The present invention relates to fire-rated file cabinets; and more particularly, to a split-bodied insulated cavity for providing local fire-rated space within an otherwise non-fire-rated file cabinet.
Fire-rated file cabinets are well known. Existing fire-rated file cabinets typically comprise a double-walled blow-molded outer housing that defines one or more openings for a file cabinet drawer to be slidably disposed therein. The outer housing globally surrounds the entire file storage space within the cabinet, and therefore requires that a large amount of fire-resistant insulation positioned within an insulation space formed between the blow-molded walls. In addition, the front of the file cabinet drawers may also be blow-molded to include a double-wall defining an insulation space that is filled with fire-resistant insulation to provide fire resistance to the front of the file cabinet drawer when the drawer is in a closed position. While existing fire-rated cabinets are effective at protecting the documents contained therein from fire for a certain period of time, they suffer from a number of drawbacks and deficiencies.
Some of the drawbacks of existing fire-rated file cabinets is that they are expensive to manufacture, heavy, and difficult to move. These drawbacks stem from the fact that a substantial amount of fire-resistant insulation is used to fill the insulation space of the outer housing, which extends around all of the file cabinet drawers. In use, this globally-protected volume may be substantially larger than the local volume or volumes required to protect the actual items to be stored in the file cabinet. In some instances, only a single file drawer of an entire file cabinet may require fire protection.
As such, there is a need for a fire-rated file cabinet that is less expensive to manufacture. There is also a need for a fire-rated file cabinet that uses less fire-resistant insulation. There is a further need for a fire-rated file cabinet that provides a local fire-rated space within an otherwise non-fire-rated file cabinet. The present invention addresses these needs as well as other needs.
Briefly described, a split-bodied fire-insulated cavity in accordance with the present invention comprises first and second fire-insulated cavity portions for installation into a file cabinet and a mating file drawer assembly, respectively. Preferably, an open-ended storage box for receiving items to be protected against fire and water damage is disposed within the second cavity portion. The storage box is fully accessible when the file drawer assembly is in an open position because the mating interface between the first and second cavity portions may extend diagonally therebetween. When the file drawer assembly is moved to a closed position, the first and second cavity portions mate along the interface to define a fire-resistant and a water-resistant space within the file cabinet, wherein the storage box is positioned within such space to protect the contents being stored therein. Thus, the present invention provides a local fire-rated space within the file cabinet thereby reducing substantially the weight of the file cabinet and cost of protecting contents located within the file cabinet compared to existing fire-rated file cabinets.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein:
The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to
In accordance with the present invention, at least one of first and second drawer assemblies 22a, 22b is equipped with split-bodied fire-resistant cavities 24a, 24b to provide localized protection for items stored within file cabinet 10. Each split-bodied fire-resistant cavity 24a, 24b comprises first and second cavity portions 26a, 26b that are configured to be joined together to protect the contents stored within file cabinet 10 from fire when the respective drawer assembly 22a, 22b is in a closed position. As best seen in
As best seen in
In addition, an open-ended storage box 46 may be positioned within second cavity portion 26b to allow for papers, files, or other items to be stored therein. Storage box 46 may be formed of sheet metal, plastic, or some other suitable material that has storage capabilities. Second cavity portion 26b is configured to partially surround storage box 46 so that the inside of storage box 46 is accessible when drawer assembly 22a, 22b is in an open position. However, when drawer assembly 22a, 22b is moved to a closed position, as best seen in
As best seen in
By providing a file cabinet including a split-bodied fire-resistant cavity in at least one of its file drawer assemblies, numerous advantages are realized. For example, the amount of thermally resistive insulation material that is necessary to protect the contents of the file drawer assembly is substantially less than in the prior art because the need to globally protect the entire housing of the file cabinet is eliminated. The split-bodied fire-resistant cavity allows for the selective use of fire protection for one of the file drawer assemblies, for example, where the other drawer assemblies in the file cabinet are not protected from fire, thereby reducing the amount of insulation material that is needed to manufacture the file cabinet. The present invention is not only less expensive to manufacture because it uses less fire-resistant insulation than in the prior art, but it also provides a local fire-rated space within an otherwise non-fire-rated file cabinet.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
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