초록 ▼

An underground shelter having a flat lid divided into two portions substantially flush with the surrounding ground level and each other when closed having—a first stationary lid portion, and a second moving lid portion, at least one reinforcing member supporting each lid portion; a roller means comp

An underground shelter having a flat lid divided into two portions substantially flush with the surrounding ground level and each other when closed having—a first stationary lid portion, and a second moving lid portion, at least one reinforcing member supporting each lid portion; a roller means comprising—at least one linear track, at least one upper track roller, each upper track roller rollingly supporting the second lid portion; at least one ramp defined in the first lid portion, and out of line with the track, adapted to elevate a leading edge roller to a higher level allowing the second lid portion to pass over the first; at least one leading edge roller engaging a ramp; a releasable latch means; a lid retainer means for resisting a lifting force; access means for ingress/egress; and at least one ventilation means for equalizing the pressure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An underground shelter 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 a portion of

1. An underground shelter 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 a portion of the opening defined in the top, the improvement comprising: a. the lid divided into two portions and adapted to be substantially flush with a surrounding ground level in a closed position having i. a first lid portion remaining stationary over a first portion of the opening and beginning at the back wall,ii. a second lid portion which moves relative to the first lid portion and, in the closed position, begins at the front wall,iii. a dividing space defined between the first and second lid portions when the first and second lid portions are in the closed position, andiv. each lid portion having an upper surface lying in a same plane and not offset from one another vertically;b. the roller means comprising i. at least one linear track positioned near the opening defined in the top,ii. at least one upper track roller disposed between the second lid portion and each track, each upper track roller rollingly supporting the lid as the lid moves relative to the track;c. at least one ramp defined in the first lid portion adjacent to the dividing space, and out of line with the track, and adapted to elevate a leading edge roller moving relative to the ramp from a lower level to a higher level, the higher level allowing the second lid portion to pass over the first lid portion;d. at least one of the leading edge rollers engaging the at least one ramp, each leading edge roller adapted to rollingly engage a surface to support a leading edge of the second lid portion as the second lid portion passes up and over the first lid portion;e. a latch means releasably engaging the moveable second lid portion into a fixed closed position;f. a lid retainer means for keeping the second lid portion in position against a lifting force created by a differential pressure between an inside of the shelter and an outside atmosphere during a storm event; andg. access means for allowing at least one person to enter or leave the shelter. 2. The shelter of claim 1, each ramp affixed to the first lid portion, and each leading edge roller being affixed to the second lid portion. 3. The shelter of claim 1, each ramp affixed to the second lid portion and each leading edge roller affixed to the first lid portion. 4. The shelter of claim 1, the first lid portion having at least one reinforcing member supporting the first lid portion on an underside thereof. 5. The shelter of claim 1, the second lid portion having at least one reinforcing member supporting the second lid portion on an underside thereof. 6. The shelter of claim 1, each lid portion having at least one reinforcing member supporting the respective lid portion on an underside thereof. 7. The shelter of claim 1 further having at least one ventilation means for equalizing the pressure on the inside and outside of the shelter. 8. The shelter of claim 1, the latch means having a mechanism accessible for release thereof on both the outside and inside of the shelter. 9. The shelter of claim 1 further having a force-enhancing means for additional leverage to force the second lid portion to move into an open position, whereby, those in the shelter can open the shelter to egress even if there is debris resting on the shelter. 10. An underground shelter 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 opening defined in the top, the improvement comprising: a. the lid divided into two portions and adapted to be substantially flush with a surrounding ground level in a closed position having i. a first lid portion remaining stationary over a first portion of the opening and beginning at the back wall,ii. a second lid portion which moves relative to the first lid portion and, in the closed position, begins at the front wall,iii. a dividing space defined between the first and second lid portions when the first and second lid portions are in the closed position,iv. at least one reinforcing member supporting each lid portion on an underside thereof, andv. each lid portion having an upper surface lying in a same plane and not offset from one another vertically;b. the roller means comprising i. at least one linear track positioned near the opening defined in the top,ii. at least one upper track roller disposed between the second lid portion and each track, each upper track roller rollingly supporting the lid as the second lid portion moves relative to the track;c. at least one ramp defined in the first lid portion adjacent to the dividing space, and out of line with the track, and adapted to elevate a leading edge roller moving relative to the ramp from a lower level to a higher level, the higher level allowing the second lid portion to pass over the first lid portion;d. at least one of the leading edge rollers engaging the at least one ramp, each leading edge roller adapted to rollingly engage a surface to support a leading edge of the second lid portion as the second lid portion passes up and over the first lid portion;e. a latch means releasably engaging the moveable second lid portion into a fixed closed position, the latch means having a mechanism accessible for release thereof on both an outside and inside of the shelter;f. a lid retainer means for keeping the second lid portion in position against a lifting force created by a differential pressure between the inside of the shelter and the outside atmosphere during a storm event;g. access means for allowing at least one person to enter or leave the shelter; andh. at least one ventilation means for equalizing the pressure on the inside and outside of the shelter. 11. The shelter of claim 10 further having a force-enhancing means for additional leverage to force the second lid portion to move into an open position, whereby, those in the shelter can open the shelter to egress even if there is debris resting on or near the shelter in the wake of a storm.