GB2612314A

GB2612314A - Dry verge unit

Info

Publication number: GB2612314A
Application number: GB2115405.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Hales Ben; Cameron Challinor Michael
Original assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-26
Filing date: 2021-10-26
Publication date: 2023-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2041-10-26
Also published as: GB2612314B; GB202115405D0

Abstract

An ambidextrous dry verge unit 10 comprises a base portion 12 with a head end 20 and a tail end 21. The dry verge unit 10 comprises a longitudinal axis L of the unit 10 extending from the head end 20 to the tail end 21 and a pair of flanges 14, 15 each fixed at a respective side of the base portion 12 with respect to the longitudinal axis. The flanges 14, 15 extend away from the base portion 12 in a first direction. The dry verge unit 10 further comprises a fixing means 16, for fixing the unit 10 to a building. The fixing means 16 has two planar surfaces 25, 26, each disposed closer to one of the flanges 14, 15 than the other surface 25, 26 and each facing in the first direction while sloping away from the other surface 25, 26 towards its respective closer flange 14, 15.

Description

Dry Verge Unit The invention relates to a dry verge unit, and in particular an ambidextrous dry verge unit for use at the verge of a gable end of a building.

Dry verge systems are used to clad and protect the exposed edge of the roof covering up the line of the verge on the gable end of a building. This detail was traditionally pointed with mortar to protect the exposed opening; however, the use of mortar or what are known as "wet fix" trades are prone to degradation and need regular repair, so have been replaced on modern buildings with "dry fix", mechanically secured and maintenance-free cladding systems.

Dry verge systems come in various shapes and sizes to suit the wide range of roof coverings available in the UK housing sector, these are broadly split into two categories: modular systems for interlocking concrete and clay tiles; and linear systems for slates and other flat varieties of tile.

These verge units typically consist of an upper and lower flange which extend out from the vertical face of the unit to cover over the upper surface of the tile and also extend out below the overhang of the tile to meet the face of the gable wall or bargeboard.

While these units are intended to shield the exposed verge from water ingress they are not sealed to the roof; instead, they are designed to collect any water that may enter them and channel it downward around the inside of the unit. The lower flange is then angled steeply away from the wall to drain that water outward where it can drip away clear of the face of the gable to avoid staining it.

Often the units are handed to suit the different sides of the verge, with the upper flanges of these handed units extending out further to give more coverage over the roof covering. Some units, however, are ambidextrous in design with an eye to save on the cost of storage for both left-and right-handed products. As these units can be used on either verge, the upper and lower flanges are the same width making them function the same irrespective of their orientation. To this end, as both could be used as the lower drainage flange, they both include the steeper rake to promote the drainage of water to their outer vertical faces.

With ambidextrous units this rake has the detrimental effect of then kicking up the end tile on the course above, where the head lap overlaps this angled upper flange which does not sit flat to the surface of the tile below.

The invention aims to mitigate at least one of the problems with existing dry verge systems.

A first aspect of the invention provides an ambidextrous dry verge unit, comprising: a base portion with a head end and a tail end, a longitudinal axis of the unit extending from the head end to the tail end; a pair of flanges each fixed at a respective side of the base portion with respect to the longitudinal axis, and each extending away from the base portion in the same direction which is a first direction; and a fixing means, for fixing the unit to a building, having two planar surfaces, each disposed closer to one of the flanges than the other surface and each facing in the first direction while sloping away from the other surface towards its respective closer flange.

On existing verge systems, the mounting face of the verge unit, on what is known as the nail plate, is flat and set to be aligned vertically, running parallel with the face of the mounting timber which is offset from the gable wall or bargeboard locally at the verge.

In contrast, in the invention, two planar surfaces are provided which slope away from each other towards a respective closer flange. This allows the unit to be mounted at an angle from the vertical plane of the gable, which has two beneficial effects on the protruding flanges. Firstly, the upper flange is flattened down to sit flush with the level of the roof covering; this helps to reduce the amount that the tile on the course above is kicked up which in turn improves the weathering of the tile locally as well as the aesthetic of the verge in that area. Secondly, the angle of the lower flange is increased, helping it to shed water away from the gable wall more effectively and improving the overall drainage out of the verge unit.

The two independent angles allow the unit still to be used ambidextrously on either hand of the verge, with the lower planar surface being used in each instance.

