GB2144469A - Cell hatch - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a cell door hatch comprising a frame (10) having a hatch panel (20) slidable therein between an upper closed position and a lower open position. At least one catch (26, 27) is pivotally mounted in the thickness of the frame and movable from a first position engaging the lower edge of the hatch panel to support it in its closed position and a second position releasing the panel for movement to its open position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cell hatch This invention concerns a hatch for a cell door, particularly, though by no means exclusively, a police cell door, and which can be opened to enable food to be passed to a prisoner.

According to the present invention there is provided a cell door hatch comprising a frame, a hatch panel slidable within said frame between open and closed positions and at least one catch pivotally mounted within the thickness of the frame and movable between a first position engaging the lower edge of the hatch panel to support same in its closed position and a second position releasing the hatch panel for movement to its open position.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of cell hatch embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the cell hatch; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the cell hatch on the line Il-Il of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the cell hatch on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the cell hatch includes a frame 10 having a top 11, sides 12 and 13 and short bottom portions 14 and 15 extending inwardly from the lower ends of the sides 12 and 13 respectively.

The frame 10 is constructed from three flat metal plates 16, 17 and 18 welded together in superimposed relationship. The limbs of the back plate 16 and front plate 17 are somewhat wider than thse of the intermediate spacer plate 18 to define a groove 19 running around the inner edges of the frame and in which a hatch panel 20 is slidably located for movement between an upper closed position and a lower open position (indicated by chain dotted lines in Fig. 3). The frame includes a centre rail 21 extending between the side limbs of the back plate 16. The centre rail 21 forms a seal between the outer surface of the cell door to which the frame 10 is fixed and the sliding hatch panel 20. The inner lower parts of the plates 16 and 17 are shaped to prevent trapping of the fingers when the panel 20 is lowered to its closed position.

The hatch panel 20 is comprised by a steel plate drilled with speech holes 22 and having a lifting handle 23 in the form of a steel rod welded onto its outer surface.

The spacer plate 18 is cut away on opposite sides of the frame to provide recesses 24 and 25 which locate catch members 26 and 27 respectively.

The catch member 26 is pivotally mounted on a pin 28 passing between the plates 16 and 17 and has a hook formation at its lower end adapted to engage a corresponding notch 29 on the lower edge of the panel 20. To release the catch that part of the member 26 which protrudes beyond the outer edge of the frame 10 is depressed to disengage the hook and free the panel 20 for downward movement. When the panel 20 is raised to the closed position the catch re-engages automatically under the influence of gravity.

The catch member 27 which provides additional security is pivotally mounted on a pin 30 passing between the plates 16 and 17.

A small rebate 31 is cut into the top of the catch which locates with a corresponding notch 32 in the lower edge of the panel 20 to ensure a positive locking action. The bottom of the catch is notched at 33 to locate with a corresponding notch 34 in the plate 18 to limit movement, when the catch is in its unlocked position. The catch is activated into the locked position by finger pressure to the top of the catch when the panel 20 is raised.

When the hatch is open the catch is retained in a fixed position to the frame exposing only a low profile beyond the edge of the frame.

The locking action is by wedge and prop action. The profile of the catch is such as to offer no means of securing ligatures offering only a curved profile beyond the edge of the frame.

The catch 26 is retained within the frame, when the sliding panel is in the open position and offers a low profile beyond the frame, when the hatch is closed.

The catch 27 offers a low rounded profile only in both locked and unlocked positions and is retained by the sliding panel and restricting notch, when open.

Operation of the hatch can be effected with one hand. The use of both catches prevents any rocking action of the panel 20. Only one catch is required to lock the hatch in the closed position, but for added security both should be used.

The frame can be adjusted in size during manufacture to meet the requirements of varying sizes of apertures found in various models of cell door currently in use or available from various manufacturers. As a replacement unit for existing doors, the food hatch frame can be drilled and secured to existing tapped screw or holt holes. Where existing doors, after removal of the food hatch, offer no suitable fixing, the new model food hatch may be fixed by means of male and female dome headed bolts, and having an Allen-key facility on the outer or corridor face of the door to tighten the bolts, and a plain dome head on the cell side of the door. The cell door may be drilled in situ to receive the bolts.

Maintenance can be carried out by easy removal of the dome headed bolts, if used.

The slider channels and catches may require a light oiling from time to time. The frame is so constructed as to enable adjustments to be made, if necessary, by insertion of paper gaskets to ensure free running of the panel.

Claims (10)

1. A cell door hatch comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on the outer surface of the cell door, a hatch panel slidable within said frame between a lowered open and an upper closed position and a catch pivotally mounted within the thickness of the frame and movable between a first position engaging the lower edge of the hatch panel to support same in its closed position and a second position releasing the hatch panel for movement to its open position.

2. A cell door hatch according to claim 1 wherein that part of the catch on the side of its pivot remote from the panel extends outwardly from the frame to enable manual operation of the catch.

3. A cell door hatch according to claim 2 wherein said part of the catch acts under the influence of gravity to pivot the catch automatically to engage with the lower edge of the panel as it is raised to its closed position.

4. A cell door hatch according to any preceding claim wherein said catch has a hook-like formation on its inner end engageable with a complementary notch formation in the lower edge of the panel when the panel is in its upper closed position.

5. A cell door hatch according to any preceding claim including a further catch pivotally mounted within the thickness of the frame on the opposite side thereof from said first-mentioned catch and movable between a first position engaging the lower edge of the hatch panel to support same in its closed position and a second position releasing the hatch panel for movement to its open position.

6. A cell door hatch according to claim 5 wherein said further catch extends generally vertically and has a rebate on its upper end engageable with a complementary notch in the lower edge of the panel and a notch on its lower end engageable with a complementary notch in the frame to limit outward movement of the upper part of the catch.

7. A cell door hatch according to claim 6 wherein a portion of the lower part of the catch extends outwardly of the frame to enable manual operation of the catch to move it to its second position in which a portion of the upper part of the catch extends outward'liy of the frame to enable manual operation of the catch to move it to its first position.

8. A cell door hatch according to any preceding claim wherein the outwardly extending portions of the or each catch are of low rounded profile.

9. A cell door hatch according to any preceding claim wherein said frame is comprised by three plates secured together in superimposed relationship, the limbs of the outer plates being wider than those of the intermediate plate to define a groove on the inside of the frame which slidably locates the hatch panel.

10. A cell door hatch substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the figures of the accompanying drawings.