AU668750B2 - Bull-nosed roofing - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: VICTOR NORMAN FELS VICTOR NORMAN FELS Address for Service: CULLEN C Patent T 240 Queen Brisbane, Australia.

'rade Mark Street, Qld. 4000, Attorneys, Invention Title: BULL-NOSED ROOFING o a Details of Associated Provisional Applications: No. PL4704 filed 15 September 1992 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: i THIS INVENTION relates to an improved method of construction, and a building component for use in that method. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved method of constructing bull-nosed roofing, and a building component for use in that method.

Bull-nosed roofing, i.e. roofing whose lower portion has a rounded end, is a popular architectural feature, particularly for colonial-style houses.

Typically, the verandahs of colonial style houses are provided with bull-nosed roofing along their length. The curved slope of the verandah roof is not only reminiscent of the architectural styles of colonial Australia, but is also an aesthetically pleasing architectural feature.

Bull-nosed roofing is normally required to be custom designed and constructed. Furthermore, the construction of bull-nosed roofing is time consuming and expensive. For a typical verandah roof, straight rafters are first fixed in place, and purlins of varying heights are then nailed transversely across the rafters. The heights of the individual purlins are selected so that the upper edge faces of the purlins generally define a curved surface which matches, as closely as possible, the a intended curvature of the bull-nosed roofing. Roofing material e.g. galvanised iron sheeting, is then nailed or screwed to the purlins.

0 Calculation and selection of the heights of the purlins and their spacings are particularly time consuming. Moreover, the larger purlins impose considerable weight on the rafters, and also represent a significant cost factor.

If the underside of the roof is left exposed without a ceiling) the unequal heights and spacings of the purlins are visible, and the lack of symmetry and uniformity in construction results in an unattractive appearance.

It is known to provide bull-nosed roofing or awnings on some custom designed commercial buildings by fixing corrugated roofing across spaced curved steel 3 tubes, each of which consists of one piece and serves as both a rafter and post. However, such steel tubular beams are quite expensive, and must be custom designed and built for each particular application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of constructing bull-nosed roofing, and a building component for use in that method, which overcome or ameliorate the abovedescribed disadvantages of the prior art, or which at least provide the consumer with a useful choice.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a method of constructing bull-nosed roofing, comprising the steps of providing a preformed arcuate member of having a curved outer edge; fixing one end of the arcuate member to the lower end of a rafter, and the other end to a support member; and fixing roofing material over the rafter and the curved outer edge of the arcuate member.

In another form, the present invention o comprises bull-nosed roofing when constructed by the above method.

In yet another form, the invention provides a frame construction for supporting bull-nosed roofing, comprising at least one arcuate member orientated substantially in a vertical plane and having upper and lower ends and a curved outer edge, the upper end of the arcuate member being connected to the bottom end of a rafter member, and the lower end of the arcuate member being mounted to a support member.

Typically, the arcuate member is a curved wooden section of generally quarter circle (or quarter oval) configuration. The radial thickness of the arcuate member is preferably the same as the (vertical) thickness of the rafter so that when the rafter and arcuate member are joined, one appears to be a continuation of the other.

3a The lower (post) end of the arcuate member is typically provided with a radially cut face, while the upper (rafter) end also has a radially cut face matching a right angle cut of the lower end of the enclosed rafter. In this manner, a flush end-to-end a i i i I i 0- 4 fit is achieved between the arcuate member and the inclined rafter and vertical post, respectively.

Alternatively, the ends may be finger jointed together.

The wall end of the rafter is suitably plumb cut, i.e. it has an obliquely cut end face to permit a flush fit with the wall even though the rafter is inclined at the pitch angle of the roof. Thus, the wall end of the rafter will be cut at 900 less the pitch angle of the upper part of the roof. Alternatively, the wall oi end may pass through the wall sheeting and be fixed to a stud.

The arcuate member may be cut from a sheet of plywood using a band saw. However, any other suitable manufacturing procedure for the arcuate member may be adopted.

Typically, in constructing bull-nosed roofing for a verandah, joined pairs of curved and straight rafters are spaced along the verandah. Battens are fixed o 20 transversely across the top of the rafters, and the oo-° roofing material is then secured to the battens.

Curved sections of the same standard shape and 0; 0 size are provided along the length of the verandah.

However, for hip rafters, a curved section of appropriate 25 size and curvature is provided in order to compensate for 0000 G the change of angle. Typically, in addition to standard arcuate members for rafters orientated at 900 to the wall arcuate members suitable for 450 and 22.50 hip rafters may also be provided, if desired.

The present invention has several advantages over known bull-nosed roofing construction methods and components. First, building components are standardised.

A standard arcuate member will be suitable for use in all applications (with a modified arcuate member being required for hip roofs if applicable). The curvature and size of all the arc'aate members (apart from any used in hip roof portions) are constant, thereby minimising the amount of stock which needs to be retained.

i- Manufacturing costs are also reduced through the use of standard cutting and/or forming procedures. To compensate for different widths and pitches of roofs, only the lengths of the straight rafters need be varied.

Secondly, the construction of bull-nosed roofing is simplified, enabling even the home handyman to erect such roofing on, say, verandahs.

Thirdly, erection time is reduced.

Fourthly, battens of standard size can be used, thereby eliminating the need for specially sized purlins.

Fifthly, the resulting construction has a neat, symmetrical and simple appearance which is architecturally efficient and aesthetically pleasing.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of bullnosed roofing construction according to one embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the join between the arcuate member and rafter according to another embodiment.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a frame for bullnosed roofing comprises an arcuate member in the form of a curved section 10 having one end supported by a post 11. Typically, the end of curved section 10 is fixed to both the top of post 11 and a cross beam or plate 12 by a triple anchor grip 13.

