US20030126805A1

US20030126805A1 - Tornado or hurricane shelter

Info

Publication number: US20030126805A1
Application number: US10/036,475
Authority: US
Inventors: Clayton Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-07
Filing date: 2002-01-07
Publication date: 2003-07-10

Abstract

The Invention relates to a tornado or hurricane shelter that is located above ground and at ground surface, large enough to provide a place of safety for up to ten people and is handicap accessible. The structures shape is oblong and a oblong spherical radius at the top. The basic frame and doors are solid thick hardwood planks bonded together with glue and fastened with lag screws and the windows are high impact plastic fastened to the structure with bolts. The door is a two part door with a sight window in the top, the side windows are removable from inside and they blend to the shape of the structure. High strength wire ropes go over the shelter and attach to turnbuckles which attach to earth anchors installed deep into the earth. Wire ropes and where it attaches to the earth anchors with turnbuckles is covered with a non metallic cover. The upper part door attaches to the lower door and the lower door attaches to the basic structure with heavy duty hinges and latches that are commercially available.

A tornado can develop within half an hour or so with winds in excess of 200 miles per hour, while a hurricane can be tracked for a much longer time before it hits, dangerous lighting is present during tornadoes and hurricanes, Mobile homes, automobiles, trucks, and other weak structures should be avoided during these dangerous storms. It is important that people have a safe place to go within a close distance to where they live and work.

Description

FIG. IV Show the wire rope and earth anchor rod attached with a turnbuckle and covered with a non metallic cover.

DESCRIPTION

This invention is concerned with a shelter to be used or occupied during a tornado or hurricane. There are many ways to protect oneself from a tornado or hurricane such as basements, cellars, or other sturdy and rigid structures. This shelter is to placed above ground and is accessible to handicap people in wheel chairs or other disabilities. In the event of emergencies such as the door being blocked by a fallen tree or other objects the windows can be removed from inside the shelter for another way to exit the shelter after the storms have pasted.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a tornado or hurricane shelter that is placed above ground and at ground surface and it is easily accessible from near by homes or offices. To be strong enough so that high winds and flying objects can not move it from its location. To be handicap accessible, and that the materials used are commercial available and the cost are reasonable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I shows the basic invention in a perspective view. The shelter consist of radius ends and oblong spherical top, at the bottom a concrete slab for the floor to be poured on site prior to placing the shelter onto it, the two part door with a small window toward the top, the side window, turnbuckle covers, and a cut out into the earth showing the earth anchor in the earth and attaching to the anchor rod, which connects to the turnbuckle which connects to the wire rope, the wire rope is in a groove in the basic shelter. [0004]
FIG. II is a partial view of FIG. 1 and shows the top part of the door rotated open approximately 20 degrees about the lower part of the door. [0005]
FIG. III is a partial view of FIG. 1 and shows the lower part of the door rotated approximately 100 degrees about the basic shelter with the top part of the door in the same open position and connected to the lower part of the door, and shows the opening to inter and exit the shelter. [0006]
FIG. IV is a view from FIG. I that is rotated to show the anchor rod connected to the turnbuckle and the turnbuckle connected to the wire rope and covered by the non metallic cover.[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The operation of the invention when shaped, constructed and installed as described is handicap accessible and will provide a place of safety for up to ten persons during a tornado or hurricane. Obviously numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. [0008]

DESCRIPTION

This invention is concerned with a shelter to be used or occupied during a tornado or hurricane. There are many ways to protect oneself from a tornado or hurricane such as basements, cellars, or other sturdy and rigid structures. This shelter is to placed above ground and is accessible to handicap people in wheel chairs or other disabilities. In the event of emergencies such as the door being blocked by a fallen tree or other objects the windows can be removed from inside the shelter for another way to exit the shelter after the storms have pasted. [0009]

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a tornado or hurricane shelter that is placed above ground and at ground surface and it is easily accessible from near by homes or offices. To be strong enough so that high winds and flying objects can not move it from its location. To be handicap accessible, and that the materials used are commercial available and the cost are reasonable. [0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I shows the basic invention in a perspective view. The shelter consist of radius ends and oblong spherical top, at the bottom a concrete slab for the floor to be poured on site prior to placing the shelter onto it, the two part door with a small window toward the top, the side window, turnbuckle covers, and a cut out into the earth showing the earth anchor in the earth and attaching to the anchor rod, which connects to the turnbuckle which connects to the wire rope, the wire rope is in a groove in the basic shelter. [0011]
FIG. II is a partial view of FIG. I and shows the top part of the door rotated open approximately 20 degrees about the lower part of the door. [0012]
FIG. III is a partial view of FIG. I and shows the lower part of the door rotated approximately 100 degrees about the basic shelter with the top part of the door in the same open position and connected to the lower part of the door, and shows the opening to inter and exit the shelter. [0013]
FIG. IV is a view from FIG. I that is rotated to show the anchor rod connected to the turnbuckle and the turnbuckle connected to the wire rope and covered by the non metallic cover. [0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The operation of the invention when shaped, constructed and installed as described is handicap accessible and will provide a place of safety for up to ten persons during a tornado or hurricane. Obviously numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. [0015]

Claims

1. I claim that the shape; the radius ends and the oblong spherical top of the basic structure 1, and that the lower door 2, the upper door 3, and windows 4 and 5 blend to the shape of the basic structure 1, and will let 250 miles per hour winds pass over and around it from any direction

2. I claim that the solid thick walls and solid thick top of the basic structure 1, the solid thick lower door 2, and the solid thick upper door 3, and the high impact plastic windows 4 and 5, will stop a 2×4×10 foot long wood plank at 100 miles per hour and other flying objects and debris from entering the shelter at any location on the shelter.

3. I claim that that the earth anchors 6, connect to anchor rods 7, and connected to the turnbuckle 8, and connects to wire rope 9 will keep the shelter on its location when 250 miles per hour winds are pushing and pulling against it and when flying objects and debris are hitting it.

4. I claim the materials used for the basic structure 1 is hardwood and the lower door 2 and upper door 3 is hardwood and windows 4 and 5 is high impact plastic, wire ropes 9 are placed in a groove in basic structure 1 and covered with rubber, where the wire ropes 9 connect to turnbuckle 8 and connect to anchor rod 7 is covered with a non metallic cover will give low attraction to lighting.