Abstract: A thermally and structurally optimized disaster resistant housing for a vertically stacked array of computer digital data storage devices such as hard drives is provided. An external, fire resistant housing has an internally mounted water resistant enclosure for the array. The water resistant enclosure includes a plurality of much thicker plates than known which significantly increase dissipation of heat and simultaneously greater increase the crush and impact load resistance of the device. An automatic method is also provided for producing complex molded gypsum or cement components.

Abstract: A thermally and structurally optimized disaster resistant housing for a vertically stacked array of computer digital data storage devices such as hard drives is provided. An external, fire resistant housing has an internally mounted water resistant enclosure for the array. The water resistant enclosure includes a plurality of much thicker plates than known which significantly increase dissipation of heat and simultaneously greater increase the crush and impact load resistance of the device. An automatic method is also provided for producing complex molded gypsum or cement components.

Abstract: A low cost, water resistant, rugged and enclosed portable digital data storage device is provided. A two piece enclosure includes a monolithic housing and a cover, both preferably metallic. A passageway is formed in a side wall of the enclosure for plugging an external power and data line into an internal connector which extends into or adjacent the passageway. A liquid water resistant epoxy is applied over the internal connector and adjacent the passageway prior to applying the cover. The result is a low cost, water resistant enclosure with water resistant passageway for power and data lines that remains water resistant whether the external power and data lines are connected to the digital data storage device or not. A fire resistant docking station is also provided, into which the portable data storage device may be easily connected to a primary computer for transferring data.

Abstract: A disaster resistant server enclosure is provided. A fire resistant outer enclosure is provided, and may be made of gypsum. A water resistant, thermally conductive container is mounted within the outer enclosure. A server is mounted within the water resistant container. A cold thermal storage device, such as a block of ice, is also mounted within an insulating cover inside said outer enclosure. When a fire is sensed outside the outer enclosure, an actuator thermally connects the cold thermal storage device to the water resistant container to cool the server during the fire.

Abstract: A cost effective method of preventing disaster induced data loss in digital data storage devices without requiring the use of a data backup service is provided. A fire resistant and water resistant digital data storage device is sold by a manufacturer to a customer wherein the customer pays an upfront payment competitive with the cost of a digital data storage device that is not fire or water resistant. A portion of the purchase price is allocated to monthly payments to be paid by the customer to the manufacturer for a data recovery service if the device is damaged by fire or water; monthly payments for the recovery service being competitive with the cost of a backup service.

Abstract: A disaster resistant server enclosure is provided. A fire resistant outer enclosure is provided, and may be made of gypsum. A water resistant, thermally conductive container is mounted within the outer enclosure. A server is mounted within the water resistant container. A cold thermal storage device, such as a block of ice, is also mounted within an insulating cover inside said outer enclosure. When a fire is sensed outside the outer enclosure, an actuator thermally connects the cold thermal storage device to the water resistant container to cool the server during the fire.

Abstract: A low cost, water resistant, rugged and enclosed portable digital data storage device is provided. A two piece enclosure includes a monolithic housing and a cover, both preferably metallic. A passageway is formed in a side wall of the enclosure for plugging an external power and data line into an internal connector which extends into or adjacent the passageway. A liquid water resistant epoxy is applied over the internal connector and adjacent the passageway prior to applying the cover. The result is a low cost, water resistant enclosure with water resistant passageway for power and data lines that remains water resistant whether the external power and data lines are connected to the digital data storage device or not. A fire resistant docking station is also provided, into which the portable data storage device may be easily connected to a primary computer for transferring data.

Abstract: A fire and/or water resistant enclosure is provided for housing an operable digital data storage device. The enclosure is a low cost, preferably molded gypsum enclosure having various embodiments for providing resistance to fire occurring outside said enclosure and/or to water. In one embodiment, a fan cooperates with one or more hatchless ventilation passageways to cool the digital data storage device. Another embodiment provides a water resistant pouch surrounding the data storage device which may be made of flexible foil or of finned relatively robust and non-flexible thermal conductor. The enclosure in some embodiments utilizes a fan and in some embodiments operates without a fan. Similarly, the enclosure in some embodiments utilizes movable hatches and in other embodiments is hatchless in design.

Abstract: A disaster resistant data storage module is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the module is sized to fit into a standard drive bay inside the chassis of a personal computer or server. Standard sized hard drives may be utilized. For example a 2.5 inch standard hard drive may be placed in a protective enclosure which is in turn sized to fit in a standard 3.5 inch drive bay. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a highly reflective exterior surface or coating which reflects radiant energy from a fire but which simultaneously conducts heat generated by a data storage device carried within the module.

