U.S. patent application number 11/168560 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for portable fire and heat resistant storage unit for electronic media.
Invention is credited to Andre Fortin.
Application Number | 20070000925 11/168560 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37588244 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070000925 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fortin; Andre |
January 4, 2007 |
Portable fire and heat resistant storage unit for electronic
media
Abstract
A fire and heat resistant storage unit for housing electronic
media includes a core body portion of heat resistant material
surrounded by an outer shell. An opening in a bottom wall of the
outer shell allows a user access to a housing unit that is placed
in the core body portion. A locking cap seals off the opening in
the outer shell and a handle attached to the outer shell aids a
user in flipping the storage unit from an access position in which
a user can access the housing, to a storage or in-use position in
which the bottom wall is directly adjacent a relatively planar
support surface. Such a configuration significantly increases the
fire and heat resistance of the storage unit and allows electronic
media to be stored safely without being damaged.
Inventors: |
Fortin; Andre; (Lennoxville,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DIEDERIKS & WHITELAW, PLC
12471 Dillingham Square, #301
Woodbridge
VA
22192
US
|
Family ID: |
37588244 |
Appl. No.: |
11/168560 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/88.1 ;
G9B/23.019; G9B/33.036 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/0213 20130101;
G11B 33/1406 20130101; G11B 23/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/088.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/22 20060101
B65D090/22 |
Claims
1. A fire and heat resistant storage unit for storing electronic
media comprising: a body portion formed at least in part by calcium
silicate having top, bottom and multiple opposing side walls, the
bottom wall including a storage cavity formed substantially
centrally therein; a housing including a bottom portion, at least
one side portion and a lip portion opposite the bottom portion that
establishes an access opening, said housing extending into the
storage cavity of the body portion with the access opening being
exposed; an outer shell having top, bottom and multiple opposing
side walls that collectively encase the body portion, said outer
shell including a substantially central opening formed in the
bottom wall and leading into the housing; and a cap adapted to
extend across and close the access opening of the housing, the cap
being formed, at least in part, by a material selected from the
group consisting of: calcium silicate, vermiculite, perlite, and a
combination thereof, wherein, when electronic media is placed in
the housing, the access opening of the housing is closed by the
cap, the bottom wall of the storage enclosure is supported upon a
substantially planar support surface, and the storage enclosure is
subjected to high temperatures developed by a fire, a temperature
in the housing does not exceed 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees
Celsius) for at least 30 minutes.
2. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing fits
snugly within the storage cavity of the body portion.
3. The storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a
first rim formed about the periphery of the storage cavity, wherein
the lip portion is positioned adjacent the rim.
4. The storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a
second rim formed about the periphery of the storage cavity,
wherein a stepped portion of the housing is positioned adjacent the
second rim.
5. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing is
formed of plastic.
6. The storage unit according to claim 5, wherein the outer shell
is formed of sheet metal.
7. The storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a
handle attached to one of the multiple opposing side walls of the
outer shell.
8. The storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a
locking mechanism carried by the cap for selectively securing the
cap to the body portion.
9. The storage unit according to claim 8, wherein the locking
mechanism includes at least one locking pin extending into the body
portion.
10. The storage unit according to claim 1 wherein, upon exposing
the enclosure to high temperatures developed by a fire, a humidity
level in the housing does not exceed 80 percent for up to 30
minutes.
11. A method of storing electronic media in a fire and heat
resistant storage unit comprising: positioning the storage unit,
which includes an outer shell encasing an internal body portion
formed from a fire resistant material, in an access position
wherein a removable cap, formed at least in part from a fire
resistant material selected from the group consisting of: calcium
silicate, vermiculite, perlite, and a combination thereof, is
exposed along a bottom wall of the storage unit; removing the cap
from a central opening formed in the bottom wall of the outer shell
in order to expose an access opening in a housing positioned in a
storage cavity formed substantially centrally in the internal body
portion; placing electronic media into the housing through the
central opening and the access opening; closing the access opening
in the housing by replacing the cap across the central opening
formed in the bottom wall; and flipping the storage unit from the
access position to a storage position in which the bottom wall of
the outer shell is placed against and supported on a substantially
planar support surface, wherein upon exposing the storage unit to
high temperatures developed by a fire, a temperature in the housing
is prevented from exceeding 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees
Celsius) for at least 30 minutes.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: utilizing a handle
attached to one of multiple opposing side walls of the outer shell
to flip the unit from the access position to the storage
position.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: securing the cap to
the outer shell using a locking mechanism.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cap is secured to the outer
shell with at least one locking pin of the locking mechanism
extending into the internal body portion.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein placing the electronic media
into the housing constitutes placing the electronic media in a
plastic housing.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein, upon exposing the storage unit
to the high temperatures developed by a fire, a humidity level in
the housing does not exceed 80 percent for up to 30 minutes.
