US3408966A

US3408966A - Fireproof container

Info

Publication number: US3408966A
Application number: US573049A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Gartner
Original assignee: DeSoto Inc
Current assignee: DeSoto Inc
Priority date: 1966-08-17
Filing date: 1966-08-17
Publication date: 1968-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-05

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet W J. GARTNER FIREPROOF CONTAINER Nov. 5, 1968 Filed Aug. 17, 1965 (@zW/z/ BY @ml Mil, Wy

United States Patent() 3,408,966 FIREPROOF CONTAINER William J. Gartner, Melrose Park, Ill., assignor to De Soto Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 573,049 27 Claims. (Cl. 109--74) ABSTRACT F ATHE DISCLOSURE A fireproof container assembly having an inner container surrounded by an outer frame. A heat protection liner is provided between the outer frame and the inner container. The liner is formed of fibrous material, the outer portion of which has a high temperature resistance and the inner portion of which has high temperature insulative properties. A jamb having an irregular surface configuration bridges the outer frame rand the inner container. A closure member having an irregular undersurface portion, an underframe and fibrous material interposed .between the undersurface portion and unde-rframe is provided and is adapted formating relationship with the jamb, in a manner so that a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flow is provided between the closure and the jamb.

This invention relates to a container assembly, and more particularly, to a container assembly that is capable of" protecting the contents therein :from damage resulting from fire in the vicinity of the container.

This invention provides a container that is capable of storing'and protecting valuable documents and certificates from fire damage, and is relatively inexpensive yand light in weight. It also provides a container having a large useful volume in porportion to the overall dimensions of the assembly.

`Prior art tire-resistant containers, or lire-proof safes as they are commonly called, have been -found to be disadvantageous in certain respects. Although many fireproof safes have provided protection to the contents stored therein against destruction. by fire, the relatively high cost, high weight to volume ratio, `and small usable volume t0 overall dimensions ratio have been serious impediments to widespread use of such reproof safes in smaller offices and homes. Prior to this invention, these disadvantages were considered to be a necessary concomitant to adequate fire protection.

lOne of the major causes of the disadvantageous cost and construction of prior art safes is the insulation material that has been used to fill the space between the steel inner container and the steel outer frame of the fire-proof safe. The filling for prior art safe liners has generally included a cementitious or `dried slurry material which contains free and/ or combined water. The cementitious material absorbed heat, first by liberation of combined water and then lby vaporization of the liberated water; and the absorption of heat in this manner served to protect the contents of the container [from excessive temperature rise until 'all the water present was turned to steam. Once all the water was vaporized, the cementitious material became a very poor insulator and the interior temperatures of the safe rose rapidly. Since the cementitious mate-rial is dense and since large amounts of it had to be used to provide enough water to delay heat transfer for a reasonable length of time, it is easy to see why the prior art safes were necessarily heavy and thick-walled.

To partially compensate for the rapid heat rise in prior art safes after the Water was vlaporized and to avoid excessive pressure between the outer and inner walls, means were generally provided in such safes for venting the steam from the space between the Walls into the inner compartment. The high specific heat of the steam served ice to slow down the temperature rise in the inne'r'ciornpartment to some extent but produced ran additionaldisadvantage in that it Acaused some of the inks on the documents stored to run and thereby produced illegibility in the documents. 'v l i f 1 The container assemblyof the present invention obvi# ates the above-mentioned disadvantages of prior art fireproof safes. The illustrated embodiment lis up to lighter in weight than prior art fireproof safes having the same overall dimensions and its usa-ble volume is greater than the usable volume of prior art .reproof safes saving the same overall dimensions. The container assembly of the present invention is relatively inexpensive tov manufacture, and because of its low weight, is inexpensive to ship. Further, the container assembly of the present invention is constructed so that the venting of steam is generally unnecessary, thereby alleviating the danger of running ink as is present with prior art fireproof safes. In addition to these advantages, it affords fire protection that is comparable, and in some cases better, than the protection given by prior art fireproof safes. f

In accordance with the instant invention, a container assembly is provided which comprises an inner container and an outer frame enclosing a major portion of the assembly. A lheat protective liner is interposed between the outer frame and t-he inner container, which liner comprises fibrous material, at least the outer portion of which has a high temperature resistance and at least the inner portion of which has high temperature insulativeproperties. v

The container assembly further includes meansn forsecuring the inner container to a fixed position Within the outer frame, and a jamb which bridges the outer frame and the inner container. A closureV member is provided, which member is adapted for mating relationship with the jamb. The closure member' has an irregular undersurface portion which is adapted for engagement -wit-h an irregular surface of the jamb, so that a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat ow is providedbetween the closure and the jamb.

