Twist-n-seal hatch

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20080029011
  • Publication Number
    20080029011
  • Date Filed
    August 01, 2007
    17 years ago
  • Date Published
    February 07, 2008
    16 years ago
Abstract
A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch,a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, andcooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch.
Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the hatch with hatch cover, with the cover partially open and gear bucket in place.



FIG. 2 shows the hatch cover as in FIG. 1 with the gear bucket in place and the interior of the gear bucket exposed.



FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the gear bucket with interior exposed.



FIG. 4 shows the gear bucket with the gear bucket lid snapped into place.



FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the snap fit of the gear bucket cover to the gear bucket taken at C in FIG. 6.



FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the gear bucket.



FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hatch cover handle and cam surface mechanism.



FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the structure of FIG. 7.



FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the structure of FIG. 7.



FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG. 7.



FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of the hatch, hatch cover, handle and cam mechanism in operation.



FIG. 12 is taken at A in FIG. 11.



FIG. 13 is a top view of the hatch and hatch cover with the cover closed.



FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the hatch and cover of FIG. 13.



FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the top of the hatch and the underside of the hatch cover without the gear bucket in place.



FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the hatch, hatch cover and gear bucket with the hatch cover closed and the gear bucket locked into place.



FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of the structure of FIG. 6.



FIG. 18 is taken at B in FIG. 17.





DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The deck plate or hatch 1 has a flat upper ring 15 provided with screw holes or openings 16 to facilitate the attachment of the hatch 1 to a suitable surface of a boat, and a downwardly extending inner wall 17 which terminates in an annular inwardly extending ledge 12 at the lower extremity of wall 17


The hatch 1 has a hatch cover or lid 2 which is carried by hinges 7. The cover 2 fits snugly in ring 15, and when closed, is flush with ring 15.


The hatch cover 2 also has a handle 4 generally diametrically opposed the hinged side of hatch cover 2 which is carried by a pivot pin 6 fixed to cam surface carrier 18. The cam surface carrier 18 passes through hole 8 in cover 2. The cam surface 3 itself comprises spiral-like side walls 19 and 20 with the depression 21 therebetween, forming a race in which engages tab 14. When handle 4 is rotated about its vertical axis with cover 2 laid down on hatch 1, cam surface carrier 18 also rotates causing cam surface 3 to rotate and engage tab 14. As handle 4 is further rotated, tab 14 travels in depression 21 between walls 19 and 20. This gradually causes the cover 2 to snugly close onto hatch 1. This travel is limited to one-half turn of the handle 4 by stop 22 which comes into abutting contact with pin 26 formed in the underside of hatch lid 2 when cover 2 is fully closed.


When not in use, handle 4 is received in recess 23 in hatch cover 2 and when in the stowed position is essentially flush with the upper surface of cover 2.


Hatch lid 2 has an annular flexible rubber ring 5 providing a water tight seal of the cover 2 with the hatch 1. The ring or seal 5 is of a generally triangular cross section with the pointed end pressing against and sealing on the inside surface of wall 17. The seal 5 is carried in annular groove 24.


Optionally, the novel hatch 1 with cover 2 may carry a generally cylindrical gear bucket 9 with lid 10 having a series of compartments 11 for carrying miscellaneous personal articles and/or fishing accessories, and the like. Typically, the gear bucket may be thought of as a cylindrical tackle box. The gear bucket 9 and lid 10 are generally made of a somewhat flexible plastic so that the two parts snap together in a typical Tupperware fashion. The gear bucket 9 and lid 10 each have a cutout 25 to accommodate the cam surface mechanism described above.


The gear bucket 9 with lid 10 can be easily inserted in hatch 1 when hatch lid 2 is open.


The gear bucket 9 has an annular lip 13 which rests on ledge 12 at the lower extremity of wall 17 of hatch 1. When the lid 2 on hatch 1 is closed, the annular lip 13 of gear bucket 9 is tightly compressed between ledge 12 and the bottom edge or surface 27 of lid 2 so that the bucket 9 is prevented from moving. When lid 2 is opened, the gear bucket 9 with its lid 10 can, if desired, be readily lifted out of the hatch.

Claims
  • 1. A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch,a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, andcooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch.
  • 2. A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch,a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch,cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, anda gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch cover and hatch.
  • 3. The novel hatch of claim 2 wherein said hatch has an internal ledge and said gear bucket has an annular lip which rests on said ledge, said gear bucket and lid being received in said hatch.
  • 4. The novel hatch of claim 2 wherein said gear bucket and lid each have a cutout to accommodate said cam surfaces.
  • 5. A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch,a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, andcooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch,said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section with the point of the triangle abutting the surface of the hatch to form a water-tight seal.
  • 6. A pleasure boat having in a convenient location at least one hatch with cover which includes: a hatch,a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch,cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch,said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section with the point of the triangle abutting an inner surface of the hatch to form a water tight seal.
  • 7. The novel hatch of claim 1 wherein said handle is generally attached to said cover at a point diametrically opposed the hinged side of said cover.
  • 8. The novel hatch of claim 1 wherein said handle engages a cam surface carrier present on the side of said cover opposite the side carrying said handle, said cam surface carrier carrying a cam surface, the interior of said hatch having a tab, whereby when said handle is rotated about its vertical axis with said hatch cover laid down on said hatch, said cam surface carrier also rotates, causing said cam surface to rotate and engage said tab, gradually causing said hatch cover to snugly close onto said hatch.
  • 9. The hatch of claim 7 wherein said cam surface comprises spiral side walls providing a depression therebetween forming a race which engages said tab.
Parent Case Info

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/836,166, filed Aug. 7, 2006.

Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60836166 Aug 2006 US