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WO2008030866A2 - Procédé d'abri mobile sur abonnement - Google Patents

Procédé d'abri mobile sur abonnement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008030866A2
WO2008030866A2 PCT/US2007/077627 US2007077627W WO2008030866A2 WO 2008030866 A2 WO2008030866 A2 WO 2008030866A2 US 2007077627 W US2007077627 W US 2007077627W WO 2008030866 A2 WO2008030866 A2 WO 2008030866A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shelter
mobile
mobile shelter
access
shelters
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2007/077627
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2008030866A3 (fr
Inventor
Barrett H. Moore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US11/470,156 external-priority patent/US20080195426A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2008030866A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008030866A2/fr
Publication of WO2008030866A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008030866A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H9/00—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate
    • E04H9/14—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate against other dangerous influences, e.g. tornadoes, floods
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to shelters.
  • a particular event or occasion may bring an increased number of people to a certain area, such as a population center. If any shelters exist in the area they are likely of limited quantity and capacity and obtaining and/or erecting additional shelters to accommodate the increased crowds poses a significant challenge, particularly upon short notice.
  • FIG. 1 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 2 comprises a side elevational schematic as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention
  • FIG. 3 comprises a side elevational schematic view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 comprises a side elevational schematic view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 comprises a side elevational schematic view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 comprises a side elevational schematic view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 comprises a schematic block diagram view as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
  • a mobile shelter is provided and consideration-based private civil security subscriptions are accepted from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to the mobile shelter.
  • the mobile shelter may be positioned in any of a variety of locations, depending on the type of mobile shelter and the assessment of where a mobile shelter is needed.
  • the mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to be moved to and from a predetermined location before, during, and/or after the event.
  • the mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to travel compatibly on or in a variety of surfaces and mediums. Further, the mobile shelter may be a self-powered mobile shelter or a non-self-powered mobile shelter. By one optional approach, a plurality of mobile shelters may be provided and at least two of the plurality of mobile shelter may be coupled together such that a single self-powered vehicle can simultaneously transport the at least two shelters.
  • the shelter can be maintained pending a need to permit subscription-based access to the mobile shelter upon occurrence of the event, and an attendant may be provided to assist with the maintenance, security, and transport of the mobile shelter.
  • an attendant may be provided to assist with the maintenance, security, and transport of the mobile shelter.
  • emergency survival items may also be provided in the mobile shelter. Adjustments to the emergency shelter items may also be made to reflect dynamically changing circumstances as occur during the consideration-based private civil security subscription.
  • an illustrative process 100 in accord with these teachings provides generally for providing 101 a mobile shelter and accepting 102 consideration-based private civil security subscriptions from subscribers with respect to providing civilly-catastrophic event-based access to the mobile shelter.
  • the mobile shelters may comprise short or long term accommodations.
  • the short-term mobile shelter will generally comprise simplified or limited facilities suitable for accommodating a temporary stay within the shelter for a limited number of occupants.
  • the simplified facilities may include, for example, temporary sleeping facilities, hygiene facilities, simple food preparation facilities, storage, and/or communications facilities.
  • Other options for the short-term mobile shelter may include, but are not limited to, auxiliary electric power supplies and sources, lighting, temperature and/or humidity control, water and/or air purification, first aid facilities, and so forth.
  • a long-term shelter may comprise additional supplies and/or services that may be more appropriate for shelter stays of longer duration.
  • the long-term shelter may comprise both common and private areas, with a greater quantity and variety of supplies (both luxury and non-luxury) being available.
  • the long-term shelter will generally have most of the features of the short-term shelter, however, the long-term accommodations will generally be more elaborate and comprehensive and may include services that are unavailable in a short-term shelter.
  • the long-term shelter may include, for example, medical facilities, water sanitation facilities, lodging facilities, and/or food preparation facilities.
  • embellishments such as entertainment and educational services and exercise facilities may also be available, to note but a few examples.
  • the mobile shelter can vary greatly with respect to the actual and/or anticipated circumstances as may concern its eventual use of being transported to or from a location of substantially sudden civil upheaval as has been occasioned by a civilly- catastrophic event. This can include differences with respect to the transport modality (or modalities) that characterize the mobile shelter. Further, the mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to travel compatibly on or in at least one of a variety of surfaces or mediums. Examples include, but are not limited to, paved surfaces, unpaved surfaces, railroad tracks, a liquid medium, an atmospheric medium, or earth.
  • the mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to transport authorized beneficiaries to another mobile shelter, a fixed short term shelter, and/or a fixed long term shelter.
  • an authorized beneficiary can be transported out of an area that has come under threat by the civilly-catastrophic event and transitioned to a more secure area or shelter.
  • the authorized beneficiaries may be taken to another mobile shelter that will further transport or evacuate them from the threatened area, or that may transport the authorized beneficiaries to another mobile or fixed shelter.
