Abstract:
An access opening closure device is provided for enabling passage of food or medication into a confined space without providing direct access from within the confined space to outside of the confined space. The device includes a housing assembly including a body and a cover, and a slide assembly including an access door and a frame. The body defines a receptacle and first and second openings. The housing assembly is pivotally coupled to the slide assembly and is movable from an operative position to a stowed, non-operative position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an access opening closure device for allowing articles to pass through an otherwise impervious wall. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an access opening closure device for use in prisons and hospital psychiatric wards which allows an article to be passed through a cell or hospital room door without exposing a guard or hospital attendant to possible injury or battery by the prisoner or patient. 
         [0003]    2. Background of Related Art 
         [0004]    Prison cell and hospital room doors for confining dangerous inmates or patients which are fitted with an access opening to allow passage of food or medication are well known. Such access openings, which may also be used to handcuff an inmate before the hospital or prison cell door is unlocked and opened, is typically covered by a closure device which may be closed to seal the access opening. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,302,325, 6,598,546 and 6,817,481 disclose known closure devices and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0005]    Known closure devices identified above are supported on respective prison cell or hospital room doors and extend outwardly from the respective doors into an adjacent walkway. It would be desirable to provide an access opening closure device which retains the benefits of prior art closure devices yet is easily movable from an operative position to a stowed, non-operative position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An access opening closure device is disclosed which comprises a housing assembly having a body defining a receptacle, a first opening and a second opening. A slide assembly includes a frame member defining a frame opening and an access door movably supported on the frame assembly between a closed position covering the frame opening and an open position uncovering the frame opening. The slide assembly is adapted to be secured to one side of a support structure such that the frame opening is aligned with an opening in the support structure. The frame of the slide assembly includes structure to pivotally secure the frame member of the slide assembly to the housing assembly such that the housing assembly can be selectively pivoted in relation to the slide assembly from an operative position in which the first opening of the body of the housing assembly is aligned with the frame opening to a non-operative position wherein the first opening is pivoted away from the frame opening. 
         [0007]    The structure on the frame member of the slide assembly includes at least one hinge member. Each of the at least one hinge members is configured to engage a cylindrical bearing supported on the body of the housing assembly to pivotally secure the housing assembly to the slide assembly. The at least one hinge member can include two hinge members. 
         [0008]    In embodiments, the access opening closure device includes a latching device configured to releasably secure the housing assembly in the operative position. The latching device can include a key operated lock. In embodiments, the key operated lock is mounted on the frame and includes a bolt which is configured to be received in a recess formed in the body of the housing assembly to retain the housing assembly in the operative position. 
         [0009]    The housing assembly may include a cover supported on the body of the housing assembly which is movable from a first position covering the second opening of the body to a second position uncovering the second opening of the body. The cover can be pivotally secured to the body of the housing assembly. In embodiments, the latching device is supported on the cover for securing the cover in the first position. 
         [0010]    The latching device can include a key operated lock which is supported on the cover and includes a bolt. A strike can be supported on the body of the housing assembly and be positioned to be engaged by the bolt. 
         [0011]    The access opening closure device can include a key operated lock positioned to secure the access door in the closed position. 
         [0012]    The access door can include a strike and the key operated lock can include a bolt which is engageable with the strike to secure the access door in the closed position. 
         [0013]    In embodiments, the access door supports a toothed rack and the frame member supports a ratchet member which is supported to engage the toothed rack to prevent movement of the access door towards the open position. The key operated lock may further include a cam member which is positioned to abut the ratchet member when the key operated lock is actuated to disengage the ratchet member from the toothed rack. 
