Abstract:
A case for portable laptop computers and the like including removed batteries to contain and control the bi-products of combustion associated with the unintentional and unexpected combustion of electronic component batteries typically occurring during the thermal runaway of the batteries. The fire containment case controls heat, flame and toxic gases associated therewith. The case has an airtight seal with integrated filters to trap and neutralize the smoke and gas released during combustion. A variety of heat insulation both active and passive can be used along with condition status instruments, and fire suppression can also be provided in core construction and external adaption input suppression inlets.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/342,472, filed Apr. 15, 2010. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to heat and fire containment enclosures used to isolate a fire event in electrical equipment that may be subject to rapid intense combustion due to malfunction of the electrical system. Such portable equipment fires may be difficult to control and extinguish given the nature of the burning battery that burns at a high temperature with its own oxidation agent emitting nauseous fumes. Such fires cannot be easily extinguished and must typically be allowed to burn themselves out of their own accord. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Prior art devices of this type are typically directed to room or cabinet enclosures positioned around electronic equipment in case of fire. Such enclosures are primarily used to protect the equipment from fire rather than to contain and control the fire in the equipment. An example of a fireproof or resistant enclosure in a related venue would be a fireproof or resistant filing cabinet that will keep the contents of the cabinet safe from fire for a determined time period at a given maximum temperature. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,685,402, 6,158,833, 7,232,197, 7,545,639 and U.S. Publication 2009/0014188 A1. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,402 is directed to a fire resistant cabinet for storing easily damaged electronic data storage material which is essentially a safe like configuration having insulated interior sidewalls to resist fire from the outside, thus keeping the contents presumably safe. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,833 claims a fire resistant computer storage apparatus which is a thermally insulated cabinet providing protection for electronic data storage device from accidental and environmental conditions. The cabinet has multiple layers of fire resistant and heat dissipation insulation material to provide storage for data positioned within on electronic readable means. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,197 illustrates a fire safety electronic data storage protection device which is a cabinet to store electronic data such as zip drives or CD ROM storage and is of a fireproof configuration to prevent damage to the fire that would occur within the facility thus maintaining the integrity of backup copies stored within. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,545,639 is directed to a fireproof container with heat activated closure panel in which a heat sensitive activation panel is provided to automatically close over vent holes within the container restricting airflow therewithin. The container is designed to store hard drives and the like and upon exterior temperature reaching a predetermined condition will close sealing the fireproof container with its contents therewithin. 
         [0008]    Finally in U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0014188 describes a device for containing ignited electrical equipment specifically electronic devices with lithium ion batteries. The enclosure is formed of material that is capable of withstanding heat and is of a fabric nature with a flap configuration for its openings so that once the item is placed inside the flap is closed thus containing the device within. Additionally, a pair of fire resistant and heat temperature gloves are provided for allowing the individual to grasp and insert the device within the flexible fabric pouch. 
         [0009]    There is, therefore, a need for a safe and secure sealing retainment retention system for small intense fires that occur in such portable electronic equipment such as laptop computers, cell phones, MP3 players, or the like utilizing battery as their primary power source. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A fire containment case for selectively receiving and securing a portable electronic device and their batteries in the event of fire. The case provides an easy access airtight sealing closure for receipt and containment of the device. The case being of heat resistance construction to contain and control products of combustion from a device so involved. An integrated filter canister and optional vacuum canister in communication with the case equipment receiving interior absorbs and contains combustion fumes and gases. Case containment insulation can be of both an active thermal insulation and/or passive to maintain case integrity. External temperature gauge and fire suppression may be provided with external access fittings, pressure gauge and gas vents if necessary. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a graphic perspective view of the primary containment case of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational and partial sectional view of the containment case construction showing alternate features associated therewith in broken lines. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a section on lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an equipment transport container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a fire containment case  10  of the invention can be seen for receiving electronic equipment (not shown) that is on fire. The containment case  10  has a main exterior housing  12  defined of a base portion  13  and a hinge closure portion  14  having hinge assemblies  14 A. The exterior housing  12  is preferably of a rectangular configuration of a known size and dimension to accommodate and receive a variety of portable electronic equipment therewithin. An airtight sealing gasket configuration  15  is provided and formed by the respective perimeter engagement flanges  13 A and  13 B of the base and closure portions  13  and  14  as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    A common latch system  16  assures closure portion  14  retainment and secures the housing  12  with a sealing gasket assembly  15  and will be described in greater detail with alternate forms hereinafter. 
