Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIRE CONTAINMENT CASE FOR PORTABLE BATTERY OPERATED ELECTRONIC
DEVICES
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to heat and fire containment enclosures used
to isolate a fire event in electrical equipment that may be subject to rapid
intense combustion due to malfunction of the electrical system. Such portable
equipment fires may be difficult to control and extinguish given the nature of
the
burning battery that burns at a high temperature with its own oxidation agent
emitting nauseous fumes. Such fires cannot be easily extinguished and must
typically be allowed to burn themselves out of their own accord.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Prior art devices of this type are typically directed to room or
cabinet enclosures positioned around electronic equipment in case of fire.
Such enclosures are primarily used to protect the equipment from fire rather
than to contain and control the fire in the equipment. An example of a
fireproof
or resistant enclosure in a related venue would be a fireproof or resistant
filing
cabinet that will keep the contents of the cabinet safe from fire for a
determined time period at a given maximum temperature. See for example U.S.
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Patents 4,685,402, 6,158,833, 7,232,197, 7,545,639 and U.S. Publication
2009/0014188 Al.
[0005] Patent 4,685,402 is directed to a fire resistant cabinet for storing
easily damaged electronic data storage material which is essentially a safe
like
configuration having insulated interior sidewalls to resist fire from the
outside, thus
keeping the contents presumably safe.
[0006] Patent 6,158,833 claims a fire resistant computer storage apparatus
which is a thermally insulated cabinet providing protection for electronic
data
storage device from accidental and environmental conditions. The cabinet has
lo multiple layers of fire resistant and heat dissipation insulation
material to provide
storage for data positioned within on electronic readable means.
[0007] Patent 7,232,197 illustrates a fire safety electronic data storage
protection device which is a cabinet to store electronic data such as zip
drives
or CD ROM storage and is of a fireproof configuration to prevent damage to the
fire that would occur within the facility thus maintaining the integrity of
backup
copies stored within.
[0008] Patent 7,545,639 is directed to a fireproof container with heat
activated closure panel in which a heat sensitive activation panel is provided
to
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automatically close over vent holes within the container restricting airflow
therewithin. The container is designed to store hard drives and the like and
upon exterior temperature reaching a predetermined condition will close
sealing the fireproof container with its contents therewithin.
[0009] Finally in U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0014188 describes a device
for containing ignited electrical equipment specifically electronic devices
with
lithium ion batteries. The enclosure is formed of material that is capable of
withstanding heat and is of a fabric nature with a flap configuration for its
openings so that once the item is placed inside the flap is closed thus
containing
io the device within. Additionally, a pair of fire resistant and heat
temperature
gloves are provided for allowing the individual to grasp and insert the device
within the flexible fabric pouch.
[0010] There is, therefore, a need for a safe and secure sealing retainment
retention system for small intense fires that occur in such portable
electronic
is equipment such as laptop computers, cell phones, MP3 players, or the
like
utilizing battery as their primary power source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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[0011] A fire containment case for selectively receiving and securing a
portable electronic device and their batteries in the event of fire. The case
provides an easy access airtight sealing closure for receipt and containment
of
the device. The case being of heat resistance construction to contain and
control products of combustion from a device so involved. An integrated filter
canister and optional vacuum canister in communication with the case
equipment receiving interior absorbs and contains combustion fumes and
gases. Case containment insulation can be of both an active thermal insulation
and/or passive to maintain case integrity. External temperature gauge and fire
suppression may be provided with external access fittings, pressure gauge and
gas vents if necessary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Figure 1 is a graphic perspective view of the primary containment
case of the invention.
[0013] Figure 2 is a front elevational and partial sectional view of the
containment case construction showing alternate features associated therewith
in broken lines.
[0014] Figure 3 is a section on lines 3-3 of figure 2.
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[0015] Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.
[0016] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an equipment transport container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring now to figure 1 of the drawings, a fire containment case
10 of the invention can be seen for receiving electronic equipment (not shown)
that is on fire. The containment case 10 has a main exterior housing 12
defined
of a base portion 13 and a hinge closure portion 14 having hinge assemblies
14A. The exterior housing 12 is preferably of a rectangular configuration of a
known size and dimension to accommodate and receive a variety of portable
lo electronic equipment therewithin. An airtight sealing gasket
configuration 15 is
provided and formed by the respective perimeter engagement flanges 13A
and 13B of the base and closure portions 13 and 14 as will be well understood
by those skilled in the art.
[0018] A common latch system 16 assures closure portion 14 retainment
and secures the housing 12 with a sealing gasket assembly 15 and will be
described in greater detail with alternate forms hereinafter.
[0019] In the primary form of the invention, an internal equipment
receiving case 17 is formed within the exterior case housing 12 of the case 10
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with thermal flame retardant insulation 18 infilling between the internal
receiving
case 17 and the exterior housing 12. An equipment receiving and
transportation container 19, as best seen in figure 5 of the drawings is
generally
of a rectangular configuration having a receiving base panel 19A with
upstanding interconnected side and end walls 20A and 20B and 20C
respectively. An integral top panel 21 forms an equipment transport receiving
area 22 therewithin. The sidewalls 20A and 20B are tapered at their respective
opening defined by the enclosure forming in essence a side edge scoop
therein. A collapsible wire handle assembly 23 is secured to the top panel 21
which will allow for user's grasp and lifting for engaging and receiving
electronic
equipment while on fire. The transportation container 19 is of an overall
dimension less than that of the receiving case 17 with optional spacer tabs
21A
extending from the exterior of the side wall 20A so as to be slidably received
therewithin and spaced same associate to the interior thereof as illustrated
in
solid and broken lines in figure 2 of the drawings.
