Structure protection system

Abstract

A structure protection system for protecting a structure against a damaging force is provided. The system has a first pillar inside a first well, a second pillar inside a second well, and a side panel inside a trench that connects between the first and second wells. The side panel is connected to each of the first pillar and the second pillar. The side panel is drawn vertically upward out of the trench as the first and second pillars are extended vertically upward from the first and second wells.

Description

MHASSA.OOIWO PATENT STRUCTURE PROTECTION SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 746,785, filed January 17, 2025, and entitled “Structure Protection System (SPS),” the disclosure of which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Residences and commercial buildings are at risk of being damaged or destroyed by short-notice catastrophic events such as wildfires, hurricanes, mudslides, tornados, flooding, tsunami, and other natural disasters. For some buildings, the aesthetic appeal of the building is an important concern of the building owner. Existing systems for protecting a home against damage from fire, wind, or flooding often require that the homeowner sacrifice the aesthetic appeal of the home to obtain protection for the home. For example, in response to an approaching hurricane, a homeowner may board up the windows of the home or install a perimeter of sandbags around the home. These protective actions need to be accomplished in a short amount of time because it would be unacceptable to leave the home for a long term in the protected condition (e.g., the windows boarded up and the home surrounded by sandbags). Unfortunately, while such “quick-install” protective actions are often the best that can be done in the short amount of time available to protect the home, these actions are often insufficient to protect the home against a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. What is needed is a way to quickly protect a building from damaging environmental conditions such as natural disasters without compromising the aesthetic appeal of the building.SUMMARY

[0003] Certain embodiments of the disclosure comprise a structure protection system configured for deploying a protective structure around a home. In some aspects, the system can be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the system forms a protective shell or perimeter around the structure that is being protected by the structure protection system. In the stowed configuration, the structure protection system can be stored partially or entirely underground to minimize the visual impact of the systemon the aesthetics of the structure that will be protected from the structure protection system when the structure protection system is deployed. In some arrangements, the structure protection system can include a first pillar disposed in a first well, a second pillar disposed in a second well, and a side panel disposed in a trench that extends between the first and second wells. The side panel can be coupled to each of the first pillar and the second pillar. The first and second pillars can be configured to move upward out of the well to draw the side panel upward out of the trench.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0005] FIGURE 1A depicts a structure protection system in a stowed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIGURE IB depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 1 A in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIGURE 2 depicts a top view of a structure protection system positioned around a perimeter of a home, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIGURE 3 depicts a side cross-sectional view of a structure protection system in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIGURE 4A depicts an interlock of a structure protection system in a de-coupled configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIGURE 4B depicts the interlock of FIGURE 4A in a coupled configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIGURE 5A depicts a side cross-sectional view of a structure protection system in a stowed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIGURE 5B depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 5A in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIGURE 5C depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 5 A in a further deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIGURE 5D depicts a front view of a structure protection system in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIGURE 6A depicts a side cross-sectional view of a structure protection system in a stowed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIGURE 6B depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 6A in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIGURE 6C depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 6A in a further deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIGURE 7 depicts a method of deploying a structure protection system, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIGURE 8 depicts a method of stowing a structure protection system, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIGURE 9A depicts a partial top view of a structure protection system in a stowed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIGURE 9B depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 9A in a partially deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIGURE 9C depicts a side view of the structure protection system of FIGURE 9B, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIGURE 9D depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 9C in a further deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIGURE 9E depicts the structure protection system of FIGURE 9D in a further deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIGURE 9F depicts a partial top view of the structure protection system of FIGURE 9E in a further deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIGURE 9G depicts a partial front view of the structure protection system of FIGURE 9F in a fully deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIGURE 10 depicts a side cross-sectional view of a composite material for use in a structure protection system, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] This disclosure relates generally to a structure protection system (SPS) that can be deployed quickly from a stowed configuration to protect a home from damaging forces (e.g., fire, wind, flooding). In some aspects, the SPS is an innovative deployable system that protects residential and commercial buildings from various natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. In some configurations, the SPS can be a deployable structure that createsa shell for the protection of buildings or objects not attached to the ground (e.g., aircraft, vehicles, locomotives) as well as agricultural assets (e.g., vineyards, crops). As described herein, the system can include, in some arrangements, an underground, modular system that quickly encloses structures with sealed walls and a customizable roof, providing immediate shelter. In some arrangements, the system can be powered by an independent power supply (e.g., battery system, generator) to ensure the system can deploy to protect the structure even during power outages. When not in use to protect the structure, the SPS can be stowed partially or completely underground to minimize visual impact of the system on the aesthetics of the structure. In some arrangements, the SPS can be partially stowed underground such that visible portions of the SPS appear like a fence around the property, while the part of the SPS that is in front of the property can be completely stowed underground to allow access to the property. In some aspects, stowing the system components underground can also maximize land use efficiency.

