Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/949,639 filed on Jul. 13, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to buildings and, more particularly, to buildings designed to be resistant to tornadoes. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Particular geographical areas are known to suffer from tornadoes. Generally, tornado-prone areas occur at middle latitudes where cold, dry air at a high altitude in the atmosphere meets warm, moist tropical air closer to the surface of the earth. For example, the central United States is prone to tornadoes because cold, dry air from the Rocky Mountains often meets moist, warm air from the southeastern United States. The damage to buildings from tornadoes is costly and it is inconvenient and time consuming to rebuild. Additionally, people are often injured from total or partial collapse of a building and from flying debris if they are not able to find shelter. 
         [0006]    To reduce tornado injuries, people often find shelter in the basement of their homes. For people who live in a structure without a basement, such as a mobile home, there are many different types of tornado-resistant shelters and construction techniques. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,166 discloses an underground shelter to protect people from tornadoes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,972 discloses a tornado protection room integrated within a building construction. However, these forms of tornado protection are limited because they require time for people to obtain shelter therewithin after they realize a tornado is approaching. This is difficult because of the unpredictable nature of tornadoes and the speed with which they form and travel. Thus, there is a need for a tornado-resistant building design that encompasses an entire building structure and provides a comfortable residence. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a tornado resistant structure which includes a base and a building structure positioned on the base, The building structure includes a plurality of deflection walls and reinforced corners and a plurality of skylights carried on a roof of the building structure, wherein each skylight includes a tapered sidewall. The building structure includes an entrance and a drain positioned proximate to the entrance. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides a tornado resistant structure, which includes a base and a building structure positioned on the base. The building structure includes a plurality of angled deflection walls, a reinforced corner positioned between each adjacent deflection wall, a front entrance extending through one of the deflection walls, a first drain positioned to receive water flowing through the front entrance and a skylight carried on a roof of the building structure, wherein each skylight includes a tapered sidewall. 
         [0009]    Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of a tornado-resistant structure, in accordance with the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top rear perspective view of a tornado-resistant structure, in accordance with the invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are sectional views of a tornado-resistant structure taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are partial top rear perspective view and top front perspective view of a tornado-resistant structure, in accordance with the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a tornado-resistant structure with its roof removed, in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are a top front perspective view and a top rear perspective view, respectively, of a tornado resistant structure  100 , in accordance with the invention. Tornado resistant structure  100  includes a building structure  101  positioned on a base  102 . Base  102  is positioned on a ground  103 . Building structure  101  can be constructed in many configurations and shapes, such as a dome. Here, building structure  101  is a rectangular shape that includes a front deflection wall  104   a,  a rear deflection wall  104   c,  a side deflection walls  104   b  and  104   d,  a reinforced corners  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,  and  105   d,  and a rooftop  106 . An interior  107  (not shown) is bounded by rooftop  106 , deflection walls  104   a - d,  corners  105   a - d,  and base  102 . Interior  107  can include many different rooms and arrangements. In this embodiment, interior  107  consists of nine rooms, including a rear room  130   a  and frontroom  130   b  ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0016]    The materials used to make deflection walls  104   a,    104   b,    104   c,  and  104   d,  reinforced corners  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,  and  105   d,  and rooftop  106  can be of many types, but the materials used should be able to withstand the strong winds of a tornado, such as bricks or steel-reinforced concrete. Further, deflection walls  104   a,    104   b,    104   c,  and  104   d,  reinforced corners  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,  and  105   d,  and rooftop  106  can have many shapes and arrangements, such as curved or dome surfaces, although here they are flat. 
         [0017]    Front deflection wall  104   a  and rear deflection wall  104   c  are positioned spaced apart from and opposing each other on base  102 , with side deflection walls  104   b  and  104   d  positioned therebetween. Front deflection wall  104   a  and rear deflection wall  104   c  are each positioned roughly perpendicular to side deflection walls  104   b  and  104   d,  with reinforced corners  105   a - d  positioned at their ends. For example, front wall  104   a  is perpendicular to side wall  104   b,  with reinforced corner  105   a  extending between one end of front wall  104   a  and one end of side wall  104   b.  Reinforced corners  105   a - d  are provided to strengthen the connections between walls  104   a - d  and thus strengthen building structure  101 . If building structure  101  is stronger, it is less likely to be damaged by strong winds during a tornado, and is thus safer for people within building interior  107 . Exterior deflection walls  104   a - d  and reinforced corners  105   a - d  are also sloped to deflect the strong winds from a tornado and to prevent wind damage during a tornado, as will be discussed presently. 