The closure member includes an outer frame, the irregular undersurftaoe portion, an underframe, and a heat protective liner interposed between the outer frame and the underframe. In a preferred embodiment of the inverttion, the irregular surface of the jamb and the irregular undersurface portion of the closure member are in a snug, mating relationship `so that the closure member is removable from the jamb only lin la direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the inner container lfacing the closure underframe,

In one form of the invention, the inner container of the assembly is formed of a high temperature resistant molded plastic composition, such as a glass fiber or vasbestos-filled polyester composition. The plastic inner con-` tainer is much lighter than the steel inner container utilized in prior art construction, and in additiondoes not require corrosion protection or painting for beauty.,

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims-and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially broken, ofy

a container assembly in accordance with the present invention, without the lid attached thereto; v

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of a con-l tainer assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a lid-connection system in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional elevation of a lid and jamb arrangement of a modified form of the present invention; and

FIGURE is a fragmentary perspective view, partially broken, of a file cabinet construction in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, a container lassembly is provided, having an outer frame 12 and' an inner container 14. Interposed between the outer frame 12 and the inner container 14 is a heat protective linen generally designated as 16. A jamb 18 is provided for -bridging`the outer frame 12 and the inner container 14.'

The container assembly includes a lid 20 comprising an outer frame 22, an underframe 24, and an undersurface portion 26 bridging the outer frame 22 and the underframe 24. The heat protective liner 16 is interposed between the lid outer frame 22 and the underframe 24.

From FIGURE 2 it is seen that the jamb 18 has an irregular surface configuration which closely conforms to the irregular configuration of the undersurface portion 26 of the lid 20. The jamb 18 and the undersurface portion 26 of the lid define a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flow.

The linear 16 comprises a first fibrous material 28 having a high temperature resistance, positioned adjacent the outer frame 12, and a second fibrous material 30 having high temperature insulative properties, positioned between the first fibrous material 28 and the inner container 14.

By providing

appropriate materials

28 and 30, a heat protective liner is formed having both high resistance to temperature and low thermal conductivity. To achieve this result, the material 28 is a .fibrous material having a high temperature resistance, such as a temperature resistance enabling it to withstand a temperature of at least 1700 Fahrenheit, and preferably a temperature of at least 2000 Fahrenheit, indefinitely. The material 30 has good temperature insulative properties at high temperatures and preferably a thermal conductivity factor of less than`0.65 B.t.u. inch per square foot per degree Fahrenheit per hour when measured at 1000 Fahrenheit. Of course, other things -being equal, the lower the thermal conductivity factor, the more preferable the material. In a specific embodiment, material 28 consists of a 1/2 inch thick layer of ceramic fiber, sold under the trade name Johns-Manville Cerafelt, having a density of 12 pounds per cubic foot. The material 30 consists of one inch thickness of glass fiber matte, which was sprayed with a one percent starch solution to provide bound moisture. Glass paper containing asbestos fiber is also satisfactory.

It is preferred that the fibrous material 28 -be between about 1A inch and about one inch in thickness and the fibrous material `be between about 1/2 inch and about 2/2 inches in thickness.

When a starch solution is utilized, there is some heat absorption due to latent heat of vaporization of the solution, but such absorption is not the principal mechanism for vretarding heat iiow and the system of the present invention is not dependent upon it. This permits materials to be used having inherently good thermal insulating properties, without relying upon the latent heat of vaporization as with prior art liners.

vIn the illustrated embodiment, the outer frame 12, lid outer frame 22, jamb 18 and lid undersurface 26 were formed of 20 gauge cold rolled steel (.035 inch in thickness). The inner container 1`4 is formed of 0.100 inch asbestos-filled polyester resin, which is molded to shape. The inner lcontainer 14 is suspended from the jamb 18 and is fastened thereto Iby means of suitable fastening members 32. It has -been found that suspending the plastic inner container from the steel jamb provides very effective resistance to heat flow, since no direct supports between the inner container and the outer frame are utilized. The lid underframe 24 also is composed 0f asbestos-filled polyester resin, which is 0.10 inch in thickaftosa@ 4 ness. The underframe 24 is secured to the lid undersurface 26 by means of screws. l

In a specific embodiment,` the outer frame 28 is 121/2 inches by 16 inches by 9 inches, and the inner container 14 is 91/2 inches by 13 inches by 6 inches.

The heat protective liner and the lid-jamb seal c0- operate to achieve a highly effective container assembly. Because of the relatively light weight of the lid of the instant invention due to the relatively light weight heat protective liner, it is possible to lift the lid in a direction that is perpendicular to the fbottom surface 34 Of inner container 14. In this manner the irregular configuration of jamb 18 can precisely conform with the irregular undersurface 26 so as to provide an excellent seal and hence an extremely narrow and tortuous path which impedes heat flow. This is in sharp contrast to prior art fireproof safe constructions, wherein hinged closure memlbers were necessary due to the great weight of the closure members, thereby requiring necessary space between the jamb and the closure for pivotal movement of the closure with respect to the jamb. Further, the excellent seal provided by the precise conformity of the irregular configuration of jamb 18 with the irregular undersurface 26 allows the use of a lesser amount of heat protective liner material than the amount needed in prior art fireproof safes.