         [0018]    In the primary form of the invention, an internal equipment receiving case  17  is formed within the exterior case housing  12  of the case  10  with thermal flame retardant insulation  18  infilling between the internal receiving case  17  and the exterior housing  12 . An equipment receiving and transportation container  19 , as best seen in  FIG. 5  of the drawings is generally of a rectangular configuration having a receiving base panel  19 A with upstanding interconnected side and end walls  20 A and  20 B and  20 C respectively. An integral top panel  21  forms an equipment transport receiving area  22  therewithin. The sidewalls  20 A and  20 B are tapered at their respective opening defined by the enclosure forming in essence a side edge scoop therein. A collapsible wire handle assembly  23  is secured to the top panel  21  which will allow for user&#39;s grasp and lifting for engaging and receiving electronic equipment while on fire. The transportation container  19  is of an overall dimension less than that of the receiving case  17  with optional spacer tabs  21 A extending from the exterior of the side wall  20 A so as to be slidably received therewithin and spaced same associate to the interior thereof as illustrated in solid and broken lines in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
         [0019]    The thermal insulation  18  hereinbefore described may be of a passive static material chosen from a variety of thermal insulation materials currently available commercially or alternately of an active thermal material  18 A as illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. Such an active thermal insulation material has a phase charged change material based on inorganic salts that absorb heat and therefore help maintain the outer case temperature of the containment case housing  12 . Such phase change insulation materials are commercially marketed, for example, by PCM Energy Ltd. 
         [0020]    The containment case  10  of the invention has a gas and fume collection filter and retainment system  24  in communication with the interior of the internal equipment receiving case  17 . The gas and fume system  24  in this example is positioned in the hinge insulated closure portion  14  and may have multiple filter zones including, for example, an initial particle filter  24 A, a gas fume filter  24 B and an optional chemical zone filter  24 C to collect and retain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and cyanide that may result from the burning of synthetic resin based materials during combustion. The filter system  24  then vents treated gases to atmosphere at  25 . 
         [0021]    The addition of an evacuation gas canister  26  may be used as an alternate to the filter under negative pressure to collect the gases expelled by the burning electronic devices, not shown, sealed within the equipment receiving case  17  within the containment case  10  as illustrated in broken lines in  FIG. 2  of the drawings as an alternate gas collection system. 
         [0022]    Given the varied nature of fire control and extinguish materials available, an optional valve fitting  27  is provided allowing for direct communication with the equipment receiving chamber  17  affording the selective input of such fire fighting materials as Halon, flame retardant foam from an outside supply source indicated by broken lines and the letters OS thereby filling the case  17  receiving area and displacing gas combustion products via the hereinbefore described venting filters. 
         [0023]    An auxiliary fire suppression system  28  can be seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings having a water injection fitting  29  extending through the insulated closure portion  14  of the case  10  in communication with the equipment receiving case  17 . A water bottle WB, shown in broken lines can therefore be attached to the water injection fitting  29  and manually expelled by manual compression into the case  17 . 
         [0024]    As an additional alternate fire suppression venue, an alternate canister dispenser  30  of thermal insulating fire retardant foam that would be activated once the case is closed during active use in the presence of burning equipment positioned therewithin. Such firefighting foam is released into the respective equipment receiving case  17  to effectively control gases and temperature and extinguish the fire and is illustrated in broken lines as an alternate suppression system in  FIG. 2  of the drawings in the closure portion  14 . 
         [0025]    As noted, the alternate containment case  10  insulation  18 A can be seen in a portion of  FIG. 2  of the drawings which illustrates, as noted, the positioning of the thermal phase change material insulation  18 A against the inside surface S of the exterior housing  12  with a layer of conventional flame proof insulation  18 B. Additionally, a flame proof liner  31  surrounds the interior receiving chamber defined by the case  17 . 
         [0026]    The sealing gasket assembly  15  is defined by the pair of elongated contoured continuous integrated engagement flanges  13 A and  14 A extending respectively about the open end edges of the base portion  13  and closure portion  14 , as noted. In this example, an O-ring gasket  32  is fitted within a channel therein and provides an airtight seal therebetween when engaged and secured by the latch assembly  16 , as noted. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that an alternate sealing gasket material can be used, such as a graphite material gasket well within the doctrine of the art. The latch system  16  of the case  10  being identified as a so-called butterfly twist catch latches to maintain an airtight pressure tight seal between the closure  14  and the base portion  13 , as described. The case housing  12  construction is preferably defined as heat resistant synthetic resin as wherein an interior wall of the retainment case  17  is of preferably aluminum material with an increase interior and exterior dimensions respectively over that of the primary dimension formed so as hereinbefore described as to be sufficient to receive and hold electronic equipment in question. 
         [0027]    The addition of a digital temperature gauge  33  to indicate the internal temperature of the case  17  for confirmation as to the status and removal of the combustion contents may be provided as shown in broken lines in the closure portion  14 . 
         [0028]    It will be evident from the above description that other fire containment and extinguishing systems may also be enabled within the parameters of the containment case configuration of the invention. 
         [0029]    In any such device fires, it would be self-evident that the possibility of the battery (not shown) within the electronic equipment (not shown) could be removed within the scope of one skilled in the art and independently contained within the containment case  17  configuration for the invention as hereinbefore described. The isolation of the battery independent of the device, if possible, provides a more direct fire containment parameter and would, as noted, be only available in certain situations or in battery condition events of impending combustion which could cover a wide range of potential combustible events. 
         [0030]    It will thus be seen that a new and novel fire containment case for portable electronic equipment has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled within the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.