GB2579212A

GB2579212A - Access hatch

Info

Publication number: GB2579212A
Application number: GB1819129.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dallas Marvin Christopher
Original assignee: Flipfix Ltd
Current assignee: Flipfix Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-23
Filing date: 2018-11-23
Publication date: 2020-06-17
Also published as: WO2020104821A2; WO2020104821A3; GB201819129D0

Abstract

An access hatch mountable in an aperture in a wall or ceiling having a frame, a door panel having an aperture in which is a locking mechanism 10. The locking mechanism has a rotating locking member 14 and a main body 12 comprising a front surface 16 mounted through the door panel aperture and a recess 18 defining a keyway comprising a user-actuatable surface 20a that sits flush with the front surface when at rest and is selectively retractable into the keyway. Preferably the front surface sits flush with the door panel surface and the main body has a shoulder or step formation between its upper surface 22 and the front surface 16. The upper surface sits behind the door panel and the front surface extends through the aperture. The actuatable cover member 20 is preferably biased into the protective flush position by a spring 24 which engages with a mount 26 and the back surface 32 of the actuatable member 20. The door panel may have a U bend around its edge into which the lock in located with the locking member extending beyond the edge in the locked position. The stand alone lock assembly and the door panel with U bend are both defined.

Description

Title -Access hatch The present invention relates to an access hatch, and more specifically to the combination of an access hatch and a locking mechanism for the access hatch.

INTRODUCTION

Access hatches, also commonly referred to as access panels or Riser Doors, are used in both residential and commercial buildings to allow access to enclosed spaces behind walls, floors, or ceilings, that it is desirable to conceal during every-day use of the building. Often, the concealed spaces house electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, storage spaces or other unsightly functional components of the like.

It is desirable for access hatches to align with the surfaces in which they are installed, both physically and aesthetically, so that they do not stand out. For this reason, conventional access hatches are designed such that the frame of the hatch sits flush within an aperture in the wall, floor or ceiling in which it is installed, and the door of the access hatch sits flush within the frame. The entire access hatch may also be produced in a similar colour to that of the wall, floor or ceiling, i.e. so that the hatch is inconspicuous.

However, conventional access hatches have an aperture located to one side of the door panel, allowing a user to access the locking mechanism of the access hatch, e.g. by insertion of a key, so that they can open the door panel relative to the frame. This aperture is particularly unsightly, and ideally would not be present, but is required to maintain functionality and security of the access hatch.

The mounting of locking mechanisms to the hatch typically involves mounting lock housing portions to the front and rear side of the door panel. The frontal housing portion thus protrudes beyond the plane of the door panel surface and provides a further unwanted visual feature that draws attention to the presence of the panel.

The frontal housing feature also creates an unwanted projection, against which articles or people can catch upon passing closely by the door panel surface.

Furthermore, the locking mechanism of conventional access hatches is relatively complex, comprising a substantial structure welded, or otherwise rigidly affixed, to the rear side of the access hatch door, for engagement with the frame of the access hatch. Conventional access hatch locking mechanisms are therefore time-consuming and costly to manufacture.

It is therefore an intention of the present invention to provide an access hatch and a locking mechanism for the access hatch that overcome one or more of the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an access hatch mountable in an aperture in a wall or ceiling, the access hatch comprising: a frame; a door panel mounted in the frame to open relative to the front face of the frame, the door panel having an aperture therein; and a locking mechanism having a main body and a locking member rotatably mounted relative to the door panel for selective engagement with the frame, wherein the main body comprises a front surface mounted through the aperture in the door panel and a recess in said front surface defining a keyway for insertion of a key to rotate the locking member in use, said keyway comprising a user-actuatable surface therein that sits flush with the front surface when at rest and is selectively retractable into the keyway.

The front surface of the main body may sit flush with the front face of the door panel.

The main body may further comprise a shoulder or step formation adjacent the front surface. The shoulder formation may be arranged to contact a rear face of the door panel. The shoulder formation may have a width that is greater than a width dimension of the aperture of the door panel. The front surface may be spaced from the shoulder formation by a depth that is substantially equal to a depth or wall thickness of the door panel.

The access hatch may further comprise biasing means configured to bias the user-actuatable surface to the at rest condition.

The main body may be substantially barrel shaped. The main body may be open at a first end and attached to the locking member at a second end. The main body and locking member may be arranged to rotate in unison relative to the aperture in the door panel.