[0029] FIGURES 1A and IB show an illustrative, non-limiting configuration of a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGURE 1A, the system 100 can have a stowed configuration in which the components of the system 100 are stored in an underground vault 101 to minimize the visual impact of the system 100 on the aesthetics of the structure 20 when the system 100 in not in use for protection of the structure 20. FIGURE IB shows the system 100 of FIGURE 1A after the system 100 has been moved from the stowed configuration of FIGURE 1 A to a deployed configuration of FIGURE IB. As shown in FIGURES 1A and IB, the system 100 can include a plurality of pillars 102, side panels 104, and roof panels 106 that are stowed within an underground vault 101 that has been dug into the ground 30 at the perimeter of the structure 20. When the system 100 is deployed to protect the structure 20, the pillars 102 can extend above the roofline of the structure 20 and can provide a supporting frame for the side panels 104 and roof panels 106, as described herein. For the sake of simplicity, the front side panel 104 is depicted as clear so that the structure 20 is visible within the deployed structure protection system 100. However, as described herein, the side panel 104 can be made of a fire-proof or weather-proof material and need not be transparent. In other words, the aesthetic appeal of the structure 20 is not a concern when the system 100 is deployed.

[0030] In some arrangements, the pillars 102, side panels 104, and roof panels 106 can be configured to interlock with one another to create a sealed protective structure that envelopes and protects the structure 20. Each of the pillars 102, the side panels 104, and the roof panels 106can be stowed using space-saving techniques (e.g., folding, telescoping) to minimize the volume of space needed in the underground vault 101 to house the components of the system 100, as described herein. In some designs, the system 100 can include additional material underneath the property to form an underground seal 103 to protect the structure from water that might rise up into the structure from the ground. In some arrangements, the underground seal 103 can connect to the foundation. The underground seal 103 can be at the foundation level or up on the surface and connect to all the vertical surfaces of the vault 101 of the system 100. In some arrangements, the system 100 can allow the depth of the underground seal 103 to be customized according to environmental considerations for the property or preferences of the property-owner.

[0031] FIGURE 2 shows a birds-eye view of a structure 20 surrounded by an illustrative, non-limiting configuration of a structure protection system 100 that is in a stowed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGURE 2, the structure protection system 100 can include a network of wells 112 and trenches 114 that form the underground vault 101 dug into the ground 30 at the perimeter of the structure 20. As described herein, the components (e.g., the pillars 102, the side panels 104, the roof panels 106) can be stowed within the wells 112 and the trenches 114 when the system 100 is placed in the stowed configuration. In some arrangements, the pillars 102 can be stored in the wells 112, which are positioned at the corners of the perimeter that surrounds the structure 20. As shown in FIGURE 2, intermediate wells 112 can be placed between corner wells 112 to provide additional pillars 102 for support of the deployed system 100. The side panels 104 can be stowed within the trenches 114 that interconnect adjacent wells 112.

[0032] FIGURE 3 shows a cross-section view of a structure protection system 100 deployed from an underground vault 101, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some arrangements, the underground vault 101 can be formed by the merging of a trench 114 with two wells 112 (FIGURE 2). As shown in FIGURE 3, the pillars 102 and the side panels 104 can be deployed from the underground chamber 101 using a telescoping mechanism. For the sake of simplicity, the pillars 102 are shown as a collection of three vertically-telescoping portions, with an intermediate medial portion connecting two end lateral portions to one another. However, in some arrangements, the pillars 102 can be arranged as concentric telescoping portions rather than the illustrated medial and lateral vertically-telescoping portions. As shown in FIGURE 3, the side panels 104 can be supported by the pillars 102 and can be arranged to extend from the ground 30to beyond the roof line of the structure 20. As further shown in FIGURE 3, the side panel 104 can include a portal 118 that can provide a doorway through the side panel 104 to allow a person to access the space enclosed by the deployed system 100. The portal 118 can be configured as a sealing door that allows the integrity of the deployed system 100 to be maintained when the portal 118 is closed. As indicated in FIGURE 3, the bottom edge of the portal 118 can be disposed above the ground 30 to protect against water or other elements from bypassing the seal of the closed portal 118 and entering the enclosed space of the deployed system 100 that surrounds and protects the structure 20.

