NL1043276B1 - A method for constructing a greenhouse, as well as a connecting element and a greenhouse - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for constructing a greenhouse involves connecting a rafter for a roof to a tubular gutter. To allow for the construction of a 5 greenhouse that blocks relatively little light with a reduced risk of water entering the greenhouse, the lower end of the rafter is connected to the gutter using a connecting element by allowing it to rest on top of the connecting element. The invention also relates to a connecting element for connecting a rafter to the gutter, said 10 connecting element comprising the kook and the leg. 1043276

Description

A method for constructing a greenhouse, as well as a connecting element and a greenhouse The present invention relates to a method for constructing a greenhouse, said greenhouse comprising a roof, said roof comprising — a roof frame, said roof frame comprising ~ a tubular gutter, said gutter comprising a lumen defined by a bottom section and an upper section, ~ a ridge beam, and 1C - a plurality of hollow rafters, said rafters comprising top first ends and bottom second ends, the rafters connecting the ridge beam and the gutter; - a panes supported by the roof frame, and - a covering strip sealing against the pane to prevent water leakage; and - a connecting element comprising body and a hook; wherein the upper section of the gutter comprises a longitudinally extending groove, sald groove being defined by - an upright wall relatively close to a sagittal plane through che gutter, and - an upright ridge relatively far from the sagittal plane through the gutter, said upright ridge comprising at its distal rim a protrusion facing the upright wall; wherein the method comprises a step of engaging the hook with the protrusion of the upright ridge.

It is well-known in the art to construct greenhouses. The roof frame is necessary to bear the panes, which are held in profiles provided by the rafters. However, the window frame blocks light from entering the greenhouse and reaching the plants in it. As the production of a crop is limited by the amount of light reaching the plants, even a reduction of 1% has a marked effect on the amount cf profit that can be made with the greenhouse. Obviously, the roof frame has to be strong enough not merely to carry the load of the panes, but also co withstand the forces of nature, such as wind, which requires the roof frame to have some flexibility. To this end, at the point of contact between a rafter and the gutter an angular displacement over a small angle is possible. The covering strip seals against the pane.

In the art, a method according to the preamble is known that comprises constructing a roof frame by allowing the rafter (a.k.a. sash bar) to rest with its outer lower surface on a relatively low portion of the upper section of the gutter. The upper section of the gutter is provided with a leg with a protrusion capable of engaging a slot present at the upper side of the second end of the rafter. The rafters are relatively thick, blocking an undesirable amount of light. A greenhouse comprises a multitude of panes and the covering strip can seal against adjacent panes.

An alternative method makes use of rafters that are relatively thin and hence block relatively little light. According to this alternative method, the rafters are connected to the gutters by allowing them to rest with on thelr upper inner surface on a relatively high portion of the upper section of the gutter. The lower side of the second end of the rafter is provided with a hook engaging a flange of the upper section of gutter. This method requires a covering strip per pans, and may more easily result in leakags of water into the greenhouse, which is undersirabls. Greenhouses tend to be very large, and rain water has Lo move substantially horizontally through the gutter. In case of heavy rain, the water level in berween two roof sections adjacent of the gutter rises and the water can find its way into the greenhouse.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method according the preamble allowing for the construction of a greenhouse that combines blocking relatively little light while reducing the entry of water from the roof into the grsenhouss.

To this end, a method according to the preamble is characterized in that the connecting element is introduced with the hook into ths groove 130, and with the body resting onto the upright ridge the bottom second end of the rafter is placed with its lower side onto the body so as to support the rafter by the gutter and the body is fixed to the rafter, and - adjacent panes are sealed with the a covering strip running across said adjacent panes.

The present invention allows the covering strip to run across multiple panes, without interruption by the rafter.

For a given gutter, this connecting element can be chosen with a desired thickness of the body and a rafter with a complementary thickness, the total thickness being constant and adapted for the given gutter. This allows the thickness of the rafter to be chosen depending on the desired strength versus light blocking. This makes a method very versatile and obviates the need to produce differant gutters for rafters having different thicknesses. The hook will typically extemd transversely from the body of the connecting element.

The upper section of the gutter will comprise holes for allowing water to enter the lumen so as to allow it to be drained away.

According to a favourable embodiment, the protrusion facing the upright wall is a bead extending in the longitudinal direction of the gutter.

This provides additional strength to the roof frame. Such a gutter is also cheap and easy to manufacture by extrusion.

According to a favourable embodiment, the connecting element comprises a leg capable of engaging the upright wall by means of male-female interaction; wherein the second end of the rafter is connected to the gutter by introducing the hook and the leg into the longitudinally extending groove allowing the protrusion facing the upright wall to be received by the hook and the leg to be engaged by the upright wall before introducing the rafter.

