US2817274A - Cover positioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J I I w l I A -M UI Dec. 24,1957 c. H. BENOIT 2,817,274

COVER POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1953' 4 s Sheets-She et 1 r I I r -IIIIIJIIZI J A i T m A4425 i WM 5 a Dec. 24, 1957 c. H. BENOIT. ,8

1 COVER POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 .334 .52 I 37 .594 v l INVENTOR.

Dec. 24, 1957 c. H. BENOIT 2,817,274

COVER POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

COVER POSITIDNING APPARATUS Charles H. Benoit, Hollywood, Ill. Application April 22, 1953, Serial No. 350,388 8 Claims. (Cl. 94-35) This invention relates to a positioning apparatus for use in conjunction with a panel or cover to position the latter in overlying, close-off relation with respect to the entrance for an access or passageway formed either beneath the floor or ground, behind a wall, or above a cellmg.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an apparatus which will effectively lock the cover in a closeofi relation with respect to the entrance to the access or passageway and, when in such relation, will be disposed in a flush relation with respect to the exposed surface of the member in which said entrance is formed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which is adapted to recede into the access or passageway and then be readily moved laterally within the access or passageway to effect an unobstructed entrance thereto.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which may be readily moved into and out of close-off relation with respect to the access or passageway and, when in close-off relation presents a neat and attractive appearance and will safely remain in such close-off relation even though the panel or cover is subjected :to a heavy load.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which is simple and compact in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention an apparatus is provided comprising the combination of an apertured member having a pair of eomplemental jaws adjustably mounted thereon and an elongated sleeve disposed intermediate said jaws and in registration with one of the apertures of said member and movable in an axial direction and rotatable independently of said member. An elongated shaft is slidably and rotatably mountedwithin the sleeve, and when said shaft is in one position of slidable adjustment, the sleeve and shaft may be rotated as a unit. A jaw-actuating element is rotatably mounted on the apertured member and is operatively connected to the sleeve and jaws, whereby, upon rotation of said sleeve, said element will effect movement of said jaws into or out of gripping relation with respect to the outer periphery of said sleeve.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a floor having an access formed therebeneath and showing a cover disposed in close-off relation with respect to the entrance to said access;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view'taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l, but showing the cover in a retracted position;

Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view "taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

2,817,234 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 4; V

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the positioning apparatus showing the jaws thereof in a released position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. released position.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, an access or passageway is shown, in this instance, formed beneath a concrete or cement floor 21. Disposed within the access 20 is a positioning apparatus 22 which is adapted to have a portion thereof effect closing mi of the entrance 23 to the access, when desired. The positioning apparatus 22 is mounted within a framework 24, the latter having a portion 25 thereof disposed in registration with the entrance 23 to the ac cess 2t and a second portion 26 disposed within a laterally extending cavity 20a formed in access 20, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2. The laterally extending portion 26 is in the form of spaced substantially parallel, guide members 26a and 26b. Each of these guide members is provided with an outwardly extending flange 27 which is adapted to be embedded within the sides of the access, and a second flange 28 extending inwardly toward each other and providing a track upon which a base member 30, forming a part of the positioning apparatus, is slidably mounted. The positioning apparatus 22, as seen more clearly in Fig. 5 comprises the base member 30 which is supported by flanges 28 of the framework 24, and an elongated sleeve 31 operatively connected to base member 30 and adapted to move axially and to rotate independently of said base member. Axially positioned within the center bore of sleeve 31 is an elongated shaft 32. Adjustably mounted on base member 30 and disposed on opposite sides of said sleeve and movable relative to the sleeve 31 and member 30 is a pair of complemental jaws 33a and 33b which, when in gripping relation, are adapted to engage the outer periphery of the sleeve 31. Disposed above jaws 33a and 33b and mounted for rotation on member 30 is a cam plate 34, which is operatively connected to each of the jaws and is adapted to effect simultaneous adjustment of said jaws into and out of gripping relation with respect to the sleeve 31 upon rotation of said cam plate.

The base member 3!} is provided with a substantially centrally disposed opening 35 which is of such circumference as to enable the sleeve 31 to readily move axially relative thereto when the jaws are in non-gripping relation. In the construction, shown in the drawings, a relatively small metal plate 30 is rigidly mounted by bolts 30" on the upper surface of the member 30 adjacent the opening 35 thereof. The plate 30' serves as a reinforcement for member 39, when the latter is formed of wood or some other similar type of material. In instances, however, where member 30 is constructed of metallic material, the reinforcing plate 30 may be omitted, and the elongated slots 36a and 36b formed in plate 30' may be formed directly in the base member 30 instead. The linear elongated slots 36a and 36b are diametrically disposed with respect to the center opening 35' formed in plate 30'. Openings 35 and 35' are disposed in coincident relation. Each of the slots 36a and 36b is adapted to accommodate the shank 37' of an elongated threaded screw or stud 37 which is threaded at one end into the underside of the adjacent jaw 33a or 33b and extends angularly downwardly therefrom. The threaded studs 37 are provided with enlarged heads 37a which are adapt- 9 but showing the jaws in a ed to be disposed within cut-outs 39a and 39b formed in member 30. Slots 36a and 36b cause studs 37 and the corresponding jaws to travel in a linear direction when the jaws are moved into and out of gripping relation.

The gripping surface 38 of each of the jaws 33a and 33b is serrated and is adapted to mesh with the serrated periphery 40 of the sleeve 31. When the jaws 33a and 3317 are in meshing relation with the periphery 40 of sleeve 31, the latter is free to rotate relative to the base member 30 but is prevented from moving in an axial direction. Extending upwardly from each of the jaws is a stud 41 or 42. The studs 41 and 42 are adapted to travel within arcuate slots 43 and 44, respectively, formed in cam plate 34, see Figs. 9 and 10. The cam plate 34, in this instance, is annular in shape and is provided with a center opening 45 through which the sleeve 31 extends and is adapted to freely move in an axial direction. Mounted on cam plate 34 and having a portion thereof extending into opening 45 is a key 46 which is adapted to be disposed within a longitudinally extending groove or keyway 47 formed in the outer periphery of sleeve 31. The elongated groove 47 extends substantially the full longitudinal length of the sleeve 31 and is substantially parallel with respect to the axis of said sleeve. The cam plate 34 is adapted to rotate about a fixed axis by reason of the fact that diametrically opposed portions of the outer periphery of the plate are engaged by a pair of bearing brackets 48 which are mounted on and extend upwardly from the plate 30. The arcuate grooves 43 and 44, which accommodate studs 41 and 42, respectively, have their centers of curvature eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of the cam plate 34 and offset with respect to one another. Thus, as the cam plate 34 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 9, the studs 41 and 42 as they travel in grooves 43 and 44 cause the jaws 33a and 33b, respectively, to be actuated outwardly into open or release relation with respect to the outer serrated periphery of sleeve 31. On the other hand, when cam plate 34 is rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 10, the studs 41 and 42 as they travel in grooves 43 and 44 are forced inwardly from the center of rotation of the cam plate and in turn cause the jaws to assume a gripping position. The cam plate 34 is rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by the sleeve 31 through keyway or groove 47 and key 46. How sleeve 31 is rotated will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Afiixed to the lower end of sleeve 31 and extending downwardly is an annular collar 50. Formed in the underside of collar 50 is a pair of notches 51 disposed in diametrically opposed relation. The notches 51 are adapted to accommodate a transversely extending stud or pin 52 affixed to the lower end of shaft 32, when said shaft is raised to its fullest extent relative to the sleeve 31. When the pin 52 is positioned within the notches 51, the shaft 32 and sleeve 31 may be rotated as a unit about the longitudinal centerline of the sleeve as an axis. It will be noted that the ends of the pin 52 protrude outwardly beyond the periphery of collar 50 thereby providing a handle whereby the sleeve 31 may be rotated by a person working within the access beneath the framework 24. The upper end of the sleeve 31 is reduced in size and is provided with a threaded periphery for engagement with a washer 53, the latter being rotatably mounted within a recess 54 formed in the underside of a cover or panel 55. The washer 53 is held within the recess 54 by a retaining ring 56 which is secured by screws 56' or the like to the underside of the cover or panel 55, as seen more clearly in Fig. 5. The cover or panel has a shape which corresponds to the contour of the entrance 23 to the access or passageway 20. The cover is formed of wood, metal, or the like and is provided with a center opening 57 which is adapted to accommodate the upper end portion of the shaft 32 and to 4 allow the shaft to move axially therein. Afiixed to the upper end of shaft 52 is a cross or T-shaped handle 58 which, when the shaft is retracted into the sleeve 31, is adapted to be positioned within a recess 60 formed in the upper surface of the cover 55. Thus, when the shaft is retracted, the handle 58 will assume a flush relation with respect to the exposed surface of the cover or panel 55. The exposed surface of the cover 55 is provided with a recessed margin 60 which is adapted, when the cover is in a close-off relation, to accommodate the inwardly extending lip 61 formed on the framework portion 25 at the entrance 23 to the access or passageway 20. By reason of the recessed margin 60, the cover 55, may assume a coplanar relation with respect to the exposed surface of the floor 21 adjacent the entrance 23. Thus, when the entrance is closed, no obstruction is caused to the exposed surface of the flooring by the cover or panel 55, thereby eliminating a possible hazard to persons walking or running over the closed entrance.

