EP2331766B1

EP2331766B1 - Modular roofing system comprising a jointing device

Info

Publication number: EP2331766B1
Application number: EP09804143.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabiana Panella
Original assignee: KME Italy SpA
Current assignee: KME Italy SpA
Priority date: 2008-08-21
Filing date: 2009-08-19
Publication date: 2017-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-19
Also published as: ITTO20080642A1; CN102257225A; EP2331766A2; CN102257225B; IT1391854B1; WO2010020866A3; WO2010020866A8; WO2010020866A2

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a modular roofing system and to a jointing device associated thereto.

State of the art

Generally, roofing made of metal sheet, typically constituted by copper or its alloys, is obtained by jointing together the adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent metal-sheet panels proceeding in the direction of extension of the pitch of the roof to be covered (i.e., in the direction that goes from the ridge of the roof to its bottom edge). Such a joint can be obtained by simple bending by superposition of the adjacent edges, carried out in sit via a purposely designed machinery, or else, according to EP1489245 , by means of a proper jointing device defined by stiff brackets, which opposite edges of two adjacent panels, coined with a complementary profile, are rigidly clinched on, by partial superposition.
The roofing system known from EP1489245 is not, however, satisfactory: it does not enable easy dismantling of the roofing for carrying out maintenance interventions; it can give rise to infiltrations of damp; and, above all, it constrains the aesthetics of the joint to the profile of the head of the stiff brackets that support the joint of the bent sides of the sheet panels. US-A-4602469 shows a non satisfactory solution. DE 7708919 U1 discloses a roofing system according to the state of the art.
Consequently, an aim of the present invention is to provide a roofing system alternative to the known one, which can be completely and easily dismantled and reassembled, the aesthetic appearance of which is not constrained to a predefined profile, and which guarantees in any case a good-quality seal against any infiltration of damp.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, a metal-sheet roofing system is hence provided, as defined in Claim 1.
In particular, according to the invention, the roofing system comprises a plurality of panels made of a metal sheet and arranged in use adjacent to one another in a direction of extension of a pitch of the roof, each with a first longitudinal side of its own, parallel to the direction of extension of the pitch, connected to an opposite second longitudinal side of the immediately adjacent panel by using a dismantleable jointing device. The latter comprises the first and second adjacent longitudinal sides of each pair of adjacent panels, at least one bracket coupled to the adjacent longitudinal sides, and means for fastening of the bracket to the pitch of the roof. However, unlike the known art, the at least one bracket is supported laterally in cantilever fashion by the fastening means so as to define towards the pitch an undercut, and at least one of said first and second sides is made so as to be elastically deformable for engaging in use by snap action, with an engagement portion of its own, said at least one bracket in at least one plurality of different points under said undercut. In addition, the first and second adjacent sides of each pair of adjacent panels have a complementary profile and are both coupled together by superposition, under the undercut, at least in a position corresponding to the portion of engagement by snap action with the bracket.
Preferably, the dismantleable jointing device comprises, for each pair of adjacent sides to be connected, a plurality of brackets engaged by snap action in the aforesaid plurality of points, each bracket in a different point, by said at least one of said first and second adjacent sides of each pair of adjacent panels so as to prevent having necessarily brackets of a length, in the direction of extension of the pitch of the roof, comparable with that of extension of the longitudinal sides to be jointed.
According to the invention, each bracket has a portion for fastening to the pitch and a clamping portion for clamping the first and second sides of the panels, which has a concave profile towards the pitch and which extends in cantilever fashion from the fattening portion, in a direction perpendicular to the first and second sides of the panels. The first longitudinal side of each panel is delimited by an edge that is bent to form an L on the side opposite to the pitch and that can be inserted in use in the concavity of the clamping portion, whilst the second longitudinal side of each panel is delimited by a box section open on the side that in use faces the pitch, shaped so as to define a longitudinal housing designed to contain inside it each bracket co-operating therewith.
The box section is then delimited by a terminal edge bent towards the inside of the box section itself for a length such as to mate in use under the clamping portion of the bracket, which delimits the aforesaid undercut, so as to be pinched between this and the first edge of the adjacent panel, which is aligned co-planar to the fastening portion of the bracket.
In this way, on the one hand a joint is obtained, which covers completely the brackets and their portions for fastening to the roof, hiding them from view and protecting them from adverse weather conditions, a joint that moreover prevents any infiltration of damp from the outside in so far as, even if it were to get over the area coupled by superposition of the two adjacent sides of each panel, which forms in itself a labyrinth seal, such an infiltration of damp would be stopped by the L-shaped bent edge of the first side. On the other hand, the high flexibility of the edge of the second side shaped like a box section open towards the pitch, together with the fact that the clamping portion of the brackets is set in cantilever fashion, enables easy assembly and disassembly of the joint, by simply forcing coupling by snap action between the bracket and the edges of the adjacent sides of the panels.
But, above all, the aesthetic appearance of the joint depends exclusively upon the shape that is imparted on the box-section edge of the second side of each panel, which, provided that a box-section element is formed open towards the pitch, can then have, in cross section, any profile and, hence, define along the pitch of the roof, ribbings of a shape and dimensions that can be each time chosen by the designer according to the requirements (for example, with a rectangular profile, a profile shaped like an isosceles trapezium, or like an isosceles trapezium set upside down - i.e., with the major base set on the side opposite to the pitch - or like scalene trapezium, or mushroom-shaped as in EP1489245 , etc.), without thereby altering the functionality of the joint.