Thus the second end of the rafter can be snap locked to the gutter.

The leg will typically comprise an end section that runs substantiall parallel to the hook, with a concave side of the hook facing away from sald end section.

For male-female interaction, the leg will typically comprise a protrusion and the upright wall will comprise a through-hole or recess for receiving the protrusion of the leg, but it can be the other way 3¢ around.

According to a favourable embodiment, the hook is introduced into the groove with a rotary motion so as to engage the protrusion progressively strong.

This can be easily achieved by shaping the concave side of the hook and/or the protrusion accordingly. For example, if the protrusion has a cross-section of a circle section, the hook may have a distal section with a radius of curvature that 1s relatively large with compared to the radius of curvature of a proximal section. The radius will preferably change gradually. According to an alternative embodiment, the hook may have a concave section having a circular cross-section, and che radius of the protrusion varies, said radius being larger closer to the bottom section of the gutter.

According to a favourable embodiment, the gutter comprises a stop opposite of the longitudinal groove, and the second end of the rafter is introduced into the space defined by the upright ridge and the stop.

This allows the rafter to be connected firmly and quickly. The second end of the rafter is held between the stop and the distal rim of the upright ridge.

The present invention also relates to connecting element, wherein the connecting element comprises - a body, - a hook transversely extending from said body, and - a flexible leg comprising an end section extending substantially parallel to the hook.

Such a connecting element 1s suitable for connecting a rafter to a gutter for a greenhouse.

Typically the body will be provided with a cut-out or though-hole for allowing the body and thus the connecting element to be screwed against the rafter for a greenhouse.

For a given gutter, this connecting element can be chosen with a desired thickness of the body and a rafter with a complementary 2% thickness, the total thickness being constant and adapted for the given gutter. This allows the thickness of the rafter to be chosen depending on the desired strength versus light blocking.

According to a favourable embodiment, the leg comprises a leg protrusion facing away from the hook.

3C This leg protrusion allows for firm yet flexible engagement of the connecting element in the groove of a gutter for a greenhouse.

According to a favourable embodiment, the leg is provided with a lip facing away from the body of the connecting element. The lip can cooperate with a hole of a gutter, allowing a rafter to be fixed at a predetermined position on the gutter. It allows pre-determined positioning of the connecting element on a gutter, typically for equidistant placement of rafters.

Typically the lip will run parallel with the longitudinal direction body of the connecting element.

Finally, the present invention relates to greenhouse, wherein the greenhouse is a greenhouse as can be manufactured using the method according to any of the claims 1 to 5.

5 Such a greenhouse 1s sturdy and capable for the amount of material used to withstand the forces of nature while reducing the risk of rain water entering the greenhous.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the drawing where Fig. la shows a cross-sectional view through a gutter for manufacturing a greenhouse; Fig. lb shows a connecting element according to the present invention; Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show a cross-sectional view and a perspective view on the gutter of Fig. 1A provided with the connecting element of Fig. 1B respectively; Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show a cross-sectional view and a perspective view on tha gutter of Fig. 1A provided with a rafter respectively; and Fig. 4 shows a part of a roof of a greenhouse provided with panes.

A typical greenhouse comprises a frame, upright walls and a roof. The roof comprises a roof frame 100 (partially shown in Fig. 4) provided with panes.

In accordance with the state of the art, to constructing a greenhouse a frame is provided comprising a gutter. In accordance with the method according to the present invention, a gutter 110 is used shown in a cross-sectional view in Fig. 1. The gutter 110 is a tubular gutter 110 comprising a lumen 105 defined by a bottom section 111 and an upper section 112 of the gutter 110. The upper section 112 comprising holes (not shown) for allowing water (such as rain water) to enter the lumen 105 to drain it away.

In addition to the gutter 110, the roof frame 100 comprises a plurality of hollow rafters 120 (Fig. 3), said rafters 120 comprising top first ends (not shown in Fig. 3) and bottom second ends 122. The rafters 120 connect the ridge beam and the gutter 110. The rafters 120 - and typically also the gutter - are arranged receive the edges of glass panes. Constructing a greenhouse comprises the step of connecting the rafter (usually a plurality thereof) to the gutter.

The upper section 112 of the gutter 110 comprises a longitudinally extending groove 130, said groove 130 being defined by — an upright wall 140 relatively close to a sagittal plane through the gutter 110, and -— an upright ridge 150 relatively far from the sagittal plane through the gutter 110, said upright ridge 150 comprising at its distal rim 151 a protrusicn 152 (bead 152) facing the upright wall 140.