To operate the positioning apparatus, the following steps are suggested: (a) assuming that the cover 55 is in close-off position with respect to the entrance 23, the handle 58 of the shaft 32 is grasped and the shaft pulled upwardly to a position A, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereupon the pin 52 formed in the lower end of shaft 32 will engage the notches 51 formed in the depending collar 50 of sleeve 31; (b) the handle is then twisted in a counterclockwise direction until the jaws 33a and 33b release their hold on the outer periphery of sleeve 31; (c) with the jaws in released position, the cover 55, shaft 32, and sleeve 31 may be retracted into the access until the underside of the cover 55 engages the studs 41 and 42 formed on the jaws 33a and 33b, respectively, see Fig. 3; (d) when the cover or panel 55 is fully retracted to the position, shown in Fig. 3, both the cover 55 and base member 30 and the parts associated therewith may be slidably moved to the position B, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 disposed within cavity 20a; and (e) with the cover and base member in position B, as shown in Fig. 3, the interior of the access or passageway 20 is unobstructed and readily accessible. To reposition the cover to a close-off position with respect to the entrance 23 of the access, the steps (a) and (e) heretofore noted should be followed in reverse order.

Thus it will be seen that a positioning apparatus has been provided which is adapted to close off accesses or passageways positioned either beneath a floor or underground, behind a wall, or above a ceiling. Furthermore when the cover is in close-off position, the exposed surface of the cover assumes a coplanar relation with respect to the exposed surface of the floor, wall, or ceiling adjacent the entrance to the access, and thereby improves the appearance of the exposed surface of the floor, wall, or ceiling. The improved positioning apparatus enables the entrance to the access or passageway to be readily opened or uncovered without requiring the cover to be removed from the access and is adapted to positively and safely remain in closed position once it has been moved thereto regardless of the load carried by the cover.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of an apertured member having a pair of complemental jaws adjustably mounted thereon and provided with cooperating gripping surfaces, an elongated sleeve disposed intermediate said jaw-cooperating gripping surfaces and in registration with one of the apertures of said member and movable in an axial direction and rotatable independently of said member, a cover member carried by said sleeve, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said sleeve, means mounted on said shaft'and cooperatingwith said sleeve to efiect unitary rotary movement of said sleeve and shaft only when said shaft is in one relative position of slidable adjustment with respect to said sleeve, a rotatable jaw-actuating element carried on said member and operatively connected to said jaws, said element being provided with an opening through which said sleeve passes, and means mounted on saidactuating element and engaging said sleeve whereby said actuating element and sleeve rotate as a unit and effect adjustment of said jaws into or out of gripping relation with respect to the outer periphery of said sleeve.