In FIGURE 3 a connection of the lid 20 to the remainder of the container assembly is illustrated. It can be seen that a scissors-type hinge 40 is provided whereby the lid can be lifted from position a to position b and then pivoted about pivot 42 to position c for allowing access to the contents within the inner container 14. The scissors hinge 40 is connected to the frame 12 by fastener 44.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a modified construction wherein the lid 20 is pivotable about the pinle 46 of hinge 48. It can be seen that the jamb 18 is angled at 50 in order to provide a space for the undersurface 26 of the lid 20 to pivot. The hinged arrangement of FIGURE 4 is particularly useful where a perpendicularly removable lid would be inconvenient.

A fireproof file cabinet construction in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5. The file cabinet includes drawers 62 having conventional sliding means 64 connected to trays 65. The cabinet body 66 includes steel outer frame 12 and heat protective liner 16, which liner comprises first fibrous material 28 having a high temperature resistance and second fibrous material 30 having high thermal insulative properties. Common numerals in the various figures designateidentical materials.

An inner lining 14 is provided, and the outer frame 12 and inner lining 14 are bridged at the opening surface by a jamb 18. The drawers 62 each include an outer frame 22, an underframe 24, and an undersurface portion 26 bridging the outer frame 22 and the underframe 24. The heat protective liner 16 is interposed between the drawer outer frame 22 and the underframe 24. It can be seen that the undersurface portion 26 has a configura tion which closely conforms to the irregular configuration of the jamb 18 to define a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flow when the drawer is closed.

Because of the relative light weight of the materials used in the construction of a file cabinet as illustrated in FIGURE 5, it can be readily seen that a freproof file cabinet can now be manufactured with similar ease of handling as is conventional with prior art file cabinets not having fireproof properties. The drawers can be slid without difficulty and as a result of the rectilinear movement of the drawers with respect to the cabinet body it is possible to utilize conforming closure and jamb configurations having extremely close tolerances.

Although a few illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, it is clear that various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe instant invention. It is to be understood that no limitation is intended with respect to any dimensions or the position of the closure, other than as defined by the following claims.

Similarly, with respect to materials of construction, it is to be understood that substitutions may be made within the teachings ofk this invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the high temperature resistance material 28 may be made of slag fibers or quartz fibers in place of or in admixture with the ceramic fibers disclosed above. The material 30 of good high temperature insulation may be made of asbestos fibers in place of or in admixture with the glass fibers disclosed above. And both

materials

28 and 30 may be of woven construction, if desired, as well as the non-woven matte construction described above.

Although the heat protective liner 16 is usually made up of two separate

fibrous materials

28 and 30, as described above, it is within the purview of this invention to make a protective liner from a single fibrous material, provided that it has both the high temperature resistance of material 28 and the high temperature insulative properties of material 30. Fibrous potassium titanate is an example of a suitable material having both high temperature resistance properties and high temperature insulative properties. Although this material is inorganic, it is fibrous in nature having fiber lengths which may range from about microns or less to about 0.1 millimeter, or more. Fibrous potassium titanate may be formed into paper or into blocks with from 0-5% of a Suitable binder, such as calcium silicate and may provide, without any additional material, a suitable heat protective liner.

What is claimed is:

1. A container assembly which compirses: an outer frame enclosing a major portion of the assembly; an inner container; first heat protection means interposed between said outer frame and said inner container, said first protection means comprising fibrous material having outer and inner portions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistance and said inner portion having high temperature insulative properties; means for securing said inner container to a fixed position within said outer frame; a jamb bridging said outer frame and said inner container, said jamb having an irregular surface configuration; closure means adapted for mating relationship with said jamb, said closure means having an irregular surface configuration of said jamb whereby said irregular surface configuration and said irregular undersurface portion define a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flow; said closure means comprising an outer frame, said irregular undersurface portion, an underframe and second heat protection means interposed between said closure outer frame and said underframe; said second heat protection means comprising fibrous material having outer and inner portions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistance and said inner portion having high temperature insulative properties.

2. A container assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said inner container is formed of a high temperature resistant molded plastic composition.

3. A container assembly as described in claim 2, wherein said plastic composition comprise asbestos-filled polyester resin.

4. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said first and second heat protection means each consist of a fibrous material having a high temperature resistance and a fibrous material having high temperature insulative properties.

5. A container assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said high temperature resistant fibrous material of said yfirst and second heat protection means is between about 1A inch and about one inch in thickness and said high temperature insulative fibrous material of said first `and second heat protection means is between about 1/2 inch and about 21/2 inches in thickness.

