US2360554A - Porthole cover assembly - Google Patents

Description

06; 17, ENGLERT PORT HOLE COVER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1944. A. ENGLERT 7 PORT HOLE COVER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 19, 1942 2 sheejs sheet 2 BY Z ATTORA/EYS.

Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTHOLE- COVER ASSEMBLY Adam Englert, Milwaukee, Wis. Application December 19, 1942, Serial No. 469,524

stituting my present improvement, and of the 2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to an improved port hole cover or closure assembly, and has for its object the provision of simple and effective means for effecting varied opening of a port hole having a compound co'ver assembly associated therewith.

Port holes for vessels are ordinarily provided with at least two cooperating closure covers pivotally suspended from the adjacent wall, so that either or both of the compound closures may be opened or closed. The innermost cover is usually solid or opaque, while the intermediate cover which is located directly adjacent to the port hole is transparent, so that by opening the inner cover the port hole will remain sealed but a transparent window will still be provided. By subsequently also opening the intermediate cover, the port hole will be completely uncovered for purposes of ventilation or the like, and both of these cover plates are customarily suspended from a common pivot and are adapted to be clamped shut with the aid of a common set of clamping devices only a part of which need be released inorder to effect opening of the inside cover. While rigs for holding these covers in open position have heretofore been provided, these prior holding devices were rather cumbersome, difficult to manipulate, and relatively dangerous in use; and they did not provide for convenient and desirable variable opening of the transparent window closure. The prior holding devices were moreover of such construction that they could not be effectively applied in cramped quarters or where obstructions such as pipes were located near the port holes.

It is therefore a more specific object of my present invention to provide a new and useful port hole cover assemblage of compact and durable construction, wherein either of the closure elements may be conveniently opened or closed at will, and in which at least the sealing cover may be opened more or less and positively retained in the desired position of adjustment.

Another specific object of the present inventi-on is to provide improved instrumentalities for automatically and safely latching a number of cooperating covers in several selected positions with respect to an opening such as a port hole, with which the covers normally coact.

Still another specific object of this invention is to provide animproved port hole frame and cover assembly wherein the cover retaining devices all form an integral part of the compact assembly, thereby permitting ready and convenient installation and manipulation of the improved units in crowded quarters and regardless of adjacent obstructions.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features conconstruction and operation of a port hole and cover assembly built in accordance with the invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters desi nate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a front and left hand side perspective view of one of the improved port hole assem-- blages, showing both covers clamped shut;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the same assemblage with the innermost opaque cover fully opened and positively held in open position, while the intermediate transverse cover remains sealed;

Fig. -3 is a front and right hand side perspective view of the port h-ole assemblage, showing the innermost opaque cover fully opened, and the transparent intermediate cover only partially opened and held in part-open position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing both covers wide open'and positivelyretained; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the cover latching mechanism.

While the invention has been shown and described herein by way of illustration, as being especially applicable to port hole assemblies for ships or vessels, it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily limit thescope or utility of the improvement by virtue of this specific embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, the port hole assemblage shown therein comprises in general, an approximately circular member or frame 6 having an unobstructed opening or port hole 1 formed centrally therein, and being firmly attached to a wall 8; a set of four diametrically opposed sets of screw clamps 9, ll! swingably suspended from ears II on the frame 6, by means of pivot pins l2; and outside or intermediate cover I3 having a transparent window l4 therein, swingably suspended from an upper horizontal pivot shaft l5 mounted in ears l6 formed integral with the frame 6, and being provided with four sets of peripheral lugs 11, H3 with which all of the clamps 9, II! are cooperable; an inside opaque cover [9 also swingably suspended from the upper horizontal pivot shaft I5, and being provided with only two sets of diametrically opposite peripheral lugs 20 which are cooperable with the clamps IE] only; and a pair of cover retaining hooks 2!, 22 swingably suspended from an auxiliary pivot bolt 23 mounted in the frame ears l6, and being cooperable with notches 2 4, 25, 26 formed on the cover suspension lugs 21, 28.

