Storage Device
A 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.
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 INVENTIONThis 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.
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.
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.
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 INVENTIONTherefore, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A further object of this invention is to provide a fire retardant storage device, as aforesaid, that is cost-effective to manufacture.
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.
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.
A flame retardant storage device 100 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
The enclosed area 118 may include a plurality of compartments 119, as shown in
The hanger element 130 has a first portion 132 (
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 (
As shown in
Another embodiment of a storage device 600 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
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.
Means are included for selectively maintaining the shells 110 one above another in a stacked configuration (
As shown in
As shown in
In use, the zipper 602 (
If the retractable handle 630 and wheels 635 are included, the retractable handle 630 may be extended (see
The zipper 602 or other coupling element may allow the shells 110 to separate from one another (
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.
Claims
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; and
- 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; and
- wherein 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; and
- means 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; and
- a 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; and
- at 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; and
- a 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; and
- a 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; and
- wherein 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; and
- means 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; and
- said 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; and
- at 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; and
- 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; and
- means 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; and
- 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.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2009
Inventors: J. Byron Alexander (Berkeley Lake, GA), Carolyn Marlow Alexander (Berkeley Lake, GA)
Application Number: 12/270,025
International Classification: B65D 6/18 (20060101); B65D 25/22 (20060101); B65D 25/28 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);