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United States Patent Application	20090159597
Kind Code	A1
Alexander; J. Byron ;   et al.	June 25, 2009

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Claims

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1. A flame retardant storage device, comprising:a plurality of flame retardant shells; each shell having upper and lower ends, front and back faces, and opposed sides; each shell defining an enclosed interior area and having a door for accessing said interior area; andcoupling elements attached to said shells to:(A) selectively maintain said shells one above another in a stacked configuration;(B) allow said shells to rotate relative to one another to selectively maintain respective back faces adjacent one another; and(C) allow said shells to separate from one another; andwherein at least one said shell has a hanger element with first and second portions, said first portion being lowerly adjacent said shell upper end and being configured to distribute a hanging force throughout said shell upper end, said second portion extending upwardly of said shell upper end and having an attachment configuration.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said second portion having an attachment configuration is a fixed hook configured to attach to a top end of a door.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said second portion having an attachment configuration is a rotatable hook configured to attach to a generally horizontal pole and rotate at least about ninety degrees relative to said first portion.

4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said first and second hanger element portions are selectively separable.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said coupling elements include zippers.

6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein at least one of a hook and loop fastener and a zipper selectively maintain said door at a closed configuration.

7. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising:a first handle portion adjacent said upper end of at least one said shell having a hanger element;a second handle portion adjacent at least one said shell lower end; andmeans for selectively coupling said first and second handle portions together.

8. The storage device of claim 7, wherein:at least one said shell having a first handle portion has a first clasp;at least one said shell having a second handle portion has a second clasp complementary to said first clasp, said first and second clasps being selectively coupled together.

9. The storage device of claim 8, further comprising a carrying strap removably coupled to at least one of a respective shell having a first handle portion and a respective shell having a second handle portion.

10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein:at least one said shell having at least one of a first handle portion and a second handle portion includes a retractable handle; anda plurality of wheels are adjacent at least one said shell back face adjacent a respective upper end or lower end.

11. The storage device of claim 10, wherein:said second portion having an attachment configuration is one of a fixed hook configured to attach to a top end of a door and a rotatable hook configured to attach to a generally horizontal pole and rotate at least about ninety degrees relative to said first portion;said first and second hanger element portions are selectively separable;said coupling elements include zippers; andat least one of a hook and loop fastener and a zipper selectively maintain said door at a closed configuration.

12. The storage device of claim 1, wherein:at least one said shell having a hanger element has a first clasp;at least one other said shell has a second clasp complementary to said first clasp, said first and second clasps being selectively coupled together;at least one said shell having at least one of said first clasp and said second clasp includes a retractable handle; anda plurality of wheels are adjacent at least one said shell back face adjacent a respective upper end or lower end.

13. A storage device, comprising:a plurality of shells; each shell having upper and lower ends, front and back faces, and opposed sides; each shell defining an enclosed interior area and having a door for accessing said interior area;means for:(A) selectively maintaining said shells one above another in a stacked configuration;(B) allowing said shells to rotate relative to one another to selectively maintain respective back faces adjacent one another; and(C) allowing said shells to separate from one another; anda plurality of wheels adjacent at least one said shell back face adjacent a respective upper end or lower end;wherein at least one said shell includes a retractable handle; andwherein at least one said shell has a hanger element with first and second portions, said first portion being lowerly adjacent said shell upper end and being configured to distribute a hanging force throughout said shell upper end, said second portion extending upwardly of said shell upper end and having an attachment configuration.

14. The storage device of claim 13, further comprising:a first handle portion adjacent said upper end of at least one said shell having a hanger element;a second handle portion adjacent at least one said shell lower end; andmeans for selectively coupling said first and second handle portions together.

15. The storage device of claim 14, wherein:at least one said shell having a first handle portion has a first clasp;at least one said shell having a second handle portion has a second clasp complementary to said first clasp, said first and second clasps being selectively coupled together.

