Stowable Shelter System Anchoring and Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural disasters often cause structural damage and pose risks to occupants due to inadequate shelter systems, particularly for individuals with mobility issues and those in locations without practical central shelters, as existing shelters may be inaccessible or unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A stowable shelter system that can be securely anchored above-ground, easily deployed, and conveniently stored, featuring a triangular or rectangular design with pivotable members and anchoring mechanisms for quick setup and secure attachment to various support structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large centrally-located shelters are used, then shelter capacity is improved, but accessibility and evacuation time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the shelter system into multiple distributed individual shelters rather than one large central shelter. Each shelter unit can be independently accessed and deployed, eliminating the need for mass evacuation to a single location while maintaining adequate shelter capacity for groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a horizontal consolidation model (one large central shelter) to a vertical/distributed model where multiple shelters are positioned at different locations throughout the building, accessible via existing vertical circulation paths like stairwells and elevators.
2Reliability
If below-ground shelters are used, then shelter protection is improved, but accessibility and safety risks are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing shelters below ground level, the invention inverts the approach by positioning shelters at or above ground level, utilizing existing building infrastructure (stairwells, elevators, doorways) to provide protected spaces that are easily accessible and eliminate the hazards of below-ground locations.
3Loss of time
If stowable shelter system is deployed, then rapid deployment is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter system employs dynamic, movable components including pivotable members that can rotate between stowed and deployed positions, and retractable anchoring members that extend only when needed. This allows rapid transformation from a compact stored state to a fully deployed shelter state without permanent structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system nests multiple functional components within each other during storage: anchoring members are retracted into the shelter frame, pivotable members are rotated to compact positions, and the entire assembly fits within the building's existing spatial envelope, minimizing disruption when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A stowable shelter assembly configured to be securely anchored to a support at two or more anchor or attachment points to provide a greater level of security and stability includes a first member having a bottom end, a top end, and sides extending between the top end and the bottom end. The bottom end is attachable to a support. A second member has a back end coupled with the top end of the first member, a front end, and sides extending between the back and front ends. The second member includes an anchoring member extending past the front end and is movable between a stowed position where the first and second members are co-planar such that the front end of the second member is positioned a distance above the bottom end of the first member, and a deployed position where the first and second members are angled and the anchoring member is positioned partially below the front end of the first member and spaced a distance from the bottom end to define a shelter space.