U.S. patent application number 13/840219 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for storm shelter.
This patent application is currently assigned to STAYING HOME CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is STAYING HOME CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Troy S. Bowers, Michael D. Vogt.
Application Number | 20140259976 13/840219 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51520881 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140259976 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bowers; Troy S. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
STORM SHELTER
Abstract
A storm shelter (20) is provided which includes a front wall
(22), rear wall (24), and retractable side wall (28, 30) and top
wall (26) assemblies, whereby the shelter to be easily deployed and
thereafter stowed between a retracted storage condition and an
expanded use condition. The front wall (22) is equipped with a door
(38), which can be selectively locked or unlocked so as to allow
opening of the door from the inside or outside of the shelter. The
shelter (20) is particularly useful when installed in a basement,
garage, residence, commercial or industrial building, school or
other habitable area, and provides excellent safety and
security.
Inventors: |
Bowers; Troy S.;
(Harrisonville, MO) ; Vogt; Michael D.;
(Harrisonville, MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STAYING HOME CORPORATION |
Harrisonville |
MO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
STAYING HOME CORPORATION
Harrisonville
MO
|
Family ID: |
51520881 |
Appl. No.: |
13/840219 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/79.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/14 20130101; Y02A
50/00 20180101; E04B 1/3445 20130101; Y02A 50/14 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/79.5 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/343 20060101
E04B001/343; E04H 9/14 20060101 E04H009/14 |
Claims
1. A shelter comprising: a back wall; a front wall; a top wall; and
a pair of laterally spaced apart sidewall assemblies operably
interconnecting said back wall and front wall in order to permit
selective movement of one of the front and back wall relative to
the other, between a retracted storage position wherein the front
and back walls are relatively proximal to each other, and an
expanded use position wherein the front and back wall are
relatively spaced from each other, to define, with said top wall
and said sidewall assemblies, an enclosed space.
2. The shelter of claim 1, said front wall including an openable
door permitting access to an interior of the shelter when the
shelter is in the expanded or retracted position thereof.
3. The shelter of claim 1, including structure operable to secure
said shelter to a support surface.
4. The shelter of claim 1, said front wall having a pair of
transverse, rearwardly extending side margins each supporting a
wheel to facilitate movement of the front wall towards and away
from the back wall.
5. The shelter of claim 4, said back wall having a pair of
transverse, forwardly extending side margins, said rearwardly
extending front wall margins overlying said back wall side margins
when said shelter is in said retracted storage position.
6. The shelter of claim 1, each of said sidewall assemblies
including a forward panel and a rearward panel, said forward panel
being pivotally coupled with said front wall and said rear panel
pivotally coupled to said back wall, said front and rear panels
being pivotally connected together, said forward and rearward
panels being in substantial alignment when said shelter is in said
expanded use position, said forward and rearward panels being
pivoted towards each other when said shelter is in said retracted
storage position.
7. The shelter of claim 6, including cross-brace structure operable
to maintain said forward and rearward panels in said substantial
alignment when the shelter is in said expanded use position.
8. The shelter of claim 7, said cross-brace structure comprising a
generally U-shaped bracket secured to each of the inner faces of
said forward and rearward panels, and a rigid cross-bar received
within said channels and spanning the pivotal connection between
forward and rearward panels.
9. The shelter of claim 1, said top wall assembly comprising a pair
of side-by-side front and rear panels, said front panel being
pivotally connected to said front wall, said rear panel pivotally
connected to said back wall, said front and rear panels being
pivotally interconnected for movement between an aligned condition
when the shelter is in said expanded use position, and an upwardly
extended condition when the shelter is said retracted storage
position.
10. The shelter of claim 9, including an oblique pivot rod
operatively connected to the pivotal connection between said front
and rear panels and said back wall to facilitate movement of said
top wall between said expanded use position and said retracted
storage position.
11. The shelter of claim 1, said front wall including an openable
door permitting access to an interior of the shelter, including a
door locking assembly accessible both within said enclosed space
and exteriorly of said shelter for selective locking and unlocking
of said door.
12. The shelter of claim 11, said locking assembly comprising a
slide lock operably supported on the interior face of said door and
including a shiftable locking member engageable with a
corresponding locking portion of the front wall, said locking
member shiftable between an unlocked position out of engagement
with said locking portion and an extended position wherein said
member is engaged with said locking portion, there being a slot
extending through said door, and an operator secured to said
locking member extending through said door slot, whereby said
locking member may be shifted between said unlocked position and
said locked position by manipulation of said operator exteriorly of
the shelter.
13. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the front wall includes an
upright panel and a bottom rail adjustably mounted to the upright
panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is concerned with a storm shelter for
protecting occupants against violent weather such as hurricanes and
tornados. More particularly, it is concerned with a storm shelter
which is selectively expandable and retractable between a retracted
or folded storage position and an expanded use position. The
preferred storm shelters of the invention are particularly suited
for use in interior confined areas, such as basements. In
particularly preferred embodiments, the storm shelter may be
provided with armor which allows the storm shelter to be used as a
safe room for protection against intruders.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Traditionally, persons seeking shelter from violent weather
such as tornados, hurricanes and the like sought protection in
underground areas such as shelters dug into the earth or basements.
These traditional storm shelters used the surrounding earth and/or
concrete walls and either framed or concrete ceilings to protect
the occupants from the consequences of violent weather such as high
winds, flying debris, and falling or collapsing structures.
[0005] More recently, various designs for storm shelters have been
developed either as stand-alone shelters or which augment
traditional basements or storm shelters dug into the earth.
Examples of these more recent designs for storm shelters include
those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,481,837, 5,953,866, 6,085,475,
6,131,343, 6,385,920, 6,401,403, 6,401,409, D466,220, 6,948,281,
7,797,888, D640,390 and 8,176,692.
[0006] The desire for additional protection within a structure
intended for human occupation is not limited to protection against
inclement weather. There may also arise a need for protecting the
occupants of structures against intruders, such as those carrying
firearms or other weapons which threaten the safety of occupants.
So-called "safe rooms" have been constructed to provide such
protection.
[0007] While both traditional and the aforementioned more recent
designs for storm shelters and so-called safe rooms provide
improved protection against violent weather and/or intruders, they
suffer a common drawback in that whether above or below ground,
they occupy considerable space and/or require excavation or
expensive construction.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a simplified,
relatively low cost storm shelter design which can be unobtrusively
stored in a retracted or folded condition, but which can be readily
opened to an expanded use position to provide shelter on a moment's
notice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above,
and provides a high-strength storm shelter, which can be readily
moved between a retracted or folded storage position and an
expanded use position presenting an enclosed space. The shelter may
be used in an indoor location such as a basement, or may be used in
outdoor locations. The shelter includes a back wall, an opposed
front wall, and a top wall. A pair of laterally spaced apart
sidewall assemblies operably interconnect the back and front walls
in order to permit selective movement of one of the front and back
walls relative to the other between a retracted storage position
wherein the front and back walls are relatively proximal to each
other, and an expanded use position wherein the front and back wall
are relatively spaced from each other. Preferably, the back wall is
designed to be stationary and to be affixed to a floor and/or wall,
with the front wall, top wall, and said sidewall assemblies
retractable relative to the back wall.
[0010] In preferred practice, the front wall is equipped with an
openable door and locking structure, and the sidewall assemblies
are centrally hinged so as to retract or fold inwardly when the
shelter is in its storage position. Likewise, the top wall has a
pair of panels hinged so that, as the shelter is retracted, the top
wall panels pivot to a retracted position.
[0011] The shelter may be used in the event of anticipated violent
weather, or alternately as a safe room. In the latter event, the
components of the shelter may be formed of heavy duty armor metal.
But, in any case, the shelters of the invention may be easily moved
between the retracted and expanded positions thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a storm shelter in
accordance with the invention, illustrating the shelter in its
fully expanded, use configuration;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of storm shelter
illustrated in FIG. 1, viewing one sidewall and the rear wall of
the shelter;
[0014] FIG. 3 is another bottom perspective view of the storm
shelter illustrated in FIG. 1, viewing one sidewall and the front
wall of the shelter;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelter in its retracted
condition, viewing the inner face of the front wall of the
shelter;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shelter in its fully
expanded, use position, with the front entrance door being
open;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the shelter illustrated
in FIG. 5, and viewing the rear wall thereof;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the shelter, shown in
a partially expanded position to depict the retractable, inwardly
foldable sidewalls of the shelter;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top view of the partially expanded
shelter illustrated in FIG. 7;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side view of the shelter illustrated in FIGS.