Brief description of the figures

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a pitch of a roof provided with a roofing system formed by panels made of metal sheet according to the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates at an enlarged scale and only schematically, a sectional view transverse to the direction of extension of the pitch of the roof, according to a plane of section of trace II-II, of a detail of the roofing system of Figure 1 constituted by the device for jointing adjacent panels to one another; and
Figure 3 illustrates at an enlarged scale a three-quarter rear perspective view of a component of the roofing system of Figure 1.

Detailed description

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, designated as a whole by 1 is a roofing system for a roof 2, comprising a plurality of panels 3 made of a metal sheet, typically copper or an alloy thereof, and arranged in use adjacent to one another in a direction E (Figure 1) of extension of a pitch 4 of the roof 2, each with a first longitudinal side 10 thereof, arranged parallel to the direction of extension E of the pitch 4, connected to an opposite second longitudinal side 11 of the immediately adjacent panel 3 by means of a dismantleable jointing device 14 (Figure 2).
The device 14 comprises the first and second longitudinal adjacent sides 10, 11 of each pair of adjacent panels 3, at least one bracket 15 coupled with the longitudinal adjacent sides 10, 11, and fastening means 16 for fastening the bracket 15 to the pitch 4 of the roof 2.
According to the invention, the at least one bracket 15 is supported laterally in cantilever fashion by the fastening means 16 so as to define towards the pitch an undercut 150, and at least one of the sides 10, 11, in the case in point the side 11, as will be seen in greater detail in what follows, is made so as to be elastically deformable for engaging in use by snap action, with an engagement portion 46 of its own, the at least one bracket 15 in at least one plurality of different points P1, P2, ..., Pn beneath the undercut 150. In particular, the sides 10, 11 of each panel 3 have a matched profile, and the adjacent sides 10, 11 of two adjacent panels 3 are coupled to one another by superposition, under the undercut 150, at least in a position corresponding to the portion 46 of engagement by snap action with the bracket 15, preferably throughout their length, or else at least at respective portions thereof, corresponding to the points P1, P2.
The roofing system 1 illustrated by way of non-limiting example in any case presents devices 14 for jointing adjacent panels 3 together, each device comprising not a single bracket 15, of a length, in the direction E, comparable to that of extension of the sides 10, 11, but a plurality of brackets 15, each of dimensions in the direction E limited to what is sufficient to define a point of engagement by snap action P1, P2, ..., Pn with the adjacent sides 10, 11 of two adjacent panels 3, said brackets 15 being arranged in the direction E aligned to one another and spaced at intervals apart, which may be regular or otherwise, in such a way that each bracket 15 is designed to engage by snap action the adjacent sides 10, 11 in a different point P1, P2, so as to ensure fastening of the panels 3 to the roof 2 along the entire pitch 4.
With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, each bracket 15 has a portion 20 for fastening to the pitch 4, and a portion 21 for clamping the first and second sides 10, 11 of the panels 3, which has a concave profile towards the pitch 4 and which extends in cantilever fashion from the fastening portion 20 in a direction perpendicular to the first and second sides 10, 11 of the panels 3 so as to define towards the pitch 4 the aforesaid undercut 150.
