outwardly therefrom, the side portion adapted to be
embedded in the footer.
9. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the affixing means
comprises a plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods, each having
a top portion embedded in a side wall and a bottom portion
protruding therebeneath, the bottom portion adapted to be embedded
in the slab.
10. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the enclosure
comprises prefabricated, steel-reinforced high-strength
concrete.
11. The storm shelter recited in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is
affixable at a closet location within the building site.
12. A method for constructing a storm shelter comprising the steps
of: fabricating an enclosure at a remote site, the enclosure having
side walls, a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an opening at
the bottom, the enclosure having sufficient strength to withstand a
storm of predetermined magnitude; transporting the enclosure to a
building site; and affixing the enclosure to a slab at the building
site with sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined
magnitude.
13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein: the fabricating step
comprises affixing a plurality of hold-down anchors in spaced-apart
relation to an outside surface of the side walls so as to project
outwardly therefrom; and the affixing step comprises affixing the
projecting portions of the anchors into concrete at the building
site.
14. The method recited in claim 12, wherein: the fabricating step
comprises embedding a plurality of reinforcing rods in spaced-apart
relation in the side walls so as to project partially therebeneath;
and the affixing step comprises embedding the projecting portions
of the reinforcing rods into concrete at the building site.
15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the affixing step
comprises embedding the projecting portions of the reinforcing rods
into a poured concrete footer at the building site.
16. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the fabricating step
further comprises the step of affixing a storm door within the door
opening, the door having a heavy-duty latching device affixed
thereto.
17. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the fabricating step
comprises forming a concrete mold having a desired form, affixing
reinforcing steel members therewithin, and pouring a high-strength
concrete thereinto.
18. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the affixing step
comprises placing the enclosure at a location in the building site
at a position intended to be within the confines of the planned
building.
19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the affixing step
further comprises positioning the door opening for access from
within the building confines.
20. A method for constructing a building having an internal storm
shelter comprising the steps of: fabricating an enclosure at a
remote site, the enclosure having side walls, a door opening in a
side wall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the enclosure
having sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined
magnitude; transporting the enclosure to a building site; pouring a
slab for the building; and affixing the enclosure to the slab with
sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined
magnitude.
21. The method recited in claim 20, further comprising the step,
following the slab-pouring step, of pouring a building footer atop
the building slab, and wherein the enclosure-affixing step
comprises affixing the enclosure to the footer.
22. The method recited in claim 21, wherein: the
enclosure-fabricating step further comprises affixing a plurality
of hold-down to the side walls, each anchor having a top portion
affixable to an outside surface of the side wall and a side portion
projecting outwardly therefrom; and the enclosure-affixing step
comprises affixing the anchor side portions to the footer.
23. The method recited in claim 21, wherein: the
enclosure-fabricating step further comprises embedding a plurality
of reinforcing bars in the side walls, each bar having a top
portion embedded in the side wall and a bottom portion projecting
therebeneath; and the enclosure-affixing step comprises embedding
the reinforcing bars bottom portions in the footer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/094,631, "Prefabricated Storm Shelter and
Associated Methods," filed Jul. 30, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to storm shelters, and, more
particularly, to storm shelters directly accessible from a
building.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Storm shelters are desirable in areas subject to violent
weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In particular, tornadoes
can strike with little warning, leaving building occupants no time
to evacuate.
[0006] In some localities where basements are not typically part of
a building, it is desirable to provide a shelter for building
occupants that is immediately accessible from the building. Such a
construction has been disclosed by Silen; however, this assembly
must be constructed on site, and is indeed affixed to other walls
of the building.
[0007] Other shelter constructions have been disclosed by Rice
(U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,780), Thornton (U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,158), Hsu
(U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,985), and Riley (U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,923).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a storm
shelter that is readily accessible from a building.
[0009] It is another object to provide such a shelter that is
structurally independent of the building structure.
[0010] It is a further object to provide such a shelter that is
constructed separately from the building site.
[0011] It is also an object to provide such a shelter that can be
prefabricated and delivered to the building site prior to the
building's construction.
[0012] It is yet another object to provide a method of providing
shelter to building occupants.
[0013] It is yet a further object to provide a method of
constructing a storm shelter.
[0014] It is yet an additional object to provide a method of
incorporating a storm shelter into a building under
construction.
[0015] Another object is to provide such a method that does not
substantially interfere with the building's construction
schedule.
