AU2017201077B2 - Building Panel Support - Google Patents

Abstract

A building panel support for spacing a building panel apart from an underlying structure is disclosed. The building panel support includes a top rail member adapted to be connected to the building panel, and one or more spacer members coupled to the top rail and adapted to be connected to the underlying structure and thereby maintain a space for accommodating substantially uncompressed insulation material between the underlying structure and the top rail with the building panel connected thereto. 1/6 CN CS CNN

Description

1/6

CN CS CNN

Building Panel Support

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a building panel support and to a building panel support system, such as for supporting roof panels, wall panels or the like, and a method of installing a roof panel support system. The present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, suitable for use as an insulation spacer for metal roofing by spacing a roof panel apart from an underlying purlin or an underlying pre existing roof panel thereby accommodating insulation between the new roof panel and the underlying purlin or pre-existing roof panel.

Background of Invention

[0002] Building regulations specify that metal roofing systems must meet various standards including standards associated with the efficiency of thermal insulation in a roof structure. Thermal insulation in a roof structure is important for the energy efficiency of a building. In order to reduce the energy expended on cooling within a building structure greater efficiency of roof insulation is required.

[0003] The traditional method of installing metal roof structures is to apply glass wool building blanket over the top of roof safety mesh and an underlying purlin. The roof panel, typically a profiled roof sheet is placed over the top of the glass wool building blanket and fixed to the underlying purlin. A problem with traditional methods of fixing the profiled roof sheet to the underlying purlin is that the glass wool blanket is squashed between the profiled roof sheeting and the underlying purlin. The efficiency of glass wool building blanket insulation is reduced if the blanket is compressed. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide space between a profiled roof sheet and an underlying purlin to accommodate the full thickness of glass wool building blanket insulation which may have a thickness of 900mm or greater.

[0004] Retrofitting existing roof structures which include an existing profiled roof sheet with a new profiled roof sheet and insulation material can be problematic. Providing glass wool building blanket insulation between a pre-existing underlying roof sheet and a new overlying profiled roof sheet and fixing overlying roof sheet to the underlying roof sheet may cause substantial compression of the glass wool building blanket. The efficiency of the glass wool building blanket insulation material will likely be adversely affected in such an installation.

Summary of Invention

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention provides a building panel support for spacing a building panel apart from an underlying structure, the building panel support including: a top rail member having a top web adapted to be connected to the building panel; and one or more spacer members coupled to the top rail member, each spacer member being adapted with a strap to be positioned over the top web, and each spacer member also being adapted with a support leg to be connected to the underlying structure and thereby maintain a space for accommodating substantially uncompressed insulation material between the underlying structure and the top rail member with the building panel connected thereto, whereby the top rail is locked between the strap and the support leg.

[0006] In embodiments, each of the spacer members is adapted to be coupled to the top rail member at any one of a plurality of locations along a length of the top rail member.

[0007] In embodiments, the top rail member includes a plurality of pairs of openings adapted to cooperate with one or more of the spacer members for releasably retaining the spacer members at selected locations along the length of the top rail member.

[0008] In embodiments, the top web includes an uninterrupted surface portion between the pairs of openings extending along the length of the top rail member.

[0009] Preferably, a transverse width dimension of the top rail member is between mm and 100mm or preferably about 80mm.

[0010] In embodiments, the top web includes the plurality of pairs of openings, and wherein each spacer member includes a pair of apertures adapted to align with a respective pair of the openings in the top web to facilitate access to fasteners through said spacer member and the top rail member.

[0011] In embodiments, the supporting leg is adapted to be positioned between the top rail member and the underlying structure and the strap is adapted to be positioned around the supporting leg and over the top rail member, wherein fastening the supporting leg and the strap to the underlying structure compresses the top rail member therebetween.

[0012] In embodiments, the supporting leg includes a pair of upwardly extending protrusions, wherein each protrusion is adapted for locating within a corresponding one of a pair of openings in the strap.

