Patent ID: 7836638

Claim:
An attic access apparatus to provide access to an attic through an attic opening in a ceiling, the apparatus comprising: an access frame with sidewalls extending upward from a middle portion of a flange member to define an access opening, the sidewalls configured to extend upward into the attic opening between structural members forming the attic opening such that outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the access frame fit in close proximity to the structural members; a recessed groove along inner surfaces of the sidewalls configured such that fastening screws can be located in the groove so that heads of the screws are in the groove and below inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the access frame; wherein an outward portion of the flange member extends outward from outer surfaces of the sidewall to form a trim flange configured to cover fasteners used to fasten the ceiling to the bottom of the structural members; wherein an inward portion of the flange member extends inward from the inner surfaces of the sidewalls to form a support flange; an insulated lid configured to drop into the access opening formed by the inner surfaces of the sidewalls and rest on the support flange; and a seal member operative to provide a seal between the lid and the access frame to prevent air movement between the lid and access frame; wherein a lip on an upper edge of the lid extends over top edges of the sidewalls, and the lid is configured so the lip is in close proximity to, or resting on, the top edge of the sidewalls when the bottom of the lid is resting on the support flange.