CA2887732A1 - Ceiling hatch - Google Patents
Ceiling hatch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2887732A1 CA2887732A1 CA2887732A CA2887732A CA2887732A1 CA 2887732 A1 CA2887732 A1 CA 2887732A1 CA 2887732 A CA2887732 A CA 2887732A CA 2887732 A CA2887732 A CA 2887732A CA 2887732 A1 CA2887732 A1 CA 2887732A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- passageway
- housing portion
- peripheral surface
- ceiling
- bottom housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B9/00—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation
- E04B9/003—Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation with movable parts, e.g. pivoting panels, access doors
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B5/00—Doors, windows, or like closures for special purposes; Border constructions therefor
- E06B5/01—Trap-doors
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Building Environments (AREA)
Abstract
A ceiling hatch for sealing a passageway in a ceiling is disclosed. The ceiling hatch includes a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a bottom housing portion adapted to fit in the passageway. The housing assembly also includes a top housing portion connected to the bottom housing portion, the top housing portion includes a top housing portion outer peripheral surface adapted to rest against the upper passageway peripheral surface to suspend the bottom housing portion within the passageway. The ceiling hatch also includes a first seal and a second seal engageable between the housing and passageway peripheral surface when the bottom housing portion is suspended within the passageway. The ceiling hatch thereby does not limit the effective access area of the passageway. A related method of sealing a passageway in a ceiling is also disclosed.
Description
CEILING HATCH
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of ceiling hatches, and in particular to ceiling hatches with seals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ceilings of houses, homes and buildings typically have passageways to provide access to attics and spaces which may be regulated by local construction and building codes, for example the National Building Code of Canada, requiring minimum dimensions and characteristics. Existing passageways typically have inwardly directed shoulders extending within the passageway and adapted to support a panel or hatch from a position below the panel in order to close and seal the passageway under the weight of the hatch panel. To enhance the insulation characteristics of the passageway, a seal is typically provided between the base of the hatch panel and the top surface of the shoulders such that when the hatch panel is supported by the shoulders, the weight of the hatch panel compresses the seal and seals the passageway.
One drawback of such ceiling hatch configurations is that the inwardly extending shoulders which support the hatch panel from below reduce the effective access area of the passageway. In some instances, such a reduction in access area may render the passageway difficult to navigate through or non-compliant with building codes mandating larger access ways.
In order to overcome these and other drawbacks, there is a need for a ceiling hatch configured to support a hatch panel within the passageway without the necessity of inwardly extending shoulders.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of ceiling hatches, and in particular to ceiling hatches with seals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ceilings of houses, homes and buildings typically have passageways to provide access to attics and spaces which may be regulated by local construction and building codes, for example the National Building Code of Canada, requiring minimum dimensions and characteristics. Existing passageways typically have inwardly directed shoulders extending within the passageway and adapted to support a panel or hatch from a position below the panel in order to close and seal the passageway under the weight of the hatch panel. To enhance the insulation characteristics of the passageway, a seal is typically provided between the base of the hatch panel and the top surface of the shoulders such that when the hatch panel is supported by the shoulders, the weight of the hatch panel compresses the seal and seals the passageway.
One drawback of such ceiling hatch configurations is that the inwardly extending shoulders which support the hatch panel from below reduce the effective access area of the passageway. In some instances, such a reduction in access area may render the passageway difficult to navigate through or non-compliant with building codes mandating larger access ways.
In order to overcome these and other drawbacks, there is a need for a ceiling hatch configured to support a hatch panel within the passageway without the necessity of inwardly extending shoulders.
