EP2042664A2

EP2042664A2 - Insulating and roofing support panel

Info

Publication number: EP2042664A2
Application number: EP08164805A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bruno Rosa
Original assignee: Europak SpA; Industrie Cotto Possagno SpA
Current assignee: Europak SpA; Industrie Cotto Possagno SpA
Priority date: 2007-09-27
Filing date: 2008-09-22
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Also published as: EP2042664A3; ITVE20070062A1

Abstract

An insulating and roofing support panel (1), comprising a first sheet (2) made of heat-insulating plastic material that is waterproof and permeable to water vapor and is coupled, by means of a plurality of hollow dowels (3), to a second sheet (5) made of sound-absorbent material that is permeable to water vapor, the plurality of dowels (3) having an extension that is approximately equal to the thickness of the panel (1); a spacer (9) for resting one or more tiles (10) being associable with the upper end of the plurality of dowels (3) and protruding, during use, approximately at right angles from the first sheet (2) and being provided with means (17) for detachable fixing to the tiles (10).

Description

The present invention relates to an insulating and roofing support panel that is adapted in particular to provide ventilated roofs.
Currently it is known to provide so-called ventilated roofs in which between the slope and the overlying tile cladding there is a ventilation chamber, which is obtained by means of suitable spacers and is adapted to allow the constant passage of air.
In the summer period, this ventilation chamber allows to reduce the amount of heat that is transmitted to the underlying spaces; further, in the winter period such ventilation chamber allows the outflow of the water vapor that rises from the underlying building, preventing the formation of condensation that might lead to the formation of molds and/or to the deterioration of the roof.
It is known to provide ventilated roofs by fixing to the roof slope strips that are arranged horizontally, are typically made of plastic material, and are arranged parallel to each other and to the gutter line of the respective slope.
These known types of strip have an alternation of flat and concave regions and are fixed to the slope of the roof by means of suitable screws or screw anchors; the strips have openings that allow the passage of air.
A pin protrudes at each flat region from the surface of the strips that is directed away from the slope and can be inserted in an appropriately provided hole formed at one end of a cover tile.
The pan tiles are then arranged so as to rest on the concave regions of the strips according to a plurality of rows that are perpendicular to the latter, and covering tiles are superimposed thereon two by two.
The pins that protrude from the flat regions of the strips enter holes formed in the cover tiles, and such cover tiles are then fixed to such pins by means of suitable screws that can be screwed therein.
These known types of ventilated roof, however, have the drawback of not providing adequate heat insulation.
Further, any infiltrations of water that arrive from the tiles for connection to the sheet metal of the ridge of the roof may transfer to the slope of the roof, with the risk of deteriorating it.
In order to increase the heat insulation and waterproofing of the roof, it is known to arrange above the slope panels constituted by a sheet made of thermally insulating plastic panel, typically sintered expanded polystyrene, which further have excellent characteristics of waterproofing and vapor permeability.
These known types of panel, in addition to good thermal insulation, are therefore capable of ensuring both an adequate protection against any infiltrations of water that arrive from the tiles and the elimination of the water vapor that rises from the underlying building.
These known types of panel are fixed to the slope of the roof by way of appropriately provided screws or screw anchors and/or by adhesive bonding.
Spacers protrude from the upper surface of the panels, and the pan tiles are rested thereon; between such pan tiles and the panel there is, therefore, a ventilation chamber in which air can circulate freely, thus obtaining roof ventilation.
However, the tiles are not fixed to the underlying panel, which in fact does not have adequate mechanical strength characteristics, but are instead connected to each other by way of suitable hooks of a known type, which are inserted in holes formed therein.
However, these known types of panel have a drawback: the tiles, which are not fixed to the panel, run the risk, particularly in case of strong wind, of being lifted and therefore falling from the roof, with consequent stripping of the roof and risk for underlying people or objects.
Further, the lack of fixing of the tiles to the panels limits the use of these known types of device only to roofs that have limited pitches, since excessive inclinations would risk causing the fall of the tiles by sliding.
