Portable survival shelter

Abstract

A portable survival shelter that includes a body having a generally elongated shape and a protective outer shell structure, a sealable entrance on the top of the body, and a base upon which the body is formed. The body defines a sealable survival chamber that is large enough to hold one or more persons and strong enough to withstand the impact of falling tree limbs, flying debris, or the like. The shelter is preferably configured with ballast to float in water in an upright orientation and constructed with an exterior surface substantially free from protruding snags. The shelter is preferably of a size that fits within a conventional automobile garage, and preferably incorporates forklift pockets for moving the shelter from place to place with a forklift or recessed pad eyes for lifting the shelter with a crane or helicopter.

1 . An escape and survival shelter, comprising: 
 (a) a body having a length, a lesser width, a height, a top, a pair of opposite ends, and a base, said body including a protective outer shell structure and defining a sealable survival chamber capable of protectably sheltering a plurality of persons for a limited time;    (b) a sealable entrance communicating with said survival chamber and located on said top of said body; and    (c) seating for said plurality of persons within said survival chamber, said outer shell structure being constructed to be resistant to damage from falling debris, and said base being constructed to support said survival chamber stably on a substantially flat and horizontal surface with said body in an upright orientation.    
   
   
       2 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said body is of a size that fits within a conventional residential garage stall for an automobile and can be moved into said stall through a conventional residential garage doorway.  
   
   
       3 . The shelter of  claim 1 , including at least one pair of forklift pockets in said base, both of said at least one pair of forklift pockets being oriented along one of said length and said lesser width and sized to receive the load handling tines of a conventional forklift truck.  
   
   
       4 . The shelter of  claim 3 , said base having a pair of opposite sides and a pair of opposite ends and including at least one pair of said forklift pockets accessible from each of said sides of said base and at least one pair of said forklift pockets accessible from each of said ends of said base.  
   
   
       5 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said body is configured to float in water in an upright orientation whether unoccupied or occupied by not more than a predetermined number of persons.  
   
   
       6 . The shelter of  claim 5 , including a quantity of ballast located in said base to stabilize said survival chamber in a floating condition.  
   
   
       7 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said body has an outer surface substantially free of protruding snags.  
   
   
       8 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said body has convex end portions.  
   
   
       9 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said body has an outer surface equipped with a plurality of recessed pad eyes.  
   
   
       10 . The shelter of  claim 1 , including a first row of seats arranged side by side within said survival chamber, said first row of seats extending lengthwise with respect to said body.  
   
   
       11 . The shelter of  claim 10 , including a second row of seats within said survival chamber, the seats of said second row facing the seats of said first row and each seat of said first and second rows being oriented with its back proximate a respective side of said survival chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The shelter of  claim 10 , including a seat belt associated with at least one of said seats.  
   
   
       13 . The shelter of  claim 10 , including a plurality of hand holds fixedly mounted within said survival chamber for use by an occupant thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The shelter of  claim 10 , wherein each of said seats of said first row has a releasably fastened, forwardly moveable backrest portion, and wherein said survival chamber includes a stowage compartment located behind said moveable backrest.  
   
   
       15 . The shelter of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said seats has a seat bottom portion hingedly mounted and releasably fastened in a seating position, said survival chamber including a storage compartment below said seat bottom portion and accessible by releasing and raising said seat bottom portion.  
   
   
       16 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said outer shell portion is of welded plate metal construction.  
   
   
       17 . The shelter of  claim 16 , wherein said body has a narrow horizontal top and a pair of opposite sides, each of said opposite sides having respective upper and lower side portions sloping outwardly respectively from said top and said base toward a wider middle portion of said body.  
   
   
       18 . The shelter of  claim 17 , wherein each of said sides includes a middle height portion extending longitudinally, each of said middle height portions being oriented generally upright and extending from the respective upper side portion to the respective lower side portion of said body.  
   
   
       19 . The shelter of  claim 16 , including a floor plate extending horizontally above said base portion of said body and forming a water-tight boundary of said survival chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a securely closeable protective storage compartment within said body and accessible from within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       21 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said ends of said body includes a truncated pyramidal portion protruding endwise of said body and including a storage compartment therein that is accessible by an occupant within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       22 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of signal lights, a radio transceiver, a radio receiver, a television receiver, a audible horn, and means for sending or receiving messages from within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       23 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an air intake vent, an air exhaust vent, a compressed air tank, and means for providing breathable air for a person within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       24 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a periscope, a video camera system, electronic sensors, interior lights, and means facilitating visual inspection from within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       25 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an interior electrical receptacle, an exterior electrical receptacle, interior batteries, an interior power supply, and means for managing electrical power for said survival chamber.  
   
   
       26 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an electrically powered bilge pump, a manually powered bilge pump, a one-way valve, and means for managing bilge water.  
   
   
       27 . A protective shelter, comprising: 
 (a) a body having a length, a lesser width, a height, a top, a pair of opposite ends, and a base, said body including a protective outer shell structure and defining a sealable survival chamber capable of providing protection from falling debris to a human occupant of said shelter, yet being light enough that said shelter is buoyant in water; and    (b) a quantity of ballast within said base sufficient to keep the shelter in an upright orientation when said shelter is floating in water.    
   
   
       28 . The shelter of  claim 27 , further comprising a generally smooth exterior surface substantially free from protruding snags.  
   
   
       29 . The shelter of  claim 27 , further comprising forklift pockets within said base and sized and positioned to receive the load handling tines of a forklift truck for moving said shelter from place to place.  
   
   
       30 . The shelter of  claim 27 , wherein said body is of a size that fits within a conventional residential garage stall for an automobile and can be moved into said stall through a conventional residential garage doorway.  
   
   
       31 . The shelter of  claim 27 , further comprising seating for said one or more persons within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       32 . A protective shelter, comprising: 
 (a) a body having a length, a lesser width, a height, a top, a pair of opposite ends, and a base, said body including a protective outer shell structure and defining a sealable survival chamber capable of providing protection from falling debris to said one or more persons within said shelter;    (b) a quantity of ballast within said base sufficient to keep said shelter in an upright orientation when said shelter is occupied and floating in water;    (c) a generally smooth exterior surface substantially free from protruding snags; and    (d) forklift pockets within said base and sized and positioned to receive the load handling tines of a forklift truck for moving said shelter from place to place, wherein said body is of a size that fits within a conventional residential garage stall for an automobile and can be moved into said stall through a conventional residential garage doorway.    
   
   
       33 . The shelter of  claim 32 , further comprising seating for said one or more persons within said survival chamber.  
   
   
       34 . The shelter of  claim 32 , wherein said outer shell includes a plurality of recessed pad eyes.