  • the mobile shelter may take the unauthorized beneficiaries to a fixed long term or fixed short term shelter where the authorized beneficiaries can be offered further protection and security on a long term or short term basis, respectively.
  • the mobile shelter may include self-powered shelters.
  • the self-powered mobile shelter may comprise, for example, a vehicle.
  • vehicle examples include, but are not limited to, air-borne vehicles (including fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, tiltrotor and hovercraft, to note but a few), terrestrial vehicles (including cars, buses, trucks, recreational vehicles, motorhomes, and trains, to note but a few), subterranean vehicles (including boring machines and vehicles that move through the earth), and water-borne vehicles (including boats and ships, barges, submarines, and amphibious craft, again to note but a few relevant examples).
  • the vehicle will comprise a piloted vehicle that requires an in- vehicle pilot.
  • the vehicle may also comprise a pilotless vehicle or a remotely piloted vehicle (where the vehicle operates under the control of an automated control system, a remotely-located pilot, or some combination thereof).
  • the vehicle mobile shelter may further optionally comprise a vehicular fuel storage tank and/or fuel pump.
  • remotely operated fuel points may be provided along a route in order to refuel the shelter.
  • the vehicle will comprise a terrestrial vehicle.
  • Such a capability may be useful, for example, to successfully move past debris, stalled, blocked, or abandoned vehicles, impassable roadways, and so forth.
  • This can comprise configuring the vehicle with a higher-than-normal suspension, a heavy-duty suspension, all- wheel drive, and so forth.
  • This may also comprise configuring the vehicle's engine to operate even when partially or fully submerged (as may occur when fording a flooded area).
  • Such accoutrements are known in the art and require no further elaboration here.
  • the vehicle may comprise a terrestrial vehicle that has a free- ranging capability to thereby freely navigate paved and unpaved surfaces of various kinds.
  • Such apparatus is known in the art. So configured, the vehicle can selectively readily travel on railroad tracks which may, in a given time of need, comprise a relatively unblocked means of departing from a location of civil upheaval.
  • the mobile shelter may comprise a non-self-powered mobile shelter.
  • the non-self-powered mobile shelter could be a formerly operational vehicle, such as a bus, recreational vehicle, trailer, boat, or train, for example, that no longer has means for providing self-locomotion.
  • the non-operational vehicle could then be converted and equipped to function as a mobile shelter.
  • the non-self-powered mobile shelter may also comprise, for example, a rail car, glider, trailer, or container.
  • the non-self- powered mobile shelter may be towed, hoisted, lifted, or otherwise transported to and/or from a predetermined location by a self-powered vehicle.
  • the non-self-powered mobile shelter may also be configured and arranged to receive propulsion, a power unit, or other powering device to thus convert the non-self-powered mobile shelter into a self-powered mobile shelter.
  • a mobile shelter may be provisioned with wheels, tracks, rails, jets, floats, a hull, pontoons, propellers, skids, and so forth, to facilitate selective movement of the shelter.
  • the mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to be towed, driven, transported or otherwise moved by a self-powered vehicle.
  • the mobile shelter may be moved or driven onto a platform, structure, vessel, or support, hoisted, lifted or towed by a self-powered vehicle.
  • the mobile shelter being towed or moved may be self-powered or non-self-powered. This may comprise, for example, a trailer 201 that is towed and transported by a truck 202, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the shelter may comprise rail cars that are pulled by a train, or tracks 203 may be used to facilitate movement of a trailer.
  • a boat 301 or other water-borne platform may be towed or pushed by another boat 302 or water-borne vehicle in water 303.
  • a mobile shelter 401 may also be configured and arranged to be hoisted into the air and towed by an airborne vehicle 402, as shown in FIG. 4. Countless other examples exist.
  • the mobile shelter and self-powered vehicle may be configured to accommodate any of a variety of interfaces to facilitate the interconnection of the vehicle and shelter such that the shelter may be transported.
  • the mobile shelter may interface with the vehicle using a lift-line interface 403 when being airlifted by an airborne vehicle 402, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • a chain or cable 204 may be used to tow the trailer.
  • the interface may also comprise a rope, a cradle, a hook, a magnet, or other coupling device, to name but a few examples.
  • Various kinds of interface equipment are known in the art and any or all may be used to connect or otherwise interface a self-powered vehicle and a mobile shelter.
  • a plurality of mobile shelters may be provided.
  • the plurality of shelters may be located in the same general area or population center, as well as in a plurality of locations or population centers. It may be desirable to interconnect multiple mobile shelters for transportation purposes.
  • at least two of the plurality of mobile shelters can be coupled 103 together such that a self- powered vehicle can simultaneously transport the at least two mobile shelters.
  • Various kinds of coupling equipment are known in the art and others will likely be developed in the future. These teachings are generally compatible for use with any or all such approaches.
  • the at least two of the plurality of mobile shelters may be interconnected in a series. Thus, for example, a land, air, water, or rail train may be created.
