U.S. patent application number 10/191000 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-08 for modular room fortification system for storm protection.
Invention is credited to Sissons, Paul.
Application Number | 20040003546 10/191000 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29999945 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040003546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sissons, Paul |
January 8, 2004 |
Modular room fortification system for storm protection
Abstract
The invention is of a modular storm and earthquake shelter
system and method fabrication thereof, which invention depends from
the assembly of a metal sheet clad cage-like structure made from
prefabricated panels and ancillary components which are selected to
contribute to a structure which essentially becomes a lining of the
interior surfaces of an existing room of an existing structure (a
closet in most instances).
Inventors: |
Sissons, Paul; (Georgetown,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David G. Henry
900 Washington Avenue
Waco
TX
76703-1470
US
|
Family ID: |
29999945 |
Appl. No.: |
10/191000 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/79.9 ; 52/106;
52/127.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/14 20130101; E04C
2/384 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/79.9 ; 52/106;
52/127.5 |
International
Class: |
E04C 002/38 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A modular shelter comprising: a plurality of panels, each said
panel having attachment means for attachment to other said panels
for assembly of said plurality of said panels as an enclosure, each
said panel being configured as a grid of structural members; each
said panel having a cladding material affixed thereto to provide a
substantially solid outer surface; at least one of said panels
having an orifice defined in the structure thereof for admitting
persons or objects therethrough after said assebly.
2. The modular shelter of claim 1 wherein said attachment means
comprise: a plurality of bolt holes passing said structural members
of each said panel, and being positioned in each said panel whereby
a bolt may pass from one said panel to another said panel when said
panels are aligned for said assembly; a plurality of bolts sized
and shaped for passage through said bolt holes; a plurality of nuts
secured to said structural members adjacent to one of said bolt
holes for each pairing of two adjacent bolt holes of two adjacent
said panels when positioned for said assembly, said nuts positioned
for threadingly receiving one of said bolts as said one of said
bolts passes through said bolts holes for joining two said
panels.
3. The modular shelter of claim 1 wherein each said panel is
configured as a substantially parallel array of metallic bars
secured in position by a frame member, each said frame member of
each said panel having bolt holes positioned for alignment with
said bolt holes of said frame member of an adjacent said panel for
receiving bolts therethrough for securing said panels in an
assembled configuration of said panels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of The Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to storm and earthquake
shelters.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] Wind storms (hurricanes, straight-line winds from
thunderstorms and tornadoes) and earthquakes are potentially deadly
events for anyone under any circumstances. However, the risk is
much greater for persons in structures which have not been
specifically fortified to withstand the forces of wind and
earthquake.
[0005] However desirable, it is simply not an attainable goal to
fortify all dwellings and places of business sufficiently to
protect occupants from structural collapse and/or flying debris as
arises from wind storms and earthquakes. While new construction of
dwellings and business structures to achieve satisfactory levels of
wind storm and earthquake protection is quite costly, it can be
even more costly to essentially re-build and existing structure to
attain such an objective.
[0006] Near countless storm and earthquake shelter designs are
available to consumers. However, costs of acquisition and/or
construction is prohibitive for many consumers. Even for many who
would expend a reasonable sum for some degree of storm or
earthquake protection, conventional protection schemes are not
practical because of space limitations, excavation impediments,
building code restrictions, etc.
[0007] It would well serve countless millions of individuals to
have available and effective, affordable, and easily situated
shelter as would be effective in protecting people from the hazards
inherent in structural collapse or partial disintegration, together
with flying debris, all also issued with wind storms and
earthquakes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a modular storm and earthquake shelter
system.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
modular storm and earthquake shelter system which is designed for
placement within an existing room of an existing structure.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
modular storm and earthquake shelter system which provides a shell
of wind storm or earthquake protection within existing rooms of
existing structures.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
modular storm and earthquake shelter system which, because of its
configuration and method of construction, can both be placed within
an existing room of an existing structure and be substantially
coextensive with the interior dimensions of such room and thereby
be very unobtrusive.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
storm and earthquake shelter system which, because of its
construction from prefabricated panels, is more economical to
purchase and install than alternative, available storm and
earthquake shelter apparatuses.
[0013] In satisfaction of the foregoing objectives, the present
invention provides a modular storm and earthquake shelter system
and method fabrication thereof, which invention depends from the
assembly of a metal sheet clad cage-like structure made from
prefabricated panels and ancillary components which are selected to
contribute to a structure which essentially becomes a lining of the
interior surfaces of an existing room of an existing structure (a
closet in most instances).