[0013] Preferably, the strap includes one or more downwardly extending protrusions for locating within one of the pairs of openings in the top web to maintain the position of the spacer member along the length of the top rail member.

[0014] In embodiments, the supporting leg is adapted to be interposed between the strap and the underlying structure to provide a thermal break therebetween.

[0015] Preferably, the supporting leg includes a downwardly extending tab adapted for abutment against a side edge of an underlying purlin for positioning the spacer member directly above the purlin.

[0016] The supporting leg can include a pair of channels adapted for alignment with the apertures in the strap and a pair of the openings in the top web for guiding a tool onto the head of a fastener located within the channel.

[0017] In embodiments, the pair of channels of the supporting leg are adapted to temporarily retain fasteners therein at a location proximal to a base of the supporting leg.

[0018] Preferably, the supporting leg is formed separately from and the strap and are adapted to snap fit together when in the desired position along the length of the top rail member. However, in another preferred embodiment the supporting leg is formed integrally with the strap.

[0019] In one embodiment, the top rail member includes a pair of laterally opposite side flanges depending from the top web that include a plurality of pairs of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the spacer member includes an additional pair of apertures adapted to align with and receive a pair of the protrusions on the laterally opposite side flanges to maintain the position of the spacer member along the length of the top rail member.

[0020] Preferably, the spacer member includes a pair of fastener support members adapted to temporarily retain fasteners therein at a location proximal to a base of the spacer member.

[0021] In another aspect, the present invention provides a building structure including a building panel coupled to an underlying structure, the building structure including: a building panel and an underlying structure; a building panel support including a top rail member having a top web adapted to be connected to the building panel and one or more spacer members coupled to the top rail member, each spacer member being adapted with a strap to be positioned over the top web, and each spacer member also being adapted with a support leg to be connected to the underlying structure and thereby maintain a space between the underlying structure and the top rail member with the building panel connected thereto, whereby the top rail is locked between the strap and the support leg.

[0022] In embodiments, the underlying structure includes a purlin or an underlying building panel to which the one or more spacer members are connected.

[0023] The building structure preferably includes substantially uncompressed insulation material located in the space between the building panel and the underlying structure.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0024] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a building panel support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprising a top rail and a pair of spacer members:

[0026] Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the building panel support of figure 1 in which one of the spacer members, comprising a supporting leg and strap member, is disassembled and separated from the top rail;

[0027] Figures 3a, 3b and 3c respectively illustrate a plan view of a portion of the building panel support of figure 1, a plan view of the strap of the spacer member of figure 1, an end view of the building panel support and side view of a portion of the building panel support;

[0028] Figures 4a, 4b, 4c respectively illustrate a plan view, a front view and a side view of the supporting leg of the spacer member of figure 1;

[0029] Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e respectively illustrate side, plan, front, opposite side and bottom views of the strap of the spacer member of the building panel support of figure 1;

[0030] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the building panel support of figure 1 in use mounted on a underlying support structure comprised of a purlin and with a building panel connected to the top rail of the building panel support with substantially uncompressed thermal insulation material therebetween;

[0031] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the building panel support of figure 1 in use mounted on a underlying pre-existing roof structure comprising a pre existing roof sheet fixed to a purlin and with a building panel connected to the top rail of the building panel support with substantially uncompressed thermal insulation material therebetween;

[0032] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a building panel support in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a top rail and a pair of spacer members;

[0033] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the top rail of figure 8;

[0034] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate perspective front and rear views of one of the pair of spacer members of figure 8.

[0035] Detailed Description

[0036] Referring to figures 1 and 2, which illustrate a building panel support 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The building panel support 10 is adapted for use, as illustrated in figures 6 and 7, for spacing a building panel 100 apart from an underlying structure 200 to thereby maintain a space S between the underlying structure 200 and a top rail 20 of the building panel support 10 and a building panel 100 connected thereto. The space S is maintained for the accommodation of substantially uncompressed insulation material 250 between the underlying structure 200 and a top rail 20 of the building panel support 10 and a building panel 100 connected thereto

[0037] Referring to figures 1 and 2, the building panel support 10 is comprised of a top rail member 20 that is adapted to be connected to the building panel 100, as illustrated in figures 6 and 7, and one or more spacer members 40 that are coupled to the top rail 20. The one or more spacer members 40 are adapted to be connected to the underlying structure 200 and thereby maintain a space S between the underlying structure 200 and the top rail 20 with the building panel 100 connected thereto.

