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).

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]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled shelter according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelter of FIG. 1 with a structural panel shown exposed.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the preferred panels for use in constructing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an alternative configuration for panels for use in constructing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [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]    [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]    [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 / 8 A 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 / 8 A, 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/ 8 A,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 / 8 A, 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