[0020] The thermal insulation 18 hereinbefore described may be of a
passive static material chosen from a variety of thermal insulation materials
currently available commercially or alternately of an active thermal material
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18A as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings. Such an active thermal
insulation
material has a phase charged change material based on inorganic salts that
absorb heat and therefore help maintain the outer case temperature of the
containment case housing 12. Such phase change insulation materials are
commercially marketed, for example, by PCM Energy Ltd.
[0021] The containment case 10 of the invention has a gas and fume
collection filter and retainment system 24 in communication with the interior
of
the internal equipment receiving case 17. The gas and fume system 24 in this
example is positioned in the hinge insulated closure portion 14 and may have
multiple filter zones including, for example, an initial particle filter 24A,
a gas
fume filter 24B and an optional chemical zone filter 24C to collect and retain
dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and cyanide that may result from
the burning of synthetic resin based materials during combustion. The filter
system 24 then vents treated gases to atmosphere at 25.
[0022] The addition of an evacuation gas canister 26 may be used as an
alternate to the filter under negative pressure to collect the gases expelled
by
the burning electronic devices, not shown, sealed within the equipment
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receiving case 17 within the containment case 10 as illustrated in broken
lines in
figure 2 of the drawings as an alternate gas collection system.
[0023] Given the varied nature of fire control and extinguish materials
available, an optional valve fitting 27 is provided allowing for direct
communication with the equipment receiving chamber 17 affording the
selective input of such fire fighting materials as HaIon, flame retardant foam
from an outside supply source indicated by broken lines and the letters OS
thereby filling the case 17 receiving area and displacing gas combustion
products via the hereinbefore described venting filters.
[0024] An auxiliary fire suppression system 28 can be seen in figure 2 of the
drawings having a water injection fitting 29 extending through the insulated
closure portion 14 of the case 10 in communication with the equipment
receiving case 17. A water bottle WB, shown in broken lines can therefore be
attached to the water injection fitting 29 and manually expelled by manual
compression into the case 17.
[0025] As an additional alternate fire suppression venue, an alternate
canister dispenser 30 of thermal insulating fire retardant foam that would be
activated once the case is closed during active use in the presence of burning
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equipment positioned therewithin. Such firefighting foam is released into the
respective equipment receiving case 17 to effectively control gases and
temperature and extinguish the fire and is illustrated in broken lines as an
alternate suppression system in figure 2 of the drawings in the closure
portion 14.
[0026] As noted, the alternate containment case 10 insulation 18A can
be seen in a portion of figure 2 of the drawings which illustrates, as noted,
the
positioning of the thermal phase change material insulation 18A against the
inside surface S of the exterior housing 12 with a layer of conventional flame
proof insulation 18B. Additionally, a flame proof liner 31 surrounds the
interior
io receiving chamber defined by the case 17.
[0027] The sealing gasket assembly 15 is defined by the pair of elongated
contoured continuous integrated engagement flanges 13A and 14A extending
respectively about the open end edges of the base portion 13 and closure
portion 14, as noted. In this example, an 0-ring gasket 32 is fitted within a
channel therein and provides an airtight seal therebetween when engaged
and secured by the latch assembly 16, as noted. It will be evident to those
skilled in the art that an alternate sealing gasket material can be used, such
as a
graphite material gasket well within the doctrine of the art. The latch system
16
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of the case 10 being identified as a so-called butterfly twist catch latches
to
maintain an airtight pressure tight seal between the closure 14 and the base
portion 13, as described. The case housing 12 construction is preferably
defined
as heat resistant synthetic resin as wherein an interior wall of the
retainment case
17 is of preferably aluminum material with an increase interior and exterior
dimensions respectively over that of the primary dimension formed so as
herein before described as to be sufficient to receive and hold electronic
equipment in question.
[0028] The addition of a digital temperature gauge 33 to indicate the
internal temperature of the case 17 for confirmation as to the status and
removal of the combustion contents may be provided as shown in broken lines
in the closure portion 14.
[0029] It will be evident from the above description that other fire
containment and extinguishing systems may also be enabled within the
is parameters of the containment case configuration of the invention.
[0030] In any such device fires, it would be self-evident that the possibility
of the battery (not shown) within the electronic equipment (not shown) could
be removed within the scope of one skilled in the art and independently
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contained within the containment case 17 configuration for the invention as
hereinbefore described. The isolation of the battery independent of the
device,
if possible, provides a more direct fire containment parameter and would, as
noted, be only available in certain situations or in battery condition events
of
impending combustion which could cover a wide range of potential
combustible events.
[0031] It will thus be seen that a new and novel fire containment case for
portable electronic equipment has been illustrated and described and it will
be
apparent to those skilled within the art that various changes and
modifications
may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0032] Therefore I claim:
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