Typically gutters 110 for greenhouses will be mirror-symmetrical and will comprise two grooves so as to accommodate for two slanting roof sections. This will not need any further elucidation.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention as discussed here, a connecting element 170 (Fig. 1B) is used to connect the gutter 110 to the rafter 120. The connecting element 170 cooperates with the groove 130 of the gutter 110.

The connecting element 170 comprises a body 171 provided with a hook 172 for engaging the protrusion 152 of the upright ridge 150. In addition, the connecting element 170 comprises a leg 173 capable of engaging the upright wall 140 oy means of male-female interaction. In the embodiment shown here, the leg 173 comprises a leg protrusion 174 facing the upright wall 140, which has a corresponding slot 141 for receiving said leg protrusion 174. The leg 173 is flexible, allowing the connecting element 170 to snap-fit inside the groove 130.

Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show a cross-sactiional view and a perspsctive view on the gutter of Fig. lA provided with the connecting element of Fig. 1B respectively.

To construct a greenhouse by connecting a rafter 120 to the gutter 110, the hook 172 and the leg 173 into the longitudinally extending groove 130 allowing the protrusion 152 facing the upright wall 140 to be received by the hook 172 and the leg protrusion 174 of the leg 173 to be engaged by the slot 141 of the upright wall 140.

For illustrational purposes, Fig. 2A shows two connecting elements 170, comprising bodies 171 of different thickness. Thus, as they are suitable for attaching rafters 120 of different thicknesses.

The rafter 120 is connected to the gutter 110 by connecting the body 171 of the connecting element 170 to the second end 122 of the rafter 120, for example with a bolt 370.

To hold the rafter 120 even more securely, the gutter 110 comprises a stop 310 opposite of the longitudinal groove 130, and the second end 122 of the rafter 120 is introduced into the space 360 defined by the upright ridge 150 and the stop 130. The groove 130 opens up into said space 360.

To facilitate quick and accurate assembly, the leg 173 is provided with a lip 374 for engaging a hole 441 in the upright wall

140. Holes 441 being spaced apart equidistantly, this allows for equidistant placement of rafters.

The roof frame 100 will be provided with glass panes 410 to provide the roof of the greenhouse (Fig. 5). The glass panes 410 are sealed by an elastomeric covering strip 480.

Claims (9)

