AU2012202231B2 - Twist-n-seal hatch - Google Patents

Abstract

A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch.

Description

P100/01 1 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Twist-n-seal hatch The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: TWIST-N-SEAL HATCH This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/836,166, filed August 7, 2006. FIELD OF INVENTION A deck plate or hatch is a common device for allowing access through the surface of a boat to an interior cavity. Deck plates or hatches typically provide for access to a storage area and when closed, are relatively water-tight barrier. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Hatches are commonly incorporated into recreational boats, usually in openings in the upper hull areas adjacent to the seats, cockpit and the like. The hatches usually have an enclosed inner body for receiving things such as personal items, fishing accessories and the like. Prior patents presently known are as follows:

IA

1) Patent No. 5,291,845 2) Patent No. 6,502,871 3) Patent No. 5,358,291 Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an 5 acknowledgment, or any form of suggestion, that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" 10 and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed herein a novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, and cooperating means on the 15 hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch. Further, there is disclosed herein a novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the 20 cover to the hatch, and a gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch cover and hatch. Still further, there is disclosed herein a novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be 25 rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section with the point of the triangle abutting an inner surface of the hatch to form a water tight seal. 2 In one aspect of the invention there is provided a watertight hatch with cover for boats comprising: a hatch having a top opening, a hatch cover receivable in said opening and provided with a handle, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including a cam surface whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, 5 wherein said handle engages a cam surface carrier extending on the side of said cover opposite the side carrying said handle, said cam surface carrier passing through said cover, said cover otherwise being imperforate, said cam surface carrier carrying a cam surface comprising spiral side walls providing a depression therebetween forming a race, the interior of said hatch having a tab, whereby when said handle is rotated about its 10 vertical axis with said hatch cover laid down on said hatch, said cam surface carrier also rotates, causing said cam surface to rotate and engage said tab, gradually causing said hatch cover to snugly close onto said hatch. There is also disclosed herein a watertight hatch with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, cooperating means on the hatch 15 and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, and a gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch cover and hatch, said gear bucket and lid each having a cutout to accommodate said cam surfaces. More generally, the invention relates to a pleasure boat having in a convenient 20 location at least one hatch with cover which includes: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, cooperating means on the hatch and cover including can surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section with the point of the triangle abutting an inner surface of the hatch to form a water tight seal. 25 In one aspect of the invention there is provided a pleasure boat having at a convenient location at least one watertight hatch with cover which comprises: a hatch having a top opening, a hatch cover receivable in said opening and provided with a handle, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including a cam surface whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, wherein said handle 30 engages a cam surface carrier extending on the side of said cover opposite the side carrying said handle, said cam surface carrier passing through said cover, said cover being otherwise imperforate, said cam surface carrier carrying a cam surface comprising 3 spiral side walls providing a depression therebetween forming a race, the interior of said hatch having a tab, whereby when said handle is rotated about its vertical axis with said hatch cover laid down on said hatch, said cam surface carrier also rotates, causing said cam surface to rotate and engage said tab, gradually causing said hatch cover to snugly 5 close onto said hatch, said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section with the point of the triangle abutting the surface of the hatch to form a watertight seal. There is also disclosed herein a pleasure boat having in a convenient location at least one watertight hatch with cover which comprises: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle 10 hinged to said hatch, cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, and a gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch cover and hatch, said gear bucket and lid each having a cutout to accommodate said cam surfaces. 15 There is also disclosed herein a pleasure boat having in a convenient location at least one watertight hatch with cover which comprises: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, and a gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch 20 cover and hatch, said gear bucket and lid each having a cutout to accommodate said cam surfaces, said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross section with the point of the triangle abutting an inner surface of the hatch to form a water tight seal. The combination of cork-screw cam, hinge opening, and elongated internal o-ring 25 type seal, as well as the optional gear bucket, makes for a hatch that different and more functional than other hatches. 3a The cork-screw cam allows the hatch to be only partially closed which requires little force and then, during the twisting of the handle, offers a mechanical advantage to draw the hatch completely closed. The hinge keeps the alignment between the cork-screw cam and the tab in which the cam engages. The known Internal o-ring seals are very water resistant but are typically dependent on accurate alignment between the lid and base of the hatch. Imperfections in plastic molding make close concentric alignment of the lid and hatch base not practical. Some areas of the lid are always closer to the base and the opposite side is always further away which makes common round o-rings not functional. According to this invention, a unique square-bottom with triangle-top rubber ring has been developed which easily deforms in the areas where the lid is too close to the base and yet still seals in the areas where the gap is larger. A flange is molded into the bottom of the hatch base which receives the "gear-bucket" which is essentially a round tackle box specifically designed to work with the hatch. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the hatch with hatch cover, with the cover partially open and gear bucket in place. Figure 2 shows the hatch cover as in Figure 1 with the gear bucket in place and the interior of the gear bucket exposed. 4 4 Figure 3 is a perspective top view of the gear bucket with interior exposed. Figure 4 shows the gear bucket with the gear bucket lid snapped into place. Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the snap fit of the gear bucket cover to the gear bucket taken at C in Figure 6. Figure 6 is a side sectional view of the gear bucket. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the hatch cover handle and cam surface mechanism. Figure 8 is a front plan view of the structure of Figure 7. Figure 9 Is a side plan view of the structure of Figure 7. Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Figure 7. Figure 11 is an enlarged partial view of the hatch, hatch cover, handle and cam mechanism in operation. Figure 12 is taken at A in Figure 11. 5 Figure 13 is a top view of the hatch and hatch cover with the cover closed. Figure 14 is a bottom view of the hatch and cover of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a perspective view of the top of the hatch and the underside of the hatch cover without the gear bucket in place. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the hatch, hatch cover and gear bucket with the hatch cover closed and the gear bucket locked into place. Fiure 17 is a side sectional view of the structure of Figure 6. Figure 18 is taken at B in Figure 17. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The deck plate or hatch 1 has a flat upper ring 15 provided with screw holes or openings 16 to facilitate the attachment of the hatch I to a suitable surface of a boat, and a downwardly extending inner wall 17 which terminates in an annular inwardly extending ledge 12 at the lower extremity of wall 17 The hatch 1 has a hatch cover or lid 2 which is carried by hinges 7. The cover 2 fits snugly in ring 15, and when closed, is flush with ring 15. 6 The hatch cover 2 also has a handle 4 generally diametrically opposed the hinged side of hatch cover 2 which is carried by a pivot pin 6 fixed to cam surface carrier 18. The cam surface carrier 18 passes through hole 8 in cover 2. The cam surface 3 itself comprises spiral-like side walls 19 and 20 with the depression 21 therebetween, forming a race in which engages tab 14. When handle 4 is rotated about its vertical axis with cover 2 laid down on hatch 1, cam surface carrier 18 also rotates causing cam surface 3 to rotate and engage tab 14. As handle 4 is further rotated, tab 14 travels in depression 21 between walls 19 and 20. This gradually causes the cover 2 to snugly close onto hatch 1. This travel is limited to one-half turn of the handle 4 by stop 22 which comes into abutting contact with pin 26 formed in the underside of hatch lid 2 when cover 2 is fully closed. When not in use, handle 4 is received in recess 23 in hatch cover 2 and when in the stowed position is essentially flush with the upper surface of cover 2. Hatch lid 2 has an annular flexible rubber ring 5 providing a water tight seal of the cover 2 with the hatch 1. The ring or seal 5 is of a generally triangular cross section with the pointed end pressing against and sealing on the inside surface of wall 17. The seal 5 is carried in annular groove 24. Optionally, the novel hatch 1 with cover 2 may carry a generally cylindrical gear bucket 9 with lid 10 having a series of compartments 11 for carrying miscellaneous personal articles and/or fishing accessories, and the like. Typically, the gear bucket 7 may be thought of as a cylindrical tackle box. The gear bucket 9 and lid 10 are generally made of a somewhat flexible plastic so that the two parts snap together in a typical Tupperware fashion. The gear bucket 9 and lid 10 each have a cutout 25 to accommodate the cam surface mechanism described above. The gear bucket 9 with lid 10 can be easily inserted in hatch 1 when hatch lid 2 is open. The gear bucket 9 has an annular lip 13 which rests on ledge 12 at the lower extremity of wall 17 of hatch 1. When the lid 2 on hatch 1 is closed, the annular lip 13 of gear bucket 9 is tightly compressed between ledge 12 and the bottom edge or surface 27 of lid 2 so that the bucket 9 is prevented from moving. When lid 2 is opened, the gear bucket 9 with its lid 10 can, if desired, be readily lifted out of the hatch. 8