2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the above mentioned issues.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a ceiling hatch for sealing a passageway in a ceiling. The passageway includes an upper passageway peripheral surface and a lower passageway peripheral surface. The ceiling hatch includes a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a bottom housing portion adapted to fit in the passageway and includes a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface. The housing assembly also includes a top housing portion connected to the bottom housing portion, the top housing portion includes a top housing portion outer peripheral surface adapted to rest against the upper passageway peripheral surface to suspend the bottom housing portion within the passageway. The ceiling hatch also includes a first seal engageable between the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface and the lower passageway peripheral surface when the bottom housing portion is suspended within the passageway, and a second seal engageable between the upper passageway peripheral surface and the top housing portion outer peripheral surface upon positioning of the top housing portion outer peripheral surface against the upper passageway peripheral surface. The ceiling hatch thereby does not limit the effective access area of the passageway.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided method of sealing a passageway in a ceiling, the passageway including an upper passageway peripheral surface and a lower passageway peripheral surface, the method includes suspending a housing assembly within the passageway. The housing assembly includes a top housing portion including a top housing portion outer peripheral surface, and a bottom housing portion including a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface. The method includes sealing the lower passageway peripheral surface with the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface, and sealing the upper passageway peripheral surface with the top , . 3 housing portion outer peripheral surface. The passageway is thereby sealed such that effective access area of the passageway is not limited by the ceiling hatch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention may be better understood with reference to the written description and drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a ceiling hatch illustrating a hatch housing received within a passageway, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the ceiling hatch, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the housing assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a close up cross-sectional side view of a lower seal in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a close up cross-sectional side view of an upper seal in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method of sealing a passageway with a hatch housing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Now referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is illustratively provided a ceiling hatch 10 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling hatch 10 is adapted to seal a passageway 12 provided in a ceiling 14 of a building, house, or home, or other like structure, for separating a space above the ceiling 14, such as an attic 16, from a space below the ceiling 14, such as a room 18. The ceiling hatch 10 includes a housing assembly 20 adapted to fit within the , passageway 12 to block and seal the passageway 12 such that air flow and heat transfer between the attic 16 and the room 18 is minimized or eliminated while maximizing the accessible area of the passageway 12 for ingress or egress to the attic 16 or room 18 there through. Of note, while the present invention will be described herein with reference to a hatch for a ceiling 14, the ceiling hatch may be employed to seal other types of passageways between different types of spaces so as to provide a passageway area that remains unobstructed by inwardly extending hatch supports, such as extending flanges or shoulders. For example, the ceiling hatch 10 of the present invention may be provided for a passageway between a cellar or crawl space and a room in the building, home or house.
Now referring to FIG. 2, in addition to FIG. 1, illustratively, the passageway 12 is defined by a precut hole in the ceiling 14 between ceiling rafters 22 or joists.
Illustratively, the passageway 12 is rectangular in shape and typically bounded by and between the sides of two ceiling rafters 22 along one direction, for example along the length of the passageway 12, and the cut ends of other ceiling rafters 22 in another direction, for example along the width of the passageway 12. As illustrated, the passageway 12 extends between the sides of ceiling rafter 222 and 223. Optionally, other shapes of the passageway 12 may be provided such as square or circular, and various dimensions may also be provided. For example, in Canada, the National Building Code of Canada requires that the accessible area of the passageway 12 to an attic 16 have a minimum width of 545mm.
Illustratively, upright passageway walls 24 may be provided to delimit and define an upper passageway peripheral surface 25 and a lower passageway peripheral surface 27 of the passageway 12. The passageway walls 24 illustratively extend vertically between ceiling panels 26 of the ceiling 14 and the upper rafter end 29 of the ceiling rafters 22, or optionally extend to a point before or after the upper rafter end 29 of the ceiling rafters 22. The surface of the passageway walls 24 is illustrative of the lower passageway peripheral surface 27 which is provided about an lower passageway portion 28. The term "lower passageway portion" is used herein to refer to the lower part of the passageway 12 adjacent to the room 18, but also may refer to an area proximate, adjacent, immediately about or below the passageway 12. The term "lower passage peripheral surface" as used 5 herein thus refers to a surface located at or immediately about the lower passageway portion 28. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the passageway walls 24 intersect with the ceiling panels 26 of the ceiling 14 about the lower passageway portion 28. As shown in Figure 2, the passageway walls' 24 intersection with the ceiling panels 26 is provided via a trim 30 disposed about a periphery of the lower passageway portion 28 so as to underlap with the passageway wall lower end 32 of the passageway wall 24. The trim 30 is apt at providing a finished look to the joint between the ceiling 14 and the passageway 12 by concealing the passageway wall lower end 32, but also provides a mounting support for a seal as will be described in more detail herein below.
Illustratively, the upright passageway walls 24 may be formed from gypsum or plaster board, particle board, PVC or aluminium, or other similar to the material typically used to form the ceiling panels 26 as is generally known in the art.
Screws or other fasteners (both not shown) may be illustratively used to secure the passageway walls 24 to the ceiling rafters 22 in a manner such that the passageway walls 24 are square to one another and are vertically parallel, for example. Screws or other fasteners (both not shown) may also be illustratively used secure the trim 30 to the ceiling rafters 22 or to the ceiling panels 26, for example.