[0038] The top rail 20 is comprised of a web 22 and a pair of flanges 23, 25 depending from longitudinally opposite side edges of the web 22. The top rail 20 includes a first end 21 and a second end 27 and has alongitudinal length L extending between the first and second ends 21, 27. The top rail 20 also includes a plurality of pairs of openings 26, 28 extending through the web 22 from a top surface 22a to a bottom surface 22b of the web 22 at laterally opposite sides of the top rail 20. In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the top rail 20 comprises five pairs of such openings 26, 28, however, it is to be appreciated that the top rail 20 may have less than five or more than five pairs of such openings 26, 28 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the top rail 20. The distance between successive pairs of openings 26, 28 can be about 50mm or more. The top surface 22a of the top rail 20 includes an uninterrupted portion between the pairs of openings 26, 28 and extending along the length of the top rail 20. As will be appreciated, the uninterrupted top surface 22a is adapted to receive a fastener, such as a tek-screw therethrough or any other like fastener arrangement fixed thereto and is also adapted to be stood upon by a worker in a roof installation setting.

[0039] Referring to figures 1 and 2, the spacer members 40 that are coupled to the top rail 20 are adapted to be coupled at any one of a plurality of locations along a length of the top rail 20 corresponding to locations at which there is a pair of the openings 26, 28 in the top rail 20. Referring to figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, c, 5d, 5e, the spacer member 40 is comprised of a supporting leg 50 adapted to be positioned between the top rail 20 and the underlying structure 200 and also includes a strap 70 adapted to be positioned around the supporting leg 50 and over the top rail 20. Upon fastening the supporting leg 50 and the strap 70 to the underlying structure 200, the top rail 20 is thereby locked and preferably also compressed between the supporting leg 50 and the strap 70. The supporting leg 50 is preferably formed out of nylon that is moulded by any suitable process.

[0040] The supporting leg 50 comprises a body portion 55 that extends between an upper end 51 and a lower end 52. The upper end 51 is adapted to abut with the lower surface 22b of the top rail 20 and the lower end 52 is adapted to abut with an upper surface of the underlying structure 200, which may be a purlin or a pre-existing underlying roof sheet. The body 55 of the supporting leg 50 supports the top rail 20 above, and spaced apart from the structure 200 by the distance S. The supporting leg also comprises a pair of fasteners, such as tek-screws 58 that are temporarily mounted to a fastener support member 59 within a fastener access channel 57 that extends vertically from an opening 53 at the upper end 51 of the supporting leg 50 to a head of the fastener 58. The channel 57 is adapted to guide a fastener tool, such as a powered drill/driver, through the opening 53 onto the head of the fastener 58.

[0041] The strap 70 is comprised of an elongated strip of sheet metal that is bent to form an incomplete rectangular member comprising a top web 72, a pair of laterally opposite side flanges 80, 86 depending downwardly from laterally opposite side edges of the web 72, a pair of laterally opposite and inwardly extending secondary flanges 82, 88 extending inwardly from lower edges of the laterally opposite side flanges 80, 86. As mentioned above, the strap 70 is adapted to wrap around and over the top rail 20 and the supporting leg 50. The top web 72 of the strap 70 includes a pair of laterally opposite openings 73, 75 that are adapted to align with both the openings 26, 28 of the top rail and also with a pair of the openings 53, 52' in the top part 51 of the supporting leg 50 and a pair of the channels 57, 57' associated therewith (as illustrated in figures 1, 3a, 3b and 3c and also in figures 6 and 7).