  • a second trailer 205 may be coupled to the first trailer 202 and towed by the same truck 201.
  • the stacked shelters may be transported by air, such as shown in FIG. 4, with a second mobile shelter 404 coupled in series with the first mobile shelter 401.
  • the plurality of mobile shelters may be coupled together in a stacked configuration.
  • the stacked configuration may be placed on a self-powered vehicle to thus provide transportation of the mobile shelters.
  • a first mobile shelter 501 may be stacked on a second mobile shelter 502 and secured together with straps 503 or other tethering device.
  • the stacked shelters 501 , 502 may be placed on a bed 504 of a truck 505 to be transported.
  • Providing such a shelter can further comprise, if desired, prepositioning the mobile shelter at a predetermined location.
  • prepositioning the mobile shelter at a predetermined location.
  • Such a location may be preferable for the mobile shelter because relative proximity between the shelter and the authorized beneficiaries may be advantageous when anticipating catastrophic events that may occur in a devastating fashion with relatively little advance notice.
  • the likelihood of traffic paralysis in a population center is fairly high upon the occurrence of a catastrophic event, as many people may be trying to avoid the effects of the event or otherwise remove themselves from the population center.
  • having a mobile shelter located within the population center will help facilitate access to the shelter during the window of clear and present threat exposure.
  • Such a position may aid with facilitating timely access to the mobile shelters for the authorized beneficiaries during a time of need.
  • Such proximity may be measured, for example, by distance and/or by a period of time as may reasonably be required to traverse the distance between at least some of the authorized beneficiaries and the predetermined location of the shelter.
  • a significant population center such as a city or large town it may be useful to dispose a (or an additional) mobile shelter at a predetermined location within the population center itself.
  • Sensitivities in this regard may vary in response to various influences including but not limited to authorized beneficiary locations, applicable relevant threat scenarios and threat locations, and the like. Therefore, prepositioning the shelter at a predetermined location may further comprise assessing a likelihood of at least one particular event occurring and also assessing a likelihood of a location of the at least one particular event occurring. This would include, for example, evaluating when tensions, conditions, and/or concerns regarding the occurrence of a particular event are relatively high. The mobile shelter may then be placed strategically based on the intelligence information that is gathered regarding the type of threat and possible location where such an event may occur.
  • the predetermined location may be a permanent or temporary location for a mobile shelter.
  • a particular event or occasion may bring an increased number of authorized beneficiaries to a certain area, such as a population center. If the existing mobile shelters in that area will not be able to accommodate the additional or concentrated number of authorized beneficiaries should a catastrophic event occur, it may be desirable to provide additional mobile shelters proximal to the authorized beneficiaries. These additional mobile shelters may optionally comprise temporary shelters that are only positioned near the authorized beneficiaries for the duration of the event or occasion that brought them to the area.
  • Authorized beneficiaries could be provided with information regarding the location of the mobile shelters as well as information regarding how to access the shelters. This information can be provided prior to the occurrence of the catastrophic event if desired using any available or known communications devices or techniques. It may also be useful or possible to provide such information (either in the first instance or as a supplemental notice) following the initiation of such an event. The latter may be achieved using such communication means as may be available at the time. It would also be possible to provision each authorized beneficiary (or family or company of beneficiaries) with one or more communications devices by which such information could be provided. [0040] An authorized beneficiary may also be provided with a beacon that the authorized beneficiary can activate to transmit a signal when a civilly-catastrophic event occurs.
  • the mobile shelter can be configured and arranged to receive the transmitted beacon signal and may respond by following the signal and moving to the location of the authorized beneficiary.
  • the response to the beacon signal may be automatic, non-automatic, and/or partially automatic.
  • the authorized beneficiaries may be picked up by the mobile shelter, with the mobile shelter coming to the authorized beneficiaries rather than the authorized beneficiaries having to go to the mobile shelter.
  • the authorized beneficiaries may need to travel to a predetermined designated meeting location.
  • a beacon may be provided at the designated meeting location, with the beacon being activated to transmit a signal when the authorized beneficiaries gather at the meeting location.
  • the mobile shelter may then follow the signal and move to the meeting location to pick up the authorized beneficiaries.
  • the shelter may be configured and arranged to be moved to and from the predetermined location before, during, and/or after the civilly- catastrophic event.
  • the mobile nature of the shelter, particularly post-event, can make this shelter particularly suitable to function as a transitional shelter.
  • the mobile shelter not only provides substantial protection from the threat of the catastrophic event but may also transport its occupants to an area of safety or rescue, or another shelter, for example. This option may be particularly helpful if the clear and present threat exposure is so eminent, extended, and/or severe that evacuation from the predetermined location becomes necessary.
  • the mobile shelter may remain stationary in the predetermined location while authorized beneficiaries of the consideration-based private civil security subscriptions occupy the mobile shelter.
  • the transportability or mobility of the mobile shelter may be reserved for use before and/or after the event that triggers access to the shelter.
