Patent Publication Number: US-6339904-B1

Title: Skirt for a raised dwelling

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to dwelling skirts and more particularly pertains to a new skirt for a raised dwelling for restricting movement of air under a raised dwelling. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of dwelling skirts is known in the prior art. More specifically, dwelling skirts heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,326; U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,180; U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,085; U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,655; U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,888; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 355,494. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new skirt for a raised dwelling. The inventive device includes a panel. The panel has a front side and a back side. The panel has a top edge and a bottom edge. The panel is corrugated such that pleat folds are defined. The pleat folds have ridge and valley lines orientated generally parallel to the top edge of the panel. The panel has a plurality of sets of apertures therein. Each of the sets of apertures is positioned along a line orientated generally perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the panels. A space between each of the ridge and valley lines has one of the apertures therein. Each of a plurality of rods has a first end and a second end. The first ends are generally pointed. Each of the rods extends through one of the set of apertures, and the first ends of the rods are removably insertable in the ground. 
     In these respects, the skirt for a raised dwelling according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of restricting movement of air under a raised dwelling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of dwelling skirts now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new skirt for a raised dwelling construction wherein the same can be utilized for restricting movement of air under a raised dwelling. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the dwelling skirts mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new skirt for a raised dwelling which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art dwelling skirts, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a panel. The panel has a front side and a back side. The panel has a top edge and a bottom edge. The panel is corrugated such that pleat folds are defined. The pleat folds have ridge and valley lines orientated generally parallel to the top edge of the panel. The panel has a plurality of sets of apertures therein. Each of the sets of apertures is positioned along a line orientated generally perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the panels. A space between each of the ridge and valley lines has one of the apertures therein. Each of a plurality of rods has a first end and a second end. The first ends are generally pointed. Each of the rods extends through one of the set of apertures, and the first ends of the rods are removably insertable in the ground. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the dwelling skirts mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new skirt for a raised dwelling which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art dwelling skirts, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such skirt for a raised dwelling economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling for restricting movement of air under a raised dwelling. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling which includes a panel. The panel has a front side and a back side. The panel has a top edge and a bottom edge. The panel is corrugated such that pleat folds are defined. The pleat folds have ridge and valley lines orientated generally parallel to the top edge of the panel. The panel has a plurality of sets of apertures therein. Each of the sets of apertures is positioned along a line orientated generally perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the panels. A space between each of the ridge and valley lines has one of the apertures therein. Each of a plurality of rods has a first end and a second end. The first ends are generally pointed. Each of the rods extends through one of the set of apertures, and the first ends of the rods are removably insertable in the ground. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling that may be retrofitted to any raised dwelling and efficiently sizable to the lengths needed. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new skirt for a raised dwelling that has a fastening means for fastening the panel to the dwelling and for blocking the site of the panel when the panel is in a raised position. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new skirt for a raised dwelling according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side-cross sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the panel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new skirt for a raised dwelling embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the skirt for a raised dwelling  10  generally comprises a panel  12 . The panel  12  has a front side and a back side. The panel  12  has a top edge  14  and a bottom edge  16 . The panel  12  is corrugated such that pleat folds are defined. The pleat folds have ridge  18  and valley  20  lines orientated generally parallel to the top edge  14  of the panel  12 . The panel  12  has a plurality of sets of apertures  22  therein. Each of the sets of apertures  22  is positioned along a line orientated generally perpendicular to the top  14  and bottom  16  edges of the panels  12 . Ideally, the spaces for the apertures are formed by perforations  24  in the panel  12  such that only the amount of sets of apertures  22  needed may be used. A space between each of the ridge  18  and valley  20  lines has one of the apertures  22  therein. The panel  12  comprises a resiliently flexible material, which is preferably a plastic. 
     A fastening means  26  fastens the panel to a bottom edge  72  of a dwelling  70  which is raised above the ground. The fastening means is elongated, and has a first wall  28  integrally coupled to a second wall  30 . The first  28  and second  30  walls are orientated generally perpendicular to each other, such that the fastening means  26  has an L-shaped cross-section taken transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fastening means  26 . The first wall  28  is coupled to the dwelling  70  with a coupling means  32 , such as a screw or nail, so that the second wall  30  extends downwardly from the dwelling  70 . The top edge  14  of the panel  12  is fixedly coupled to the first wall  28  such that the panel  12  extends downwardly from the dwelling  70 . The fastening means  26  is orientated such that the second wall  30  has an outside surface  34  facing away from the dwelling  70  such that the second wall  30  shields the panel  12  from view when it is in a collapsed position as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Each of a plurality of rods  36  has a first end  38  and a second end  40 . The first end  38  is generally pointed, and each of the rods  36  extends through one of the set of apertures  22 . The second ends  40  are removably coupled to the first wall  28  of the fastening means  26 . The first ends  38  of the rods are removably insertable in the ground. 
     A securing means  42  selectively secures the panel  12  in a compacted position as shown in FIG.  3 . The securing means  42  comprises a plurality of straps. Each of the straps has a first end  44  a second end  46 . Each of the first ends  44  is fixedly coupled to the top edge  14  of the panel  12  and is positioned between the panel and the second wall  30 . Each of the second ends  46  is removably fastened to the dwelling  70  by hook and loop fastening means. The hook portions  48  are fixedly coupled to the straps and positioned generally adjacent to the second ends  46 . The loop portions  50  are fixedly coupled to the dwelling  70  and positioned such that the hook portion  48  may communicate with the loop portion  50 . 
     In use, the panels  12  are coupled to the dwelling  70  using the fastening means  26 , which also acts as a visual shield when the panels are in a compacted position. The rods  36  stabilize the panels  12  so that they do not move with airflow. The panels  12  are positioned around the perimeter of the dwelling  70  and are placed in an extended position to restrict movement of air under the dwelling. This restriction promotes conservation of heat within the dwelling. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.