Patent Abstract:
An improved tsunami pod is described herein. In one embodiment, the tsunami pod can comprise a body and a ring fender. The body can comprise a top portion, a middle portion, and a base. The base can be wider than the middle portion, and the middle portion can be wider than the top portion. The ring fender can extend out around the base. In addition, the disclosure discusses a method for offering protection from a tsunami. Specifically, the method can comprise placing a tsunami pod on a coast. The tsunami pod can comprise a body and a ring fender. The body can comprise a top portion, a middle portion, and a base. The base can be wider than the middle portion, and the middle portion can be wider than the top portion. The ring fender can extend out around the base.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a system and method for a tsunami pod. 
         [0002]    Historically, tsunamis have caused many casualties spanning many countries. Since 2000, there have been two very deadly tsunamis recorded: the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami estimated to claims 230,000 and 310,000 of lives and the recent 2011 Pacific Ocean tsunami that caused around 20,000 deaths in Japan. A tsunami is a series of massive waves resulting from a large displacement of overlying water, often caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides. 
         [0003]    Over the years experts have tried to determine when and where a tsunami will occur. There are some early warning systems being used to detect tsunamis in advance. One system uses seismic data to determine a possible threat, and sends a warning to the general public. However, within minutes of detection, a tsunami waves can reach a coastline, giving little time for a local community to prepare and to flee to a higher ground or find suitable shelter. Moreover, running to a higher ground or higher structures can be impossible as not every coastline would have sturdy buildings or mountains nearby. Additionally, the danger of tsunami can last for more than an hour and can even occur a few days following its first hit. Therefore, it is imperative that the locals have enough supply of food, water, and emergency kit (such as flashlights, battery, radio, etc.) that can sustain them for days. However, since tsunami can occur rapidly the affected locals may have no time to prepare essential supplies that can help them conveniently survive during and after a tsunami. 
         [0004]    Tsunami deaths are mainly caused by direct impact of tsunami flow, drowning at the site of the tsunami, being washed away into the ocean, slamming of bodies onto objects, and collisions with floating debris. To help prevent such occurrences a tsunami pod has been developed. Presently an existing tsunami pod exists on the market. A tsunami pod is a pod that one or more person can enter during a tsunami. The tsunami pod prevents water from entering, thereby preserving life inside. 
         [0005]    The spherical shape of existing pods allows for significant movement in all directions. As a consequence the person inside may be jostled significantly, causing sickness and injury. Additionally, existing pods do not provide proper mooring that could prevent a user from being swept out to sea. Further, present systems do not adequately absorb shock and minimize forces exerted on the user or users inside. 
         [0006]    As such, it would be useful to have an improved tsunami pod. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An improved tsunami pod is described herein. In one embodiment, the tsunami pod can comprise a body and a ring fender. The body can comprise a top portion, a middle portion, and a base. The base can be wider than the middle portion, and the middle portion can be wider than the top portion. The ring fender can extend out around the base. 
         [0008]    In addition, the disclosure discusses a method for offering protection from a tsunami. Specifically, the method can comprise placing a tsunami pod on a coast. The tsunami pod can comprise a body and a ring fender. The body can comprise a top portion, a middle portion, and a base. The base can be wider than the middle portion, and the middle portion can be wider than the top portion. The ring fender can extend out around the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an external view of a tsunami pod comprising a body, a hatch, a crater, and a base. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an embodiment of an opened hatch comprising a ramp and a hand railing. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross sectional view of a body comprising an outer shell, a middle layer, and an inner shell. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  illustrates compartments within a middle layer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a bottom view of tsunami pod with a connector attached at the bottom center of a base. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a mooring system further comprising a mooring line, and an anchor. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an internal view of a tsunami pod comprising a four-point harness, and a life jacket. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a mid-section view of a tsunami pod showing a set of air intake vent, a set of air outlet vent, a cavity, and a compartment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a tsunami pod resting on a ground before a tsunami hits. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a tsunami pod floating on water during a tsunami. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Described herein is a system and method for a tsunami sheltering pod. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an external view of a tsunami pod  100  comprising a body  101 , a side hatch  102 , and a top hatch  103 . Tsunami pod  100  can be a mobile structure that can be used as a safe shelter by one or more passenger during a tsunami. Body  101  can have a rounded or polygon form, or combination of round edges and straight edges, which can be the main housing of tsunami pod  100 . In one embodiment, tsunami pod can be substantially octagonal. Moreover, body  101  can serve as a protective shell from the outside environment during a tsunami. Body  101  can comprise a top portion  101   a,  a middle portion  101   b,  and a bottom portion  101   c.  Body  101  can have a narrow perimeter that gradually gets wider from top portion  101   a  to bottom portion  101   c.  In one embodiment, body  101  can have a conical shape. The form of body  101  can ensure that tsunami pod  100  can be self-up righting during a tsunami. Additionally, top portion  101   a  can have more buoyancy while bottom portion  101   c  can have more mass to ensure that tsunami pod  100  can maintain lower center of gravity. Since, bottom portion  101   c  has more weight this can prevent tsunami pod  100  from being heaved or turned over by the waves. Furthermore, the wide bottom portion  101   c  can ensure that tsunami pod  100  can provide an inherent hydrodynamic stability, reducing the constant motion and impact experienced by the user of the tsunami pod  100 . Bottom portion  101   c  can be filled or ballasted to help tsunamis pod  100  float and to enhance its stability. Since bottom portion  101   c  can be the portion of body  101  that has the widest perimeter and is at the level of the water surface, bottom portion  101   c  is the portion of the body most likely to collide with debris and structures. As such, bottom portion  101   c  can comprise a ring fender  112  made up of elastic materials such as recycled tires and/or rubbers that scan deflect any debris or blockage before bumping into body  101 . Such characteristic can be used to absorb some of the force from a collision thus, reducing direct impact and preventing damage to body  101 . 
         [0021]    The round or high order polygon shape (ideally five or greater) of body  101  can ensure that tsunami pod  100  does not get stuck and/or trapped between any large floating objects or structures. This shape can also reduce wind loads and water loads during a tsunami. 
         [0022]    Side hatch  102  can be an entrance and/or an exit from tsunami pod  100 . Side hatch  102  can have a watertight design to ensure that no water can pass through side hatch  102  into tsunami pod  100 . Side hatch  102  can be fastened at bottom portion  101   c  and opens downward. As such, side hatch  102  can be pulled from the top and drag it towards the ground through a handle  105 . Handle  105  can allow a passenger to easily open and access tsunami pod  100 . 
         [0023]    Top hatch  103  can be an opening at the top of body  101  that can serve as an extra opening in case side hatch  102  is obstructed or in case tsunami pod  100  drifts of to the sea. Furthermore, top hatch  103  can be a safe opening for a passenger when sending distress signals and/or flares. Additionally, aircraft rescuers can have an easier access through top hatch  103  as it provides a fast and safe exit point from above. Top hatch  103  can further comprise a canopy  106  that can serve as a sun screen cover for top hatch  103 . As such, canopy  106  can be installed above top hatch  103  and attached through a fastener such as tow lugs. Top hatch  103  can further comprise of one or more recessed pad-eye  107 . Pad-eye  107  can serve as hand support as a person tries to access and/or escape through top hatch  103 . Pad-eye  107  can be an attachment point used by rescuers for temporarily attaching tsunami pod  100  with rescue transport such as helicopters and ships. 
         [0024]    Further, body  101  can comprise a window  108  placed in middle portion  101   b.  Window  108  can be a small sealed orifice made of unbreakable transparent material such as fiber glass, and hard plastics. Window  108  can be impact resistant and made of thick wall glass, which is fully recessed into the walls of body  101 . Furthermore, window  108  can serve as small viewing window that allow passage of light and gives the survivor an option to view the condition or see what&#39;s happening outside of the tsunami pod  100 . 
         [0025]    Base  104  can be a platform wherein body  101  rests. In one embodiment base  104  can be made up of heavy materials that can stabilize and ensure that tsunami pod  100  is kept afloat. Base  104  can further connect to a mooring system  109 . Mooring system  109  can comprise of several devices that can be used for keeping tsunami pod  100  floating within the mooring area. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an embodiment of an open side hatch  102  comprising a ramp  110  and a hand railing  111 . In one embodiment, ramp  110  can be a series of recessed portion at the inner surface of side hatch  102 . In such embodiment, ramp  110  can be used as stairs to access tsunami pod  100 . In another embodiment, ramp  110  can be a series of protruding portion at the inner surface of side hatch  102 . Hand rail  111  can be a device that a passenger can grasped on while ascending or descending to or from ramp  110 . During a tsunami, hand rail  111  can provide support and stability to a passenger accessing tsunami pod  100 . In one embodiment, ramp  110  can comprise rubber or other high friction material that can prevent or minimize the risk of a passenger from slipping on ramp  110 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross sectional view of body  101  comprising an outer shell  201 , a middle layer  202 , and an inner shell  203 . Outer shell  201  can be the exterior layer that covers body  101  of tsunami pod  100 . Outer shell  201  can be made of light, durable, waterproof, and thermoplastic materials such as corrugated polypropylene, corrugated high density polyethylene, or polyurethane sheet. Outer shell  201  can be abrasion and tear resistant, therefore reducing possible wearing and damage that can help in prolonging service life of tsunami pod  100 . Moreover, outer shell  201  can be weather resistant that can withstand general weather conditions. Additionally, outer shell  201  can have high dielectric or resistive properties, which ensures that an electric charge does not flow through, thus protecting people inside tsunami pod  100  from electrical accidents. Furthermore, outer shell  201  can be elastic to minimize the load that gets transmitted to middle layer  202  and inner shell  203 . In one embodiment, exterior surface of outer shell  201  can be painted in bright colors such as yellow or orange to make easily visible. As such, rescue vehicles which includes but are not limited to aircrafts, helicopters, and ships can easily see tsunami pod  100 . 
         [0028]    Middle layer  202  can be made up of resilient materials, which can include but are not limited to foam, fiber pouches, or simply air. In any of these embodiments, middle layer can comprise compartments  204 . Middle layer  202  can also be the section that provides the desired buoyancy to tsunami pod  100 . Furthermore, middle layer  202  can be used for sound and/or vibration dampening. These properties can aid in calming and lessening ear strain, headaches, and/or stress experienced by people inside tsunami pod  100 . Middle layer  202  can also dampen shock impulses, which helps in dissipating kinetic energy from wave motions. Moreover, middle layer  202  separates outer shell  201  and inner shell  203 , which can prevent and/or reduce malfunctions and damage from corrupting inner shell  203 . 
         [0029]    Inner shell  203  can be the interior layer of body  101 . Inner shell  203  can be made of light materials that have high resistance to deformation such as steel, aluminum, or fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP). Moreover, inner shell  203  can last longer and requires less maintenance. Further, multiple watertight compartments  204  can be created in nodes wherein outer wall and inner wall are connected that also serves as an additional protection during a collision. Top portion of inner shell  203  can also be installed with LED light fixtures to ensure that enough lighting is provided within tsunami pod  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2B  illustrates an close-up view of middle layer  202  that can comprise a plurality of compartments  204 . Outer shell  201  and inner shell  203  can be connected such that they create watertight compartments  204 . Compartments  204  can be within middle layer  202 , which can allow tsunami pod  100  to stay buoyant in the event outer shell is punctured. Compartments  204  can very size from small, as shown in  FIG. 2B , to larger compartments, such as entire sides of body  101 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a bottom view of tsunami pod  100  with a connector  301  attached at the bottom center of base  104 . Connector  301  can be a device that securely fastens tsunami pod  100  with a support structure. To ensure that tsunami pod  100  can move and rotate freely, connector  301  can be a swivel connector such as a bow eye swivel. As such, connector  301  allows tsunami pod to rotate horizontally and within a support structure. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3B  illustrates mooring system  110 . Along with connector  301 , mooring system  110  can further comprise a mooring line  302 , and an anchor  303 . Mooring line  302  can be a cable device such as steel wire rope that can be used to connect tsunami pod  100  with anchor  303 . As such, one end of mooring line  302  can be fastened to connector  301  providing tension at base  104 , while the other end can be attached to the ground through anchor  303 . Moreover, length of mooring line  302  can be long enough to provide safety margins and flexible to move above water. Mooring line  302  can also allow tsunami pod  100  to move freely thus loads from impacts can be minimized. 
