Secure destruction bin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11643271-B2
Application number	US-202016862363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2020
Priority date	Mar 23, 2020
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Grant date	May 9, 2023

Abstract

One example embodiment is adapted for use in facilitating collection and transport of memory devices, e.g., drives, motherboards, etc., e.g., for the purposes of subsequent destruction. The example embodiment has an outer bin, also called a garage or outer enclosure, within which is placed an inner bin with wheels. Once closed and locked, the outer bin has a door that can be opened so drives or other memory devices can be inserted. The drives then fall into the inner bin and, once sufficiently filled, the inner bin be easily wheeled out from the outer bin. The inner bin has its own locking lid that is secured when transporting the inner bin with the drives, e.g., to a destruction facility or area. Other features are provided as described below. Enhanced synergistic security features include use of multi-point locking latches to secure doors and lids, metal construction of the bins, and so on. The bins are sized to facilitate efficient collection and transport of potentially sensitive data center media.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an outer bin that includes:
a security chute for accepting deposit of one or more items;
an inner chamber;
one or more lift-off hinges coupling a first hinged door of the outer bin, wherein at least one lift-off hinge of the one or more lift-off hinges is secured by a cover mounted on a front surface of the first hinged door; and
the first hinged door equipped with a multi-point lockable latch to secure the first hinged door shut; and
an inner bin sized to fit within the inner chamber, such that when the first hinged door is closed that a front surface of the inner bin sits approximately flush with an inner surface of the first hinged door, wherein the inner bin includes:
a hinged lid, wherein the hinged lid is configured to remain open and to remain folded approximately flush against a back surface of the inner bin when the inner bin is within the inner chamber;
a second multi-point lockable latch to secure the hinged lid shut; and
one or more wheels coupled to a base of the inner bin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer bin is sized such that a base of the outer bin exhibits a footprint that approximately matches dimensions of a data center tile.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the footprint is substantially square and is approximately 24″ by 24″.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer bin is approximately 48″ tall.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer bin and the inner bin are made substantially of metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner chamber includes one or more locating tracks extending approximately perpendicularly from the first hinged door when the first hinged door is closed.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the inner bin is sized such that exterior surfaces of opposite side walls of the inner bin are approximately separated from inter surfaces of opposite side walls of the inner chamber by a space determined by a width of the one or more locating tracks.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further including one or more wheel guide tracks mounted to an inner bottom surface of the outer bin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein one or more bottom edges of the inner bin include one or more bevels, whereby the bevels are configured to interact with the one or more locating tracks to facilitate positioning the inner bin within the inner chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lift-off hinges are configured to enable removal of the first hinged door from the outer bin when the first hinged door is opened.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lift-off hinges are configured to enable opening of the first hinged door to at least a sixty degree angle relative to a plane of an external surface of a side of the outer bin.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner bin includes one or more folding handles coupled to one or more external sides of the inner bin, such that the one or more folding handles are usable to facilitate moving the inner bin.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a scanning device in communication with a first mechanism for facilitating automatic opening of the security chute.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scanning device includes:
a mechanism for scanning a code affixed to the one or more items and logging information in a database, the information being associated with the scanning device via the code.

15. A method for facilitating secure collection and transport of items from a data center, the method comprising:
accepting items passed through a security chute of a lockable outer bin comprising a first hinged door having one or more lift-off hinges coupling the first hinged door and secured by a cover mounted on a front surface of the first hinged door, resulting in received items;
collecting the received items via an inner bin that is positioned within the lockable outer bin, wherein when the inner bin is positioned within the lockable outer bin, a folding lid of the inner bin is open;
enabling unlocking a door on the lockable outer bin and removing the inner bin from the lockable outer bin via one or more wheels coupled to a bottom surface of the inner bin and one or more folding handles coupled to one or more outer surfaces of the inner bin;
facilitating locking the folding lid on the inner bin in a closed position via a multi-point lockable latch coupled to the folding lid; and
facilitating transporting contents of the inner bin from the data center via the one or more wheels and the one or more folding handles coupled to one or more outer sides of the inner bin.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lockable outer bin fits approximately within a tile of the data center, and wherein the items include one or more memory devices to be removed from the data center or otherwise destroyed.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein when the folding lid of the inner bin is open when the inner bin is within the lockable outer bin, a top surface of the folding lid is positioned approximately flush against an outer surface of a side of the inner bin, and wherein the folding lid includes a lip that extends from at least three edges of an inner surface of the folding lid, whereby security of the folding lid is enhanced relative to a lid lacking the lip.

18. A system comprising:
a first enclosure exhibiting a substantially rectangular or square footprint sized to approximately fit one or more dimensions of a data center tile;
an upper door in the first enclosure, the upper door having a chute which forms a downward slide when the upper door is closed;
a lower compartment for removably receiving a second enclosure, wherein the second enclosure, when placed inside the lower compartment, is configured to receive items that slide down the chute when the upper door is closed, wherein the lower compartment comprises:
a first hinged door including one or more lift-off hinges coupling the first hinged door and secured by a cover mounted on a front surface of the first hinged door.

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Nelson Jennifer
• Hunter Michael
• Rangel Ismael

Classifications

• B65F1/006 Primary

  Rigid receptacles stored in an enclosure or forming part of it · CPC title

• B65F2210/148

  Locking means · CPC title

• B65F1/1615

  with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof · CPC title

• B65F1/1468

  Means for facilitating the transport of the receptacle, e.g. wheels, rolls (hand-operated refuse vehicles B65F3/005) · CPC title

• B65F2210/128

  Data transmitting means · CPC title