LIQUID DELIVERY AND BUILDING COMPONENT SYSTEM
A system for the provision of container blocks of fluid to locations in need of said fluid in which system the containers also function as structural elements. The system further comprises structural elements that complement the fluid container blocks, including base tracks, roof rafters, roof material, door and window flap materials. Connecting clips and anchoring spikes function to secure the fluid blocks together and to the ground to form a solid structure. The system provides the means to deliver an emergency supply of water or other fluid to a disaster area or underdeveloped location along with the means to erect temporary structures for shelter using the container blocks as the basic structural element.
This application claims priority from a provisional application, 62/469,218 filed Mar. 9, 2017.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of emergency and disaster relief, specifically the provision of an emergency water supply combined with building blocks and related materials for construction of shelter structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWater shortages proliferate around the globe. Moreover, whenever natural disasters or other emergencies occur that destroy major infrastructure elements like water supply and personal shelter, the provision of both fresh water and shelter structures is one of the most immediate tasks of relief agencies. Transporting the water onsite is problematic and disposal of the containers used for transport creates additional problems. Commonly water is delivered by tanker trucks and shelter is provided by tents. These well-intentioned means are important but have limitations.
Tanker trucks are usually centrally stationed and long lines of thirsty victims must queue for small amounts of water rationed to each. The trucks carry limited water supplies, often incapable of meeting the large scale needs of disaster victims. Tents as shelter are often difficult to assemble and, once assembled, are still vulnerable to storms and provide little physical security to their occupants.
A significant improvement to disaster relief could be realized if large supplies of fresh water could be delivered to a relief zone and distributed in containers for mobility. A further improvement would be realized if the water containers, once empty, provided the building blocks for durable emergency shelters. The present invention is designed to meet these needs.
Although this description refers to the delivery of water, the invention is not limited to water delivery. It is adaptable to delivery of any type of non-corrosive liquids. The reference to water is merely to emphasize the most obvious use of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe subject invention is based on a multi-sided shape formed of a robust, lightweight, inexpensive, non-toxic material. The form includes interlocking features which stabilize stacks during shipping and later provide stability in use as a construction material. An additional form includes galleys and passages through the form that are used to secure the containers in shipment and later allow the passage of wiring, piping or reinforcing rods used during construction.
The present disclosure describes a system for shipment and delivery of fluid and construction of shelter structures comprising fluid blocks that carry fluid to locations where it is needed, and having one or more access ports with plugs, and further having recesses into which plugs on other blocks fit when said blocks are assembled into a structure, clips that secure assembled blocks together, at least one roof rafter that supports a roof upon a structure, and roof material.
Also described is at least one base track that aligns and supports a structure wall assembly. Included may be a plurality of spikes, said spikes anchoring the base track to a substrate beneath a structure.
The system may further comprise a plurality of channel plugs, said plugs fitting into channels on the fluid blocks when assembled such that spaces between the assembled blocks in a structure are closed. The said at least one roof rafter is disclosed as a flat element in shipment and comprising fold lines along which said flat element is folded to form a substantially rigid structural member. The said flat element further comprises apertures for securing the folded rafter with clips to sustain its substantially rigid form.
The clips comprise clip ends that secure the clips into apertures on the fluid blocks, and further comprise raised buttons on what becomes an outer surface of the clips in assembly. The roof material is described to be a flat element in shipment and comprising O-rings around its periphery, said O-rings securing said roof material to clip buttons on a wall structure comprising a plurality of fluid blocks. Alternatively, the roof material may comprise clip button holes around its periphery, said clip button holes providing a point of connection to clip buttons on a wall structure comprising a plurality of fluid blocks.
The fluid blocks may comprise an access port clickspout that comprises a grooved projection from the block that mates into a recess in another block that is formed with a button that engages the grooves in the clickspout making a secure connection.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show one or more forms in which the invention may be embodied. The invention is not, however, limited to the precise forms shown unless such limitation is expressly made in a claim.
The present invention is a water delivery and building block system to provide both an emergency water supply and the components of a shelter assembly. Though primarily useful in disaster relief circumstances the invention may also be employed to provide water and shelter in underdeveloped areas or to support stressed populations suffering from water/shelter shortages caused by drought or war damage. Blocks containing a water ration (commonly one to two and a half gallons) can be delivered in large quantities to provide a water supply. Once a large number of water blocks are emptied, they become the elements of a structure by fitting the blocks together, interlocking projections on the blocks into slots on the blocks. The blocks are secured together both horizontally and vertically with clips that lock into recesses molded into the blocks.
The system includes a base track that provides a foundation for a structure wall and can be secured to the ground with spikes. The system further includes a roof rafter and a roof element for mounting on the block structure. Provision for doors and windows in the structure is also provided by including door and window coverings that may be secured to the exterior of the block structure. Thus a complete structure can be assembled from empty water blocks, secured to the ground, and including a roof, door and windows, to provide complete shelter from the elements with ingress, egress, and ventilation.
