Ej USA, Inc.

Syracuse Castings Sales Corp.

Timothy J McKernan

A skirt supports an access hatch at a predetermined height as the hatch is formed in concrete. The skirt can be permanently embedded in the concrete. The skirt includes a rigid frame defining a central opening, the frame has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The frame defines a height between the upper edge and the lower edge. The height of the skirt is predetermined such that the combined height of the skirt and the hatch approximate the desired thickness of the concrete slab. The skirt may include an alignment tab extending from the frame at an angle with respect to the frame, with the alignment tab extending above the upper edge of the frame to guide the hatch into alignment with the upper edge of the frame as the hatch is moved into position on the skirt.

Skirt for forming an access hatch in concrete

An access hatch comprises a frame, a grate, and a pull member pivotally coupled to the grate. The frame contains an access opening. The grate has a near side and a far side. The near side is coupled to the frame for pivotal movement of the grate between a closed and an open position. In the closed position, the grate lies substantially in the access opening of the frame and blocks at least a portion of the opening. In the open position, the grate is oriented away from the opening of the frame to allow access through the opening. The pull member has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is pivotally coupled to the grate near the far side of the grate, such that the proximal end is moveable away from the grate from a rest position. The proximal end extends substantially to the near side of the grate when the proximal end is in the rest position. The proximal end is normally in the rest position when the grate is in the closed position. A worker, intending to open the grate, is prompted to stand at the near side of the grate and grasp the proximal end of the pull member, to pull the grate to the open position.

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Baldwinsville, NY, United States of America

Timothy J McKernan