         [0033]    Anchor  303  can be a device that is used to temporarily affix tsunami pod  100  to the seabed. Tsunami pod  100  can use various type of burying anchor which can include but are not limited to fluke anchor, hinged plow anchor, claw anchor, and/or any conventional maritime anchor. Type of anchor  303  that can be used varies depending on the location of tsunami pod  100 . Such types of anchor  303  can have a compact flat design and can be light weight so it can be easily retrieved and stored when needed. Anchor  303  can be pre-installed at site or optionally could be deployed at will, when required at the time of tsunami. When a current or a wave is encountered during a tsunami, tsunami pod  100  can resist movement accordingly with anchor  303 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates an internal view of tsunami pod  100  comprising a harness  401 , and a life jacket  402 . In one embodiment, harness  401  can be a four-point harness. Harness  401  and life jacket  402  can be installed on the walls of inner shell  203 . In another embodiment, the harness  401  can be installed on the inside base, for the passenger to lie down with their back on the inside floor. Harness  401  can be a safety device used to secure a passenger against harmful movements caused by a collision. Harness  401  can provide a passenger a strap to hold on to and a strap for securing himself within tsunami pod  100 . Life jacket  402  can be visible and readily accessible for a passenger to grab onto in case of emergency. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates a mid-section view of tsunami pod  100  showing a set of air intake vent  501 , a set of air outlet vent  502 , a cavity  503 , and a storage  504 . Air intake vent  501  can allow fresh air to flow inside tsunami pod  100 . As such, air intake vent  501  can ensure that enough oxygen or airflow is supplied within tsunami pod  100 . Moreover, air intake vent  501  can help regulate the temperature in tsunami pod  100 . Air outlet vent  502  can prevent air pressure build up in tsunami pod  100 . Air outlet vent  601  and air outlet vent  502  can be installed at top portion  101   a,  in diametrically opposite ends with some small height difference to ensure natural circulation of air. Moreover, air outlet vent  501  and air outlet vent  502  does not permit water to flow inside the vent. 
         [0036]    Cavity  503  can be the empty space created within inner shell  203 . Cavity  503  can serve as a passengers sitting area. As such inner shell  203  can comprise of padding  505 . Padding  505  can provide protection and comfort for the passenger of tsunami pod  100 . As such, padding  505  can be made up of light, soft, and/or pillow material such as felt, feathers, fabrics, and/or wool. 
         [0037]    Storage  504  can be a commode within bottom portion  101   c.  Storage  504  can further comprise a door  506 . Door  506  can be a movable panel that serves as a barrier device in providing access to storage  504 . Door  506  can employ different closure and/or lock mechanism. For purpose of this disclosure, lock system mentioned herein can use various mechanisms that can allow door  506  to close and/or open storage  504 . In one embodiment, door  506  can use a hinged door mechanism. In such embodiment, a fastener device such as a hinge can enable door  506  to swing closed and/or open. In another embodiment, door  506  can utilize a sliding door mechanism. A track and guide system can be utilized to allow door  506  to slide open. The space within storage  504  can be used for housing of food, water, batteries, medical and/or emergency supplies. Storage  504  can be large enough to stock survival supplies, which can be good for a passenger and can last for at least three days. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates a tsunami pod  100  resting on a ground  601  before a tsunami hits. Warning signs and signals such as the water  602  pulling away from the shore leaving a wide expanse of seabed can be a way to detect tsunami minutes before a tsunami hits. This gives enough time for people to get away and run into tsunami pod  100 . As such, tsunami pod  100  can be moored to ground  601  near the owner&#39;s vicinity. Thus, when tsunami hits the passengers can easily access tsunami pod  100 . Tsunami pod  100  can be large and comfortable enough to carry a passenger. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates a tsunami pod  100  floating on water  602  during a tsunami. Tsunami pod  100  can stay afloat on water  602  and stay safely moored to the ground  601  through mooring line  302  and anchor  303 . Moreover, tsunami pod  100  can be capable of minimizing loads during an earthquake due to tsunami pod  100  light weight structure. Since, tsunami pod  100  floats freely above water  602  impacts on floating debris are minimized. Once the tsunami retreats and the water recedes, tsunami pod  100  can be capable of staying in an upright position and rest on ground  601 . 
         [0040]    Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”

Technology Classification (CPC): 1