EP4100591A1

EP4100591A1 - A skylight window

Info

Publication number: EP4100591A1
Application number: EP21702055.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacob Bertram; Kristian Nitzsch Grønborg; Lars Kristensen; Iben Bjerre Østergaard; Rasmus Klercke Pedersen; Allan Dalsgaard DALSGAARD; Beatrice Angel
Original assignee: VKR Holding AS
Current assignee: VKR Holding AS
Priority date: 2020-02-03
Filing date: 2021-02-03
Publication date: 2022-12-14
Also published as: WO2021156313A1

Abstract

A skylight window for being installed at a roof of a building is disclosed. It comprises a primary frame, a secondary frame, an insulating glazing unit supported by the secondary frame and covering a frame opening, and a weather shield pane arranged above the insulating glazing unit for protecting the primary frame, the secondary frame, and the insulating glazing unit from weather. The insulating glazing unit comprises multiple layers of glazing with a sealed space between them, where an inert gas or a vacuum is present. The exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is located below a most exterior surface of said primary frame and/or below a most interior edge of a covering, which extends away from the weather shield pane, down along an outer surface of the primary frame.

Description

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Title of Invention

A skylight window

5 Technical Field

The present invention relates to a skylight window for being installed at a roof of a building, said skylight window comprising: a primary frame comprising four primary side members delimiting a primary frame opening,

10 a secondary frame comprising four secondary side members delimiting a secondary frame opening, each of the secondary side members extending in parallel with one of the primary side members, an insulating glazing unit supported by the secondary frame and covering the secondary frame opening, said insulating glazing unit comprising 15 multiple layers of glazing with a sealed space between them, where an inert gas, such as argon or krypton, or a vacuum is present in the sealed space, said insulating glazing unit having an exposed interior major surface for facing an interior of said building in an installed position of the skylight window, an exposed exterior major surface opposite said exposed interior major surface, 20 and peripheral sides extending between said exposed interior major surface and said exposed exterior major surface, where an upward direction extends away from said exposed interior major surface towards said exposed exterior major surface at a right angle to said exposed interior major surface, and a weather shield pane arranged above said exposed exterior major 25 surface of the insulating glazing unit in the upward direction for protecting the primary frame, the secondary frame, and the insulating glazing unit from weather in the installed position of the skylight window, where each of the primary side members extends in a longitudinal direction along a peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit in parallel with 30 said exposed interior major surface.

Background Art

There is often a desire to position one or more windows in a roof of a 140121

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2 building in order to allow daylight to reach the interior of the building. This, however, may give rise to a variety of challenges.

In inclined roof structures with an angle of inclination above 15 degrees traditional roof windows are typically built into an opening in the roof 5 structure with a substantial part of the roof window positioned within the inclined roof structure in an installed position.

Flat-roof skylight windows on the other hand are generally installed on top of the exterior side of flat roofs of buildings, where the inclination of the roof is less than 5 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. In general, flat-

10 roof skylight windows are installed to cover an opening in the roof, i.e. a substantial part of the flat-roof skylight window extends above an exterior side of the flat roof structure in an installed position. Furthermore, flat-roof skylight windows of this type often comprise a weather shield pane. If the secondary frame is moveable in relation to the primary frame, so that the window may be

15 opened, the weather shield pane will typically be attached to the moveable secondary frame, also known as a sash, and follow the movement of the secondary frame during an opening movement. The main purpose of the weather shield pane is to protect the primary frame and the secondary frame from the weather and to avoid accumulation of precipitation and dirt on the 20 insulating glazing unit. The weather shield pane may be dome-shaped, having a concave side facing the insulating glazing unit, or flat.

An example of a skylight window combining features of the traditional roof window with features of the traditional flat-roof skylight window is disclosed in WO 2009/080026 A1. This skylight window comprises a standard 25 VELUX® outwardly hung roof window, where a dome-shaped weather shield is attached to the sash, thereby creating a skylight window.

In general, skylight windows of the prior art, particularly flat-roof skylight windows, may be associated with relatively poor insulating properties and/or limited entry of daylight into an interior of the building on which the 30 window is installed. Moreover, visibility through the window from the interior of the building may be limited, as may the compatibility with different roof angles. This may at least partially be attributed to the manner, in which 140121

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3 skylight windows are installed on a roof structure of a building, which generally results in a large proportion of the window structure being exposed to the surrounding environment. Furthermore, with a weather shield pane at the top of the skylight window there are many layers of glazing, which may 5 result in a long travel path for light entering into the interior of the building through the skylight window.

