Disappearing Building

Abstract

A building equipped with a suitable mechanism by which it is caused to descend in a suitable shaft below ground level, in order to secure it both against bad atmospheric occurrences and malicious acts, is disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present Invention comprises a building equipped with a suitable mechanism by which it is caused to descend into a suitable shaft below ground level, in order to secure it in the event of prolonged absence of the occupants, both against particularly bad atmospheric occurrences e.g. hurricanes, floods and fires, and to avoid, or at least limit, malicious acts of intrusion, theft or damage.

The building of the present invention is generally a house, a shop, a kiosk, a laboratory, a workshop, an exhibition hall characterized by not having any protuberances, having limited dimensions both in floor space and in height and being constructed preferably in wood or prefabricated material.

It is suggested, as a preferred example, wooden or prefabricated houses comprising a single floor and having floor dimensions in the order of a few square metres, e.g. 30-50 m², without balconies or verandas.

STATE OF THE ART

In the current state of the art, no buildings analogous to the present invention currently exist.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention comprises a building and an underlying shaft of slightly larger dimensions of floor space and height than the building, also an apparatus to cause the transport of said building, positioning it into the shaft and lifting it out thereof. The underlying shaft to accommodate the building will be finished with flooring and lateral walls to contain the ground, and these may be of cement, bricks or other materials. Said shaft is not covered, said building functioning as a cover. Generally speaking it is advisable that the lateral walls of the underlying shaft protrude at least 50 cm above the surrounding ground level and, in the case of sloping land, protrude 50 cm above the most elevated point of the surrounding ground level.

Four jacks cause the vertical transport of the building, one at each corner of the shaft, fixed to the base of the building. Said jacks are electrically operated but can also be operated with power supplied by an internal combustion engine. The jacks may be rack and pinion but, according to specific requirements, screw jacks, piston jacks, hydraulic jacks or compressed air operated jacks may be used. The building must be constructed with a suitable supporting base capable of supporting the necessary raising force of the four jacks. Preferably a site with flat ground or with a slight slope will be chosen for the construction of the building.

In the position of maximum elevation, the floor of the building corresponds with the highest extremity of the walls of the underlying shaft, that being 50 cm above ground level and, if the ground is inclined, 50 cm above its most elevated point. In this position it is advisable, for safety, to place blocking devices on each of the four sides, comprising, for example, four iron bars which are positioned under the floor of the building and which extend into the walls of the underlying shaft, actuated electrically, hydraulically or even manually. All external connections of the building, such as mains services, comprising for example, connections for electricity, drinking water, sewage, telephone, gas etc., can be made with flexible pipes. Alternatively, the electrical connections can be equipped with suitable detachable sockets and the water and gas connections can be equipped with suitable valves. With the action of placing the building in safety, the four safety blocking devices and all the external services connections, if not flexible, are retracted, as are, if necessary, possible external antennas.

When the building is in its position of use, that is completely outside the containing shaft, a suitable cover is provided for the small gap existing between the top side of the internal perimetric walls of the shaft and the external perimetric walls of the building to prevent the ingress of dust, leaves and small animals. On the exterior, in the immediate vicinity of the building, is also provided an appropriate protected electrical panel for the actuation of the blocking devices and the jacks as well as suitable signs to prevent damage to third parties or to the building itself. A retractable folding ladder is provided, fixed to the floor of the building, to access the underlying shaft; the shaft floor is suitably inclined towards a drain with soakaway or equipped with a pump for the removal of possible water accumulation in the shaft. A suitable space is made between said floor and the lower surface of the building to accommodate the jacks and the retractable ladder.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the building object of the invention, when said building has a structure such as to be able to be lowered completely, roof included, into the containing shaft, a cover is provided comprising a sheet of impermeable and fireproof material, which is spread over the roof of the building placed in safety, and suitably fixed to the ground (FIG. 14).

Alternatively to the above mentioned embodiment, in the case where it is deemed suitable to excavate to a lesser depth, and therefore the building is admitted into the containing shaft with the exclusion of the roof, this roof of fireproof material and equipped perimetrically with a suitable band of impermeable, fireproof and elastic material which abuts against the top of the lateral walls of the shaft when the building is placed in safety in the underlying shaft, closing the gap between roof and lateral walls of the shaft (FIG. 5-8).

In another embodiment of the invention, when the building to be admitted has a roof, constructed in fireproof material, that projects over the corresponding lateral walls of the building, to avoid damage to the eaves of the roof against the top of the shaft walls during descent into the underlying shaft, suitable stops are provided to ensure a suitable distance between the eaves of the roof and the top of the shaft walls. To protect the gap created between the eaves of the roof and the top of the shaft walls, the eaves are shaped as a skirt so that the latter, when the building is placed in safety, closes the lateral walls of the shaft. The external vertical sides of the containing walls conveniently channel rainwater to their exterior (FIG. 9-12).

In another embodiment the building according to the invention, is equipped with a flat sheet steel roof, easily insulated at its exterior and easily reinforced and equipped with vertical sides. Said sides are easily sized and positioned so that when the building is placed in safety in the underlying shaft, the vertical sides of the roof close the external lateral wall of the shaft, like a box. In such position, suitable blocking and security apparatus can securely enclose the building in the underlying shaft. The external vertical sides of the containing walls easily channel rainwater to their exterior (FIG. 13-16).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the building object of the invention reference is made to the attached drawings, which must not in any way, be considered limiting in the scope thereof.