2. The combination of an apertured member having a pair of complemental jaws adjustably mounted thereon and provided with cooperating gripping surfaces, an elongated sleeve disposed intermediate said jaw-cooperating gripping surfaces and in registration with one of the apertures of said member, said sleeve being movable in an axial direction and rotatable independently of said member and being provided with an elongated longitudinally extending peripheral groove, 21 cover member carried by said sleeve, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said sleeve, means mounted on said shaft and cooperating with said sleeve to effect unitary rotary movement of said sleeve and shaft only when said shaft is in one relative position of slidable adjustment with respect to said sleeve and a rotatable apertured jaw-actuat ing element carried on said member and encompassing said sleeve, said element having a portion thereof slidably disposed within the peripheral groove formed on said sleeve to effect unitary rotary movement of said sleeve and element, said element being operatively connected to each of said complemental jaws whereby upon rotation of said element in one direction said jaws are actuated into gripping relation with said sleeve and, upon rotation of said element in the opposite direction, said jaws are actuatedout of gripping relation with said sleeve.

3. The combination of an apertured member having a pair of complemental jaws provided with cooperating gripping surfaces mounted thereon and movable relative thereto in a lineardirection toward and away from each other, an elongated sleeve disposed intermediate said jaws and in registration with one of the apertures of said member, said sleeve being movable in an axial direction and rotatable independently of said member and having a collar affixed to the end of said sleeve extending through said member aperture, said collar having an edge thereof provided with a notch, a cover member carried by and disposed adjacent the opposite end of said sleeve, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said sleeve, the end of said shaft adjacent the collared end of said sleeve having a protuberance extending transversely therefrom and adapted to seat within the notch formed in said collar when said shaft assumes one position of slidable adjustment relative to said sleeve, whereupon said shaft and sleeve are rotatable as a unit, and a rotatable jaw-actuating element carried on said member and encompassing said sleeve and being rotatable as a unit with the latter, said element being operatively connected to each of said jaws whereby, upon rotation of said element, said jaws are simultaneously moved either toward or away from each other.

4. The combination of a pair of apertured members arranged in substantially superimposed relation, one of said members being movable in a linear direction relative to the second member, and a mechanism cooperating with both of said members for locking said movable member in various selected positions with respect to said second member; said mechanism comprising an elongated sleeve rotatably mounted on one of said members and extending angularly therefrom and through an aperture formed in the other member, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said sleeve, means mounted on said shaft and cooperating with said sleeve to effect unitary rotary movement of said sleeve and shaft only when the latter is in one position of slidable adjustment with respect to said sleeve, a pair of jaws disposed on opposite sides of said sleeve and mounted on said other member for movement into and out of gripping relation with respect to said sleeve, and rotatable jaw-actuating means carried on said other member and operatively connected to said sleeve and jaws whereby said sleeve and means rotate as a unit and effect movement of said jaws into and out of gripping relation, said sleeve being movable in a linear direction relative to said means when said sleeve is not gripped by said jaws.

5. The combination of a pair of apertured members arranged in substantially superimposed relation, one of said members being movable in a linear direction relative to the second member, and a mechanism cooperating with both of said members for locking said movable member in various selected positions with respect to said second member; said mechanism comprising an elongated sleeve rotatably mounted on one of said members and extending angularly therefrom and through an aperture formed in the other member, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said sleeve, means mounted on said shaft and cooperating with said sleeve to efiect unitary rotary movement of said sleeve and shaft only when the latter is in one position of slidable adjustment with respect to said sleeve, a pair of jaws disposed on opposite sides of said sleeve and mounted on said other member for movement into and out of gripping relation with respect to said sleeve, and a rotatable apertured jawactuating element, through which said sleeve extends, carried on said other member and operatively connected to said sleeve whereby said sleeve and element rotate as a unit and said sleeve, when not gripped by said jaws, is free to move in an axial direction relative to said element, said element being provided with a pair of arcuate slots having the centers of curvature thereof eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said element and offset with respect to one another, each of said arcuate slots accommodating a portion of a jaw.