CONCLUSIESCONCLUSIONS 1. Een werkwijze voor het bouwen van een broeikas, waarbij genoemde broeikas een dak omvat, waarbij genoemd dak het volgende omvat: — een dakgeraamte (100), waarbij genoemd dakgeraamte (100) het volgende omvat: - een buisvormige goot (110), waarbij genoemde goot (110) een lumen (105) omvat dat gedefinieerd wordt door een onderste gedeelte (111) en een bovenste gedeelte (112), - een nokbalk, en - een veelheid aan holle roedes (120), waarbij genoemde roedes (120) bovenste eerste einden (122) en onderste tweede einden (122) omvatten, waarbij de roedes (120) de nokbalk en de goot (110) verbinden; — een paneel (441) dat ondersteund wordt door het dakgeraamte (100), en - een afdekstrip die afdicht tegen het paneel (441) om waterlekkage te voorkomen; en -— een verbindingsstuk dat lichaam en een haak (172) omvat; waarbij het bovenste gedeelte (112) van de goot (110) een zich longitudinaal uitstrekkende groef (130) omvat, waarbij genoemde groef (130) gedefinieerd wordt door — een opstaande wand (140) die zich relatief dichtbij een sagittaal vlak door de goot (110) bevindt, en - een opstaande rand (150) die zich relatief ver van het sagittale vlak door de goot (110) bevindt, waarbij genoemde opstaande rand (150) op zijn distale boord (151) een uitsteeksel (152) omvat dat richting de opstaande wand (140) gekeerd is; waarbij de werkwijze een stap van het aangrijpen van de haak (172) op het uitsteeksel (152) van de opstaande rand (150) omvat; waarbij het verbindingsstuk (170) met de haak (172) in de groef (130) ingebracht wordt, en met het lichaam (171) op de opstaande rand (150) rustend het onderste tweede eind van de roede met zijn onderzijde op het lichaam (171) geplaatst wordt om zo de roede (120) middels de goot (110) te ondersteunen en het lichaam (171) aan de roede (120) bevestigd wordt, en - aangrenzende panelen afgedicht worden met de een afdekstrip die over genoemde aangrenzende panelen loopt.A method of building a greenhouse, wherein said greenhouse comprises a roof, said roof comprising: - a roof frame (100), said roof frame (100) comprising: - a tubular gutter (110), wherein said trough (110) comprises a lumen (105) defined by a lower portion (111) and an upper portion (112), - a ridge beam, and - a plurality of hollow rods (120), said rods (120) ) comprising upper first ends (122) and lower second ends (122), the rods (120) connecting the ridge beam and the trough (110); - a panel (441) supported by the roof frame (100), and - a cover strip that seals against the panel (441) to prevent water leakage; and - a connector comprising body and a hook (172); wherein the upper portion (112) of the trough (110) includes a longitudinally extending groove (130), said groove (130) being defined by - an upright wall (140) extending relatively close to a sagittal plane through the trough ( 110), and - a raised edge (150) located relatively far from the sagittal plane through the trough (110), said raised edge (150) on its distal edge (151) including a protrusion (152) that direction the upright wall (140) faces; the method comprising a step of engaging the hook (172) on the protrusion (152) of the ridge (150); wherein the connector (170) with the hook (172) is inserted into the groove (130), and with the body (171) resting on the raised edge (150) the lower second end of the rod with its underside on the body ( 171) is placed so as to support the rod (120) by means of the gutter (110) and the body (171) is attached to the rod (120), and - adjacent panels are sealed with a cover strip running over said adjacent panels . 2. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het uitsteeksel dat richting de opstaande wand (140) gekeerd is een kraal (152) is die zich uitstrekt in de longitudinale richting van de goot (110).The method of claim 1, wherein the protrusion facing the upright wall (140) is a bead (152) that extends in the longitudinal direction of the trough (110). 3. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij het verbindingselement (170) een been (173) omvat dat in staat is om aan te grijpen op de opstaande wand (140) door middel van een mannelijke/vrouwelijke interactie; waarbij het tweede eind van de roede (120) met de goot (110) verbonden wordt middels het inbrengen van de haak (172) en het been (173) in de zich longitudinaal uitstrekkende groef (130) wat het mogelijk maakt om het uitsteeksel (152) dat richting de opstaande wand (140) gekeerd is te ontvangen in de haak (172) en om het been (173) te laten aangrijpen door de opstaande wand (140) voordat de roede (120) aangebracht wordt.The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector (170) includes a leg (173) capable of engaging the upright wall (140) through a male / female interaction; wherein the second end of the rod (120) is connected to the trough (110) by inserting the hook (172) and the leg (173) into the longitudinally extending groove (130) allowing the projection (130) to be 152) facing the upright wall (140) to be received in the hook (172) and for the leg (173) to be engaged by the upright wall (140) before the rod (120) is applied. 4. Werkwijze volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de haak (172) met een draaiende beweging in de groef (130) ingebracht wordt om zo het uitsteeksel (152) geleidelijk krachtiger aan te grijpen.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook (172) is inserted into the groove (130) with a rotary motion so as to gradually more forcefully engage the protrusion (152). 5. Werkwijze volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de goot (110) een aanslag tegenover de longitudinale groef (130) omvat, en het tweede eind van de roede (120) in de ruimte die gedefinieerd wordt door de opstaande rand (150) en de aanslag (310) ingebracht wordt.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trough (110) includes a stop opposite the longitudinal groove (130), and the second end of the rod (120) in the space defined by the raised rim (150) and the stop (310) is inserted. 6. Een verbindingsstuk, met het kenmerk, dat het verbindingsstuk (170) het volgende omvat: - een lichaam (171), - een haak (172) die zich dwars uitstrekt vanaf genoemd lichaam (171), en - een flexibel been (173) dat een eindgedeelte omvat dat zich hoofdzakelijk parallel aan de haak (172) uitstrekt.A connector, characterized in that the connector (170) comprises: - a body (171), - a hook (172) extending transversely from said body (171), and - a flexible leg (173) ) comprising an end portion that extends substantially parallel to the hook (172). 7. Verbindingsstuk volgens conclusie 6, waarbij het been (173) een beenuitsteeksel (174) dat van de haak (172) afgekeerd is omvat.The connector of claim 6, wherein the leg (173) includes a leg projection (174) away from the hook (172). 8. Verbindingsstuk volgens een van de conclusies 6 of 7, waarbij het been (173) van een lip (374) die van het het lichaam (171) van het verbindingsstuk afgekeerd is voorzien is. The connector of any of claims 6 or 7, wherein the leg (173) is provided with a lip (374) facing away from the connector body (171). 9, Een broeikas, met het kenmerk, dat de broeikas een broeikas is die vervaardigd kan worden gebruikmakend van de werkwijze volgens een der conclusies 1 - 5.A greenhouse, characterized in that the greenhouse is a greenhouse that can be manufactured using the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.