[0033] FIGURE 3 further illustrates the system 100 can include a hydraulic system 130 that powers, through a hydraulic line 132, the deploying movements of the pillars 102, the side panels 104, and the roof panels 106. The system 100 can further include a power supply 140 (e.g., a battery system, a generator) that allows the system 100 to maintain functionality independent of a power grid such that the system 100 can use the power supply 140 to power the hydraulic system 130 to move the components (e.g., the pillars 102, the side panels 104, the roof panels 106) from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration during a power outage. The hydraulic system 130 and the power supply 140 can be stored in an underground compartment 150 to minimize the impact of these components of the system 100 on the aesthetic appeal of the structure 20. The underground compartment 150 or the power supply 140 can be provided with an air intake 152 and an exhaust vent 154 that traverses the ground 30, as indicated in FIGURE 3. In some arrangements, the hydraulic system 130 and the power supply 140 can be housed above ground (e.g., inside a build room) and within the perimeter of the SPS 100 such that the hydraulic system 130 and the power supply 140 are protected from the external environment by the SPS 100 when the SPS 100 is deployed. In some arrangements, the hydraulic system 130 and the power supply 140 can be housed underground and within the perimeter of the SPS 100.

[0034] With continued reference to FIGURE 3, the system 100 can include a roof panel 106 that is connected to a pillar 102 by a roof hinge 120. The roof panel 106 in FIGURE 3 is shown in the deployed configuration. The roof panel 106 can be stowed by retracting the panel in a folding or telescoping manner and rotating the shortened roof panel 106 about the roof hinge 120 to bring the roof panel 106 into vertical alignment with the pillar 102. The pillar 102 and the roof panel 106 can then be retracted in a telescoping fashion and stowed in the underground chamber 101. FIGURE 3 further shows that in the deployed configuration the deployed roof panel 106 can coupleto a roof anchor 122 that is disposed on a pillar 102 on the opposite side of the structure 20. In some arrangements, the roof panel 106 can be configured as a flexible material that can be stored as a spool (e.g., a structurally-supportive mesh embedded in a fire-resistant material or covered by a heat-reflective foil).

[0035] FIGURES 4A and 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an interlock 160 of a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some arrangements, the interlock 160 can be used to join a pillar 102 and a side panel 104. FIGURE 4A illustrates the interlock 160 in a decoupled configuration, while FIGURE 4B shows the interlock 160 in a coupled configuration. With reference to FIGURE 4A, the interlock 160 can include a pin 162 housed within a bore 164 of a side panel 104 and a biasing element 166 that pushes the pin toward an adjacent pillar 102. In FIGURE 4A, the pillar 102 is stowed or not sufficiently deployed to engage the interlock 160. As shown in FIGURE 4A, in the de-coupled configuration of the interlock 160, the distal end 163 of the pin 162 is pressed, by the biasing element 166, against a panel-facing surface 165 of the pillar 102. FIGURE 4B illustrates that the pillar 102 can be configured to deploy by moving vertically upward relative to the illustrated side panel 104, bringing a through hole 168 of the pillar 102 into alignment with the bore 164 that houses the pin 162 in the side panel 104. In FIGURE 4B, the pillar 102 has deployed sufficiently far vertically upward to align the through hole 168 of the pillar 102 with the bore 164 of the side panel 104, thereby allowing the biasing element 166 to push the pin 162 into the through hole 168 of the pillar 102. Once the interlock 160 is in the coupled configuration (FIGURE 4B), the side panel 104 will move in unison with the pillar 102 as the pillar 102 is driven further vertically upward. In some arrangements, the through hole 168 can be configured as a recess disposed on the panel-facing surface 165 of the pillar 102 and need not be a through hole that completely spans a dimension of the pillar 102. Similarly, the thorough hole (or recess) can be configured as a slot that allows the pillar 102 to move with the pin 162 in the coupled configuration while not contacting the lower horizontal surface of the slot and therefore not causing the side panel 104 to move with the pillar 102 even though the pin 162 protrudes into the slot. Further, the orientation can be reversed with the pillar 102 housing the pin 162 and the biasing element 166 that engages a through hole 168 or recess disposed on the side panel 104.

