IE20010117A1 - Variable roof glazing system for glazing ridge sections and building tie bars - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof component, such as a inverted channel-like ridge member (10) for sealing against a pair of roof panels upwardly inclined towards a ridge (Figure 3), has at the lower edge of each sidewall (14) a pair of grooves (20A) and (20B), either of which can located a gasket (24) to seal against an inclined roof panel. The grooves have different angular orientations and a particular one of the grooves is chosen according to the slope of the roof panels. <Figure 1>

Description

A ROOF COMPONENT This invention relates to a component for use in the construction of a roof.

In the construction of pre-fabricated roofs, it is often necessary to provide a gasket seal against an inclined glazing panel, for example, at a ridge or a · lean-to. The gasket is normally retained along one edge of a component such as an elongated ridge member or a flashing member, and is held at a particular angle determined by the cross-section of the retaining component.

Although the gasket itself is capable of accommodating a restricted range of angles of inclination of the glazing panel while maintaining an effective seal, there is a need for a roof component which, together with a suitable gasket, is capable of accommodating a wider range of angles of inclination than the gasket alone.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a roof component comprising an elongated body of substantially constant cross-section having means extending longitudinally of the body for locating a gasket to seal against an inclined roof panel, the gasket locating means including means for locating a gasket in either one of at least two angular orientations to seal against roof panels of different slopes.

In one embodiment the roof component is a ridge member for fixing across the upper edges -a pai,r of , roof---------—-----OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION •:NDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 JNL No. OF panels which are upwardly inclined towards a ridge, the ridge member generally having the shape of an inverted channel, each gasket locating means being located along the free edge on each side of the mouth of the channel.

In another embodiment the roof component is a flashing member for sealing between a wall and a roof panel which is upwardly inclined towards the wall, the flashing member having a substantially flat portion for fixing to the wall and an arm extending downwardly and outwardly from the plane of the wall, the gasket locating means being located at the free edge of the arm.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a first embodiment of the invention, in the form of a ridge member, showing the ridge member in its orientation of use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the gasket locating flanges of the ridge member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a ridge assembly of a prefabricated roof which uses a ridge member of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the invention, in the form of a flashing member, showing the flashing member in its orientation of use; and I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the gasket locating flange of the member of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a ridge member is an elongate body 10 having a substantially constant crosssection. Figs. 1 and 2 show the cross-section, the longitudinal direction of the body being normal to the plane of the drawings. The ridge member 10 is made, for example, by the extrusion of aluminium or other lightweight metal or metal alloy. Fig. 1 shows the ridge member as it would be orientated in use and for convenience will be described in such orientation.

The ridge member 10 generally has the shape of an inverted channel with a base 12 and dependent, substantially vertical sidewalls 14 defining an open mouth 16. An inwardly turned and upwardly inclined flange 18 is formed along the free edge of each sidewall 14 on each side of the mouth 16. Apart from being mirror images of one another, both flanges 18 are substantially identical.

A pair of adjacent substantially parallel longitudinal grooves 20A, 20B respectively, each having a restricted opening, are set into the lower surface 22 of each flange 18. As seen more clearly in Fig. 2, the lower surface 22 of each flange 18 actually comprises two substantially fiat longitudinal surfaces 22A, 22B at an angle to one another in a plane normal to the length of the ridge member 10. The groove 20A is set into the surface 22A and the groove 20B is set into the surface 22B. Thus, the grooves 20A, 20B also have different angular orientations in a plane normal to the length of I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc the ridge member 10. In this embodiment the surface 22A is at 20° to the horizontal and the surface 22B is at 40° to the horizontal, Fig. 2, so that the surfaces 22A, 22B are at an angle of 20° to one another and correspondingly the orientations of the grooves 20A, 20B differ by 20°. In general the angle between the surfaces 22A, 22B will be less than about 30°.

Either of the grooves 20A, 20B on each side of the mouth 16 of the ridge member can accommodate a respective elongated resilient sealing gasket. One such gasket 24 is shown in the groove 20A on the left hand side of Fig. 1. It comprises a main body 26 having a plurality of downwardly inclined fingers 28 and a bead 30- which engages in the groove 20A. The width of the bead 30 is greater than the width of the restricted opening of the groove 20A, so that it is slid in from one end.