In the invention, it is not necessary for the whole of the surface forming the planar surface to be in one plane. For example, the planar surface may be formed by a series of peaks that lie in a plane. It is sufficient that enough of the surface is in the plane to prevent the fixing means rocking when the surface is in contact with a planar surface of a timber batten which covers the surface of the fixing plate.

It is not necessary for the fixing means to be provided as one part, and it may for example be divided into two separate parts.

The invention can be used on flat profile tiles or slates as well as curved tiles. It can also be used on interlocking tiles.

The dry verge unit, in particular the fixing means, may be formed of a material (preferably, a plastics material, more preferably, polypropylene) which allows a nail or screw to be driven through it to form a hole.

Preferably, each planar surface of the fixing means slopes towards its respective closer flange at an oblique angle with respect to a transverse axis of the unit which extends from one flange to a corresponding point on the other flange.

Preferably, each planar surface slopes at approximately the same oblique angle.

Preferably, the oblique angle of each planar surface is less than or equal to 200, more preferably, less than or equal to 10°. The oblique angle of each planar surface may be less than or equal to 8°.

The oblique angle is preferably more than 10, more preferably more than: 2°, 3° or 4°.

For example, the oblique angle is approximately 5°.

Preferably, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, one of the planar surfaces is perpendicular to the flange from which it is further away.

Preferably, a vertical axis is defined which is perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse axes, and at least one of the flanges extends in the first direction at an angle to the vertical axis which is the same as the oblique angle at which at least one of the planar surfaces slopes.

Preferably, the planar surfaces are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the unit.

Preferably, the fixing means comprises a fixing plate having at least one of the two planar surfaces.

In one embodiment, there may be two fixing plates, each with one of the planar surfaces.

Preferably, one or each planar surface of the fixing means has at least one hole for receiving a nail or screw. In this way, a nail or screw can be passed through the hole from the outer (or front) side of the unit to the inner (or back) side of the unit and into a structural element of the building, such as a verge timber affixed to ends of tiling battens and running up the verge of the building, to fix the unit in place.

Preferably, the flanges extend away from the base portion so as to define, with the base portion, a space between the flanges, and the fixing means is disposed at least partially in the space.

Preferably, the fixing means is disposed at one end of the base portion.

Preferably, the fixing means is disposed at the head end of the base portion.

Preferably, the fixing means is attached to the base portion.

Preferably, one or each planar surface of the fixing means slopes for at least 20mm.

Preferably, one or each planar surface of the fixing means slopes for at least: 30mm or 40mm.

Preferably, each planar surface of the fixing means slopes by being tilted about the longitudinal axis of the unit.

Preferably, the planar surfaces adjoin one another along a line, and the surfaces slope away from the line. In this way, the surfaces form a shape like a pitched roof.

A second aspect of the invention provides computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control an additive manufacturing device to manufacture the unit of any preceding claim.

A third aspect of the invention provides method of manufacturing a device via additive manufacturing, the method comprising: obtaining an electronic file representing at least the surface configuration of product, wherein the product is a unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and controlling an additive manufacturing device to manufacture, over one or more additive manufacturing steps, the product according to the surface configuration specified in the electronic file.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the ambidextrous dry verge unit from its back side; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dry verge unit of Figure 1 from its front side; Figure 3 shows end views of conventional handed and ambidextrous dry verge units; Figure 4 is an elevation view of a building on which a series of conventional ambidextrous dry verge units are installed; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the building of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows end views of the dry verge unit of Figure 1, Figure 7 is an elevation view of a building on which a series of the dry verge units of Figure 1 are installed, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the building of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a plan view of the dry verge unit of Figure 1 from its back side; Figure 10 is a plan view of the dry verge unit of Figure 1 from its front side; and Figure 11 is an end view of the dry verge unit of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, an ambidextrous dry verge unit 10 is shown from the back side of the unit 10. The unit 10 comprises a base portion 12, a pair of flanges 14, 15 and a fixing means 16 in the form of a nail plate 16. The dry verge unit 10 is made of polypropylene.

The base portion 12 has a head end 20 and a tail end 21. The head end 20 is, in use, mounted at a higher position on the verge than the tail end 21. A longitudinal axis L of the unit extends from the head end 20 to the tail end 21.

Depending on how the unit is mounted, the flange 14 shown in Fig. 1 may be the upper flange and the flange 15 may be the lower flange, or vice versa.

Each flange 14, 15 is fixed to the base portion 12 at a respective side of the base portion 12 with respect to the longitudinal axis L. Both flanges 14, 15 extend away from the base portion 12 in a first direction so as to define, with the base portion 12, a space between the flanges.