Moreover, the mutual connection of the various tiles, adapted to reduce the risk that individual tiles might fall from the roof, is rather laborious, increasing installation times; it is further rather laborious to remove a tile, for example to replace it, once it has been interconnected to the others.
Moreover, these known types of panel do not provide good soundproofing, as would instead be required in particular in the case of lofts suitable for dwelling.
Further, the presence of the spacers that protrude from the upper surface of the panel entails that after laying such panels the operator, who, it should be noted, is working on the roof and therefore at a height of several meters, while laying any additional panels and tiles must pay attention not to tread on such spacers, both to avoid breaking them and to avoid tripping or slipping on them; this increases the installation times and therefore the installation costs of these known types of panel and of the tiles that can be associated above them.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the described technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing ventilated roofs that have good characteristics of heat insulation, waterproofing and soundproofing.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated roof with the characteristics cited above easily and rapidly and with reduced installation costs.
Another object is to provide a panel that ensures stable fixing between the tiles and the slope of the roof, so that it can also be used for roofs with considerable pitches and/or in the presence of strong wind.
Another object is to provide a roofing support panel that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an insulating and roofing support panel, comprising a first sheet made of heat-insulating plastic material that is waterproof and permeable to water vapor and is coupled, by means of a plurality of hollow dowels, to a second sheet made of sound-absorbent material that is permeable to water vapor, characterized in that said plurality of dowels has an extension that is approximately equal to the thickness of said panel, a spacer for resting one or more tiles being associable with the upper end of said plurality of dowels and protruding, during use, approximately at right angles from said first sheet and being provided with means for detachable fixing to said tiles.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a panel according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the panel of Figure 1 in the assembled configuration;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the panel according to the preceding figures during the application of some tiles to it;
Figure 4 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the panel according to the preceding figures, with tiles associated therewith;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a dowel and a spacer of the panel according to the invention before their assembly;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the dowel and spacer according to the preceding figure in the assembled configuration;
Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along a transverse plane, of the panel according to the invention before the application of the spacers;
Figure 8 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the panel according to the invention after the application of the spacers;
Figure 9 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the panel according to the invention with tiles applied thereto.

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates an insulating and roofing support panel that is adapted in particular to provide ventilated roofs.
The panel 1 comprises a first sheet 2, made of heat-insulating plastic material, which is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, such as for example sintered expanded polystyrene.
Several hollow dowels 3, which are preferably substantially frustum-shaped or cylindrical, are inserted within the first sheet 2, preferably during its production.
Advantageously, the upper edge of the dowels 3 is arranged approximately flush with the upper surface 2a of the first sheet 2.
Advantageously, the dowels 3 have means adapted to contrast their extraction from the first sheet 2, which are conveniently constituted by an annular protrusion 4, which preferably but not necessarily has a substantially circular plan shape and protrudes radially from the outer lateral surface of the dowels 3, preferably proximate to an upper open end 3a thereof and in such a position as to be fully embedded within the first sheet 2.
Advantageously, the dowels 3 protrude downward from the first sheet 2 with their open lower end 3b, which is provided with means for coupling to an underlying second sheet 5, which is made of a sound-absorbent material that is permeable to water vapor, for example a mixture of wood fibers and cement.
Such coupling means are constituted advantageously by a plurality of teeth 6, which protrude approximately at right angles from the outer lateral surface of the portion of the dowel 3 that can be associated with the second sheet 5; advantageously, the teeth 6 are approximately shaped like a right-angled triangle, in which the hypotenuse is directed away from the first sheet 2.
Advantageously, the dowels 3 can be associated with the second sheet 5 by inserting their lower end 3b, which protrudes below the first sheet 2, in appropriately provided through seats 7, which are formed in the second sheet 5 and are shaped substantially complementarily to the lower end 3b of the dowels 3.
Advantageously, the thickness of the second sheet 5 is equal to the length of the portion of the dowels 3 that protrudes below the first sheet 2, so that the lower edge of the dowels 3 is arranged, during use, flush with the lower surface 5a of the second sheet 5.