Still referring to FIG. 1, each passageway 12 is also dimensioned such that a top wall surface 34, opposite to the wall lower end 32, of each upright passageway wall 24 is illustratively level with one another about a horizontal plane. The top wall surface 34 is illustrative of an upper passageway peripheral surface 25 which is provided about an upper passageway portion 35. The term "upper passageway portion" is used herein to refer to the upper part of the passageway 12 adjacent to the ceiling 14, but also may refer to an area proximate, adjacent, immediately about or below the top of the passageway 12. The term "upper passage peripheral surface" as used herein thus refers to a surface located at or about the upper passage way portion 35.
Now referring to Figure 3, in addition to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the housing assembly 20 is illustrated as including a rectangular housing 36 which includes a bottom housing portion 38 adapted and dimensioned to be received and fitted within the passageway 12 in a manner as will be described herein below. The bottom housing portion 38 illustratively includes flat upright bottom housing walls which define a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42 which is dimensioned so as to approximately mate with the passageway walls 24 to permit the bottom housing portion 38 to be received within the passageway 12 and substantially block the passageway 12, except for a narrow void 44 created between the bottom housing walls 40 and the passageway walls 24 due to the smaller peripheral dimension of the bottom housing portion 38 relative to the passageway 12. The bottom housing walls 40 are joined at their bottom end to a bottom housing panel 46 which includes a rectangular horizontal panel surface 48 and a side upright outer perimeter surface 50. The rectangular horizontal panel surface 48 is illustratively provided as co-extensive with the flat surface of ceiling panels 26 when the housing assembly 20 is received within the passageway 12 so as to provide a seamless interface there between, but the rectangular horizontal panel surface 48 may optionally be recessed within the ceiling 14 therefrom depending on the dimensions of the housing assembly 20, for example as dependent on the height of the bottom housing walls 40.
Illustratively, the bottom housing panel 46 may be formed from gyproc, or other paneling material normally associated with ceiling constructions as is generally known in the art. Optionally, the bottom housing panel 46 can be formed from metal, wood, plywood, particle board and like sheet material, for example.
Optionally, insulation such as foam plastic or glass fibre mat or polyurethane sheets may be enclosed within a bottom housing space 51 defined by the bottom housing panel 46 and the bottom housing walls 40 so as to increase the insulating properties of the housing assembly 20 comparable to that of the ceiling 14. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the bottom housing portion 38 may be integrally formed from such insulation material, such as a block of foam plastic or glass fibre mat or polyurethane sheets, or a combination thereof, such that the bottom housing walls 40 are defined by the perimeter of such material.
Still referring to FIGs. 1 to 3, the housing 36 also includes a top housing portion 52 connected to the bottom housing portion 38 which may include insulation such as foam plastic or glass fiber mat or polyurethane sheets enclosed thereby, defined thereby, or provided thereabove or thereupon in order to reduce heat loss through passageway 12 when the housing assembly 20 is received within the passageway 12. The top housing portion 52 is illustratively wider than the bottom housing portion 38. The top housing portion 52 includes a top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 defined by the interface of flat upright top housing portion walls 56 connected to the bottom housing walls 40 by a horizontal lip or flange 58. Illustratively, the flange 58 is adapted to rest against the top wall surface 34 to thereby suspend the bottom housing portion 38 within the passageway 12 illustratively from a point above and adjacent to the passageway 12. The suspension of the housing assembly 20 is this illustrated manner clears the passageway 12 from any impeding support structures which can reduce the effective area of the passageway 12. Of note, while the ceiling hatch 10 is illustrated herein as being suspendable by the flange 58 resting upon top wall surface 34, other configurations which allow the bottom housing portion 38 to be suspended within the passageway 12 such that upright passageway walls 24 are located in a spaced close relation to the bottom housing walls 40 without the necessity of providing supporting structures which encroach within and reduce the cross sectional area of the passage way 12 may be provided. For example, the flange 58 may extend beyond the top wall surface 34 to be suspended by a portion of the rafters 22 or other cross member extending from or between the rafters 22 (not shown), or other structure element provided , , thereabout. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the top housing portion 36 may be integrally formed from such insulation material, such as a block of foam plastic or glass fibre mat or polyurethane sheets, or a combination thereof, such that the top housing portion walls 56 are defined by the perimeter of such material.