[0016] These and other objects are provided by the present
invention, a storm shelter and associated methods. The storm
shelter is preferably prefabricatable at a remote site, and
deliverable to the building construction site following floor slab
pouring and prior to wall construction.
[0017] The shelter comprises a unitary solid enclosure having side
walls, a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an open bottom.
The enclosure comprises a material having sufficient strength to
withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather. Such a material may
comprise, for example, poured concrete, although this is not
intended as a limitation.
[0018] The shelter further comprises means for affixing the
enclosure to the building slab, such means also having sufficient
strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather.
[0019] The features that characterize the invention, both as to
organization and method of operation, together with further objects
and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the
following description used in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for
the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as
a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other
objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention
will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows
is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a first
embodiment of the storm shelter of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view through a wall of the
shelter of FIG. 1, illustrating the method of affixing this shelter
to the floor slab.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a second
embodiment of the storm shelter of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view through a wall of the
shelter of FIG. 3, illustrating the method of affixing this shelter
to the floor slab.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] A description of the preferred embodiments of the present 15
invention will now be presented with reference to FIGS. 1-4.
[0025] A first embodiment of the storm shelter 10 of the present
invention (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises an enclosure 15 having, in a
particular embodiment, four walls 11, a ceiling 12, and a
high-strength access door 13. The bottom 14 is open.
[0026] The shelter 10 typically is constructed as a unitary
enclosure 15 by pouring a flowable material such as concrete into a
mold, although this material is not intended as a limitation.
Whatever material is used, it should have sufficient strength
conferred by its material properties and thickness to withstand
tornado- and hurricane-force weather.
[0027] Protruding from the bottom of the walls 11 are a plurality
of means for affixing the enclosure 15 to a floor slab 20 of a
building. Such affixing means may comprise, for example, a
plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods 16 ("rebar"), each
having a bottom portion 21 protruding beneath the walls 11 and a
top portion 22 embedded in the walls 11, although this is not
intended as a limitation. In an embodiment a footer 23 dimensioned
to conform to the shape of the wall perimeter is poured under the
floor slab 20 during construction thereof. Installation of the
shelter 10 comprises anchoring the bottom portions 21 of the
reinforcing rods 16 to the floor slab 20 and footer 23, for
example, with high-strength anchoring cement. The building walls
are then constructed around the shelter 10, which may serve, for
example, as a closet until needed in an emergency. Other locations
may also be contemplated for the shelter. Preferably none of the
building walls should be affixed to the shelter 10, which will
permit the building walls to break away in case of structural
failure of the building.
[0028] In a second embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4), believed to be
preferred, the shelter 30 affixing means comprises a plurality of
hold-down anchors 36, each having a side portion 31 protruding
outward at generally right angles from the walls 11 and a top
portion 32 generally at right angles to the side portion 31 bolted
to the outside of the walls 11, although this is not intended as a
limitation. In a preferred embodiment each anchor 36 has two holes
37 in the top portion 32 for admitting bolts 40 therethrough for
bolting into the side walls 11 and one hole 38 in the side portion
31 for admitting a bolt 40 therethrough for bolting into the footer
23 with an addition of epoxy.
[0029] Particular dimensions and building material may comprise: a
footer 23 having a width of 24 in. and a depth of 16 in.;
reinforcing rods 16 of 5/8 in. having a top portion 22 of 24 in.
and a bottom portion 21 of 12 in. and spaced apart about the wall
perimeter at a distance of 24 in.; a storm door 13 having a solid
core an a heavy-duty latching device; and walls 11 and ceiling 12
of prefabricated, steel-reinforced, 4-in.-thick solid high-strength
concrete.
[0030] Preferably the shelter 10 may be manufactured at a site
remote from the building construction, such as a concrete
prefabrication plant, and delivered to the building site following
floor slab 20 pouring and prior to wall construction. Such a method
will not substantially alter the building schedule and will not add
an insurmountable cost to the building construction.
[0031] During an emergency the building occupants can immediately
enter the shelter 10 via the access door 13 and be safe, without
leaving the building.
[0032] It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that
additional embodiments may be contemplated, including enclosures
and affixing means of alternate materials.
[0033] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of
the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes
herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the
embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are
by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to
the exact details of construction.
[0034] Having now described the invention, the construction, the
operation and use of preferred embodiment thereof, and the
advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and
useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof
obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended
claims.
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