  • the mobile capabilities of the shelter could be utilized only to initially position the mobile shelter in a predetermined location. Once positioned, the mobile shelter would then remain stationary in the predetermined location while authorized beneficiaries occupy the shelter. Then, if desired, the mobile shelter may be moved from the predetermined location after the authorized beneficiaries exit the mobile shelter. The mobile shelter may then be transported to another location, such as, for example, a restocking or maintenance area, or to another predetermined location.
  • the subscriptions relate to providing event-based access to the mobile shelter.
  • the event-based access may comprise, for example, civilly-catastrophic event-based access.
  • civilly-catastrophic event will be understood to refer to an event that substantially and materially disrupts a society's local, regional, and/or national infrastructure and ability to provide ordinary civil services.
  • a civilly-catastrophic event can be occasioned by any of a wide variety of natural and/or non-naturally-caused disasters.
  • Examples of natural disasters that are potentially capable of initiating a civilly- catastrophic event include, but are not limited to, extreme weather-related events (such as hurricanes, tsunamis, extreme droughts, widespread or unfortunately-targeted tornadoes, extreme hail or rain, and the like, flooding, and so forth), extreme geological events (such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and so forth), extreme space-based events (such as Earthly collisions with comets, large asteroids, and so forth, extreme solar flares, and the like), extreme environmental events (such as widespread uncontrolled fire or the like), and global or regional pandemics, to note but a few.
  • extreme weather-related events such as hurricanes, tsunamis, extreme droughts, widespread or unfortunately-targeted tornadoes, extreme hail or rain, and the like, flooding, and so forth
  • extreme geological events such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and so forth
  • extreme space-based events such as Earthly collisions with comets, large asteroids, and so forth, extreme solar flares, and the like
  • extreme environmental events
  • Examples of non-naturally-caused disasters capable of initiating a civilly- catastrophic event include both unintended events caused by various intentional and unintentional behaviors and actions such as acts of war, terrorism, madness, accident, or the like.
  • Examples of non-naturally-caused disasters capable of such potential scale include, but are not limited to, nuclear-related events (including uncontrolled fission or fusion releases, radiation exposure, and so forth), acts of aggression such as war or terrorism, the release of deadly or otherwise disruptive biological or chemical agents or creations, and so forth.
  • Emergency shelters comprise a generally well-understood area of endeavor with various construction techniques, architectural choices, and materials options being known.
  • the mobile shelter comprises an enclosed structure or vehicle.
  • Such a configuration provides substantial protection for the occupants of the shelter.
  • the mobile shelter is generally configured and arranged to be a barrier to threat exposure created by the event. Therefore, several options and configurations are possible. These options and configurations may vary with regard to the type of structure or vehicle that is being used as the mobile shelter. For the purpose of illustration and not limitation, and referring now to FIG. 6, certain approaches that may be taken with respect to providing such a mobile shelter will be presented.
  • a mobile shelter can be configured and arranged to float in a liquid such as fresh water or salt water bodies.
  • a floating mobile shelter 601 is shown in FIG. 6 floating on a body of water 602. This may be helpful, for example, during a land-based catastrophic event, or when land space is in limited supply. Further, a floating mobile shelter 601 may be desired when liquid may be needed as a transportation medium for the mobile shelter either to or from a particular pre-determined location where the shelter will be positioned.
  • a mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to be submergible.
  • a submerged mobile shelter 603 is shown in FIG. 6 immersed in the body of water 602. Submerging the mobile shelter may be particularly beneficial during certain types of threats or events, such as, for example, radiation exposure or widespread fire. Further, the floating shelter 601 or the submerged shelter 603 may also comprise water-borne vehicles.
  • the mobile shelter may be substantially fireproof.
  • the mobile shelter may be at least partially comprised of heat resistant material to thereby aid in preventing the interior of the mobile shelter from becoming unsuitable for human habitation due to fire within or around the location of the shelter.
  • the mobile shelter may also be substantially waterproof. This feature is particularly desirable in the case of certain extreme weather-related events (such as, for example, tsunamis, rain, flooding, and so forth) and this feature is highly desirable for the floating or submergible mobile shelters.
  • the shelter may be enclosed in a radiation-blocking bladder to provide protection to the shelter occupants.
  • the radiation-blocking bladder may be used in addition to or in lieu of placing the mobile shelter underground.
  • the radiation-blocking bladder may be at least substantially filled with liquid (such as, but not limited to, water) to comprise a radiation barrier.
  • the walls, ceiling and/or floor of the mobile shelter may incorporate, or be encased by, ionizing radiation shielding such that part, or all, of the mobile shelter is shielded.
  • the mobile shelter may be armored or otherwise fortified.
  • the armor can be designed to stop at least low caliber small arms fire and may offer higher ballistic protection if desired, including bulletproof windows, louvered view ports, and armored occupant compartments, to note but a few examples.
