There are a number of vehicle hatches presently available which are used to control ventilation which have a cover mounted in a pair of mecnahisms to enable the cover to be moved between a raised, open position and a lower, closed position. One example of such a hatch is Australian Patent 511,485.

These hatches, while satisfactory in certain respects, have certain limitations. For example, the hatch cover can only be raised at each or both ends and not at each side. In addition, the hatch meshanisms can only be fixed in one position, there being one mechanism for each side of the hatch, so that the opening height of the hatch is fixed.

In addition, the hatch mechanism as described in Patent 511,485 is relatively complicated, involving a pair of hatch brackets and an associated link member wherein each link member is pivotally attached to an intermediate member attached to a hatch surround bounding an aperture in the roof of a vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hatch closure mechanism which alleviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art which is of relatively simple construction.

Thus the invention provides a hatch closure mechanism for interconnection between a hatch and a hatch surround, said hatch closure mechanism including: a hatch connection member connectable to said hatch; a hatch surround connection member connectable to said hatch surround; and

O PI

SUBSTITUTE SHEET ' ^WIPO

an intermediate member interposed between the hatch connection member and the hatch surround connection member and pivotally attached to both the hatch connection member and the hatch surround connection member, said intermediate member being associated with biasing means, the construction and arrangement being such that the biasing means may maintain the hatch in either the closed or open position and movement of the hatch from one position to the other is achieved against the bias of the biasing means. Preferably the biasing means is a spring and the intermediate member is a telescopic stay operatively associated with the spring. The telescopic stay may include an inner tube pivotally attached to the hatch surround connection member and an outer tube pivotally attached to the hatch connection member. Suitably the outer tube is of smaller bore than the inner tube and the spring is received in the inner tube and bears against an adjacent end of the outer tube.

The invention may also include within its scope a hatch assembly including a plurality of hatch closure mechanisms as described above, a hatch, and optionally a hatch surround frame.

Preferably the hatch surround connection member includes a handle which extends laterally outwardly therefrom. Preferably stops such as abutment surfaces are formed in the hatch surround connection member and/or the hatch connection member to control the pivotal movement of the telescopic stay relative thereto.

Both connection members may be moulded from plastics material (e.g. glass filled nylon or acetal, polycarbonate, polysulfone or high strength engineering plastics material) , cast in metal (e.g. zinc or aluminium) or pressed in metal.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, a number of preferred embodiments will now be described with

_ _• »..____.____ _* ____. • OMPI

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

^&Sτiβ

reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG 1 is a sectional view of a hatch closure mechanism constructed in accordance with the .invention in the open position; FIG 2 is a sectional view of the hatch closure mechanism as shown in FIG 1 in a position intermediate the open and closed position;

FIG 3 is a sectional view of the hatch closure mechanism as shown in FIG 1 in the closed position; FIG 4 is a perspective view of the hatch closure mechanism as shown in FIG 1 interconnecting a hatch and a hatch surround and thereby forming a hatch assembly; and

FIG 5 is a plan view of a hatch assembly as shown in FIG 4 illustrating two pairs of hatch closure mechanisms with each pair, of hatch closure mechanisms being located on mutually opposite sides of the hatch.

Referring to .the drawings and in particular FIG 4, the hatch assembly has a hatch surround frame 10 which is substantially rectangular in plan and is adapted to be sealably fitted in a complementary aperture in the roof or sidewall of a vehicle (e.g. a bus) or building or other- suitable structure.

The hatch assembly also has a hatch or hatch cover which has a rectangular cover frame 11 which is fitted with a suitable weather-sealing strip 12 engaged in a peripheral channel 13. A glass, plastics or metal panel which is not shown and which may be transparent or opaque, is fitted to the cover frame 11. Four hinge mechanisms 14 (two being right-handed and two being left-handed) are provided to connect the hatch frame 10 and cover frame 11.

Each hatch mechanism 14 has a hatch surround connection member 15 provided with a slot 15A open at one end. The member 15 is mounted on the hatch frame 10 by suitable fasteners e.g. screws or rivets 16. A hatch connection member 17, which is of substan-

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

tially S-shape in side view has a central portion 18 provided with a slot 19 open at both ends. The integral top portion 20 is connected to the inner face of the cover frame 11 by suitable fasteners (not shown) , the free end of the top portion 20 engaging in a channel 21 formed in the cover frame 11.

A substantially T-shaped handle 22 is formed integrally with the central portion 18.

A telescopic stay 23, having an inner tube 24 pivotally mounted in the slot in the member 15, and an outer tube 25 pivotally mounted in slot 19 in member 17, has an internal compression spring 26 resisting any retracting movement of the inner tube 25 relative to the outer tube 24. Each tube 24 and 25 is pivotally mounted in members 15 and 17 respectively by suitable pivot pins 27.

The operation of the hatch closure mechanism of the invention is clearly shown in FIGS 1 - 3. The slot 19 has a V-shaped bottom surface having abutment surface.28 which engages with tube 25 in the open position as shown. Slot 15A may also have a V-shaped bottom surface and include abutment surfaces 29 and 30 with tube 24 engaging with abutment surface 29 in the open position. In the closed position tube 24 may engage with abutment surface 30 and tube 25 may engage with surface 31 of slot 19 if desired. When handle 22 is pulled downwardly, this provides for compression of spring 26 by the adjacent enlarged end 32 of tube 25 such that the spring 26 is in a maximum state of compression as shown in FIG 2. Upon further downward movement of handle 22, this allows the spring 26 to relax and thus cause the hatch cover to be closed by an over centre movement. The reverse will occur when the handle 22 is pulled upwardly. In both the open and closed positions it will be appreciated that the bias of the spring 26 will maintain the hatch in either position. In FIG 5 it will be appreciated that in the

OMPI

SUBSTITUTE SHEET /. ^" ipo- ^

positions designated A, B, C and .D, the following combinations of operating movements is possible, i.e.: (i) with A, B, C and D closed, the hatch is closed; (ii) with A and B opened, the hatch may open at the front which may be designated by positions A and B; (iii) with C and D opened, the hatch may open at the rear, wherein the rear may be designated by positions C and D;

(iv) with A, B, C and D opened, the hatch may be in a fully opened state; (v) with A and D opened, the hatch may be open at the one side; and (vi) with B and C opened, the hatch may be open at the other side. With such a range of operational movements . available, it will be readily appreciated that the hatch assembly of the invention may be far more versatile than prior art hatch assemblies as shown for example in Patent 511,485.

OMPI

SUBSTITUTE SHEET &Z