Abstract:
The present invention discloses a system for controlling environmental conditions in connection with ceiling hatch use particularly on watercraft. The invention generally comprises a support platform, a means for suspending the support platform, a water diversion conduit cooperatively associated with a water exhaust aperture in the support platform, and a water collection and containment structure for collecting and containing fresh water. The platform is suspended from a watercraft hatch for capturing and diverting water away from the watercraft hatch, yet allows continual airflow, heat exchange and filtered light to enter the hatched cabin. The means for suspension includes a means for easily removing the platform from the path of egress through the watercraft. Manually adjustable baffle means may be included at the perimeter of the platform to allow for prevention of wind blown rain from escaping the platform through the opening between the water collection receptacle and the underside of the watercraft deck.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a system for controlling environmental conditions in connection with ceiling hatch use, and more particularly, to a system for controlling the ingress and egress of airflow, heat, light, and matter in connection with ceiling hatch use on watercraft.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Watercraft art is ancient. Watercrafts have been used for leisure, sport and livelihood for ages and those who have followed such pursuits have continually endeavored to improve upon their respective water borne vessel. Myriad accessories are available to watercraft enthusiasts for improving upon the watercraft experience. Notably, among the myriad watercraft accessories available, ceiling hatches for controlling the climate of watercraft cabins are often viewed as an essential feature to any water going vessel having an enclosed space for occupancy.  
           [0005]    The marketplace for hatch accessories, in particular, has provided a lucrative niche for manufacturers of marine-oriented products. Conspicuously absent from the marketplace is a product enabling consumers the opportunity to outfit a watercraft with a simple system for comprehensively controlling environmental conditions attendant to hatch use. More specifically, a product is needed that allows occupants of hatched cabins to leave hatches open during wet weather, thus allowing continual airflow, heat exchange and filtered light to enter the hatched cabin during wet weather, while capturing otherwise airborne water entering the hatched cabin, preventing captured water from damaging the interior, and diverting captured water away from the hatch for further use and/or disposal thereof. Systems for controlling isolated environmental conditions attendant to hatch use such as those outlined above are known in the prior art and some are described hereinafter.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,232, which issued to Ross et al., discloses an Inverted Cargo Hatch Tent. This patent teaches a system for diverting water away from the contents of a cargo hold having a cargo hatch having exemplary rectangular coaming dimensions in the range of 30×40 feet to 60×85 feet. The system includes an inverted pliable sloping liner having an apex, which is the point where water accumulates under gravitational attraction. A drain line communicates with the apex to divert water away from the surface of the liner and the underlying cargo. The liner is contiguously mounted between the cargo hatch cover and the hatch coaming, enabling the system to collect water and divert water coming in contact with the sloped liner. Due to the snug liner mounting to the cargo hatch coaming, this system does not allow for unobstructed airflow to and from the cargo hold. Further, this system does not allow for heat to readily escape from the cargo hold. Still further this system does not allow for light to readily penetrate the cargo hold. Still further this system does not allow occupants to easily escape through the hatch as a path of egress in the event of the necessity to do so. The Inverted Cargo Hatch Tent thus blocks light and water and other airborne matter from entering or exiting the cargo hatch. The system thus effectively shields the applicable cargo hatch, but does not allow for free airflow and heat exchange, thus detracting from its capability to comprehensively control environmental conditions attendant to the use of ceiling hatches in occupancy based applications.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,580, which issued to Davidson, discloses a Marine Door Unit. This patent teaches a marine door system wherein the frame portion of the marine door unit includes water collection and diversion channels for diverting water away from watercraft gear and equipment storage compartments to which the marine door unit is attached. A drain tube further diverts collected water away from the compartment. A door is hingably connected to the frame portion, thus allowing entry into the storage compartment. The frame includes a support rail, which supports a sealing gasket for further sealing the marine door unit when the door is closed. Water leakage past the gasket is collected and diverted through the channels and away from the unit via the drain tube. Due to the snug water seal cooperatively associate with door closure on the unit, this system does not allow for unobstructed airflow to and from the storage compartment. Further, this system does not allow for heat to readily escape from the storage compartment. Still further this system does not allow for light to readily penetrate the storage compartment. The Marine Door Unit thus blocks light and water and other airborne matter from entering or exiting the storage compartment, keeping the compartment dry for storage. The system effectively shields the applicable storage compartment from environmental conditions, but does not allow for free airflow and heat exchange, thus detracting from its capability to comprehensively control environmental conditions attendant to the use of ceiling hatches in occupancy based applications.