Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Multiroom or level
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-12-18
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Multiroom or level
C052S079100, C052S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the provision of a safe school environment using modules which can be assembled as needed to provide controlled access when the modules are formed into a complex.
Recently the number of school related shooting events that result in tragedy and death have increased. The conventional constructions of schools makes security difficult in the case of unauthorized intruders, or even students, with firearms. In particular, disturbing events have occurred in schools in which students have been trapped in the presence of a gunman and the students had little opportunity to escape as the gunman began shooting. In addition, the use of portable buildings have increased in schools as schools have become over crowded. Mobile buildings are often located independently on the school grounds near the main buildings. The portable buildings stand alone and are difficult to secure against intruders. Conventional school designs have not provided readily secured environments for students. The school designs do not permit the addition of space in a secure manner as needed in order to accommodate school growth.
Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a modular school design which allows controlled access.
Another object is to provide individual class room modules that may be formed into a secure complex that minimizes the entrapment spaces for students in the event an intruder does gain access.
Another object of the invention is to provide a modular school complex which may be expanded as needed while maintaining controlled access.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a school design which incorporates individual modules that can be formed together into a complex having an enclosed courtyard.
Another object of the present invention is to provide school classroom modules having a controlled entrance and emergency exits which allows for the students to escape the classroom in an emergency in a direction opposite to which an intruder may enter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a classroom module having an entrance accessible from an enclosed courtyard and an exit to the outside when the emergency exit initiates an alarm when opened.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive method of assembly for classroom modules that can be added as needed to a complex while the security of the complex is maintained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above objectives are accomplished according to the invention by providing a safe school complex having a secure environment for students against the entrance by an outside intruder. The complex comprises a plurality of individual classroom modules joined together to form a complex and an open air enclosed courtyard defined within an interior perimeter of said complex. The classroom modules have a front entrance and a front door for closing the front entrance included in courtyard walls of the modules, wherein the front entrance opens into the enclosed courtyard. The classroom modules have emergency exits formed in exterior walls of the modules opposite the courtyard walls. Each emergency exit has an emergency door for closing the emergency exit wherein the emergency exit opens to the outside of the complex away from the enclosed courtyard. Advantageously, the emergency door has a secured closed position and an open position for emergency evacuation. A detector is provided for detecting movement of the emergency door from the closed position and for generating a signal activating an alarm system in response to the movement. Preferably, the alarm system emits an audio and a visual signal indicating that the emergency door has been moved from the closed position to an open position so that the school complex may be placed on alarm that a classroom module is being evacuated.
Advantageously, the front door includes a manual door closure having a door latch which may be opened from either side of the front door to permit two-way traffic in and out of the classroom module. The emergency door includes an emergency door closure having a door latch which may be opened only from an interior side of the emergency door and module. A detector is provided having an actuated position when the emergency door is open for evacuation, and a de-actuated, secure position when the emergency door is closed. The alarm system is activated when the detector is actuated.
Preferably, the alarm system includes a self-contained power supply in the event main power is lost to the classroom module. The alarm system includes a reset input for deactivating the alarm system so that the alarm signals are terminated. The reset input may include a removable key which may be carried by a teacher, the key being inserted into the alarm system being deactivated in response to the key being inserted into the alarm system. The emergency door latch has an engaged and disengaged position. The detector detects the emergency latch being in the engaged position when the door is secured in the closed position to maintain the alarm deactivation. Since the detector responds to the latch position, the alarm system may only be deactivated when the latch is in the secure, engaged position with the door closed.
The complex includes a single main entrance unit to allow a single point for entering and leaving the complex so that controlled access to the enclosed courtyard and classroom modules is achieved. Each classroom module has a first end and a second end. The front courtyard opening is disposed near the first end on the courtyard side and the emergency exit is disposed near the second end on the exterior side so that the occupants of the classroom module may evacuate through the emergency exit in a direction away from an intruder entering in the front entrance. A teaching station is disposed at the second end of the classroom module to facilitate control of the emergency exit by the teacher. The alarm system comprises a housing carried by the courtyard wall of the classroom modules, and the alarm signal includes a visual indicator carried by the housings, the housings disposed on the exterior of the courtyard wall so that individuals within the courtyard can immediately see the location of the emergency. The alarm reset input is disposed at the housing on the exterior of the courtyard wall.
A utility system includes an electrical power supply disposed in the exterior wall at the second end of the classroom module. The utility system includes an outdoor heat pump disposed adjacent the exterior wall at the second end of the module, and wherein the emergency door opens towards the heat pump so that the heat pump is behind the emergency door when the emergency door is opened for evacuation whereby the heat pump does not interfere with the evacuation.
An expansion joint is disposed between adjacent classroom modules for accommodating expansion and contraction between adjacent classroom modules in the complex. The expansion joint comprises an expansion space formed between adjacent end walls of adjacent modules, and a vertically extending seal formed between adjacent end walls at the front and rear of the expansion space. The seal comprises a backfill post, and resilient sealing material filled in between the posts and the exterior of the module. A roof is included on the classroom module, and a roof joint is formed between adjacent ends of the roof of the modules with a roof cap secured over the roof joints of adjacent roofs. The classroom modules have a courtyard wall, a first end wall, an exterior wall, and a second end wall forming generally a rectangle. The first end wall and the second end wall of adjacent walls form a double wall between modules. The courtyard edge of the first end wall and the courtyard edge of the second end wall include connection points for connecting the edges of adjacent modules to close the gap along adjoining modules.
Preferably a security station is disposed generally near the entryway for guarding the movement of occupants in and out of the complex through the en
Flint & Kim, P.A.
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
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