16. The storage device of claim 15, further comprising a carrying strap removably coupled to at least one of a respective shell having a first handle portion and a respective shell having a second handle portion.

17. The storage device of claim 16, wherein:said second portion having an attachment configuration is one of:(A) a fixed hook configured to attach to a top end of a door; and(B) a rotatable hook configured to attach to a generally horizontal pole and rotate at least about ninety degrees relative to said first portion, whereby said shell rotates between a configuration extending generally perpendicular to said pole and a configuration extending generally parallel to said pole;said generally horizontal pole is a closet pole; andsaid shell has a generally rectangular cross section sized to fit inside a closet when said shell extends generally perpendicular to said closet pole.

18. The storage device of claim 17, wherein:said first and second hanger element portions are selectively separable;said coupling elements include zippers; andat least one of a hook and loop fastener and a zipper selectively maintain said door at a closed configuration.

19. A storage device, comprising:a plurality of shells; each shell having upper and lower ends, front and back faces, and opposed sides; each shell defining an enclosed interior area and having a door for accessing said interior area; at least one said shell having a hanger element with first and second portions;coupling elements attached to said shells to:(A) selectively maintain said shells one above another in a stacked configuration;(B) allow said shells to rotate relative to one another to selectively maintain respective back faces adjacent one another; and(C) allow said shells to separate from one another; anda first handle portion adjacent said upper end of at least one said shell having a hanger element;a second handle portion adjacent at least one said shell lower end; andmeans for selectively coupling said first and second handle portions together;wherein said hanger element first portion is lowerly adjacent said shell upper end and is configured to distribute a hanging force throughout said shell upper end, said hanger element second portion extending upwardly of said shell upper end and having an attachment configuration.

20. The storage device of claim 19, wherein:at least one said shell having a first handle portion has a first clasp; andat least one said shell having a second handle portion has a second clasp complementary to said first clasp, said first and second clasps being selectively coupled together.

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Description

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part application that claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/962,671 filed Dec. 21, 2007 and titled Flame Retardant Storage Device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]This invention relates to fireproof storage devices and, more particularly, to a storage device that may be hung on a door or in a closet and which is configured to store multiple documents and to protect them from the effects of flames.

[0003]People often choose to store important documents in a file cabinet for organizational reasons or even in a safe so as to keep them secure from intrusion. Document organizers, storage containers, or even safes are typically stored by sliding them under beds, stacked in a closet, or placed in larger containers like file cabinets, making storage a real problem. However, there is always a risk that such documents or other valuable articles may still become lost, stolen, or destroyed should the locations of the documents be burglarized, damaged, or exposed to a fire.

[0004]Various devices have been proposed in the art for storing documents in a fire retardant location. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices still present difficulty in storing large amounts of documents in a conveniently accessible configuration or in a manner that remains substantially out of the way or even hidden when not needed. Further, the existing devices do not provide store a large quantity of documents in a substantially fire retardant environment.

[0005]Therefore, it would be desirable to have a storage device having a slim but elongate configuration that may be hung from a door or closet pole such that it maximizes storage capacity without taking up floor space. Further, it would be desirable to have a storage device that remains durable and flexible while being flame retardant so as to prevent or at least delay damage to stored documents if the storage device is exposed to flames. In addition, it would be desirable to have a storage device in which each container portion may be selectively rotated or separated from the others such that the container may be configured as a portable storage device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]Therefore, a flame retardant storage device according to the present invention includes a flame retardant shell having upper and lower ends, front and back faces, and opposed sides. The shell defines an enclosed interior area and includes at least one access door for accessing the interior area. The storage device also includes a hanger element having a first portion lowerly adjacent the shell upper end and being configured to distribute a hanging force throughout the shell upper end. The hanger element includes a rotatable hook operatively coupled to the first portion and extends upwardly of the shell upper end. Further, the hanger element includes a fixed hook operatively coupled to the first portion and extends upwardly of the shell upper end. The fixed hook is configured to attach to a top end of a door.