[0036] FIGURE 5A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some arrangements, the system 100can include a plurality of pillars 102 stowed within a plurality of underground wells 112, as described herein. FIGURE 5 A illustrates that the system 100 can include a horizontal rail 170 that is disposed in the ground 30 within a trench 114 that connects two wells 112. The horizontal rail 170 can be used to assist horizontal movement of the deployed pillars 102, as described herein. In some arrangements, the horizontal rail 170 can be configured as a locomotive track (i.e., a pair of parallel rails with support ties extending therebetween). FIGURE 5A further illustrates the pillars 102 can be stowed beneath a cover 172 to protect the system 100 and minimize the visual impact of the stowed system 100 on the aesthetics of the structure 20. In some arrangements, the cover 172 can include a hinge 174 to assist a with moving the cover 172 from a stowed configuration in which the cover 172 covers the chamber and the pillars 102, to a deployed configuration in which the cover 172 is removed from the opening of the chamber to allow the pillars 102 to extend above the ground 30.

[0037] FIGURE 5B illustrates the structure protection system 100 of FIGURE 5 A after the system 100 has been partially deployed. In FIGURE 5B, the covers 172 of the system 100 have been removed from the top opening of the wells 112 to allow the pillars 102 to be deployed above the ground 30. The covers 172 can be opened by a hinge 174, or can be slid off or otherwise removed from the top opening of the well 112. Once the cover 172 is removed from the opening of the well 112, the system can have a lift 180 that moves vertically upward a platform 182 on which the pillars 102 rest. The lift 180 can bring the platform 182 level with the horizontal rail 170, allowing the pillars 102 to move horizontally off of the platform 182 and onto the horizontal rail 170. The system 100 can further deploy the pillars 102 by moving the pillars 102 horizontally along the trench 114 to space the pillars 102 about the structure 20, for example by using the telescoping and interlocking components described herein.

[0038] FIGURE 5C illustrates the structure protection system 100 of FIGURE 5B after the system 100 has been further deployed. The pillars 102 are shown in a palisade-like formation that surrounds the structure 20. As described herein, the pillars 102 can provide a framework for the side panels 104 and roof panels 106 such that the system 100 can completely surround and enclose the structure 20 within the deployed system 100.

[0039] FIGURE 5D shows a front view of a deployed structure protection system 100 similar to FIGURE 5C and viewed along the direction of the horizontal rail 170 used to move the deployed pillars 102 longitudinally along the sides of the structure 20. As shown in FIGURE 5D,the system 100 can include a roofing frame 107 that can be used to deploy or support the roof panels 106. When the system 100 is in the stowed configuration, the roofing frame 107 can be stowed in a trench 114 that interconnects the wells 112 that have the lifts 180. The roofing frame 107 can be deployed beyond the roof line of the structure 20 (as shown) before the roofing frame 107 and its supporting pillars 102 are advanced laterally along the structure 20 on the horizontal rail 170.

[0040] FIGURE 6A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some arrangements, the system 100 can include a series of pillars 102 that are connected to one another by a plurality of hinges 174. FIGURE 6A illustrates the pillars 102 with hinges 174 can be stowed in a well 112 and sealed by a cover 172, as described herein. FIGURE 6B shows the system 100 can be deployed by removing the covers 172 and using a lift 180 and a platform 182 to raise the pillars 102 above the ground 30. FIGURE 6C show that the hinges 174 can be used to position the pillars 102 over the roof line of the structure 20. In some arrangements, a pillar 102 deployed from a second well 112 on the opposite side of the structure 20 can be used to complete the encirclement of the pillars 102 over the roof of the structure 20, as shown in FIGURE 6C.

[0041] FIGURE 7 depicts a method of deploying 200 a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The method of deploying 200 the system 100 can include a pillar deployment step 202 in which the pillars 102 are moved above the ground 30, as described herein. The method of deploying 200 can further include a side panel deployment step 204 in which the side panels are moved above the ground 30, as described herein. The method of deploying 200 can further include a roof panel deployment step 206 in which the roof panels 106 are moved above the ground 30, as described herein. The method of deploying 200 can further include a side panel-pillar interlock coupling step 208 in which an interlock 160 is moved from a de-coupled configuration to a coupled configuration that interlocks a side panel 104 to a pillar 102, as described herein. The method of deploying 200 can further include a roof panel-pillar interlock coupling step 209 in which an interlock 160 is moved from a de-coupled configuration to a coupled configuration that interlocks a roof panel 106 to a pillar 102, as described herein.