Flange 14 will be referred to as the first flange, and flange 15 will be referred to as the second flange.

The fixing means 16, which is in the form of a nail plate 16, is for fixing the unit 10 to the verge of a building, and is fixed to the base portion 12 at the head end 20 of the base portion 12 within the space defined by the flanges 14, 15 and base portion 12.

The nail plate 16 has two upper planar surfaces 25, 26. The planar surface 25 will be referred to as the first planar surface, and the planar surface 26 will be referred to as the second planar surface. The first planar surface 25 is disposed closer to the first flange 14 than the second planar surface 26. Likewise, the second planar surface 26 is disposed closer to second flange 15 than the first planar surface 25.

The first and second planar surfaces 25, 26 each face in the first direction while sloping away from the other planar surface towards its respective closer flange 14, 15. That is, the first planar surface 25 slopes towards the first flange 14, and the second planar surface 26 slopes towards the second flange 15.

The nail pate 16 has holes 27 though it which extend generally in the first direction. The holes 27 are in both the first and second planar surfaces 25, 26. The holes 27 are provided over most of the nail plate 16 to provide the installer with a choice of which hole 27 to use depending on the position of the structural member to which the unit 10 is being fixed.

The flanges 14, 15 are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis L. The unit 10 has a transverse axis T which is of course perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and extends from one flange 14 to a corresponding point on the other flange 15.

An end wall 45 is provided at the head end 20 of the base portion 12 which is fixed to the base portion 12 and extends away from the base portion 12 in the first direction. The end wall has a corresponding shape to that of the nail plate 16 in that it has a pair of upper planar surfaces which face and slope in the same directions as the first and second planar surfaces 25, 26 of the nail plate 16. The planar surfaces of the end wall are in the same planes, respectively, as the first and second planar surfaces 25, 26. In use, the end wall 45 contacts the structural member to which the unit 10 is being fixed to help fix the unit 10 more tightly to the structural member.

Figure 2 shows the unit 10 from its front side when it has been flipped about the longitudinal axis L. The first flange 14 is now below the second flange 15, and the first planar surface 25 is now below the second planar surface 26. It can be seen that the nail plate 16 is recessed towards the back from the front surface of the base portion 12. The nail plate 16 has two parts 28, 29 which adjoin one another along a line 40 which runs parallel with the longitudinal axis L of the unit 10. Part 28 provides, on its back side, planar surface 25, and part 29 provides, on its back side, planar surface 26.

Now, Figure 3 shows some conventional dry verge units. On the left of the figure is a handed dry verge unit 100, of the type referred to above, to suit the different sides of the verge. It can be seen that the upper flange 114 of this handed unit extends out further to give more coverage over the roof covering than the lower flange 115. The unit is shown in the orientation it would have when fixed to a building. The upper flange 114 extends horizontally towards the building, whereas the lower flange 115 slopes away from the building to promote the drainage of water away from the building.

On the right of Figure 3 is a conventional ambidextrous dry verge unit 200, of the type referred to above. As these units can be used on either verge, the upper 214 and lower flanges 215 are the same width making them function the same irrespective of their orientation. To this end, as both could be used as the lower drainage flange, they both include the steeper rake to promote the drainage of water to the outer vertical face of the unit.

Each conventional dry verge unit 100, 200 shown in Figure 3 also includes a nail plate 116, 216 for fixing the unit 100, 200 to the verge the building. Each nail plate 116, 216 has a planar surface 125, 225 which does not slope towards either of the flanges 114, 214 or 115, 215. The planar surface 125, 225 is, in use, vertical and parallel with the gable wall of the building.

Figures 4 and 5 show a series of conventional ambidextrous dry verge units 200 fixed to the verge of a building 300. Both figures include dotted lines to show the detrimental effect of the conventional ambidextrous units which is that the angle of the flange causes kicking up the end tile on the course above, where the head lap overlaps this angled upper flange which does not sit flat to the surface of the file below.

Returning to the ambidextrous dry verge unit 10 of the preferred embodiment, Figure 6 shows on the left how the unit has angled first and second flanges 14, 15 like the conventional ambidextrous unit 200, but also has the first and second planar surfaces 25, 26 which each face in the first direction while sloping away from the other planar surface towards its respective closer flange 14, 15. In the orientation shown on the left of Figure 6, the upper flange 14 slopes downwards as it extends away from the base portion 20, and the lower flange 15 slopes upwards as it extends away from the base portion 20.