The other end of curved section 10 is connected to a straight rafter 14, typically by a knuckle nail plate 15 on either side of the joint. Rafter 14 is cut to the required length, and its other (wall) end is connected to the wall exterior brick face), a wall stud or other support portion of the building, e.g. by suitable connectors 16. As the rafter 14 is angled to provide the required pitch for the roof, the wall end of rafter 14 is plumb cut to provide a flush fit with the 6 wall. Since this pitch will be standard in most cases, the upper end face of rafter 14 is normally cut .obliquely by the standard pitch angle. In most cases, the pitch is but this may be varied if desired.

The assembly of the curved section 10, post 11, and rafter 14 is repeated along the length of the verandah at predetermined spacings. The curved sections have the same curvature and size. In other words, the curved section 10 is a standardised building component suitable for use in different applications. To allow for different widths (and pitches) of roofs, it is only necessary to cut the straight rafters 14 to the required length (and plumb cut if fixed to a wall).

1 oThe curved section 10 is a curved length of wood, approximately quarter circle (or quarter oval) in shape. Preferably, the upper end face of curved section is cut radially to provide a flush fit between the curved section 10 and the square cut end of rafter 14.

The outer radius of curved section 10 is set at 500mm and this curvature will suit most applications.

o .However, a different radius may be selected as the standard curvature of the arcuate member o Once the rafters have been erected, battens 17 are screwed across the rafters as shown, and roofing material 18 is then secured to the roofing frame. The roofing material is typically CUSTOM ORB sheeting which is provided with a curved profile. A gutter 19 may be fixed directly onto the outside of plate 1D across the front of the verandah in order to receive run off from the bull-nosed roof.

For hip roof portions on angle verandahs, a modified curved section may be provided. For example, a modified curved section can be provided for use with all 450 hip rafters used on 90* verandah corners. In addition, if desired, a curved section can be provided for use with 22.50 hip rafters on 45* splayed portico corners.

RThe curved section 10 is typically cut from a 7 sheet of plywood of desired thickness using a band saw.

By suitable layout and design, the number of curved sections which can be cut from a standard sheet of ply can be maximised. Cutting may be performed under computer control for accuracy.

However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other manufacturing processes for the curved section 10 may be adopted.

The use of standardised curved sections in the construction of bull-nosed roofing has several advantages over conventional rafters and methods, including The bull-nosed portion of the roof is of constant size, and only the length of the straight rafter need to be changed to accommodate verandahs of different widths.

(ii) The curved section is an engineered product.

(iii) The use of the curved section eliminates the need to pack up roof battens to the required height or select special purlins to support the roofing sheets.

(iv) The upper end of the curved section can be pre-set to provide a constant pitch.

The use of the standardised curve section facilitates the construction of bull-nosed roofing.

(vi) The use of standardised curved sections reduces construction time.

(vii) As the curved section follows the contour of the roof sheeting, the supporting framework is aesthetically pleasing and architecturally efficient.

The i.eed to ceil under the verandah roof is therefore eliminated, resulting in a significant cost saving.

(viii) Being of standardised construction, the curved section can be made to exact predetermined specifications.

(ix) Stock requirements are minimised.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without I i 8 departing from the scope of the invention. For example, each curved section 10 need not be mounted on a corresponding post 11, but may supported on a cross-beam extending between end posts of the verandah.

In another embodiment (illustrated in Fig. 2), the upper end of the curved section 10 is fingerjointed with, and glued to, the lower end of rafter 14-. This can be done on site before erection, or at the factory stage.

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Claims (9)

1. A method of constructing bull-nosed roofing, comprising the steps of providing a preformed arcuate member of having a curved outer edge; fixing one end of the arcuate member to the lower end of a rafter, and the other end to a support member; and fixing roofing material over the rafter and the curved outer edge of the arcuate member.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arcuate member is a length of curved wood.

3. Bull-nosed roofing when constructed by the method of claim 1 or 2.

4. A frame construction for supporting bull-nosed roofing, comprising at least one arcuate member orientated substantially in a vertical plane and having upper and lower ends and a curved outer edge, the upper end of the arcuate member being connected to the bottom end of a rafter member, and the lower end of the arcuate member being mounted to a support member.

A construction as claimed in claim 4, wherein the arcuate member is a length of curved wood.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 5, wherein the arcuate member is approximately of quarter circle or quarter oval configuration.

7. A construction as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the support member is a post, and the lower end of the arcuate member is mounted to the top of the post.

8. A construction as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the upper and lower ends of the arcuate member are butt jointed to the rafter member and support member, respectively.

9. A construction as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the upper end of the arcuate member is finger jointed with the lower end of the rafter member, and glued thereto. I 0\ A method of constructing bull-nosed roofing, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, or Fig. 1 as modified by Fig. 2. DATED this eleventh day of March 1996 VICTOR NORMAN FELS By his patent attorneys CULLEN CO. i L L I i -i 11 ABSTRACT The construction of bull-nosed roofing is simplified by the use of a standardised component. This component is a curved wooden section generally of quarter circle or quarter oval configuration. The upper end of the curved section (10) is connected to the lower end of a rafter (14) while the lower end of the curved section is mounted on a support member, such as a post (11). Battens (17) are placed across spaced rafters (14) and curved sections and bull-nosed roofing sheets (18) are then fixed to battens The use of the preformed curved section (10) simplifies the construction of the supporting framework for bull-nosed roofing. L o