Skirt for forming an access hatch in concrete

A skirt for supporting a hatch formed in concrete, the skirt comprising:

• a rigid frame including a sidewall defining a central opening, the sidewall having an inner surface facing the central opening, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, an upper edge and a lower edge opposite the upper edge, the sidewall defining a height between the upper edge and the lower edge;
• and
• an alignment tab extending from the sidewall at an angle with respect to the sidewall, at least a portion of the alignment tab extending beyond and above the upper edge of the sidewall such that the alignment tab guides the hatch into alignment with the upper edge of the sidewall as the hatch is moved into position on the upper edge of the sidewall,
• wherein the frame includes a flange extending outwardly from the outer surface of the sidewall and spaced from the alignment tab and the retention tab, the flange positioned on the sidewall such that it aligns underneath an opening in the hatch and closes the opening to prevent the flow of concrete into the opening when the hatch is seated on the skirt.

A method for forming a hatch into precast concrete, comprising:

• providing a concrete form;
• placing a rigid skirt frame into the concrete form, the frame including a sidewall defining a central skirt opening, the sidewall having an inner surface facing the central opening, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, an upper edge and a lower edge opposite the upper edge, the sidewall defining a height between the upper edge and the lower edge;
• placing a hatch onto the skirt frame, the hatch having a frame defining a central hatch opening, the hatch frame including an inner surface facing the central hatch opening, an outer surface, an upper edge and a bottom edge defining a hatch height, the bottom edge of the hatch seated on the top edge of the skirt frame, the central hatch opening aligned with the central skirt opening, the hatch having a cover for covering the central hatch opening;
• pouring concrete into the concrete form around the outer surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the hatch;
• filling the concrete form with concrete to a level generally equal to the combined height of the skirt frame and the hatch frame;
• providing at least one alignment tab extending from the skirt frame beyond the upper edge of the skirt frame, wherein the step of placing the skirt frame on the hatch frame includes guiding the bottom edge of the hatch frame onto the upper edge of the skirt frame with the alignment tab;
• and
• wherein the at least one alignment tab includes a pair of plates arranged in a V-shape that converges towards the upper edge of the skirt frame.

A system for forming a hatch into concrete, comprising:

• a rigid skirt frame including a sidewall defining a central skirt opening, the sidewall having an inner surface facing the central opening, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, an upper edge and a lower edge opposite the upper edge, the sidewall defining a height between the upper edge and the lower edge;
• and
• a hatch seated on the skirt frame, the hatch having a frame defining a central hatch opening, the hatch frame including an inner surface facing the central hatch opening, an outer surface, an upper edge and a bottom edge defining a hatch height therebetween, the bottom edge of the hatch seated on at least a portion of the top edge of the skirt frame, the central hatch opening aligned with the central skirt opening;
• a cover for covering the central hatch opening, and a hinge for connecting the cover to the hatch frame, the hinge disposed in a cutout in the hatch frame, the cutout having an open bottom, wherein the skirt frame includes at least one flange extending outwardly therefrom, the hatch frame placed on the skirt with the at least one flange closing the open bottom of the cutout.