6. A container assembly as described vin claim 4, wherein said high temperature resistant fibrous material of said first and second heat protection means comprises a refractory fiber that is about 1/2 inch in thickness and said high temperature insulative fibrous material of said first and second heat protection means is about one inch in thickness and comprises a glass matte composition.

7. A container assembly as described in claim 6, wherein said inner container comprises an asbestos-filled polyester resin.

8. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said irregular surface configuration and said irregular undersurface portion are in a snu-g mating relationship whereby said closure means is removable from said jamb only in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of said inner container that is facing said closure underframe.

9. A container assembly as described in claim 8, including means for movably connecting said closure means to the other portion off said container assembly.

10. A container assembly as described in claim 1, including means for securing said inner container to said jamb, whereby said inner container is suspended therefrom.

11. A container assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said high temperature resistant fibrous material of said first and second heat protection means has a temperature resist-ance enabling it to withstand a temperature of at least 11700" F.

12. A container assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said high temperature insulative fibrous material of said first and second heat protection means has a thermal conductivity of less than 0.65 B.t.u. inch per square foot per degree Fahrenheit per hour when measured at 1000 F.

13. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said outer portion of said first heat protection means is formed of =a material different from the material which forms said inner portion of said Ifirst heat protection means.

14. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said outer portion of said second heat protection means is tformed of a material different Ifrom the material which forms said inner portion of said second heat protection means.

15. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said outer and inner portions of said first heat protection means are formed of identical material.

16. A container assembly as described in claim I1, wherein said outer and inner portions of said second heat protection means are formed of identical material.

17. A file cabinet which comprises: an outer frame enclosing a major portion thereof; an inner lining; first heat protection means interposed between said outer frame and said inner lining, said first heat protection means comprising fibrous material having outer tand inner portions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistance and said inner portion having high temperature insulative properties; means for securing said inner lining to a vfixed position within said outer frame; a jamb bridging said outer frame and said inner lining, said jamb having an irregular surface configuration; a file drawer comprising a file carrying tray and closure means adapted for mating relationship with said jamb, said closure means having an irregular undersurface portion for engagement with said irregular surface configuration of said jamb whereby said irregular surface configuration and said irregular undersurfa-ce portion define a narrow, tortuoiis path resistive to heat how; said closure means comprising an outer frame, said irregular undersurface portion, an underframe and second heat protection means interposed between said closure outer iframe and said underframe; said second protection means comprising fibrous material having outer and inner portions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistance and said inner portion forslidabl'y connecting-,said drawerlto the-outerportion'r` of the iile cabinet.l

A'18. A' tile cabinet as described inv claim 17, whereinsaid' inner linin'g'is tformedv of a high temperature resistant molded plastic composition.

19.` AV file"cabinet as described in claim 17, lwherein said irregular `surface''configuration and said irregular u'ndersurfaceY portion are in a'snug mating relationship whereby said closure means is movable with respect to said jamb onlyy in a rectilinear direction. A'

"20. Alec-abinet as described in claim 17, wherein said first and second heat protection means each consist of: a'brous material having a high temperature resistancev and a fibrous material having high temperature' insulative properties.

21. A le cabinet -as described in claim 20, wherein said high temperature resistant librous material of said first and second heat protection means has a temperature resistance enabling it to `withstand a temperature of at least 1700 F.

22. A lile cabinet as described in claim 20, wherein said high temperature insulative tibrous material of said first and second heat protection means hasa thermal conductivity of less than 0.65 B.t.u. inch per square footper degree Fahrenheit per hour when measured Iat 1000 F.

23. A tile cabinet as described in claim 20, wherein said brous materials of said irst heat protection means are identical to said fibrous materials of said second heat protection means.

'A Y241; A' Iilfe "cabinet .'s"describ;e'd claim-"17, wherein said outer"portiriofsailhrst-healt p'rotectio'n means is formed offa material ditferent'ffrm'the material which formsksaid inner portion o'f` said"'rst heat protection meansf "l: l.

125. le cabinet as described clani 17, wherein said'outer portion of said"scorid"heat protection means is f ornied'fof'a'm'terial'fdiffrenfrom the material which -forms said; inner'p'r'tion offsad second-'heat protection 26. A tile. c'abifr1etA as' described claim 17,"wherein said outer and .inner'lportionsfo'f s'ai'dti'st heatlpr'otecti'riI means areformed 'of identical material.

27. A tile. cabinet asde'scriliellv i'riclaini 17,'wherein said outer and inner portions of said secon h'eat protection means Vare `formed of identical rn' a'terialijl i l I, i

ReferenesCited Y .UNIT.ED STATES PATENTS REINALo P. MACHADio. Primary A Exam'fger.