Abstract:
A door for a secured enclosure includes a door panel and a generally L-shaped flange extending along one edge of the panel. The L-shaped flange is adapted to engage a corresponding flange of the enclosure, whereby the L-shaped flange and the corresponding flange overlap. The structure prevents access to the secured enclosure between the flanges.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of currently pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/043,017, filed Jan. 24, 2005 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,303, the subject matter of each of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to secure enclosures that offer enhanced resistance to physical intrusion and particularly that offer a more secure door. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Secure enclosures are used in many applications. The most common examples of such enclosures are safes for protecting valuables, guns, etc. and electrical panel enclosures typically used for secure networks such as may be found in military and other governmental applications. The weakest element in any such secure enclosure has historically been the door, which must allow easy access within the enclosure when required and prevent such access otherwise, by definition, two completely opposite goals. Thus, an ongoing need exists for offering more intrusion-proof doors for secure enclosures. The embodiments of the present disclosure answer these and other needs. 
         [0004]    Of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,616 which is directed to an enclosure which is highly secure, permits access to a cabled network system only by one user at a time, permits visual and unequivocal observation of the security status of the enclosure, and prevents access to the interior thereof only by authorized persons. Within the enclosure is a system connection device to the system, which is configured for access thereto by only a single user at a time. The patent is specifically directed to cabled systems, such as cabled communication and computer networks and a more general secure enclose would be beneficial in a number of areas. U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,616 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In a first embodiment disclosed herein, a door for a secured enclosure includes a door panel and a generally L-shaped flange extending along one edge of the panel, the L-shaped flange being adapted to engage a corresponding flange of the enclosure, whereby the L-shaped flange and the corresponding flange overlap, thereby preventing access to the secured enclosure between the flanges. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment disclosed herein, an enclosure includes a structure enclosing a space and formed with a door opening to receive a door therein, at least one hinge disposed along a first edge of the door opening, and a door comprised of a door panel and a generally L-shaped flange extending along one edge of the panel at a preselected angle to the panel, the door pivoting around the at least one hinge to be received in the door opening with the L-shaped flange disposed along the first edge so that the at least one hinge is enclosed within the structure when the door is closed. 
         [0007]    In a further embodiment disclosed herein, a method of forming an enclosure includes selecting a structure formed to enclose a space and including a door opening to receive a door therein, disposing at least one hinge along a first edge of the door opening, selecting a door comprised of a door panel and a generally L-shaped flange extending along one edge of the panel at a preselected angle to the panel, and disposing the door to pivot around the at least one hinge so as to be received in the door opening with the L-shaped flange disposed along the first edge such that the at least one hinge is enclosed within the structure when the door is closed. 
         [0008]    In still further embodiments, the door may further include a substantially planar flange extending along an edge of the L-shaped flange to form a substantially U-shaped channel in cooperation therewith, and the structure may further include a substantially planar flange extending along the first edge into the interior of the structure so as to lie substantially within the U-shaped channel when the door is closed. The structure may also include a substantially planar flange extending along the first edge into the interior of the structure so as to lie generally parallel to a portion of the L-shaped flange when the door is closed. The door may also include a substantially planar flange extending along another edge of the panel. 
         [0009]    These and other features and advantages will become further apparent from the detailed description and accompanying figures that follow. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top sectional view of the enclosure illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top sectional view of the enclosure of  FIG. 1  with the door open; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top sectional view of another enclosure including a door in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    A typical target for attacking an enclosure are the hinges of the door. Thus, one goal of the present disclosure is to provide a secure enclosure that disposes the hinge mechanism for its door wholly within the enclosure and that offers enhanced intrusion resistance around the hinge area of the door. 
         [0015]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of an enclosure  100  according to the present disclosure includes a structure or housing  110  for enclosing a space or volume  112  in which the objects to be protected can be stored, and a door  120  received in a door opening in the structure. The structure is shown for discussion purposes as having generally rectangular proportions, but the present invention contemplates any practicable design for the present structure, such as a rectangular shape or the like. 
         [0016]    Similarly, the door  120  is shown as having a typical, generally flat configuration with a planar panel  122  but any configuration for the door is contemplated by the present invention. The door  120  may include a flange  124  that extends along one edge of the door panel  122  and into the interior of the enclosure structure  110 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The flange  124  forms a generally U-shaped channel. A reciprocal flange  114  extends along the respective edge of the enclosure  100  to form another generally U-shaped channel along the edge of the enclosure  100 , and that receives the door flange  124  so that the two generally U-shaped channels cooperate with one another to receive each into the other with minimal space therebetween. 
         [0017]    Thus, the U-shaped channel of the door flange  124  is open to the outside of the enclosure whereas the U-shaped channel of the enclosure structure  110 , is open to the inside of the enclosure. As will be appreciated, this disposition is dictated by the need for the door to swing open towards the outside of the enclosure, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0018]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respective portions of U-shaped channels of the flanges  114  and  124  overlap one another, thereby providing a barrier to prevent intrusion into the structure enclosure  100  between the door  120  and structure  110 . As will be appreciated, the bottom of the U-shaped channel provided by the door flange  124  prevents physical intrusion into the interior of the enclosure  100 , and the interlocking disposition of the door flange  124  with the enclosure flange  114  further acts to minimize the space between the door  120  and the enclosure structure  110  through which such physical intrusion could be initiated. The door  120  may be further provided with hinges  130  that are disposed within the enclosure and aligned along the door flange  124  so as to lie outside the U-shaped channel of the door flange  124  to prevent access to the hinges  130  from the outside. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4 , the door  120  may be provided with a generally L-shaped flange  144  that acts just like door flange  124  in cooperating with enclosure flange  114  to prevent intrusion into the enclosure. The generally L-shaped door flange  144  is likely less complicated to manufacture, whereas the U-shaped flange  124  may possible offer better protection against intrusion by such fluid means as gas or liquid (e.g. liquid nitrogen) due to the more tortuous flow path that such fluid would have to follow to gain access into the interior of the enclosure. 
         [0020]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the enclosure structure may further be formed with another flange  116  disposed along the edge opposite to the hinge edge flange  114  and designed to engage the door  120 . For purposes of illustration, the door is shown as including a flange  126  disposed along the edge opposite the hinge edge and received into an outward-facing U-shaped channel provided by the enclosure flange  116 . The enclosure flange  116  thus cooperates with the flange (or lip)  126  of the door in a similar manner to the hinge-edge flanges  114  and  124  to prevent intrusion into the interior of the enclosure by overlapping one another and essentially blocking off the access that might be afforded by the minimal space exists between the door and the enclosure even when the door is closed. 
         [0021]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the door may include opposite flanges or lips  128  and  129  along the other edges of the door panel  122  which may cooperate with reciprocal flanges of the housing, such as flange  119 , to further impede physical intrusion along those edges of the door. 
         [0022]    Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications to the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed herein. 
         [0023]    The foregoing Detailed Description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation. The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom. 
         [0024]    Applicant has made this disclosure with respect to the current state of the art, but also contemplates advancements and that adaptations in the future may take into consideration of those advancements, namely in accordance with the then current state of the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims as written and equivalents as applicable. Reference to a claim element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, no element, component, nor method or process step in this disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or step is explicitly recited in the Claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ” and no method or process step herein is to be construed under those provisions unless the step, or steps, are expressly recited using the phrase “comprising the step(s) of . . . ”.