EP0538379B1

EP0538379B1 - Conservatory construction

Info

Publication number: EP0538379B1
Application number: EP91913485A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Romney Sycamore
Original assignee: Lait Sidney Thomas
Current assignee: LAIT, SIDNEY THOMAS
Priority date: 1990-07-10
Filing date: 1991-07-10
Publication date: 1996-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-10
Also published as: GB9015148D0; WO1992001122A3; WO1992001122A2; EP0538379A1; DE69122869D1

Abstract

A conservatory is assembled from a sill beam (1) mounted on a low brick wall (B), a transom beam (3) spaced above and following the line of the sill beam, glazed window panels (2) mounted between the sill and transom beams, and a roof structure including a cantilever ridge beam (70) carrying an apex block (71) at its free end, and roof panels (4, 5) mounted between the ridge and apex and the transom beam. The beams (1, 3) are assembled from beam members each made up from a base (40) and a cover (40), and joints (8) which are constructed from a core (9, 10) and beam connectors (20) so that the connected beam members are at the desired angle to each other. The window panels (2) have side frame members (50) fastened to the beam joints (8) by brackets (60) and masking strips (65, 66) span the gaps between the side frame members of adjacent window panels at their inner and outer edges. The roof panels (4, 5) each have side frame members (92, 93) of different cross-section allowing adjacent roof panels to be interlocked directly with each other. For supporting the roof panels from the ridge beam and apex block hooks (76, 80) are used.

Description

This invention relates to the construction of conservatories, and disclosed herein are several novel aspects applicable to the design and erection of conservatories. Some of the novel aspects are capable of broader application, however, such as in the construction of window frames, and where features are so applicable the present specification should not be taken to be strictly confined to conservatories.
The conservatory construction disclosed herein incorporates several improvements over constructions currently available on the market like the one disclosed in document GB-A-2 016 574. In particular it is very quick and easy to erect, even for unskilled persons.
It is conventional for a conservatory to be positioned with its inner end against an existing stable structure, usually an exterior wall of a house. Most conservatory designs involve a low brick wall being built around the conservatory profile. Vertical glazed panels or windows are mounted in frames above the brick wall, and further inclined glazed panels or roof lights are mounted in a roof truss above the window frames to form a pitched roof assembly. Of course, gaps are provided in the brick wall and between the window panels to define the required doorways. In many styles of conservatory, the outer end, i.e. the end opposite to the end fixed to the pre-existing structure, comprises a series of wall sections which are mutually inclined at angles between 90 and 180°. For example, one popular design is for five such sections to be provided for extending and joining the main side walls of the conservatory. In other words, as seen in plan, the free end of the conservatory has the shape of a semi-decagon. Above each end wall section is positioned a triangular roof panel which rises to an apex at the end of the ridge which extends out from the fixed structure substantially the same distance as the parallel side walls. While this conservatory design has a very attractive appearance, it does present certain difficulties in construction. From basic geometrical considerations it is readily apparent that the planar roof panels lie in different planes to one another. Hitherto it has been accepted practice to fix rafters, e.g. rectangular box section beams, to extend from the apex to the transom beam and to mount the glazed roof panels between adjacent rafters. Seal assemblies are incorporated for sealing the roof panels to the rafters and these seal assemblies are generally relied upon to cater for the different angles due to the roof panels on either side of a rafter lying in respective planes. This extra demand on the seal design is undesirable and can lead to seal failure as well as necessitating the use of large seal strips which can detract from the aesthetic appearance.
The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages and provided in accordance with the invention is a roof assembly for a conservatory or the like comprising a plurality of pre-assembled glazed panels mounted side-by-side and each extending between a roof apex or ridge and the upper edge of a wall structure, each panel having two side frame members interconnected by top and bottom edge members, means for coupling the upper edge member to the roof apex or ridge and means for coupling the bottom edge member to the wall structure, each side frame member being an extrusion provided with a thermal break and the side frame members being of different complementary cross-section, one side frame member having a laterally outwardly projecting flange adjacent the lower edge thereof and engagement means on the upper side of the flange, the other side frame member being configured on the underside thereof to rest against the flange and interlock with said engagement means, whereby during construction of the roof assembly each pre-assembled roof panel can be lowered into correct assembled and interlocked relationship with a previously installed adjacent roof panel and into coupled cooperation with the roof apex or ridge and the wall structure.
