Combined bed and shelter device

This invention claims benefit of provisional Application No. 60/144,238 filed Jul. 19, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined bed and shelter device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a combined bed and shelter device which provides a sleeping facility under normal conditions while providing a life saving shelter in the event of a natural disaster such as a tornado.

Tornados are potentially life threatening phenomena that occur as a result of rapid changes in atmospheric conditions. A tornado may be up to one half mile in diameter and the funnel of a tornado generates air velocities of up to 300 mph. Clearly, a tornado is a life threatening situation and a conventional house is not usually strong enough to withstand the tremendous forces that are unleashed during such a disaster. Many conventional houses are built with basements which provide a degree of protection from the effects of a tornado so that when a tornado strikes, the house is swept away while those seeking refuge in the basement without windows sometimes survive.

Nevertheless, due to the ever increasing cost of building houses, many families do not have the resources to build a house with a basement. Furthermore, many persons live in manufactured homes which include a plurality of parallel spaced joists for supporting a floor which is spaced from a concrete base. Many disasters have occurred in which a tornado strikes a manufactured home park and in such cases, few have survived the ordeal.

The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage of dwellers of manufactured homes and houses built on concrete slabs without basements by the provision of a bed which also serves as a shelter in the event of a tornado or the like.

Therefore, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide a combined bed and shelter that will protect the user thereof in the event of a tornado or the like natural disaster.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description contained herein taken in conjunction with drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined bed and shelter device. The device is anchored through a plurality of parallel spaced joists to a base for protecting a user in the event of a natural disaster or the like. The device includes a housing defining an enclosure of generally rectangular configuration, the housing including a container having a floor defining a peripheral edge and a wall extending angularly relative to the peripheral edge. A lid is pivotally secured to the container and cooperates with the wall such that the container and the lid define therebetween the enclosure for occupancy by the user in the event of the disaster. A mattress is supported by the lid such that when the lid is disposed in a first location thereof, the mattress supported by the lid serves as the bed for the user thereof and when the lid is disposed in a second location thereof with the lid pivoted about the container, access to the enclosure is permitted so that protection of the user within the enclosure is afforded.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the housing is fabricated from a material sufficiently strong enough to deflect projectiles and debris occasioned by the natural disaster. Also, the housing further includes a support for supporting the lid when the lid is disposed in the second location thereof.

The support includes a rod having a first and a second end, the first end being pivotally secured to the lid, the second end of the rod engaging the wall so that the lid is maintained in the second location thereof until the user is safely located and protected within the enclosure.

The housing further includes a latch for latching the lid to the container during occupancy of the enclosure by the user, the latch being releasable from within the enclosure.

The latch includes a latch rod supported by the lid and extending within the lid along a side of the lid opposite to the lid hinge. A further latch rod is supported by the wall and within the container such that the further latch rod and the latch rod are disposed parallel and adjacent relative to each other. Three latches are pivotally secured to the further latch rod, the latches each defining a slot which cooperates with the latch rod when the lid is closed. The arrangement is such that when the latch rod is disposed within the slots by pivoting the latches about the further latch rod, the lid is securely located and latched relative to the container. However, when the latches are pivoted about a longitudinal axis of the further latch rod, the latch rod is disengaged from the slots so that the lid may be released from the container. An access opening is provided in the vicinity of the handle so that the lid may be opened from the outside of the container.

The floor defines a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof and the shelter device further includes a plurality of anchors, each anchor of the plurality of anchors cooperating with an aperture of the plurality of apertures so that the anchors rigidly secure the floor of the housing to the base.

Each of the anchors extends through a joist of the plurality of joists and the device in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disposed within a manufactured home.

The combined bed and shelter device includes a plurality of sections disposed between the joists and the base, each section being rigidly secured to an adjacent section with at least one of the sections being secured to the base and at least another one of the sections being secured to one of the anchors. A fastener is provided for securing the adjacent sections together.

