Patent Publication Number: US-6981347-B1

Title: Modular emergency shelter system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to temporary shelters for the homeless or other emergency uses, and more particularly to a grouping of specially designed modules to be utilized by individuals for sleeping compartments and storage of belongings. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Problems of homelessness, especially in cities and especially in the South are well known. In greater Los Angeles a large homeless population is concentrated near downtown which is generally vacated by working people at night, and in surrounding cities that tolerate the homeless such as Santa Monica. The needs of the homeless are acute at night when they need sleep, the weather is cold and safety is more of an issue. Additionally, once an individual has been homeless for any period of time it is difficult to get off the streets and back into regular job to earn sufficient income for housing, especially where rents are high such as in most parts of Los Angeles. 
   Local governments and certain private charitable groups provide certain community shelters in large buildings for the homeless, but the number of spaces available falls far short of the needs of the homeless. In the County of Los Angeles it is estimated there are 84,000 homeless on the streets and only 22,000 beds available for them in such community shelters. Many are turned away even after traveling to a shelter and waiting in line, even in inclimate weather. Providing shelter for the homeless thorough such large buildings is also very costly on a per bed basis. Moreover, crowding the homeless into community shelters creates an unpleasant environment, as they lack privacy or separation from others, such that there are noise, health and security problems. 
   For a time in the 1980s a tent city for the homeless was allowed to exist for a time in the plaza of the civic center for the County of Orange in Santa Ana, approximately 35 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Following public complaints the homeless were rounded up and removed from the area, although some in later years recovered large judgments from the city for being mistreated. In 1993 Dome Village opened near a freeway just west of downtown Los Angeles. The village includes twelve (12) architecturally distinct domes (costing up to $10,000 each), each of which house four (4) homeless individuals. While this is an improvement on a small scale over large community shelters, the inventor is informed four persons in each dome still leads to many problems. 
   From time-to-time natural disasters such as large fires, earthquakes, and the like occur in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Emergency shelter is needed and usually provided through opening up of large buildings such as school gymnasiums and the like, or tent cities. As an alternative, individualized modular shelter units as proposed by the inventor might be preferable and more economical emergency shelter when natural disasters occur. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An emergency shelter module includes a long rectangular box-like structure, having curved interior sidewalls, defining an area for a person in a lying down position. The interior sidewalls are curved for aesthetic and functional reasons, including for ease of cleaning the same. Further, the box-like structure has exterior sidewalls extending to an opposing end of the shelter unit defining a second separate area for storage of the person&#39;s belongings. Preferably the interior volume for the person resting or sleeping is generally cylindrically-shaped with a substantially flat bottom, and a bulkhead separating that volume from the other volume used for storage. 
   The box-like structure is preferably fabricated of molded plastic for light weight and low cost, and is watertight to keep out the rain and facilitate hosing out of the interior volumes of the modular shelter unit. Preferably there are raised bosses at corners and edges of the box-like structure, to avoid injuries on sharp corners and edges, and also to channel water away from dripping over the edges of the opposing ends of the module. Preferably the molded plastic includes fire resistant and sound dampening foam. 
   Preferably the shelter module includes locking doors (operable from inside or outside the module) closing off the sleeping and storage areas. Preferably the locking means are electronic for reasons which will be explained below. The shelter module preferably includes ventilation allowing outside air through the door and interior sidewalls. 
   The sleeping module is specially configured for securing together a number of similar structures, including additional shelter modules stacked one atop another. Preferably a number of legs protruding from a bottom of the box-like structure corresponding with cavities in a top of the box-like structure. Moreover, attachable similar structures include vertically-oriented modular utility units such as a toilet, a shower and a dressing room. Preferably, when the shower and dressing room are used they are secured together, and there is a passageway between the two, and a sink attached to the exterior of the dressing room. 
   Use of the emergency shelter is envisioned as follows. First, the specially configured sleeping modules (and other utility modules if desired) as described above are provided. Then the modules are tied together, preferably by engaging specially configured exterior wall structures. For the homeless reservations are taken electronically over the telephone or Internet. Information is provided to the homeless for a particular sleeping module and storage module to unlock the doors later that day. Preferably, the all the modules used are hosing out each day. For use after fires or earthquakes, local governments or private charities would arrange to transport the modules to an appropriate site. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide low cost housing on a per user basis. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide housing individualized to separate and individual users and to maintain privacy. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide housing that is water-tight to protect users from the elements. 
   It is another object of the invention that the housing modules be easily cleaned and hosed out after each use. 
   It is another object of the invention that the housing modules be lightweight and portable for easy transportation to a preferred site. 
   It is another object of the invention that the housing modules be easily grouped together or stacked for storage. 
   It is another object of the invention that the housing modules be composed of fire resistant materials which will also dampen sound. 
   It is yet another object of the invention that the housing modules have smooth corners and edges to avoid injuring users. 
   It is yet another object of the invention that each housing module have a sleeping compartment separate from a storage compartment. 
   It is yet another object of the invention that the housing modules have locking compartments operable from the outside as well as inside the modules. 
   It is yet another object of the invention that the housing modules have adequate ventilation. 