Claims (8)

1. A watertight hatch with cover for boats comprising: a hatch having a top opening, a hatch cover receivable in said opening and provided with a handle, and 5 cooperating means on the hatch and cover including a cam surface whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, wherein said handle engages a cam surface carrier extending on the side of said cover opposite the side carrying said handle, said cam surface carrier passing through said cover, said cover otherwise being imperforate, said cam surface carrier carrying a 10 cam surface comprising spiral side walls providing a depression therebetween forming a race, the interior of said hatch having a tab, whereby when said handle is rotated about its vertical axis with said hatch cover laid down on said hatch, said cam surface carrier also rotates, causing said cam surface to rotate and engage said tab, gradually causing said hatch cover to snugly close onto said hatch. 15

2. A pleasure boat having at a convenient location at least one watertight hatch with cover which comprises: a hatch having a top opening, a hatch cover receivable in said opening and provided with a handle, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including a cam surface whereby the 20 said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch, wherein said handle engages a cam surface carrier extending on the side of said cover opposite the side carrying said handle, said cam surface carrier passing through said cover, said cover being otherwise imperforate, said cam surface carrier carrying a cam surface comprising spiral side walls providing a depression therebetween forming a 25 race, the interior of said hatch having a tab, whereby when said handle is rotated about its vertical axis with said hatch cover laid down on said hatch, said cam surface carrier also rotates, causing said cam surface to rotate and engage said tab, gradually causing said hatch cover to snugly close onto said hatch, 9 said hatch cover having an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross section with the point of the triangle abutting the surface of the hatch to form a watertight seal.

3. The watertight hatch with cover for boats of claim 1 further comprising: 5 a gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch cover and hatch, said gear bucket and lid each having a cutout to accommodate said cam surfaces.

4. The pleasure boat of claim 2 having in a convenient location at least one 10 watertight hatch with cover which comprises: a gear bucket with lid adapted to be carried by said hatch and securely held between said hatch cover and hatch, said gear bucket and lid each having a cutout to accommodate said cam surfaces. 15

5. The watertight hatch with cover for boats of claim 3 wherein: said hatch cover has an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section with the point of the triangle abutting a surface of the hatch to form a water tight seal.

6. The pleasure boat of claim 2 wherein: said hatch cover has an annular sealing ring of generally triangular cross-section 20 with the point of the triangle abutting an inner surface of the hatch to form a water tight seal.

7. The hatch of claim 3 wherein said hatch has an internal ledge and said gear bucket has an annular lip which rests on said ledge, said gear bucket and lid being received in said hatch. 25

8. The hatch of claim 3 wherein said handle is generally attached to said cover at a point diametrically opposed the hinge side of said cover. 10