Closet shield

Abstract

In 1974 I was surveying tornado damage caused by an F-3 tornado when I noticed houses that were 75% destroyed and a farm silo that was 2/3 destroyed. The top 2/3 of the silo was completely gone. The bottom 1/3 was still intact. When I investigated to see why the bottom 1/3 was not damaged I found that the bottom 1/3 still had silage in it which gave the bottom 1/3 extra strength. That is when I got the idea for the closet shield. A silo is used for the storage of grain. The clothes closet is used for the storage of clothes. Since 1974 I have surveyed tornado damage in three different states being Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. I found the same thing in all three states. I found that silos that were full were destroyed. Silos that were empty were also completely destroyed. This led me to believe that by adding extra strength to the bottom half of the clothes closet it would make it work in the same way as the strength in the bottom of the silo works. I have found while investigating tornado damage that most houses are relatively safe until they lose their roofs. Without the roof the house looses nearly 2/3 of its strength. When the roof is gone the interior rooms of the house lose nearly all their strength making the clothes closet the safest not because it Is any stronger but because it is smaller and the winds have less effect on it. The clothes closet with a closet shield installed in the bottom half gives it four times its normal strength. The top part of the closet will give up the drywall or sheet rock which will cause less wind drag making the bottom half a really good place to take shelter.

Description

[0001] The Closet Shield is a device that is installed in a standard size clothes closet. The standard height of a clothes closet in the United states is eight feet. The Closet Shield is forty-eight inches high and is installed in the lower half of the closet which will make the lower half much stronger than the top half. The wind speeds of a severe storm, tornado, or straight line winds can exceed one hundred fifty miles per hour. When wind speeds reach this velocity the structure of a house becomes extremely stressed which will result in the roof coming off the house. When this happens the ceilings of the house will be torn out leaving the house in a very weakened condition. At which time the closet which is the smallest room in the house becomes the strongest and the installation of the Closet Shield inside the closet makes it several times stronger than before.

[0002] The homeowner who buys a "Closet Shield Kit" will receive instructions for installation. All the parts are provided with the exception of an electric drill. In most cases the homeowner owns an electric drill. They will also receive a video showing proper installation because proper installation is very important. Several of the Closet Shield Kits have been installed and those homeowners are quite happy with the installation and they say they feel much safer.

[0003] The material for the Closet Shield can be made of several types of material which would have the proper strength and durability needed for a top quality product. The material will be cut or molded to the proper size. Some of the holes for the screws will be pre-bored in the manufacturing process. The proper color for the Closet Shield is white unless someone insists on a different color (which would be optional). All Closet Shields will be identical and will have the same amount of parts and will look the same. The substitute application contains no new matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

[0004] DRAWING 3

[0005] III

[0006] Drawing number 3 showing a front view of all The parts of the closet shield:

[0007] Left end panel--48''×19''

[0008] Left back panel--48''×19''

[0009] Center panel--48''×38''

[0010] Right back panel--48''×19''

[0011] Right end panel--48''×19''

INSTALLATION OF THE CLOSET SHIELD

[0012] When the customer receives the Closet Shield Carton it will contain all the proper screws , a stud finder and proper instructions for installation. The left end panel and the left back panel will already be attached to each other and are ready to be installed on the left side of the closet. The right side end panel and the right side back panel are also attached to each other and are ready to be installed in the right side of the closet. Center installs last and is divided up equally on each side. The carton will contain the proper screws, a drill bit and a screwdriver bit along with the proper instructions which are simple to understand and a video of the proper installation. Average installation takes about an hour.

Claims

1. The Closet Shield is the product of 30+ years of research and development. The Closet Shield is a means of adding strength to the walls of an existing closet. Adding strength to the walls of a closet will provide a homeowner with protection from extreme weather. The Closet Shield is a practical way to protect oneself, in the home from severe weather.

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