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,422, which issued to Muller, discloses a Hatch Ventilator Awning For Boats. This patent teaches a waterproof awning, which can be unrolled from a compact state for storage and be securely affixed over a boat hatch as an aid to prevent water from entering the boat cabin below the boat hatch and for funneling air into the hatch opening for better boat cabin ventilation. This hatch ventilator awning for boats does not prevent wind blown water from entering the hatch via the open funnel end. Further, the awning is affixed over a boat hatch thus preventing occupants in the boat cabin from adjusting or removing the awning from below the deck of the boat. Still further, the awing does not allow for easy ingress and egress of occupants from the hatch in the event of an emergency. The awning, thus allows for free airflow and filtered light to enter the boat cabin, but allows wind blown water to enter the cabin and frustrates boat cabin occupants from adjusting or easily removing the awning from within the cabin. These features both detract from its ability to comprehensively control environmental conditions attendant to the use of a watercraft hatch and compromises occupant safety by thwarting easy removal of the awning from a critical path of egress.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,834, which issued to Pinder, discloses a Rain Shield. This patent teaches a shield for roof vents consisting of two hingedly connected panels. The first panel is integrally attached to a vent cap and has dimensions greater in magnitude than the vent cap, thus blocking rain from entering the vent. The second panel is adjacent the first panel with an end opposite the hinge joint connected to a slide means slidably engaged with tracks on the roof adjacent the vent. This rain shield does not prevent wind blown water from entering the vent blown from positions lateral to the rain shield. Further, the rain shield is affixed integral with a vent cap exterior to the living space below the vent, thus preventing occupants from adjusting or removing the rain shield from within the vented room. The rain shield, thus allows for free airflow and filtered light to enter the vented room, but allows wind blown water to enter the room and frustrates cabin occupants from adjusting or easily removing the rain shield from within the room. These features both detract from the ability of the Rain Shield to comprehensively control environmental conditions attendant to the use of an occupancy based application for a ceiling hatch and decreases ease of occupant use by requiring occupants to adjust or remove the rain shield from an exterior roof location. Additionally, the Rain Shield does not allow for the collection and containment of valuable fresh water for further marine vessel use.  
           [0010]    None of the prior art discloses a system for use in combination with a hatch having a suspended water collection means allowing for simultaneous collection, diversion and containment of water, filtering of light, circulation of air, exchange of heat, and shield for the prevention of other foreign matter from entering a hatched cabin or hatched room. Further, none of the prior art discloses a system for use in combination with a hatch having a suspended water collection means, which may be easily adjusted or removed from its suspended overlapping disposition below the ceiling hatch by an occupant from within the cabin or room, thus allowing for easy ingress and egress through the ceiling hatch.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a system for comprehensively controlling environmental conditions in connection with the use of ceiling hatches in occupancy based applications. In this regard, an objective of the present invention is to provide a suspended support platform for allowing simultaneous collection, diversion and containment of water, filtering of light, circulation of air, exchange of heat, and shielding of other foreign matter from entering a hatched cabin or hatched room. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a suspended support platform, which may be easily adjusted or removed from a suspended overlapping disposition below a ceiling hatch by an occupant from within the hatched cabin or hatched room, thus allowing for easy ingress and egress through the ceiling hatch as desired by room occupants. Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a suspended support platform to enhance occupant privacy in a cabin. Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a suspended support platform to deter passersby from entering a hatched cabin or hatched room through a ceiling hatch.  
           [0012]    To attain these objectives, the claimed invention generally comprises in combination a ceiling hatch being spatially and fixedly positioned in a substantially horizontal plane of a cabin or room ceiling. The ceiling hatch is positioned in a cabin or room ceiling adjacent to support structure corresponding to a cabin or room ceiling structure. The cabin or room ceiling structure adjacent the ceiling hatch further has bracket fastening means receiving structure. The ceiling hatch has pre-selected horizontal hatch size dimensions as selected by those desirous of a ceiling hatch.  
