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US4228788A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Self-contained all-terrain living apparatus

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-01-08
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Granted: 1980-10-21
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Expires: 1999-01-08
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Abstract

Abstract A living apparatus comprises a first reservoir within the ground surface of circular form and having a quantity of water therein. A building having a roof and a peripheral side wall of circular form is concentrically nested and spaced within said reservoir. A convex hull is peripherally connected and sealed to the bottom of said building wall and immersed within the water and floatingly projected into said reservoir, a substantial portion of said building wall extending above said ground surface. A second reservoir within the ground surface is spaced from and below said first reservoir. A drain outlet is spaced above the bottom of said first reservoir; and a conduit interconnects said outlet and said second reservoir. A valve on said outlet is adapted to variably control the drain of water from said first reservoir to said second reservoir with the building adapted to controllably descend within said first reservoir throughout any desired distance up to the building roof yet, buoyantly immersed within the remaining water in said first reservoir for protectively enclosing the building within said first reservoir against storms, tornados, earthquakes, extreme temperatures or other conditions endangering the intergrity of the building. A power-operated pump is connected to a conduit between said reservoirs for returning water from said second reservoir to said first said reservoir and controllably regulating elevation of the building within said first reservoir. Within a central vertical axis of the building, there is provided an energy core upon the hull. An apertured support column is coaxially mounted upon said core and at its upper end, supports the roof.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Moeser

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 17:07
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/343; E04B1/34363; E04H; E04H9/00; E04H9/02; E04H9/021; E04H9/0235; E04H9/14; E04H9/145; E04H9/16; F; F03; F03B; F03B11/00; F03B11/004; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B2035/4426; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20; Y02E10/40; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/901

