GB2282847A

GB2282847A - Hinge for a hatch cover

Info

Publication number: GB2282847A
Application number: GB9420300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Edward Cleal
Original assignee: Lewmar Marine Ltd
Current assignee: Lewmar Marine Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-12
Filing date: 1994-10-07
Publication date: 1995-04-19
Also published as: GB9420300D0; GB9321017D0

Abstract

A friction hinge for a hatch cover has a linkage allowing edges of the cover to sealingly overlie a frame of the hatch. This is achieved by a linkage comprising a first arm 18 pivoted to the frame 12 and to a block 14 on an underside of the cover 10, a second arm 20 pivotally coupled to the block 14 and slidably received in the frame 12 and a third arm 32 pivoted to the frame 12 and to an intermediate position 43 on the second arm. The block 14 may comprise a camming tongue (38, Fig.2c) which engages with the frame in the closed position of the cover 10 to urge the cover 10 and the frame 12 together. The pivotal connection between the second and third arms 34 may comprise a locking means (37, Fig.5) to hold the cover in an open position. <IMAGE>

Description

HATCH AND HINGE THEREFOR The present invention relates to a hinge for a hatch. In particular, it relates to a hinge for a hatch in a normally substantially horizontal surface, which may be part of a marine vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known and commonplace to attach a hatch to its surrounding opening by an ordinary hinge. It is then necessary to provide a stay arm to hold the hatch in a fully open position. If the hatch is to maintain intermediate open positions, either counterbalancing or multiple stay positions must be provided. If the hatch is in a horizontal surface, there may be a considerable force acting on the stay arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a hatch cover hinged to a frame by a hinge arrangement comprising a first arm rotatably linked at either end thereof to attachment points on the hatch cover and frame respectively, a second arm rotatably linked at one end to either the hatch cover or the frame and slidably linked at its other end to a sliding track along the frame or hatch cover respectively, a third arm rotatably linked at either end therefore to a point along the second arm and to an attachment point spaced from but fixed relative to the sliding track, respectively.

Suitably, the frame is fixed to, or integral with, an opening in a surface. The surface may be a deck of a marine vessel.

A stay arm is thus rendered inessential. The hatch cover can be supported by friction in the various linkages of the hinge arrangement.

The hinged hatch of the present invention may give sealing against spray enhanced by providing on the hinge arrangement a projecting camming tongue adjacent to one edge of the hatch cover, which when the hatch cover approaches the closed state is progressively received in a corresponding recess in the frame. Thus, the interaction of tongue and recess urges that edge of the hatch cover tightly closed against the frame and enables a superior seal to be achieved.

The invention comprises also a hinge arrangement of the construction given above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional part top view of a hinged hatch of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2a to 2c are sectional part side views of a hinged hatch embodying the present invention, showing the hatch fully open, partly closed, and fully closed, respectively; Fig. 3 is a planar view of one half of a hatch which is a second embodiment, looking through a transparent hatch cover sheet; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the plane IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a section of the hinge linkage of the second embodiment, on the plane V-V of Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1, 2a to 2c, the hatch and its surrounding frame are shown but treated as if transparent, thus showing the hinge arrangement.

The hatch cover 10, when closed, covers an opening defined by a frame 12, with its edges overlying that frame in a sealing manner. In the embodiment shown the frame is fitted as part of a horizontal deck 15. A hinge arrangement 11 is fitted near one edge 13, hereinafter called the hinged edge to allow the cover to move between the closed position and open positions.

Fitted to the underside of the hatch cover 10 are two hatch brackets 14, each positioned perpendicular to the hinged edge 13 of the hatch 10, near to a respective side edges 15,17 of the hatch cover. The hatch brackets 14 are secured to the hatch cover 10 by screws 16.

The hatch brackets provide pivotal attachment points for a first arm 18 and a longer second-arm 20 which are attached thereto by pins 22,24. The other end of the first arm 18 is pivotally attached in a similar fashion to an attachment point on the frame 12 via a pin 26, and the other end of the second arm 20 is linked to a sliding track 28 in the frame 12 by a slider 30.

The first and second arm 18,20 are cranked at 19,21 so as to offset the attachment points of the hatch and frame.

A third arm 32, of similar length to the first arm 18 is pivotally attached at each end to attachment points roughly midway along the second arm 20 and on the frame 12 adjacent the attachment point of the first arm 18. As before, attachment is by way of pins 34,36.

The rotation allowed by the pins permits opening and closing of the hatch 10, but is sufficiently stiff to support the hatch in a fully or partly open state.

Thus, there is no need to provide a stay arm.

As the hatch cover is moved between its closed and fully open portions, the hinged edge 13 executes a complex movement. Initially, the hatch cover 10 rotates about the hinged edge 13, and then moves bodily upwardly away from the frame 12 before rotating about an axis inset from the hinged edge 13. This movement clearly opens the hatch without "dragging" the material of the seal 42, thereby preventing degradation of the seal 42.

In practice, some adjustment of the precise lengths and attachment points may be needed to effect a smooth operation. The dimensions shown in Figs. 2a-2c provide such an operation.

The hatch brackets 14 have tongues 38 projecting from one end towards the hinged edge 13 which, as the hatch is closed, project into and wedgingly engage with corresponding recesses 40 in the frame 12. Thus, upward movement of the hatch cover 10 is restrained and the edge 13 of the hatch cover 10 maintain a satisfactory seal against a sealing member 42 provided between the hatch cover 10 and frame 12 all around the latter. The other edges are maintained shut by a handle or handles, not shown. The initial rotation of the cover as it is opened disengages the tongues 38 from the recesses.