With such a roof structure the need for separate rafters running from the ridge or apex to the top of the wall structure is obviated. The side frame members of the roof panels themselves can be adapted to support adjacent panels relative to each other and in the respective planes in which they are required to lie in the assembled roof structure.
In a preferred construction the side frame members of a panel each comprises a main web which lies in a plane normal to the main plane of the panel. One member, referred to herein for convenience as the male side member, has the flange projecting laterally outwardly from its main web adjacent its lower edge and at an angle to the main web selected according to the angle between the planes in which the panel and an adjacent panel are to lie. On the upper side of the flange two upstanding lips, preferably of curved section, define a location bead. The other panel side member, i.e. the female side member, has a recess in its lower face with an internal profile corresponding to the external profile of the location lead, the recess being positioned immediately alongside the web so that the female member can be positioned to rest on the location lead of the male side member of an adjacent panel with the main webs of the respective members diverging upwardly away from each other at an angle if the respective panels are not coplanar. Top cover strips are preferably provided to fit over the upper edges of the interlocking male and female side members to deter ingress of moisture between them. The location bead itself forms a channel which acts as a drain to conduct away any moisture which seeps between the members, whereby leakage through the roof structure between the panels is precluded
Another problem encountered with known conservatories is in the assembly of the window frames into which the pre-assembled double-glazed window panels are mounted. These frames include sill beams which extend along and rest on the top of the brick wall, and transom or head beams which follow the line of the sill beams and are supported by vertical frame members so as to be positioned at the tops of the window panels. At the intersections between the wall sections which are angled to each other it has been prior practice to join the corresponding sill and head beams by means of mitred joints. With such joints it is hard to ensure the close fit needed to be certain the joints will be weatherproof. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention an angle beam joint assembly provided for connecting elongate beam members end-to-end at a given angle, comprises a core including means defining a joint axis, and a pair of beam connectors for in-line connection to the ends of the respective beam members and engageable with the core to extend radially from the axis at desired relative angles thereabout, whereby to connect the beam members at a required angle relative to each other.
By use of the angle beam joints assembly according to the invention, it is not necessary for the beam members to be mitred and beam members with square ends can be accurately set and coupled at a given angle with a completely sealed connection between them.
In a preferred form of an angle beam joint assembly the core comprises two parts, each conveniently formed as a metal extrusion, intended to be located on inner and outer sides of the joint and one part preferably incorporating a thermal break. The core parts include diametrically opposed rim portions with detent means at predetermined positions therealong. The beam connectors, which may comprise identical metal extrusions, include arcuate segments to engage the core and having detent means cooperable with the detent means of the core parts to set the beam connectors at predetermined positions about the core axis and at given angles in the range of 90° to 180° to each other. Conveniently the detent means comprise notches in the rim portions of the core parts and ribs or teeth on the arcuate segments of the beam connectors. The core parts define a central hub through which a bolt is passed for securing to the joint assembly brackets for cooperation with vertical window frame members to extend between the sill and transom beams. On each of its opposite faces lying normal to the joint axis, a pair of cover plates may be fastened to the respective beam connectors and be shaped to match each other around a circular arc centred on the axis to accommodate the different possible angles of the beam connectors.
By use of the described angle beam joints it is possible to set accurately the sill and transom beam members according to the selected conservatory shape and thereby construction of the conservatory is greatly facilitated.
Another disadvantage with known conservatory construction is associated with the installation of the pre-assembled glazing panels within the window frames defined by the sill and transom beams and the uprights which extend between them. This applies especially to the connection of the glazed window panels to uprights located at the junctions between those wall sections which are inclined to each other, as viewed in the horizontal plane. At such locations it is usual practice to provide a tubular cylindrical bay pole to form the upright, and to secure the glazed panels to it on either side, these panels having vertical frame sections complementary to the bay pole so that they can be located in any vertical planes. This known technique suffers from a number of drawbacks. It is difficult to ensure a firm and secure attachment between the ends of the bay pole and the sill and transom beams. In the case of double-glazed panels, which are most popular in present times, it is necessary to remove one sheet of glass from each pre-assembled panel to enable the panel frame to be fastened to the bay pole, after which the glass sheet must be replaced, which is inconvenient and complicates the assembly procedure. Furthermore, in the case of a metal bay pole, it cannot easily be provided with a thermal break.