   It is still another object of the invention to offer reservations by telephone or over the Internet. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of a grouping of modular structures of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of persons utilizing the modular shelter unit of the preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  is a section view through the modular shelter unit; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the modular shelter unit with a door removed; 
       FIG. 5  is an end view of the modular shelter unit with a door in place; and, 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the modular shelter unit. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
   The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , shown is an overall perspective view of a small cluster of emergency shelter modules  10 , including several modular shelter units  20  grouped together along with several modular utility units including toilets  130 , a shower  140  and a dressing room  150 . As desired, many additional modular shelter units or utility units could be added to the module cluster  10 . For purposes of illustration only, the roof of the shower  140  and dressing room  150  are not shown. The outside wall of the dressing room  150  preferably includes a mirror  152  and deployable counter and sinks  154 . Note there is preferably a passageway  142  between the shower  140  and dressing room  150 . 
   Looking at the module cluster  10 , the ends of eight (8) of the modular shelter units  10  can be seen. For illustration purposes, the doors  26  are not shown on two of the sleeping tubes  22 . The modular shelter units  10  are normally arranged such that the sleeping tubes  22  and the storage lockers or lock boxes  24  alternate, so that a person using a particular sleeping tube  22  has an adjacent lock box  24 , and so that entrances to the sleeping tubes  22  on each side of the module cluster  10  are less congested since half the entrances are on the opposite side. Advantageously, especially for the homeless, the lock boxes  24  are separate compartments from the sleeping tubes  22 , so that the user&#39;s sleeping tube  22  is isolated from often contaminated belongings. The curved structure shown for the interior walls  23  of the sleeping tubes  22  was selected for several reasons, including ease of hosing the sleeping tubes  22  out after each use since there are no corners to be cleaned. 
   Next referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is a side view of a pair of modular shelter units  20  stacked one atop the other. The upper unit shows the user resting comfortably with his or her personal belongings stored in the lock box  24 . The height of the unit is preferably approximately 36 inches, and the diameter of the sleeping tube  22  is approximately 30 inches. This user should be able to access this upper sleeping tube  22  without the need for a ladder or step stool, or alternatively small ladders steps or toe holes could be built into the end face of the modular shelter unit to facilitate climbing into the sleeping tube  22 . For the lower unit, a user is shown entering or exiting the sleeping tube  22 , with the door  28  to his or her lock box  24  propped open. Optimally, one or more awnings (not shown) may be attached above the doors  26  of the modular shelter units  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is a section view of the modular shelter unit  20 , including the sleeping tube  22  defining an interior volume 23 for a reposed user, a lock box  24  defining a storage volume 25, and a bulkhead  27  therebetween.  FIG. 4  shows an end view of the unit&#39;s sleeping compartment  22  with the door  26  removed for purposes of illustration. Preferably the bottom surface  30  of the sleeping tube is actually substantially flat, or alternatively a platform  32  can be brought in and engaged to the sleeping tube  22 . Built into the far end of the sleeping tube are preferably a small shelf  34  and a battery-powered reading light  36 . Other battery or solar powered devices may also optimally be included, e.g., an electric heater (not shown). Additionally, a pair of ventilation tubes  38  provide fresh air to the far end of the sleeping tube  22 , and may optimally include air filters (not shown). The modular shelter unit  20  is preferably fabricated of blow molded plastic, filled with fire-resistant foam  40  which should also have a sound-dampening effect. The interior and exterior of the modular shelter unit  22  is watertight as well. It should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture is reasonably large quantities, and lightweight yet strong for ease of transportation and durability. A thin mattress  41  is preferably supplied. 
   Now also referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is an end view of the storage locker or lock box  24  with the door  28  intact and closed. The door  28  includes a handle  42  to lift open the door  28 , and an electronically operated lock  44 . The lock  44  is operable from the outside upon entering the correct combination, and operable from the inside in that there is an emergency release to avoid entrapping a user. The sleeping tube  22  on its door  26  includes an identical or similar electronic lock  44  with an emergency release. 
   Finally,  FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the modular shelter unit  20 , including four (4) short angle legs  46  which protrude from the bottom exterior sidewall surface  25 . These legs  46  engage corresponding angle cavities  47  in the top surface of the modular shelter units  20 , such that one unit may be securely stacked upon another, either aligned with one another or cross-crossed (not shown). Preferably modular sleeping units and other utility units are secured together using similar engaging structures in their exterior sidewalls  25 . The grouping of the modules saves space, and tying them together as shown in  FIG. 1  advantageously tends to prevent them from falling over. Additionally, a locking feature (not shown) may be built into the modules to prevent theft. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3–6 , the modular shelter units  20  preferably include raised corner and edge bosses  48  molded into the plastic, to eliminate sharp corners and edges and prevent injury. These raised bosses  48  should also facilitate carrying and handling of the units  20 . 
   Having described the detailed structure of the modular emergency shelter system  10  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is now possible to describe its use for the homeless or in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes, large brush fires, floods or the like. First a relatively flat and safe site would be identified for placement of the modules  20 , and possibly  130 ,  140 ,  150 , configured as described above. Then they would be transported by truck or other means to the site, and preferably secured or tied together as described above. For the homeless, reservations could be taken to use the modular units over the telephone or Internet. Users would be given digital combinations to the electronic locks  44 . Preferably those combinations would work only later that day, and the combinations would be changed the following day, possibly from a remote location. 
   While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.