7-8;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the
shelter in its fully retracted condition to illustrate the details
of the foldable, retractable sidewalls;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the shelter in its
fully retracted, storage position;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the fully retracted shelter
illustrated in FIG. 11;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a side view of the fully retracted shelter
illustrated in FIGS. 10-11;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, perspective, exploded view of the
outer face of the entrance door of the shelter, showing components
of the locking mechanism for the door; and
[0026] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, perspective, exploded view of the
inner face of the entrance door of the shelter, and showing the
locking mechanism for the door.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Turning now to the drawings, a storm shelter 20 is
illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 in its fully expanded, use position.
Generally speaking, the shelter 20 includes a front wall 22, an
opposed rear wall 24, a top wall assembly 26, and a pair of
laterally spaced apart sidewall assemblies 28 and 30. As
illustrated, in the expanded or use position, the shelter 20
provides an internal space or region 32 of sufficient size to hold
and protect several individuals.
[0028] In more detail, the front wall 22 includes a segmented outer
panel 34 having a central doorway 36 with a swingable door 38
mounted therein on an upright, heavy duty piano hinge 40. As shown
in FIG. 5, for example, the outer panel 34 may include outboard
outer panel sections 34a and an intermediate outer panel section
34b located above doorway 36. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,
the panel 34 is supported on an internal frame including a bottom
rail 42 and a pair of upright, bolted together, vertical
reinforcements 44 and 46 respectively located on opposite sides of
doorway 36, and a segmented top panel 48 having the segments
thereof interconnected by means of inner and outer connector plates
50, and with the outboard segments equipped with slots 51. The
bottom rail 42 may be mounted by bolts 41 extending through upright
slots 43 through the outer panel 34 and plates 45 secured to the
bottom rail 42 and held by nuts 47 whereby the bottom rail 42 may
be adjusted relative to the outer panel 34 to accommodate a slope
or uneven surface in a supporting surface. The front wall 22 also
has, adjacent each lateral end thereof, an inner, rearwardly and
transversely extending box beams 52, and an outer, rearwardly and
transversely extending side marginal plate 54; a wheel 56 is
mounted to each marginal plate 54 for purposes to be described. The
forward edge of top panel 48 is equipped with an elongated,
upstanding abutment plate 58, whereas the rearward edge thereof has
a laterally extending tension bar 59 which provides reinforcement
and aids the connector plates 50 in retaining the segments of the
top panel 48 in a connected, side-by-side position.
[0029] The rear wall 24 is in opposition to front wall 24 and
includes an imperforate, segmented rear panel 60 interconnected by
means of an internal, interconnected grid of vertically and
horizontally extending reinforcements 62 and 64. The panel 60 also
has a pair of forwardly extending side marginal plates 66, and a
forwardly extending top panel 68. An abutment plate 70 is secured
to the upper margin of panel 60, as shown. The bottom edges of the
panel 60 and marginal plates 66 have interconnected, inwardly
extending floor connection flanges 72, which receive connectors 74.
As explained below, the flanges 72 effectively form the connection
base for the shelter 20.
[0030] Top wall assembly 26 is made up of a pair of laterally
extending, front and rear top panels 76 and 78 interconnected by
means of an elongated piano hinge 80. A pair of identical,
elongated links 82 are respectively pivoted to each of the side
marginal plates 66 and the adjacent end of piano hinge 80. The
forward end of panel 76 has an elongated, outwardly extending,
generally L-shaped leg 84, and similarly the rearward edge of panel
78 is equipped with an elongated, rearwardly extending, L-shaped
leg 86. As explained in more detail below, when the shelter 20 is
expanded from its retracted to its expanded, use position, the top
wall assembly 28 extends outwardly by virtue of the pivoting of the
links 82 and the action of piano hinge 80, in order to cover the
internal space or region 32.
[0031] The sidewall assemblies 28 and 30 are mirror images of each
other, and thus only a single such assembly need be described. In
particular, the sidewall assembly 28 includes upright front and
rear panels 88 and 90 interconnected by means of a vertically
extending central piano hinge 92. The forward edge of panel 88 is
pivotally connected to the adjacent box beam 52 by means of upright
piano hinge 94; likewise, the rear edge of panel 90 is pivotally
connected to the endmost vertical reinforcement 62 via hinge 96. In
order to maintain the sidewalls in the extended use position
thereof, the interior surface of the panels 88, 90 are equipped
with generally U-shaped clips 97, which receive cross-braces 97a,
which extends substantially the full distance between the front and
rear walls 22, 24 (FIG. 2).
[0032] The door 38 is provided with a locking arrangement, which
allows the door to be opened from either the inside or the outside
of the shelter. Specifically, the door 38 has a handle 98 and three
vertically spaced apart substantially L-shaped slots 100. The
interior of the door has three identical locking assemblies 102.
