Patent Publication Number: US-6701676-B1

Title: Attic access apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/209,954 filed Jun. 8, 2000. 
    
    
     The invention relates to closures for openings in ceilings to provide access to attics and spaces above the ceilings. The closures are removable doors used to close openings in ceilings of buildings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The ceilings of homes have openings to provide admittance to attics and spaces above the ceilings. Frameworks secured to the ceiling and ceiling rafters have inwardly directed shoulders for supporting panels, such as plywood sheet, used to close the ceiling openings. Insulation materials, such as glass fiber mats, are located in the attic to insulate the ceilings. The panels closing the openings in some ceilings are not covered with insulation. Mats of insulation material are placed on top of the panels to increase the thermal efficiency of the panels. When the panels are lifted or opened the insulation mats move up in the attic and laterally of the openings in the ceilings. The openings are closed by placing the panels on the shoulders of the framework. There is no assurance that the mats of insulation will fall back into place on top of the panels. Thermal efficiency of the ceiling is compromised by allowing warm air to flow around the panels up into the attic and hot attic air to flow into the rooms below the ceilings. 
     Examples of attic opening covers and covers for stairwells are illustrated in the following U.S. Patents. 
     R. A. Edwards in U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,894 discloses an insulating cover for a retractable or folding stairs. The cover is a box structure having a size to fit over an opening in an upper floor. A pair of wheels on one end of the cover allows the cover to be moved to open the opening in the floor. A rubber gasket fixed on the lower edge of the cover is in sealing engagement with the floor. 
     W. V. Smith in U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,059 discloses an insulated and fire resistant ceiling mounted attic door hinged to a frame surrounding an opening in the ceiling. The door has a peripheral frame attached to a flat plaster panel. A layer of insulation material on top of the panel is located within the frame. Cross braces secured to the frame supports a foldable stair. 
     E. G. Helbig in U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,423 discloses a removable thermal barrier cover for a stairwell opening normally closed with a panel supporting a three piece ladder. The cover is a plastic box structure used in the shipping carton for the ladder unit. 
     A. N. Monat in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,151 discloses a box type insulation cover locatable over a framed attic opening in a ceiling. The cover is a multipocket member holding insulation for preventing heat loss through the attic opening. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an attic apparatus that closes an attic access opening without loss of thermal efficiency. A door and associated insulation is used to self seal the ceiling opening and insure proper location of the insulation above the door. The door has an airtight seal with a sealing member mounted on a housing to prevent air from flowing between the door and housing into and out of the space below the ceiling. 
     The apparatus has a rectangular housing secured to ceiling rafters. The housing has upright walls that extend upwardly into the attic or space above the ceiling. The walls surround a passage open to the attic. A door, sheet rock, and insulation material located in the passage close the passage. The sheet rock and insulation material hold the door in a sealing relationship with a rectangular seal supported on the housing. When the door is closed the insulation material is in the passage thereby providing maximum thermal efficiency. 
     The attic access apparatus is easy to install and can be used in new construction, remodeling and retrofitting buildings. The housing is inserted into a cut hole in the ceiling between ceiling rafters. Screws are used to secure the housing to the rafters. The insulation, sheet rock board and door are placed in the passage to close the passage airtight. Taping flanges on the housing are nailed to the ceiling and covered with texture or trim to complete the installation of the attic access apparatus. 
    
    
     The object and advantage of the attic access apparatus of the invention are embodied in the structure shown in the drawings and described in the following description of the invention. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the attic access apparatus of the invention mounted on a ceiling of a structure below the attic of the structure; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attic access apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The attic access apparatus  10  of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, mounted on a ceiling of a building, such as a home or commercial structure, provide an opening for admittance to an attic or space  9  above the ceiling  11 . One or more layers of insulation  12 , such as glass fiver mats, are located on top of ceiling  11  to provide a heat barrier which reduces heat loss through ceiling  11 . Other types of insulation materials can be used above ceiling  11 . 
     Attic access apparatus  10  has a rectangular housing  13  comprising flat upright side walls  14  and  15  joined to upright end walls  16  and  17 . Walls  14 - 17  are joined to bottom members  18  having a rectangular horizontal surface  19 . Surface  19  is co-extensive with the outer surface of ceiling  10 . An outwardly di joined to bottom members  18 . Flange  21  extending around walls  14 - 17  have holes to retain plaster and accommodates fasteners that attach apparatus  10  to ceiling supports. Walls  14 - 17  and bottom members  18  can be metal, wood, plywood and like sheet material. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, housing  13  has a passage  22  open to the attic and space below ceiling  11 . Passage  22  provides access and admittance to the attic or space above ceiling  11 . Passage  22  is normally closed with a door  23 , sheet rock or gypsum panel  24 , and insulation members  25  and  26  to reduce heat loss through passage  22 . Panel  24  is used for fire protection. Door  23  has a flat bottom wall  27  joined to upright side walls  28 . The bottom surface  31  of wall  27  is flat and co-extensive with the flat surface  19  of bottom members  18 . An outwardly directed horizontal flange or lip  29  joined to the top of walls  28  rests on top of bottom members  18  to support door  23  on bottom members  18  inside passage  22  thereby closing the lower end of passage  22 . The space between the bottom wall  27  and panel  24  is filled with an insulation member  26 , such as a foamed plastic or glass fiber mat or polyurethane sheets. Insulation member  25  resting on member  24  is a foamed plastic. Other insulation materials can be used for insulation members  25  and  26 . An adhesive  36  secures insulation member  25  to panel  24 . Insulation member  25  is a one-piece block of foamed plastic located in passage  22 . Member  25  extends upwardly from panel  24  and substantially fills passage  22  above panel  24 . The side walls of member  25  are located in spaced close relation to the inside of walls  14  and  15  of housing  13 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2,  5  and  6 , the top portions or shoulder of bottom members  18  has a right angle groove  32  with an open top. Groove  32  extends around bottom members  18  and has an inwardly directed horizontal portion and a vertical portion. A right angle seal  33  fits in groove  32 . Seal  33  is a one-piece flexible rubber or plastic band the engages the bottom of flange  29  to inhibit or prevent air from flowing between door  23  and bottom members  18 . Seal  33  has a vertical section located in the vertical portion of groove  32  and a folded horizontal section located in the horizontal portion of groove  32 . The sheet rock panel  24  is a flat board that rests on top of flange  29 . The weight of panel  24  and insulation material  25  holds door closed and flange  29  in self sealing relation with seal  33 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a rectangular gasket  34  secured to the inside walls  14 - 17  surrounds insulation member  25 . Gasket  34  is a flexible member located in engagement with insulation member  25  to close the space between walls  14 - 17  and insulation member  25  and inhibit the flow of air in passage  22 . Gasket  34  can have flexible ribs to allow insulation member  25 , members  24  and door  23  to be moved upwardly through passage  22  to open passage  22  thereby providing access to the attic. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, attic access apparatus  10  is installed into a precut hole in ceiling  11  between the ceiling rafters  36  and  37 . Screws  38  or other fasteners secure housing  13  to the rafters or spacing lumbers attached to the rafters. The location of housing  13  is checked, squared, and leveled if necessary. Taping flange  21  is then nailed to rafters  36  and  37  and the ceiling with nails  39  and covered with taping compound, texture or trim. 
     While there has been shown and described an embodiment of the invention, it is understood that changes in structures, materials and arrangement of structures can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the invention.