As shown, the hatch cover 10 cooperates with a separate frame 12 which may be attached to an opening in a deck surface. However, it will be understood that the frame 12 can be formed as an integral part of a deck surface.

A second and presently preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Parts like those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numbers, primed. Figure 3 shows only half of the hatch; the other half is symmetrical and only one side will be described.

This embodiment 11 has its hinge bracket 14' in the form of a moulding, bonded to the undersurface of a hatch cover 10, which in this case is a transparent sheet. The shape of the moulding is such that pivots 22,24 are staggered as seen in plan view.

Pivots 26,36 are on a mounting block 25, legs 27 of which fit into a channel 29 of a frame 12' formed by a constant cross-section profile member. To position the block 25 along the channel, a hole is drilled in the base of the channel and screw 31 inserted through it into the block.

The sliding end 30' of second arm 20' has a stub 33 which runs in the channel 29 between its walls, with shoulder 35 sliding against the ends of the walls of the channel.

At the pivot 34' between the second and third arms 20',32 a lock 37 is provided. A hub 39 is rotatable about pivot 34' by actuation of a lock lever 41. A moulding 43 on the end of arm 32 has a projecting lug 45. A screw on the pivot moves the hub 39 axially towards or away from the lug 45 upon rotation of the lever 41. The arm 20' can be positively blocked in a position representing a partopen condition of the hatch 10, or released therefrom, by appropriate operation of the lever 41.

Hinge brackets 14' have tongues 38' engaging into the channel 29.

Bases 47 of handles 49 are bonded to the undersurface of the hatch 10'. Cammed flanges 51 engage, upon rotation of the handles on their shafts 53, under the hatch frame 12'.

A seal is provided by an elastomeric profile 55 applied around the frame 12' by being forced onto a ridge 57 lying around the frame above the upper side wall of channel 29. The frame is extended outwardly at 59 to provide an aesthetically pleasing merge to the deck while giving protection to the edges of the hatch sheet.

The action of the hinge is as described with reference to Figs. 2a, b and c so that there is an efficient seal with sealing profile 55 without scuffing or dragging on the latter during opening of the hatch.

Bonding of the blocks 14' (and handle bases 47) to the undersurface of the sheet leaves its upper surface uninterrupted and of a pleasing and functional appearance. Cranking 19,-21 of the arms 18',20' and the staggering of their axes increases the spacing between the arms as compared to the first embodiment and diminishes the risk of injury to the user's fingers by being trapped between them. The channel 29 is used to receive both the block legs 27 and the slider 33. A positive lock 37 is provided, to augment the frictional resistance of the linkage and give further security in the absence of a stay arm.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hatch cover hinged to a frame by a hinge arrangement for movement between positions opening or closing an aperture defined by the frame and in its closed position having edges overlying and sealing to the frame, the hinge arrangement comprising: a first arm pivoted at the end portions thereof to the hatch cover and frame respectively; a second arm pivoted at one end portion to the hatch cover or the frame and slidably linked at its other end portion to a sliding track along the frame or the hatch cover; a third arm pivoted at the end portions thereof to an intermediate position along the second arm and to an attachment point spaced from but fixed relative to the sliding track, respectively.

2. A hatch cover according to claim 1 wherein the sliding track is along the frame.

3. A hatch cover according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein frictional drag in the hinge arrangement is sufficient to maintain the hatch cover in a predetermined open position when the frame is substantially horizontal.

4. - A hatch cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivot between the second and third arms comprises a lock operable to maintain said second and third arms in a predetermined.

rotational relationship.

5. A hatch cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pivots to the hatch cover are provided by a common block secured to said cover.

6. A hatch cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said cover comprises on its undersurface a block with a camming tongue projecting therefrom, the tongue in the closed position of the hatch cover engaging said frame to urge the frame and the cover together.

7. A hatch cover according to claim 6 wherein said tongue is on a block comprising also the pivot to the hatch cover of at least said first arm.

8. A hatch cover according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the block or blocks is or are bonded to an undersurface of the cover, the outer surface of the cover being uninterrupted.

9. A hatch cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said frame comprises a channel section member disposed peripherally around said opening with a mouth of said channel being directed inwardly towards the opening, said sliding track being defined by walls of said channel.

10. A hatch cover according to claim 9 wherein the pivot to the frame of at least one of the first and second arms is provided by a block fixedly received in the channel.

11. A hatch cover according to claim 10 wherein the sliding track being defined by walls of said channel.

12. A hinge arrangement for mounting a sheet closure member to an aperture to close over edges of the aperture or to open the aperture, the arrangement comprising: first, second and third arms each having a first and a second end, first ends of the first and third arms being pivotally mounted on a common block adapted for fixed mounting in relation to the aperture, second ends of the first and a first end of the second arm being pivotally mounted on a common block adapted for fixed mounting to said closure member, the second end of the second arm being adapted for slidable reception in relation to the aperture, and the second end of the third arm being pivotally mounted to an intermediate portion of the second arm.

13. Hinge arrangements substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 2-5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A hatch cover substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 2-5 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A hatch cover of which a hinge arrangement is as claimed in claims 13 or 14.