In a preferred construction described herein a frame assembly for securing glazed panels in preselected vertical planes, comprises first and second elongate members extending along the side edges of the respective glazed panels, each said member having attachment means on the outer side thereof extending along the inner and outer edges of said member, brackets engageable with the outer sides of the first and second elongate members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, means for securing the brackets to vertically spaced sill and transom beam members with each said elongate member at a given distance from a vertical axis and at a desired angle with respect to said axis, and inner and outer elongate masking strips each having means extending along the edges thereof for cooperation with said attachment means of the first and second elongate frame members for said masking members to interconnect and bridge between the first and second elongate members at the inner and outer edges thereof.
With such an assembly, the elongate members can firmly be secured to the glazed panels and constitute pre-assembled parts thereof. The members are so positioned that they are spaced apart, allowing them to be securely fastened to sill and transom beam members by means of the brackets which are accessible through the gap between the elongate frame members to enable at least the lower fastenings to be tightened before the masking strips are fitted to close the gap between the elongate members. The elongate members are preferably identical extrusions adapted to confront each other in generally mirror image arrangement. Thermal breaks can easily be incorporated in the elongate frame members in accordance with usual methods for providing such heat conduction barriers in metal frame elements. The attachment means provided on the elongate members conveniently comprise grooves defined by channel sections into which rails extending along the edges of the masking strips are slidingly engaged. Conveniently, the brackets are secured to the central bolts incorporated in the angle beam joints which are employed to couple together members of the sill and transom beams. For this purpose the brackets are generally L-shaped with one leg having a hole for the bolt to pass through and the other leg arranged to be located in a channel with inturned lips along its mouth for holding the bracket captive on the elongate frame member, said other leg also having means, such as a grub screw, to clamp the bracket securely to the elongate member. Of course the glazed panels will be positioned to follow the direction of the sill beam sections on which they are mounted, and masking strips of different width will be provided according to the angle at which adjacent window panels are to be mounted relative to each other.
In known conservatory constructions the sill beams comprise unitary members which can be extrusions. Large fixing screws are needed as they must pass through the full depth of the beam member for fixing it to the underlying wall. When the beam members are being mounted in place great care is needed to ensure the decorative finish is not damaged. These limitations are averted in a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which at least one of the sill and transom beams comprises a beam member comprising a generally channel-shaped base, and a cover arranged to be secured to the base to close the mouth of the channel and to cover the outer sides of the base, the cover having location means thereon for engagement by a glazed panel mounted to the beam member.
The base and cover of the beam member can be conveniently manufactured as metal extrusions. They are preferably heat-insulated with respect to each other, in which case only the cover requires a thermal break. The base will tolerate relatively rough handling during the act of mounting it on a wall since in the finished assembly any surface scarring or blemishing will be concealed by the cover. The cover can be fastened to the base by relatively small screws which can conveniently be positioned so that they are within the glazed panel location means and hence hidden by the glazed panel in a completed structure. The use of two part beam members can also facilitate attachment of the ends thereof to angle beam joints in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention as described above. For this purpose the cover can be cut shorter than the base to leave a base extension which can be inserted into a rectangular socket defined by the beam connector of the joint. In this way complete sill beams can be assembled easily and quickly to follow the desired path along the top of a base wall. In addition, the transom beam members may be similarly constructed from a base and cover, but will be mounted in an inverted orientation with the cover lowermost for cooperation with the glazing panel positioned below.
While the novel features of the invention are of especial benefit and have been described in relation to conservatory construction, it should be understood they can be applied to other structures and may be of advantage, for example, in window frame construction, particularly bay windows, and greenhouse construction.