[0042] The laterally opposite side flanges 80, 86 of the strap 70 also include cut outs 81, 87 as well as openings 83, 85 respectively adapted to co-operate with a pair of detents 54, 56 projecting laterally from opposite sides of the body 55 of the supporting leg 50. The detents 54, 56 are adapted to co-operate with the cut-outs 81, 87 and openings 83, 85 such that when the supporting leg 50 is located within the strap 70, and the detents 54, 56 have not yet engaged the openings 83, 85, a gap is maintained between the top part 51 of the supporting 50 and the web 72 of the strap 70. The gap maintained between the top part 51 of the supporting 50 and the web 72 allows for the top rail 20 to be located therebetween and to enable the spacer member 40, comprised of the supporting leg 50 and the strap 70, to slide along the top rail 20 to a selected location in alignment with a selected pair of the openings 26, 28 along the length thereof. Once appropriately located such that the openings 73, 75 in the web 72 of the strap 70 and the openings 53, 53' in the top part 51 of the supporting leg 50 are aligned with the selected pair of openings 26, 28 in the top rail , the supporting leg 50 and the strap 70 are pressed together such that the detents 54, 56 engage the openings 83, 85 in the flanges 80, 86 of the strap 70 in a snap fitting manner. When the detents 54, 56 engage the openings 83, 85 in the flanges , 86, a pair of tabs 71, 74 depending from the openings 73, 75 in the web 72 of the strap 70 engage the openings 26, 28 in the top rail 20 to thereby maintain the spacer member 40 in position in engagement with the openings 26, 28. When the installer is satisfied that all of the spacer members 40 are appropriately located along the length of the top rail 20 in the manner described above, the fastener tool such as a powered driver (not shown), can be inserted through the openings 26, 28 of the top rail 20 and through the openings 73, 75 of the strap and openings 53, 53' and the top part 51 of the supporting leg into the channels 57, 57' and onto the head of the fasteners 58. The fasteners 58 can then be driven downwards through openings 82', 88' in the secondary flanges 82, 88 of the strap 70 and into the underlying structure 200. Upon driving the fasteners 58 into the underlying structure 200, the strap 70 is drawn down towards the top part 51 of the supporting leg 50 to thereby compress and lock the top rail 20 therebetween.

[0043] As can be seen in figures 1, 2 and in figure 6, in particular, the supporting leg 50 includes a downwardly extending projection 60 that is adapted for abutment against a side edge of an underlying structure 200, such as the purlin 210 illustrated in figure 6, to thereby locate the supporting leg 50 on top of the upper flange of the purlin 210. This feature is advantageous as the purlin 210 may be obscured by insulation material 250 thus making it difficult for an installer to ensure that the supporting legs 50 are all located on top of the purlin 210 prior to fixing in position as described above. The downwardly extending projection 60 is adapted to penetrate the insulation material 250 and to abut against a side edge of an upper surface of the purlin 210.

[0044] Figure 7 illustrates a retrofit installation of the building panel support 10 over an existing roof structure 200 which includes an existing profiled roof sheet 220 fixed to an underlying purlin 210. A new profiled roof sheet 100 is fixed to the top rail of the building panel support 10 and insulation material 250 is located between the existing profiled roof sheet 220 and the new roof sheet 100. In this configuration, the downwardly extending projection 60 of the supporting leg 50 is removed prior to installation to enable placement upon the underlying roof sheet 220.

[0045] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a building panel support 310 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a top rail 320 and a pair of spacer members 340. The building panel support 310 is adapted for use in a similar way to that which is illustrated in figures 6 and 7 with respect to the building panel support 10 described above.

[0046] Referring to figure 8, the building panel support 310 is comprised of a top rail member 320 that is adapted to be connected to the building panel 100, and one or more spacer members 340 that are coupled to the top rail 320. The one or more spacer members 340 are adapted to be connected to the underlying structure 200 and thereby maintain a space S between the underlying structure 200 and the top rail 320 with the building panel 100 connected thereto.

