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.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/836,166, filed Aug. 7, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60836166 | Aug 2006 | US |