The fastening portion 20 is shaped as a flat wing or plane flange, whilst the clamping portion 21 has a complex shape, which can be generally defined as "goose necked".
In particular, the clamping portion 21 comprises a first stretch 22, immediately adjacent to the fastening portion 20, bent out of the plane of lie of the fastening portion 20 so as to present, in a plane perpendicular to the first and second sides 10, 11 of the panels 3 and to the direction E, i.e., in the plane of the sheet of Figure 3, a U shape flared on the side facing the fastening portion 20, i.e., in use towards the pitch 4, so as to delimit on the side facing the latter, a channel-shaped cavity 23 that extends parallel to the adjacent sides 10, 11 of the panels 3.
The clamping portion 21 further comprises: a second stretch 24 defined by a flat wing or plane flange arranged on one side of an inlet opening 25 of the cavity 23 delimited by the first stretch 22, in the case in point on the side opposite to the fastening portion 20; and a third stretch 26 bent out of the plane of lie of the stretch 24 in a direction such as to move away from the fastening portion 20 and so as to form with the second stretch 24, and towards the first stretch 22, an obtuse angle (i.e., greater than 90°).
In addition, the second stretch 24 of the clamping portion 21, defined by a plane flange, is parallel to the plane flange defining the fastening portion 20, but is set in a different plane, at a pre-set distance d from the fastening portion 20, in the direction of U-shaped bending of the first stretch 22 of the clamping portion 21, i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the planes of lie of the plane flanges 20 and 24.
In this way, in use, when the fastening portion 20 is fastened so that it is fixed with respect to the pitch 4, the stretch 24 of the clamping portion 21 of the bracket 20 is set at a greater distance from the pitch 4 with respect to the fastening portion 20 precisely by the amount d, to form the undercut 150. The amount d is moreover chosen so as to be slightly smaller than twice the thickness S of the panels 3.
In particular, the brackets 15 can be directly fastened so that they are fixed with respect to the pitch 4 against an external surface 27 thereof or else, preferably, at a certain distance therefrom. In this case, the means 16 for fastening the brackets 15 to the pitch 4 comprise a wooden boarding 28, continuous or else defined by boards 29 oriented perpendicular to the direction E, and arranged resting on the pitch 4, spaced at intervals apart in the direction E, a boarding 28 which is in each case fastened fixedly with respect to the pitch 4 and against which the fastening portion 20 of each bracket 15 is in use constrained by removable fastening means, for example, constituted by screws 30.
According to the invention, the first longitudinal side 10 of each panel 3 is delimited (Figure 2) by an edge 40 bent to form an L on the side opposite to a face 41 of the panel 3 that is designed in use to face the pitch 4 and that is arranged in use flush with a corresponding face 42 of the fastening portions 20 of the brackets 15, coming in the case in point to rest upon the boarding 28. The clamping portions 21 of the brackets 15 and the edges 40 are sized in such a way that each edge 40 will be insertable in use, with play, in the channel-shaped cavity 23 delimited towards the pitch 4 by the first, U-bent, stretch 22 of the clamping portion 21 and defining the aforesaid concavity of the latter that in use faces the pitch 4, under the undercut 150.
In addition, each second longitudinal side 11 of the panels 3 is delimited by a box section 44 open on the side that in use faces the pitch 4, i.e., towards the bottom face 41 of the panel 3, and shaped so as to define in use a channel-shaped longitudinal housing 45 designed to contain inside it any bracket 15 co-operating with two adjacent sides 10, 11, in the case in point all the brackets 15 aligned set at intervals apart on the pitch 4 in the direction E in a position corresponding to each edge 11.