To assist a clear understanding of the invention and its many aspects, a detailed description will now be given of a conservatory embodying the novel inventive features, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an outline plan showing the shape of the conservatory;
Figure 2 is an outline front elevation showing the shape of the conservatory;
Figure 3 is a plan view of an angle beam joint embodying the invention;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the core of the angle beam joint;
Figure 5 is a plan view of a beam connector element incorporated in the angle beam joint;
Figure 6 is a scrap cross-section through an assembly of a sill beam member and a glazed panel mounted on the sill beam;
Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 6 showing a decorative trim fitted to the sill;
Figure 8 is a scrap cross-section through an assembly of a transom beam, a glazed window panel and a glazed roof panel;
Figure 9 is a top plan view showing the connection of two window panels to a sill beam angle joint;
Figure 10 is a partly exploded perspective view showing the connection of window panels to a transom beam angle joint;
Figure 11 is a sketch illustrating in perspective a roof ridge beam and apex block;
Figure 12 is sectional view showing the connection of a glazed roof panel to the apex block;
Figure 13 is a section through the ridge beam and illustrating the connection of glazed roof panels to the ridge beam;
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the interconnections between adjacent roof panels; and
Figure 15 is a schematic view of a front end portion of the conservatory roof.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown schematically a conservatory of well known general shape which is erected with its inner or rear end against the wall W an existing building. The conservatory has parallel side walls with a front shaped, as seen in plan view, as a semi-decagon with five equal sections, the middle section being arranged to form a doorway D. The conservatory roof has a horizontal ridge extending out from the existing wall W the same distance as the parallel side walls and the forward end of the beam defines an apex from which substantially triangular roof segments incline downwardly to the respective sections of the front wall as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2.
A low brick wall B extends around the periphery of the conservatory, but is interrupted at the doorway D. Fixed to the top of this wall and substantially co-extensive with it is a sill beam 1. Extending vertically upwardly from and supported by the sill beam are double glazed window panels 2, each of which is pre-assembled prior to erection of the conservatory. In the illustrated embodiment the window panels are all essentially identical to each other and the panels may include fanlights in a manner known per se. Thus, each straight side wall comprises two aligned window panels, and each front wall section comprises a single window panel, except that constituting the doorway which has no window panel.
Extending around the periphery of the conservatory above the window panels and resting on these panels is a transom beam 3. The conservatory roof comprises two rectangular double-glazed roof panels 4 extending down from each side of the roof ridge to the transom beam at the top of the straight side walls, and five triangular double glazed roof panels 5 which extend from the roof apex to the transom beam at the tops of the respective front wall sections. It will be appreciated that each roof panel 5 lies in a different plane to each of the two roof panels immediately adjacent to it.
Each of the sill and transom beams 1, 3 is assembled from beam members and angle joints 8 which are located at the intersections between adjoining window panels 2. The construction of each angle beam joint is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The joint has a core formed by front and rear parts 9, 10 each made as short lengths cut from metal extrusions. The front core part 9 includes a part cylindrical hub 11 from which extend radial arms 12, and a rim portion 13 with two sets of symmetrically located detent grooves 14 in its outer surface. The rear core part 10 has a sleeve section 14 arranged to fit around the hub 11, and a generally chordal arm 15 connected to the sleeve section 14 through a thermal break 16 and attached at its ends to a rim portion 17 also provided on its outer surface with two sets of detent notches 18 positioned symmetrically with respect to an axial bisecting plane P. The core defines a central axis of the joint at the centre of the hub 11. Arranged in cooperation with the core are a pair of beam connectors each consisting of an element 20, which can be made by cutting from a metal extrusion, sandwiched between two cover plates 21, 22. The element 20 is best seen in Figure 5 and includes inner and outer parallel webs 23, 24 interconnected by a transverse web 25, and by a curved portion or segement 26 which extends around 135° of circular arc and is connected to the inner web 23 by a mitre web section 27 lying at an angle of 135° to the web 23. A thermal break 28 is included in the transverse web 25 and the curved portion 26. The curved portion 26 is arranged to extend between the rim portions of the respective core parts 9, 10, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and has at its ends teeth forming strikers 29 for cooperation with the detent notches 14, 18 of the rim portions 13, 17. The strikers are engageable with different pairs of notches to set the beam connectors at different angles with respect to the plane P. As shown in Figure 4, the two beam connectors are each shown in an extreme position about the core in which they are set to provide a straight or in-line joint. In the other extreme positions, the mitre web sections 27 will be parallel to the plane P and a 90° joint will be formed (joints of this configuration are not actually needed for construction of the conservatory of Figures 1 and 2). The intervening detent notches of the core parts are at predetermined positions to set the beam connectors at the desired angles and in particular at the predetermined angles between the adjacent wall sections of the conservatory to be constructed. The joint shown in Figure 3 is adjusted to connect beam members at an angle of 144°, which is appropriate for use in the construction of the conservatory of Figs. 1 and 2. The cover plate 21 on one side of the element 20 includes a substantially circular part to cover the joint core and having a central hole 30 for a spigot bolt 36 passed through the joint to secure the parts together. The cover plate 22 on the other side of the element 20 has a complementary shape. Thus the two beam connectors of the joint are identical to each other. At their free end the beam connectors define rectangular box-section sockets for receiving the ends of the beam members being connected end-to-end by the joint. A suitably adjusted beam angle joint is located in the sill and transom beams at each juncture between adjacent window panels and wall sections in the conservatory being constructed.