[0047] Referring to figure 9, the top rail 320 is comprised of a web 322 and a pair of flanges 323, 325 depending from longitudinally opposite side edges of the web 322. The top rail 320 includes a first end 321 and a second end 327 and has a longitudinal length L extending between the first and second ends 321, 327. The top rail 320 further includes an extended web section 321a extending outwardly and angled slightly downwardly from the first end 321 of the web 322. The extended web section 321a acts as a locating point for guiding the installation of a second top rail (not shown).

[0048] The top rail 320 also includes a plurality of pairs of openings 326, 328 extending through the web 322 from a top surface 322a to a bottom surface 322b of the web 322 at laterally opposite sides of the top rail 320.

[0049] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 8 and 9, the top rail 320 comprises five pairs of such openings 326, 328, however, it is to be appreciated that the top rail 320 may have less than five or more than five pairs of such openings 326, 328 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the top rail 320. The distance between successive pairs of openings 326, 328 can be about 50mm or more. The top surface 322a of the top rail 320 includes an uninterrupted portion between the pairs of openings 326, 328 and extending along the length of the top rail 320. As will be appreciated, the uninterrupted top surface 322a is adapted to receive a fastener, such as a tek-screw (not shown) therethrough or any other like fastener arrangement fixed thereto and is also adapted to be stood upon by a worker in a roof installation setting.

[0050] Referring to figure 8, the spacer members 340 are adapted to be coupled at any one of a plurality of locations along a length of the top rail 320 corresponding to locations at which there is a pair of openings 326, 328 in the top rail 320. In this embodiment, the spacer member 340 comprises a strap 370 that has been modified in a manner that will be described in more detail below, so as to dispense with the supporting leg used in the embodiment described above. By virtue of these modifications, the strap 370 is configured to slidably receive the top rail 320 and then be fastened to the underlying structure 200 to lock the top rail 320 substantially in place.

[0051] Referring to figures 8 and 9, extending substantially through the laterally opposite side flanges 323, 325 from an outer surface 323a, 325a to an inner surface 323b, 325b of said flanges 323, 325, are a plurality of pairs of generally rectangular shaped protrusions 329, 329', of which only the protrusions 329 on one of the flanges 323 are evident in these figures. As is also evident from figures 8 and 9, these pairs of protrusions 329, 329' are substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the pairs of openings 326, 328 in the top rail 320.

[0052] Referring to figures 10 and 11, the strap 370 is comprised of a piece of sheet metal that has been pre-cut and bent at various points to form an incomplete rectangular member comprising a top web 372, a pair of laterally opposite side flanges 380, 386 extending downwardly from laterally opposite side edges of the web 372, a first pair of laterally opposite secondary flanges 382, 388 extending inwardly from bottom edges of the laterally opposite side flanges 380, 386, a second pair of laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 extending inwardly from a generally mid to lower portion of the rear side edges of the laterally opposite side flanges 380, 386, and finally, a third pair of laterally opposite quaternary flanges 390, 396 extending inwardly from side edges of the laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397.

[0053] Referring to figures 10 and 11, the top web 372 of the strap 370 includes a pair of laterally opposite generally circular shaped openings 373, 375 that are configured to align with a corresponding one of a selected pair of the openings 326, 328 of the top rail 320 when the strap 370 is slid onto the top rail 320 in use, as shown in figure 8. In addition, the laterally opposite side flanges 380, 386 of the strap 370 each include a generally rectangular shaped opening 383, 385 located at an upper portion of the side flange 380, 386. As is apparent from figure 8, each one of the pair of openings 383, 385 is configured to align with and receive a corresponding one of the pair of protrusions 329, 329' on the laterally opposite side flanges 323, 325 of the top rail 320 in use.

[0054] Referring also to figures 10 and 11, a generally rectangular shaped lower portion of each of the pair of laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 has been pre cut to define a corresponding fastener support member 359, 360 in the form of a pair of laterally spaced apart prongs.

[0055] As is evident in figures 8 and 10, the two pairs of laterally spaced apart prongs of each fastener support member 359, 360 have been bent inwards at a generally 90 degree angle relative to the remaining upper portion of the corresponding laterally opposite tertiary flange 392, 397 to support a corresponding fastener 58 in readiness for installation of the building panel support 310 on site.