         [0014]    In embodiments, the key operated lock is movable between first, second and third positions. In the first position the bolt is engaged with the strike and the ratchet member is engaged with the toothed rack. In the second position, the bolt is disengaged with the strike and the ratchet member is engaged with the toothed rack. In the third position, the bolt is disengaged with the strike and the ratchet member is disengaged from the toothed rack. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Various embodiments of the presently disclosed access opening closure device are described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presently disclosed access opening closure device in its operative position with the access door and the cover locked in a closed position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a top, perspective view of the access opening closure device with the slide assembly separated from the housing assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front, perspective view of the access opening closure device in a stowed, non-operative position with the housing assembly pivotally secured to the slide assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view from the rear end of the housing assembly of the access opening closure device with the cover in the open position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the frame of the slide assembly of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along section lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the slide assembly of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 2  with the access door separated from the frame; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the slide assembly of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 2  with the access door in the open position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the slide assembly shown in  FIG. 8  with the access door in the closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of a lock for locking the access door of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a front view, partially in phantom of the lock shown in  FIG. 10  mounted to the frame of the slide assembly shown in  FIG. 2  in the locked position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a front view shown partially in phantom of the lock shown in  FIG. 10  mounted to the frame of the slide assembly in the unlocked position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view from the front of the slide assembly secured to a door with the access door in the closed position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view from the front of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 1  supported on a door with the cover in an open position and the access door in the closed position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view from the front of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 1  with the access door and the cover in the closed position; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view from the front of the access opening closure device shown in  FIG. 1  with the access door of the slide assembly in the open position and the cover in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Embodiments of the presently disclosed access opening closure device will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. 
         [0033]    The presently disclosed access opening closure device, shown in  FIGS. 1-9  as  10 , includes a slide assembly  12  and a housing assembly  14  which are removably secured together as will be discussed in further detail below. The slide assembly  12  includes a frame  16  and a slidable access door  18 . The frame  16  defines a channel  16   a  ( FIG. 6 ) for slidably receiving the access door  18 . Frame  16  also defines an opening  20  ( FIG. 5 ) which is covered by the access door  18  when the access door  18  is in a closed position ( FIG. 9 ) and uncovered by the access door  18  when the access door  18  is moved to an open position ( FIG. 8 ). In one embodiment, frame  16  includes a pair of plates  23  which are separated by spacers  23   a  ( FIG. 6 ) to define the channel  16   a  along which the access door  18  is slidable between the open and closed positions. Alternately, other frame constructions are envisioned. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 - 9 , the frame  16  includes a first lock mounting position  24 , a second lock mounting portion  26 , a vertical strut  28  and a pair of hinge members  30 . The frame  16  also defines a plurality of throughbores  34  to facilitate securement of slide assembly  12  about the opening of a support structure such as a prison cell door, hospital door or the like, using bolts (not shown). A plurality of throughbores  32  are also provided on first and second lock mounting portions  24  and  26  to facilitate securement of locks to the frame  16 . Throughbores  32  and/or  34  may be threaded or include a threaded insert (not shown) to improve securement of the slide assembly  12  to a support structure or to facilitate securement of a lock to the frame  16 . 
         [0035]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-9 , access door  18  includes a handle  42 , a catch or strike  44 , and stop member  46 . Handle  42  is secured to a first end of access door  18  and provides a gripping surface to facilitate movement of the access door  18  between the open and closed positions. Strike  44  is positioned beneath the first lock mounting portion  24  when the access door  18  is in the closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and is positioned to receive the bolt  50  of a lock  52  ( FIGS. 10-11 ) to lock the access door  18  in the closed position. The stop member  46 , which may be a screw which is threaded to access door  18 , is secured to the access door  18  within the opening  20  and defines a projection which is positioned to engage the vertical strut  28  when the access door  18  is in the open position ( FIG. 8 ) and is positioned to engage the end  16   a  of the frame  16  opposite the vertical strut  28  when the access door  18  is in the closed position ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , a top wall of the access door  18  defines a toothed rack  56  having a plurality of teeth  56   a  ( FIG. 2B ). Each tooth  56   a  has a triangular shape with a substantially vertical wall and a sloped wall. The vertical wall of each tooth prevents movement of access door  18  towards the open position whereas the sloped wall facilitates movement of the access door  18  towards the closed position. A ratchet member  60  is supported adjacent first lock mounting portion  24  on the frame  16  of the slide assembly  12  and is biased into contact with rack teeth  56   a  of rack  56 . Ratchet member  60  is pivotally supported within the frame  16  about a pivot member  59  and includes an L-shaped body having a vertical leg  60   a  and a horizontal leg  60   b . In one embodiment, the ratchet member  60  is biased into contact with rack  56  by a biasing member, e.g., spring  64 , which urges a pin or rod (not shown) into contact with vertical leg  60   a  of ratchet member  60 . Alternately, the use of other biasing members or assemblies is envisioned. 