Summary of Invention

With this background, it is a first object of the invention to provide a 10 skylight window, which provides improved insulating properties when installed on a roof structure. A second object of the invention is to provide a skylight window, which allows an increased amount of daylight to enter into an interior of the building on which the skylight window is installed. A third object of the invention is to provide a skylight window with improved visibility through the 15 window from the interior of the building.

In a first aspect of the invention at least the first object of the invention is achieved with a skylight window of the kind mentioned in the introduction wherein said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is located below a most exterior surface of said primary frame in 20 said upward direction.

This allows for positioning the insulating glazing unit, hereafter also called the IGU, deep in the window structure, i.e. close to an interior of the building in an installed position of the skylight window. The IGU will usually be the part of the skylight window having the best insulating properties and by 25 arranging it deep in the window structure, the area of the primary frame through which heat energy may escape from or enter into the interior of the building is reduced compared to prior art skylight windows. Thereby the amount of energy needed for maintaining a comfort temperature within the building may potentially be reduced. Furthermore, improved light inflow and 30 view through the skylight window from an interior of the building may be achieved, since the IGU will be located closer to the ceiling of the room covered by the roof structure. 140121

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4

In a second aspect of the invention at least the first object of the invention is achieved with a skylight window of the kind mentioned in the introduction further comprising a covering extending in a downward direction, which is opposite the upward direction, away from the weather shield pane, 5 where the covering extends in parallel with at least one primary side members and along the outer surface of said at least one primary frame member, and having a most interior edge, which is the part of the covering located furthest away from the weather shield pane, and wherein said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is located below said most interior edge 10 of the covering in said upward direction.

As is well known to the skilled person coverings are arranged to project from an uppermost part of a skylight window, here the weather shield pane, down along the outer surface of the primary frame so that it overlaps with a roofing material, such as a roofing felt, extending up along the outer 15 surface of the primary frame or a flashing member covering a joint between a roofing material and the primary frame. In other words, the covering bridges the joint between the weather shield pane and the primary frame, so that water etc. landing on the weather shield pane, will be flow over the covering and directly onto the roofing material or a flashing member. A gap is usually 20 present between the covering and the roofing material or flashing member to avoid sorption and/or to serve as a pressure relief chamber for compensating for wind pressure. In the mounted state of the skylight window the most interior edge of the covering is usually located at a distance of 20-50 mm in the upward direction from a most exterior surface of the roof structure defined 25 by a most exterior surface of the roofing material serving as the most exterior building envelope. This means that when the exposed exterior major surface of the IGU is located below said most interior edge of the covering in said upward direction, the entire IGU will be located very close to or below the exterior surface of the roof structure. This in turn means that the contribution 30 of the primary frame to the insulating properties of the finished structure including the skylight window and the roof structure is reduced as also described above with reference to the first aspect of the invention. 140121

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5

The deep location of the insulating glazing unit may also be defined by the insulating glazing unit being located at a most interior surface of said secondary frame, opposite and across from the weather shield pane, which will usually be located at a most exterior surface of said secondary frame. The 5 space then defined between the insulating glazing unit, the weather shield pane, and the secondary frame members may potentially contribute both to the insulating properties of the skylight window and to letting as much daylight as possible enter into an interior of the building.

In an embodiment each primary side member has a first leg, which 10 extends in the upward direction and along a peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit, and a second leg, which extends away from the first leg and along a part of said exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit, said second leg having an innermost edge, which is the edge of the second leg located furthest from the first leg measured in parallel with the 15 exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit. It is presently preferred that the second leg projects from an interior end of the first leg so that the primary side member has an L-shape when seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the primary side member.

In an embodiment, the insulating glazing unit abuts on at least one 20 sealing gasket provided on the second leg of at least one primary side member. This may allow the primary frame to support the IGU, but it may also simply provide for a sealing. One sealing gasket may be provided on each primary side member or one sealing gasket can extend along more than one primary side member. Each primary side member may be provided with two 25 or more sealing gaskets to provide two or more sealing planes.

Alternatively, the second leg may be in direct contact with the IGU directly, possible adhering to the IGU.

By using the primary frame for supporting the IGU, a structurally simple and stable support is provided.

30 The second leg may further contribute to the visual appearance of the skylight window, by hiding the edge of the IGU and the secondary frame from view. 140121

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If the IGU does not extend all the way out to the first leg of the primary side member, a space between the peripheral side of the IGU and the first leg may be occupied by a device being chosen for the group consisting of a hinge, a motor, a screening device, and an insulating member.

