The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1999
Timothy J. McKernan, Baldwinsville, NY (US);
Syracuse Castings Sales Corp., Cicero, NY (US);
Abstract
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.