Now referring back to FIG. 1, in addition to FIG. 4, the ceiling hatch 10 includes a lower seal 60 engageable between the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42 and lower passageway peripheral surface 27 when the bottom housing portion 38 is fitted within the passageway 12. Illustratively, the lower seal 60 is provided to extend from the trim 30 to engage the side upright perimeter surface 50. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the lower seal 60 is illustratively a one-piece flexible rubber or plastic band apt to engage the side upright outer perimeter surface 50 so as to inhibit or prevent air from flowing between housing assembly 20 and the passageway 12. The lower seal 60 illustratively comprises a plurality of bristles 61 projecting from a base 63 which may be frictionally engaged within a slot 65 provided along the trim 30.
Angular wedges 67 extending away from the base 63 may optionally be provided for enhancing the friction fit between the base 63 and the slot 65. The base 63 is illustratively shown as recessed from the upright passageway walls 24 so that the base 63 does not encroach upon the accessible area of the passageway 12 for ingress or egress to the attic 16 or room 18 therethrough. Optionally, a flexible wiper element, or foam, or other sealing material may be provided instead of the bristles 61 to provide the seal. Of note, while the lower seal 60 has been illustrated between the side upright outer perimeter surface 50 and illustratively extending from the trim 30, other configurations and locations may be possible so as to provide a seal between the passageway 12 and the housing assembly 20 about or near the bottom housing portion 38 when the housing assembly 20 is received within the passageway 12. For example, the lower seal 60 may extend from the passageway walls 24 and contact the upright bottom housing walls 40.
Alternatively, the lower seal 60 may extend from the side upright outer perimeter surface 50 to engage the trim 30.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the ceiling hatch 10 includes an upper seal 62 engageable between the top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 and the upper passageway peripheral surface 25 upon illustratively positioning of the top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 such that the flange 58 rests and is supported against the against the top wall surface 34. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper seal 62 is provided on the flange 58 such that the weight of housing assembly 20 is supported by the top wall surface 34 tending to engage and optionally compress the upper seal in a self-sealing manner against the top wall surface 34.
Now referring to FIG. 5, in addition to FIG. 1, illustratively the upper seal 62 is a gasket which may be secured to either the top wall surface 34 or the flange 58 by adhesive or fastening for example. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the upper seal 62 is illustratively a compressible foam strip 69 secured, by adhesive for example, to the surface of the flange 58, so as to form a seal between the top wall surface 34 and the flange 58. Optionally, a flexible wiper element, rubber seal, or other sealing material or structure may be provided. Optionally, for example, the foam strip 69 may secured to the flange using a projection extending therefrom for frictional engagement within a slot provided along the flange 58 (all not shown). Optionally, depending on the material selected to form the flange 58, a seal may be formed directly between the flange 58 and the top wall surface 34 when the flange 58 is supported thereon. Alternatively, the foam strip 69 may be provided to extend from the passageway walls 24 and engage the upright bottom housing walls 40, or vice-versa.
Still referring to FIG. 1, when the lower seal 60 and the upper seal 62 are engaged between the housing assembly 20 and the passageway 12, the lower seal 60 forms a warm barrier located between the room 18 and the void 44, while the upper seal 62 forms a cold barrier located between the attic 16 and the void 44 such that the void 44 traps air there between creating an insulating zone.
The seals 60, 62 thus acts as a barrier against air flow between the attic 16 and the room 18, as well as to enclose the space attic 16 and the room 18 to thereby 5 inhibit the flow of air, often times warms air, in passageway 12 and trap air within the void 44. The provision of a suspending configuration for the housing assembly 20 within the passageway 12, for example configuration of the top wall surface 34 to support the flange 58 at a position adjacent to the passageway 12, thereby maximizes the access area of the passageway 12 which is only limited 10 by the size the of passageway 12 provided between the rafters 22. Such a configuration also allows for the compliance with new building codes and regulations, without having to enlarge or alter existing passageways in homes and buildings, for example by enlarging the passageway 12 to extend between ceiling rafter 222 and 223. Illustratively, the width between rafters 22 is twenty four inches and the passageway 12 is generally provided between rafters 22 without altering the configuration of the rafters 22. In this manner existing ceiling hatches may be replaced with the ceiling hatch 10 of the present invention without the requirement for modifying the passageway 12, for example by having to cut rafters 22 to enlarge the passageway 12.
