Access door with lift assist

• US 9,303,441 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: U.S.F. Fabrication, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U.S.F. Fabrication, Inc.
• Inventors: Bravo, Andres, Acosta, Wolters, Lopez, Marvin Ernesto
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US14/180,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20150218773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 493/86, 493/87, 493/88, 493/99, 494/00, 493/94, 16/72, 162/86
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

The invention described herein relates to a utility vault door, or access door, positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations and including at least one compression spring lift-assist mechanism for countering the weight of the vault door when positioning between the various orientations. The door may be selectively locked in the partially opened orientation and opened sufficiently for the convenient ingress and egress of large equipment therethrough.

Claims

1. A ground mounted vault closure assembly selectively positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations, the closure comprising:

a rectangular frame having inner and outer peripheral extents, a series of anchoring members positioned upon the outer peripheral extent, a latch receiver and a locking pin receiver formed within the frame, the frame being set onto a predetermined mounting location and defining an access opening for an underground vault;

a vault door having interior and exterior surfaces and peripheral edges, the interior surface including a plurality of reinforcing ribs, a pair of primary apertured compressions plates, a pair of secondary apertured compression plates, and at least one interior handle, a slide with opposing first and second locking detents formed within one of the peripheral edges, the vault door further including a pair of stowable exterior lifting handles and a male latch, the vault door being pivotally connected to the rectangular frame and having a closed orientation overlying the rectangular frame, and wherein the male latch is receivable by the latch receiver to lock the door and deter access to the underground vault;

a one piece hold-open arm having first and second ends and an intermediate extent therebetween, the second end of the arm being slidably received within the slide and being selectively positionable between the first and second locking detents;

a pair of primary compression spring lift-assist mechanisms, each primary mechanism including a pivotal hinge, each pivotal hinge having first and second ends and first and second orientations, the first end of each pivotal hinge fixedly connected to the vault door, a first compression spring and a second compression spring, the first and second springs each having first and second ends and compressed and decompressed orientations, the second spring positioned substantially within the first spring, a first support rod having opposing first and second ends and axially positioned through the first and second springs, the first end of the support rod further comprising a primary compression washer and being pivotally connected to the second end of the pivotal hinge, the second end of the support rod being slidably positioned within the aperture of a corresponding primary apertured compression plate, the first ends of the first and second springs positioned against the primary compression washer and the second ends of the first and second springs positioned against the corresponding primary apertured compression plate receiving the first support rod;

a pair of secondary compression spring lift-assist mechanisms, each secondary mechanism including a connector hinge, each connector hinge having first and second ends and first and second orientations, the first end of each connector hinge pivotally connected to the frame, a third spring and a second support rod positioned axially therethrough, each third spring having first and second ends and compressed and decompressed orientations, each second support rod having opposing first and second ends, the first end of each second rod pivotally connected to the second end of the corresponding connector hinge, a secondary compression washer connected to the second end of each second support rod, each second support rod being slidably positioned within the aperture of a corresponding secondary apertured compression plate, the first end of each third spring positioned against the corresponding secondary apertured compression plate and the second end of each third spring positioned against the secondary compression washer; and

a hinge plate having a first end rotatably secured to the frame, a second end rotatably secured to the first end of the hold-open arm, and an aperture for receiving a locking pin, the hinge plate pivoting between a first orientation parallel to the frame and a second orientation rotated about 90 degrees relative to the frame;

wherein the door is in the closed orientation with each first and second spring in the compressed orientation and each third spring in the decompressed orientation, the door is in the partially opened orientation with each first and second spring in the decompressed orientation and each third spring in the decompressed orientation, and the door is in the fully opened orientation with each first and second spring are in the decompressed orientation and each third spring in the compressed orientation.

2. A ground mounted vault closure assembly selectively positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations, the closure comprising:

a frame having inner and outer peripheral extents;

a vault door having interior and exterior surfaces and peripheral edges, the vault door being pivotally connected to the rectangular frame and having a closed orientation overlying the rectangular frame;

at least one primary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operable for assisting a positioning between closed and partially open orientations; and

at least one secondary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operable for assisting a positioning between the partially opened and fully opened orientations;

a slide for selectively holding the vault door in the partially opened orientation, the slide comprising opposing first and second locking detents, a one piece hold-open arm having first and second ends and an intermediate extent therebetween, the second end of the arm being slidably received within the slide and being selectively positionable between the first and second locking detents.