  • the mobile shelter may have ports to deploy weapons. Additionally, the mobile shelter may be otherwise structurally hardened to resist collapse or breach.
  • At least some civilly-catastrophic events that prompt a need for rescue as per these teachings may be accompanied by an electromagnetic pulse.
  • a pulse can permanently damage many electrical circuits including, for example, the electronic engine controls for a vehicle.
  • it may be desirable to harden at least the critical vulnerable systems of the mobile shelter to thereby substantially protect those systems against an electromagnetic pulse.
  • various ways and means of achieving such a result are known in the art and may be practiced here as desired.
  • the mobile shelter may be configured and arranged to be disposed underground to comprise an underground mobile shelter 604.
  • the underground mobile shelter may optionally be buried and covered by earth.
  • An underground configuration would provide protection from a multitude of threats. Specifically, for a radioactive threat, having a considerable mass placed between the underground shelter inhabitants and the source of radioactivity would provide protection to the shelter occupants.
  • the mobile shelter may be covered by at least 2 meters of earth. This depth can vary, of course, with the nature of the dirt itself, as a greater depth below less dense earth may be necessary to provide a same level of radiation blockage as a lesser depth of more dense earth.
  • the underground mobile shelter may comprise a subterranean mobile shelter that can move through the earth.
  • Such a mobile shelter could be transported to and used in conjunction with an underground parking facility to thereby permit the mobile shelter to become, in effect, an underground shelter 604.
  • One or more parking spots may be reserved or rented within the parking facility for the mobile shelter.
  • the mobile shelter may then be transported to the parking facility and positioned there on either a temporary or permanent basis.
  • the mobile shelter may comprise an above ground, elevated mobile shelter 605.
  • the above ground mobile shelter 605 may be located on land or an upper floor of a structure, such as, for example, a building 606.
  • the above ground mobile shelter may be created by customizing an existing space or may be created by constructing a new space for the shelter.
  • the building may comprise an above ground parking facility.
  • one or more parking spots may be reserved within the parking facility for the mobile shelter. It may be desirable to position the mobile shelters on a top floor or roof of the parking facility or other building such that a helicopter or other air vehicle may lift the mobile shelter from the top floor or roof and transport the shelter to another location.
  • the mobile shelter may have a lift- line interface, cradle, or other coupling device to facilitate airborne movement of the shelter.
  • the mobile shelters may also be coupled and transported together in a train 607, such as, for example, when being transported to or from the parking facility or other predetermined location.
  • the mobile shelter may also have wheels 608 to facilitate movement of a mobile shelter 609 to and from the predetermined location
  • the process 100 provides for accepting 102 consideration-based private civil security subscriptions from subscribers with respect to providing event-based access to the mobile shelter.
  • the event-based access to the mobile shelter can pertain, if desired, to a predetermined period of time.
  • a given subscription can relate to providing access to the mobile shelter for a one year period of time for one or more authorized beneficiaries as correspond to that subscription.
  • these subscriptions may be accepted by, for example, a for- profit business.
  • a not-for-profit business such as a membership-based entity
  • these teachings provide for a subscription-based approach.
  • the term "subscription" shall be understood to refer to and encompass a variety of legal mechanisms. Some relevant examples include, but these teachings are not limited to, subscription mechanisms such as: time-limited rights of access (as where a subscription provides access rights for a specific period of time, such as one year, in exchange for a corresponding series of payments); event-limited rights of access (as where a subscription provides access rights during the life of a given subscriber based upon an up-front payment in full and where those access rights terminate upon the death of the subscriber or where, for example, a company purchases a subscription for a key employee and those corresponding rights of access terminate when and if that key employee leaves the employment of that company); inheritable rights of access (as may occur when the subscription, by its own terms and conditions, provides a right of access that extend past the death of a named subscription beneficiary and further provides for testate and/or intestate transfer to an heir); rights of access predicated upon
  • a plurality of differentiated subscription opportunities can be offered in this regard.
  • This plurality of differentiated subscription opportunities can correspond, for example, to providing access to the plurality of mobile shelters.
  • such subscription opportunities can differ from one another at least with respect to cost.
  • This provides subscriber choice with respect to selecting a particular subscription that best meets their specific needs and/or budget limitations.
  • a less costly subscription may provide event-based access to only one of the plurality of mobile shelters, while another subscription opportunity may provide access to more than one of the plurality of mobile shelters at an increased subscription cost.
  • a more costly subscription option may provide access to any of the plurality of mobile emergency shelters.
  • at least one of the plurality of mobile shelters may comprise accommodations and features that differ from another one of the plurality of mobile shelters.
  • the subscriptions may differ from one another with respect to which accommodations and features are accessible as per the subscription.
  • the process 100 may optionally provide for confirming 104 the identities of authorized beneficiaries gaining (or seeking to gain) access to the mobile shelter. Further, the authorized status of authorized beneficiaries may also be confirmed upon verification and confirmation of their identity.