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 233 words
A self-contained all terrain living apparatus comprising a first reservoir within the ground surface having side walls of circular form, of a predetermined diameter and having a quantity of water therein; a building having a roof and a peripheral side wall of circular form of less diameter than said reservoir wall, concentrically nested and spaced within said reservoir; a convex hull peripherally nested and sealed to the bottom of said building wall, and immersed within the water and floatingly projected into said reservoir; with a substantial portion of said building wall extending above said ground surface; flexible and yieldable spacer means upon and within the upper portion of said first reservoir spacing and enaging and yieldably adapted to guide the building side walls; a second reservoir within said ground surface spaced from and below said first reservoir; a drain outlet spaced above the bottom of said first reservoir; a valve on and controlling said outlet; and a conduit interconnecting said outlet and said second reservoir, whereby controlled opening of said valve drains controlled quantities of water from said first to second reservoir, said building controllably descending within said first reservoir throughout any desired distance up to said roof yet buoyantly immersed within the remaining water in said first reservoir, for protectively enclosing the building within said first reservoir against storms, tornados, earthquakes, extreme temperature, or other conditions endangering the integrity of said building.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 233 words
A self-contained all terrain living apparatus comprising a first reservoir within the ground surface having side walls of circular form, of a predetermined diameter and having a quantity of water therein; a building having a roof and a peripheral side wall of circular form of less diameter than said reservoir wall, concentrically nested and spaced within said reservoir; a convex hull peripherally nested and sealed to the bottom of said building wall, and immersed within the water and floatingly projected into said reservoir; with a substantial portion of said building wall extending above said ground surface; flexible and yieldable spacer means upon and within the upper portion of said first reservoir spacing and enaging and yieldably adapted to guide the building side walls; a second reservoir within said ground surface spaced from and below said first reservoir; a drain outlet spaced above the bottom of said first reservoir; a valve on and controlling said outlet; and a conduit interconnecting said outlet and said second reservoir, whereby controlled opening of said valve drains controlled quantities of water from said first to second reservoir, said building controllably descending within said first reservoir throughout any desired distance up to said roof yet buoyantly immersed within the remaining water in said first reservoir, for protectively enclosing the building within said first reservoir against storms, tornados, earthquakes, extreme temperature, or other conditions endangering the integrity of said building.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, said spacer means including a plurality of spaced right-angularly related elongated arcuate cushions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
In the living apparatus of claim 2, said cushions being hollow and partly containing water, adapted for use within the building; a power-operated compressor on said hull; and a conduit extending between and interconnecting said compressor and said cushions for applying variable air pressure thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, said hull including a pair of spaced steel reinfoced concrete layers; a layer of polyurethane foam plastic snugly interposed between said concrete layers; and an exterior sealing layer of fiberglass or Lexan upon the outer of said concrete layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, a power-operated pump connected to said conduit for transferring water from said second reservoir to said first reservoir, controllably filling it, and controllably regulating the height of said buoyant building therein, relative to the ground surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, a second conduit interconnecting said reservoirs, and a power-operated pump connected to said second conduit for transferring water from said second reservoir to said first reservoir, controllably filling it, and controllably regulating the height of said buoyant building therein, relative to the ground surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, said hull being of parabolic shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, said roof being circular and of convex form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
In the living apparatus of claim 8, said roof being of parabolic shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
In the living apparatus of claim 8, said roof comprising a body of steel reinforced polyurethane; and a skin of aluminum covering inner and outer surfaces thereof, for providing efficient insulation against heat transfer therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 47 words
In the living apparatus of claim 1, said building having a central vertical axis, an energy core upon said hull aligned with said axis; and an apertured support column upon and communicating with said energy core on said axis and at its upper end supporting said roof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
In the living apparatus of claim 11, the support for said roof including a series of spaced angularly related upright trusses underlying said roof with their common inner edges mounted upon said column and with their outer edge overlying and secured to said building wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
In the living apparatus of claim 11, a solar heater centrally mounted on said roof, and conducting means within said column interconnecting said solar heater and energy core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 56 words
In the living apparatus of claim 13, said solar heater including a pair of angularly related heating sections, each section having an elongated heat and light reflective concave wall of parabolic shape, and generally facing the sun's path; and elongated heat collectors centrally spaced from said reflectors respectively, said conducting means being connected to said collectors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
In the living apparatus of claim 14, said energy core including heat storage means; said heat storage means including a continuous tubular heat exchange coil adapted to receive heated heat exchanger substances from said collectors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 40 words
In the living apparatus of claim 11, a windmill centrally mounted upon said roof for rotation upon said axis and having a driven shaft extending into said column; and an electric generator within said column and connected to said shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 40 words
In the living apparatus of claim 13, a windmill centrally mounted upon said roof for rotation upon said axis and including a driven shaft extending into said column; and an electric generator within said column and connected to said shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 67 words
In the living apparatus of claim 11, said column having a longitudinal bore; a fireplace including a combustion chamber communicating with said column bore adapted for burning combustible wastes and logs; and at least one heat exchanger within said column bore above said combustion chamber over which the products of combustion pass upwardly through said bore and conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said energy core.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 67 words
In the living apparatus of claim 11, an incinerator within said energy core having a combustion chamber and a burner adapted to selectively receive liquid and gaseous fuels or combustible garbage; an exhaust stack between said combustion chamber and the interior of said column; and a heat exchanger coil within said stack and connected to said energy core for the storage of heat from said combustion chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 58 words
In the living apparatus of claim 19, an isolated liquid fuel storage chamber within said hull spaced from said energy core; a liquid fuel tank within said storage chamber; a conduit interconnecting said tank and the burner in said incinerator; and a metering valve in said conduit for initiating and regulating the flow of fuel to said incinerator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 54 words
In the living apparatus of claim 19, an isolated gaseous fuel storage chamber within said hull spaced from said energy core; a methane tank within said storage chamber; a conduit interconnecting said tank and said incinerator; and a metering valve in said conduit for initiating and regulating the flow of methane to said burner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 36 words
In the living apparatus of claim 21, a methane generator within said hull adapted to use organic waste material from in and outside of the building; and a conduit interconnecting said generator and said methane tank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 15 words
In the living apparatus of claim 19, said energy core including a coiled heat exchanger.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 91 words
In the living apparatus of claim 22, said methane generator including a closed tank holding a slurry; inlet conduits adapted for delivering organic and other wastes from the building interior into said tank; an inlet conduit extending to the outside of the building for feeding plant wastes and manure into said tank; a power agitator within the slurry in said tank; a methane gas outlet within said tank above said slurry; a collector for said methane connected to said conduit; and a further conduit interconnecting said collector and methane storage tank.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 54 words
In the living apparatus of claim 11, said building having a stove, a refrigerator and a freezer; a conduit communicating with the heat exchanger coils of said refrigerator and freezer and with the exhaust from said stove; a heat exchanger within said conduit; and a further conduit interconnecting said heat exchanger and energy core.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-10-21 1984-04-21 1984-10-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-10-21 1988-04-21 1988-10-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-10-21 1992-04-21 1992-10-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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