The box section 44, which in cross section (Figure 2) can have any shape, thus allowing the designer total freedom of aesthetic choice, is in any case delimited by a terminal edge 46 bent towards the inside of the box section 44 itself for a length such as to be coupled in use under the second stretch 24 of the clamping portion 21 of the bracket 15, which delimits the undercut 150, so as to be pinched, in a position immediately adjacent to the L-bent edge 40, between the clamping portion 21 and the side 10 of the adjacent panel 3, which is set aligned co-planar with the fastening portion 20 of the bracket 15.
In particular, the box section 44 is shaped in such a way that its terminal edge 46 will be arranged parallel to the plane of lie of the panels 3, i.e., to the face 41, but slightly set back with respect thereto, in the direction of the U-shaped bending of the stretch 22, by an amount substantially equal to the thickness S of the sheet of which the panels 3 are made. In addition, the box section 44 is shaped so as to bestow thereon a pre-set flexibility in the elastic range, in such a way that it can be "opened" elastically during the operations of assembly and then assume again its original shape.
In use, once the brackets 15 have been fastened to the boarding 28, in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the panels 3 are arranged against the boarding 28, by first inserting the edge 40 within the cavities 23 of the brackets 15 aligned in a position corresponding to the side 10, keeping the panels themselves slightly inclined. This operation is facilitated by the presence of the oblique stretch 26, which serves as "lead-in" and by the play defined by the distance d. Finally, by causing elastic deflection of the box sections 44, which, since they are discontinuous towards the face 41, can be stressed so as to open up, the edges 46 are inserted under the stretches 24 of the brackets 15, i.e., under the undercut 150 delimited thereby, also in this case being assisted by the "invitation to bend" for the box sections 44 constituted by the oblique stretch 26. Once. the position of coupling by superposition between the edges 46 and the portion of the sides 10 immediately adjacent to the edges 40 has been reached (see Figure 2), the elastic deformation of the box sections 44 is recovered, the superimposed sides 10, 11 of the adjacent panels 3 being clamped by snap action under the undercuts 150 defined by the brackets 15. A minor elastic deformation can affect, finally, also the clamping portion 21 in the case where the distance d, instead of being exactly equal to twice S is slightly smaller, so as to create in use a slight interference between superimposed adjacent sides 10, 11 and brackets 15, thus enabling the brackets 15 to exert a permanent pressure against the panels 3, which prevents any possible accidental displacement thereof in use, for example due to wind, snow, or maintenance operators walking on the roof 2.
Finally, if need be, it is evident that by simply repeating the operations described in reverse order it is possible to slide out the sides 11 from underneath the clamping portions 21, thus enabling removal of the corresponding panels 3, for example causing them to rotate on the side 10, still engaged with the edge 40 within the cavities 23, said actions being allowed by the play d and by the flexibility of the box-section parts 44, which behave in this way as elastic hinges. Once the panels 3 thus "released" are set in a position perpendicular to the pitch 4, it is finally possible, if necessary, to slide out also the sides 10 from the clamping portions 21, for example for replacement of a damaged panel 3.