Abstract: A fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for an operable computer digital data storage device is provided. The enclosure has walls made of gypsum or concrete and, in one embodiment, has two small ventilation openings which remain open during normal operation of the digital data storage device and during the presence of fire. This embodiment has no moving parts. In the presence of fire, air and superheated steam from inside the enclosure expand and flow outwardly through the ventilation passageways. As those gases flow outwardly, they simultaneously block or prevent the transfer of heat from the exterior fire inwardly through those passageways. A water resistant pouch or coating surrounding the storage device prevents damage from flood, water, steam generated by the insulation or smoke from passing through said passageways and damaging the storage device.

Abstract: A fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for an operable computer digital data storage device is provided. The enclosure has walls made of gypsum or concrete and, in one embodiment, has two small ventilation openings which remain open during normal operation of the digital data storage device and during the presence of fire. This embodiment has no moving parts. In the presence of fire, air and superheated steam from inside the enclosure expand and flow outwardly through the ventilation passageways. As those gases flow outwardly, they simultaneously block or prevent the transfer of heat from the exterior fire inwardly through those passageways. A water resistant pouch or coating surrounding the storage device prevents damage from flood, water, steam generated by the insulation or smoke from passing through said passageways and damaging the storage device.

Abstract: A disaster resistant data storage module is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the module is sized to fit into a standard drive bay inside the chassis of a personal computer or server. Standard sized hard drives may be utilized. For example a 2.5 inch standard hard drive may be placed in a protective enclosure which is in turn sized to fit in a standard 3.5 inch drive bay. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a highly reflective exterior surface or coating which reflects radiant energy from a fire but which simultaneously conducts heat generated by a data storage device carried within the module.

Abstract: A fire and/or water resistant enclosure is provided for housing an operable digital data storage device. The enclosure is a low cost, preferably molded gypsum enclosure having various embodiments for providing resistance to fire occurring outside said enclosure and/or to water. In one embodiment, a fan cooperates with one or more hatchless ventilation passageways to cool the digital data storage device. Passageways in the gypsum walls are sized to be sufficiently small to limit the transfer of heat through those passages sufficiently to prevent damage to the data storage device and to prevent loss of data stored thereon. Another embodiment provides a water resistant pouch surrounding the data storage device which may be made of flexible foil or of finned relatively robust and non-flexible thermal conductor. The enclosure in some embodiments utilizes a fan and in some embodiments operates without a fan.

Abstract: A low cost method of applying a water-resistant coating to the exterior of a computer digital data storage device is provided. The storage device is compatible with industry standard 2.5 inch or 3.5 inch drive sizes and is either dipped into a reservoir of liquid elastomeric, rubberized epoxy compound or by applying a thermoset polyurethane polymer to the exterior surface of the storage device by reaction injection molding. Both methods produce a coating which has high thermal conductivity and high electrical resistance so that the storage device will operate properly. The resultant form of the water resistant coated digital data storage device is compatible with industry standard 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch computer hard drive bays. Both methods lend themselves to high speed automatic application, thereby greatly reducing the applied cost of the coating.

Abstract: A fire and/or water resistant enclosure is provided for housing an operable digital data storage device. The enclosure is a low cost, preferably molded enclosure having various embodiments for providing resistance to fire and/or water. In one embodiment, a fan cooperates with one or more hatchless ventilation passageways to cool the digital data storage device. Passageways are sized to be sufficiently small to limit the transfer of heat through those passages sufficiently to prevent damage to the data storage device and to prevent loss of data stored thereon. Another embodiment provides a water resistant pouch surrounding the data storage device which may be made of flexible foil or of finned relatively robust and non-flexible thermal conductor. The enclosure in some embodiments utilizes a fan and in some embodiments operates without a fan. Similarly, the enclosure in some embodiments utilizes movable hatches and in other embodiments is hatchless in design.

Abstract: A single-use lancet device is provided for drawing capillary blood samples. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion and a trigger carried by the upper portion of the body. The trigger is movable between a first raised position wherein the device is cocked and a second depressed position wherein the device is fired. A needle assembly is provided which is movable between a cocked position and a striking position. A free-floating drive spring is provided for moving the needle assembly from its cocked position to its striking position. A bounceback spring is integrally molded with the needle assembly and includes a pair of generally V-shaped spring arms. A trigger bar has a first position wherein it holds the needle assembly in its cocked position, and the trigger bar has a second position wherein it allows the needle assembly to move to its striking position as the drive spring expands.

Abstract: A fire resistant, forced air cooled enclosure for one or more computer digital data storage devices is provided. An operable digital data storage device is mounted in a fire resistant enclosure. One or more openings are formed in the enclosure. A movable fire resistant hatch is positioned adjacent each of the openings and each hatch is movable between a closed position in which it closes the opening and an open position allowing ambient air to pass therethrough. A fan is positioned either inside or outside of the enclosure for actively driving ambient air through the opening to cool the data storage device. A hatch closure system is provided for closing each of said hatches automatically in the presence of a threshold temperature. The hatch closure system includes a temperature sensitive element which, when activated in the presence of the threshold temperature, causes the hatch to move to its closed position.