[0042] FIGURE 8 depicts a method of stowing 300 a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The method of stowing 300 the system 100 can include a roof panel-pillar release step 302 in which an interlock 160 is moved from a coupledconfiguration to a de-coupled configuration to release a roof panel 106 from a pillar 102, as described herein. The method of stowing 300 can further include a side panel-pillar release step 304 in which an interlock 160 is moved from a coupled configuration to a de-coupled configuration to release a side panel 104 from a pillar 102, as described herein. The method of stowing 300 can further include a roof panel stowing step 306 in which the roof panels 106 are moved below the ground 30, as described herein. The method of stowing 300 can further include a side panel stowing step 308 in which the side panels 104 are moved below the ground 30, as described herein. The method of stowing 300 can further include a pillar stowing step 309 in which the pillars 102 are moved below the ground 30, as described herein.

[0043] FIGURE 9A illustrates a partial top view of a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In FIGURE 9A, the ground 30 has been removed from the rendering in order to illustrate the side panels 104 that are stowed under the ground 30, as described herein, when the system 100 is in the stowed configuration. The system 100 can include a roof panel 106 that stows within a side panel 104, as shown in FIGURE 9A. FIGURE 9B shows the system of FIGURE 9A after the side panels 104 have been deployed from the underground chamber 101 (FIGURE 1A). As shown in FIGURE 9B, the side panels 104 can be extended vertically above the ground 30 to bring the top edge of the side panel 104 beyond the roof line of the structure 20. FIGURE 9C is a front view of the structure 20 illustrating that the roof panels 106 can remain stowed within the side panel 104 during the vertical extension of the side panels 104 out of the underground chamber 101 (FIGURE 1A). FIGURE 9D illustrates that the roof panels 106 can be further extended vertically to remove the roof panel 106 from the side panel 104 in which the roof panel 106 is stowed. FIGURE 9E illustrates that the vertically-deployed roof panel 106 can pivot from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. As shown in FIGURE 9E, the roof panel 106 can join with another roof panel near the medial plane of the structure 20 to form a sealed roof structure. FIGURES 9F and 9G illustrate the structure protection system 100 can include a side panel 104 with a door portion 105 that can move both in both a vertical direction (FIGURE 9F) and in the horizontal direction (FIGURE 9G). As shown in FIGURE 9G, the door portion 105 can move with a side panel 104 in the vertical direction to exit the underground chamber 101. FIGURE 9G shows that once the door portion 105 has reached the correct vertical extension, the door portion 105 can move in the horizontal direction to form adeployed system 100 that encloses and protects the structure 20 from a hazardous environment outside of the structure 20.

[0044] FIGURE 10 depicts a side cross-sectional view of a multi-layered composite material 400 that can be used to make a side panel 104 or a roof panel 106 of a structure protection system 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. FIGURE 10 illustrates the multilayered composite material 400 can be formed by stacking different layers face-to-face across the thickness dimension of the material 400. In some aspects, the multi-layered composite material 400 can include some layers that are well suited for bearing loads while other layers are included to enhance other aspects of the material 400 (e.g., fire-resistance). With reference to FIGURE 10, the multi-layered composite material 400 can include an outer layer 402 that has a free surface that is exposed to the outside environment. The multi-layered composite material 400 can further include an inner layer 404 that has a free surface that faces toward the protected structure 20 when the system 100 is deployed to protect the structure 20. The multi-layered composite material 400 can further include a lateral inner layer 406 and a medial inner layer 408, with the lateral inner layer 406 disposed between the medial inner layer 408 and the outer layer 402, and with the medial inner layer 408 disposed between the lateral inner layer 406 and the inner layer 404, as shown in FIGURE 10. In some arrangements, the multi-layered composite material 400 can include a weld 411 that seals the inner layer 404 to the lateral inner layer 406, as shown in FIGURE 10. The weld 411 can form an air-tight seal that allows the medial inner layer 408 to be replaced with an evacuated void (e.g., a vacuum layer), which can provide thermal insulation to the multi-layered composite material 400. In some arrangements, the outer layer 402 can be a fire-resistant material that need not bear loads while the lateral inner layer 406 can be a structurally-strong material that can perform the load-bearing functions of the multi-layered composite material 400. In some arrangements, the outer layer 402 can be made of special steel reinforced concrete that can handle high temperatures and high hurricane wind forces. The inner layer 404 can be a material that is selected for its ability to be joined (e.g., by a weld 411 or other sealing means) to the lateral inner layer 406 to form an evacuated chamber in place of the depicted medial inner layer 408.Other Variations and Terminology

[0045] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Itwill be further understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof, including embodiments which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed; others may be added. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments herein and may be defined by claims as presented herein or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the patent specification of during prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

[0046] Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0047] Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of theelements in the list. Further, the term “each,” as used herein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which the term “each” is applied.