5 From an insulating point of view it may, however, be advantageous that the smallest distance from each peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit to a primary side member extending along said peripheral side measured in a direction parallel til the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is 20mm or less. In this way the IGU, which will usually be the 10 part of the skylight window having the best insulating properties, will extend as far as possible towards the roof structure in parallel with the plane of the roof, i.e. in parallel with the exposed interior major surface of the IGU. Thereby the area of the skylight window through which heat energy may escape from or enter into the interior of the building may potentially be 15 reduced compared to skylight windows with a large distance between IGU and the roof structure.

In an embodiment, each primary side member comprises a combination of at least one sheet material profile and at least one block of an insulating material chosen from group consisting of expanded polymers, 20 foamed polymers, mineral wool, and composites including these materials, expanded polystyrene (EPS) presently being considered a good choice. The insulating material may serve as a stiffening filler member, possibly providing support for the sheet material profile.

The sheet material profile, which may for example be a moulded, 25 extruded or bent profile, provides strength and stiffness to the primary side member, while the block of material may be used for giving the primary side member a desired shape in addition to contributing to the insulating properties. Both the sheet material profile and at least one block of an insulating material may be provided with a covering or coating to provide 30 desired surface properties such as weather proofing, shape, colour, or texture.

The sheet material profile may for example be made from a material 140121

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7 chosen from group consisting of polymers, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane (PUR), or polyether ether ketone (PEEK); fibre reinforced polymers, such as polyurethane or polypropylene reinforced with glass fibres or carbon fibres; metals, such as aluminium; and composites including these 5 materials. A thermosetting plastic polymer is present preferred as it may be easily recycled.

For safety reasons, at least the secondary frame, which supports the insulating glazing unit, is preferably made from one or more materials, which is/are structurally stable at 100°C (212°F).

10 The sheet material profile may be a hollow core structure with one or more hollow spacings or cavities inside. In that case, the at least one block of an insulating material may be formed from a loose material filling the core spacing wholly or partially, thereby forming a block when the frame is at rest, or from a material, which is blown or poured into the spacings or cavities and 15 is subsequently interconnected, sets or hardens to form a block.

In one embodiment, at least one primary side member comprises at least one housing profile having a U-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and where a device is arranged inside said housing profile, said device being chosen for the group consisting 20 of a hinge, a motor, a screening device, and an insulating member. A motor arranged inside said housing profile may for example be used for operating a screening device, or, if the skylight window is openable, for moving the secondary frame in relation to the primary frame. If the entire space delimited by the housing profile is not occupied by a hinge arrangement, a motor, a 25 screening device or a combination thereof, the remaining space may for example by filled with an insulating material. Wires etc. connected to a motor, a screening device, or other elements forming part of the skylight window or being arranged thereon may also be housed in the housing profile.

As describe above with reference to the sheet material profile, the 30 housing profile may be used in combination with a block of an insulating material, and it may be made by the same methods and materials as described with reference to the sheet material profile. 140121

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8

One or more of the secondary side members may comprise at least one sheet material profile as describe above with reference to the primary side members. These may be made by the same methods and materials as described with reference to the sheet material profiles of the primary side 5 members.

One or more of the secondary side members may have an L-shape as described with reference to the primary side members, each such secondary side member having a first leg, which extends in the upward direction, and a second leg, which extends away from the first leg and along 10 an exposed major surface of the insulating glazing unit. Said second leg may extend along the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit or along the exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit and may be attached to the IGU either by adhesion or via a sealing gasket.

In one embodiment, each secondary side member comprises a first 15 sheet material profile connected to the weather shield pane, a second sheet material profile connected to the insulating glazing unit, and a connecting section interconnecting the first sheet material and the second sheet material, where said connecting section has a lower thermal conductivity than the first sheet material profile and second sheet material profile. The connecting 20 section thus contributes to improving the insulating properties of the skylight window by reducing heat transport via the secondary frame. The connecting section may also or alternatively serve to reduce the transmission of sound through the secondary frame and/or reduce tension by allowing a mutual movement between the weather shield pane and the IGU for example 25 induced by thermal expansion or contraction.

If the skylight window is to be openable, the secondary frame can be connected to said primary frame by a hinge arrangement and so that the secondary frame is movable in relation to the primary frame between an open and a closed position of the skylight window. The hinge arrangement may 30 comprise two separate hinges allowing rotation of the secondary frame about a common hinge axis. The hinge arrangement may also or alternatively allow the secondary frame to be displaced in relation to the primary frame, for 140121

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9 example in the upwards direction, or allow for a movement of the secondary frame involving a combination of a displacement and a rotation in relation to the primary frame.

