Prefabricated storm shelter and associated methods

Abstract

The storm shelter includes a prefabricatable enclosure at a remote site, and deliverable to the building construction site following floor slab pouring and prior to wall construction. The shelter includes a unitary solid enclosure having entry means and an open bottom, the enclosure made of material having sufficient strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather, such as poured concrete. The shelter further includes devices for affixing the enclosure to the building slab, which also have sufficient strength to withstand tornado- and hurricane-force weather.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A storm shelter for forming part of a building to be constructed comprising: 
 a unitary solid enclosure having side walls, a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the enclosure having sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude; and    means embedded in and projecting from the side walls for affixing the enclosure to a slab at a building site, the affixing means having sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude.    
     
     
         2 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the enclosure comprises poured concrete.  
     
     
         3 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the side walls comprise four side walls meeting in generally right angles to form a rectilinear enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , further comprising a high-strength access door hingedly affixed within the door opening.  
     
     
         5 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the affixing means comprises means for affixing the enclosure to a footer having a shape commensurate with a shape of a bottom of the enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 5   , wherein the affixing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down anchors, each having a top portion affixable to a side wall and a side portion protruding outwardly therefrom, the side portion adapted to be embedded in the footer.  
     
     
         7 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 5   , wherein the affixing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods, each having a top portion embedded in a side wall and a bottom portion protruding therebeneath, the bottom portion adapted to be embedded in the footer.  
     
     
         8 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the affixing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down anchors, each having a top portion affixable to a side wall and a side portion protruding outwardly therefrom, the side portion adapted to be embedded in the footer.  
     
     
         9 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the affixing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing rods, each having a top portion embedded in a side wall and a bottom portion protruding therebeneath, the bottom portion adapted to be embedded in the slab.  
     
     
         10 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the enclosure comprises prefabricated, steel-reinforced high-strength concrete.  
     
     
         11 . The storm shelter recited in    claim 1   , wherein the enclosure is affixable at a closet location within the building site.  
     
     
         12 . A method for constructing a storm shelter comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating an enclosure at a remote site, the enclosure having side walls, a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the enclosure having sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude;    transporting the enclosure to a building site; and    affixing the enclosure to a slab at the building site with sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude.    
     
     
         13 . The method recited in    claim 12   , wherein: 
 the fabricating step comprises affixing a plurality of hold-down anchors in spaced-apart relation to an outside surface of the side walls so as to project outwardly therefrom; and    the affixing step comprises affixing the projecting portions of the anchors into concrete at the building site.    
     
     
         14 . The method recited in    claim 12   , wherein: 
 the fabricating step comprises embedding a plurality of reinforcing rods in spaced-apart relation in the side walls so as to project partially therebeneath; and    the affixing step comprises embedding the projecting portions of the reinforcing rods into concrete at the building site.    
     
     
         15 . The method recited in    claim 14   , wherein the affixing step comprises embedding the projecting portions of the reinforcing rods into a poured concrete footer at the building site.  
     
     
         16 . The method recited in    claim 12   , wherein the fabricating step further comprises the step of affixing a storm door within the door opening, the door having a heavy-duty latching device affixed thereto.  
     
     
         17 . The method recited in    claim 12   , wherein the fabricating step comprises forming a concrete mold having a desired form, affixing reinforcing steel members therewithin, and pouring a high-strength concrete thereinto.  
     
     
         18 . The method recited in    claim 12   , wherein the affixing step comprises placing the enclosure at a location in the building site at a position intended to be within the confines of the planned building.  
     
     
         19 . The method recited in    claim 18   , wherein the affixing step further comprises positioning the door opening for access from within the building confines.  
     
     
         20 . A method for constructing a building having an internal storm shelter comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating an enclosure at a remote site, the enclosure having side walls, a door opening in a side wall, a top, and an opening at the bottom, the enclosure having sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude;    transporting the enclosure to a building site;    pouring a slab for the building; and    affixing the enclosure to the slab with sufficient strength to withstand a storm of predetermined magnitude.    
     
     
         21 . The method recited in    claim 20   , further comprising the step, following the slab-pouring step, of pouring a building footer atop the building slab, and wherein the enclosure-affixing step comprises affixing the enclosure to the footer.  
     
     
         22 . The method recited in    claim 21   , wherein: 
 the enclosure-fabricating step further comprises affixing a plurality of hold-down to the side walls, each anchor having a top portion affixable to an outside surface of the side wall and a side portion projecting outwardly therefrom; and    the enclosure-affixing step comprises affixing the anchor side portions to the footer.    
     
     
         23 . The method recited in    claim 21   , wherein: 
 the enclosure-fabricating step further comprises embedding a plurality of reinforcing bars in the side walls, each bar having a top portion embedded in the side wall and a bottom portion projecting therebeneath; and    the enclosure-affixing step comprises embedding the reinforcing bars bottom portions in the footer.