17. A method of forming and arranging a fire resistant enclosure
for storing electronic media comprising: forming a body from a fire
resistant material including calcium silicate, while creating a
region in the body which is void of the fire resistant material and
includes a first rim; positioning a plastic insert in the region,
said plastic insert including a bottom portion, a side portion and
a lip portion that defines an access opening to a housing created
by the bottom and side portions; covering the body with an outer
shell including top, bottom and multiple opposing side walls, while
aligning a substantially central opening formed in the bottom wall
of the outer shell with the access opening of the plastic insert;
placing electronic media into the housing of the plastic insert
through the aligned central and access openings; closing the access
opening with a cap member formed, at least in part, from a fire
resistant material selected from the group consisting of: calcium
silicate, vermiculite, perlite, and a combination thereof; and
placing the bottom wall of the outer shell and cap member on a
supporting surface wherein, upon exposing the enclosure to high
temperatures developed by a fire, a temperature in the storage
cavity does not exceed 125.degree. F. (52.degree. C.) for at least
30 minutes.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure is formed and
arranged such that, upon exposing the enclosure to high
temperatures developed by a fire, the temperature in the storage
cavity does not exceed 125.degree. F. (52.degree. C.) and a
humidity level in the storage cavity does not exceed 80 percent for
up to 30 minutes.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: positioning the
plastic insert with the lip portion adjacent the first rim.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: positioning the
plastic insert with a stepped portion of the plastic insert
adjacent a second rim located about the periphery of the first rim.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention pertains to the art of fire and heat
resistant enclosures and, more specifically, to a portable storage
unit for storing and protecting electronic media such as CDs and
DVDs from exposure to fire and high temperatures.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0004] There is a long-standing need to protect valuable items,
including business records, from high temperatures, particularly
temperatures experienced during a fire. With the advent of
computers, important business documents are stored on electronic
data storage media, such as compact disks (CDs), digital video
disks (DVDs) or magnetic tapes. These electronic media records are
subject to damage at lower temperatures than traditional paper
records. In order to protect such records, many businesses will
periodically transport their electronic media records to highly
fire/heat-resistant bank vaults for safekeeping. Of course, storing
the electronic media in a fire and heat resistant container on-site
would be less costly and less time-consuming for most
businesses.
[0005] Various types of heat and fire resistant containers have
been used in the past to store valuables, including containers
having multiple layers of fire/heat-proofing materials, such as the
container described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,155. However, the
materials and methods of manufacturing needed to produce such
multi-layered containers can be costly. Other containers, such as
the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,741, have a solid main
body covered with a shell. These containers can be heavy and can
have limited heat-proofing capabilities. Based on the above, there
exists a need in the art for a portable heat resistant storage
container that is simple to manufacture and has a high enough heat
resistance rating to store electronic media safely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to a fire and heat
resistant storage unit for the storage of electronic media,
particularly CDs and DVDs. The storage unit comprises a core body
portion of calcium silicate encased in a shell. A locking cap is
attached to a bottom wall portion of the shell and allows a user to
access a housing in which electronic media, such as CDs or DVDs,
can be stored. A handle is attached to the storage unit to aid a
user in flipping the storage unit from an access position, in which
the user can access the electronic media housing, to a storage or
in-use position in which the bottom wall portion is arranged
directly adjacent a relatively planar supporting surface, such as a
concrete floor. With the bottom wall portion of the storage unit
adjacent the relatively planar supporting surface, little air and,
correspondingly, minimal oxygen, is available beneath the storage
unit. This results in a highly heat resistant storage unit that
allows for the safe storage of heat sensitive electronic media.