           [0013]    The environmental control system further comprises a platform suspended below the ceiling hatch and adapted to support matter inferior to the ceiling hatch. The platform further comprises a substantially planar portion having an upper support surface and a lower exposed surface. The upper support surface faces opposite the ceiling hatch and the lower exposed surface faces a floor surface opposite the ceiling hatch. The platform also comprises an upwardly extending contiguous hem flange about the perimeter of the planar portion having an inner retaining surface and an outer exposed surface. The hem flange includes at least one liquid outlet aperture for exhausting liquid from the upper support surface and through the inner retaining and outer exposed surfaces.  
           [0014]    The environmental control system further comprises at least one suspension means for suspending the platform below the ceiling hatch. The suspension means has at least one spatially superior attachment structure and at least one spatially inferior attachment structure opposite the spatially superior attachment structure. The spatially superior attachment structure is attached to the support structure adjacent the ceiling hatch and the spatially inferior attachment structure is attached to the platform.  
           [0015]    The environmental control system further comprises at least one liquid conduit structure for diverting liquid away from the platform. The liquid conduit structure has one liquid inlet end and at least one liquid outlet end opposite the liquid inlet end. The liquid inlet end is cooperatively associated with the liquid outlet aperture for receiving exhausted liquid from the liquid outlet aperture.  
           [0016]    The environmental control system comprises at least one liquid collection and containment structure for receiving and containing exhausted water. The liquid collection and containment structure includes at least one liquid receiving aperture. The liquid receiving aperture is cooperatively associated with the liquid outlet end for receiving exhausted liquid from the liquid outlet end.  
           [0017]    Other claimed features of the environmental control system include baffle means supported at the perimeter of the platform and manually adjustable for preventing wind blown rain from escaping the platform through the opening between the platform and the underside of the ceiling hatch.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    Other features of our invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following detailed description of our patent drawings, as follows:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferred suspension means, platform and one exemplary orientation of the baffle means.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the support platform and an alternative exemplary orientation of the baffle means.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative suspension means and platform.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of an alternative suspension means, platform, and ceiling hatch.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    Preferred Embodiment  
         [0028]    Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system  100  is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 (perspective view), FIG. 2 (fragmentary side view) and FIG. 8 (side view). The preferred embodiment of environmental control system  100  generally comprises in combination, a watercraft hatch  110 , a platform  120 , a suspension means, namely, a hinge assembly  130 , a conduit union  140 , a water diversion tube  150 , and a water collection and containment structure  160 . Watercraft hatch  110  as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is spatially and fixedly positioned in a substantially horizontal plane of a cabin or room ceiling.  
         [0029]    Watercraft hatch  110  is positioned in a cabin or room ceiling adjacent to support structure  112  which corresponds to a cabin or room ceiling support structure. Support structure  112  must be capable of receiving and securing holding bracket fastening means  138 . Watercraft hatch  110  may include a frame portion  114  and frame portion  114  may provide an added support structure for receiving bracket fastening means  138 . Watercraft hatch  110  is constructed having pre-selected hatch perimeter dimensions  221  as selected by the consumer desirous of incorporating a watercraft hatch into a boat.  
         [0030]    The environmental control system further consists of platform  120  being suspended below watercraft hatch  110  as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 8. Platform  120  is adapted to support matter inferior to watercraft hatch  110  and is constructed of a strong rigid material such as plastic, fiberglass, wood, or metal. Stainless steel is the preferred material as it is both rust-resistant and difficult to penetrate by would-be passersby intent on entering a hatched cabin or hatched room uninvited. Platform  120 , when made of metal may be machine pressed into the desired configuration. Platform  120  must further be capable of receiving and securely holding platform fastening means.  
