Abstract:
The present invention relates to prefabricated rooms and the construction thereof. More particularly, the present invention, relates to prefabricated sealed rooms that serve as a room for daily use and protects from weapons of mass destructions such as nuclear fallout, biological or chemical weapons, and natural disasters.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/837,131 filed on Aug. 11, 2006. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to prefabricated rooms and the construction thereof. More particularly the present invention relates to prefabricated sealed rooms that serve as a spare room and protects from weapons of mass destructions such as nuclear fallout, biological or chemical weapons, and natural disasters. Prefabricated rooms and rooms used for protection against weapons of mass destruction or natural disasters are widely known in the construction industry. However, prefabricated rooms that provide protection from weapons of mass destruction and also serve as normal living space that can be used on a daily basis have not been created. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,417 to Zachry discloses concrete rooms, each having an integrally cast top segment, consisting of a top panel and three sidewalls, and a precast floor segment secured to the top segment during its integral casting, are stacked on top of one another to form a rigid structure of multiple floors. While Zachry discloses precast rooms that are stackable, the precast rooms disclosed in Zachry fails to provide the protection necessary in the event of an attack by weapons of mass destruction. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,899 to Janitzky discloses an underground protective shelter installation with several protective cells connected to one another, the cells being assembled of prefinished steel reinforced concrete components which are hermetically sealed to one another and braced by clamping. Unlike the present invention, the invention in Janitzky does not provide the ability for the room to be used for every day purposes as the underground protective shelter are built underground without additions that would make it usable daily. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,233 to Fukutomi et al. discloses a concrete prefabricated basement having a number of underground units, each of which includes a bottom plate portion having a generally rectangular shape and a side plate portion, to form a rectangular box structure with an open top. The differences in Fukutomi as compared to the present invention is that Fukutomi does not provide protection against weapons of mass destruction and is limited to underground usage. 
         [0008]    US 20010037615 to Reich discloses a prefabricatable enclosure which includes a unitary solid enclosure having entry means and an open bottom, the enclosure is made of materials having sufficient strength to withstand tornado and hurricane forced winds. The shortcomings of the following prior art is that it does not provide protection against weapons of mass destruction and the open bottom allows for the entrance of contaminate materials. 
         [0009]    FR 255881 to Klein is a French patent that disclosed a device for protecting the occupant from nuclear, biological, and chemical fallout. It consists of a sealed casing with access doors, an armored shutter, and a filtration and ventilation system. However, like the other inventions above, Klein has several shortcomings, namely, that Klein cannot be used as a dual purpose room because of the manner of construction. 
         [0010]    Therefore, the present invention provides both a prefabricated sealed room that provides protection from weapons of mass destruction and natural disasters, and also a room that could be utilized as an additional room that could be lived in on a daily basis. By providing a dual purpose prefabricated sealed room, the present invention provides a room that protects the occupants and is an inexpensive, usable addition to a dwelling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention relates to prefabricated rooms and the construction thereof. More particularly, the present invention, relates to prefabricated sealed rooms that serve as a spare room and protects from weapons of mass destructions such as nuclear fallout, biological, or chemical weapons as well as natural disasters. The prefabricated sealed room is made of reinforced concrete and synchronized corners. The usage of reinforced concrete protects the prefabricated sealed room from shocks caused by weapons of mass destruction or natural calamities. The prefabricated sealed room can also be integrated into the production process of a building. Each prefabricated sealed room can be substantially sealed from the external environment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a sectional top view of the prefabricated sealed room in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a sectional front view of the prefabricated sealed room along A-A in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the prefabricated sealed room along B-B in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the prefabricated sealed room along C-C in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the prefabricated sealed room along D-D in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6 through 9  are different perspective views of the prefabricated sealed room in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     FIGURES 
     Reference Numerals 
       [0000]    
       
           10  . . . Prefabricated Room 
           12  . . . Front Wall 
           14  . . . Rear wall 
           16  . . . First Sidewall 
           18  . . . Second Sidewall 
           20  . . . First Front Corner 
           22  . . . Second Front Corner 
           24  . . . First Back Corner 
           26  . . . Second Back Corner 
           28  . . . Partition Wall 
           30  . . . Stairs 
           32  . . . First chamber 
           34  . . . First Wall 
           36  . . . Second Wall 
           38  . . . Bottom Portion of the Second Chamber 
           40  . . . Top Portion of the Second Chamber 
           42  . . . Circumferential Wall of the Top Portion 
           44  . . . Lockable Grate 
           46  . . . Top Slab 
           48  . . . Awning 
           50  . . . Sealing Door 
           52  . . . Sealing Window 
           54  . . . Rung 
           56  . . . Sliding Window 
           58  . . . Ventilation and Filtration System 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    The novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 . The present invention is a prefabricated sealed room  10  that protects from nuclear fallout, biological and chemical contaminates, and natural disasters, which may be used as an extra room or the like, on a daily basis but also provide protection in cases of emergency. The prefabricated sealed room  10  is a unitary element and is preferably made of reinforced concrete. 
