Hurricane protection harness

Abstract

A hurricane protection harness apparatus for protecting homes, buildings and other assets from the destructive forces of high winds such as from hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones and typhoons is disclosed. The disclosure presents an apparatus for mooring and securing a building roof and the underlying structure during periods of high winds, as well as a means of deflecting flying debris from windows and doors. The harness covers 40 to 90% of the home or building from the roof to the ground, covering the doors, windows and other vulnerable areas against breaking windows and damage from flying debris. The mesh material of the harness has small holes therethrough for permitting the wind to pass through the mesh while blocking flying debris. The harness forms an “A” frame shaped hip style roof shape, thereby preventing the wind from forming a vortex and lifting the roof from the structure. The harness helping to protect the roof from wind damage including the lifting and removing of shingles, and lifting and removal of sheathing. The mesh harness is moored to ground anchors by tensioned straps thereby holding the building structure together and on the foundation during hurricane strength winds. The harness is removable after the threat has passed.

1 . An apparatus for preventing hurricane winds from destroying a tangible asset by securing the asset to the ground, the apparatus comprising: 
 one or more harness segments for securing the asset to the ground, the harness extending over a top portion of the asset for securing to the ground at opposing sides of the asset, the harness segment comprising: 
 a mesh harness netting material having a substantially rectangular shape, the netting having two opposing ends connected by two opposing sides spanning between the ends and over top portion of the asset, the mesh having holes sized to permit the wind to blow through while deflecting flying debris; and  
 two tension straps, straps stitchably secured along length of the opposing sides of the mesh netting, the straps in a distally spaced parallel relationship along opposing side of the mesh, each end of the strap having a connecting means secured thereto, wherein the harness comprises a high tensile and tear strength material;  
   one or more cross straps extending outwards from the harness segment substantially perpendicular to the tension straps, the cross straps stitchably secured to the tension straps and mesh harness netting, the straps having a connecting means secured to each opposing end of the cross strap, the cross straps comprising a high tensile and tear strength material;    a plurality of ground anchor means for securing the one or more harness to the ground, the ground anchor means comprising: 
 a ground anchor means of fixedly engaging the ground; and  
 an anchoring strap receiving fastener secured to the ground anchor means, wherein the ground anchor fixedly engages with the ground resisting movement in or tensile removal from the ground; and  
   a plurality of ratchet tie down straps, each strap comprising: 
 a first end having a fastening means sized and adapted to retentively and tensionally engage the connecting means on the end of the straps;  
 a second end having a fastening means sized and adapted to retentively and tensionally engage the anchoring strap receiving fastener of the ground anchor; and  
 a ratchet means for latchably shortening the length of each strap, the ratchet mean for removing slack from the tie down straps and tensioning the side straps of the harness against the ground anchor.  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh harness comprises a material selected from the set consisting of nylon, polypropylene.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the asset is a motor vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the asset is a boat.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1  wherein two or more harness segments are joined in a side by side distally spaced parallel relationship by the one or more cross straps spanning across the harnesses, the cross straps extending across the tension straps of the harnesses and secured to the harnesses such as to secure the harnesses into a one piece harness assembly, wherein the assembly is sized to fit to and secure the asset against hurricane wind.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 5 , wherein the asset is an airplane.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 5 , wherein the asset is a building, wherein the harness assembly extends over roof of the building and down the sides protecting windows and doors from flying debris, wherein the harness assembly holds the building to its foundation and holds the building together through hurricane winds.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 7 , wherein the harness assembly covers between 40 to 90% of the building from roof to ground.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 7 , wherein the asset is building having a hip roof, and wherein the harness assembly is positioned over the roof with the tension straps substantially perpendicular to hip of the roof, wherein the harness assembly holds the roof and roofing materials to the building.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 7 , wherein the building is a mobile home.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the ground anchor means comprises a metallic anchor having a first end embedded and secured to a buried concrete mass, and an opposing second end having the anchoring strap receiving fastener secured thereon wherein the anchor strap receiving fastener comprises a metallic ring for engaging the fastening means on the second end of the ratchet strap.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the ground anchor means comprises a metallic anchor plate having a plurality of anchor holes, the holes arranged around periphery edges of the plate, the holes for mounting the anchor plate to a stationary mass, wherein the anchoring strap receiving fastener comprises a half ring swively secured to the anchor plate, the anchor ring for engaging the fastening means on the second end of the ratchet strap.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the ground anchor means comprises: 
 a triangular shaped anchor member, wherein one of the points of the triangle is configured as a drive point for driving into the ground;    a drive rod secured to the anchor member and extending outwards in a direction opposing the drive point, the drive rod for driving the anchor member into the ground, the triangular shape for resisting width drawl of the anchor from the ground; and    a cable having a first end secured to the anchor member, an opposing second end of the cable having a loop member, wherein the loop member is the anchor strap receiving faster for engaging the fastening means on the second end of the ratchet strap.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus for protecting a tangible asset from hurricane winds of  claim 1 , wherein the ground anchor means comprises: 
 a helical anchor member having a first end and an opposing second end, the helical anchor with first end configured for rotably engaging with and screwing into the ground; and    a cable having a first end secured to the second end of the anchor member, an opposing second end of the cable having a loop member, wherein the loop member is the anchor strap receiving fastener for engaging the fastening means on the second end of the ratchet strap.