Claims

A roofing system (1) for a roof (2) comprising a plurality of panels (3) made of a metal sheet and arranged in use adjacent to each other, each with a first longitudinal side (10) thereof connected to an opposite second longitudinal side (11) of the immediately adjacent panel by means of a removable jointing device (14), in a direction of extension (E) of a pitch (4) of the roof said jointing device comprising the first and the second longitudinal adjacent sides (10,12) of each pair of adjacent panels, at least one bracket (15) coupled to said adjacent longitudinal sides (10,11) and fastening means (16) of the bracket (15) to the roof; wherein said at least one bracket (15) is designed to be supported laterally in cantilever fashion by the fastening means (16) so as to define an undercut (150) which is in use facing towards the pitch (4), and at least one (11) of said first and second sides (10,11) of each pair of adjacent panels (3) is made so as to be elastically deformable so as to snappingly engage, by means of an engagement portion (46) thereof, said at least one bracket (15), in at least a plurality of different points (P1, P2, .. Pn) underneath said undercut (150); said first and second adjacent sides (10,11) of each pair of adjacent panels (3) displaying a mating profile and being reciprocally overlappingly coupled beneath the undercut (150), at least in correspondence with the snap engagement portion (46) with the bracket (15); wherein a fastening portion (20) is flat wing-shaped, while a clamping portion (21) has a goose necked complex shape and comprises: a first stretch (22), immediately adjacent to the fastening portion (20), folded away a laying plane of the fastening portion (20) so as to display, on a plane which is perpendicular to the first and second sides (10,11) of the panels, a U shape flared towards the fastening portion (20) so as to delimit, towards the same, a cavity (23) which parallelly extends to the said first and second adjacent sides (10,11) of the panels; and a second stretch (24) defined by a flat wing arranged on the side of an inlet opening (25) of said cavity (23) delimited by the first stretch (22); and wherein said second longitudinal side (11) is delimited by a boxed profile (44) open on the side facing towards the pitch (4) in use, so as to be elastically deformable, and shaped to define a longitudinal housing (45) adapted to contain therein a every bracket (15) cooperating with the same; wherein in combination:
- the first longitudinal side (10) of each panel is delimited by an folded edge (40) which is L-shaped on the side opposite to that facing in use the pitch (4) and insertable in use in said cavity (23) delimited by the first stretch (22) of the clamping portion (21) and defining said concavity of the same facing towards the pitch in use; and

- said boxed profile (44) of each second longitudinal side (11) being delimited by a terminal edge (46) folded towards the inside of the boxed profile itself by a length so as to couple in use under the second stretch (24) of the clamping portion (21) of the bracket (15) to be gripped between the latter and the first side (10) of the adjacent panel, characterized in that, said terminal edge (46) is aligned and coplanar with the fattening portion (20) of the bracket (15).
A roofing system according to claim 1, characterized in that said removable jointing device (14) comprises a plurality of elastically deformable brackets (15) snappingly engaged by said at leat one (11) of said first and second adjacent sides (10, 11) of each pair of adjacent panels (3) in said plurality of points, each bracket in a different point (P1,P2).
A roofing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each said bracket (15) displays a fastening portion (20) to the roof and a clamping portion (21) for the first and second sides (10,11) of the panels, the clamping portion (21) having a concave profile facing in use towards the pitch (4) and which clamping portion (21) overhangingly extends from the fastening portion (20) in a direction which is perpendicular to the first and second sides of the panels, as to define said undercut (150).
A roofing system according to claim 3, characterized in that said clamping portion (21) further comprises: a third stretch (26) folded in a direction so as to move away from the fastening portion (20) and so as to form an obtuse angle with the second stretch (24) and towards the first stretch (22).
A roofing system according to claim 1, characterized in that said second stretch (24) of the clamping portion (21), defined by a flat wing, is parallel to the flat wing defining the fastening portion (20), but is arranged on a different plane, at a predetermined distance (d) from the fastening portion (20), in the U-shaped folding direction of the first stretch (22) of the clamping portion (21), for delimiting said undercut (150).
A roofing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fastening means (16) of said at least one bracket (15) to the roof include a wooden planking (28) integrally fixed to the roof and against which the fastening portion (20) of the bracket (15) is secured by removable fastening means, e.g. screws (30).