In another embodiment the secondary frame is fixed to the primary 5 frame, serving as supplement to the primary frame, both being stationary in the use state of the skylight window. In one embodiment, the secondary frame is of a construction, which is suitable to serve as a sash even though not moveable. This allows the use of identical side members for both openable and fixed, i.e. non-openable, skylight windows, thus potentially 10 simplifying the production processes for a window manufacturer making both openable and fixed skylight windows.

In one embodiment, a motor unit is arranged below the weather shield pane seen in the upward direction, said motor unit being connected to at least one of the secondary frame and a screening device so as to be able 15 to move it in relation to the primary frame. Skylight windows are often installed in roofs, which cannot be reached manually, and the provision of a motor unit may therefore allow opening of such windows or the operation of accessories. Furthermore, skylight windows are often heavy due to the use of three or more layers of glass and may therefore be difficult to open manually, 20 even if installed in a reachable location. Still further, the provision of a motor may allow automated opening of the skylight window or a screening device arranged thereon, for example allowing the window to be opened automatically or a screen device to be automatically move to a second, screening end position when a pre-defined temperature is reached inside the 25 building.

In one embodiment, the motor unit comprises an actuator chain and at least a part of the motor unit is located below the exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit when seen in the upward direction. This allows the motor to be positioned low in the skylight window structure where it 30 may be hidden view when seen from the interior of the building.

In one embodiment, the motor unit is positioned between a primary side member and the peripheral side of the IGU along which it extends. This 10 may provide better entry of light as the motor-driven actuator is positioned outside the periphery of the IGU and so may not block light entering through the IGU. Furthermore, the primary side member and/or the secondary side member may extend underneath the motor unit, thereby hiding it from view 5 when seen from the interior of the building.

In an embodiment a screening device is arranged between the weather shield pane and the insulating glazing unit, said screening device being chosen from the group consisting of roller shades, pleated shades, cellular shades, roman shapes, korean blinds, Venetian blinds, and panel 10 blinds.

Hereby, the screening device may be positioned in a spacing that is both protected from the elements of the exterior, e.g. precipitation and wind, and is not, or only to a limited extent, exposed to moisture, dust etc. from the interior of the building. This spacing may be readily ventilated to further pro- 15 tect the screening device components. Also, it is relatively easy to access the screening device from the outside in case of repairs or replacement by re moving the weather shield pane and reattaching afterwards.

If the screening device is located below the most exterior surface of said primary frame in said upward direction, the weather shield pane can be 20 provided relatively close to the IGU, hence making the path to be travelled by sunlight in order to reach the interior of the building relatively short and there by improving light entry.

In an embodiment the screening device includes a screening body, said screening body being moveable between a first, non-screening end 25 position, in which it is in a collapsed state, such as a rolled-up, pleated or folded state, at a first primary side member, and a second, screening end position in which, for the screening of the insulating glazing unit, said screening is extended between the first primary side member and a second primary side member, said second primary side member extending in parallel 30 to the first primary side member and being located on the opposite side of the primary frame opening, and where, when in the first, non-screening end position, the entire screening body is located between the first leg of the first 11 primary side member and the innermost edge of the second leg of the first primary side member when seen in parallel with the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit. In this way, the screening device is wholly or partially hidden from view when seen from the interior in the 5 collapsed state.

In one embodiment, which is particularly relevant the second aspect of the invention but also applies to the first aspect of the invention, a/the covering comprises a first leg, which extends along the outer surface of at least one primary frame member, and a second leg which extends along a rim 10 of the weather shield pane. The second leg of the covering may be attached to an exterior side of the weather shield pane facing away from the IGU. This will allow the covering to protect the rim of the weather shield pane. Alternatively, the second leg of the covering may be attached to an interior side of the weather shield pane facing the IGU. This will allow water etc. 15 collecting on the exterior side of the weather shield pane to drain off the weather shield pane without meeting any obstacles and may allow the skylight window to appear as one single sheet of material, when seen from the exterior side.

The weather shield pane may be curved or flat. A flat weather shield 20 pane may extend in parallel with the exterior exposed surface of the insulating glazing unit or be angle in relation thereto, for example to facilitate drainage or avoid inconvenient reflection of light.

The weather shield pane may be releasably attached to the secondary frame thereby enabling access to the closed space between the 25 weather shield pane and the insulating glazing unit and to the exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit. This will facilitate cleaning, maintenance, and repairs.

