Abstract: A gate latch assembly includes strike mounting plate and a gate latch. The strike mounting plate has a base portion and a pin attachment portion. The gate latch has a second base portion and a pin engagement portion extending from a mid-portion of the second base portion. This pin engagement portion has a first prong and a second prong separated by a slot. A latch is pivotally mounted to the first prong and effective to releasably restrain a pin within the slot. The pin is affixed to the strike mounting plate and has a length effective to engage the slot. One feature of the assembly is that it is equally suitable for gates that swing to the left and for gates that swing to the right. Further, by changing the configuration of the pin, the gate latch assembly is suitable for sliding gates.

Abstract: A gate latch assembly includes strike mounting plate and a gate latch. The strike mounting plate has a base portion and a pin attachment portion. The gate latch has a second base portion and a pin engagement portion extending from a mid-portion of the second base portion. This pin engagement portion has a first prong and a second prong separated by a slot. A latch is pivotally mounted to the first prong and effective to releasably restrain a pin within the slot. The pin is affixed to the strike mounting plate and has a length effective to engage the slot. One feature of the assembly is that it is equally suitable for gates that swing to the left and for gates that swing to the right. Further, by changing the configuration of the pin, the gate latch assembly is suitable for sliding gates.

Abstract: A roof access hatch, which utilizes thermal breaks is disclosed. This roof access hatch has a cover with a first metallic exterior surface spaced from a first metallic interior surface by at least a first insulation layer, where the first metallic exterior surface is thermally isolated from the first metallic interior surface. A first thermal break spans the insulation layer and is in contact with both the metallic exterior surface and the metallic interior surface. A frame supports the cover. This frame has a second metallic exterior surface separated from a second metallic interior surface by at least a second insulation layer, where the second metallic exterior surface is thermally isolated from the second metallic interior surface by a thermal break component. A non-metallic, thermally insulating gasket is disposed between the cover and the frame.

Abstract: A roof access hatch, which utilizes thermal breaks is disclosed. This roof access hatch has a cover with a first metallic exterior surface spaced from a first metallic interior surface by at least a first insulation layer, where the first metallic exterior surface is thermally isolated from the first metallic interior surface. A first thermal break spans the insulation layer and is in contact with both the metallic exterior surface and the metallic interior surface. A frame supports the cover. This frame has a second metallic exterior surface separated from a second metallic interior surface by at least a second insulation layer, where the second metallic exterior surface is thermally isolated from the second metallic interior surface by a thermal break component. A non-metallic, thermally insulating gasket is disposed between the cover and the frame.

Abstract: A hatch useful for forming a portal to a sub-surface facility has a cover plate with a plurality of fasteners around its perimeter. These fasteners apply an adjustable compressive force on the cover plate. A compressible material is affixed to the cover plate inward from the perimeter adjacent to the fasteners. A first vertical portion of a rectangular channel has a first end penetrating the compressive material to form a water barrier with the penetration distance being determined by the compressive force. A mechanical stop determines a maximum penetration depth.

Abstract: Cellar or bulk head doors having sidewalls are provided which are made of a polymer and which are strong, durable, attractive, virtually maintenance free, easily assembled, have connection and anchorage points which allow the door assembly to be used over a wide temperature range without damage to the polymer parts making up the assembly and which has an opening preferably in one or both of the sidewalls for inserts such as a window, louver, screen or blank and which insert may be easily changed without tools for the purpose of providing light, ventilation, or security. The doors also may be extended from the structure being enclosed using opposed vertical extenders mated with a horizontal extender.

Abstract: A roof scuttle safety railing system is provided for an existing or new roof scuttle which railing may be installed on the roof scuttle by unskilled labor without compromising the integrity of the weather seal of the roof scuttle. In one embodiment, pivotal corner brackets are secured to the capflashing of a roof scuttle with the vertical members of the safety railing being inserted in openings in the brackets. In another embodiment, an elongated bracket is used along two opposed sides of the roof scuttle which brackets are firmly held against the outside walls of the roof scuttle by tie rods, a strap or a cable. The elongated bracket has vertical openings at its distal ends for securing the vertical members of the safety railing and horizontal openings or slots for the tie rods, straps or cables. A hinged gate is also provided which preferably has a self-closing hinge.