The main body may have a cavity, and the recess may lead into the cavity. The keyway insert member may have the user actuatable surface, and the keyway insert member may extend from the cavity into the recess.

The biasing means may be mounted in the cavity.

The main body may have a slot at an edge of the cavity for receiving a holder for the biasing means.

The door panel may be shaped to form a U-bend on a rear face of the door panel. 20 The U-bend may have an opening at an edge thereof for receiving the locking mechanism. The opening may be at least partially circular so as to permit rotation of the main body and/or locking member therein.

The locking mechanism may comprise a neck between the main body and the locking member, and the opening in the U-bend may be arranged to receive the neck of the locking mechanism. The opening in the U-bend and the collar may have a snap fit. The opening may have a discontinuity extending from the opening to the edge of the U-bend.

The locking member may be rotatably mounted relative to the door panel such that it moves between a first configuration in which the locking member overlies a surface of the frame of the access hatch and a second configuration in which the locking member is retracted behind the door panel.

The user-actuatable surface may have the same shape as the keyway and/or a key used to actuate the user actuatable surface, such that it retracts into the keyway.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a lock assembly for mounting relative to a door panel of an access hatch, the lock assembly comprising: a main body; a locking member depending outwardly from the main body, wherein the main body comprises a raised front surface portion arranged to be mounted through an aperture in a door panel and a recess in said front surface defining a keyway for insertion of a key to rotate the locking member in use, said keyway comprising a user-actuatable surface therein that sits flush with the front surface when at rest and is selectively retractable into the keyway.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an access hatch mountable in an aperture in a wall or ceiling, the access hatch comprising: a frame; a door mounted in the frame to open relative to the front face of the frame, the door having a front panel and being shaped at an edge thereof to form a U-bend on a rear face of the front panel, wherein the door comprises a first opening in the front panel and a second opening in the U-bend; and a locking mechanism having a locking member, the locking mechanism rotatably mounted in the U-bend between the first and second openings, wherein the locking member is rotatable between a first configuration in which the locking member depends outwardly from the edge of the door to engage with the frame when the door is closed within the frame, and a second configuration in which the locking member is retracted behind the edge of the door such that the door is openable relative to the frame.

Practicable embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a locking mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of Figure 1, when assembled; Figure 3 is a side view of the locking mechanism of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a front view of an access hatch door incorporating the locking mechanism of Figures 1-3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rear side of an access hatch door incorporating the locking mechanism of Figures 1-3.

Figure 1 illustrates the component parts of a locking mechanism 10. The locking mechanism comprises a main body 12 and a locking member 14, which may be formed together as a single, unitary component. Alternatively, the main body 12 and locking member 14 could be formed as separate parts and rigidly connected together.

The main body 12 is substantially cylindrical barrel-shaped body. The locking member 14 is a locking arm that depends substantially radially outwardly from the main body 12.

The main body 12 has a circular front surface 16, so called because it is the part of the locking mechanism configured to show through an aperture in the door of an access hatch. The front surface 16 is raised slightly with respect to the remainder of the main body and is smaller in width than the remainder of the main body.

The front surface 16 has a recess 18 which defines a keyway for insertion of a key to operate the locking mechanism 10.

Within the keyway 18 is a user actuatable member 20, which has a front surface 20a. When the locking mechanism 10 is in its rest position, the surface 20a of the user actuatable member 20 sits flush with the front surface 16. The user actuatable member 20 is selectively retractable into the keyway 18 by exerting a pushing force perpendicular to the surface 20a, i.e. such that the surface 20a becomes depressed into the keyway 18 upon actuation.

The main body 12 further comprises a step formation 22 concentric to the front surface 16. The step formation 22 is configured to abut the rear face of the door of the access hatch (to be described below) and therefore has a radius or width dimension that is greater than the radius or width of the aperture in the door of the access hatch, and a depth that is substantially equal to the thickness of the door of the access hatch.

A coiled spring 24 is provided to resiliently bias the user actuatable member 20 towards its at-rest position where the front surface 20a sits flush with the front surface 16 of the door. The coiled spring is provided in a cavity 30 within the main body, below the recess/keyway 18. The recess 18 may open into the cavity 30.

The coiled spring 24 is held in place in the cavity 30 by an insert 26 which is inserted into a slot 28 cut out at the bottom edge of the cavity 30 in the circumferential side wall of the main body 12. The insert 26 may be slid into the cavity from the side to hold the spring 24 in place in the cavity 30. The insert 26 has a U-shaped formation to constrain the spring 24 and may hold the spring 24 at its base, i.e. at the bottom of the cavity 30.