         [0031]    Platform  120  further comprises a planar portion  121  as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 and has an upper support surface  122 ( a ) and a lower exposed surface  122 ( b ) as shown in FIG. 8. Upper support surface  122 ( a ) faces opposite watercraft hatch  110  and lower exposed surface  122 ( b ) faces a floor surface  123  opposite watercraft hatch  110  as further shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8. Planar portion  121  preferably lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which watercraft hatch  110  lies. Planar portion  121  has preselected hem perimeter dimensions  220  of greater magnitude than pre-selected hatch perimeter dimensions  221  such that the difference therebetween results in a suspended margin of perimeter overlap  222  as shown in FIG. 3. Suspended margin of perimeter overlap  222  has an inner perimeter  223  and an outer perimeter  224 . The perpendicular distance  225  between inner perimeter  223  and outer perimeter  224  is preferably substantially constant. This means that watercraft hatch  110  is the same shape as platform  120 , but smaller in size, and spatially positioned such that suspended margin of overlap  222  has an equal thickness on all sides.  
         [0032]    The pre-selected hem perimeter dimensions  220  may be dependent on the distance  226  between the plane in which  120  planar portion lies and the plane in which watercraft hatch  110  lies as shown in FIG. 2. A substantially positive correlation preferable exists between perpendicular distance  225  and distance  226 . The substantially positive correlation preferably varies in about a one unit to one unit ratio. In the case of a positive correlation between two variables, high measurements on one variable tend to be associated with high measurements on the other variable and low measurements on one variable with low measurements on the other. In other words, the two variables vary together in the same direction. A substantially positive correlation is one in which the difference between pairs of variables is always the same.  
         [0033]    It is anticipated that distance  226  may be pre-selectively chosen from a range between about 7.62 cm and about 15.24 cm, the preferred distance 226 being about 10.16 cm. This distance is chosen as a compromise. In rooms where headroom is limited, as is normally the case on watercraft, space must be conserved when suspending bulky structures from overhead. Distances of greater magnitude than those here cited tend to result in an unwieldy platform. Planar portion  121  is preferably rectangular shaped, the four corners of planar portion  121  preferably being rounded as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The preferred radius of the rounded corners is about 2.54 cm. Rounded corners are useful, particularly in preferred scenarios where stainless steel is being used as platform material. The combination of a low ceilings and sharp rigid corners raises safety concerns, thus giving rise to a preferred rounded corner.  
         [0034]    Platform  120  also has an upwardly extending contiguous hem flange  124  about the perimeter of planar portion  121  having an inner retaining surface  125 ( a ) and an outer exposed surface  125 ( b ) as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. Hem flange  124  has at least one water outlet aperture  126  for exhausting water from upper support surface  122 ( a ) and through inner retaining surface  125 ( a ) and outer exposed surface  125 ( b ). Hem flange  124  preferably has an upwardly extended height dimension of about 5.08 cm. This dimension serves to better retain water from spilling over hem flange  124 , yet allow occupants to manually adjust matter, which may be supported on platform  120 .  
         [0035]    The environmental control system generally further comprises at least one suspension means for suspending platform  120  below watercraft hatch  110 . The suspension means must have at least one spatially superior attachment structure and at least one spatially inferior attachment structure opposite the spatially superior attachment structure. The spatially superior attachment structure being attached to support structure  112  adjacent watercraft hatch  110  and the spatially inferior attachment structure must be attached to platform  120 . The suspension means must have a releasable attachment structure embodied either in the spatially superior attachment structure or the inferior attachment structure so that platform  120  may be selectively moved from the path of egress provided by watercraft hatch  110 . The path of egress is a serious safety concern and must be kept in mind when constructing various means for suspension. The suspension means also allows air, heat, light, and water to ingress and egress through watercraft hatch  110 .  
         [0036]    More specifically, the suspension means of the preferred embodiment of environmental control system  100  is further defined by hinge assembly  130  as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Hinge assembly  130  is preferably located adjacent one corner of planar portion  121  such that the planes in which lie the adjacent two portions of hem flange  124  intersect at a hinge joint  131  as shown in FIG. 1. Hinge assembly  130  further comprises a rigid bracket member  132  having an upper flange portion  133  and a lower hinge attachment portion  134  opposite upper flange portion  133 . Flange portion  133  has fastening means receiving structure  135  for secure attachment to support structure  112 .  