In the condition in which the dowels 3 are inserted in the respective seats 7, the teeth 6 that protrude from the outer lateral surface of the dowels 3 abut against the internal lateral surface of the seats 7, contrasting the extraction of the dowels 3 from them.
Advantageously but not necessarily, one or more through openings 8 are provided on the lateral surface of the dowels 3 and connect the inside of the dowels 3 to the outside; during the step for obtaining the first sheet 2, the plastic material that constitutes it enters the dowels 3 through the openings 8, so that once the first sheet 2 has been obtained, the dowels 3 are filled with the plastic material that constitutes the sheet 2.
Advantageously, it is possible to associate with the upper end 3a of the dowels 3 a spacer 9 for resting one or more tiles 10 of the so-called pan type, which during use direct their convex face 10a toward the underlying first sheet 2; above each pair of laterally mutually adjacent pan tiles 10 it is possible to associate a further tile 11, also known as cover tile, which directs its convex face 11a in the opposite direction with respect to the first sheet 2.
Advantageously, the spacers 9 protrude, during use, approximately at right angles from the first sheet 2.
The spacers 9 comprise an elongated central support 12, which is preferably approximately frustum-shaped or cylindrical and whose upper end 12a is provided with means for detachable fixing to the tiles, particularly to the cover tiles 11, which will be described hereinafter.
The central support 12 can be inserted axially, with its lower end 12b, in the upper end 3a of the dowels 3; the lower end 12b is provided with means for detachable connection to the upper end 3a of the dowels 3, which are constituted for example by appropriately provided first ribs 13, which protrude radially from the outer lateral surface of the central support 12 and can engage appropriately provided second ribs 14 that protrude radially from the inner lateral surface of the dowels 3, proximate to their upper end 3a.
As an alternative, such detachable connection means can be constituted by an appropriately provided thread, which is not shown in the accompanying figures, is provided on the outer lateral surface of the central support 12, and can be screwed to a complementary thread, also not shown, that is formed on the inner lateral surface of the dowels 3 proximate to their upper end.
The insertion of the central support 12 in a dowel 3 produces the compression of the plastic material contained in the dowel 3, which deforms elastically, in turn pressing against the bottom of the central support 12, thus limiting any plays between the support 12 and the dowel 3.
Advantageously, two wings 15a and 15b protrude from the outer lateral surface of the central support 12, are mutually mirror-symmetrical, lie approximately on a same plane, have an approximately right-angle trapezoid plan shape, and are arranged so that their longer parallel side is located at the outer lateral surface of the central support 12.
An oblique side 16a, 16b of the wings 15a, 15b conveniently has a curved profile, which is convex proximate to the point of connection to the central support 12 and gradually bends until it becomes concave proximate to the shorter parallel side of the wings 15a and 15b.
Advantageously, as shown for example in Figure 9, the curvature of the concave portion of the oblique side 16a, 16b of the wings 15a, 15b is approximately equal to the curvature of the convex face 10a of the pan tiles 10, in order to improve the resting of the convex face 10a on such concave portion.
Advantageously, the means for detachable fixing to the tiles 10 that are present at the upper end 12a of the central support 12 are constituted by a pin 17, which protrudes axially from the upper end 12a and can be inserted in an appropriately provided first hole 18, which is formed at one end of an underlying cover tile 11.
The pins 17 are divided axially into at least two sectors that are preferably mutually identical, each having a substantially cylindrical stem 19 and a head 20 that is approximately frustum-shaped, with its smaller end face directed away from the first sheet 2; advantageously, such sectors can be moved mutually apart, starting from the region of the head 20, by elastic deformation thereof at the stem 19.
The two sectors of one pin 17 can therefore be moved mutually apart by way of the action of a suitable divarication element, such as for example an appropriately provided wedge 21 that can be inserted axially between them starting from the region of the head 20.
Advantageously, on the upper surface 2a of the first sheet 2 that is directed away from the second sheet 5 there are means adapted to contrast infiltrations of liquids or foreign material in the dowels 3, in the condition in which the spacers 9 are fixed to them; such means are conveniently constituted by sealing protrusions 22, which protrude from the upper surface 2a of the first sheet 2 and have such a shape and dimensions as to abut, in such condition in which the spacers 9 are fixed to the dowels 3, against the lower surface of the wings 15a, 15b of the spacers 9, so as to provide a seal with them.
