SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A PROTECTED WORK AND STORAGE SPACE

Abstract

A storage facility for an airship includes a wall that is made from a plurality of box-like ISO containers. The wall surrounds an area on the ground, and a semicylindrical member is affixed to the top of the wall. This creates an enclosed volume over the area for the storage and protection of the airship. Buttresses for supporting the wall can be made from additional containers, and restraints can be used to secure the containers of the facility to each other.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to storage and work place facilities. More particularly, the present invention pertains to temporary facilities for storing and protecting airships. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as an airship hangar facility that can be assembled using a plurality of ISO containers for its sidewalls, and the semicylindrical portion of a Quonset hut for its roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Temporary facilities for buildings such as work places, storage areas, and aircraft hangars are often needed for immediate use, for relatively short periods of time. Not infrequently, a requirement for such a facility arises under a variety of different adverse circumstances and, when raised, will present a number of unforeseen difficulties. In any event, under such circumstances it is preferable if temporary facilities can be made using locally available materials with minimal labor requirements. It is also preferable if the construction materials are essentially prefabricated.

For the particular case that involves an aircraft hangar, with its associated work places and storage areas, it can easily happen that the requirement for a temporary facility will arise in a foreign theater of operations. If so, factors such as the time for construction, and the availability of construction materials may become of paramount importance. It happens, however, that certain materials are frequently available under such circumstances that can be adapted for use in constructing temporary facilities. Namely, the so-called “conex container” and the familiar “Quonset hut” are usually available, or easily obtainable, in any area of operations.

In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hangar/storage facility, and a method for its manufacture, that relies essentially on locally available construction materials and requires minimal labor requirements. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a temporary hangar/storage facility that is suitable as a hangar for a lighter-than-air airship. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a temporary hangar/storage facility that is suitable as a hangar for a lighter-than-air airship that is simple to construct, is easy to use, and is relatively cost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a storage and hangar facility for an airship is made using a plurality of box-like containers. More specifically, the containers are stacked and arranged along the periphery of a substantially rectangular shaped area. In this context, a first plurality of the containers is used to create a first side for the facility. Similarly, a second plurality of the containers is used to create a second side for the facility. As envisioned for the present invention, the first side and the second side respectively extend along the length of the rectangular area, with the area located between the two sides. In a variation of this configuration, a third plurality of containers can be used to extend between the first side and the second side to establish a closed end for the facility. Together, the containers are stacked to establish a wall for the facility.

Once various stacks of containers have been arranged to establish the wall for the facility, a roof can be added. Specifically, for this purpose, a semicylindrical member, such as from a Quonset hut, is used. In detail, the semicylindrical member has a pair of linear edges that are generally parallel to each other. These edges are then affixed to the top of the wall to establish a roof for the facility. Together, this roof and the wall are dimensioned to create an enclosed volume for the storage and protection of an airship.

For the construction and assembly of the wall, it is to be appreciated that each container will have a top panel and a bottom panel. These panels are both substantially flat, and they are parallel to each other. As envisioned for the present invention, the containers are stackable, with each stack including a base container and, at least one, but more likely, a plurality of elevated containers. In combination, the bottom panel of an elevated container is juxtaposed to the top panel of the base container. When there is a plurality of elevated containers, adjacent containers in the stack are juxtaposed at an interface, with the bottom panel of a higher container being installed against the top panel of a lower container at the interface. Each stack is then stabilized by restraints (e.g. chains) that are attached to at least two containers in the stack to secure the containers to each other. Additional restraints can be then used to secure the stacks of containers to each other. Further, stacks of containers can be used to buttress each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage facility in accordance with the present invention shown with an airship inside the hangar of the facility;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of two containers shown positioned for assembly as a stack of containers; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a storage facility showing the interaction of stacked containers with a roof for the facility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1 a facility in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated 10. As shown, the facility 10 includes a side 12, and a side 14, with the side 14 being positioned substantially parallel to the side 12. The facility 10 also includes a roof 16 that extends between the sides 12 and 14. Specifically, the roof 16 covers a ground area 18 that is located below the roof 16 and that extends between the sides 12 and 14. FIG. 1 also shows that the area 18 is preferably rectangular in shape and will have a length “l” and a width “w”. Together, the sides 12 and 14, and the roof 16 enclose a volume (space) 20 over the area 18 in which an airship 22 can be hangared.