According to the slope of a roof panel which it is intended to engage, the gasket is either inserted into the groove 20A or into the groove 20B. Typically, since the gasket can itself accommodate a restricted range of angles of inclination of the roof panel, a gasket 24 in the groove 20A will accommodate roof panels with an inclination of from about 10°-25° to the horizontal, while a gasket 24 in the groove 20B will accommodate roof panels with an inclination of from about 25°-45° to the horizontal. The flat surface 22A I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc or 22B provides a backing for the main body 26 of the gasket when it is pressed against a roof panel.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the ridge member 10 in use in a ridge assembly of a pre-fabricated roof. The assembly includes a ridge frame member in the form of a wooden beam 32 which is overlapped on its opposite longitudinal edges by pairs of upwardly inclined glazing panels 34, ‘Shown here as triple glazing panels. It will be understood that on each side of the beam 32 there are a plurality of panels 34 arranged edge to edge along the length of the beam, only one pair of such panels being shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3. The panels 34 are held firmly in place on the beam 32 by the elongate ridge member 10 which bridges across the gap between the adjacent edges of the panels 34 on the opposite side thereof to the beam 32 and bears, via respective gaskets 24 at the lower, free end of the sidewalls 14, against the upper surface of the glazing panels 34. As mentioned, the gaskets 24 are located in grooves 20A or 20B according to the slope of the glazing panels 34 - in Fig. 3 they are shown located in the grooves 20B. Gaskets 36 are also provided in recesses formed along the opposite edges of the beam 32.

The ridge member 10 is secured to the beam 32 by a series of screws 38 disposed spaced apart along the length of the ridge member 10, the screws extending through respective apertures in the ridge member 10 and passing to the beam 32, into which they are screwed, via the gap between the adjacent edges of the panels 34. Thus the edges of the panels 10 are clamped I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc between the beam 32 and the ridge member 10. Wings 60 allow for the fixing of a decorative crest (not shown) along the top of the ridge member 10.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the invention in the form of a flashing member 40 for sealing between a wall 42 and a glazing panel 44 which is upwardly inclined towards the wall. The panel 44 is supported on wooden roof beams (not shown) in conventional manner. Like the first embodiment, the flashing member 40 is an elongate body having a substantially constant cross-section, the longitudinal direction of the body being normal to the plane of the drawings, and is made, for example, by the extrusion of aluminium or other lightweight metal or metal alloy.

The flashing member 40 has a substantially flat platelike portion 46 for fixing against the wall 42, for example by screws 47 passing through the plate 46 into the wall. The surface of the plate 46 engaging the wall has horizontal serrations 48 and a mastic or other weatherproofing material may be applied to the serrated surface prior to fixing the plate to the wall. An arm 50 extends downwardly and outwardly from the plane of the wall at the bottom edge of the plate 46, and has a flange 52, similar to the flange 18, at its lower, free end.

A pair of adjacent substantially parallel longitudinal grooves 54A, 54B respectively, each having a restricted opening, are set into the lower surface 56 of the flange 52. As seen more clearly in Fig. 5, the lower surface 56 of the flange 52, like the flanges 18 of I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc ΙΕΟ 10 117 Figs. 1 and 2, comprises two substantially flat longitudinal surfaces 56A, 56B at an angle to one another in a plane normal to the length of the flashing member 40. The groove 54A is set into the surface 56A and the groove 54B is set into the surface 56B. Thus, the grooves 54A, 56B also have different angular orientations in a plane normal to the length of the flashing member 40. In this embodiment the surface 56A is at 20° to the horizontal and the surface 56B is at 35° to the horizontal, Fig. 5, so that the surfaces 56A, 56B are at an angle of 15° to one another and correspondingly the orientations of the grooves 54A, 54B differ by 15°. In general, as before, the angle between the surfaces 56A, 56B will be less than about 30°.

Either of the grooves 54A, 54B can accommodate a respective elongated resilient sealing gasket 24, and the gasket is either inserted into the groove 54A or into the groove 54B according to the slope of the panel 44 which it is intended to engage.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc

Claims (8)

1. A roof component comprising an elongated body of substantially constant cross-section having means extending longitudinally of the body for locating a gasket to seal against an inclined roof panel, the gasket locating means including means for locating a gasket in either one of at least two angular orientations to seal against roof panels of different slopes .

2. A roof component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket locating means comprises a pair of adjacent substantially parallel longitudinal grooves with different angular orientations in a plane normal to the length of the component.

3. A roof component as claimed in claim 2, wherein each longitudinal groove is set in a respective one of a pair of substantially flat longitudinal surfaces at an angle to one another in a plane normal to the length of the component.

4. A roof component as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the gasket locating means is disposed adjacent a longitudinal edge of the body.

5. A roof component as claimed in claim 4, wherein the component is a ridge member for fixing across the upper edges of a pair of roof panels which are upwardly inclined towards a ridge, the ridge member generally having the shape of an inverted channel, each gasket I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571,spc IF Ο 1 Ο 1 1 τ locating means being located along the free edge on each side of the mouth of the channel.

6. A roof component as claimed in claim 5, wherein 5 each gasket locating means is formed on the lower surface of an inwardly turned and upwardly inclined flange at the respective free edge of the channel.

7. A roof component as claimed in claim 4, wherein 10 the component is a flashing member for sealing between a wall and a roof panel which is upwardly inclined towards the wall, the flashing member having a substantially flat portion for fixing to the wall and an arm extending downwardly and outwardly from the 15 plane of the wall, the gasket locating means being located at the free edge of the arm.

8. A roof component substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or to Figs. 4 and 5 of 20 the accompanying drawings. I:/doc/pat/pg/pg01571.spc