[0014] When assembled and installed, embodiments of the present
invention provide a safe haven for occupants of a structure which
is otherwise inadequately fortified to withstand the forces of a
deadly and storm or earthquake. The panels for constructing an
embodiment of the present invention will, according to the best
mode of the present invention, be of dimensions such that the
completed structure will closely nest within an existing room or
closet. Thus, the structure will be quite unobtrusive, consuming
very little of the space of the existing room. Of course, it is
always an option for consumers to acquire an embodiment of the
present invention which, while incorporating the fundamental
aspects thereof, does not occupy the entire interior space of an
existing room, but rather occupies only a portion thereof (such as
when a safe haven is desired to be provided within the bounds of a
room larger than would be necessary to protect the occupants of any
given dwellings or structure).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled shelter
according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelter of FIG. 1 with a
structural panel shown exposed.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the preferred panels for
use in constructing the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an alternative configuration for panels for use in
constructing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shelter according to the
present invention without any exterior cladding for showing the
internal panel structure and assembly according to the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a panel with a door orifice
for use as one surface of a shelter of the preferred
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a non-door panel for use as
one surface of a shelter of the preferred embodiment.
[0022] FIGS. 8/8A is an elevational, partial cutaway view of a
panel of the preferred embodiment, which view depicts the bolt and
nut access cutaways in the metal sheet shelter cladding for use in
assembling a shelter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, the completed storm or earthquake
shelter according to present invention appears as merely a box with
and opening into the interior thereof. However, as the following
description will make clear, there is much more to the present
structure than meets the eye.
[0024] Referring principally to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a
storm or earthquake shelter according to the present invention is
identified generally by the referenced numeral 10. Whatever the
dimensions or overall shape of a storm or earthquake shelter of the
present invention (the rectangular example in FIGS. 1 and 2 being
one of a variety of possible, overall configurations), shelter 10
will be constructed, in part, of panels 12.
[0025] Referring initially to FIG. 3, each panel 12 is, in the
preferred embodiment, a square or rectangular grid of steel bars 14
welded within a perimeter frame 16. Referring to FIG. 4, and
alternative construction of panels useful in practicing the present
invention, and involving nested steel rectangles is depicted.
[0026] In any event, panels 12 will, when practicing the present
invention, and when assembled as intended, form a jail cell-like
structure of steel bars 14.
[0027] Referring principally to FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8/8A, assembly
of a storm or earthquake shelter 10 of the present invention
involves bolting panels 12 together. To that end, bolt holes (not
separately visible in the drawings) are formed through the
perimeter frame 16 of each panel for use with nut and bolt pairings
18, such bolt holes being oriented (as is clearly apparent in FIG.
2) to enable assembly of the desired, final configuration for
shelter 10.
[0028] Referring principally to FIGS. 1 and 8/8A,each panel 12 is
clad with metal sheets 20, both to provide additional structural
strength and to provide a barrier from small flying debris. Metal
sheets 20 are ultimately attached to the bars 14 and perimeter
frames 16 of panels 12 using rivets or other suitable fasteners are
to final assembly at an installation site. Some form of filler (not
shown in the drawings) may be provided in the spaces between bars
14, for sound dampening and/or additional projectile arresting
purposes. In the latter event, steel mesh sheets or KEVLAR sheets
will have some beneficial effect, and even steel wool packing will
likely provide some degree of additional protection.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 8/8A, cut outs 22 are provided in each
metal sheet 20 as is necessary to provide access to those portions
of each perimeter frame 16 of each panel 12 for connecting adjacent
panels 12 through use of nut and bolt pairings 18. For ease of
ultimate assembly, it is recommended that, before adding metal
sheets 20 to panels 12, the entire assembly of panels 12 for any
given project be bolted together and the nuts of each nut and bolt
pairing 18 be welded in place so that, at final assembly of a
shelter 10, a bolt need only be inserted through a bolt hole and
advanced into the then-stationery nut without risk of dropping a
nut into an unreachable portion of a panel 12.
[0030] Although not depicted in the drawings, additional holes are
provided in those panels 12 which are-used to form floor sections
of a shelter 10 so that the shelter 10 may be anchored to an
underlying floor surface (preferably a concrete slab).
[0031] The entrance to the shelter 10 will be made of panels with
different entrance and door designs, depending on the application.
Referring to FIG. 6, the preferred design will involve using two
panels 12, upper and lower, bolted together. As shown in FIG. 7,
one pannel will include an opening 24 approximating the dimensions
of the door to the room into which shelter 10 is to be nested. Such
a design allows full access to the shelter 10 without any
restrictions, such as a hinged door as might be attached to the
shelter 10. Of course, either when there is no door to be closely
matched for aesthetic or impediment avoidance purposes, or within
this felt that more structural strength will be achieved with a
smaller breach of the cage-like structure of shelter 10
* * * * *