The beam members which extend between the joints are of two-part construction. As shown in Figure 6, the sill beam members comprise a base 40 and a cover 41, each formed as an extruded metal channel section. The base is made longer than the cover so that a short length protrudes at each end of the beam member for entering the socket of a beam joint connector for securing the beam member to the joint. Plastic insulating strips 38 of inverted U-shaped cross section are fitted over the side walls of the base 40 and hold the base and cover out of direct heat conducting engagement, so that a thermal break in the base is not necessary. A thermal break 42 is provided in the cover. The base has a pair of parallel partition walls 43 with flanges at their free edges and self-tapping screws 44 are passed through the cover into these flanges to fasten the cover securely on the base. Additional thermal insulation strips can be interposed between the flanges and the cover. On its outer face the cover includes latching ribs 46 for snap-lock action with a bottom frame member 45 of a window panel to locate and secure the panel to the beam member. It will be noted the thermal break 42 and screws 44 are located between the ribs 46 and in the final assembly are concealed by the frame member 45. The side walls of the cover define a channel for snap engagement of extruded trim strips, such as the decorative strip 48 shown in Figure 7.
When putting together the sill beam the bases of the beam members are connected together with the beam joints. At the beam ends adjacent the wall W and doorway D joints are not required and suitable end stops are fitted to the ends of the beam bases at these positions. The beam bases 40 are then fixed to the top of the wall by screws 49, as seen in Figure 6, after which the covers 41 are fitted onto the bases and secured by the screws 44. The sill beam is then in place ready to receive the window panels 2 and the transom beam 3.
The transom beam is assembled from beam members consisting of bases 40 and covers 41, and angle joints 8 in exactly the same way as the sill beam 1, but when in position it is inverted relative to the sill beam, as seen in Figure 8. No further description of the transom beam assembly is necessary therefore as it will be understood from the description of the sill beam. However, for convenience it is best for the transom beam members and joints to be put together as installation of the window panels proceeds.
The window panels are prefabricated and comprise top and bottom frame members 45 shaped to cooperate with the latching ribs 46 of the sill and transom beams, and side frame members 50 (Figs. 9 and 10) extending along each side edge of the window panel. The frame members 50 may be metal extrusions including a thermal break 52 and of generally channel-shaped section. On its outer side and extending along the side edge of the panel the frame member is fabricated to define a rectangular channel 54 with a reentrant mouth and on either side thereof front and rear slots 55, 56. The manner in which two adjoining window panels are fastened to the sill and transom beams is illustratd in the Figures 9 and 10. A generally L-shaped cleat bracket 60 is inserted into the channel 54 at either end of each side frame member 50 and is secured in place by means of a grub screw 61 inserted into a tapped hole in the bracket. The horizontal legs of the brackets fitted to the lower ends of the frame members have holes which register and which receive the spigot bolt 36 of the underlying sill beam joint 8. A nut 62 is applied to the bolt over the brackets and is tightened to fasten the brackets and hence the window panels securely to the sill beam 1, with a predetermined gap between the adjacent side frame members 50. The brackets 60 fitted at the upper ends of the frame members 50 have holes which are brought into alignment to receive the spigot bolt 36 associated with the angle joint 8 of the transom beam 3. Before this joint is positioned over the bolt which is inserted upwardly through the brackets, front and rear masking strips 65, 66 are applied between the frame members 50. Each strip is made as a metal extrusion and has a curved main section 67 with fixing rails 68 of T-shaped cross-section extending along its opposite edges. The rails are adapted to engage in the frame slots 55, 56. The masking strips are introduced between the frame member by sliding the rails down through the slots from the top of the frame members. The masking strips 65, 66 are equal in length to the frame members 50, and when in place the connection between the adjacent window panels, from both sides, has the same appearance as if a conventional bay pole had been used. The angle joint of the transom beam 3 is positioned over the spigot bolt 36 previously inserted through the upper brackets 60 after the masking strips have been installed and a nut is applied to and tightened down on the bolt to fasten the transom beam to the window panels. The manner of fastening the window panels together and to the sill and transom beams avoids the need to remove glazing sheets from the panels and ensures a firm, reliable connection. While Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an assemby in which the adjacent panels 2 interconnected to be coplanar as the sill and transom beam joint are adjusted to form straight joints between the beam members, it will be appreciated that the jointing system allows the panels to be connected at whatever angle the beam joints are set at, the only requirement being that masking strips of the appropriate width be provided.