Abstract: A horizontal door assembly is provided using a gas spring as a lifting mechanism for the door leaf. A special bracket having a number of pivot pin openings is employed to rotatably couple the gas spring to the door frame, whereby different lifting forces can be applied to the door by the user of the door by adjusting the position of the gas spring in the bracket. A brace is also provided to support the bracket and gas spring to enhance operation of the door. A resilient material such as EPDM is used to decelerate movement of the door leaf to the open position and provide a stable door leaf when in the open position. Sections of the door assembly are provided with screw studs to facilitate on-site construction and packaging and shipping of the door assembly.

Abstract: A roof scuttle safety railing system is provided for an existing or new roof scuttle which railing may be installed on the roof scuttle by unskilled labor without compromising the integrity of the weather seal of the roof scuttle. In one embodiment, pivotal corner brackets are secured to the capflashing of a roof scuttle with the vertical members of the safety railing being inserted in openings in the brackets. In another embodiment, an elongated bracket is used along two opposed sides of the roof scuttle which brackets are firmly held against the outside walls of the roof scuttle by tie rods, a strap or a cable. The elongated bracket has vertical openings at its distal ends for securing the vertical members of the safety railing and horizontal openings or slots for the tie rods, straps or cables. A hinged gate is also provided which preferably has a self-closing hinge.

Abstract: A roof scuttle is provided which is adapted to be easily installed on any curb on a roof which curb may be existing, pre-formed or formed on the roof at the time of installation. The roof scuttle has a rectangular frame with an outwardly extending drip flange and the bottom of the frame is placed flat on the curb and the inside wall of the frame of the roof scuttle secured to the curb. This eliminates any external fastening of the roof scuttle to the roof which can cause leakage problems and also provides a more secure and safe installation. One embodiment of the roof scuttle uses a wood frame supplied with the roof scuttle which frame is useful for transportation of the roof scuttle and also for installations requiring a wood frame curb. The roof scuttle may be installed over irregular shaped openings, existing roof scuttles, and wide or narrow concrete, wood or metal curbs.

Abstract: A hold open arm assembly for a non-vertically hinged door prevents a door for a roof or floor opening from closing unexpectedly and allows one-handed operation. The assembly includes an elongated arm that bears directly against a stop aligned with the axis of the arm when a closing force, such as a wind load, is applied directly to the door. The arm has a guide that engages a guide slot in a bracket attached to the door. The guide slot is tapered and widens near the stop. When a closing force is applied to a handle connected to the arm, the guide moves parallel to the guide slot and the arm clears the stop, allowing the door to close. When the closing force is applied to the door, and not the handle, the guide moves perpendicular to the guide slot so that the arm engages the stop. The guide is provided with a low friction roller bearing for smooth operation.

Abstract: Horizontal hinged door assemblies such as sidewalk doors comprising a door, a frame surrounding the door and a hinge connecting the door to the frame are improved by utilizing a bendable gasket having a leg portion which is preferably inserted into an opening in at least one of the frame walls to secure the gasket to the frame and an outwardly and preferably downwardly extending body portion which extends across a gap between the frame and the edge of the door when closed and which is contacted by the door and bent further downward when the door is closed. The bendable gasket may be inserted into and secured to the frame during fabrication of the door assembly or on-site during installation of the door assembly. A variety of elongated shaped bendable gaskets may be used depending on the type door assembly installation.

Abstract: Horizontal hinged door assemblies such as sidewalk doors comprising a door, a frame surrounding the door and a hinge connecting the door to the frame are improved by utilizing an anchor device which is inserted into an opening in at least one of the frame walls forming an outwardly extending flange for securing the door assembly to the structure forming the opening to be covered. The anchor device may be inserted into the frame during fabrication of the door assembly or on-site during installation of the door assembly. A variety of elongated shaped anchor devices may be used depending on the type door assembly installation. The anchor devices are preferably bendable to conform the anchor device to the site to which the door is being secured.