  • the identities of the authorized beneficiaries may be confirmed or authenticated, for example, by at least one identification mechanism, such as biometrics (such as retinal patterns, asperity patterns, voice recognition, or some other relatively unique aspect of the human body), identification cards, photographic identification, visual confirmation, an admission card, a password or pass code, a signature, or words and phrases, to note but a few illustrative examples.
  • Identification confirmation may also include confirmation that the authorized beneficiary is allowed entry into a particular mobile shelter.
  • At least one designated contact person may be notified 105 upon confirmation of the authorized beneficiary's identity and the subsequent entry of the authorized beneficiary into the mobile shelter.
  • the notification may be automatic, partially automatic, or non-automatic (i.e., manual).
  • This information may be communicated to the at least one designated contact person using any of a variety of communications facilities provided in the mobile shelter, as further described below.
  • the process 100 may optionally provide for providing 106 survival items 701 in the mobile shelter 700.
  • This can comprise, for example, providing a plurality of life-sustaining resources as pertain to a plurality of differing categories of life's necessities (such as, but not limited to, hydration, nourishment, shelter, clothing, security, medical treatment, environmentally borne threat abatement, and so forth).
  • the emergency survival items 701 can comprise, at least in part, consumable survival supplies.
  • consumable survival supplies include, but are not limited to: food supplies; potable water; a finite air supply; medical supplies (including, but not limited to, first aid supplies as well as first responder emergency medical services supplies such as blood, plasma, automatic external defibrillators, radiation exposure treatments, chemical exposure treatments, antibiotics, and so forth); batteries; hygiene supplies; ammunition; supplemental vehicular fuel supplies (carried in on-board auxiliary fuel tanks and/or non-integral fuel containers of choice); and sanitation supplies.
  • the supplies can comprise, at least in part, non- consumable survival supplies.
  • Illustrative examples include, but are not limited to: essential clothing items; body armor and protective gear; personal protection items (such as face masks, gloves, foul-weather gear, and so forth); bed linens; beds (including cots, hammocks, and so forth); food preparation items; communications items; power generation equipment; repair and maintenance tools; evacuation tools (such as cutting torches, cement saws, and other tools that can be used to create another point of egress from the shelter should that be necessary); navigation equipment (such as maps (in hardcopy and/or virtual form), global positioning system-based equipment and aids instructions, a compass, diagrams of the shelter and/or surrounding buildings and facilities, and so forth); rescue tools and supplies (such as rope, a locator apparatus, beacons, noise makers, a self-inflatable raft or other floatation equipment, emergency lights, climbing equipment, and so forth); radiation shielding; biological/chemical agent protection; spare vehicle parts (
  • the mobile shelter may contain a short-term supply of emergency survival items to sustain the occupants during the window of clear and present threat exposure temporally proximal to the event.
  • the short-term supply will assist in sustaining the authorized beneficiaries while in the shelter and prior to the opportunity to access any other type of necessities or survival items from another source.
  • the mobile shelter 700 may contain a long-term supply of emergency survival items 701 to sustain the authorized beneficiaries for a longer period of time, particularly if the mobile shelter is used as a long-term shelter.
  • the types of supplies may also vary depending on the duration of the stay of the beneficiaries.
  • This process 100 will also optionally accommodate providing 107 at least one non-necessity of life 707 in the mobile shelter 700.
  • Illustrative examples in this regard might include, but are not limited to: luxury consumable items; luxury non-consumable items; non-essential clothing; non-human accommodations and nourishment (such as pet food, pet toys and accessories, cages for transport or restraint of animals, and so forth); barter medium (including, for example, precious metals in a convenient barterable form); an entertainment apparatus; an educational tool; physical conditioning, exercise, and maintenance training and equipment; crafts supplies and training; and sports equipment and facilities;
  • the mobile shelter may also comprise storage space for authorized beneficiaries.
  • the storage space may be provided for any of a variety of needs and supplies, including but not limited to private and/or commonly-shared food supplies, potable water, medical supplies, hygiene supplies, clothing items, towels, bed linens, food preparation items, communication items; and entertainment items, to again note but a few.
  • the process 100 may further optionally provide for maintaining 108 the mobile shelter pending a need to permit the subscription-based access to the mobile shelter upon occurrence of the event.
  • This can comprise maintaining the shelter on behalf of the subscriber and/or the authorized beneficiaries.
  • the specifics of such maintenance will of course vary with respect to the nature of the resource or resources being maintained.
  • Such maintenance can comprise, for example, maintaining both operational serviceability of the mobile shelter as well as the utility of the emergency survival items as provided therein.
  • such maintenance can comprise ensuring that unauthorized persons do not access the shelter, inspecting and/or testing the structural and operational integrity of the shelter and its constituent elements, components, and systems, and/or ensuring that pre- provisioned supplies are properly stored, fresh, and suitable for use should the need arise, to name but a few examples.