Brief Description of Drawings

30 In the following description embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the schematic drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view from above of an embodiment of a 12 skylight window according to the present invention installed on a roof,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view along the line ll-ll in

Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1,

5 Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 2 but seen in the longitudinal direction,

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention,

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention,

10 Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention,

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention, showing both sides of the window,

15 Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention,

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention,

Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a 20 skylight window according to the present invention,

Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention,

Fig. 13 shows a perspective partially cut-away view from above of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention 25 comprising a screening device,

Fig. 14 shows the detail marked XIV in Fig. 13 seen in the longitudinal direction,

Fig. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention comprising a screening 30 device,

Fig. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention comprising a screening 13 device, and

Fig. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skylight window according to the present invention comprising a motor unit.

Similar features have been given the same reference numbers

5 throughout the drawing, even if they are not identical. Unless otherwise stated, such features have substantially the same function and may only be described once.

Description of Embodiments

10 Referring initially to Figs 1 and 2, a prior art skylight window 1 is shown installed on a flat roof 2 of a building and covering an opening O in the roof. The skylight window 1 comprises a weather shield 3 protecting a window portion 4, which includes an Insulating Glazing Unit (IGU) 5, a primary frame 7, and a secondary frame 6 supporting the IGU. A roofing felt (not shown)

15 may in a conventional manner be positioned to seal the joint between the primary frame 7 and the roof 2. In this embodiment an inclined curb flange 40 is provided on the primary frame 7 for supporting the roofing felt.

As is best seen in Fig. 2, the weather shield 3 comprises a weather shield pane 8 and a weather shield covering 9. The weather shield pane 8

20 extends over the entire opening O in the roof 2 and the weather shield covering 9 is attached to the weather shield pane 8 and extends on an outer side of all four sides of the primary frame 7, i.e. along the respective primary side members 10, projecting down towards the roof 2.

The weather shield 3 is preferably provided as a unitary structure

25 separate from the window portion 4 and is mounted on the window portion 4 for covering and weather protecting the window portion 4 in the installed state of the skylight window 1. The weather shield 3 is preferably detachably attached to the window portion 4, specifically to the secondary frame 6 so as to move together with the secondary frame 6 during an opening and closing

30 movement thereof.

In this embodiment the weather shield pane 8 is curved towards the exterior, i.e. upwardly in Fig. 1, in relation to the window portion 4. In other 14 embodiments, a flat pane may be used to for the weather shield 3. The weather shield pane 8 is transparent and here comprises only one single layer of glazing made for example of hardened glass.

In Fig. 1 , the entire primary frame 7 is positioned above the exterior 5 surface of the roof 2, said primary frame resting on the roof surface, but it may also be positioned so that a part of the primary frame 7 is embedded in the roof, i.e. positioned below the exterior roof surface level.

The flat roof 2 shown in Fig. 1 has a roof inclination of less than 5 % in relation to horizontal. The skylight window may however also be installed in 10 an inclined roof.

The space 58 between the IGU 5 and the weather shield pane 8 may be sealed and filled with an inert gas to provide the skylight window with desired thermal insulating properties, but in the embodiments shown in the drawing the space is ventilated.

15 The IGU 5 has an exposed interior major surface 5b facing downwards D towards an interior of the building in the shown installed position of the skylight window 1 and exposed exterior major surface 5g facing in the opposite upward direction U towards the weather shielding pane 8 and the exterior. The interior and exterior exposed major surfaces of the 20 IGU 5 are substantially parallel with a plane defined by the roof surface, i.e. the exterior roof surface level.

The primary frame 7 comprises four primary side members of which two 10, 11 are visible in Fig. 1, and one 10 is visible in Fig. 2. Each primary side member is associated with one of four corresponding secondary side 25 members of which two 12, 13 are visible in Fig. 1 and one 14 is visible in Fig. 2. The primary side member 10 is associated with the secondary side member 14 and both extend in a longitudinal direction L along a peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5. The four primary side members form a substantially rectangular shape and, similarly, the four secondary side members form a 30 substantially rectangular shape. In this embodiment each primary side member is positioned at an outer side of a respective associated one of the four secondary side members, i.e. on the side facing away from the opening 140121

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0 and the IGU, so that the secondary frame fits into the primary frame and the primary frame 7 encloses the secondary frame 6 in the closed position of the skylight window 1.

The secondary frame 6 supports the IGU 5 and the weather shield 3 5 and as seen in Fig. 3 it is connected to the window frame 7 via a conventional rotary hinge 21 so that it is movable in relation to the primary frame 7 between the closed position shown and an open position (not shown) of the skylight window 1. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to openable windows. The secondary frame 6 may be attached to the 10 primary frame for example by passing one or more screws through one and into the other. An adhesive may also be used, but a releasable attachment is presently considered advantageous to facilitate maintenance, repair, and replacement of parts.

