Vertical flood escape structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560731-B2
Application number	US-202217731084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2022
Priority date	Apr 30, 2021
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

A vertical escape structure comprises an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding. The escape housing includes an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing. The vertical escape structure further comprises a connecting walkway to connect the escape housing to a building. The escape housing has a smaller horizontal footprint than the building. The walkway is severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the exterior flooding.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vertical escape structure comprising:
an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding, the escape housing including an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing; and
a connecting walkway to connect the escape housing to a building, the connecting walkway being severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the exterior flooding.

2. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the connecting walkway is frangible as compared to the escape housing by using at least one of a weaker material or a weaker structure for the connecting walkway as compared to the escape housing.

3. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the connecting walkway is elevated above the ground to form a skyway.

4. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the connecting walkway is an enclosed walkway.

5. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a retractable roof.

6. The vertical escape structure of claim 5 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a platform for helicopter landing which is exposed by retracting the retractable roof.

7. The vertical escape structure of claim 5 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a roof mounting post which is rotatable relative to the escape housing; and
wherein the retractable roof is rotatable with the roof mounting post to retract from the interior of the escape housing.

8. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more helical piles to mount the escape housing to the ground.

9. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a plurality of vertically stacked modules.

10. The vertical escape structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
signaling lights to produce exterior light signals visible externally of the escape housing.

11. A method of providing escape from flooding, the method comprising:
mounting an escape housing in a vertical orientation to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding;
sealing an interior of the escape housing against water entry from exterior flooding;
providing at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift in the interior of the escape housing; and
connecting a connecting walkway between the escape housing and a building, the escape housing having a smaller horizontal footprint than the building, the connecting walkway being severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the external flooding.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
configuring the connecting walkway to be frangible as compared to the escape housing by using at least one of a weaker material or a weaker structure for the connecting walkway as compared to the escape housing.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
elevating the connecting walkway above the ground to form a skyway.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enclosing the connecting walkway to form an enclosed walkway.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
retracting a retractable roof of the escape housing to facilitate rescue of occupants in the escape housing.

16. The method of claim 15 ,
wherein retracting the retractable roof exposes a platform for helicopter landing.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
mounting a roof mounting post to be rotatable relative to the escape housing;
wherein retracting the retractable roof comprising rotating the retractable roof with the roof mounting post to retract the retractable roof from the interior of the escape housing.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
folding a plurality of panels toward each other to form the retractable roof in a closed position; and
folding the plurality of panels away from each other to retract the retractable roof from the interior of the escape housing in an open position.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
stacking a plurality of modules vertically to form the escape housing.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
generating exterior light signals visible externally of the escape housing.

21. A vertical escape structure comprising:
an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding, the escape housing including an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing; and
means for connecting a walkway between the escape housing and a building to render the walkway severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the external flooding.

22. The vertical escape structure of claim 21 ,
wherein the walkway is enclosed and elevated above the ground to form an enclosed skyway.

23. The vertical escape structure of claim 21 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a retractable roof.

24. The vertical escape structure of claim 23 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a roof mounting post which is mounted to the escape housing to be rotatable relative to the escape housing; and
wherein the retractable roof is rotatable with the roof mounting post to retract from the interior of the escape housing.

25. The vertical escape structure of claim 24 ,
wherein the escape housing includes a platform for helicopter landing which is exposed by retracting the retractable roof.

26. The vertical escape structure of claim 23 ,
wherein the retractable roof includes a plurality of panels configured to fold up toward each other to form a cone-shaped roof in a closed position and to fold down away from each other to retract the retractable roof from the interior of the escape housing in an open position.

27. The vertical escape structure of claim 21 , further comprising:
a severable utility connection to connect the escape housing to the building.

28. A vertical escape structure comprising:
a building;
an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding, the escape housing including an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing; and
a connecting walkway to connect the escape housing to the building, the escape housing having a smaller horizontal footprint than the building, the connecting walkway being severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the exterior flooding.

29. The vertical escape structure of claim 28 , further comprising:
communications equipment in the escape housing.

30. The vertical escape structure of claim 28 , further comprising:
an autodetection device in the escape housing.

Assignees

• The Government Of The Us Secretary Of Homeland Security

Inventors

• Barber Jeffrey B

Classifications

• E04H12/00

  Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures (cooling towers E04H5/12; derricks for oil drilling E21B15/00) · CPC title

• E01F3/00 Primary

  Landing stages for helicopters, e.g. located above buildings (layout of airfields B64F; buildings or like structures for special purposes E04H) · CPC title

• E04F11/032

  Spiral stairways supported by a central column · CPC title

• E02D27/12

  Pile foundations · CPC title

• E04B7/163

  characterised by a pivoting movement of the movable roof parts (E04B7/166 takes precedence) · CPC title