         [0018]    Exterior deflection walls  104   a - d  and corners  105   a - d  extend upwardly and inwardly from base  102  and ground  103  to rooftop  106 . In this manner, walls  104   a - d  and corners  105   a - d  are at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to base  102  and ground  103 . In this manner, walls  104   a - d  and corners  105   a - d  are sloped, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3   a  shows a sectional view of structure  100  taken along line  110  of  FIG. 1 . Interior angle θ is formed between wall  104   b  and plate  102  as shown. In this embodiment, angle θ is greater than zero and less than 90 degrees. By positioning side deflection wall  104   b  so that interior angle θ is greater than zero and less than 90 degrees, wall  104   b  will deflect the strong winds from a tornado away from wall  104   b.  Similarly, by positioning walls  104   a,    104   c,    104   d,  and corners  105   a - d  with an interior angle greater than zero and less than 90 degrees, they will deflect the strong winds from a tornado away from walls  104   a,    104   c,    104   d,  and corners  105   a - d.  Hence, walls  104   a - d  and corners  105   a - d  are sloped to deflect the strong winds from a tornado away from structure  100 . Deflecting the strong winds from a tornado away from structure  100  will prevent damage to building structure  101  and will prevent injury to people in building interior  107 . It should be noted that  FIG. 3   a  shows an embodiment with deflection wall  104   b  positioned against an interior wall  107   b,  bounding a volume  107   c.  In other embodiments, deflection wall  104   b,  interior wall  107   b,  and volume  107   c  can be combined to be an integrated deflection wall  104   e,  as shown by substitution arrow  115 . 
         [0020]    Rooftop  106  extends above walls  104   a - d,  and thus bounds and covers interior  107  in accordance with the invention. Rooftop  106  can be of many types. In this embodiment, rooftop  106  is a substantially flat, rectangular surface. Rooftop  106  is a flat surface so it more accessible to people and so that rooftop  106  and structure  101  will have a low profile. By being a low profile, structure  101  and rooftop  106  are less likely to be damaged by the strong winds of a tornado. By being more accessible to people, rooftop  106  can be used for other purposes than a roof, such as to grow a garden or for a deck. In this embodiment, rooftop  106  includes a posts  120 , a cables  121 , and a skylights  122 , as will be discussed presently. 
         [0021]    Posts  120  are positioned around the perimeter of and extend upwardly and away from the top surface of rooftop  106 . Posts  120  can be of many types, such as round pipes, but here they are square with a pyramid-shaped top. Cables  121  are connected to and extend between posts  120 . Many numbers of rows of cables can be connected to and extend between posts  120 , but here there are two. Posts  120  and cables  121  prevent people from falling off rooftop  106  and allows rooftop  106  to be safely used for purposes other than a roof, as discussed above. 
         [0022]    Skylights  122  are positioned on rooftop  106  and extend therethrough. Skylights  122  each include a window  123  and a frame  124 . Window  123  allows light to pass through each of skylights  122 , through rooftop  106 , and into building interior  107 . In this manner, skylights  122  can illuminate building interior  107 . Skylights  122  can be positioned on rooftop  106  to be aligned and illuminate specific rooms within building interior  107 . Windows  123  can be of many materials, such as shatter-resistant glass, but here they are a transparent plastic. The exterior walls  124   a - d  of frame  124  are sloped to deflect the strong winds of a tornado away from frame  124  in the same manner as the sloped deflection walls  104   a - d  of building structure  101  discussed above. Thus, the exterior walls  124   a - d  of frame  124  deflect the strong winds of a tornado away from skylight  122 . Deflecting the strong winds of a tornado away from skylight  122  will prevent window  123  from breaking, which will prevent the strong winds and flying debris of a tornado from entering building interior  107 . This will prevent injury to people residing within building interior  107 . In addition to skylights  122 , building interior  107  can be illuminated by interior lighting, as will discussed presently. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3   b  shows an embodiment of a sectional view of structure  100  taken along line  110  of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, structure  100  includes a height H room  extending between the bottom surface of roof  106  and the top surface of plate  102  and a height H structure  extending from the bottom surface of plate  102   a  to the top surface of roof  106 . Structure  100  includes a facilities channel  109  and a light emitting element  108 . Facilities channel  109  can provide many facilities to structure  100 , such as ductwork for HVAC and electrical wiring. Light emitting element  108  is provided to illuminate interior  107 . Light emitting element  108  can illuminate interior  107  in many ways, such as through a wall fixture mounted flush with wall  107   b.  Here, light emitting element  108  illuminates interior  107  through a window  111  positioned in wall  107   b.  In this manner, interior  107  is illuminated by light emitting element  108  shining through window  111  similarly to a home that does not have an exterior deflection wall  104   b.  Further, by positioning light emitting element  108  and facilities channel  109  within volume  107   c  instead of within interior  107 , the available living space within volume  107   c  is increased. By increasing the available living space within interior  107 , H structure  can be decreased and H room  can be increased. By decreasing H structure , structure  100  is less susceptible to damage and provides better protection to occupants of structure  100  during a tornado. By increasing H room , the comfort of the occupants residing within interior  107  is increased. In this manner, the position of light emitting element  108  and facilities channel  109  within volume  107   c  increases the protection and safety of structure  100  during a tornado and increases the comfort of structure  100 . To further increase the protection and safety of structure  100  during a tornado and increase the comfort of structure  100 , structure  101  can be recessed, as will be discussed presently. 