The fastener includes a bolt, a nut and a bevel washer. The nut threadably cooperates with the bolt for fastening the adjacent sections together and the bevel washers are provided for enhancing the fastening of adjacent sections.

Each of the anchors is a tie bolt which extends through one of the apertures of the floor, through one of the joists and through one of the sections for anchoring the floor to the one of the sections.

Each of the joists defines at least one bore for the reception therethrough of the anchor. The at least one bore is in fluid communication with a further bore disposed angularly relative to the at least one bore and a bonding agent is applied through the further bore when the anchor is disposed within the at least one bore so that structural integrity of the joist is maintained.

A plurality of support blocks is disposed on the base such that the sections are disposed between the blocks with one row of blocks on one side of the sections and another row of blocks disposed on the other side of the sections. An I-beam is disposed between the blocks and the joists such that the joists are supported relative to the base by the blocks and the I-beam.

Each of the joists defines a point of weakness disposed directly above the I-beam so that in the event of the natural disaster, the joists break away around the device while the device remains firmly anchored to the base.

Preferably, the point of weakness is a saw cut or any means which would allow the floor joist to break away at two designated locations. A deflecting rod is secured along an edge of the I-beam so that in the event of the I-beam breaking away together with the joists, the deflecting rod slides past the lid without dislodging the lid from the container.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the device is disposed within a conventional home built on a concrete slab.

Each of the anchors are anchored into the concrete slab so that the floor of the container is firmly anchored to the concrete slab.

Many variations and modifications of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description contained hereinafter taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings. However, such modifications and variations fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a combined bed and shelter device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a top plan view of the device shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a similar view to that shown in

FIG. 1

but with the lid in the opened second location thereof;

FIG. 4

is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention applied to a home built on a concrete slab;

FIG. 5

is a perspective view partially in section of the device shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 6

is a similar view to that shown in

FIG. 5

but with the joists and flooring having broken away as a result of the tornado;

FIG. 7

is an exploded perspective view showing how the sections are arranged and provided with wind vents;

FIG. 8

is a view partially in section taken on the line

8

—

8

of

FIG. 6

showing the latch; and

FIG. 9

is an enlarged perspective view partially in section showing details of the latch.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a combined bed and shelter device generally designated

10

according to the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a top plan view of the device

10

shown in FIG.

1

. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the device

10

is anchored through a plurality of parallel spaced joists

12

,

13

,

14

,

15

and

16

to a base

18

as shown in

FIG. 1

, for anchoring the device

10

in the event of a natural disaster or the like. The device

10

includes a housing generally designated

20

defining an enclosure

22

of generally rectangular configuration, the housing

20

including a container

24

having a floor

26

defining a peripheral edge

28

and a wall

30

extending angularly relative to the peripheral edge

28

. A lid

32

is pivotally secured to the container

24

and cooperates with the wall

30

such that the container

24

and the lid

32

define therebetween the enclosure

22

for occupancy by the user in the event of the disaster. A mattress

34

is supported by the lid

32

such that when the lid

32

is disposed in a first location thereof as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the mattress

34

supported by the lid

32

serves as the bed for the user thereof.

FIG. 3

is a similar view to that shown in

FIG. 1

but shows the lid

32

disposed in an open second location thereof with the lid

32

pivoted about the container

24

such that access to the enclosure

22

is permitted so that protection of the user within the enclosure

22

is afforded.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the housing

20

is fabricated from a material sufficiently strong enough to deflect projectiles and debris occasioned by the natural disaster. As shown in

FIG. 3

, the housing

20

further includes a support generally designated

36

for supporting the lid

32

when the lid

32

is disposed in the second location thereof.

The support

36

located at each end includes a rod

38

having a first and a second end

40

and

42

respectively, the first end

40

of the rod

38

being pivotally secured to the lid

32

, the second end

42

of the rod

38

engaging the wall

30

so that the lid

32

is maintained in the second location thereof until the user is safely located and protected within the enclosure

22

.