The hinge 21 shown in Fig. 3 connects upper parts of the primary 15 side member 18 and the secondary side member 13 with each other so as to enable a rotary movement of the secondary frame 6 in relation to the primary frame 7 along a single rotational axis extending in parallel with the longitudinal direction L. Other types of hinges providing a more complex pattern of movement of the secondary frame in relation to the primary frame 20 may also be used. If installed in an inclined roof, the skylight window can be either top-hung, bottom-hung or side-hung.

The structure of the skylight window 1 may be seen more clearly in Fig. 4, which shows the same cross-sectional view as Fig. 2, but in a two- dimensional side view, where the longitudinal direction L extends into the 25 plane of the drawing. A height direction FI is defined as a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and to the interior major surface 5b of the IGU 5, and a width direction W is defined as a direction perpendicular to the height and longitudinal directions. The width and longitudinal directions are parallel to the interior major surface of the IGU. 30 The downward direction D is the direction in the height direction towards which the interior major surface 5b of the IGU 5 faces. The upward direction U is a direction opposite to the downward direction, extending away from the 140121

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16 exposed interior major surface 5b towards the exposed exterior major surface 5g at a right angle to said exposed interior major surface. An inward direction is a direction in the width direction towards a centre of the IGU 5, and the outward direction is a direction opposite to the inward direction.

5 The primary side member 10 comprises a first leg 25 and a second leg 26, which extends from an interior end of the first leg in the width direction inwards underneath the IGU 5. Likewise, the secondary side member 14 has a first leg 15 extending next to and along the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5, and a second leg 16 projecting from an interior end 15a of the first leg 15 in 10 the width direction inwards underneath the IGU 5. In other words, both the primary side member 10 and the secondary side member 14 may be said to comprise an L-shape by having a first leg, which extends in the upward direction, and a second leg, which extends away from the first leg and along an exposed major surface of the IGU. As the secondary frame supports the 15 IGU 5, the second leg 26 of the primary side member 10 extends along a surface 16f of the second leg 16 of the secondary side member 14, which surface 16f faces substantially away from the interior major surface 5b of the IGU.

The interior end of the first leg 25 of the primary side member is 20 positioned below the interior major surface 5b of the IGU 5 and the most exterior surface 25x of the first leg 25 of the primary side member is positioned above the exterior major surface 5b of the IGU 5.

As may be seen, the primary side member 10 in this embodiment comprises a most interior bottom surface 10a, which is level with the exterior 25 roof surface of the roof 2. This bottom surface 10a faces downwards and comprises a lining panel protrusion 10e, which together with a second protrusion 10d forms a recess 10b, which is an empty spacing that accommodates an upper part or upper end of a reveal panel or lining panel 50 in the installed position of the skylight window 1. The remaining three 30 primary side members are provided with similar recesses accommodating respective similar panels. These panels define the reveal or aperture or light well or light shaft, which extends through the roof 2 so as to cover side 140121

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17 surfaces of the opening 0 in the roof, which allows daylight to reach the interior of the building.

In this embodiment the secondary side member 14 further has a third leg 17 projecting from an inner end 16b of the second leg 16 in a downwards 5 direction away from the interior major surface 5b of the IGU 5 to provide a lower supporting surface 17a which in the closed position of the window 1 rests on a corresponding upper resting surface 27a of the primary side member 10.

At an exterior end the third leg 17 includes a resting surface 16a on 10 which said interior major surface 5b of the IGU 5 rests. The upper resting surface 16a of the third leg 17 is here provided with a sealing member 22, which is manufactured from a resilient material and extends in the longitudinal direction L over substantially the entire length of the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5. The sealing member 22 is a separate part attached in a slot of the 15 third leg 17. The upper resting surface 16a and/or the sealing member 22 may alternatively be moved further to the left in Fig. 4 and instead form part of the second leg 16.

In the closed position of the window 1, the lower supporting surface 17a of the third leg 17 abuts an abutment element 78 of the primary frame. 20 This abutment element 78, which is a separate sealing gasket, is provided at or in an inner corner of the primary side member 10. In this embodiment, the third leg 17 comprises the only supporting point of the secondary side member 14 in the closed position of the skylight window 1, except for the contact provided by the hinges. Other contact points or contact surfaces 25 between the secondary frame and primary frame in the closed position of the skylight window 1 , may include further sealing members (not shown) between associated primary and secondary side members. Such sealing members may for example be attached in holding members 19 of the secondary side member 14 or in similar holding members on the primary side member 10.

30 The abutment element 78 is preferably of an elastic sealing material, which is somewhat deformed when the secondary side member 14 rests on the abutment element 78, giving in to the weight of the secondary frame 6 as 140121

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18 shown in Fig. 4.

