Home saver storm shield

Abstract

The storm shield relates to a deck or platform adjacent to a structure that can be elevated up to a vertical position that will resist high winds and air-borne debris that occur during severe storm events, particularly hurricanes and tornados. The storm shield will protect structures, including but not limited to residential dwellings garages, commercial, and industrial structures. This storm shield additionally provides a means whereby occupants can enclose the most vulnerable, full side of a structure for extended periods of time when it has to be left vacant.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The storm shield relates to a deck or platform adjacent to a structure that can be elevated up to a vertical position that will resist high winds and air-borne debris that occur during severe storm events, particularly hurricanes and tornados. The storm shield will protect structures, including but not limited to residential dwellings, garages, commercial, and industrial structures. This storm shield additionally provides a means whereby occupants can enclose the most vulnerable, full side of a structure for extended periods of time when it has to be left vacant. Vandalism often occurs to vacant beachfront homes especially when they are in remote areas or in areas where many of the houses or apartments are rented to those young people on spring break.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Storms such as hurricanes and tornados occur in the United States and throughout the world on a regular basis, destroying all types of buildings, vehicles and boats. Wind spee...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]The principal advantage of the storm shield is having a deck or platform adjacent to a structure that can be elevated up to a vertical position that will resists high winds and air-borne debris.

[0022]Another advantage of the storm shield is having a deck or platform adjacent to a structure that can be elevated up to a position that will enclose a structure when it is vacant.

Problems solved by technology

Storms such as hurricanes and tornados occur in the United States and throughout the world on a regular basis, destroying all types of buildings, vehicles and boats.

Most structures are not constructed to withstand such wind speeds indicated by the mass destruction on the east and gulf coasts of the United States occurring yearly.

These endeavors are often futile due to the limited areas covered and the flat sheets of plywood are generally just nailed to the existing structure.

This procedure damages the exterior and does not give the structural framework required to adequately resist a severe windstorm.

Often the plywood can come off during the windstorm, and do additional damage to the structure.

Many times the occupants have left the area during that time of year and cannot get back to protect their dwelling due to the mandatory evacuation of the storm affected areas.

The effect of winterizing or effectively protecting structures has generally been accomplished by purchasing heavy storm windows and doors, this practice is somewhat effective but it limits the size and amount of glass areas that can be used facing the desirable views in the beachfront areas and does not protect the rest of the structure.

This patent describes another window shield and guard assembly that protects only specific areas of the structure, but does not protect the entire side of the structure.

It could not be used for a deck or platform and does not elevate to a vertical position to protect the side of the structure, and cannot be mounted vertically along a wall.

This system would be cumbersome to set up, use a lot of room and be in the way most of the time.

Although it uses cables, it does not provide a useable deck or platform that rises up to a vertical position to protect and enclose the full side of the structure.

This patent describes an effective storm shelter that fully protects structures but permanently encumbers a great deal of area around the structure with framework and makes this area unusable and unsightly.

None of these previous efforts, however, provides the benefits attendant with the present design.

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