[0007] Additional objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent from the following
detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in
conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer
to corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one preferred
embodiment of the heat resistant storage unit of the present
invention shown inverted;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the heat resistant
storage unit of FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an
alternative embodiment of the heat resistant storage unit of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fire and heat
resistant storage unit 10 (hereafter storage unit 10) includes a
core body portion 15; an insert or housing 20; an outer shell 22
comprising a casing 25, a top wall 30, and a bottom wall 35; and a
cap 40. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, storage unit 10 takes
the general form of a cube. Body portion 15 is formed from fire and
heat resistant material and includes side portions 45-48, a top
portion 49 and a bottom portion 50 having a storage cavity 55, a
first rim 57 and a second rim 58 formed substantially centrally
therein. Diametrically opposed pin holes 59 are formed within body
15 adjacent second rim 58. Outer shell 22 is preferably formed from
sheet steel, but could be formed from other heat resistant
materials, including heat resistant plastic. Casing 25 of outer
shell 22 extends around body portion 15 and includes side wall
portions 65-68. Housing 20, which is preferably formed from
plastic, includes a main body portion 70, a stepped portion 71, a
bottom portion 72 and a lip portion 75 that extends about an access
opening 77. Diametrically opposed pin holes 78 are formed within
stepped portion 71 of housing 20. Together, main body portion 70,
stepped portion 71 and bottom portion 72 define a housing 20 in
which electronic media, such as CDs or DVDs, can be stored. The
plastic used to form housing 20 is preferably a standard fire
resistant plastic. The region of body portion 15 located between
the storage cavity 55 and outer shell 22 defines a buffer zone 80
which protects items located within housing 20 from fire and
heat.
[0012] The preferred method of forming storage unit 10 will now be
discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably, body portion
15 is formed of molded calcium silicate, vermiculite or perlite. Of
course, body portion 15 could be formed from any equivalent
fire/heat resistant material. In the present embodiment, body
portion 15 also includes various additives and fillers, such as
cellulose fiber and fiberglass. Storage cavity 55 is then bored
into the center of bottom portion 50 of body portion 15 in a manner
which establishes a first rim 57 and a second rim 58. Certainly,
body portion 15 can be initially formed to include storage cavity
55, such as through a molding or other forming process. Although
storage cavity 55 is depicted as substantially cylindrical in FIG.
1, it is understood that any desired shape could be used for
storage cavity 55. Of course, first and second rims 57 and 58 would
take a shape corresponding to the shape of storage cavity 55. At
this point, housing 20 is inserted into storage cavity 55.
Preferably, housing 20 fits snuggly within storage cavity 55, with
stepped portion 71 of housing 20 resting upon first rim 57 and lip
portion 75 resting upon second rim 58. Housing 20 can also be
adhesively secured in place, such as with a sodium silicate
adhesive. Although depicted in FIG. 1 as a cylindrical container
with a cylindrical lip, it again should be understood that housing
20, stepped portion 71 and lip portion 75 could be formed to fit a
desired shape chosen for storage cavity 55 and first and second
rims 57 and 58. It should also be understood that housing 20 need
not include a stepped portion 71 or a lip portion 75. Further,
storage cavity 55 need not be formed with first and second rims 57
and 58.
[0013] Next, casing 25 is formed about side portions 45-48 of body
portion 15. A handle 82 is preferably attached to one or more of
side portions 65-68 of casing 25. Once casing 25 is formed about
body portion 15, top wall 30 is mounted over top portion 49 of body
portion 15. Likewise, bottom wall 35 is arranged over bottom
portion 50 of body portion 15. Preferably top and bottom walls 30
and 35 are attached to casing 25 by welding or by any other
conventional method. Electronic media 84 can now be placed into
housing 20 through aligned access opening 77. In order to fully
assemble storage unit 10, cap 40 is placed over a central opening
90 formed in bottom wall 35 and is secured in place via a locking
mechanism 95. At least a portion of cap 40 comprises a fire/heat
resistant material 97, such as calcium silicate, with the remainder
of cap 40 preferably made of plastic. For aesthetic purposes, a
metallic plastic may be used for cap 40. Additionally, locking
mechanism 95 preferably includes locking pins 100 and 101 extending
from either side of cap 40 for locking cap 40 in place. However,
other types of standard locking mechanisms could be used. As shown
in FIG. 3, locking pins 100 and 101 preferably extend adjacent an
inner surface (not labeled) of bottom wall 35 and extend through
respective pin holes 78 in housing 20 and into respective pin holes
59 in body portion 15 to provide a tight and secure mounting
arrangement.