All the window panels will be installed as will the transom beam before the roof is assembled. A door frame will also be positioned around the doorway D, but details of its construction are not necessary to get a clear understanding of the present invention. For supporting the roof a ridge beam 70 is fixed to the existing wall W by means of suitable brackets to project horizontally forwards at the predetermined height of the roof ridge (see Fig. 15). At its free end the beam 70 carries an apex block or gallery 71. The beam 70 consists of three extruded metal sections 72, 73, 74, as best seen in Figure 13, with the two outer sections 72, 74 defining longitudinal T-slot channels 75 for receiving roof panel attachment hooks 76. The apex block is formed of short lengths of the same extrusion as the sections 72, 74, these being secured together to define a semi-decagon, as shown in Figure 11, which may be closed at its top and bottom faces by suitably shaped sheets 78 fitted into location slots provided by the extrusion. Cleat brackets 79 which are engaged in the extrusion channels and fixed by grub screws connect the apex block to the end of beam 70. Hooks 80 of the same cross-section as the hooks 76 are engaged with the channels 75 in the respective faces of the apex block for supporting the vertices of the triangular roof panels 5. Hooks 76 and 80 are conveniently made by cutting appropriate lengths from a metal extrusion. Each hook has an inverted L-shaped main portion with a lip 81 at the upper free end which engages over the edge of the channel 75, as clearly seen in Figs. 12 and 13. At the other end the hook has first and second panel engagement profiles 82, 83 for engagement with the frames of roof panels 4 and 5, respectively.
Each of the double-glazed roof panels 4, 5 has a peripheral frame consisting of a top edge frame member 90, a bottom edge frame member 91, a left side frame member 92 and a right side frame member 93. It may be noted that the panels 5 are not strictly triangular but are truncated at their upper vertices to allow for relatively short top frame members 90. The frame members are all formed as metal extrusions and the top and left side frame members can be made from the same extrusions. The left and right side frame members have different cross-sectional profiles and together form a complementary male and female pair allowing adjacent panels to be directly interlocked with each other by means of their adjoining side frame members. The right side frame member (the male member) has a main web 100 which is perpendicular to the plane of the roof panel and which includes a thermal break 101. Projecting laterally at the lower edge of the web 100 is a flange 103 on the upper side of which are curved strips 104 defining a slotted semi-circular bead which is hollow to form a drainage duct 105. For those triangular roof panels 5 which have their right side frame members adjoining another triangular roof panel 5, the flange 103 is arranged to project at an obtuse angle from the web 100 to allow for the substantially different planes in which the adjacent panels lie in the finished roof (see panel interlock X in Fig. 14). For the remaining roof panels 4, 5, the flanges 103 project normally from the webs 100, as shown for panel interlocks Y and Z in Figure 14, these depicting respectively the interlocks between a rectangular panel 4 and a triangular panel 5, and between two rectangular panels. The left had side frame member (the female member) of each roof panel (and hence also the top frame member of each panel) has a main web 110 including a thermal break 111, and an inwardly directed lateral web 112 at the lower edge of the main web. The lateral web is shaped to define a groove 113 of semi-circular cross-section forming a socket of complementary shape to the bead formed by the strips 104 on the right side frame member, so that the left side frame member of each roof panel can be directly interlocked with the right side frame member of an adjacent panel by positioning the socket of the former over the bead of the latter, as illustrated by interlocks X, Y and Z in Fig. 14. To assist in holding the interlocked frame members together as well as preventing ingress of moisture between them extruded metal stap-on covers 115 are fitted over the upper edges of the main webs 100, 110 and engage with beads 116 formed along these edges. The covers are made with different widths according to the separation between the webs as shown by the different interlocks X, Y, Z. As indicated by interlock Y, the bead and socket arrangement is able to accommodate a certain angular displacement between the panels, and to help maintain the correct angle the cover 115 may include location tongues 118 to engage the webs 100, 110 of the side frame members. At interlock X the angular separation between the webs is ensured by an additional lateral flange 119 on the web 100 of the right side frame member. Where two rectangular roof panels 4 adjoin each other the webs 100, 110 lie face-to-face as shown by interlock Z.
