Portable fire and heat resistant storage unit for electronic media
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fire and heat resistant storage unit for storing electronic media comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of storing electronic media in a fire and heat resistant storage unit comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of forming and arranging a fire resistant enclosure for storing electronic media comprising:
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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°
F. (52°
C.) for at least 30 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification