Furniture for mitigating the effects of a disaster

Abstract

A piece of furniture comprising a first part including a first outer surface, a second part including a second outer surface, a seam formed at an interface of the first part and the second part, and a polymer coating adhered to the first outer surface and to the second outer surface and extending over the seam. A piece of furniture comprising a work surface including an upper surface and an underside and defining a plane, the work surface supportable at a work level forming a space at the underside of the work surface and a panel positionable in the space at the underside of the work surface, the panel including a curved outer surface and a wall selected to be resistant to passage therethough of flying debris and a substructure to support the wall. A piece of furniture comprising a work surface including an upper surface and an item securing system including a retainer engaged to the work surface to releasably secure an office object thereto.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly to furniture to mitigate adverse effects of the furniture or a surrounding structure during a disaster, the disaster being, for example, an explosion, blast, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, etc. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] During a disaster, such as an explosion, blast, earthquake, hurricane or tornado, furniture can become a danger to the occupants of buildings. The energy and force of such disasters can move furniture into occupant areas and against occupants therein to create personal injury and in some situations, the energy and force of a disaster may break furniture apart to thereby transform the furniture into shrapnel. During a disaster the surrounding structure of a building may also create a risk to occupants. [0003] As such, it may be desirable to create furniture that to some degree mitigates the harmful effects that furniture or the surrounding structure may cause in a disa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The furniture of the present invention can be built to mitigate the effects of a disaster and minimize damage and injury to occupants from movement of the furniture or from flying debris or parts resulting from the furniture. Alternately or in addition, the furniture of the present invention may be formed to act as a protective shelter if the surrounding building structure creates a risk to the well being of occupants during a disaster. A disaster can be, for example, an explosion, a blast, an earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado, etc. that creates a short term or longer term force, shock or energy wave.

[0010] In another aspect, the furniture can be formed to reduce its ability to contain blast energy, thereby diverting it or releasing it rather than being adversely acted upon by the blast energy. To reduce the furniture's ability to contain blasts, the furniture can comprise rounded edges and / or vents. To achieve this, curved or rounded forms may be used for example on the edges of the furniture, on legs, and / or on wall panels. The furniture can, alternately or in addition, include actual or formable vents that can help hold the furniture together in shock situations.

[0013] It can be useful to eliminate gables and large conventional, usually vertically oriented, flat panels that can be moved or fragmented in shock situations. Instead, open areas, flexible panels and / or panels that can be resistant to flying debris can be used, if desired.

[0015] The furniture can be fabricated from or include various materials including those that are heat-, fire-, and / or fragmentation-resistant, those that are resistant to passage therethrough of flying debris (i.e. anti-ballistic) and / or that can withstand the force of a disaster such as a blast without deteriorating in a manner that will cause serious injury or damage. In one embodiment, the furniture, for example along its edges, are formed or fitted with a cushioning material, such as a polymer, to reduce any impact effect.

[0017] In spite of all of the technical aspects providing an ability to mitigate the adverse effects of furniture in a disaster, it is useful that the furniture of the present invention has the aesthetic appearance and functionality similar to conventional furniture.

Problems solved by technology

During a disaster, such as an explosion, blast, earthquake, hurricane or tornado, furniture can become a danger to the occupants of buildings.

The energy and force of such disasters can move furniture into occupant areas and against occupants therein to create personal injury and in some situations, the energy and force of a disaster may break furniture apart to thereby transform the furniture into shrapnel.

During a disaster the surrounding structure of a building may also create a risk to occupants.

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