Fire-resistant container and method of assembling same

• US 4,893,397 A
• Filed: 11/25/1987
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micropore International Limited Hadzor Hall Hadzor Droitwich Worcestershire WR9 7DJ United Kingdom
• Original Assignee: Micropore International Limited
• Inventors: Hughes, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Falk, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/125,453
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 312/214, 29/455 R, 292/DIG. 65, 292/DIG. 66, 109/47, 109/49, 109/50, 109/59 R, 109/65, 49/7, 220/400, 220/3.1
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/024 Wall or panel structure
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/08 secured individually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/66 Thermally controlled mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fire-resistant container for magnetic media is constructed by mounting a base of thermal insulation material within a casing having an open face and by positioning on the base and securing to the base a body of thermal insulation material so as to define with the base a cavity which is open towards the open face of the casing. An inner container is positioned within the cavity so as to have an opening towards the open face of the casing and has an inner wall defining a storage cavity and an outer wall which defines a chamber filled with heat absorbing material between the inner and outer walls. A storage drawer is inserted into the storage cavity and has attached thereto a container located on that side of the drawer adjacent to the opening, the container being filled with a heat absorbing material. A layer of thermal insulation material is positioned on that side of the container remote from the drawer and a facing is located on that side of the layer of insulation material remote from the container.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a fire-resistant container for magnetic media into a filing cabinet incorporating a casing having a front open face and at least one recess dimensioned to receive a filing drawer of conventional dimensions, which method comprises the steps of:

fitting a base of thermal insulation material securely to the casing of the filing cabinet, the base extending between side walls of the casing and from the region of the open face of the casing towards the rear thereof;

positioning on the base and within the casing a body of thermal insulation material which incorporates a heat absorbing material and securing the body to the base, the body comprising side walls, a rear wall and a top, the side walls and the rear wall engaging with the base so as to define therewith a storage cavity which opens towards the front open face of the casing; and

inserting into the storage cavity a storage drawer having a facing to co-operate with the front open face of the casing, which storage drawer is provided with a body of thermal insulation material which body, in use, co-operates with the body defining the storage cavity so as to close and insulate the storage cavity.

2. A method of assembling a fire-resistant container for magnetic media into a filing cabinet incorporating a casing having a front open face and constructed to receive at least one filing drawer, which method comprises the steps of:

fitting a base of thermal insulation material securely to the casing of the filing cabinet, the base extending between side walls of the casing and from the region of the open face of the casing towards the rear thereof;

providing a mounting rail along each side of the casing internally thereof, the mounting rail extending substantially from the front of the casing towards the rear thereof;

providing angle brackets on each side of the base, the angle brackets including a member extending substantially from the front of the base towards the rear thereof and co-operable with the mounting rail, the angle brackets including means permitting vertical adjustment thereof relative to the base;

positioning on the base and within the casing a body of thermal insulation material which incorporates a heat absorbing material and securing the body to the base, the body comprising side walls, a rear wall and a top, the side walls and the rear wall engaging with the base so as to define therewith a storage cavity which opens towards the front open face of the casing; and

inserting into the storage cavity a storage drawer having a facing to co-operate with the front open face of the casing, which storage drawer is provided with a body of thermal insulation material, which body, in use, co-operates with the body defining the storage cavity so as to close and insulate the storage cavity.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein a mounting rail is provided along each side of the casing internally thereof and extends substantially from the front of the casing towards the rear thereof, and wherein angle brackets are provided on each side of the body to thermal insulation material and include a member extending substantially from the front of the body towards the rear thereof and co-operable with the mounting rail, the angle brackets including means permitting vertical adjustment thereof relative to the body.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein rollers are provided on the angle brackets attached to the body of thermal insulation material and are engageable so as to roll on the angle brackets provided on each side of the base to facilitate positioning of the body of thermal insulation material relative to the base.