Inspection port

Abstract

An inspection port is for use in connection with a panel having a mounting hole. A base ring has a circular wall with base inner and base outer surfaces. The base ring has a plurality of flexible annular ridges extending transversely outward. The annular ridges each have a diameter greater than the mounting hole diameter. A cover has a circular wall with cover inner and outer surfaces. The cover outer surface is adapted for sliding engagement with the base inner surface. The cover has a plate extending transversely across the cover. An O-ring removably seals the cover to the base ring. The cover plate can be opaque, or transparent, and includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate. The cover can include a plurality of louvers in the plate. To latch the cover, the base ring has four key slots 90 degrees apart on the base inner surface. The key slots are each L-shaped, with an axial leg and a transverse leg. The cover has four pins 90 degrees apart on the cover outer surface. When the cover is inserted into the base ring, the four pins will engage the four key slots. Rotating the cover removably latches the cover to the base ring. To install the inspection port, the mounting hole is first cut in the panel with a standard size hole saw. A sealant compound is applied to the base ring, which is tapped into position with a mallet. The annular ridges will bend outward as they pass into the mounting hole. The outwardly bent ridges will prevent removal of the base ring.

1 . An inspection port for use in connection with a panel, the panel having a mounting hole therethrough with a predetermined diameter, the inspection port comprising:
 a base ring having a longitudinal axis, the base ring having a circular wall extending between first and second ends along the longitudinal axis, the circular wall having base inner and base outer surfaces, the base outer surface having a diameter less than the mounting hole predetermined diameter, the base ring having at least one flexible annular ridge extending transversely outward from the base outer surface, the annular ridge having a diameter greater than the mounting hole predetermined diameter, the annular ridge being adapted for engagement with the mounting hole;   a cover having a circular wall extending between first and second ends, the circular wall having cover inner and cover outer surfaces, the cover outer surface being adapted for close sliding engagement with the base inner surface, the cover having a plate extending transversely across the circular wall at the second end;   latching means for removably latching the cover in close engagement with the base ring; and   sealing means for removably sealing the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       2 . The inspection port of  claim 1 , wherein the latching means further comprises:
 the base ring having at least one key slot on the base inner surface; and   the cover having at least one pin on the cover outer surface, the pin being adapted to engage the key slot upon insertion of the cover into the base ring and rotation of the cover, so as to removably latch the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       3 . The inspection port of  claim 1 , wherein the latching means further comprises:
 the cover having at least one key slot on the cover outer surface; and   the base ring having at least one pin on the base inner surface, the pin being adapted to engage the key slot upon insertion of the cover into the base ring and rotation of the cover, so as to removably latch the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       4 . The inspection port of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means further comprises an O-ring seal between the cover and the base ring. 
   
   
       5 . The inspection port of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing means further comprises:
 the base ring having an O-ring groove adjacent the second end;   the cover plate extending transversely outward beyond the cover outer surface to form a cover flange adapted to cover the O-ring groove upon insertion of the cover into the base ring; and   an O-ring adapted to fit into the O-ring groove, so as to seal the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       6 . The inspection port of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cover plate is opaque; and   the cover plate includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate.   
   
   
       7 . The inspection port of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cover plate is transparent so as to allow visual inspection through the inspection port without opening the cover; and   the cover plate includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate.   
   
   
       8 . The inspection port of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of louvers penetrating the plate so as to provide ventilation through the inspection port. 
   
   
       9 . An inspection port for use in connection with a panel, the panel having a mounting hole therethrough with a predetermined diameter, the inspection port comprising:
 a base ring having a longitudinal axis, the base ring having a circular wall extending between first and second ends along the longitudinal axis, the circular wall having base inner and base outer surfaces, the base outer surface having a diameter less than the mounting hole predetermined diameter, the base ring having an annular flange adjacent the second end and extending transversely outward from the base outer surface, the base ring having a plurality of flexible annular ridges extending transversely outward from the base outer surface, the annular ridges each having a diameter greater than the mounting hole predetermined diameter, the annular ridges being adapted for engagement with the mounting hole;   a cover having a longitudinal axis, the cover having a circular wall extending between first and second ends along the longitudinal axis, the circular wall having cover inner and cover outer surfaces, the cover outer surface being adapted for close sliding engagement with the base inner surface, the cover having a plate extending transversely across the circular wall at the second end;   latching means for removably latching the cover in close engagement with the base ring; and   sealing means for removably sealing the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       10 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein the latching means further comprises:
 the base ring having at least one key slot on the base inner surface, the key slot being L-shaped with an axial leg of the L extending in an axial direction, and a transverse leg of the L extending in a transverse direction; and   the cover having at least one pin on the cover outer surface, the pin being adapted to engage the key slot upon axial insertion of the cover into the base ring so that the pin will pass through the axial leg, the cover will be rotated, and the pin will enter the transverse leg, whereby the cover cannot be removed axially, so as to removably latch the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       11 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein the latching means further comprises:
 the cover having at least one key slot on the cover outer surface, the key slot being L-shaped with an axial leg of the L extending in an axial direction, and a transverse leg of the L extending in a transverse direction; and   the base ring having at least one pin on the base inner surface, the pin being adapted to engage the key slot upon axial insertion of the cover into the base ring so that the pin will pass through the axial leg, the cover will be rotated, and the pin will enter the transverse leg, whereby the cover cannot be removed axially, so as to removably latch the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       12 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing means further comprises an O-ring seal between the cover and the base ring. 
   
   
       13 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing means further comprises:
 the base ring having an O-ring groove adjacent the second end;   the cover plate extending transversely outward beyond the cover outer surface to form a cover flange adapted to cover the O-ring groove upon insertion of the cover into the base ring; and   an O-ring adapted to fit into the O-ring groove, so as to seal the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       14 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the cover plate is opaque; and   the cover plate includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate.   
   
   
       15 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the cover plate is transparent so as to allow visual inspection through the inspection port without opening the cover; and   the cover plate includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate.   
   
   
       16 . The inspection port of  claim 9 , wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of louvers penetrating the plate so as to provide ventilation through the inspection port. 
   
   
       17 . An inspection port for use in connection with a panel, the panel having a mounting hole therethrough with a predetermined diameter, the inspection port comprising:
 a base ring having a longitudinal axis, the base ring having a circular wall extending between first and second ends along the longitudinal axis, the circular wall having base inner and base outer surfaces, the base outer surface having a diameter less than the mounting hole predetermined diameter, the base ring having an annular flange adjacent the second end and extending transversely outward from the base outer surface, the base ring having an O-ring groove adjacent the second end, the base ring having a plurality of flexible annular ridges extending transversely outward from the base outer surface, the annular ridges each having a diameter greater than the mounting hole predetermined diameter, the annular ridges being adapted for engagement with the mounting hole;   a cover having a longitudinal axis, the cover having a circular wall extending between first and second ends along the longitudinal axis, the circular wall having cover inner and cover outer surfaces, the cover outer surface being adapted for close sliding engagement with the base inner surface, the cover having a plate at the second end extending transversely across the cover and transversely outward beyond the cover outer surface to form a cover flange adapted to cover the O-ring groove upon insertion of the cover into the base ring;   an O-ring adapted to fit into the O-ring groove, so as to seal the cover to the base ring; and   latching means for removably latching the cover in close engagement with the base ring.   
   
   
       18 . The inspection port of  claim 17 , wherein the latching means further comprises:
 the base ring having four key slots spaced approximately 90 degrees apart on the base inner surface, the key slots each being L-shaped with an axial leg of the L extending in an axial direction, and a transverse leg of the L extending in a transverse direction; and   the cover having four pins spaced approximately 90 degrees apart on the cover outer surface, the four pins being adapted to engage the four key slots upon axial insertion of the cover into the base ring so that the pins will pass through the axial legs, the cover will be rotated, and the pins will enter the transverse legs, whereby the cover cannot be removed axially, so as to removably latch the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       19 . The inspection port of  claim 17 , wherein the latching means further comprises:
 the cover having four key slots approximately 90 degrees apart on the cover outer surface, the key slots each being L-shaped with an axial leg of the L extending in an axial direction, and a transverse leg of the L extending in a transverse direction; and   the base ring having four pins approximately 90 degrees apart on the base inner surface, the four pins being adapted to engage the four key slots upon axial insertion of the cover into the base ring so that the pins will pass through the axial legs, the cover will be rotated, and the pins will enter the transverse legs, whereby the cover cannot be removed axially, so as to removably latch the cover to the base ring.   
   
   
       20 . The inspection port of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the cover plate is opaque; and   the cover plate includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate.   
   
   
       21 . The inspection port of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the cover plate is transparent so as to allow visual inspection through the inspection port without opening the cover; and   the cover plate includes at least one finger recess for rotating the plate.   
   
   
       22 . The inspection port of  claim 17 , wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of louvers penetrating the plate so as to provide ventilation through the inspection port.