Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Preassembled subenclosure or substructure section of unit or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-05-08
Hansen, James O. (Department: 3636)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Preassembled subenclosure or substructure section of unit or...
C052S169600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226932
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a building have a storm-proof room suitable for sheltering people during hurricanes and other severe wind storms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In North America, severe whirlwinds, such as hurricanes, occur frequently, especially in the hot-weather season. Hurricanes are extremely destructive. The extreme differences in air pressure in the area of influence of a hurricane can remove entire roofs from buildings and wreak severe damage in other ways to and in buildings. There is an extremely high risk of injury to people from objects or components falling over or swirling around in the air.
In states adjoining the Gulf of Mexico, such as Florida, and on the Atlantic coast, residential buildings are often built without a cellar because the ground water level is very high. The buildings have only a concrete floor slab, which stands on concrete strip foundations. Generally, the walls of these houses are made from hollow masonry blocks. The roof structure comprises a wooden structure. Very often use is made of wooden trusses, especially nailed trusses, which span the entire interior of the building concerned. Such buildings, which are very economical to construct, cannot withstand the effects of a hurricane. The roof structure of these houses at the very least is often completely destroyed by a hurricane. When a hurricane approaches, the people in the residential areas affected are evacuated for their own safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object on which the invention is based is to indicate a way of avoiding evacuating people when there is a risk of a hurricane.
This invention is specified by the features of the main claim. Taking a building without a cellar as a starting point, the invention is distinguished by the fact that at least one room of such a building is of whirlwind-proof design. This means that people do not have to leave the area where they live but can remain on their property; when a hurricane approaches, the people can move to their own whirlwind-proof room and remain there for the duration of the storm. The residential areas affected by the hurricane are thus not abandoned and the risk of looting is thus avoided.
A room of this kind can be manufactured in a particularly economical manner as a prefabricated unit. The entire room can be produced as a prefabricated unit. However, it is also possible to prefabricate just a frame structure made of metal or wood, for example, and then provide this frame structure, while similarly at the manufacturer's or at the site where the room is to be erected, with rain-proof and wind-proof infilling. The infilling is then present in the region of the walls, and the ceiling and floor if required. The frame structure is flexurally rigid to ensure the stability of the room.
The whirlwind-proof room can form a special room in a residential building. However, it is also possible to provide a whirlwind-proof room outside the residential building proper. Such a building could take the form of a garage for a care or a tool shed, for example, allowing the room to be used as a garage or store room during periods when there are no whirlwinds.
In one embodiment, illustrated in the drawings, the whirlwind-proof room has a concrete ceiling and concrete walls. In addition, a concrete floor slab can also be provided. The ceiling, walls and, if required, the floor slab are connected to one another in a flexurally rigid manner. Openings in the concrete walls can be designed as a storm-proof door or storm-proof window.
If the window or the door itself are not of storm-proof design, the whirlwind resistance of the entire room, including the area of this door or window, can be ensured by means of a storm-proof flap that can be pivoted in front of the door, in particular. This flap can be pivotably mounted in such a way that, in its lower position, it acts as a floor panel outside the room and that, in its upper position, it completely covers the door from outside. Since the danger will occur very seldom, if at all, it is generally sufficient to enable the flap to be raised and lowered by hand, by means of pull cables, rather than by motor. If the flap is too heavy, block and tackle arrangements can be provided to make raising and lowering easier in terms of the forces involved.
To allow people to stay in a room of this kind for several days in relative comfort when danger threatens, tables and seats can be provided in such a way that this furniture can be folded up against the wall. The room can then be used as a garage for cars or a tool storage room or for other purposes without the furniture forming an obstruction in the interior of the room.
In addition, a separate storage chamber and toilet cubicle can be provided in the whirlwind-proof room. The whirlwind-proof room and, for example, the storage chamber in it can furthermore be equipped with an emergency power unit. This emergency power unit can be used to provide an emergency supply of electric power to the electric loads in the room. The room can thus provide a self-contained refuge that will allow people to survive for several days.
To increase the stability of a whirlwind-proof room of this kind, it can be anchored to single footing foundations or strip footing foundations in a manner resistant to tensile forces. If the whirlwind-proof room is provided within a building, the room is generally anchored to the concrete floor slab in the room in a manner resistant to tensile forces.
Further advantageous configurations and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the other features indicated in the claims and from the embodiment examples below.
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patent: 3042978 (1962-07-01), Eames et al.
patent: 4126972 (1978-11-01), Silen
patent: 4470227 (1984-09-01), Bigelow, Jr. et al.
patent: 4876832 (1989-10-01), Wasserman
patent: 5210985 (1993-05-01), Hsu
patent: 5600923 (1997-02-01), Riley
patent: 5893241 (1999-04-01), Schroeder
patent: 5956907 (1999-09-01), Martin
patent: 5979128 (1999-11-01), Parsons
patent: 2511424 (1993-02-01), None
Hansen James O.
Noonan William E.
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