At the top frame members of the roof panels the grooves 113 in the webs 112 define interlock sockets for cooperation with the engagement profiles 82, 83 of the hooks 76, 80. Thus with the roof ridge beam and apex block erected in position and all the hooks 76, 80 engaged therewith, the operation of assembling the roof is merely a matter of taking the prefabricated roof panels 4,5 in turn and engaging their top frame members with either the hook profile 82 in the case of a rectangular panel 4 or the hook profile 83 in the case of a triangular panel 5, and interlocking the left side frame member of the panel with the right side frame member of any adjacent panel already put in place. If preferred the hooks 76,80 could be pre-assembled with the panels and engaged with the ridge beam or apex block during panel installation. The covers 115 are subsequently snapped in place and gasketed top hoods 120 are fitted over the ridge and apex block to span between the top edges of the roof panels 4, 5 to prevent rainwater leaking through the roof. It should be noted that should any water enter between the side frame members of the interlocked roof panels the drainage ducts will carry this water away to the peripheral edge of the roof before it can reach the interior of the conservatory.
The bottom edge frame members 91 of the roof panels 4, 5 rest against the transom beam and as depicted in Fig. 8 they do so through saddles 125 and panel seating strips 126. The saddles are semicylindrical and are positioned to extend around the upper outside edge of the transom beam 3. They are secured by screws 128 and include an inverted L-shaped flange defining a depending mounting plate 127 for a gutter (not shown) to catch rain water falling from the edge of the roof panel. The seating strip 126 has an arcuate surface for cooperation with the saddle, to which it is secured by screws 130, and a planar face for the roof panel to rest on. Further screws 132 interconnect the saddle, seating strip and roof panel to prevent the edge of the roof panel lifting away from the transom beam. The gutter brackets and seating strips are formed as metal extrusions, and the cylindrical interface between them allows the angle of the seating strips to be adjusted to match the vertical pitch angle of the roof panels.
When the conservatory had been fully erected it defines a very rigid and stable structure. The jointing systems employed in the construction mean the conservatory is easy and quick to assemble, even for an unskilled workman.
It should be understood the description of the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings is given by way of example only.
In addition, as well as being applicable to conservatories, windows, roofs, etc constructed with frame members of extruded metal, e.g. aluminium, the basic principles can also be applied with advantage where frame members are of other materials, e.g. u.P.V.C.

Claims

A roof assembly for a conservatory or the like comprising a plurality of pre-assembled glazed panels (4,5) mounted side-by-side and each extending between a roof apex (71) or ridge (70) and the upper edge of a wall structure, each panel having two side frame members (92,93) interconnected by top and bottom edge members (90,91), means (76,80) for coupling the upper edge member (90) to the roof apex or ridge and means (125,126) for coupling the bottom edge member to the wall structure, each side frame member (92,93) being an extrusion provided with a thermal break (111,101) and the side frame members being of different complementary cross-section, one side frame member (93) having a laterally outwardly projecting flange (103) adjacent the lower edge thereof and engagement means (104) on the upper side of the flange, the other side frame member (92) being configured on the underside thereof to rest against the flange and interlock with said engagement means, whereby during construction of the roof assembly each pre-assembled roof panel (4,5) can be lowered into correct assembled and interlocked relationship with a previously installed adjacent roof panel and into coupled cooperation with the roof apex or ridge and the wall structure.
