Apparatus and method for disaster survival

Abstract

Apparatus and method for personal protection from flying or falling objects during a disaster. The apparatus has an interior sheet of flexible material and an exterior sheet of flexible material joined together to form an inflatable space between them, which when inflated also defines an interior cavity bounded by the interior sheet of flexible material, which interior cavity is provided for personal protection from flying or falling objects during a disaster. The apparatus also includes a supply of compressed gas in fluid communication with the inflatable space for inflating the inflatable space. A tether is attached to the exterior sheet of flexible material for attachment of the inflated apparatus to a secure structure such as the frame of a motor home, the floor joist of a home, a secure anchor point of a building, a tree trunk or a utility pole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for personal protection from flying or falling objects during a disaster, the apparatus comprising: (a) an interior sheet of flexible material; (b) an exterior sheet of flexible material, the interior and exterior sheets of flexible material being joined together to form an inflatable space between them, to define an interior cavity bounded by the interior sheet of flexible material when the inflatable space is inflated and to define a portal from the exterior of the inflated apparatus to the interior cavity, which interior cavity is provided for personal protection from flying or falling objects during a disaster; (c) a supply of compressed gas in fluid communication with the inflatable space for inflating the inflatable space; and (d) a tether attached to the exterior sheet of flexible material for attachment of the inflated apparatus to a secure structure. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a portal closure accessible from the interior cavity for closing the portal after the apparatus is inflated and a person has entered the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the closure is a zipper. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of interior sheets of flexible material joined with the exterior sheet of flexible material to define a plurality of interior cavities and portals to said interior cavities. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality portal closures accessible from the interior of each cavity for closing each portal after the apparatus is inflated and a person(s) entered such cavity(s). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the closures are zippers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior sheet of flexible material comprises a fabric woven from aramid fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the exterior sheet of flexible material is orange in color. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the exterior sheet of flexible material is yellow in color. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior sheet of flexible material comprises a fabric woven from aramid fiber 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior sheet of flexible material is orange in color. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior sheet of flexible material is yellow in color. 
     
     
         13 . A method for personal protection from flying or falling objects during a disaster, the method comprising the steps of: (a) inflating an apparatus defined by an interior and an exterior sheet of flexible material joined together so as to form an inflatable space between them, to define an interior cavity bounded by the interior sheet of flexible material and to define a portal from the exterior of the inflated apparatus to the interior cavity, the exterior sheet of flexible material having a tether attached to the exterior sheet of flexible material; (b) before or after step (a) attaching the tether to a secure structure such as the frame of a motor home, the floor joist of a home, a secure anchor point of a building, a tree trunk or a utility pole; and (c) entering the interior cavity through the portal. 
     
     
         14 . A method for the protection of a plurality of persons from flying or falling objects during a disaster, the method comprising the steps of: (a) inflating an apparatus defined by a plurality interior sheets of flexible material and an exterior sheet of flexible material joined together so as to form an inflatable space between them and to define a plurality of interior cavities bounded by the interior sheets of flexible material and to define portals from the exterior of the inflated apparatus to the interior cavities, the exterior sheet of flexible material having a tether attached to the exterior sheet of flexible material; (b) before or after step (a) attaching the tether to a secure structure such as the frame of a motor home, the floor joist of a home, an anchor point of a building, a tree trunk or a utility pole; and (c) entering the interior cavities through the portals.