Reference to
All three side illustrations also show clip slots 128 that are molded into the block 104. These clip slots 128 provide recesses for accepting a securing clip (see
The side A illustration in
The side B illustration shows the block 104 with side A turned to the back. Two top channels 132 are shown in the upper surface of the block 104. (They are shown in shadow on sides A and C.) These channels serve as stiffening structure in the block 104. Similar channels may be molded into the bottom surface too (not shown). Clip slots 128 are present on side B as they are on all sides of the block. An end slot 124 is molded into side B of the block into which a side plug 108 of another block slides as two blocks are joined together. This slot 124 provides no horizontal range of motion with a side plug 108 engaged in it.
The side C illustration is oriented such that the end slot 124 of side B is shown in shadow on the right. A side plug 108 and clip slots 128 are the principal features of side C. The bottom slot 116 that receives a corresponding top plug 112 of an adjoining block in vertical connection is shown in shadow.
Reference to
Referring back to
Reference to
Reference to
A structure would not be complete without a roof. The roof of the structure (see
In
The rafter sheet 1005 also comprises clip slots 1017 and clip end slots 1029. When the rafter sheet 1005 is folded into its triangular shape the side of the rafter sheet 1005 having the clip slots 1017 folds over the other side having the clip end slots 1029. The same type of clips 140 that secure blocks together are also used to secure the two sides of the rafter sheet 1005 together forming the base of the rafter 1001 as shown in
Reference to
Another feature of the fluid block assembly is a locking spout arrangement for securing two blocks together. Referring to
The term “clickspout” refers to the securing mechanism which is the engagement of the clickspout 1605 with buttons 1607 molded into the clickspout port 1603. These clickspout buttons 1607 “click” into the threads or grooves on the clickspout making a more secure connection than is achieved by a simple male/female engagement of smooth spout and port surfaces. The secure engagement is illustrated in
The dimension of the clickspout buttons 1607 need only to be sufficient to engage the clickspout grooves or threads securely with moderate insertion force required to make the connection. The clickspout buttons 1607 may be small molded into the clickspout port 1603 as two or more individual protuberances (that is, bumps) within the port or they may take the form of small arcs on the interior circumference of the clickspout port 1603. Their purpose is simply to make the connection between blocks 104 more secure than that made between a smooth spout and port without making assembly difficult.
The fluid delivery system described above, comprising fluid blocks filled with water or other needed fluid, together with clips, roof rafters, roof material, door and window panels, can be shipped to areas in need of relief supplies for the provision of needed fluids (i.e., water) and shelter structures. The structural features of the fluid blocks, clips, roof elements, doors and windows make possible the rapid assembly of shelter structures where traditional shelter has been damaged or destroyed.
The fluid blocks of the invention can be most effectively produced by polymer molding technology that is well known. The roof rafters may comprise a semi-rigid material of various types that becomes more rigid when folded from its flat form in shipping to the form shown in the Figures. The roof material must be water resistant and capable of enduring prolonged exposure to sun and water. The same is true for door and window materials. A most important consideration for the rafter, base track, roof, door and window materials is that they should be as lightweight as possible. In emergency conditions, the water in the blocks is the major asset while the blocks and other structural materials after the water is distributed should provide suitable temporary shelter while being as light as possible for shipping in quantity.
The invention may be expressed and implemented in ways that to not precisely duplicate the specific description contained herein without deviating from the functions and effects of the invention. Accordingly, reference must be made to the following claims to determine the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A system for shipment and delivery of fluid and construction of shelter structures comprising:
- fluid blocks that carry fluid to locations where it is needed, and having one or more access ports with plugs, and further having recesses into which plugs on other blocks fit when said blocks are assembled into a structure;
- clips that secure assembled blocks together;
- at least one roof rafter that supports a roof upon a structure;
- and roof material.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
- at least one base track that aligns and supports a structure wall assembly.
3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:
- a plurality of spikes, said spikes anchoring the base track to a substrate beneath a structure.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
- a plurality of channel plugs, said plugs fitting into channels on the fluid blocks when assembled such that spaces between the assembled blocks in a structure are closed.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
- said at least one roof rafter being a flat element in shipment and comprising fold lines along which said flat element is folded to form a substantially rigid structural member,
- said flat element further comprising apertures for securing the folded rafter with clips to sustain its substantially rigid form.
6. The system of claim 1 in which the clips comprise clip ends that secure the clips into apertures on the fluid blocks, and further comprise raised buttons on what becomes an outer surface of the clips in assembly.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:
- said roof material being a flat element in shipment and comprising O-rings around its periphery, said O-rings securing said roof material to clip buttons on a wall structure comprising a plurality of fluid blocks.
8. The system of claim 6 further comprising:
- said roof material being a flat element in shipment and comprising clip button holes around its periphery, said clip button holes providing a point of connection to clip buttons on a wall structure comprising a plurality of fluid blocks.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein an access port on a fluid block is a clickspout that comprises a grooved projection from the block that mates into a recess in another block that is formed with a button that engages the grooves in the clickspout making a secure connection.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2018
Publication Date: Sep 13, 2018
Inventors: LENARD HERRIN (ELKINS PARK, PA), BARTON A PASTERNAK (ELKINS PARK, PA)
Application Number: 15/916,194