Now referring to FIG. 6, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method 100 of sealing a passageway 12 in a ceiling 14 with a housing assembly 20, the passageway 12 comprising an upper passageway peripheral surface 25 and a lower passageway peripheral surface 27. Examples of the steps of the method 100 are provided in Figures 1 to 4. The method 100 includes the steps: (a) suspending 102 the housing assembly 20 within the passageway 12, the housing assembly 20 comprising a top housing portion 52 comprising a top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 and a bottom housing portion 38 comprising a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42; (b) sealing 104 the lower passageway peripheral surface 27 with the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42; and (c) sealing 106 the upper passageway peripheral surface 25 with the top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54.
Although optional embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the above mentioned issues.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a ceiling hatch for sealing a passageway in a ceiling. The passageway includes an upper passageway peripheral surface and a lower passageway peripheral surface. The ceiling hatch includes a housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a bottom housing portion adapted to fit in the passageway and includes a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface. The housing assembly also includes a top housing portion connected to the bottom housing portion, the top housing portion includes a top housing portion outer peripheral surface adapted to rest against the upper passageway peripheral surface to suspend the bottom housing portion within the passageway. The ceiling hatch also includes a first seal engageable between the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface and the lower passageway peripheral surface when the bottom housing portion is suspended within the passageway, and a second seal engageable between the upper passageway peripheral surface and the top housing portion outer peripheral surface upon positioning of the top housing portion outer peripheral surface against the upper passageway peripheral surface. The ceiling hatch thereby does not limit the effective access area of the passageway.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided method of sealing a passageway in a ceiling, the passageway including an upper passageway peripheral surface and a lower passageway peripheral surface, the method includes suspending a housing assembly within the passageway. The housing assembly includes a top housing portion including a top housing portion outer peripheral surface, and a bottom housing portion including a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface. The method includes sealing the lower passageway peripheral surface with the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface, and sealing the upper passageway peripheral surface with the top , . 3 housing portion outer peripheral surface. The passageway is thereby sealed such that effective access area of the passageway is not limited by the ceiling hatch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention may be better understood with reference to the written description and drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a ceiling hatch illustrating a hatch housing received within a passageway, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the ceiling hatch, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the housing assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a close up cross-sectional side view of a lower seal in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a close up cross-sectional side view of an upper seal in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method of sealing a passageway with a hatch housing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Now referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is illustratively provided a ceiling hatch 10 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling hatch 10 is adapted to seal a passageway 12 provided in a ceiling 14 of a building, house, or home, or other like structure, for separating a space above the ceiling 14, such as an attic 16, from a space below the ceiling 14, such as a room 18. The ceiling hatch 10 includes a housing assembly 20 adapted to fit within the , passageway 12 to block and seal the passageway 12 such that air flow and heat transfer between the attic 16 and the room 18 is minimized or eliminated while maximizing the accessible area of the passageway 12 for ingress or egress to the attic 16 or room 18 there through. Of note, while the present invention will be described herein with reference to a hatch for a ceiling 14, the ceiling hatch may be employed to seal other types of passageways between different types of spaces so as to provide a passageway area that remains unobstructed by inwardly extending hatch supports, such as extending flanges or shoulders. For example, the ceiling hatch 10 of the present invention may be provided for a passageway between a cellar or crawl space and a room in the building, home or house.
Now referring to FIG. 2, in addition to FIG. 1, illustratively, the passageway 12 is defined by a precut hole in the ceiling 14 between ceiling rafters 22 or joists.
Illustratively, the passageway 12 is rectangular in shape and typically bounded by and between the sides of two ceiling rafters 22 along one direction, for example along the length of the passageway 12, and the cut ends of other ceiling rafters 22 in another direction, for example along the width of the passageway 12. As illustrated, the passageway 12 extends between the sides of ceiling rafter 222 and 223. Optionally, other shapes of the passageway 12 may be provided such as square or circular, and various dimensions may also be provided. For example, in Canada, the National Building Code of Canada requires that the accessible area of the passageway 12 to an attic 16 have a minimum width of 545mm.