The slot 28 may comprise one or more groove and the insert 26 comprises one or more lip to engage with the groove.

The coiled spring 24 is longer than the height of the cavity 30, when uncompressed, such that the coiled spring 24 is under compression when inserted into the cavity 30 and spans the height of the cavity. The spring 24 thus biases the member 20 upwards, i.e. to a position in which the front surface 20a is flush with surface 16.

The user actuatable member 20 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the keyway 18 and takes the form of a keyway insert. The member 20 has an enlarged base 32 that provides a surface against which the coiled spring 24 exerts a biasing force to urge the user actuatable surface 20 into its at-rest position. The enlarged base 32 provides an abutment formation to hold the member 20 within the keyway 18. Thus, the height of the keyway 18 matches the height of the member 20 above the base 32.

The keyway 18 and surface 20a are shaped alike and are both rectangular/square in this example, e.g. to receive a square key in use but could take alternative shapes in other examples, e.g. triangular, hexagonal or other polygonal shape to match the profile of a key to be used to actuate the lock.

Figure 2 illustrates the locking mechanism 10 of Figure 1 when assembled. Corresponding reference numerals are used throughout the Figures for corresponding features. When assembled, the insert 26 is slidably inserted within slot 28. The insert 26 holds the coiled spring 24 in place such that it urges the base 32 of the user actuatable member 20 against the upper edge of the cavity 30 and the surface 20a in its at rest position flush with the front surface 16. The base 32 abutting the upper edge of the cavity 30 prevents the coiled spring 24 from over biasing the user actuatable surface 20 such that it would protrude from the front surface 16.

Figure 3 illustrates the assembled locking mechanism 10 of Figure 2. It can be seen from this side view that the coiled spring 24 extends between the insert 26 and the base 32 of the actuatable member 20. It can also be seen that the locking mechanism 10 comprises a neck 33 between the main body 12 and the locking member 14. The neck 33 is of reduced diameter/width and provides a mounting formation for location with an opening in the door panel as will be described below.

The main body 12 is of a height of the order of 25mm and a diameter of the order of 25mm. The locking member 14 is of a height of the order of 10mm, a length of the order of 40mm and a width of the order of 15mm. The front surface has a diameter of the order of 15mm. The step formation 22 is therefore of a width of approximately 5mm. The step formation 22 has a depth of the order of 1mm. The recess 18 is roughly square-shaped and has a width/length of the order of 10mm.

The user-actuatable surface 20 is of similar shape and dimensions to the recess 18.

The main body 12 and locking member 14 are generally formed of a plastic material and are formed as a single component via a moulding process. The keyway insert 32 and holder insert 26 are also generally made of a plastic material and are formed by a moulding process.

Figure 4 illustrates an access hatch 34 incorporating the locking mechanism 10.

The access hatch 34 comprises a frame 36, and a door panel 38 hingedly connected to the frame 36. The door panel 38 is openable outwardly from the frame 36 in this example so as to reveal the concealed space behind the hatch 34. The door panel 38 could open inwardly in other examples. The door panel 38 rotates about the hinge between open/closed conditions.

The door 38 has an aperture 39 located close to one side/edge of the door, through which the locking mechanism 10 is mounted. The aperture 39 is shaped to correspond to the front surface 16 of the main body 10, i.e. being circular in plan.

The locking mechanism 10 is mounted through the aperture 39 such that the front surface 16 sits flush with the door panel 38. The user actuatable surface 20, which sits flush with the front surface 16, therefore also sits flush with the door panel 38, such that the user actuatable surface 20, the front surface 16 and the door panel 38 lie in a common plane, e.g. to form a substantially continuous surface. The user actuatable surface 20 is accessible to a user of the access hatch 34 such that the access hatch 34 may be selectively opened and closed.

The locking mechanism is mounted such that the step formation 22 abuts the rear side of the door panel 38 and so only the raised front surface 16 extends into the aperture 39.

Figure 5 illustrates the rear side of the door 38 panel with the locking mechanism 10 mounted thereto.

The edge of the door panel 38 is bent back on itself to form a U-bend or channel 40, within which the locking mechanism 10 is mounted. The door panel 38 thus comprises a sheet metal that is doubly folded so as to create an overhang. A first wall portion is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the door panel and defines both a side of the door and a depth of a channel 40 formed behind the door panel. A second wall portion 41 extends behind the front panel of the door, substantially parallel therewith but spaced therefrom by the first wall portion.