         [0024]    In this embodiment, plate  102  of structure  100  includes a ground level portion  102   a  and a recessed portion  102   b  connected by portion  102   c  as shown in  FIG. 3   b.  A ground level  103   a  is the level of the ground surrounding structure  100 . Portion  102   a  is positioned above ground level  103   a,  and portion  102   b  is positioned below ground level  103   a.  A height H exposed  extends from level  103   a  to the top surface of roof  106  on structure  100 . In this manner, plate  102   a  and a portion of interior  107  and structure  100  are positioned above ground level  103   a.  A height H recessed  extends from level  103   a  and the bottom of plate  102   a  to the bottom of plate  102   b.  In this manner, plate  102   b  and a portion of interior  107  and structure  100  are positioned below ground level  103   a.  By positioning a portion of interior  107  and structure  100  below ground level, H recessed  decreases the height H exposed  and/or increases height H room  for a structure  100 . By decreasing height H exposed , the amount of structure  100  exposed to the strong winds of a tornado will be decreased. By increasing height H room , the comfort of interior  107  will be increased as discussed above. In this manner, H recessed  increases the protection and safety of structure  100  during a tornado and/or increases the comfort of structure  100 . It should be noted that by positioning a portion of interior  107  and structure  100  above and below ground level  103   a,  interior  107  and rooftop  106  of structure  100  can both be easily accessed. Rooftop  106  and the building interior  107  of structure  101  can be accessed in many ways. In this embodiment, they are accessed using a door and a combination door, as will be discussed presently. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4   a  is a partial top rear perspective view of structure  101 , in accordance with the invention. Structure  101  includes a rear entrance  135  that extends through rear deflection wall  104   c  into backroom  130   a  of interior  107 . In this manner, rear entrance  135  provides access to backroom  130   a  and to interior  107  of structure  101 . Rear entrance  135  can be positioned in many ways, but here it is positioned with a bottom edge flush with base  102  to allow the low profile of structure  101  as discussed above. Backroom  130   a  can be of many types, but here it is a garage to contain a vehicle  131 . Structure  101  includes a door  136  that is sized to cover rear entrance  135 . Door  136  is repeatably movable between a closed position that covers rear entrance  135 , preventing access to backroom  130   a,  and an open position that does not cover rear entrance  135 , allowing access to backroom  130   a.  In this manner, door  136  closes and opens to prevent and allow access to backroom  130   a  and interior  107  of structure  101 . It should be noted that door  136  can be positioned and shaped in many ways. In this embodiment, door  136  is roughly square and is positioned to be flush with wall  104   c.  Door  136  is flush with wall  104   c  so it will be sloped, and will thus deflect strong winds from a tornado in the same manner as the slope in deflection wall  104   c  discussed above. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4   b  is a partial top rear perspective view of structure  101 , in accordance with the invention. Structure  101  includes a front entrance  137  that extends through front deflection wall  104   a  into frontroom  130   b  of interior  107 . In this manner, front entrance  137  provides access to frontroom  130   b  and to interior  107  of structure  101 . Front entrance  137  can be positioned in many ways, but here it is positioned with a bottom edge flush with base  102  to allow the low profile of structure  101  as discussed above. Structure  101  also includes a combination door  139  that is sized to cover front entrance  137 . Combination door  139  is provided to allow and prevent access to front entrance  137  and roof  106 . It should be noted that combination door  139  can provide access to roof  106  in many ways, such as through an external ramped surface. In this embodiment, combination door  139  includes external stairs  139   a  to provide access to roof  106 . In a closed position, combination door  139  covers front entrance  137  to prevent access to frontroom  130   b  and allow access to roof  106 . In an open position, combination door  139  does not cover front entrance  137  and allows access to frontroom  130   b  and prevents access to rooftop  106 . It should be noted that combination door  139  is repeatably movable between the open position and the closed position. In this manner, combination door  139  opens and closes to allow and prevent access to frontroom  130   b  and interior  107 , and rooftop  106 , respectively, of structure  101 . It should be noted that in addition to providing access to roof  106 , the stairs on combination door  139  provide a surface that will deflect strong winds from a tornado in the same manner as the slope in deflection wall  104   a  discussed above. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of tornado-resistant structure  101  with its roof removed, in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 5  shows interior  107  with rooms  130   a  and  130   b  as discussed above. Rooms  130   a  and  130   b  each include a drain  132 . Drains  132  can be positioned in many ways, but here they are positioned on and extending through plate  102 , away from openings  135  and  137  in rooms  130   a  and  130   b,  respectively. Drains  132  are needed to remove excess water in the event of flooding that may occur in rooms  130   a  and  130   b.  Flooding in rooms  130   a  and  130   b  may occur due to the low profile of openings  135  and  137  discussed above. 
         [0028]    The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.

Technology Category: 4