The second sheet 5 can be fixed to the slope of the roof, not shown in the accompanying figures, for example by way of appropriately provided screws or screw anchors of a known type, also not shown.
The second sheet 5 can be fixed to the slope of the roof before its application to the first sheet 2 or at a later time; in this second case, the first sheet 2 and the second sheet 5, which are already jointly connected to each other, can be fixed to the slope of the roof for example by means of appropriately provided screws or rivets, not shown in the accompanying figures, which can be inserted for example in appropriately provided second holes 23, which are formed in the first sheet 2 and pass through the second sheet 5.
As an alternative, the second sheet 5 can be fixed to the slope of the roof, together with the first sheet 2, by way of suitable connecting means, which can be fixed to the slope and to the lower end 3b of the dowels 3.
Such connecting means are constituted for example by brackets 24, which comprise a base 25 that is approximately flat and preferably but not necessarily has a rectangular plan shape, on which one or more third holes 26 are provided which are suitable for the insertion of known types of fixing means, such as for example screws or screw anchors, not shown in the accompanying figures, which can be fixed to the slope of the roof.
An engagement element 27 protrudes at right angles from the base 25, preferably at one end thereof, and can be inserted and fixed in the lower end 3b of the dowels 3; advantageously, the engagement element 27 has an approximately cross-like plan shape, so as to form four mutually perpendicular arms.
Advantageously, the insertion of the engagement element 27 in the dowel 3 causes the compression of the plastic material contained therein, which deforms elastically, pressing in turn against the engagement element 27 and thus limiting any plays between the element 27 and the dowel 3.
Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to the accompanying figures, the second sheet 5 can be fixed to the slope, not shown in the accompanying figures, of a roof by means of screws or rivets; as an alternative, if the brackets 24 are used, they can be fixed to the slope, for example by means of screws or rivets, and therefore the second sheet 5 can be arranged above them, arranging the engagement elements 27 of the brackets 24 within the seats 7 of the second sheet 5.
It is thus possible to associate in an upward region the first sheet 2 with the second sheet 5, by inserting the lower end 3b of the dowels 3 that protrude downward from the first sheet 2 into the underlying seats 7 of the second sheet 5; the teeth 6 that protrude from the outer surface of the dowels 3 ensure that the pins 17 are strongly coupled to the second sheet 5.
If the brackets 24 are used, their engagement elements 27 enter the lower end 3b of the dowels 3, coupling to them and thus fixing the first and second sheets 2, 5 to each other and to the slope of the roof.
At this point it is possible to associate the spacers 9 with the first sheet 2 by inserting the lower end 12b of the central support 12 in the upper end 3a of the dowels 3.
After arranging on the slope a suitable number of mutually contiguous panels, it is thus possible to arrange the tiles 10 on the first sheet 2, by resting the pan tiles 10 with their convex face 10a on the oblique sides 16a or 16b of the wings 15a or 15b, and then arranging the cover tiles 11 so that they rest against the laterally adjacent pan tiles 10.
The spacers 9 keep the tiles 10 separated from the first sheet 2, forming ventilation chambers 28 in which air can circulate.
The pins 17 enter the first holes 18 of the cover tiles 11, protruding from them with their head 20.
By inserting the wedges 21 between the sectors of the pins 17, such sectors are moved mutually apart, so that the abutment of the head 20 against the perimetric edge of the first holes 18 prevents the separation of the cover tiles 11 from the pins 17.
It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, an insulating and roofing support panel having been devised which, by way of the overlap of a sheet made of heat-insulating plastic material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and of a second sheet made of a material that is sound-absorbent and permeable to water vapor, allows to obtain ventilated roofs that have good characteristics of thermal insulation, waterproofing and soundproofing.
Further, the installation of the panel according to the invention is very easy and quick.