  • the shelter may require maintenance related to the particular transport features of the mobile shelter.
  • Such maintenance can also optionally comprise making 109 adjustments to the emergency survival items in the mobile shelter to reflect dynamically changing circumstances as occur during the consideration-based private civil security subscription.
  • a new item may become available that is particularly useful in dealing with or otherwise surmounting some condition that may likely arise upon the occurrence of a particular kind of catastrophic event.
  • maintaining such supplies can readily accommodate updating the acquired and stored emergency survival items to include a supply of this new item.
  • the mobile shelter 700 may comprise, at least in part, environmental protection 702 for authorized beneficiaries of the subscriptions.
  • a shelter 700 can be provided with an independent source of breathable oxygen.
  • an airway can be provided to permit air to be taken in to the shelter 700.
  • this air may be dangerous in greater or lesser degrees to persons within the shelter 700. Therefore, a given shelter 700 may further optionally comprise protection, such as an air filter, from dangerous airborne contaminants (such as radiological contaminants, biological contaminants, and/or chemical contaminants, including both man-made and natural contaminants) as may correspond, for example, to a civilly-catastrophic event.
  • dangerous airborne contaminants such as radiological contaminants, biological contaminants, and/or chemical contaminants, including both man-made and natural contaminants
  • this air filter can further comprise an air drawer to draw air into the shelter 700.
  • air drawers are known in the art and include electrically powered air drawers, human powered air drawers, and so forth.
  • this air drawer can be of sufficient size and power to create positive air pressure in the shelter 700 as compared to external ambient conditions. This, in turn, can aid in discouraging airborne contaminants from entering the shelter via whatever cracks, seams, and other openings may be present in the shelter's structure.
  • the shelter 701 can be configured to include masks, hoods, or other contrivances to facilitate delivering safe breathing gases to the occupants when the ambient environment may be dangerous to breathe.
  • Such approaches as those described above can comprise a part of an overall environmental protection plan for the shelter 700, the general purpose of which is to reduce or fully abate one or more external threats to the inhabitants of the shelter 700. At least some such threats, of course, will typically comprise extraordinary threats that are caused by, or otherwise attend or follow, the kinds of civilly-catastrophic events as can trigger the aforementioned right to access the shelter 700.
  • the mobile shelter 700 will also typically comprise at least one door 703 or other controlled point of ingress and egress to accommodate the entry and exit of the authorized beneficiaries.
  • An additional controlled point of ingress and egress may be provided to provide an alternate means of entry and exit.
  • the point of ingress/egress comprises a sealable point of ingress/egress and hence provides a relatively air-tight seal when closed to thereby further aid with preventing local airborne contaminants from entering the mobile shelter 700.
  • This point of ingress/egress may further be provided with a locking mechanism to permit selective control with respect to accessing the mobile shelter 700.
  • the door 703 is configured and arranged to open inwardly.
  • the controlled point of ingress and egress may comprise a first door and a second door in series, wherein the first door must close before the second door may open.
  • This configuration can assist in substantially preventing contaminants from entering into the interior of the shelter.
  • the first door and the second door have a space therebetween filled with air, and the air between the first door and the second door is filtered, circulated and replaced after the first door closes and before the second door is open. Having two doors in series may also assist in maintaining the security of the shelter.
  • the attendant may be available to facilitate operation of the mobile shelter in response to a civilly-catastrophic event.
  • the attendant may drive or pilot a self-powered mobile shelter, or may facilitate connecting a non-self-powered mobile shelter to a self-powered vehicle.
  • the shelter 700 can also comprise living quarters such that the at least one attendant 704 is available to facilitate substantially immediate access to the mobile shelter 700 in response to a civilly-catastrophic event.
  • the process 100 may comprise provisioning 111 the mobile shelter 700 with a defensive system 708.
  • the defensive system may comprise any of a variety of non-lethal defensive protections for the shelter. For example, a loud noise may be emitted upon a breach of the security of the shelter.
  • an electric current may be applied to the exterior of the shelter, such that an unauthorized individual may receive an electric shock when trying to gain access to the shelter.
  • the defensive system may include a smoke launcher that can substantially obscure the mobile shelter in a shroud of smoke. This may be accomplished, for example, by disposing an oil mixture on or in a hot engine manifold of the mobile shelter, with the oil mixture burning to create opaque smoke. Numerous other defensive systems are known in the art.
  • the defensive system may be automatic (for example, by automatically operating in a predefined manner), partially automatic (for example, requiring some external prompting or control), and/or non-automatic (for example, requiring an individual to authorize use of the system upon detection of a breach).
  • the process 100 may further comprise provisioning 112 the mobile shelter 700 with two-way communications facilities 705.
  • the two-way communications facilities 705 can then be used for authorized beneficiaries or an attendant to communicate to another person, entity, or device that is external to the mobile shelter.
  • These two-way communications facilities 705 can comprise wireless and/or non- wireless audio, video, and/or data communications of choice, to name but a few options.