         [0037]    The vertical leg  60   a  of ratchet member  60  extends into an opening  66  defined in first lock mounting portion  24 . When a lock  52  is supported on first lock mounting portion  24 , a cam member  68  of lock  52  is positioned within opening  66  such that when a key (not shown) is inserted into a key slot  70  ( FIGS. 11-12 ) of lock  52  and turned to lift bolt  50  from strike  44 , cam member  68  is rotated into engagement with vertical leg  60   a  of ratchet member  60  ( FIG. 12 ) to disengage horizontal leg  60   b  of ratchet member  60  from engagement with rack  56 . This allows the access door  18  to be freely moved between the opened and closed positions. In one embodiment, the lock  52  is rotatable between three positions. In the first position, the lock bolt  50  is engaged with strike  44  and ratchet member  60  is engaged with rack  56 . In the second position, lock bolt  50  is disengaged with strike  44  and ratchet member  60  remains engaged with rack  56 . In the third position, lock bolt  50  is disengaged with strike  44  and ratchet member  60  is disengaged from rack  56 . In the first position, the access door  18  is locked in the closed position. In the second position, the access door  18 , if not already in the closed position, is only movable towards the closed position. Finally, in the third position, the access door  18  may be moved freely between the open and closed positions. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , frame  16  of slide assembly  12  includes structure for pivotally attaching the slide assembly  12  to the housing assembly  14 . In embodiments, hinge members  30  are supported below opening  20  on frame  16 . The hinge members  30  include cylindrical posts  30   a  ( FIG. 2 ) dimensioned to be slidably received in cylindrical bearings  80  ( FIG. 4 ) supported on a bottom surface of housing assembly  14  to pivotally secure housing assembly  14  to frame  16  of slide assembly  12 . Although not shown, cylindrical posts  30   a  may define threaded bores which receive bolts to prevent removal of bearings  80  from hinge members  30  and, thus, to prevent removal of housing assembly  14  from slide assembly  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , slide assembly  12  is pivotal from an operative position  FIG. 1  to a stowed or non-operative position as will be discussed in further detail below. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , housing assembly  14  includes a body  90  defining a receptacle  90   a . Although the body  90  is illustrated as being substantially rectangular, other body configurations are envisioned. In the illustrated embodiment, the body  90  includes a front wall  92 , a pair of side walls  94  and a bottom wall  96 . Bottom wall  96  may include one or more drain openings  98  ( FIG. 4 ) to facilitate drainage of fluid which may spill into receptacle  90   a . A cover  100  is movably secured to body  90  to enclose receptacle  90  in a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and provide access to receptacle  90   a  in an open position ( FIG. 4 ). Although body  90  of housing assembly  14  is illustrated as having an open top which is enclosed by a movable cover  100 , it is envisioned that the top surface of body  90  may be enclosed by a fixed wall and that one of the side walls  94  or front wall  92  may be replaced with a removable cover. In one embodiment, cover  100  is formed from a substantially transparent material such as Lexan®. Alternately, other materials of construction are envisioned. 