6. The combination of a pair of apertured members arranged in substantially superimposed relation and having one of said members movable in a linear direction toward and away from the other member, and a mechanism cooperating with said members for locking said movable member in various selected relative positions with respect to said second member; said mechanism comprising an elongated sleeve mounted for rotation on one of said members and extending angularly therefrom and through an aperture formed in the other member, said sleeve being provided with an axial bore disposed in registered relation with one of the apertures of the member to which it is attached, said sleeve having a serrated outer periphery and a groove formed therein disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation with respect to the axial bore of the sleeve and having a length corresponding to the axial length of said sleeve, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within the bore of said sleeve, said shaft having a handle formed on one end thereof for imparting rotation to said shaft, means mounted transversely on said shaft and spaced from said handle and engageable with said sleeve to effect unitary rotation of said shaft and sleeve only when said shaft is in one position of slidable adjustment with respect to said sleeve, a pair of cooperating jaws mounted on said other member for simultaneous adjustment into and out of gripping relation with said sleeve, said jaws having the surfaces thereof, contacting said sleeve, serrated to effect meshing relation between the outer periphery of said sleeve and said jaws when the latter are in gripping relation, and an apertured jaw-actuating element, through which said sleeve extends, carried by said other member, said element having an inwardly protruding portion disposed within the groove formed in said sleeve whereby only the rotary motion of said sleeve is transmitted to said element, said element being provided with a pair of arcuate slots, the centers of curvature of which are eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said element, one of said arcuate slots accommodating a portion of one of said jaws whereby, upon rotation of said element in one direction, the jaws are simultaneously moved into gripping relation with said sleeve, and upon rotation of said element in the opposite direction, the jaws are simultaneously moved out of gripping relation.

7. The combination of a pair of apertured plates arranged in substantially superimposed relation, one of said plates being movable in a linear direction toward and away from the other plate, and a mechanism operatively connected to both of said plates for locking said movable plate in various selective positions with respect to said other plate; said mechanism comprising an elongated sleeve mounted angularly on said movable plate and retatable independently thereof and having a portion thereof projecting through an opening formed in the relatively fixed plate, said sleeve being provided with an axial bore disposed in registered relation with respect to an aperture formed in said movable plate and an elongated groove formed in the periphery of said sleeve and disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation with respect to said axial bore and extending substantially the full axial length of said sleeve, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within the axial bore of said sleeve, means mounted on said shaft and cooperating with said sleeve for effecting unitary rotational movement of said sleeve and shaft only when the latter is in one position of slidable adjustment with respect to said shaft, a pair of jaws disposed on opposite sides of said sleeve and mounted on said relatively fixed plate for movement into and out of gripping relation with respect to said sleeve, and an elongated jaw-actuating element, through which said sleeve extends, carried on said relatively fixed plate and being operatively connected to said jaws, said element having an inwardly extending portion disposed within the groove formed in said sleeve whereby said sleeve and actuating element rotate as a unit, rotation of said actuating element in one direction effecting movement of said jaws into gripping relation and, rotation of said element in the opposite direction, effecting movement of said jaws out of gripping relation.

8. The combination of a base structural member having a first passageway formed therein and extending substantially normal to the exposed surface of said member and a second passageway communicating with said first passageway and extending transversely therefrom, a cover plate for said first passageway retractably mounted therein, said cover plate being provided with an apertured portion, and an adjustable mechanism mounted within said structural member passageway for locking, when in one position of adjustment, said cover plate in a close-off nonretractable position with respect to said first passageway and in flush relation with respect to the exposed surface of said structural member; said mechanism including a track mounted within said second passageway and extending transversely into said first passageway, an apertured supporting plate resting on said track and slidable with respect thereto, an elongated sleeve mounted on the consealed surface of said cover plate and in registered relation with respect to the apertured portion of said cover plate and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said sleeve extending angularly from said cover plate and through an aperture formed in said supporting plate, said sleeve being provided with a longitudinally extending groove formed in the outer periphery thereof and extending substantially the full length of said sleeve, an elongated shaft retractably mounted within said sleeve and adapted when in extended relation with respect to said sleeve to effect unitary rotation of said shaft and sleeve, a pair of jaws mounted on said supporting plate for adjustment into and out of gripping relation with respect to the outer periphery of said sleeve, said jaws, when in gripping relation, locking said cover plate in a fixed relation with respect to said supporting plate, and a rotatable jaw-actuating element carried on said supporting plate and in a position intermediate said cover and supporting plates and operatively connected to each of said jaws to effect relative movement of the latter upon rotation of said element, said actuating element encompassing said sleeve and being provided with a portion extending into the groove formed in said sleeve whereby said sleeve and actuating element rotate as a unit, yet said sleeve is movable in an axial direction independently of said actuating element.

No references cited.

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