As shown in

FIG. 2

, the housing

20

further includes a locking mechanism or latch generally designated

44

for locking the lid

32

to the container

24

during occupancy of the enclosure

22

by the user, the locking mechanism

44

being releasable from within the enclosure

22

as described later with reference to FIG.

9

.

As shown in

FIG. 2

, the floor

26

defines a plurality of apertures such as apertures

52

,

53

,

54

,

55

,

56

,

57

,

58

,

59

,

60

and

61

disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge

28

thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are a total of fourteen holes. The shelter device

10

further includes a plurality of anchors

62

,

63

,

64

,

65

,

66

,

67

,

68

,

69

,

70

and

71

each anchor such as

62

of the plurality of anchors

62

-

71

cooperating with an aperture such as aperture

52

of the plurality of apertures

52

-

61

so that the anchors

62

-

71

rigidly secure the floor

26

of the housing

20

to the base

18

. Each anchor such as anchor

62

of the anchors

62

-

71

extends through a joist such as joist

12

of the plurality of joists

12

-

16

.

The device

10

in a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in

FIGS. 1-3

is disposed within a manufactured home.

As shown in

FIG. 1

, the combined bed and shelter device

10

includes a plurality of sections

72

,

73

and

74

disposed between the joists

12

-

16

and the base

18

, each section such as section

72

being rigidly secured to an adjacent section such as section

73

with at least one of the sections such as section

74

being secured to the base

18

and at least another one of the sections such as section

72

being secured to one of the anchors such as anchor

62

. A fastener generally designated

78

is provided for securing the adjacent sections such as sections

72

and

73

together.

The fastener

78

includes a bolt

80

, bevel washer and a nut

82

which threadably cooperates with the bolt

80

for fastening the adjacent sections

72

and

73

together.

Each of the anchors

62

-

71

is a tie bolt which extends through one of the apertures

52

-

61

of the floor

26

, through one of the joists

12

-

16

and through one of the sections

72

-

74

for anchoring the floor

26

to section

72

as shown in FIG.

1

.

Each of the joists such as joist

12

define at least one bore

84

for the reception therethrough of the anchor

62

. The at least one bore

84

is in fluid communication with a further bore

86

disposed angularly relative to the at least one bore

84

and a bonding agent

88

is applied through the further bore

86

when the anchor

62

is disposed within the at least one bore

84

so that structural integrity of the joist

12

is maintained.

As shown in

FIG. 1

, a plurality of support blocks

90

,

91

,

92

and

93

is disposed on the base

18

such that the sections

72

-

74

are disposed between the blocks

90

,

91

and

92

,

93

with the blocks

90

,

91

forming a row of blocks on one side of the sections

72

-

74

and

92

,

93

forming another row on the opposite side of the sections

72

-

74

. An I-beam

94

is disposed between the blocks

90

,

91

and the joists

12

-

16

such that the joists

12

-

16

are supported relative to the base

18

by the blocks

90

,

91

and the I-beam

94

.

Each of the joists such as joist

12

defines a point of weakness

96

disposed directly above the I-beam

94

so that in the event of the natural disaster, the joists

12

-

16

break away around the device

10

while the device

10

remains firmly anchored to the base

18

.

Preferably, the point of weakness

96

is a saw cut having a depth of approximately 1.5 inches or a series of small drilled holes running vertically to the joist which would also allow the floor joist to break away at a designated location. A deflecting rod

98

and adjacent plate are secured along an edge of the I-beam

94

so that in the event of the I-beam

94

breaking away together with the joists

12

-

16

, the deflecting rod

98

slides past the lid

32

without dislodging the lid

32

from the container

24

. The adjacent plate keeps the bottom lip of the I-beam

94

from catching the lid

32

.

FIG. 4

is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in

FIG. 4

, the combined bed and shelter device

10

a

is disposed within a conventional home built on a concrete slab

18

a.

Each of the anchors

62

a

and

67

a

extend into the concrete slab

18

a

so that the floor

26

a

of the container

24

a

is firmly anchored to the concrete slab

18

a.