The fact that the third leg 17 and thus the secondary side member 14 projects down along an inner surface 26a of the second leg of the primary side member will mean that the entire secondary frame will be retained in the

5 width direction (outwardly). This may help centring the secondary frame 6 in the primary frame 7 in the closed position of the skylight window 1 and during opening and closing of the skylight window, if possible, especially since all primary and secondary side members will usually be provided with a similar configuration.

10 As is best seen in Fig. 4, the IGU 5 in a conventional manner comprises three layers of glazing 5c, 5d, 5e positioned at a respective distance from each other to form respective spacings or cavities between them. These spacings are in a conventional manner filled with an inert gas, such as argon or krypton, or provided with a vacuum to improve insulation.

15 Sealing and supporting members 23, 24 are provided between the layers 5c, 5d, 5e of glazing of the IGU 5 so that the sealing and supporting members 23, 24 define the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5 together with the end surfaces of the glazing layers.

The first leg 15 of the secondary side member 14 comprises two

20 grooves 28, 29, the first groove 28 being positioned at a first distance from the exposed interior major surface 5b of the IGU and the second groove 29 being positioned at a second, smaller distance from the exposed interior major surface 5b of the IGU. The first and second grooves 28, 29 are adapted for receiving a fixation member 30, which can be attached to or snap-locked

25 to either one of the two grooves 28, 29, abutting the exterior major surface of the IGU 5 so as to hold the IGU 5 along said peripheral side 5a thereof, especially in the upward direction. Flereby the IGU 5 may be exchanged with an IGU of smaller thickness by switching the fixation member 30 to the other groove 29. The fixation member 30 comprises a projection adapted to be in

30 abutment with the upper or exterior major surface 5g of the IGU 5 such as to hold this in place against the upper resting surface 16a. The fixation member 30 extends substantially along an entire length in the longitudinal direction L 19 of the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5. Similar fixation members are attached to similar grooves of the one, two or three of the other secondary side members at the other three peripheral sides of the IGU 5.

In this embodiment, the secondary side member 14 has a fourth leg 5 31 projecting from an exterior end 15e of the first leg 15 in the outward direction away from the IGU 5 in the width direction. The fourth leg 31 is in the closed position of the window 1 positioned above the first leg 25 of the primary side member 10. The covering 9 of the weather shield 3 is attached to the fourth leg and the weather shield pane 8 is attached to the covering 9 10 by means of an adhesive 92. The covering thus serves to connect the weather shield pane 8 to the secondary frame 6. The attachment of the covering 9 to the secondary frame 6 may be releasable so that the weather shield 3 may be removed for cleaning, maintenance, or repair. This applies to all embodiments of the invention unless otherwise stated.

15 The fourth leg 31 has an oblong shape in the width direction and extends more than 3 times longer in the width direction than in the height direction. The extent in the longitudinal direction of the fourth leg 31 is substantially equal to about equal to or somewhat longer than the extent of the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5 in the longitudinal direction.

20 An angle between the first 15 and fourth 31 is substantially 90 degrees, and the fourth leg 31 is formed integrally with the first leg 15.

In the cross section shown the fourth leg 31 of secondary side member has a surface 31b extending substantially along a most exterior surface 25x of the first leg 25 of the primary side member being inclined with 25 about 5 degrees with respect to the width direction and being parallel to the most exterior surface 25x. This inclination is in the downward and outward direction in Fig. 4. This in combination with the first and second legs 15, 16, 25, 26 of the primary and secondary side members 10, 14 and the third leg 17 of the secondary side members 14 provides a labyrinth type gap between the 30 primary and secondary side members acting to prevent dirt, water and contaminants from entering the interior of the building from an exterior of the building. A similar, though possibly less strong effect may also be achieved in 20 skylight windows as will be described later where the secondary side member 14 comprises only two legs.

In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L all legs 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 31 may each be substantially shaped as a rectangle.

5 However, in this embodiment the first leg 15 of the secondary side member is substantially shaped as a trapezoid or a trapezium.

In the embodiment in Figs 1-4 all four legs 15, 16, 17, 31 of the secondary side member 14 are formed integrally with each other, being form as one sheet material profile, but it is also possible to provide one or more of 10 them by attaching one or more separate profiles.

In the embodiment in Figs 1-4 all four primary side members have the same structure and all four secondary side members have the same structure, but this need not always be the case. For instance, the primary and secondary side members 13, 18 to which a hinge is connected may be made 15 with reinforcement to facilitate the transfer of loads to/from the hinge. In the following other embodiment of the invention will be described, and it is to be understood that the same applies to all of these embodiments unless otherwise stated.