In said drawings equal reference numbers indicate the same elements.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the building, rectangular in design, and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, in the normal position of use according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view from the right of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, of FIG. 1 in the normal position of use.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, of FIG. 1 when it has been lowered, for safety, into the underlying shaft.

FIG. 4 shows a lateral view from the right of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft of FIG. 1, when it has been lowered, for safety, into the underlying shaft.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a rectangular building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, in the normal position of use, according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a lateral, sectional view from the right of the building and the underlying shaft, of FIG. 5 in the normal position of use.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, of FIG. 5 when it has been lowered, for safety, into the underlying shaft.

FIG. 8 shows a lateral view from the right of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, of FIG. 5 when it has been lowered, for safety, into the underlying shaft.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of a rectangular building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, in the normal position of use, according to the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a lateral view from the right of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft of FIG. 9 in the normal position of use.

FIG. 11 shows a front view of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft of FIG. 9 when it has been lowered, for safety, into the shaft.

FIG. 12 shows a lateral view from the right of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft of FIG. 9, when it has been lowered, for safety, into the shaft.

FIG. 13 shows a front view of a building with flat roof, and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, in the normal position of use according to the last embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a lateral view from the right of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft of FIG. 13 in the normal position of use.

FIG. 15 shows a front view of the building of FIG. 13 and a sectional view of the underlying shaft, when it has been lowered, for safety, into the shaft.

FIG. 16 shows a lateral view of the building and a sectional view of the underlying shaft of FIG. 13, when it has been lowered, for safety, into the shaft.

In the above mentioned drawings are clearly indicated: the building (1) equipped with door (2), windows (3), sloping roof (4), the floor (5), the retractable, folding ladder (6), the television antenna (7), the four guide rails (8), the motors and pinions of the four jacks (9); the underlying shaft (10) comprising perimetric walls (11), with four racks (12), and the base (13) equipped with suitable flooring and drain (14) either soakaway or with a pump for the extraction of possible water; the perimetric band (15), if necessary, in four parts, of fireproof, waterproof elastic material integral with the roof (4) of the second embodiment of the present invention, of fireproof, waterproof and elastic material in the unwound position (18) and in the wound position (17), the winding being facilitated by a winding shaft and a motor for its rotation, not shown in the drawings: once drawn over the building the cover (16) is fixed to the ground by means of appropriate hooks (19); the safety blocks (20), at least four; the roof equipped with skirt (26) of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12; the flat roof (21), object of the embodiment of the present invention as in FIGS. 13-16, equipped with vertical side (22) and of a layer of insulation (23) on the upper parts towards the exterior of the building; the eaves (24); the perimetric cover (25); the blocking and security apparatus (27); the control and operation panel (28).

In this last embodiment, with flat roof, by means of suitable blocking and security apparatus (27) between cover (21) and perimeter walls (11), it is possible to close the building (1) in the shaft (10) with a high degree of security.

Claims

1. A Disappearing Building, equipped with a door (2), windows (3), roof, antennas and utility connections, floor (5) to which a retractable, folding ladder (6) is fixed and under which at least four movable safety blocking devices (20) are installed, characterized by the fact that on the four external walls of the building (1) are present, at least, four vertical, metallic guides (8) operatively associated with a correspondent number of jacks (9), consisting of driving devices selected from an electric motor, an internal combustion engine or a driving device manually operated together with corresponding gears, said gears being engaged with corresponding vertical racks (12) fixed on the walls (11) of an excavated shaft (10) disposed under said building (1) which shaft (10) has floor dimensions slightly larger than those of the building (1) and a depth greater than the height of the building (1), and a drain (14), and wherein the containing walls (11) of said shaft rise to above ground level and a system of closure and protection disposed about said building.

2. A Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the underlying shaft (10) has a depth greater than the height of the building (1) calculated corresponding to the highest point of the roof, and that the apparatus for protection and closure comprises a sheet (16) of fireproof and waterproof material that covers, when the building (1) is placed in safety in the shaft (10), the whole building (1), inclusive of the roof, and is fixed to the ground by a winding roll (17) and by hooks (19) which protection apparatus is adapted to be externally manually operated or by means of switches contained in a control and operation panel (28).

3. The Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the roof of the building (1) is a sloping roof (4).

4. The Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the roof of the building (1) is a flat roof (21).

5. The Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the roof of the building (1) is a sloping roof (4), that the depth of the shaft (10) is greater than the height of the building (1) excluding the roof (4) and that the apparatus for protection and closure comprises a perimetric band (15) of fireproof, waterproof and elastic material.

6. The Disappearing Building according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the band (15) comprises four separate bands, one for each side of the roof (4).

7. The Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the roof of the building (1) is a sloping roof (4), that the depth of the shaft (10) is greater than the height of the building (1) excluding the roof (4), and that the apparatus for protection and closure comprises a vertical, perimetric skirt (26) of rigid material.

8. The Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the roof (21) of the building (1) is flat and equipped with vertical sides (22), that the system of protection and closure comprises said roof (21) which, when the building (1) is placed safely in said shaft, encloses said shaft from the outside of the containing walls (11) and the blocking and safety apparatus (27) fixes the roof (21) to the walls (11).

9. The Disappearing Building according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the flat roof (21) is of stiffened sheet steel equipped with suitable insulation (23) on its exterior.

10. A Disappearing Building according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises a house, shop, kiosk, laboratory, workshop, and/or exhibition hall.

11. The Disappearing Building according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the roof of the building (1) is a sloping roof (4).

12. The Disappearing Building according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the roof of the building (1) is a flat roof (21).