3. The closure as described in claim 2, further comprising a hinge plate for enabling the selective positioning of the vault door between the partially opened and fully opened orientations, the hinge plate being operable with the hold-open arm and having a first end rotatably secured to the frame and an aperture for receiving a locking pin, the hinge plate pivoting between a first orientation parallel to the frame and a second orientation rotated about 90 degrees relative to the frame.

4. A ground mounted vault closure assembly selectively positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations, the closure comprising:

a frame having inner and outer peripheral extents;

a vault door having interior and exterior surfaces and peripheral edges, the vault door being pivotally connected to the rectangular frame and having a closed orientation overlying the rectangular frame;

at least one primary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operable for assisting a positioning between closed and partially open orientations; and

at least one secondary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operable for assisting a positioning between the partially opened and fully opened orientations;

the at least one primary mechanism including a pivotal hinge fixedly connected to at least one of the frame and the vault door, a first compression spring having compressed and decompressed orientations, and a first support rod axially positioned through the first spring, the first end of the support rod further comprising a compression plate and being pivotally connected to the pivotal hinge.

5. The closure as described in claim 4, the at least one primary mechanism further comprising a second compression spring.

6. The closure as described in claim 5, the second spring positioned substantially within the first spring.

7. The closure as described in claim 6, wherein the door is in the closed orientation with each first and second spring in the compressed orientation.

8. The closure as described in claim 7, wherein the door is in the partially opened orientation with each first and second spring in the decompressed orientation.

9. The closure as described in claim 8, wherein the door is in the fully opened position with each first and second spring in the decompressed orientation.

10. A ground mounted vault closure assembly selectively positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations, the closure comprising:

a frame having inner and outer peripheral extents;

a vault door having interior and exterior surfaces and peripheral edges, the vault door being pivotally connected to the rectangular frame and having a closed orientation overlying the rectangular frame;

at least one primary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operable for assisting a positioning between closed and partially open orientations; and

at least one secondary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operable for assisting a positioning between the partially opened and fully opened orientations;

the at least one secondary mechanism including a connector hinge pivotally connected to at least one of the frame and the door, a third spring and a second support rod positioned axially therethrough, the third spring having compressed and decompressed orientations, the second support rod connected to the connector hinge.

11. The closure as described in claim 10, wherein the door is in the closed orientation with each third spring in the decompressed orientation.

12. The closure as described in claim 11, wherein the door is in the partially opened orientation with each third spring in the decompressed orientation.

13. The closure as described in claim 12, wherein the door is in the fully opened orientation with each third spring in the compressed orientation.

14. A ground mounted vault closure assembly selectively positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations comprising:

a frame being set onto a predetermined mounting location and defining an access opening for an underground vault;

a vault door having interior and exterior surfaces and peripheral edges, the vault door being pivotally connected to the rectangular frame and having a closed orientation overlying the rectangular frame;

at least one primary compression spring lift-assist mechanism connected to the vault door and providing a first force for countering a weight of the vault door when positioning between the closed and partially open orientations, the at least one primary mechanism including a first compression spring, the first spring having first and second ends and compressed and decompressed orientations, a first support rod having opposing first and second ends and axially positioned through the first spring, the first end of the support rod further comprising a compression plate;

at least one secondary compression spring lift-assist mechanism operably linking the vault door and the frame and providing a second force for countering the weight of the vault door when positioning between the partially opened and fully opened orientations, the at least one secondary mechanism including a second compression spring, the second spring having first and second ends and compressed and decompressed orientations, a second support rod having opposing first and second ends and axially positioned through the second spring;

wherein the door is in the closed orientation with the first spring in the compressed orientation and the second spring in the decompressed orientation;

wherein the door is in the partially opened orientation with the first spring in the decompressed orientation and the second spring in the decompressed orientation; and

wherein the door is in the fully opened orientation with the first spring in the decompressed orientation and the second spring in the compressed orientation.

15. The closure as described in claim 14, further comprising a slide for selectively holding the vault door in the partially opened orientation.

16. The closure as described in claim 15, further comprising a hinge plate operable with the slide for selectively holding the vault door in the partially opened orientation.