Illustratively, upright passageway walls 24 may be provided to delimit and define an upper passageway peripheral surface 25 and a lower passageway peripheral surface 27 of the passageway 12. The passageway walls 24 illustratively extend vertically between ceiling panels 26 of the ceiling 14 and the upper rafter end 29 of the ceiling rafters 22, or optionally extend to a point before or after the upper rafter end 29 of the ceiling rafters 22. The surface of the passageway walls 24 is illustrative of the lower passageway peripheral surface 27 which is provided about an lower passageway portion 28. The term "lower passageway portion" is used herein to refer to the lower part of the passageway 12 adjacent to the room 18, but also may refer to an area proximate, adjacent, immediately about or below the passageway 12. The term "lower passage peripheral surface" as used 5 herein thus refers to a surface located at or immediately about the lower passageway portion 28. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the passageway walls 24 intersect with the ceiling panels 26 of the ceiling 14 about the lower passageway portion 28. As shown in Figure 2, the passageway walls' 24 intersection with the ceiling panels 26 is provided via a trim 30 disposed about a periphery of the lower passageway portion 28 so as to underlap with the passageway wall lower end 32 of the passageway wall 24. The trim 30 is apt at providing a finished look to the joint between the ceiling 14 and the passageway 12 by concealing the passageway wall lower end 32, but also provides a mounting support for a seal as will be described in more detail herein below.
Illustratively, the upright passageway walls 24 may be formed from gypsum or plaster board, particle board, PVC or aluminium, or other similar to the material typically used to form the ceiling panels 26 as is generally known in the art.
Screws or other fasteners (both not shown) may be illustratively used to secure the passageway walls 24 to the ceiling rafters 22 in a manner such that the passageway walls 24 are square to one another and are vertically parallel, for example. Screws or other fasteners (both not shown) may also be illustratively used secure the trim 30 to the ceiling rafters 22 or to the ceiling panels 26, for example.
Still referring to FIG. 1, each passageway 12 is also dimensioned such that a top wall surface 34, opposite to the wall lower end 32, of each upright passageway wall 24 is illustratively level with one another about a horizontal plane. The top wall surface 34 is illustrative of an upper passageway peripheral surface 25 which is provided about an upper passageway portion 35. The term "upper passageway portion" is used herein to refer to the upper part of the passageway 12 adjacent to the ceiling 14, but also may refer to an area proximate, adjacent, immediately about or below the top of the passageway 12. The term "upper passage peripheral surface" as used herein thus refers to a surface located at or about the upper passage way portion 35.
Now referring to Figure 3, in addition to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the housing assembly 20 is illustrated as including a rectangular housing 36 which includes a bottom housing portion 38 adapted and dimensioned to be received and fitted within the passageway 12 in a manner as will be described herein below. The bottom housing portion 38 illustratively includes flat upright bottom housing walls which define a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42 which is dimensioned so as to approximately mate with the passageway walls 24 to permit the bottom housing portion 38 to be received within the passageway 12 and substantially block the passageway 12, except for a narrow void 44 created between the bottom housing walls 40 and the passageway walls 24 due to the smaller peripheral dimension of the bottom housing portion 38 relative to the passageway 12. The bottom housing walls 40 are joined at their bottom end to a bottom housing panel 46 which includes a rectangular horizontal panel surface 48 and a side upright outer perimeter surface 50. The rectangular horizontal panel surface 48 is illustratively provided as co-extensive with the flat surface of ceiling panels 26 when the housing assembly 20 is received within the passageway 12 so as to provide a seamless interface there between, but the rectangular horizontal panel surface 48 may optionally be recessed within the ceiling 14 therefrom depending on the dimensions of the housing assembly 20, for example as dependent on the height of the bottom housing walls 40.
Illustratively, the bottom housing panel 46 may be formed from gyproc, or other paneling material normally associated with ceiling constructions as is generally known in the art. Optionally, the bottom housing panel 46 can be formed from metal, wood, plywood, particle board and like sheet material, for example.
Optionally, insulation such as foam plastic or glass fibre mat or polyurethane sheets may be enclosed within a bottom housing space 51 defined by the bottom housing panel 46 and the bottom housing walls 40 so as to increase the insulating properties of the housing assembly 20 comparable to that of the ceiling 14. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the bottom housing portion 38 may be integrally formed from such insulation material, such as a block of foam plastic or glass fibre mat or polyurethane sheets, or a combination thereof, such that the bottom housing walls 40 are defined by the perimeter of such material.