[0007]The rotatable hook is configured to attach to a generally horizontal pole--such as a closet clothes-hanging pole--and rotate at least about ninety degrees relative to the first portion, whereby the shell rotates between a configuration extending generally perpendicular to the pole and a configuration extending generally parallel to the pole.

[0008]According to another embodiment of the invention, the storage device includes a plurality of shells with each shell having upper and lower ends, front and back faces, and opposed sides. Each shell defines an enclosed interior area and having a door for accessing the interior area. The shells are selectively maintained one above another in a stacked configuration. The shells are allowed to rotate relative to one another so as to selectively maintain respective back faces adjacent one another. The shells are able to separate from one another. A plurality of wheels are adjacent at least one shell back face adjacent a respective upper end or lower end. At least one shell includes a retractable handle. At least one shell includes a hanger element configured to distribute a hanging force throughout the shell upper end.

[0009]Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device for storing a relatively large quantity of documents in an easily accessible manner.

[0010]Another object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device, as aforesaid, that includes a hanging element that enables the device to be hung from a door or closet pole.

[0011]Still another object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device, as aforesaid, having a construction that is flexible, durable, and flame retardant.

[0012]Yet another object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device, as aforesaid, that is rotatable while hanging between storage and access configurations.

[0013]A further object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device, as aforesaid, that is cost-effective to manufacture.

[0014]A still further object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device, as aforesaid, in which a plurality of shells are selectively rotatable relative to one another such that various back faces may be configured adjacent one another for use as a portable storage device.

[0015]Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flame retardant storage device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 1 with the access doors in an open configuration;

[0018]FIG. 3a is another perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 3b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the storage device taken from FIG. 3a, illustrating the access door in a closed configuration;

[0020]FIG. 3c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the storage device taken from FIG. 3a, illustrating the access door in an open configuration and using a zipper fastener;

[0021]FIG. 4a is another perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 4b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 4a with the access door in an open configuration and in use with a hook and loop fastener;

[0023]FIG. 5a is another perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 5b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 5a with a rotatable hook in a first position; and

[0025]FIG. 5c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 5a with a rotatable hook in a second position.

[0026]FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a flame retardant storage device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 6b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 6a;

[0028]FIG. 6c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from another portion of FIG. 6a;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 6a in a folded configuration;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 7 with a handle in an extended configuration;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 7 with a carrying strap in an extended configuration;

[0032]FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the storage device as in FIG. 8;

[0033]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pair of shells separated from the other shells;

[0034]FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the pair of shells as in FIG. 11 in a folded configuration;

[0035]FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the storage device as in FIG. 6a; and

[0036]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the pair of shells as in FIG. 11 in use storing an object.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037]A flame retardant storage device 100 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5c of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, according to the current invention, a flame retardant storage device 100 includes a flame retardant shell 110 and a hanger element 130.

[0038]As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shell 110 has upper and lower ends 112a, 112b, front and back faces 114a, 114b, and opposed sides 116a, 116b. The shell 110 defines an enclosed interior area 118 and has at least one door 120 for accessing the interior area 118. The door 120 may be a flap having three sides 122 selectively coupled to the shell front face 114a. A zipper 124 (FIG. 3c) and/or a hook and loop fastener 126 (FIG. 4b) selectively maintain the three sides 122 coupled to the shell front face 114a (FIG. 1) (i.e., at a closed configuration). The shell 110 may be constructed of a durable material that is resistant to fire or coated with a substance that provides fire resistant properties; exemplary materials that may be used include Nomex, Modacrylic, and/or Twaron.

[0039]The enclosed area 118 may include a plurality of compartments 119, as shown in FIG. 2. The compartments 119 may each be accessed through a respective door 120, and the compartments 119 may be arranged whereby at least one compartment 119 is upwardly adjacent another compartment 119. In one embodiment, at least one compartment is sized to receive paperwork.