         [0037]    Hinge assembly  130  further comprises a hinge structure  136 , such as a piano hinge, having a first rigid wing member  137 ( a ) and a second rigid wing member  137 ( b ). First rigid wing member  137 ( a ) and second rigid wing member  137 ( b ) are jointed about a substantially vertical axis of rotation running through hinge joint  131 . First rigid wing member  137 ( a ) is integrally attached to rigid bracket member  132  and second rigid wing member  137 ( b ) has platform fastening means receiving structure for attachment to platform  120 . For example, platform fastening means receiving structure may comprise bolt receiving apertures or be constructed of material capable of being welded to platform  120 . Bracket fastening means  138  securely attach upper bracket member  132  to support structure  112  as shown in FIG. 3 or frame portion  114  as shown in FIG. 1. Platform fastening means securely attach second rigid wing member  137 ( b ) to platform  120 , thus allowing platform  120  to be spatially repositioned about the substantially vertical axis of rotation at least 90 rotational degrees for easy ingress and egress through watercraft hatch  110 .  
         [0038]    The preferred embodiment of the environmental control system  100  may also include as part of its preferred suspension means an upwardly extending positioning bracket  170  as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 integrally formed with platform  120  and a mounting bracket  171  as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. Mounting bracket  171  has a superior bracket end and an inferior bracket end. The superior bracket end is securely attached to support structure  112  adjacent watercraft hatch  110  at a point preferably diagonally opposite hinge assembly  130 . The inferior bracket end has positioning bracket attachment means  174  for releasable attachment to positioning bracket  170  as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Positioning bracket attachment means  174  is releasably attached to positioning bracket  170 , thus allowing positioning bracket  170  to releasably retain platform  120  in position inferior to watercraft hatch  110 . At the election of the occupant, the occupant need only release positioning bracket attachment means  174  and rotate platform  120  at least 90 rotational degrees about the substantially vertical axis of rotation to allow for easy ingress and egress through watercraft hatch  110  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0039]    The preferred embodiment of environmental control system  100  further comprises at least one rigid tubular conduit union  140  for diverting water away from platform  120  as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Conduit union  140  has one water inlet end and one tube-engaging end opposite the water inlet end. The water inlet end is integrally formed with hem flange  124  adjacent water outlet aperture  126 . Conduit union  140  preferably extends laterally from outer exposed surface  125 ( b ). This configuration is preferable to save headroom space and to eliminate a the possible safety concern of head injury by a downwardly extending structure.  
         [0040]    The preferred embodiment of environmental control system  100  further comprises at least one flexible water diversion tube  150  for diverting water away from conduit union  140  as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 8. Water diversion tube  150  has one conduit union-engaging end and at least one water outlet end opposite the conduit union-engaging end. The conduit union-engaging end is snugly engaged with the tube-engaging end. Conduit union  140  is preferably located adjacent hinge assembly  130 . This configuration is preferable so that when platform  120  is pivoted about the substantially vertical axis of rotation, a shorter water diversion tube  150  may be utilized, thus conserving space. Water diversion tube  150  is preferably translucent to enable occupants to visually inspect the contents of water diversion tube  150 .  
         [0041]    The preferred embodiment of environmental control system  100  further comprises at least one water collection and containment structure  160  for receiving and containing exhausted water from upper support surface  122 ( a ) as shown in FIG. 1. Water collection and containment structure  160  has at least one water receiving aperture  161  cooperatively associated with the water outlet end for receiving exhausted water from the water outlet end. Water collection and containment structure  160  may either take the form of a water jug  160 ( a ) or similar liquid container as shown in FIG. 1 or a watercraft bilge  160 ( b ) as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8. In this manner, occupants may either collect and contain water in water jug  160 ( a ) for sundry fresh water uses on watercraft or occupants may elect to divert fresh water to watercraft bilge  160 ( b ) to freshen bilge water.  
         [0042]    The environmental control system  100  may also comprise baffle means  230  as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Manually adjustable baffle means  230  are supported generally at the perimeter of platform  120  with the bottom edge thereof being adapted to be engaged with planar portion  121  for preventing wind blown rain from escaping platform  120  through the opening between platform  120  and the underside of watercraft hatch  110 . Baffle means  230  may be manually adjusted according to the direction of wind blown rain as desired by the occupant.  