Still referring to FIGs. 1 to 3, the housing 36 also includes a top housing portion 52 connected to the bottom housing portion 38 which may include insulation such as foam plastic or glass fiber mat or polyurethane sheets enclosed thereby, defined thereby, or provided thereabove or thereupon in order to reduce heat loss through passageway 12 when the housing assembly 20 is received within the passageway 12. The top housing portion 52 is illustratively wider than the bottom housing portion 38. The top housing portion 52 includes a top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 defined by the interface of flat upright top housing portion walls 56 connected to the bottom housing walls 40 by a horizontal lip or flange 58. Illustratively, the flange 58 is adapted to rest against the top wall surface 34 to thereby suspend the bottom housing portion 38 within the passageway 12 illustratively from a point above and adjacent to the passageway 12. The suspension of the housing assembly 20 is this illustrated manner clears the passageway 12 from any impeding support structures which can reduce the effective area of the passageway 12. Of note, while the ceiling hatch 10 is illustrated herein as being suspendable by the flange 58 resting upon top wall surface 34, other configurations which allow the bottom housing portion 38 to be suspended within the passageway 12 such that upright passageway walls 24 are located in a spaced close relation to the bottom housing walls 40 without the necessity of providing supporting structures which encroach within and reduce the cross sectional area of the passage way 12 may be provided. For example, the flange 58 may extend beyond the top wall surface 34 to be suspended by a portion of the rafters 22 or other cross member extending from or between the rafters 22 (not shown), or other structure element provided , , thereabout. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the top housing portion 36 may be integrally formed from such insulation material, such as a block of foam plastic or glass fibre mat or polyurethane sheets, or a combination thereof, such that the top housing portion walls 56 are defined by the perimeter of such material.
Now referring back to FIG. 1, in addition to FIG. 4, the ceiling hatch 10 includes a lower seal 60 engageable between the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42 and lower passageway peripheral surface 27 when the bottom housing portion 38 is fitted within the passageway 12. Illustratively, the lower seal 60 is provided to extend from the trim 30 to engage the side upright perimeter surface 50. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the lower seal 60 is illustratively a one-piece flexible rubber or plastic band apt to engage the side upright outer perimeter surface 50 so as to inhibit or prevent air from flowing between housing assembly 20 and the passageway 12. The lower seal 60 illustratively comprises a plurality of bristles 61 projecting from a base 63 which may be frictionally engaged within a slot 65 provided along the trim 30.
Angular wedges 67 extending away from the base 63 may optionally be provided for enhancing the friction fit between the base 63 and the slot 65. The base 63 is illustratively shown as recessed from the upright passageway walls 24 so that the base 63 does not encroach upon the accessible area of the passageway 12 for ingress or egress to the attic 16 or room 18 therethrough. Optionally, a flexible wiper element, or foam, or other sealing material may be provided instead of the bristles 61 to provide the seal. Of note, while the lower seal 60 has been illustrated between the side upright outer perimeter surface 50 and illustratively extending from the trim 30, other configurations and locations may be possible so as to provide a seal between the passageway 12 and the housing assembly 20 about or near the bottom housing portion 38 when the housing assembly 20 is received within the passageway 12. For example, the lower seal 60 may extend from the passageway walls 24 and contact the upright bottom housing walls 40.
Alternatively, the lower seal 60 may extend from the side upright outer perimeter surface 50 to engage the trim 30.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the ceiling hatch 10 includes an upper seal 62 engageable between the top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 and the upper passageway peripheral surface 25 upon illustratively positioning of the top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 such that the flange 58 rests and is supported against the against the top wall surface 34. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper seal 62 is provided on the flange 58 such that the weight of housing assembly 20 is supported by the top wall surface 34 tending to engage and optionally compress the upper seal in a self-sealing manner against the top wall surface 34.
Now referring to FIG. 5, in addition to FIG. 1, illustratively the upper seal 62 is a gasket which may be secured to either the top wall surface 34 or the flange 58 by adhesive or fastening for example. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the upper seal 62 is illustratively a compressible foam strip 69 secured, by adhesive for example, to the surface of the flange 58, so as to form a seal between the top wall surface 34 and the flange 58. Optionally, a flexible wiper element, rubber seal, or other sealing material or structure may be provided. Optionally, for example, the foam strip 69 may secured to the flange using a projection extending therefrom for frictional engagement within a slot provided along the flange 58 (all not shown). Optionally, depending on the material selected to form the flange 58, a seal may be formed directly between the flange 58 and the top wall surface 34 when the flange 58 is supported thereon. Alternatively, the foam strip 69 may be provided to extend from the passageway walls 24 and engage the upright bottom housing walls 40, or vice-versa.
Still referring to FIG. 1, when the lower seal 60 and the upper seal 62 are engaged between the housing assembly 20 and the passageway 12, the lower seal 60 forms a warm barrier located between the room 18 and the void 44, while the upper seal 62 forms a cold barrier located between the attic 16 and the void 44 such that the void 44 traps air there between creating an insulating zone.