A roof assembly according to claim 1, wherein on at least one roof panel the flange (103) of the side frame member (93) is substantially parallel to the plane of the panel, and on at least one other roof panel the flange (103) is downwardly inclined relative to the plane of the panel.
A roof assembly according to claim 2, wherein said projecting flange (103) of each panel is set at a predetermined angle to the plane of the panel dependent upon the angle at which adjacent panels joined by the flange lie in the assembled roof.
A roof assembly according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein said one side frame member (92) has a main web (100) substantially perpendicular to the plane of the panel, the flange (103) projecting laterally from the main web adjacent the lower edge thereof, and having a location bead on the upper side of the flange, and the other side frame member (93) has a main web (110) substantially perpendicular to the plane of the panel and a recess (113) in the lower face thereof and laterally inwardly of the main web for receiving the location bead of the adjacent panel.
A roof assembly according to claim 4, wherein the location bead and recess are substantially semi-circular in cross-section and the location bead is defined by a pair of strips (104) forming a drainage duct (105) along the flange.
A roof assembly according to claim 4 or 5, including means (118; 119; 115) for maintaining the main webs (100, 110) of interlocked roof panel side frame members at a predetermined angle to each.
A roof assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for coupling the top frame member (90) of each panel to the roof apex (71) or ridge (70) comprises a hook (76, 80) engageable in a channel (75) of the roof apex (71) or ridge (70) and engageable with the underside of the upper frame member (90).
A conservatory assembly including a roof assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, and a wall structure comprising a sill beam (1), a transom beam (3), glazed panels (2) mounted between the sill and transom beams, the panels having upright side frame members (50), and means (60) coupling confronting side frame members (50) of adjacent panels to the sill and transom beams, and wherein each of said sill and transom beams comprises beam members connected end-to-end at beam joints (8), the confronting upright frame members (50) are fastened by the coupling means (60) to the sill and transom beams at the beam joints, and a space between said upright frame members is closed by masking elements (65, 66) at the inner and outer faces of the glazed panels (2).
A conservatory assembly according to claim 8, wherein each upright frame member (50) has attachment means (55, 56) extending along the inner and outer edges thereof, the coupling means comprise brackets (60) engageable with the upright frame members adjacent the ends thereof, and means (36) for securing the brackets to the beams at the beam joints, and the inner and outer elongate masking elements are strips (65, 66) having means (68) extending along the edges thereof for cooperation with said attachment means for said masking strips to interconnect and bridge between the upright frame members.
A conservatory assembly according to claim 9, wherein the attachment means comprise longitudinal grooves (55, 56), and the masking strips have rails (68) at the edges thereof for sliding engagement in said grooves.
A conservatory assembly according to claim 8,9 or 10, wherein at least one beam joint connecting elongate beam members end-to-end comprises a core (9, 10) including means defining a joint axis, and a pair of beam connectors (20) for in-line connection to the ends of respective beam members and engageable with the core to extend radially from the axis at desired relative angles thereabout, whereby to connect the beam members at a required angle relative to each other.
A conservatory assembly according to claim 11, wherein the core comprises opposed rim portions (13, 17) with detent means (14, 18), and the beam connectors have arcuate segments (26) for cooperation with the core and having complementary detent means (29) at positions spaced apart at a distance greater than 90° of arc for cooperation with the core detent means (14, 18), the detent means enabling the beam connectors to be set at predetermined angles relative to the core.
A conservatory assembly according to claim 11, wherein the beam connectors (20) are equipped with covers (21, 22) on the faces thereof normal to the joint axis, the covers of the two beam connectors being shaped to match each other along a circular arc centered on the joint axis.
A conservatory assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein at least one of the sill and transom beams comprises a beam member including a generally channel-shaped base (40), and a cover (41) arranged to be secured to the base to close the mouth of the channel and to cover the outer sides of the base, the cover having location means (46) thereon for engagement by a glazed panel (2) mounted onto the beam member.