Each such assembly includes an elongated, tubular guide 104, a
spaced abutment plate 106, and an L-shaped locking member 108
equipped with an outwardly extending operator rod 110.
Additionally, a vertical locking plate 112 is provided adjacent
doorway 36 and has three vertically spaced apart, strategically
located locking apertures 114 therethrough. In order to lock 38
when the shelter is in its expanded use configuration, each of the
locking members 108 are manipulated individually, to first align
the operator rod 110 thereof with a corresponding slot 100,
followed by rotation of the member 108 to align the end thereof
with the adjacent guide 104. Thereupon, the member 108 is rotated
with the operator rod 110 within the slot 100, and the member 108
is then axially slid along the length of the slot to cause the
member 108 to pass through guide 104 and into the adjacent locking
aperture 114. In the final step, the member 108 is rotated
downwardly to come into close adjacency with the abutment plate
106. In this condition, the door 38 is firmly locked and
inadvertent movement of the member 108 is prevented by means of the
plate 106. As can be appreciated, the door 38 may be opened by
reversing this procedure from inside the shelter 20. However, the
door may also be opened by manipulation of the operator rods 110
from the exterior of the shelter. In the event that the shelter 20
is to be used as a safe room, the locking members 108 may be
manipulated in the same fashion to lock door 38, except that the
rods 110 remain inside the enclosure so that an intruder does not
have the ability to open door 38.
[0033] In the use of storm shelter 20, the unit is first securely
attached to a concrete or similar floor, such as the floor 116
illustrated in FIG. 1, through use of the connectors 74 passed
through the connection base afforded by the flanges 72. The shelter
may be retracted or expanded, as desired by the user. In the
expanded condition (FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6), the front wall 22 is fully
separated from the rear wall 24; the sidewall assemblies 28 and 30
are likewise fully extended; and the top wall assembly is fully
extended. In more detail, as the front wall 22 is shifted
forwardly, it rolls on the wheels 56 over the floor surface, and
the panels 88 and 90 of the sidewall assemblies move from a
retracted position to a fully extended position by appropriate
pivoting of the hinges 92-96. Furthermore, during this sequence,
the links 82 pivot the top wall panels 76 and 78 through the medium
of the central hinge 80 until the respective legs 84 and 86 come
into contact respectively with the top panels 48 and 68. In this
manner, interior space or region 32 of the shelter is formed and is
completely surrounded by the structure of the shelter. The
occupants can then enter the shelter through doorway 36 and close
and lock the door 38, as previously described using the locking
assemblies 102. In order to ensure that the shelter is maintained
in its expanded position, cross-braces 97a are placed within the
sidewall clips 97.
[0034] When the occupants desire to leave the shelter 20, the
locking assemblies 102 are released and the door 38 is opened.
Thereupon, to store the storm shelter 20 in a minimized volume
condition, the front wall 22 can be pushed toward rear wall 24. As
this occurs, the sidewall assemblies 28 and 30 fold together and
top wall assembly 26 simultaneously retracts. Specifically, the
front and rear top panels 76 and 78 pivot together through the
medium of central hinge 80 and links 82. The latter being
accommodated by the slots 51. Simultaneously, the sidewall assembly
panels 88 and 90 retract by folding inwardly around the hinges
92-96. In the fully retracted condition of the shelter 20 (FIGS.
10-13), the side marginal plates 54 of the front wall 22 form the
outer margin of the shelter, with the rear wall marginal plates 66
inboard thereof. The L-shaped legs 84, 86 of the front and rear top
panels 76, 78 also come into engagement with the abutment plates 58
and 70 (FIG. 13).
[0035] It will also be appreciated that an additional supporting
connection can be afforded the shelter 20 by connecting rear panel
60 to an upright wall. This additional connection does not detract
from the operability of the shelter 20 and is sometimes recommended
in order to provide a maximum strength and security.
[0036] Additionally, it will be understood that the components of
the shelter 20 are preferably formed of high-strength metal,
particularly if it is anticipated that the shelter will be used as
a safe room. If further protection and security is desired,
additional armor plates can be connected to the structure or
ballistic fabric such as Kevlar blankets could be installed by the
occupants on the interior of the front wall, sidewalls and top wall
assembly. Even with heavy duty armor materials, the shelter can be
readily expanded or retracted without difficulty.
* * * * *