[0048] Conjunctive language, such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. (Original) A structure protection system for protecting a structure against a damaging force, the system comprising:a first pillar disposed in a first well;a second pillar disposed in a second well;a trench extending between the first well and the second well; and a side panel disposed in the trench and coupled to each of the first pillar and the second pillar;wherein each of the first pillar and the second pillar is configured to move upward out of the well from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, and wherein the side panel is pulled upward out of the trench by the first pillar and the second pillar as the first pillar and the second pillar move from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration.

2. (Original) The system of claim 1, further comprising an interlock comprising a pin housed in one of the first pillar or the side panel, a recess disposed on the other of the first pillar or the side panel, and a biasing element configured to push the pin into the recess when the pin and the recess become aligned with one another, wherein moving the first pillar from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration brings the recess and the pin into alignment with one another.

3. (Original) The system of claim 1, further comprising a roof panel coupled to a hinge that extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, the roof panel configured to rotate about the hinge.

4. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the side panel comprises a portal that provides a sealing doorway through the side panel.

5. (Original) The system of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic system connected by a hydraulic line to at least one of the first pillar and the second pillar, the hydraulic system configured to move the first pillar and the second pillar from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration.

6. (Original) A method of deploying a structure protection system, the method comprising:lifting a pillar out of a well to vertically align a bottom of the pillar with a horizontalrail disposed within a trench that extends along a side of the structure; and sliding the pillar along the horizontal rail.

7. (Original) The method of claim 6, further comprising:lifting an opposing pillar out of an opposing well to vertically align a bottom of the opposing pillar with a parallel horizontal rail disposed within an opposing trench that extends along an opposing side of the structure, the structure disposed between the trench and the opposing trench.

8. (Original) The method of claim 7, further comprising:lifting a roofing frame out of a cross trench to bring at least a portion of the roofing frame above a roof of the structure, the roofing frame coupled to each the pillar and the opposing pillar, the cross trench extending from the well to the opposing well.

9. (Original) The method of claim 6, further comprising:unfolding a series of pillars coupled to the pillar to bring at least a portion of the series of pillars above a roof of the structure.

10. (Original) The method of claim 9, further comprising:lifting an anchoring pillar out of an anchoring pillar well; andcoupling a terminal member of the series of pillars to the anchoring pillar.

11. (Original) The method of claim 6, further comprising:removing a cover from at least one of the well and the trench.

12. (Original) A structure protection system adapted for protecting a structure against a damaging force, the system comprising:a trench disposed in the ground adjacent to the structure;a side panel disposed within the trench and configured to move from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, the entirety of the side panel disposed below a roof of the structure in the stowed configuration, at least portion of the side panel disposed above the roof of the structure in the deployed configuration; anda roof panel disposed within, and coupled to, the side panel.

13. (Original) The system of claim 12, wherein the roof panel is configured to extend vertically out of the side panel to bring a bottom surface of the roof panel vertically above the roof of the structure.

14. (Original) The system of claim 13, wherein the roof panel is further configuredto rotate relative to the side panel from a parallel orientation to a perpendicular orientation.

15. (Original) The system of claim 12, further comprising a second side panel disposed in a second trench, the second trench disposed in the ground adjacent to the structure, the second side panel comprising a door portion configured to move in a vertical direction to exit the trench and further configured to move in a horizontal direction once the door portion has exited the trench.

16. (Original) The system of claim 12, wherein the roof panel or the side panel is made of a multi-layered composite material.

17. (Original) The system of claim 16, wherein an outer layer of the multi-layered composite material comprises a fire-resistant material.

18. (Original) The system of claim 16, wherein a first layer of the multi-layered composite material comprises a load-bearing-capable material, and wherein a second layer of the multi-layered composite material comprises a fire-resistant material.

19. (Original) The system of claim 16, wherein the multi-layered composite material comprises a first layer welded to a second layer to create a sealed layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

20. (Original) The system of claim 19, wherein the sealed layer is evacuated to create a vacuum between the first layer and the second layer.

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