[0040]The hanger element 130 has a first portion 132 (FIG. 2) lowerly adjacent the shell upper end 112a. The first portion 132 is configured to distribute a hanging force throughout the shell upper end 112a. A rotatable hook 134 may be operatively coupled to the first portion 132 so that the rotatable hook 134 extends upwardly of the shell upper end 112a, and the rotatable hook 134 may be configured to attach to a generally horizontal pole (e.g., a closet pole) and rotate at least about ninety degrees relative to the first portion 132 (FIGS. 5b and 5c). A fixed hook 136 (FIG. 2) may be operatively coupled to the first portion 132 so that the fixed hook 136 extends upwardly of the shell upper end 112a, and the fixed hook 136 may be configured to attach to a top end of a door (not shown).

[0041]In use, the hanger element 130 may be used to attach the shell 110 to a door or a pole (e.g., a closet pole). More particularly, the fixed hook 136 may be placed over the top end of a door to attach the shell 110 to the door, or the rotatable hook 134 may be placed over the pole to attach the shell 110 to the pole. If both the rotatable hook 134 and the fixed hook 136 are provided, the shell 110 may at times be attached to the door and at other times be attached to the closet pole. The door(s) 120 may be opened using the zipper 124 (FIG. 3c) and/or the hook and loop fastener 126 (FIG. 4b) to access the enclosed area 118 (e.g., the compartments 119). If a compartment 119 is sized to receive paperwork as noted above, paperwork may easily and securely be placed in the compartment 119. It should be understood, however, that other items may also or alternately be received in the compartments 119. Once the items are placed in the compartments 119, the doors 120 may be closed by again using the respective zipper 124 and/or hook and loop fastener 126.

[0042]As shown in FIG. 1, the shell 110 may have a generally rectangular cross section when viewed from above. In one embodiment, this cross section of the shell 110 is sized to fit inside a closet when the rotatable hook 134 is attached to the closet pole and the shell 110 extends generally perpendicular to the closet pole. Such a configuration may allow the storage device 100 to take up minimal room in a closet when not in use. To access the compartments 119 as discussed above, the hanger element first portion 132 may rotate at least about ninety degrees relative to the rotatable hook 134, causing the shell 110 to rotate between the configuration extending generally perpendicular to the closet pole (FIG. 5b) and a configuration extending generally parallel to the pole (FIG. 5c).

[0043]Another embodiment of a storage device 600 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6a through 14 of the accompanying drawings. The storage device 600 may include the elements and features discussed above, and common elements/features may be referred to herein and in the drawings by the same reference numbers set forth above and in FIGS. 1 through 5c.

[0044]As shown in FIGS. 6a and 13, the device 600 has a plurality of shells 110, and each shell 110 has upper and lower ends 112a, 112b, front and back faces 114a, 114b, opposed sides 116a, 116b, an enclosed interior area 118, and a door 120 for accessing the interior area 118. Each shell 110 may further be resistant to fire, as set forth above.

[0045]At least one shell 110 in the storage device 600 has a hanger element 130. The hanger element 130 may be substantially similar to the hanger element 130 set forth above, and, as set forth above, each shell 110 may have a generally rectangular cross section sized to fit inside a closet when the shell 110 extends generally perpendicular to the closet pole. However, it may be especially beneficial for the hanger element 130 in the storage device 600 to have a second portion (i.e., rotatable hook 134 or fixed hook 136) that is selectively separable from the first portion 132.