FIG. 5

is a perspective view partially in section of the device shown in FIG.

1

. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the device is anchored to the joists

12

-

16

, the joists

12

-

16

being supported by I-beams

94

.

FIG. 6

is a similar view to that shown in

FIG. 5

but with the joists

12

-

16

and flooring having broken away as a result of the tornado. However, as shown in

FIG. 6

, the portions of the joists

12

-

16

disposed between the saw cuts

96

remain anchored to the base while the remainder of the manufactured home is lifted over and clear of the device by the wind.

FIG. 7

is an exploded perspective view of the sections

72

-

74

shown in FIG.

1

.

FIG. 8

is a view taken on the line

8

—

8

of FIG.

6

. As shown in

FIG. 8

, the latch mechanism

44

includes a latch rod

46

and a further latch rod

47

. A window

51

is provided for permitting external access to the closure

24

.

FIG. 9

is an enlarged perspective view partially in section of the locking mechanism or latch generally designated

44

. The locking mechanism

44

includes the latch rod

46

supported by the lid

32

and extending within the lid

32

along a side of the lid

32

opposite to the lid hinge. A further latch rod

47

is supported by the wall

30

and within the container

24

such that the further latch rod

47

and the latch rod

46

are disposed parallel and adjacent relative to each other. Three latches

48

are pivotally secured to the further latch rod

47

, the latches

48

each defining a slot

49

which cooperates with the latch rod

46

when the lid

32

is closed. The arrangement is such that when the latch rod

46

is disposed within the three slots

49

by pivoting the latches

48

about the further latch rod

47

, the lid

32

is securely located and latched relative to the container

24

. However, when the three latches

48

are pivoted about a longitudinal axis

50

of the further latch rod

47

, as indicated by the arrow

51

1

, the latch rod

46

is disengaged from the three slots

49

so that the lid

32

may be released from the container

24

. An access opening or window

51

is provided in the vicinity of the latch

48

so that the lid

32

may be opened from the outside of the container

24

.

Although many variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, in a preferred embodiment, the lid is fabricated from {fraction (5/16)}″ 5052-H32 aluminum alloy with

1″×2″ cross braces.

The floor is of ¼″ 5052-H32 aluminum alloy with welded comers. The floor is fabricated in two equal portions to provide maneuverability during construction thereof. The container is lined with 2″ foam rubber and is 18″ in height by 6′ wide by 6′8″ in length for supporting a kingsize mattress.

The lid is pivotally secured to the wall by a continuous hinge having a 4″ face and holes for receiving ⅜″ steel pins.

The anchors for anchoring into the concrete are ½″ diameter double expansion shield concrete anchors having a rating of 5000 pounds each so that

14

of such anchors will provide 70,000 lbs holding capacity.

The floor joists are 2″×6″ and the I-beams are 10″ beams with 1″ diameter rods 18″ in length each welded to the inner upper edge of the respective I-beam. A rubber washer ½″ in thickness is disposed between the sections such as

72

and

73

. Each of the sections defines a wind vent and the bolts for securing adjacent sections are ½″×8″ in dimensions. Preferably, the sections are 12″ ship channels.

The anchors extend through {fraction (7/16)}″ diameter bores drilled through the joists and the further bores are disposed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the bores. Each of the further bores is ⅛″ in diameter.

In use of the shelter device, the breakaway floor design includes 1.5″ saw cuts at the centerline of the supporting I-beams. Alternatively, a series of small drilled holes running vertically to the joist could be provided which would also allow the floor joist to break away at a designated location. Usually, the flooring will also include ½″ plywood which would also be cut along the same line and across the ends. The arrangement is such that the wind would lift the flooring from off its frame and, if strong enough, would break the five floor joists at their weakest point to allow the floor to be carried over the top of the tornado safe bed.

The present invention provides a unique device which provides a sleeping facility under normal conditions while providing a life saving shelter in the event of a natural disaster such as a tornado.