EP0120653B1

EP0120653B1 - Flashing for corrugated roofs and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0120653B1
Application number: EP84301750A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Louis Shillabeer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-25
Filing date: 1984-03-14
Publication date: 1988-07-20
Also published as: IE840705L; IL71335A; ES278546Y; GB2136848A; ES278546U; IE55087B1; GB8308333D0; GB8406671D0; IL71335A0; GB2136848B; EP0120653A2; EP0120653A3; DE3472812D1

Description

The present invention relates to apron flashing. That is to say, it relates to a product suitable for sealing between a first structure, such as a corrugated roof, and another structural element, such as an upright wall.
Corrugated sheeting is widely used for low-cost building applications, such as car ports, and verandahs. Often it is necessary to connect a length of corrugated sheet, which is to form a roof, to an upright wall (e.g. of an existing building). It is desirable to prevent the passage of rain water past the joint. The usual solution is to use some form of flashing, that is to say an elongate strip which is shaped so that one longitudinal portion can be in contact with the corrugated sheet while a second portion is in contact with the wall. Thus a flashing must be provided which matches the angle of the particular roof, or the roof must be angled to suit the available flashing. With lightweight plastics roofing it is particularly difficult to achieve a seal, since (e.g.) hammering to shape and dress unformed material is likely to shatter the roofing.
FR-A-2333913 discloses an apron flashing having a corrugated portion connected at an angle to an upright portion. It comprises a resiliently deformable plastics material with a band of lead or other heavy material that undergoes plastic deformation at the outer edge of the corrugated portion.
EP-A-56451 discloses a bracket for connecting sheets of decking to a wall. The bracket may be a unitary sheet with respective portions for connection to wall and decking, the sheet being bendable to vary the angle between the portions.
According to the present invention, there is provided an apron flashing of resiliently variable configuration having first and second longitudinal portions, at least said first portion being corrugated (FR-A-2333 913), said portions being mutually laterally adjacent, characterised in that the flashing comprises a shaped unitary web, having a U-section channel formation in the second portion adjacent the first portion, which formation provides a line of weakness between the first and second portions such that they are hingedly connected so that the angle betwen them is variable resiliently.
It is especially preferred for the flashing to comprise transparent or tanslucent plastics material. This makes it particularly suitable for use with transparent or translucent corrugated sheet material. Of course, coloured and/or opaque material may be used.
When unconstrained, the two portions of the flashing may be at an angle greater than that which is expected to be required in use. Thus, when the flashing is fitted, the first portion is resiliently urged against the corrugated sheet.
In another aspect, the invention provides the use of a flashing as just described to connect a corrugated sheet to an upright wall.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apron flashing embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevation; and
Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

The illustrated flashing 10 consists of a shaped sheet of a transparent plastics material, such as PVC, or other material from which corrugated roofing sheets are conventionally made.
The flashing 10 has a front (first) portion 12 integral with a rear (second) portion 16. The front portion 12 is corrugated, with troughs 18 and crests 20 extending outwardly away from the back of the portion 12. Between the front and rear portions 12, 16 there is an upstanding U-section channel 14formed adjacent the bottom of the rear portion 16. This forms a line of weakness which allows the angle between the front and rear portions 12, 16 to be varied, while resiliently biassing them to a particular configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, this favoured configuration has the portions 12, 16 at an angle of about 120°.
The flashing 10 can be produced in widths and thicknesses to suit particular types of corrugated roofing sheets. In use, the front portion 12 may be secured to a roofing sheet when this is being fixed by having nails driven through it, then these nails pass also through the flashing 10. The upstanding rear portion 16 is then secured, e.g. to an upright wall. An adhesive flashing tape may be used for this purpose. Alternatively, there may be a downturned angle section over the top edge of the back portion 16, and this may be bedded into the mortar between two courses of bricks in the wall. A further possibility is coupling to a cavity tray associated with a window in the wall. Whatever method is used, it will be appreciated that the flashing 10 will normally be arranged so that its rear portion 16 lies flush against the wall. Thus the angle between the front and rear portions 12, 16 will normally be less than in its free state, so that the portions are resiliently urged against the corrugated roofing sheet and the wall respectively.
The upstanding rear portion may have adhesive means for attachment to a wall, e.g. a longitudinal strip of adhesive which is covered by a release paper until required.
Although the illustrated embodiment is shaped for use with a corrugated roof of sine-wave type cross-section, the invention is not restricted thereto. The term "corrugated" is used broadly to include any shape having troughs and crests.

Claims

1. An apron flashing (10) of resiliently variable configuration having first (12) and second (16) longitudinal portions, at least said first portion (12) being corrugated (18, 20), said portions (12, 16) being mutually laterally adjacent, characterised in that the flashing (10) comprises a shaped unitary web, having a U-section channel formation (14) in the second portion (16) adjacent to first portion (12), which formation (14) provides a line of weakness (14) between the first (12) and second (16) portions such they are hingedly connected so that the angle between them is variable resiliently.

2. A flashing (10) according to claim 1 wherein the portions (12, 16) are resiliently urged to an angle greater than the intended angle of use, so that when fitted to a structure the portions (12,16) are resiliently urged against respective parts of the structure.

3. A flashing (10) according to any preceding claim made of transparent or translucent plastics material.

4. A flashing (10) according to any preceding claim wherein the second portion (16) is provided with adhesive means for attachment to a wall.

5. A flashing (10) according to any preceding claim wherein the second portion (16) has a rearwardly extending portion for bedding into a wall against which said portion (16) lies in use.

6. Use of a flashing according to any preceding claim for sealing between an upright wall and a corrugated sheet extending away from it, wherein the flashing is located by resiliently hingeing the first portion (12) relative to the second portion (16) about the line of weakness (14) so that the first portion (12) lies flush with said sheet and the second portion (16) lies flush with said wall.