Fire-resistant container

Abstract

A fire-resistant container has a fire-resistant exterior layer, and an intermediate layer of an intumescent or endothermic material. The container may be used to protect documents, photographs, computer disks, compact disks, jewelry or other objects from damage due to heat or fire.

1 . A fire-resistant container capable of receiving an object to be protected, comprising an exterior layer, an interior layer, and an intermediate layer, said exterior layer being a fire-resistant material, and said intermediate layer comprising at least one of an intumescent material and an endothermic material, said container having a closeable opening, and said exterior layer, said intermediate layer and said interior layer surrounding said object when said opening is closed.  
     
     
         2 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  wherein said intermediate layer comprises said intumescent material, and said intumescent material is capable of expanding by at least 2-fold in thickness when heated to at least 400° F.  
     
     
         3 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 2  wherein said intumescent material is capable of expanding by at least 5-fold in thickness when heated to 400° F.  
     
     
         4 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  wherein said exterior layer is aluminum foil.  
     
     
         5 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  wherein said interior layer is aluminum foil.  
     
     
         6 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  wherein said intermediate layer further comprises a reinforcing material.  
     
     
         7 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 6  wherein said reinforcing material is mesh-like.  
     
     
         8 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  wherein said container is in the form of a folder.  
     
     
         9 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  wherein said container is in the form of a box.  
     
     
         10 . The fire-resistant container of  claim 1  further comprising a heat and water resistant bag within said container.  
     
     
         11 . A method for protecting an object from fire, comprising: 
 (a) forming a container having a closeable opening from at least one fire-resistant panel having an exterior layer, an interior layer, and an intermediate layer, said exterior layer being a fire-resistant material, and said intermediate layer comprising an intumescent or endothermic material;    (b) placing said object to be protected inside said container; and    (c) closing said opening.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of placing said object in a heat and water resistant bag, and placing said heat and water resistant bag in said container.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said intermediate layer comprises said intumescent material, and said intumescent material is capable of expanding by at least 2-fold in thickness when heated to 400° F.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said intumescent material is capable of expanding by at least 5-fold in thickness when heated to 400° F.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said exterior layer is aluminum foil.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said interior layer is aluminum foil.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said intermediate layer further comprises a reinforcing material.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said reinforcing material is mesh-like.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said container is in the form of a folder.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said container is in the form of a box.