As envisioned for the present invention, the facility 10 will be constructed using a plurality of base containers 24, and a plurality of elevated containers 26. For the facility 10 of the present invention, the base containers 24 and elevated containers 26 are combined in a plurality of stacks 28. As shown, the stacks 28 are arranged to form the facility 10. By way of example, the base container 24 and the elevated container 26 seen in FIG. 2 are shown positioned for combination as a stack 28 (see FIG. 1). It is to be appreciated that the number of elevated containers 26 in a stack 28 may vary according to the needs of construction. For instance, the stack 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes a base container 24′ and the elevated containers 26a′, 26b′, 26c′ and 26d′. On the other hand, the stack 28 includes only the base container 24 and the single elevated container 26.

With reference now to FIG. 2 it will be seen that the base container 24 has a top panel 32, and that the elevated container 26 has a bottom panel 34. In the construction of the facility 10, the top panel 32 of base container 24 will be juxtaposed with the bottom panel 34 of elevated container 26, and affixed thereto. The result is the stack 28 seen in FIG. 1. For purposes of the present invention, all base containers 24, and all elevated containers 26 are substantially identical. Preferably, the containers 24 and 26 are so-called “conex” (ISO) containers with overall dimensions of approximately eight feet in width, ten feet in height, and forty feet in length (8′×10′×40′). Generally, such containers are available locally and can be obtained commercially.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that, in addition to the sides 12 and 14, the facility 10 may also include a closed end 36. Like the sides 12 and 14, the closed end 36 is also made from stacks 28 of base containers 24 and a plurality of elevated containers 26. Further, FIG. 3 also shows that the sides 12 and 14 of facility 10 can be supported by buttresses 38 and 40. More specifically, and by way of example, the buttress 38 that is shown supporting side 12 includes the stack 28 and an additional stack 42. In this case the stacks 28 and 42 are positioned in a side-by-side relationship with the side 12. As envisioned for the present invention, the buttresses 38 and 40 can be specifically conformed to meet the particular support requirements for the facility 10.

Still referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the roof 16 has an edge 44 and an edge 46 that is substantially parallel to the edge 44. Further, FIG. 3 indicates that the roof 16 is dimensioned so that the edge 44 can be affixed to the top of side 14, and that the edge 46 can be affixed to the top of side 12. When so affixed, the roof 16 is positioned to cover the area 18 (see FIG. 1). As envisioned for the present invention, the roof 16 can be the same semicylindrical structure that is used in the familiar “Quonset” hut.

As indicated above, the various containers 24/26 that are used in the construction of the facility 10 need to be somehow attached, or affixed, to each other. Preferably, this is accomplished in either of two ways. In both ways, a lower container (e.g. a base container 24) is attached to a higher container (e.g. elevated container 26). In one way, however, the higher container and the lower container are in the same stack. In the other way, the higher container is in a stack that is adjacent to the stack of the lower container. For an example of when the containers are in adjacent stacks, consider the restraint 50 that is shown in FIG. 3. This restraint 50 is attached, or affixed, directly to the corner 52 of the lower base container 24 that is located in the stack 28. The restraint 50 is also shown attached, or affixed, directly to the corner 54 of the higher container 56 that is located in the adjacent stack 48. Thus, the restraint 50 is oriented diagonally across both of the stacks 28/48. Now consider the restraint 58 that is used to interconnect the container 60 in stack 48 with the container 62 that is also in stack 48. In this case, the restraint 58 is connected to the end 64 of the lower container 60, and to the end 66 of the higher container 62. Again, somewhat like the restraint 50, there is a diagonal orientation of the restraint 58. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, as many restraints 50/58 may be used as are needed for construction of the facility 10 in its required configuration. As will also be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the restraints 50/58 may be chains, or straps, or bands, or any other type tether that is well known in the pertinent art.