[0014] Once housing 20 is loaded with electronic media 84 to be
stored and protected and cap 40 is locked via locking mechanism 95,
storage unit 10 can now be flipped from an access position in which
a user can access housing 20 as depicted in FIG. 1, to a storage
position in which bottom wall 35 is arranged directly adjacent to,
i.e., in a substantially full abutting relationship, a relatively
planar supporting surface 110 as depicted in FIG. 2. Handle 82 can
aid a user in flipping storage unit 10. Preferably, planar support
surface 110 is a concrete floor, but can be other flooring
surfaces. When storage unit 10 is in its storage position of FIG.
2, an outer portion 115 of cap 40 is preferably substantially flush
with bottom wall 35 such that the relatively planar supporting
surface 110 and bottom wall 35 with cap 40 abut one another. This
arrangement assures that little air, and thus little oxygen, is
available beneath storage unit 10. This configuration has been
found to be critical to the invention and significantly increases
the fire and heat resistance of storage unit 10, thereby enabling
storage unit 10 to effectively protect electronic media 84 in the
case of a fire that generates high levels of heat. It is
significant to note that a plastic cap 40 will be protected for a
period of time from fire damage when storage unit 10 is in its
storage position, but will at least partially melt or be otherwise
damaged if storage unit 10 is in its access position during a fire.
Thus, a plastic cap 40 can be utilized as an indicator of improper
use of storage unit 10.
[0015] To test the invention, two samples of storage unit 10, one
metal clad, one plastic wrapped, were subjected to a 30 minute 125
degree Fahrenheit Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 72 Fire Test for
fire resistance of record protection equipment. The results from
this test can be seen in Table 1. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1
Temperatures-Degrees Fahrenheit Test #1 Test #2 Ceramic Vermiculite
& Calcium Fiber Perlite Silicate Time #1 #2 #1 #2 #1 #2 0 min.
63 63 63 63 62 62 5 min. 64 64 64 64 62 63 10 min. 64 64 64 64 63
63 15 min. 66 66 64 65 63 64 20 min. 74 74 66 68 67 69 25 min. 95
94 77 81 80 81 30 min. 125 122 102 108 102 103
[0016] According to the results of the test, storage unit 10 can
withstand the high temperatures of a fire without the temperature
within housing 20 exceeding 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees
Celsius) for 30 minutes. In fact, it has been found that the
temperature within housing 20 does not exceed 125 degrees
Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) and the humidity level within the
housing 20 does not exceed 80 percent for up to 30 minutes during a
fire. Test sample #2 included a body portion 15 comprising an
approximately 13.8.times.13.8 inch (approximately 351 mm.times.351
mm) rectangular body of molded calcium silicate with an
approximately 24 gauge (approximately 0.65 mm) square steel casing
25 and a plastic insert housing 20. A first rim 57, having an
approximately 1.5 inch (38 mm) associated wall height with a
diameter of approximately 8 inches (200 mm), was formed about
storage cavity 55 having a height of approximately 5 inches
(approximately 150 mm) and a diameter of approximately 6 inches
(approximately 150 mm).
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of storage unit 10'
in which a square cap 40' is attached to bottom wall 35 by a pair
of hinges 120. Although not shown, storage cavity 55, first rim 57,
second rim 58, and housing 20 can take on a shape corresponding to
that of cap 40' or can be simply shaped as described above and
shown in the drawings. Again, the exact shape of storage cavity 55,
first and second rims 57 and 58, housing 20 and cap 40, 40' can
take on any form and should not be seen as limiting the present
invention. More importantly, in connection with either embodiment,
a fire and heat resistant storage unit 10, 10' is provided which
can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, is readily
transported/portable, and allows a user to protect store electronic
media, such as CDs or DVDs, in a safe convenient manner. Again, a
major key to the present invention is the way in which storage unit
10, 10' is adapted to be stored with cap 40, 40' extending directly
along a substantially planar support surface 110. With cap 40, 40'
abutting substantially planar support surface 110, little air is
available beneath storage unit 10, 10' and thus little heated air
can find its way between cap 40, 40' and outer shell 22, and into
housing 20. This arrangement substantially increases the fire and
heat resistance of storage unit 10, 10', allowing for the
safe-keeping of heat sensitive electronic media in a simple and
effective manner.
[0018] Although described with reference to preferred embodiments
of the invention, it should be readily understood that various
changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without
departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is
only intended to be limited by the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *