In-ground shelter
DC
First Claim
1. An underground shelter of the type having a front wall, a back wall, two opposing side walls, a bottom and a top defining a substantially rectangular box with an opening defined in the top, a flat lid adapted to cover the opening, a roller means for alternately rolling the lid to expose or close the open top, the improvement comprising:
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved shelter of the type having a front wall, a back wall, two opposing side walls, a bottom and a top defining a substantially rectangular box with an opening defined in the top, a flat lid adapted to cover the opening, a roller means for alternately rolling the lid to expose or close the open top, the improvement comprising: substantially, the entire top of the box defining an opening; the lid adapted to be substantially flush with the surrounding ground level in a closed position; and a roller means for allowing the lid to slide above the ground level, exposing more than half of the top when in an open position. The shelter alternatively including stairs rotatably affixed to the front wall and a stair support means releaseably supporting the stair in position to be used as a stepping entrance into the shelter, whereby the stair can be rotated against the front wall when not in use or rotated and fixed in place by the stair support means to serve as a stepping surface.
43 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. An underground shelter of the type having a front wall, a back wall, two opposing side walls, a bottom and a top defining a substantially rectangular box with an opening defined in the top, a flat lid adapted to cover the opening, a roller means for alternately rolling the lid to expose or close the open top, the improvement comprising:
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8. An underground shelter of the type having a front wall, a back wall, two opposing side walls, a bottom and a top defining a substantially rectangular box with an opening defined in the top, a flat lid adapted to cover the opening, a roller means for alternately rolling the lid to expose or close the open top, the improvement comprising:
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a. substantially, the entire top of the box defining an opening; b. the lid adapted to be substantially flush with the surrounding ground level in a closed position; c. a roller means for allowing the lid to slide above the ground level, exposing more than half of the top when in an open position, having, i. a track affixed to each of the side walls near the open top and parallel thereto and at least one track roller disposed between the lid and each track, each track roller rollingly supporting the lid as it moves relative to the track, ii. a rail roller adjacent to the back wall disposed between the lid and the track, a lower track roller attached to the lid near the trailing edge, the lower track roller engaging a lower track surface, whereby the lid is supported above the supported above the cooperative action of the lower track roller and the rail roller, and iii. at least one rail affixed to the underside of the lid between the rail roller and the lid, each rail having a sloped section near the leading edge of the lid, whereby when the leading edge moves away from the back wall, the lid is displaced upwardly by the operation of the sloped section against the rail roller, providing additional clearance for the lid as it passes over the ground surface; d. a securing means, for maintaining the lid in a closed position during a storm event; e. the sidewalls each having an inwardly sloped section near the open top; and f. at least one stair rotatably affixed to the front wall cooperating with a stair support means releasably supporting the stair in a position to be used as a stepping entrance into the shelter, whereby, inter alia, the size and weight of the lid are reduced by the inwardly slopping side walls allowing cars with smaller wheelbases to park over the lid without driving thereon and, whereby, the stair can be rotated against the front wall when not in use or rotated and fixed in place by the stair support means to serve as a stepping surface. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeJac Shelter, LLC
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Original AssigneeCliffton Vaughn, Jerry Wirtz
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InventorsWirtz, Jerry, Vaughn, Cliffton
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Primary Examiner(s)CANFIELD, ROBERT
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Assistant Examiner(s)Bartosik; Anthony N
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Application NumberUS10/869,637Time in Patent Office1,566 DaysField of Search521/699, 521/697, 52/64, 521/28, 52/19, 52/20, 521/29, 220/3.8, 220/484, 220/675, 220/672, 220/671, 220/669, 109/1.SUS Class Current52/19CPC Class CodesE04H 9/12 entirely underneath the lev...
