Construction weather shield and shelter system

Abstract

A weather shield to protect workers and materials in a structure under construction from inclement weather while selectively providing stress relief to the weather shield from high winds in order to prevent damage to the weather shield is disclosed. The weather shield comprises a sheet of substantially flexible, substantially weatherproof material having a closeable opening for wind relief. The sheet protects the structure from inclement weather when the closeable opening is closed. When the closeable opening is open, it allows the passage of wind therethrough thereby tending to avoid wind damage to the weather shield. A temporary shelter for a structure under construction having a plurality of temporary guard rail supports and a weather shield is also disclosed, as well as a temporary shelter kit having a plurality of temporary guard rail supports and a weather shield.

1 . A weather shield for providing temporary protection from inclement weather to a building under construction while selectively increasing protection of the shield from damage due to high winds, the weather shield comprising a sheet of substantially flexible, substantially weatherproof material having at least one closeable opening for selective relief of wind pressure on the sheet when in use in high winds, and means for mounting the sheet to the building under construction.  
   
   
       2 . The weather shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a waterproof outer layer and an insulating inner layer.  
   
   
       3 . The weather shield according to  claim 2 , wherein the sheet is reinforced about its perimeter by reinforcing straps sandwiched between and affixed to the waterproof outer layer and the insulating inner layer.  
   
   
       4 . The weather shield according to  claim 1  wherein the means for mounting comprises attachment means for releasably attaching the sheet to anchors on the building under construction.  
   
   
       5 . The weather shield according to  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means comprise any of ties, grommets, snaps, ropes, straps, rings, hooks or Velcro™.  
   
   
       6 . The weather shield according to  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means are for attachment to said anchors wherein said anchors are mounted to the building.  
   
   
       7 . The weather shield according to  claim 6 , wherein the attachment means are for attachment to said anchors wherein said anchors comprise temporary guard rail supports.  
   
   
       8 . The weather shield according to  claim 1  further comprising closing means for selectively closing the closeable opening.  
   
   
       9 . The weather shield according to  claim 8 , wherein the closing means comprises at least one flap.  
   
   
       10 . The weather shield according to  claim 9 , wherein the closing means further comprises flap retention means for selectively retaining the flap when the closeable opening is closed.  
   
   
       11 . The weather shield according to  claim 10 , wherein the flap retention means comprises at least one pair of Velcro™ strips having a first Velcro™ strip and a second Velcro™ strip, wherein the first Velcro™ strip is affixed along an edge of the inward-facing surface of the flap, and the second Velcro™ strip is affixed along an edge of the closeable opening facing the first Velcro™ strip whereby the pair of Velcro™ strips are in contact when the flap closes the closeable opening thereby selectively retaining the flap.  
   
   
       12 . The weather shield according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one pair of Velcro™ strips is selected to have a specific holding strength whereby the flap will be opened by the force of a wind of a given strength.  
   
   
       13 . The weather shield according to  claim 1  further comprising overlap connection means for connecting to an adjacent weather shield at an overlapping edge thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The weather shield according to  claim 13 , wherein the overlap connection means comprise any of ties, grommets, snaps, ropes, straps, rings, hooks or Velcro™.  
   
   
       15 . A temporary shelter kit for a building under construction, said kit comprising: 
 a plurality of temporary guard rail supports for mounting adjacent to an edge of a floor of the building thereby to provide a framework of anchors; and    a weather shield according to  claim 1  for attachment to the framework of anchors.    
   
   
       16 . The temporary shelter kit according to  claim 15 , wherein the sheet of the weather shield has a waterproof outer layer and an insulating inner layer, and wherein the sheet is reinforced about its perimeter by reinforcing straps sandwiched between the waterproof outer layer and the insulating inner layer.  
   
   
       17 . The temporary shelter kit according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for mounting of the weather shield comprises attachment means for releasably attaching the sheet to the framework of anchors.  
   
   
       18 . A temporary shelter for a building under construction comprising: 
 a plurality of temporary guard rail supports mounted adjacent to an edge of a floor of the building thereby to provide a framework of anchors; and    a weather shield according to  claim 1  attached to the framework of anchors.    
   
   
       19 . The temporary shelter according to  claim 18 , wherein there is a plurality of said weather shields, and wherein adjacent weather shields overlap at their respective edges.  
   
   
       20 . The temporary shelter according to  claim 19  wherein said overlap is secured by overlap attachment means.