         [0044]    The prefabricated sealed room  10  can be installed below ground, at ground level, or above ground. The prefabricated sealed room  10 , when installed below ground level, offers substantial protection against shocks caused by blasts or natural calamities. However, the prefabricated sealed room  10  can also be annexed to a main building, separate from a building, placed below a building or multiple prefabricated rooms could be made and stacked one above another. The prefabricated sealed room  10 , as it is sealed, prevents the penetration of unwanted biological and/or chemical agents, water and etc. The circulation of fresh and clean air can be facilitated by a ventilation and filtration system  58  installed within the prefabricated sealed room  10 . Further, the prefabricated sealed room  10  can be connected with electricity and communication sources. The prefabricated sealed room  10  is produced at a low cost and can be installed quickly and easily. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the prefabricated sealed room  10  is defined by a floor slab which may be rectangular, a plurality of load-bearing walls extending from the four edges of the floor slab, and a ceiling on top of the load bearing walls. The plurality of load bearing walls are classified into a front wall  12 , a rear wall  14 , a first sidewall  16 , and a second sidewall  18 . Also, four corners are formed as the four load bearing walls are joined together; the corners are classified as a first front corner  20 , a second front corner  22 , a first back corner  24 , and a second back corner  26  at the intersections of the front wall  12  and the first sidewall  16 , front wall  12  and the second sidewall  18 , rear wall  14  and the first sidewall  16 , and the rear wall  14  and the second sidewall  18  respectively. The different components of the prefabricated sealed room  10  should also be synchronized, meaning that the components are put together so well that unwanted contaminates cannot penetrate the room, through the connection points, even if sealing materials are not used. 
         [0046]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the prefabricated sealed room  10  may further comprise a partition wall  28  being parallel to the first and the second sidewalls,  16  &amp;  18 . The partition wall  28  vertically extends to the ceiling. Stairs  30  may be located between the partition wall  28  and the first sidewall  16  depending on where the prefabricated sealed room  10  will be located. A portion of the front wall  12  and the first sidewall  16  at the first front corner  20  are substantially thinner compared to the rest of the portion of the same walls. 
         [0047]    The prefabricated sealed room  10  may be further divided into two portions, namely, a hallway portion and a room portion. The hallway portion of the prefabricated sealed room  10  is defined by the partition wall  28 , first sidewall  16 , a portion of the front wall  12  near the first front corner  20 , and a portion of the rear wall  14  near the first back corner  24 . The hallway portion of the prefabricated sealed room  10  may include stairs  30  depending on where the prefabricated sealed room  10  is located. The rest of the portion of the prefabricated sealed room  10  is termed as the room portion. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the prefabricated sealed room  10  further comprises a first chamber  32  located at the second front corner  22 , and a second chamber located on top of the first chamber  32 . The first chamber  32  is defined by a second front corner-portion of the floor slab, front wall  12 , and the second sidewall  18 , and a portion of a first wall  34  that is parallel to the front wall  12 , a portion of the second wall  36  that is parallel to the second sidewall  18 , and an intermediate slab being parallel to the second front corner-portion of the floor slab and connecting the four circumferential walls. The first and the second walls,  34  and  36 , vertically extend to the ceiling. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4  and  FIG. 8 , the second chamber can be divided into a bottom portion  38  and a top portion  40 . The combined height of the first chamber  32  and the bottom portion  38  of the second chamber equals the height of the prefabricated sealed room  10  and therefore the top portion  40  of the second chamber is located above the ceiling. The bottom portion  38  of the second chamber is defined by the intermediate slab as its floor, a portion of the front wall  12 , a portion of the second sidewall  18 , a portion of the first wall  34 , a portion of the second wall  36 , and a portion of the ceiling covering the first wall  34 , and partially covering the second wall  36  and the second sidewall  18  so as to form an opening on top of the bottom portion  38  of the second chamber. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4  and  FIGS. 6 through 9 , the top portion  40  of the second chamber is defined by four circumferential walls  42  vertically extending over four edges of the opening, and a top slab  46  located above the four circumferential walls  42  as a ceiling. A lockable grate  44  is included in circumferential wall  42 , which is located over the second sidewall  18 . An awning  48  is supported over the grate  44  so as to prevent the unwanted admission of rainwater, and the like. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , the entrance into the room portion of the prefabricated sealed room  10  is facilitated through a sealing door  50  in the partition wall  28 , the door  50  is protected by the oppositely located first sidewall  16 . The door  50  is preferably made of a light material that is blast proof and can seal the room from unwanted contaminates. Heights of the thin walls near the stairs  30  could be adjusted as necessary for the stairs  30  depending on the construction of the stairs  30 . The thin walls exist so the compaction of the soil could be completed if the prefabricated sealed room  10  is installed underground. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and  FIG. 8 , the second chamber is accessible through a sealing window  52  located in that portion of the second wall  36 , which pertains to the bottom portion  38  of the second chamber. The sealing window  52  is preferably made of blast proof materials but can be utilized like a regular window. Rungs  54  are provided on the first chamber  32  and located directly below the sealing window  52  so as to facilitate ingress and egress into the second chamber. A sliding window  56  is located within the second wall  36  such that it can be closed over the sealing window  52 . The sliding window  56  is for protecting the sealing window  52  and is preferably made of steel. Normally, the sliding window  56  is kept open in non-emergency situation. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  7 , and  8 , the grate  44  also serves as an emergency exit. A rung  54  is provided within the bottom portion  38  of the second chamber on the second sidewall  18  and located directly below the grate  44 . The rung  54  facilitates ingress/egress through the grate  44 . 
         [0054]    The sealing window  52 , and the door  50  includes outer frames along each of their four sides. The outer frame includes sealing materials such as rubber or a similar material so that when the door  50  and/or the window  52  are closed, the sealing material is compressed between the door  50  and its frame, or window  52  and its frame, thereby sealing the room portion air tight. 
         [0055]    The electrical and communication systems are concealed in the walls of the prefabricated sealed room  10  and may include sealants to further insulate the prefabricated sealed room  10  from outside contaminates. The prefabricated sealed room  10  is also provided with an anchor assembly (not shown) so as to add portability feature to it. The prefabricated room  10  includes an insulation and waterproof system. 
         [0056]    In an alternative embodiment, the prefabricated sealed room  10  is built and divided in sections for ease of transportation to the construction site. Once at the construction site, the sections of the prefabricated sealed room  10  are reassembled and the connecting joints are sealed with sealing materials. 
         [0057]    To assemble the prefabricated sealed room  10  on-site, if the room is to be located underground, the ground needs to be excavated followed by its compaction and compression. Further, depending on the type of soil, the ground bed needs to be filled and the foundations need to be leveled. Thus, once the site is ready, the prefabricated sealed room  10  is to be placed therein as aided by the anchor system. Subsequently, the insulation and waterproof system needs to be installed. Back filling the perimeter including compressing in layers. Further, the grate  44 , the awning  48 , the windows,  52  &amp;  56 , and the door  50 , the downward staircase  30 , the filtration system  58 , and etc, may be installed into the prefabricated sealed room  10  during manufacture or after installation of the prefabricated sealed room  10 . Finally, the interior of the prefabricated sealed room  10  needs to be painted, floored, and so on, thereby completing the assemblage of the prefabricated sealed room  10  on-site. These assemblages may be added during the initial manufacture of the prefabricated sealed room  10  or after the prefabricated sealed room  10  has been installed at the site. 
         [0058]    All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0059]    While specific systems and methods have been disclosed in the preceding description, it should be understood that these specifics have been given for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the present invention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to those who are versed in the art.