Gravity ring

Abstract

A disaster shelter for mounting under ground. The shelter includes an entranceway having at least one air vent and a substantially hollow paraboloid shaped shelter cell. The shelter cell includes a paraboloid focus portion attached to the entranceway and paraboloid base portion disposed opposite the entranceway. A gravity ring is attached to the paraboloid base portion and is dimensioned such that the shelter is constrained within the ground when the water table reaches ground level.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gravity ring for restraining an enclosure below a quantity of earth, wherein said quantity of earth forms a ground level, and wherein said gravity ring comprises: 
 a first surface that extends outward from an outer surface of said enclosure, said second surface being dimensioned such that a force exerted upon the second surface by said quantity of earth disposed upon said first surface is sufficient to constrain said enclosure below said ground level when a water table reaches said ground level; and    a second surface in communication with said first surface, wherein said second surface is dimensioned for engagement with said enclosure such that said downward force exerted upon said first surface by said quantity of earth is transferred through said second surface to said enclosure.    
     
     
         2 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said second surface is an inner surface of a substantially cylindrical ring.  
     
     
         3 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said enclosure comprises a parabaloid shaped top portion and wherein second surface is dimensioned to create an interference fit with said outer surface of said enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first surface is dimensioned to form a curved inner surface extending upward towards said ground level.  
     
     
         5 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said enclosure comprises a parabaloid shaped top portion and wherein second surface is dimensioned to create an interference fit with said outer surface of said enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said gravity ring is manufactured of a fiberglass composite material.  
     
     
         7 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said enclosure is manufactured of a fiberglass composite material and wherein said gravity ring is attached to said enclosure.  
     
     
         8 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said gravity ring is substantially permanently attached to said enclosure.  
     
     
         9 . The gravity ring as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said enclosure is removably attached to said enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . A disaster shelter for mounting below a quantity of earth, wherein said quantity of earth forms a ground level, and wherein said disaster shelter comprises: 
 an entranceway;    a shelter cell, said shelter cell having an entrance portion attached to said entranceway and base portion disposed opposite said entranceway; and    a gravity ring disposed about said base portion, said gravity ring comprising;    a first surface that extends outward from an outer surface of said shelter cell, said second surface being dimensioned such that a force exerted upon the second surface by said quantity of earth disposed upon said first surface is sufficient to constrain said shelter below said ground level when a water table reaches said ground level; and    a second surface in communication with said first surface, wherein said second surface is dimensioned for engagement with said shelter cell such that said downward force exerted upon said first surface by said quantity of earth is transferred through said second surface to said shelter cell.    
     
     
         11 . The disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said entrance portion of said shelter cell is dimensioned to form a partial parabaloid having a paraboloid focus portion attached to said entranceway.  
     
     
         12 . The disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said entrance portion and said bas portion of said shelter cell to form a substantially full parabaloid shaped shelter cell.  
     
     
         13 . The disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said entranceway further comprises a substantially cylindrical manway attached to said focus portion of said shelter cell, a hatch dome ring disposed about, and extending outward from, said manway, and a hatch dome cover removably attached to said hatch dome ring such that said hatch dome cover forms a weather resistant seal with said hatch dome ring  
     
     
         14 . The disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said shelter cell is manufactured of structural fiberglass.  
     
     
         15 . The disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising an emergency escape manway disposed through a sidewall of said shelter cell.  
     
     
         16 . An underground enclosure for mounting below a quantity of earth, wherein said quantity of earth forms a ground level, and wherein said enclosure comprises: 
 a substantially hollow tank portion; and    a gravity ring disposed about said tank portion such that said gravity ring applies a downward force upon said tank portion, said gravity ring comprising; 
 a first surface that extends outward from an outer surface of said tank portion, said second surface being dimensioned such that a force exerted upon the second surface by said quantity of earth disposed upon said first surface is sufficient to constrain said tank portion below said ground level when a water table reaches said ground level; and  
 a second surface in communication with said first surface, wherein said second surface is dimensioned for engagement with said tank portion such that said downward force exerted upon said first surface by said quantity of earth is transferred through said second surface to said tank portion.  
   
     
     
         17 . The underground enclosure as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said tank portion comprises a substantially cylindrical tank portion and wherein said gravity ring comprises a first extension portion extending outwardly from a first end of said tank portion and a second extension portion extending outwardly from a second end of said tank portion.  
     
     
         18 . The underground enclosure as claimed in  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of said tank portion and said gravity ring are manufactured of structural fiberglass.