The wall 8 may be part of the hull of a ship clamped shut. The screw clamps 9, II) are of well known construction, and by causing the clamps II) to coast with only two sets of lugs on the inside cover I9, these clamps I I! may be released without necessarily releasing the clamps 9, so as to permit opening of the opaque cover I9 without releasing the Window cover I3, as

illustrated in Fig, 2. The retaining hook 2I is adapted to coact only with the single notch 24 formed on the suspension lug 21 of the inner cover I9, and the other retaining hook 22 is adapted to coact with the two notches 25, 26 formed on the suspension lug 28 of the window cover I 3. These hooks 2I, 22 are freely swingably suspended from the pivot bolt 23 so that they will drop into the adjacent notches 24, 25, 26 by gravity when the corresponding covers I3, I9 are swung upwardly; and in order to maintain the latch hook 2| in the plane of the lug 21, the medial portion of the bolt 23 may be embraced by a tube or spacing sleeve as shown in Fig. 5. In order to facilitate lifting and lowering of the covers I3, I9, the intermediate cover I3 is provided with a manipulating lug 3|, and the innermost cover I9 is likewise provided with a manipulating lug 32.

Normally the covers I3, I9 will be in closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1, and all of the screw clamps 9, II] will be effective to hold both covers in closed position. If it is desired to open the innermost cover I9 only, it is only necessary to release the screw clamps I0 and .to swing the same out of engagement with the clamping lugs 20 as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the inner cover I9 may be raised to open position. As this cover I9 is swung upwardly the hook 2! Will ride along the lug 21 and will eventually drop into engagement with the notch 24, whereupon the hook 2I will positively prevent the cover I9 from dropping downwardly until the hook is subsequently released. The window I4 will then be uncovered and occupants of the room or vessel have a clear view through this window.

If it becomes desirable to partially open the intermediate cover I3, the clamps 9 should be released and this cover may then be raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the hook 22 will ride along the suspension lug 28 of the cover I3 and will engage the uppermost notch 25. The transparent window cover I3 will then be positively retained in an angular position with the plane of the window l4 disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to the plane of the wall 8. When it becomes desirable to fully open the Window cover I3, this cover may be elevated to the position illustrated in ,Fig. 4, whereupon the second notch 26 of the suspension lug 28 will be engaged by the hook 22, thereby positively holding the cover I3 in fully open position beneath the previously opened cover I9.

In order to release either of the covers I3, I9, it is only necessary to slightly additionally elevate these covers so as to permit convenient release of the respective retaining hooks 2I, 22. The covers may then be successively lowered and subsequently again clamped into the position shown in Fig. -l in an obvious manner. It will thus be noted that the innermost cover I9 may be independently opened or closed, without necessarily completely releasing the intermediate window cover I3, and that both covers may be opened or closed at will and are positively retained in open position by the latch hooks 2 I, 22. While it is ordinarily only desirable to provide a single notch for holding the innermost cover I9 in fully-opened position, it is usually desirable to provide two or more positions of opening of the intermediate cover I3.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a port hole cover assembly having effective latch means embodied directly therein, so that the entire assemblage may be installed or removed as a unit. The compactness of the improved assemblage will obviously permit application thereof in places where the surrounding zone is relatively obstructed, and eliminates necessity of providing cable suspensions from the ceiling or overhead deck, as was heretofore required. The improved assemblage can be readily installed and conveniently manipulated Without danger of having the covers drop unexpectedly, and the invention has proven highly successful in actual use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a fixed frame having a port hole therein and being provided with a pair of laterally spaced integral ears above said opening, a pair of parallel horizontal pivots mounted in said ears and projecting outwardly therebeyond, a transparent closure cover for said opening swingably suspended from the projecting opposite ends of one of said pivots closely adjacent to the outer sides of said ears, a non-transparent cover for said opening swingably suspended from the same pivot between and closely adjacent to the inner sides of said ears, each of said covers having a retaining notch and the said notch on one of the covers being adjacent to one of said ears while the notch on the other cover is adjacent to the other ear, and a pair of retainer hooks swingably suspended from the other of said pivots and being cooperable with said notches respectively.

2. In combination, a fixed frome having a port hole therein and being provided with a pair of laterally spaced integral ears above said opening, a pair of parallel horizontal pivots mounted in said ears and projecting outwardly therebeyond, a transparent inner cover for said opening swingably suspended from the projecting opposite ends of one of said pivots closely adjacent to the outer sides of said ears, an outer cover for said opening swingably suspended from the same pivot between and closely adjacent to the inner sides of said ears, a retaining notch formed on said outer cover disposed near one of said cars, a series of retaining notches formed on said inner cover near the other of said ears, and a pair of retainer hooks swingably suspended from opposite end portions of the other of said pivots and being cooperable with the adjacent notches respectively.

ADAM ENGLERT.

Images