Further, the possibility to associate the spacers with the panel at a chosen time after the installation of such panel allows the operator to walk on such panel after installation, for example in order to install additional panels or tiles on an adjacent panel, without the risk of tripping on the spacers or of breaking them; the operator can in fact apply the spacers to the panel only directly before laying the tiles, and this reduces the times and therefore the installation costs of such panels of a known type and of the tiles that can be associated above them.
Moreover, the possibility to fix the tiles to the dowels, such dowels being in turn rigidly associable with the second sheet that is fixed to the slope or to the brackets associated with such slope, ensures a stable fixing between such tiles and the slope of the roof, thus allowing to use the panel according to the invention even for highly inclined roofs and/or in the presence of strong wind.
Further, the production costs of the panel according to the invention remain low, since it is provided only by means of components that are easy to manufacture and/or assemble.
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.
The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VE2007A000062 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An insulating and roofing support panel, comprising a first sheet made of heat-insulating plastic material that is waterproof and permeable to water vapor and is coupled, by means of a plurality of hollow dowels, to a second sheet made of sound-absorbent material that is permeable to water vapor, characterized in that said plurality of dowels has an extension that is approximately equal to the thickness of said panel, a spacer for resting one or more tiles being associable with the upper end of said plurality of dowels and protruding, during use, approximately at right angles from said first sheet and being provided with means for detachable fixing to said tiles.
The panel according to claim 1, characterized in that said spacers are adapted for resting one or more tiles of the so-called pan type, which during use direct their convex face toward said underlying first sheet, an additional tile of the so-called cover type, which directs its convex face in the opposite direction with respect to said first sheet, can be associated in an upward region with each pair of said laterally adjacent pan tiles.
The panel according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said spacers comprise an elongated central support, whose upper end is provided with means for detachable fixing to said tiles, particularly to said cover titles.
The panel according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said central support can be inserted axially, with its lower end, in said upper end of said dowels, said lower end of said central support being provided with means for detachable connection to said upper end of said dowels.
The panel according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said means for detachable connection to said upper end of said dowels are constituted by first ribs, which protrude radially from the outer lateral surface of said central support and can engage second ribs that protrude radially from the inner lateral surface of said dowels proximate to said upper end thereof.
The panel according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said means for detachable connection to said upper end of said dowels are constituted by a thread that is provided on the outer lateral surface of said central support and can be screwed to a complementary thread that is provided on the inner lateral surface of said dowels proximate to said upper end thereof.
The panel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that two mutually mirror-symmetrical wings protrude from the lateral surface of said central support, lie approximately on a same plane, have a polygonal plan shape, preferably an approximately right-angled trapezoid shape, and are arranged so that their longer parallel side lies at said outer lateral surface of said central support.
The panel according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the oblique side of said wings has a curved profile, which is convex proximate to the point of connection to said central support and gradually bends until it becomes concave proximate to the shorter parallel side of said wings, the curvature of the concave portion of said oblique side being approximately equal to the curvature of said convex face of said pan tiles.
The panel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that means adapted to contrast infiltrations of liquids or foreign material in said dowels, in the condition in which said spacers are fixed to them, are provided on the upper surface of said first sheet, which is directed away from said second sheet.
The panel according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that said means adapted to contrast infiltrations of liquids or of foreign material in said dowels are constituted by sealing protrusions, which protrude from said upper surface of said first sheet and are shaped and sized so as to abut, in said configuration in which said spacers are fixed to said dowels, against the lower end of said wings of said spacers, so as to provide a seal with them.
The panel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more through openings are provided in the lateral surface of said dowels, said plastic material that constitutes said first sheet penetrating in said dowels, filling them, through said openings, during the step for obtaining said first sheet.
The panel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for detachable fixing to said tiles are constituted by a pin that protrudes axially from said upper end of said central support and can be inserted in a first hole that is formed at one end of one said overlying cover tile, said pin being divided axially into at least two sectors, each of which has a substantially cylindrical stem, and an approximately frustum-shaped head in which the smaller end face is directed away from said first sheet, said sectors being movable mutually apart, starting from the region of said head, by elastic deformation thereof at said stem by a suitable divarication element that can be inserted axially between them starting from said head.