[0056] Referring to figure 11, the pair of laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 and the laterally opposite quaternary flanges 390, 396 do not extend substantially to the top web 372. Rather, a corresponding gap is located between a top edge of each of the laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 and the laterally opposite quaternary flanges 390, 396 and an underside of the top web 372.

[0057] In addition, since each of the second pair of laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 is only connected to a corresponding one of the two laterally opposite side flanges 380, 386 at a generally mid to lower portion of the rear side edge of said side flange 380, 386, the gap between the top edge of each of the laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 and the laterally opposite quaternary flanges 390, 396 and an underside of the top web 372 continues downwardly between an upper portion of each of the laterally opposite tertiary flanges 392, 397 and an upper portion of the corresponding laterally opposite side flange 380, 386.

[0058] As is evident from figure 8, the as-formed gap or opening allows the web 322 and the laterally opposite flanges 323, 325 of the top rail 320 to be slidably received by the strap 370 so as to enable the spacer member 340 to be positioned along the top rail 320 at a selected location, in which each one of the pair of openings 373, 375 in the top web 372 is in substantial alignment with a corresponding one of a selected pair of the openings 326, 328, and each one of the pair of openings 383, 385 in the laterally opposite side flanges 380, 386 of the strap 370 is in substantial alignment with a corresponding one of the pair of protrusions 329, 329' aligned with the selected pair of the openings 326, 328.

[0059] Once the spacer member 340 is appropriately located along the top rail 320, the strap 370 is fastened to the top rail 320 using a suitable mechanical fastener such as tek-screws (not shown). When the installer is satisfied that all of the spacer members 340 are appropriately located along the length of the top rail 320 in the manner described above, the fastener tool such as a powered driver (not shown), can be inserted through the openings 326, 328 of the top rail 320 and through the corresponding openings 373, 375 of the strap 370 onto the head of the corresponding fasteners 58 temporarily supported by the two pairs of laterally spaced apart prongs of each fastener support member 359, 360. The fasteners 58 can then be driven downwards through openings 382', 388' in the secondary flanges 382, 388 of the strap 370 and into the underlying structure 200. As the two fasteners 58 are driven into the underlying structure 200, the corresponding pairs of laterally spaced apart prongs of each fastener support member 359, 360 gradually give way under the driving force and bend in the direction of driving until the angle at which the prongs are displaced from their original generally horizontal positions relative to the upper portion of the corresponding laterally opposite tertiary flange 392, 397 from which they extend. This causes the fasteners 58 to be released from the corresponding fastener support member 359, 360 so that the fasteners 58 can be fully driven into the underlying structure 200 to complete the fixture process.

[0060] The present invention, and embodiments thereof, are advantageous in that it provides for a building panel support that includes a top rail top which a building panel, such as a profiled roof sheet can be fixed by any suitable means including pierced fixing by tek-screws or by a concealed fixing method, and one or more spacer members coupled to the top rail and adapted to be connected to the underlying structure, which may be a purlin or may be a pre-existing roof sheet on a purlin or the like, whilst maintaining a space for accommodating substantially uncompressed insulation material between the underlying structure and the top rail with the building panel connected thereto. Furthermore, features of embodiments of the invention whereby each of the spacer members is adapted to be coupled to the top rail at any one of a plurality of locations along a length of the top rail are advantageous in that the building panel support can be adjustably configured so that the spacer members are spaced apart from each other by a variable distance to accommodate peaks and troughs or ribs and pan sections of an underlying profiled roof sheet, where the invention is employed in a retrofit arrangement of a new roof sheet and insulation material over an old, pre-existing roof sheet. Other advantages of features of embodiments of the invention disclosed in this specification will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0061] The invention, and embodiments thereof, disclosed herein is susceptible to various modifications or mechanical equivalents without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

[0062] The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

[0063] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (20)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A building panel support for spacing a building panel apart from an underlying structure, the building panel support including:

a top rail member having a top web adapted to be connected to the building panel; and

one or more spacer members coupled to the top rail member, each spacer member being adapted with a strap to be positioned over the top web, and each spacer member also being adapted with a support leg to be connected to the underlying structure and thereby maintain a space for accommodating substantially uncompressed insulation material between the underlying structure and the top rail member with the building panel connected thereto, whereby the top rail is locked between the strap and the support leg.