The seals 60, 62 thus acts as a barrier against air flow between the attic 16 and the room 18, as well as to enclose the space attic 16 and the room 18 to thereby 5 inhibit the flow of air, often times warms air, in passageway 12 and trap air within the void 44. The provision of a suspending configuration for the housing assembly 20 within the passageway 12, for example configuration of the top wall surface 34 to support the flange 58 at a position adjacent to the passageway 12, thereby maximizes the access area of the passageway 12 which is only limited 10 by the size the of passageway 12 provided between the rafters 22. Such a configuration also allows for the compliance with new building codes and regulations, without having to enlarge or alter existing passageways in homes and buildings, for example by enlarging the passageway 12 to extend between ceiling rafter 222 and 223. Illustratively, the width between rafters 22 is twenty four inches and the passageway 12 is generally provided between rafters 22 without altering the configuration of the rafters 22. In this manner existing ceiling hatches may be replaced with the ceiling hatch 10 of the present invention without the requirement for modifying the passageway 12, for example by having to cut rafters 22 to enlarge the passageway 12.
Now referring to FIG. 6, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method 100 of sealing a passageway 12 in a ceiling 14 with a housing assembly 20, the passageway 12 comprising an upper passageway peripheral surface 25 and a lower passageway peripheral surface 27. Examples of the steps of the method 100 are provided in Figures 1 to 4. The method 100 includes the steps: (a) suspending 102 the housing assembly 20 within the passageway 12, the housing assembly 20 comprising a top housing portion 52 comprising a top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54 and a bottom housing portion 38 comprising a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42; (b) sealing 104 the lower passageway peripheral surface 27 with the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface 42; and (c) sealing 106 the upper passageway peripheral surface 25 with the top housing portion outer peripheral surface 54.
Although optional embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (2)
1. A ceiling hatch for sealing a passageway in a ceiling, the passageway comprising an upper passageway peripheral surface and a lower passageway peripheral surface, the ceiling hatch comprising:
a housing assembly comprising:
a bottom housing portion adapted to fit in the passageway and comprising a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface; and a top housing portion connected to the bottom housing portion, the top housing portion comprising a top housing portion outer peripheral surface adapted to rest against the upper passageway peripheral surface to suspend the bottom housing portion within the passageway;
a first seal engageable between the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface and the lower passageway peripheral surface when the bottom housing portion is suspended within the passageway; and a second seal engageable between the upper passageway peripheral surface and the top housing portion outer peripheral surface upon positioning of the top housing portion outer peripheral surface against the upper passageway peripheral surface.
a housing assembly comprising:
a bottom housing portion adapted to fit in the passageway and comprising a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface; and a top housing portion connected to the bottom housing portion, the top housing portion comprising a top housing portion outer peripheral surface adapted to rest against the upper passageway peripheral surface to suspend the bottom housing portion within the passageway;
a first seal engageable between the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface and the lower passageway peripheral surface when the bottom housing portion is suspended within the passageway; and a second seal engageable between the upper passageway peripheral surface and the top housing portion outer peripheral surface upon positioning of the top housing portion outer peripheral surface against the upper passageway peripheral surface.
2. A method of sealing a passageway in a ceiling, the passageway comprising an upper passageway peripheral surface and a lower passageway peripheral surface, the method comprising:
suspending a housing assembly within the passageway, the housing assembly comprising:
a top housing portion comprising a top housing portion outer peripheral surface; and a bottom housing portion comprising a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface;
sealing the lower passageway peripheral surface with the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface; and sealing the upper passageway peripheral surface with the top housing portion outer peripheral surface.
suspending a housing assembly within the passageway, the housing assembly comprising:
a top housing portion comprising a top housing portion outer peripheral surface; and a bottom housing portion comprising a bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface;
sealing the lower passageway peripheral surface with the bottom housing portion outer peripheral surface; and sealing the upper passageway peripheral surface with the top housing portion outer peripheral surface.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2887732A CA2887732C (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2015-04-09 | Ceiling hatch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2887732A CA2887732C (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2015-04-09 | Ceiling hatch |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2887732A1 true CA2887732A1 (en) | 2016-10-09 |
| CA2887732C CA2887732C (en) | 2022-05-03 |
Family
ID=57122295
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2887732A Active CA2887732C (en) | 2015-04-09 | 2015-04-09 | Ceiling hatch |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2887732C (en) |
-
2015
- 2015-04-09 CA CA2887732A patent/CA2887732C/en active Active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2887732C (en) | 2022-05-03 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20200408 |