Behind the aperture 39 in the door panel 38, there is also provided an opening 42 in the U-bend 40, i.e. in the second wall portion 41. The opening 42 is shaped to receive the collar 33.

The opening 42 is generally circular but has a cut-out or discontinuity 44 at the edge of the U-bend, i.e. the edge of the second wall portion 41. Thus, the opening 42 is an incomplete circular opening, e.g. in the form of a keyhole-shaped opening at the edge of the U-bend 40. The cut-out 44 is angled/tapered such that it narrows towards the circular portion of the opening 42. The circular portion of the opening 42 defines a majority of a circle.

The shape of the opening 42 and cut-out 44 means that the collar 33 has a snap fit with the opening 42. This provides a particularly simple mode of assembly.

In use, the neck portion 33 of the locking mechanism 10 is slidably forced into the opening 42 such that the neck 33 snaps into place in the opening 42. At the same time the front surface 16 of the main body is located in the front opening 39, such that the locking mechanism becomes held fast between the frontal door panel 38 and the second/rear wall portion 41. The height of the main body 12 is thus equal to the depth of the channel 40.

A considerable force is required to overcome the narrowed cut-out portion 44, which prevents the neck 33 from being released from the U-bend 40 accidentally in use.

A user can then apply force to the user-actuatable member 20 via a key, to force the surface 20a downwards within the keyway 18. This allows the user to control rotational movement of the main body 12 and the locking member 14, by rotating the key. The engagement of the key within the keyway 18 thus causes rotation of the main body 12 and the locking member 14 in unison. Unlike many conventional locks, the whole of the main body 12 and locking member 14 are rotated relative to the door panel within the aligned openings 39 and 42.

To lock the door panel 38 to the frame 36, a user shuts the door panel 38 such that the U-bend 40 aligns with the frame 36. The user then rotates the key with the keyway 18 such that the main body 12 and locking member 14 rotate, forcing the locking member 14 to overlap/interfere with a rear surface of the frame 36, thus preventing opening of the door panel 38 from the frame 36.

To open the door panel 38 from the frame 36, a user rotates the key with the keyway 18 in the opposite direction such that the main body 12 and locking member 14 rotate in the opposite direction in unison. The locking member 14 will no longer overlap the rear surface of the frame 36, and be entirely disposed behind the door panel. The door panel 38 will therefore be openable outwardly from the frame 36, allowing access to the hatch.

In alternative embodiments, the locking member 14 may engage with a specifically designed retaining formation on the rear surface of the frame 36, to more securely prevent opening of the door panel 38 from the frame 36.

In alternative embodiments, the coiled spring 24 may be an alternative biasing mechanism, such as an alternative type of resilient member, or more than one spring.

In alternative embodiments, the main body 12 and the locking member 14 may be pivotably connected, and actuation of the user actuatable surface 20 may bring a portion of the keyway 18 into engagement with the locking member 14, such that the locking member 14 may be rotated relative to the main body 12. In such an example, the front surface 16 and opening 39 could be non-circular, e.g. polygonal or elliptical, to prevent rotation of the main body whilst permitting rotation of the locking member 14.

In alternative embodiments, the main body 12, the locking member 14, the holder insert 26 and the keyway insert 32 may be made of any material having the characteristics required by the invention, and may be formed by any suitable process.

In alternative embodiments, the main body 12 and the locking member 14 may be formed separately, and connected together such that the main body 12 and locking member 14 are rotatable in unison in use. This may allow locking members 14 of differing lengths to be produced and the desired length of locking member attached to the main body. In other embodiments, the locking member need not be rotatable in unison with the main body 12 but could instead rotate relative to the main body 12, e.g. whereby the locking member is rotated by the keyway via a pin, shaft or other coupling through the main body.

Whilst the main body 12 is described as being barrel-shaped above, it is not necessary that the main body be that shape and could take any suitable form, provided that it has formations for engaging with the openings/apertures in the door panel.

In further embodiments, the step formation 22 may be configured to abut the rear face of the door of the access hatch by having an alternative shape to the aperture in the door of the access hatch.

In further embodiments, the insert 26 may have an alternatively shaped formation for constraining the spring 24.

