Movable sloped panels to modify building profiles and reduce wind resistance, to protect buildings during high winds

Abstract

Sloping panel assemblies are disclosed, for protecting coastal homes and other buildings against hurricanes or very high winds. Long waterproof panels with widths up to 12 feet, made with fibers from recycled carpets, can be rapidly affixed to anchoring devices that have been shallowly buried around the periphery of a building. After anchoring, the panels will lean against the eave of a building, creating an enclosed pyramid-like structure capped by the roof of the building. Wedge-shaped nose and tail sections can similarly be affixed to the ends of A-frame buildings. Hinged cover panels, over drainage trenches, can be raised and locked at a sloped angle, to provide windbreaks and floodwater drainage on the windward sides of coastal buildings.

1 . A building protection assembly for minimizing wind damage to a building, comprising:
 a. at least one panel or panel assembly, having (i) a length that can protect a substantial portion of at least one side of the building to be protected, and (ii) a width that is sufficient to enable said panel to be affixed to at least one upper edge of said building in a manner that establishes a sloped flat surface that is sufficiently angled from a vertical orientation to deflect high winds;   b. means for rapidly and reversibly yet securely affixing a first upper edge of said panel or panel assembly to at least one upper edge of said building; and,   c. means for rapidly and reversibly yet securely affixing at least one second lower edge of said panel or panel assembly to at least one anchoring component that is suited for anchoring in a ground location proximal to said building.   
   
   
       2 . The building protection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said panel or panel assembly has a length that is sufficient to protect at least one entire side of a house. 
   
   
       3 . The building protection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said panel or panel assembly has a width that is sufficient to establish a sloping angle that is at least about 30 degrees from vertical, when said panel is affixed to both: (i) said upper edge of said building, and (ii) at least one anchoring component that has been anchored in a ground location proximal to said building. 
   
   
       4 . The building protection assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a sufficient number of panels or panel assemblies, and means for affixing upper edges of said panels or panel assemblies to upper edges of said building, to enable said panels or panel assemblies to be secured in a sheltering manner around at least 30% of the perimeter of a building, when measured as linear distance around said perimeter of the building. 
   
   
       5 . The building protection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said panel or panel assembly comprises at least one sheet of material made from recycled synthetic fibers that are hydrophobic and that are not digestible by insects. 
   
   
       6 . The building protection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one panel or panel assembly is reinforced by a supporting truss. 
   
   
       7 . A building protection assembly, comprising a building that is designed to withstand high winds by means that include constructing said building with strong reinforcing beams which are (i) securely anchored into the ground, and (ii) installed along at least one upper edge of said building,
 wherein said reinforcing beams installed along at least one upper edge of said building are provided with a plurality of attachment points designed to enable a sloping wind-deflecting panel to be rapidly and reversibly yet securely affixed to said reinforcing beams along at least one upper edge of said building.   
   
   
       7 . A building protection assembly for minimizing wind damage to a building, comprising:
 a. at least one panel or panel assembly, designed to be emplaced beneath a ground surface;   b. a trough device, designed to support said panel or panel assembly when emplaced beneath a ground surface, and designed to hold at least one lifting means that is designed and suited for raising said panel into a sloped orientation that will deflect high winds, when a storm is approaching.   
   
   
       8 . The building protection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said panel or panel assembly is affixed to said trough device by means that comprise at least one hinge component.