         [0040]    In the illustrated embodiment, cover  100  is hingedly connected by a hinge  103  ( FIG. 4 ) to a top edge of front wall  92  of body  90 . Alternatively, cover  100  can be movably mounted to body  90  in a variety of different ways including by slidably mounting cover  100  to body  90 . In embodiments, the cover  100  may be urged by a spring member  105  to an open position. The spring member  105  may be incorporated into the hinge  103 . Although hinge  103  is shown to be positioned on the top edge of front wall  92 , cover  100  may be hinged to the top edge  107  on a rear end of body  18  or to a top edge of either of sidewalls  94 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a top surface  100   a  of cover  100  defines a series of openings  101  ( FIG. 3 ), which may be threaded, to facilitate securement of a lock  102  ( FIG. 1 ) to cover  100  ( FIG. 8 ). Lock  102  is similar to lock  52  and includes a bolt  104  which is movable to engage a strike  106  supported on body  90  to lock the cover  100  in the closed position. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , body  90  of housing assembly  14  defines a rear opening  110  which is positioned opposite to front wall  92  above cylindrical bearings  80 . The housing assembly  14  is mountable to slide assembly  12  by slidably positioning cylindrical bearings  80  on cylindrical posts  30   a  of hinge members  30  ( FIG. 3 ). The housing assembly  14  is pivotable from a first stowed, non-operative position shown in  FIG. 3  positioned beneath opening  20  of frame  16  to a second operative position shown in  FIG. 1  in which rear opening  110  of housing assembly  14  is positioned in communication with opening  20  of frame  16 . In the operative position, access door  18  can be moved from the closed position shown in  FIG. 16  to the open position shown in  FIG. 14  to provide access to the receptacle  90   a  of housing assembly  14 . 
         [0043]    In order to retain the housing assembly  14  in the operative position shown in  FIGS. 14-16 , a lock  120  is mounted on second lock mounting portion  26  of frame  16 . Lock  120  includes a bolt  122  ( FIG. 13 ) which is received in a recess  124  ( FIG. 2 ) formed in an upper side of housing body  90  to prevent housing assembly  14  from pivoting about hinge members  30  from the operative position to the non-operative or stowed position. To position the housing assembly  14  in the non-operative position, lock  120  can be operated with a key (not shown) to lift bolt  122  from recess  124  of housing body  90 . When this occurs, gravity will cause the housing assembly  14  to pivot about hinge members  30  to the lowered position. To prevent slamming, the pivoting movement of housing assembly  14  can be controlled by grasping the housing body  90 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 13-16 , in use, the slide assembly  12  is secured to a support structure  200  such as a hospital or prison door using bolts or the like such that opening  20  is aligned with an opening (not shown) formed in the support structure  200 . Thereafter, the lock  52  can be operated with a key to allow access door  18  to be selectively moved between the open and closed positions to allow selective access to the opening in the support structure  200 . The slide assembly  12  is usable independently of the housing assembly  14 . If it is desired to limit direct access through the opening in the support structure  200  to the outside world, the housing assembly  14  can be pivotably secured to the slide assembly  12  by positioning cylindrical bearings  80  of body  90  of housing assembly  14  about hinge members  30 . Thereafter, the housing assembly  14  can be pivoted to the operative raised position. Lock  120  can be operated with a key (not shown) to retain the housing assembly  14  in the operative position. In the operative position, lock  120  can be operated with a key (not shown) to open cover  102  ( FIG. 14 ) and provide access to receptacle  90   a  of housing  90  while the access door  18  of slide assembly  12  is closed. Thereafter, cover  102  can be closed to cover receptacle  90   a  and access door  18  can be opened to provide access to the receptacle  90   a  through the opening in the support structure and the opening  110  in body  90 . See  FIG. 16 . At any time, if housing assembly  14  is not required, lock  120  can be actuated with a key to allow housing assembly  14  to be pivoted to a stowed or non-operative position ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0045]    Although not shown, the key operated locks  52 ,  102  and  120  may have spring-loaded bolts such that the bolts may be key operated to open the locks but will automatically return to their locked positions engaged with their respective strikes. In addition, it is noted that only key operated locks are specifically disclosed in this application to control operation of the access door  18 , the cover  102  and the pivotally mounted housing assembly  14 . However, in embodiments, it is envisioned that one or more of door  18 , cover  102  and housing  14  can be retained in the locked position by other non-key operated locking or latching devices. It is also envisioned that the cover  102  can be formed as a single member or a plurality of members. 
         [0046]    Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplarly embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the system based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.