As show in the left of Figure 6, each of the first and second planar surfaces 25, 26 slopes towards its respective closer flange 14, 15 at an oblique angle with respect to the transverse axis T of the unit 10. In the preferred embodiment, the planar surfaces 25, 26 slope at approximately 5° with respect to the transverse axis T of the unit 10, although the angle may be varied as required. In the preferred embodiment, the planar surfaces 25, 26 are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis L of the unit 10, but again this is not essential In contrast to the left view, on the right of Figure 6 the upper flange 14 extends horizontally as it extends away from the base portion 20, whereas the lower flange 15 extends at a greater angle than in the left view as it extends away from the base portion 20. In other words, the lower flange 15 slopes downwards towards the base portion 20 at a greater angle than in the left view. However, the lower planar surface 26 of the nail plate 16 provides a vertical surface for fixing the unit 10 to the building. Therefore, the unit 10 can be put into this orientation and then attached to a vertical surface at the verge of the building. In this position, the upper flange 14 does not kick up the end tile on the course above, and the lower flange 15 drains water even more effectively away from the building. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate this in more detail as described below.

Figures 7 and 8 show a series of the ambidextrous dry verge units 10 of the preferred embodiment fixed to the verge of a building 50. Both figures include dotted lines to show how the second flange 15, which is the upper flange in this orientation of the unit 10, runs parallel with the end tile on the course above. The head lap overlaps this flat upper flange 15 which does sits flat to the surface of the tile below.

Figure 7 shows in particular how the first planar surface 25, which in this orientation of the unit 10 is the lower planar surface, contacts the vertical surface 35 of the verge timber batten 30 running along the length of the verge. A nail or screw (not shown) is passed through a hole in the nail plate 16 (specifically, through the planar surface 25) and into the verge timber batten 30 to fix the unit 10 to the building 50. The same unit 10 can be used on the other side of the verge by turning the unit 10 upside down so that the flange 14 is the upper flange and the flange 15 is the lower flange. The planar second surface 26 would then be the lower surface which would contact a timber verge batten on the other side of the verge and be fixed to it.

Figures 9 and 10 provide a clear illustration of the line 40 of the nail plate 16 when viewed in plan which joins the two parts 28, 29 of the nail plate 16.

Figure 11 gives a clear illustration of the shape of the end wall 45 which corresponds to the shape of the nail plate 16 shown in Figure 6.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described purely by way of example, and various modifications, additions and/or omissions will present themselves to one skilled in the art, all of which form part of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An ambidextrous dry verge unit, comprising: a base portion with a head end and a tail end, a longitudinal axis of the unit extending from the head end to the tail end; a pair of flanges each fixed at a respective side of the base portion with respect to the longitudinal axis, both flanges extending away from the base portion in a first direction; and a fixing means, for fixing the unit to a building, having two planar surfaces, each disposed closer to one of the flanges than the other surface and each facing in the first direction while sloping away from the other surface towards its respective closer flange.
2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein each planar surface of the fixing means slopes towards its respective closer flange at an oblique angle with respect to a transverse axis of the unit which extends from one flange to a corresponding point on the other flange
3. A unit according to claim 2, wherein the oblique angle of each planar surface is less than or equal to 20°. 20
4. A unit according to claim 2, wherein the oblique angle of each planar surface is less than or equal to 100.
5. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the planar surfaces are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the unit.
6. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixing means comprises a fixing plate having at least one of the two planar surfaces.
7. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein one or each planar surface of the fixing means has at least one hole for receiving a nail or screw.
8. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the flanges extend away from the base portion so as to define, with the base portion, a space between the flanges, and the fixing means is disposed at least partially in the space.
9. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixing means is disposed at one end of the base portion.
10. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixing means is attached to the base portion.
11. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein one or each planar surface of the fixing means slopes for at least 20mm.
12. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein each planar surface of the fixing means slopes by being tilted about the longitudinal axis of the unit.
13. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the planar surfaces adjoin one another along a line, and the surfaces slope away from the line.
14. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control an additive manufacturing device to manufacture the unit of any preceding claim.
15. A method of manufacturing a device via additive manufacturing, the method comprising: obtaining an electronic file representing at least the surface configuration of product, wherein the product is a unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and controlling an additive manufacturing device to manufacture, over one or more additive manufacturing steps, the product according to the surface configuration specified in the electronic file.