  • the wireless communications equipment includes, but is not limited to, equipment using carriers of essentially any useful frequency, terrestrial and/or satellite-based infrastructure, infrastructureless platforms, and so forth. Numerous such platforms and techniques are known in the art.
  • the mobile shelter may also include a location beacon receiver.
  • the beacon or other transmission may be sourced from, or near, the mobile shelter.
  • the beacon can thus facilitate authorized beneficiaries in locating the mobile shelter.
  • the corresponding authorized beneficiaries could be supplied with a device that is configured and arranged to locate the homing signal or information and aid the authorized beneficiary with navigating to that location.
  • the beacon can also alert rescuers and/or other personnel of the location of the mobile shelter to thereby facilitate rescue and/or tracking of the position of the shelter.
  • the mobile shelter 700 may also be provisioned 113 with external environment monitoring tools 706.
  • the external environment monitoring tools 706 can then be used to monitor the conditions of the shelter's outer surroundings. Such capabilities may be particularly useful in determining whether or not clear and present threat exposure has been diminished or eliminated and, therefore, whether it is safe for the occupants to emerge from the mobile shelter.
  • the external environment monitoring tools may comprise at least one of: a periscope, a window, a porthole, video transmissions, still image transmissions, and local sensors, forward looking infrared radar, night vision equipment, thermal imaging device, and radar to note but a few.
  • Such tools may provide information related to external temperature, air quality, environmental conditions, location, approaching or nearby structures or beings, and the scope of damage as created by the occurrence of the catastrophic event. Such information may be helpful in determining the appropriate time for the occupants of the shelter to emerge from the shelter into the external environment, for the mobile shelter to attempt movement, and so forth.
  • These teachings can also optionally provide for monitoring the mobile shelter to detect when a person at least attempts to access the interior of the shelter.
  • Such monitoring can serve, for example, to detect when unauthorized access is being attempted and/or to detect when a need for shelter exists.
  • this monitoring can comprise, at least in part, use of the aforementioned two-way communications facilities to permit communications with person within the interior of the shelter.
  • this monitoring can be based, at least in part, on other visual, audio, telephonic, or wireless-based signals that suggest or confirm occupancy of the shelter.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé consistant à proposer (101) un abri mobile et à autoriser (102) l'accès au dit abri mobile, en cas d'événement catastrophique pour la population civile, à des abonnés qui paient des abonnements de sécurité civile privés. Dans une autre approche, l'abri mobile peut être configuré et agencé pour être déplacé depuis et vers un emplacement prédéterminé avant, pendant, et/ou après l'événement. L'abri mobile peut être configuré et agencé pour voyager de manière compatible sur ou dans un grand nombre de surfaces ou de milieux. En outre, l'abri mobile peut être un abri mobile automoteur ou non. Dans une autre approche, une pluralité d'abris mobiles peuvent être proposés et au moins deux de la pluralité d'abris mobiles peuvent être couplés (103) afin qu'un véhicule automoteur puisse transporter simultanément les deux abris ou plus.
PCT/US2007/077627 2006-09-05 2007-09-05 Procédé d'abri mobile sur abonnement Ceased WO2008030866A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (32)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/470,156 US20080195426A1 (en) 2006-03-17 2006-09-05 Subscription-Based Mobile Shelter Method
US11/470,156 2006-09-05
US82552406P 2006-09-13 2006-09-13
US60/825,524 2006-09-13
US82597606P 2006-09-18 2006-09-18
US60/825,976 2006-09-18
US82649106P 2006-09-21 2006-09-21
US60/826,491 2006-09-21
US82759106P 2006-09-29 2006-09-29
US60/827,591 2006-09-29
US82782006P 2006-10-02 2006-10-02
US82782806P 2006-10-02 2006-10-02
US60/827,828 2006-10-02
US60/827,820 2006-10-02
US82834106P 2006-10-05 2006-10-05
US82834206P 2006-10-05 2006-10-05
US60/828,341 2006-10-05
US60/828,342 2006-10-05
US82944706P 2006-10-13 2006-10-13
US60/829,447 2006-10-13
US82977906P 2006-10-17 2006-10-17
US60/829,779 2006-10-17
US86239806P 2006-10-20 2006-10-20
US60/862,398 2006-10-20
US86271806P 2006-10-24 2006-10-24
US60/862,718 2006-10-24
US86348106P 2006-10-30 2006-10-30
US86346906P 2006-10-30 2006-10-30
US60/863,469 2006-10-30
US60/863,481 2006-10-30
US86430206P 2006-11-03 2006-11-03
US60/864,302 2006-11-03

Publications (2)

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WO2008030866A2 true WO2008030866A2 (fr) 2008-03-13
WO2008030866A3 WO2008030866A3 (fr) 2008-11-06

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US8380587B2 (en) * 2003-12-01 2013-02-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for vendor managed subsidized supply pipeline for business continuity

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