Portable domed storm shelter

Abstract

A dome-shaped shelter, which is readily manually assembled and disassembled, as needed, the shelter comprising a plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments enclosing a generally circular area, a support base with each of the segments comprising a lower end resting on the support base and a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched truss members converging upwardly from the lower end and a weather and UV resistant covering skin, a latch assembly securing each arched side member of a segment to the adjacent arched side member of an adjacent segment, a rigid vertical support mast releasably secured at the center of the encircled area, and manually releasable locking means securing the segments to the mast.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A storm resistant dome-shaped shelter, which is readily manually assembled and disassembled, as needed, said shelter comprising:
 a plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments enclosing a generally circular area;   a support base;   each of said segments comprising a lower end resting on said support base and a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched truss members converging upwardly from said lower end and a weather and UV resistant covering skin;   a manually releasable latch assembly securing each arched side member of a segment to the adjacent arched side member of an adjacent segment;   a rigid vertical support mast releasably secured at the center of the encircled area; and   manually releasable locking means securing said mast to said segments.   
     
     
         2 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 1  including an air ventilation system. 
     
     
         3 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 1  wherein each of said truss members of said segment comprises an outer vertical member, an inner vertical member, and an internal support structure located in between said vertical members. 
     
     
         4 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 3  wherein said internal support structure includes a plurality of spacers and a webbing in contact with all of said spacers. 
     
     
         5 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 4  including a plurality of securement members for assisting in maintaining the attachment of said spacers and webbing to said vertical members. 
     
     
         6 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 5  wherein said securement members comprises a plurality of adjustable fastening members, said adjustable fastening members providing the dual purpose of assisting in maintaining the attachment of said spacers and webbing to said vertical members while also providing manual adjustment of the curvature of said truss through the tightening and un-tightening of the adjustable fastening members to ensure that each of said segments have a similar curvature to conform to one another when assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 1  wherein said triangular shaped arched segments are equal dimensioned and are stackable to reduce required storage space. 
     
     
         8 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 1  wherein each of said segments includes weather resistant seals located along the edges of said segments. 
     
     
         9 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 1  wherein each of said arched truss members comprises a one-piece molding. 
     
     
         10 . A storm resistant dome-shaped shelter, which is readily manually assembled and disassembled, as needed, said shelter comprising:
 a plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments enclosing a generally circular area, said plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments are stackable to reduce required storage space;   a support base;   a tubular rigid vertical support mast having a first end and a second end with said first end of said tubular rigid vertical support mast releasably secured to said support base at the center of said encircled area;   each of said arched segments comprising a lower end resting on said support base and a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched truss members converging upwardly from said lower end and a weather and UV resistant covering skin;   said plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments comprising a multitude of female segments each having a slotted tapered end located distal said lower end and a multitude of male segments each having an abutment tapered end located distal said lower end, said slotted tapered end of said female segment receiving a portion of said second end of a tubular rigid vertical support mast therein and said abutment tapered end of said male segment engaging a portion of said second end of said tubular rigid vertical support mast directly adjacent said slotted tapered end of said female segment;   a manually releasable latch assembly comprises an interior latch and an exterior latch connected by a threaded rod extending through each truss member of said arched segments, said latch assembly securing each arched truss member of said segment to the adjacent arched truss member of said adjacent segment; and   manually releasable locking means securing said mast to said segments.   
     
     
         11 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 10  wherein each of said truss member of said segment comprises an outer vertical member, an inner vertical member, and an internal support structure located in between said vertical members. 
     
     
         12 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 11  wherein said internal support structure includes a plurality of spacers and a webbing in contact with all of said spacers. 
     
     
         13 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 12  including a plurality of securement members for assisting in maintaining the attachment of said spacers and webbing to said vertical members. 
     
     
         14 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 13  wherein said securement members comprises a plurality of adjustable fastening members, said adjustable fastening members providing the dual purpose of assisting in maintaining the attachment of said spacers and webbing to said vertical members while also providing manual adjustment of the curvature of said truss through the tightening and un-tightening of the adjustable fastening members to ensure that each of said segments have a similar curvature to conform to one another when assembled. 
     
     
         15 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 10  wherein each of said arched truss members comprises a one-piece molding. 
     
     
         16 . A storm resistant dome-shaped shelter, which is readily manually assembled and disassembled, as needed, said shelter comprising:
 a plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments enclosing a generally circular area, said plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments are stackable to reduce required storage space;   each of said arched segments including a lower end resting on said support base, a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched truss members converging upwardly from said lower end, and a weather and UV resistant covering skin;   a support base;   a tubular rigid vertical support mast having a first end and a second end with said first end of said tubular rigid vertical support mast releasably secured to said support base at the center of said encircled area;   said plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments comprising a multitude of female segments each having a slotted tapered end located distal said lower end and a multitude of male segments each having an abutment tapered end located distal said lower end, said slotted tapered end of said female segment receiving a portion of said second end of a tubular rigid vertical support mast therein and said abutment tapered end of said male segment engaging a portion of said second end of said tubular rigid vertical support mast directly adjacent said slotted tapered end of said female segment;   each of said arched truss members comprising an outer vertical member, an inner vertical member, and an internal support structure located in between said vertical members with said internal support structure including a plurality of spacers and a webbing in contact with all of said spacers;   a manually releasable latch assembly comprises an interior latch and an exterior latch connected by a threaded rod extending through each truss member of said arched segments, said latch assembly securing each arched truss member of said segment to the adjacent arched truss member of said adjacent segment; and   manually releasable locking means securing said mast to said segments.   
     
     
         17 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 16  including a plurality of securement members for assisting in maintaining the attachment of said spacers and webbing to said vertical members. 
     
     
         18 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 17  wherein said securement members comprises a plurality of adjustable fastening members, said adjustable fastening members providing the dual purpose of assisting in maintaining the attachment of said spacers and webbing to said vertical members while also providing manual adjustment of the curvature of said truss through the tightening and un-tightening of the adjustable fastening members to ensure that each of said segments have a similar curvature to conform to one another when assembled. 
     
     
         19 . The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of  claim 16  wherein each of said arched truss members comprises a one-piece molding.