Abstract: A horizontal door assembly is provided with pivotal counter balancing spring comprising an upper cylinder and a mating lower cylinder to force the cover of the door to an open position when the door assembly is unlocked wherein the upper cylinder of the counter balancing spring is configured to reduce the forces of the spring on the pivot points of the counter balancing mechanism thereby increasing the life of the counter balancing mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the counter balancing spring mechanism is made of plastic and has an ear at the upper end thereof with an elongated slot opening the slot having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder for mating with a pin inserted in an opening in a yoke bracket attached to the lower side of the cover.

Abstract: A roofing device is described for attaching a roofing membrane to a roof having a curb or a parapet wall comprising a cap flashing, a top flange connected to the cap flashing and extending outward therefrom, a wall flange extending downward from the top flange. The wall flange and the top flange defining a filler channel with the curb when the cap flashing is attached to the curb. A drip edge flange extends outward from the wall flange. The roofing membrane is wrapped over an elongated resilient filler piece which is snugly inserted into the filler channel. A plurality of tabs integral with the wall flange and co-terminus with the drip edge flange, are bent towards the curb securing the filler piece and roofing membrane in the filler channel. The tabs have a tab flange which extend outward at an angle away from the curb allowing for ease of unbending the tabs to remove the filler piece when repairing or replacing the roofing membrane.

Abstract: An emergency release latch mechanism for a hinged cover of a hatchway construction, wherein the cover is heavily spring biased to open position but is normally restrained in closed position by the latch mechanism. The mechanism includes an emergency-actuated release member such as a low-temperature fusible metal link which, through a release mechanism which reduces the tensile load on the link, retains a latching dog in engagement with a shackle pin on the cover but assures positive disengagement therefrom to release the cover to open position in the event of actuation of the emergency-actuated release member. The latch mechanism is typically positioned at the center of the hatch but the release member and emergency-actuated release members are disposed near a wall of the hatch so that the latch mechanism may easily be set or reset by a person at the periphery of the hatch by securing a cable connecting the latch mechanism and release mechanism.

Abstract: Horizontally hinged covers for use in ceiling/floors are provided which are highly fire resistant and which in the event of fire automatically close. The door preferably utilizes a multilayer construction comprising an intumescent lower (inner) layer, an intermediate structural layer and a top (outer) layer of a cementitious material. The horizontally hinged door utilizes an automatic closing system in the event of fire comprising a fusible link which activates a pressurized gas source to close the door and which pressurized gas source is automatically purged when the door is closed to prevent explosion of the pressurized gas source. The fusible link also actuates (opens) a hydraulic valve to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid from a pneumatic/hydraulic housing which is used with a movable rod to open and close the door.

Abstract: Horizontally hinged covers for use in ceiling/floors are provided which are highly fire resistant and which in the event of fire automatically close. The door preferably utilizes a multi-layer construction comprising an intumescent lower (inner) layer, an intermediate structural layer and a top (outer) layer of a cementitious material. The horizontally hinged door utilizes an automatic closing system in the event of fire comprising a fusible link which activates a pressurized gas source to close the door and which pressurized gas source is automatically purged when the door is closed to prevent explosion of the pressurized gas source. The fusible link also actuates (opens) a hydraulic valve to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid from a pneumatic/hydraulic housing which is used with a movable rod to open and close the door.

Abstract: A counterbalancing assembly and a non-vertically hinged door assembly incorporating the same include a first pair of torque rods directly connected between the door and a frame which produce a partial counterbalancing torque. A second pair of torque rods acting through cams produce an augmenting counterbalancing torque such that the sum of the partial and augmenting torques fully counterbalance the door throughout its arc of motion.

Abstract: A counterbalanced door assembly particularly suited for heavy-duty load bearing applications such as sidewalk access doors, and for precasting into concrete slabs, comprises a door, a frame surrounding the door, a hinge connecting the door to the frame for rotation about a first axis, a torque rod arm mounted to rotate about a second axis displaced from the first axis, and one or more torque rods. One end of the torque rod arm is connected to the torque rod to twist the torque rod as the torque rod arm rotates about the second axis thereby generating a counterbalance force. A force control mechanism, which may be a cam with a properly shaped cam surface or a link hinged at either end, receives the counterbalance force from the torque rod arm and applies it in a controlled direction over a controlled effective moment arm relative to the first axis to generate the desired counterbalance torque.