2. The building panel support of claim 1, wherein each of the spacer members is adapted to be coupled to the top rail member at any one of a plurality of locations along a length of the top rail member.

3. The building panel support of claim 2, wherein the top rail member includes a plurality of pairs of openings adapted to cooperate with one or more of the spacer members for releasably retaining the spacer members at selected locations along the length of the top rail member.

4. The building panel support of claim 3, wherein the top rail member includes an uninterrupted surface portion between the pairs of openings extending along the length of the top rail member.

5. The building panel support of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a transverse width dimension of the top rail member is between 80mm and 100mm or preferably about 80mm.

6. The building panel support of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top web includes the plurality of pairs of openings, and wherein each spacer member includes a pair of apertures adapted to align with a respective pair of the openings in the top web to facilitate access to fasteners through said spacer member and the top rail member.

7. The building panel support of claim 6, wherein the supporting leg is adapted to be positioned between the top rail member and the underlying structure and the strap is adapted to be positioned around the supporting leg and over the top rail member, wherein fastening the supporting leg and the strap to the underlying structure compresses the top rail member therebetween.

8. The building panel support of claim 7, wherein the supporting leg includes a pair of upwardly extending protrusions, wherein each protrusion is adapted for locating within a corresponding one of a pair of openings in the strap.

9. The building panel support of claim 7 or 8, wherein the strap includes one or more downwardly extending protrusions for locating within one of the pairs of openings in the top web to maintain the position of the spacer member along the length of the top rail member.

10. The building panel support of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the supporting leg is adapted to be interposed between the strap and the underlying structure to provide a thermal break therebetween.

11. The building panel support of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the supporting leg includes a downwardly extending tab adapted for abutment against a side edge of an underlying purlin for positioning the spacer member directly above the purlin.

12. The building panel support of any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the supporting leg includes a pair of channels adapted for alignment with the apertures in the strap and a pair of the openings in the top web for guiding a tool onto the head of a fastener located within the channel.

13. The building panel support of claim 12, wherein the pair of channels of the supporting leg are adapted to temporarily retain fasteners therein at a location proximal to a base of the supporting leg.

14. The building panel support of any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the supporting leg and the strap are adapted to snap fit together when in the desired position along the length of the top rail member.

15. The building panel support of any one of claims 7 to 14 wherein the supporting leg is formed integrally with the strap.

16. The building panel support of claim 6, wherein the top rail member includes a pair of laterally opposite side flanges depending from the top web that include a plurality of pairs of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the spacer member includes an additional pair of apertures adapted to align with and receive a pair of the protrusions on the laterally opposite side flanges to maintain the position of the spacer member along the length of the top rail member.

17. The building panel support of claim 16, wherein the spacer member includes a pair of fastener support members adapted to temporarily retain fasteners therein at a location proximal to a base of the spacer member.

18. A building structure including a building panel coupled to an underlying structure, the building structure including:

a building panel and an underlying structure;

a building panel support including a top rail member having a top web adapted to be connected to the building panel, and one or more spacer members coupled to the top rail member, each spacer member being adapted with a strap to be positioned over the top web, and each spacer member also being adapted with a support leg to be connected to the underlying structure and thereby maintain a space between the underlying structure and the top rail member with the building panel connected thereto, whereby the top rail is locked between the strap and the support leg.

19. The building structure of claim 18, wherein the underlying structure includes a purlin or an underlying building panel to which the one or more spacer members are connected.

20. The building structure of claim 18 or claim 19, further including substantially uncompressed insulation material located in the space between the building panel and the underlying structure.