[0046]Means are included for selectively maintaining the shells 110 one above another in a stacked configuration (FIG. 6a), allowing the shells 110 to rotate relative to one another to selectively maintain respective back faces 114b adjacent one another (FIGS. 7 through 10 and FIG. 12), and allowing the shells 110 to separate from one another (FIG. 13). For example, a zipper 602 (FIG. 6c) or other coupling element (e.g., clasps, buckles, etc.) may be attached to the shells 110 (i.e., at the upper and lower ends 112a, 112b), and the coupling element may be used to maintain the different configurations. With zipper 602, the zipper 602 may travel around the shells 110 to couple the front faces 114a of adjacent shells 110 together and couple the back faces 114b of adjacent shells 110 together to achieve the stacked configuration (FIG. 6a), the zipper 602 may travel along the back faces 114b of the adjacent shells 110 (and not along the front faces 114a) to couple the back faces 114b together and achieve the rotated configuration (FIGS. 7 through 10 and FIG. 12), and the zipper 602 may be used to separate the shells 110 from one another (FIG. 13).

[0047]As shown in FIGS. 6a and 11, a first handle portion 610 is adjacent the upper end 112a of at least one shell 110 and a second handle portion 612 is adjacent the lower end 112b of at least one other shell 110. Means (e.g., snaps 615 shown in FIG. 6a, ties, or other fasteners) may be included for selectively coupling the first and second handle portions 610, 612 together (FIGS. 7, 9, 10, and 12). In some embodiments, each shell upper end 112a has a first handle portion 610, and each shell lower end 112b has a second handle portion 612. At least one shell 110 having a first handle portion 610 has a first clasp 620, and at least one shell 110 having a second handle portion 612 has a second clasp 622 that is complementary to the first clasp 620. As shown in FIGS. 7 through 10 and FIG. 12, the first and second clasps 620, 622 may be selectively coupled together to help maintain the respective back faces 114b adjacent one another. A carrying strap 625 may be removably coupled to at least one shell 110 that has a first handle portion 610 or a second handle portion 612, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0048]As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, at least one shell 110 that has a first handle portion 610 or a second handle portion 612 includes a retractable handle 630, and a plurality of wheels 635 are adjacent at least one shell back face 114b adjacent a respective upper end 112a or lower end 112b.

[0049]In use, the zipper 602 (FIG. 6c) or other coupling element may maintain the shells 110 one above another in a stacked configuration (FIG. 6a), as set forth above, and the storage device 600 may be used substantially similar to the storage device 100. FIG. 14 shows objects (an exemplary laptop computer 690 and padding 692, though it should be understood that various objects may be appropriate) being moved to/from an interior area 118. For transport, the zipper 602 or other coupling element may allow the shells 110 to rotate relative to one another, as set forth above, to allow respective back faces 114 to be adjacent one another, as shown in FIGS. 7 through 10 and FIG. 12. Once the respective back faces 114 are adjacent one another, the first and second clasps 620, 622 may be selectively coupled together to help maintain the respective back faces 114b adjacent one another. The first and second handle portions 610, 612 may also be coupled together to provide a unitary handle, and the carrying strap 625 (FIG. 9) may be attached and used if desired.

[0050]If the retractable handle 630 and wheels 635 are included, the retractable handle 630 may be extended (see FIGS. 8 and 10) and the wheels 635 may be used to transport the shells 110. Part or all of the hanger element 130 may be removed for transport, as is clear from comparing FIG. 6a and FIG. 10. If every shell 110 does not include first and second clasps 620, 622 and first and second handle portions 610, 612, a respective shell 110 with a first clasp 620 and a first handle portion 610 should be positioned at the top of the stack, and a respective shell 110 with a second clasp 622 and a second handle portion 612 should be positioned at the bottom of the stack (FIG. 6a).

[0051]The zipper 602 or other coupling element may allow the shells 110 to separate from one another (FIG. 13), as set forth above, which may allow more or fewer shells 110 to be coupled together. For example, while FIGS. 6a through 10 show four shells 110 to be coupled together, only two shells 110 are coupled together in FIGS. 11, 12, and 14. Separation may also allow a single shell 110 to be used alone. From the description set forth herein, it should be apparent that the storage device 600 may be substantially more mobile than the storage device 100.

[0052]It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

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