Patent ID: 6415558
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: E04H,Y02A,Y10T

Abstract:
A low cost tornado shelter capable of being installed in an existing building for protecting occupants against building collapse and flying objects without the requirement of a separate frame assembly, said shelter comprising:a) connection members not being fastened to one another at their ends and having threaded apertures on two adjacent sides for affixing reinforced panels thereto; b) a plurality of reinforced panels defining elongated C-shaped channel members with closed ends, the channels of said members having apertures for bolting the members one to another and said closed ends having apertures for being bolted to the connection members or to a floor in said building without the necessity of first constructing a shelter frame assembly; c) threaded bolts for joining the C-shaped channel members to each other, to the connection members and to the floor to define a shelter housing with a door opening, said bolts being inserted from the interior of said shelter to facilitate assembly within said existing building structure and to provide emergency disassembly and egress; and d) a reinforced door formed of sheets having C-shaped channels on its sides and being swingably mounted to said shelter.