         [0043]    First Alternative Embodiment  
         [0044]    The first alternative embodiment of the environmental control system is the same as the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system  100  save for the specific suspension means for suspending platform  120  below watercraft hatch  110  and required added structure being given to hem flange  124 .  
         [0045]    The suspension means of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 6 is further defined by two laterally opposed mounting brackets  180 , each mounting bracket having a superior mounting flange portion  181  and an inferior sliding flange receiving portion  182 . Each superior mounting flange portion  181  has mounting bracket fastening means receiving structure  183  for secure attachment to support structure  112  adjacent watercraft hatch  110 . Hem flange  124  has at least two oppositely aligned sliding flange portions  185  each being supported by one upwardly extending flange support wall  184 . Flange support walls  184  are upward extensions of hem flange  124 . Sliding flange portions  185  are releasably and slidably engaged with inferior sliding flange receiving portions  182 , thus allowing platform  120  to be releasably and slidably positioned inferior to watercraft hatch  110 . At the election of the occupant, the occupant need only slidably release platform  120  to allow for easy ingress and egress through watercraft hatch  110 .  
         [0046]    Second Alternative Embodiment  
         [0047]    The second alternative embodiment of the environmental control system is the same as the preferred embodiment of the environmental control system  100  save for the specific suspension means for suspending platform  120  below watercraft hatch  110 , required added structure being given to hem flange  124 , additional support structure attachment means  115 , platform fastening means receiving structure, and optionally a locking means to prevent platform  120  from sliding out of position under watercraft hatch  110 .  
         [0048]    The suspension means of the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 7 in which water craft hatch  110  has a watercraft hatch lid covering with hinge mechanism being omitted to allow depiction of support structure attachment means  115 . The suspension means of the second embodiment is further defined by at least two flexible hanging members  190  located opposite one another. Each flexible hanging member  190  has a superior attachment end  191  and at least one inferior attachment end  192 . Flexible hanging members  190  may comprise rope, chain, cord, straps and the like. Each superior attachment end  191  is releasable attached to support structure attachment means  115  for attachment to support structure  112  adjacent watercraft hatch  110 . Support structure attachment means  115  are removably attached to support structure  112  adjacent watercraft hatch  110 . Each inferior attachment end  192  has platform attachment means  194  for attaching each inferior attachment end  192  to platform  120 . Platform attachment means  194  is removably attached to platform  120 , thus allowing platform  120  to be releasably hung in position inferior to watercraft hatch  110  for easy ingress and egress through watercraft hatch  110  at the election of the occupant. Optionally, occupants may desire to include a locking means to prevent platform  120  from sliding out of position under watercraft hatch  110 .  
         [0049]    The reader will see that the preferred environmental control system provides a system for comprehensively controlling environmental conditions in connection with the use of ceiling hatches in occupancy based applications. In this regard, the present invention provides a suspended support platform for allowing simultaneous collection, diversion and containment of water, filtering of light, circulation of air, exchange of heat, and shielding of foreign matter from entering a hatched cabin or hatched room. The reader will further see that the present invention provides a suspended support platform, which may be easily adjusted or removed from a suspended overlapping disposition below a ceiling hatch by an occupant from within the hatched cabin or hatched room. This allows for easy ingress and egress through the ceiling hatch as desired by hatched cabin or hatched room occupants. The reader will further see that the present invention also provides a suspended support platform to enhance occupant privacy in a hatched cabin or hatched room. The reader will still further see that present invention also provides a suspended support platform to deter passersby from entering a hatched cabin or hatched room through a ceiling hatch, particularly when the platform is constructed from a strong rigid material such as stainless steel.  
         [0050]    It is foreseen that the concepts herein described may be extended and applied to environmental control systems of the type herein described to ceiling hatches in all occupancy-based applications. The environmental control system herein illustrated and described is used primarily for descriptive and illustrative purposes and should not be construed to limit the scope of concept application to the application as shown. Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to some embodiments it is not intended that the novel device be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.