While the particular System and Method for Establishing a Protected Work and Storage Space as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage facility which comprises:

a plurality of containers arranged to define a substantially rectangular shaped area having a length and a width, wherein a first plurality of the containers create a first side for the facility and a second plurality of the containers create a second side for the facility, with the first side and the second side respectively extending along the length of the area with the area therebetween; and

a semicylindrical member having a first linear edge and a second linear edge, with the first edge affixed to the first side and the second edge affixed to the second side to establish a roof for the facility.

2. A facility as recited in claim 1 wherein each container has a top panel and a bottom panel parallel thereto, and wherein the first side of the facility and the second side of the facility each include a stack of containers, and further wherein each stack comprises:

a base container; and

at least one elevated container, wherein the bottom panel of the elevated container is juxtaposed to the top panel of the base container.

3. A facility as recited in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of elevated containers, wherein adjacent containers in a stack are juxtaposed at an interface where the bottom panel of a first container is installed against the top panel of a second container.

4. A facility as recited in claim 1 wherein the semicylindrical member is from a Quonset hut.

5. A facility as recited in claim 1 further comprising a third plurality of containers extending between the first side and the second side to establish a closed end for the facility.

6. A facility as recited in claim 1 wherein each container is an ISO container.

7. A facility as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of restraints, wherein each restraint is attached to at least two containers to secure the containers to each other.

8. A facility as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a first buttress for supporting the first side of the facility; and

a second buttress for supporting the second side of the facility.

9. A facility as recited in claim 8 wherein the first buttress and the second buttress each comprise a plurality of containers.

10. A facility as recited in claim 1 wherein the first side and the second side of the facility, and the semicylindrical member are dimensioned to create an enclosed volume for storage and protection of an airship.

11. A storage facility for protecting an airship which comprises:

a plurality of box-like containers arranged in a U-shaped configuration to create a wall along a periphery of a substantially rectangular area, wherein the wall has a top; and

a semicylindrical member having a first linear edge and a second linear edge, with the first edge and the second edge thereof affixed to the top of the wall to establish a roof over the area, with the wall and the semicylindrical member being dimensioned to create an enclosed volume for storage and protection of the airship.

12. A facility as recited in claim 11 wherein each container has a top panel and a bottom panel parallel thereto, and wherein the wall of the facility includes a plurality of stacks of containers, and further wherein each stack comprises:

a base container; and

a plurality of elevated containers, wherein adjacent containers in a stack are juxtaposed at an interface where the bottom panel of a first container is installed against the top panel of a second container.

13. A facility as recited in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of restraints, wherein each restraint is attached to at least two containers to secure the containers to each other.

14. A facility as recited in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of buttresses for supporting the wall.

15. A facility as recited in claim 14 wherein each buttress comprises a plurality of containers.

16. A method for manufacturing a storage facility which comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of box-like containers, with each container having a top panel and a bottom panel;

stacking the plurality of containers to create a wall along a periphery of a substantially rectangular area, wherein the wall has a top; and

affixing a semicylindrical member to the top of the wall to establish a roof over the area, with the wall and the semicylindrical member being dimensioned to create an enclosed volume for storage and protection of the airship.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising the step of securing each container to at least one other container.

18. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising the step of supporting the wall with a plurality of buttresses, wherein each buttress comprises a plurality of containers.

19. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein each container has a top panel and a bottom panel parallel thereto, and wherein the stacking step results in a plurality of stacks of containers, wherein each stack comprises a base container and a plurality of elevated containers, wherein adjacent containers in a stack are juxtaposed at an interface where the bottom panel of a first container is installed against the top panel of a second container.

20. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein each container is an ISO container.