In further embodiments, the opening 42 may be differently shaped depending on the shape of the main body 12. For example, it is anticipated that where the locking member 14 rotates relative to the main body, rather than rotating in unison, there is no requirement for the main body 12 to rotate within the opening 42. It is therefore anticipated that in this situation, the main body 12 and the opening 42 could be alternatively shaped, for example square-shaped or any other polygonal or elliptical shape. However, the main body 12 and the opening 42 would be of the same shape such that the main body 12 fits closely within the opening 42 as previously described to provide minimal disruption to the appearance of the front face of the door panel.

Claims

Claims 1. An access hatch mountable in an aperture in a wall or ceiling, the access hatch comprising: a frame; a door panel mounted in the frame to open relative to the front face of the frame, the door panel having an aperture therein; and a locking mechanism having a main body and a locking member rotatably mounted relative to the door panel for selective engagement with the frame, wherein the main body comprises a front surface mounted through the aperture in the door panel and a recess in said front surface defining a keyway for insertion of a key to rotate the locking member in use, said keyway comprising a user-actuatable surface therein that sits flush with the front surface when at rest and is selectively retractable into the keyway.
2. An access hatch according to Claim 1, wherein the front surface of the main body sits flush with the front face of the door panel.
3. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, wherein the main body further comprises a shoulder or step formation adjacent the front surface.
4. An access hatch according to Claim 3, wherein the shoulder formation is arranged to contact a rear face of the door panel.
5. An access hatch according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the shoulder formation having a width that is greater than a width dimension of the aperture of the door panel.
6. An access hatch according to any of Claims 3-5, wherein the front surface is spaced from the shoulder formation by a depth that is substantially equal to a depth or wall thickness of the door panel.
7. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, further comprising biasing means configured to bias the user-actuatable surface to the at rest condition.
8. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, the main body being substantially barrel shaped.
9. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, the main body being open at a first end and attached to the locking member at a second end.
10. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, the main body and locking member being arranged to rotate in unison relative to the aperture in the door panel.
11. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, the main body having a cavity, wherein the recess leads into the cavity and a keyway insert member having the user actuatable surface, the keyway insert member extending from the cavity into the recess.
12. An access hatch according to Claim 11, when dependent on claim 7, wherein the biasing means is mounted in the cavity.
13. An access hatch according to Claim 12, the main body having a slot at an edge of the cavity for receiving a holder for the biasing means.
14. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, the door panel being shaped to form a U-bend on a rear face of the door panel.
15. An access hatch according to Claim 14, the U-bend having an opening at an edge thereof for receiving the locking mechanism.
16. An access hatch according to Claim 15, wherein the opening is at least partially circular so as to permit rotation of the main body and/or locking member 35 therein.
17. An access hatch according to Claim 15 or 16, the locking mechanism comprising a neck between the main body and the locking member, and the opening in the U-bend arranged to receive the neck of the locking mechanism.
18. An access hatch according to Claim 15, 16 or 17, the opening in the U-bend and the collar having a snap fit.
19. An access hatch according to any of Claims 15-18, the opening having a discontinuity extending from the opening to the edge of the U-bend. 10
20. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, the locking member rotatably mounted relative to the door panel such that it moves between a first configuration in which the locking member overlies a surface of the frame of the access hatch and a second configuration in which the locking member is retracted behind the door panel.
21. An access hatch according to any preceding claim, wherein the useractuatable surface has the same shape as the keyway and/or a key used to actuate the user actuatable surface, such that it retracts into the keyway. 20
22. A lock assembly for mounting relative to a door panel of an access hatch, the lock assembly comprising: a main body; a locking member depending outwardly from the main body, wherein the main body comprises a raised front surface portion arranged to be mounted through an aperture in a door panel and a recess in said front surface defining a keyway for insertion of a key to rotate the locking member in use, said keyway comprising a user-actuatable surface therein that sits flush with the front surface when at rest and is selectively retractable into the keyway.
23. An access hatch mountable in an aperture in a wall or ceiling, the access hatch comprising: a frame; a door mounted in the frame to open relative to the front face of the frame, the door having a front panel and being shaped at an edge thereof to form a U-bend on a rear face of the front panel, wherein the door comprises a first opening in the front panel and a second opening in the U-bend; and a locking mechanism having a locking member, the locking mechanism rotatably mounted in the U-bend between the first and second openings, wherein the locking member is rotatable between a first configuration in which the locking member depends outwardly from the edge of the door to engage with the frame when the door is closed within the frame, and a second configuration in which the locking member is retracted behind the edge of the door such that the door is openable relative to the frame.