In this embodiment, all primary and secondary side members each 20 have a substantially uniform cross section over the entire length of these in the longitudinal direction L, except possibly for holes being provided for the attachment of a locking assembly, hinges or the like. Local recesses may also be provided for accommodating hinges and the like.

The four primary side members 10, 11, 18 and the secondary side 25 member 12, 13, 14 shown in Figs 1-4 each comprises a load-bearing base structure comprising a sheet material profile 25d, 15d, which may for example be made from aluminium or a polymer, fibre-reinforced PVC presently being considered a promising material. The base structures are here hollow core structures with several hollow inside spacings or cavities. The sheet material 30 profiles of the secondary side member 14 and the primary side member 10 are here made by extrusion and subsequently attached to the other of the primary and secondary side members, respectively, at ends thereof to form 21 the frames 6, 7.

As best seen in Fig. 4, each primary side member 10, 11, 18 com prises two blocks 25a, 25b of an insulating material arranged in the core spacings, said insulating material being chosen from group consisting of ex

5 panded polymers, foamed polymers, mineral wool, and composites including these materials. In the embodiment shown the insulating material is a block of expanded polystyrene (EPS).

In the embodiment described above with reference to Figs 1-4 the exposed exterior major surface 5g of the insulating glazing unit 5 is located

10 below the most exterior surface 25x of the primary frame 7 in the upward di rection. This means that the IGU is surround by both the primary frame and the secondary frame 6 and located relatively close to the roof structure 2 compared to many prior art roof window.

Another embodiment, where the exposed exterior major surface 5g of

15 the insulating glazing unit 5 is located below the most exterior surface 25x of the primary frame 7 is shown in Fig. 5.

In this embodiment the primary frame member 10 comprises a first leg 25 composed of a L-shaped load-bearing structure 25d, serving substan tially the same purpose as the sheet material profile described above, and an

20 insulating member 25a. In a space between these, a motor unit 100 compris ing a chain 101 is arranged. The chain is connected to a leg 31 of the sec ondary side member 14 so that it may push the secondary frame away from the primary frame, thereby opening the window. The second leg 26 of the primary side member 10 is formed by a sheet material profile carrying a seal

25 ing element 22 sealing against the exposed interior major surface 5b of the IGU.

The secondary side member 14 here comprises only two legs corre sponding the first and fourth legs 15, 31 described above, the fourth leg pro jecting from an exterior end of the first leg 15 in the outward direction away

30 from the IGU 5 in the width direction. The fourth leg comprises two separate sheet material profiles 31a, 31b both of which are positioned above the first leg 25 of the primary side member 10 in the closed position of the window 1. 140121

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The outer sheet material profiles 31a is connected to the covering 9 of the weather shield 3 and the inner sheet material profile 31b is connected to the first leg 15 and to the chain 101 of the motor unit. The first leg 15, which is also composed of two separate sheet material profiles, is in turn connected to 5 the exposed exterior major surface 5g of the IGU 5 via an adhesive 74 also serving as a sealing. The adhesive may for example be a silane-terminated polyurethane (SPUR) adhesive, but may a silyl modified-polymer (SMP) ad hesive or any other suitable adhesive may also be used. The adhesive may also be provided as an adhesive tape. These adhesives may also be used for 10 attachment of the covering 9.

In the embodiment in Fig. 5 the insulating glazing unit 5 is located at a most interior surface 15i of the secondary side member 14, which is also a most interior of the secondary frame as such, and the weather shield pane 8 is located at a most exterior surface 15x of the secondary side member 14, 15 which is also a most exterior of the secondary frame as such. The insulating glazing unit 5 is thus located opposite to and across to said weather shield pane 8 in a height direction H and a closed space 58 is defined between the insulating glazing unit 5, the weather shield pane 8, and the secondary frame members 14 (only of which are seen in Fig. 5). The secondary side member 20 14 may have mechanical engagement to the insulating glazing unit 5 (not shown). For example, a bracket or glazing bead or clip.

The closed space 58 between the insulating glazing unit 5 and the weather shield pane 8 has a height in the upward direction constituting 40% of a total height of the skylight window in the upward direction measured from 25 a most interior surface 10a of the primary frame to a most exterior surface of the weather shield pane.

The primary side members 10 are located on the outer side of the secondary side members 14, i.e. opposite the frame openings, and the prima ry frame thus surrounds the secondary frame. In the height direction each 30 primary side member 10 overlaps 55% of the total height of the secondary side member 14, said total height of the secondary side member being meas ured in the upward direction U from a most interior surface 15i of the second- 140121

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23 ary side member to a most exterior surface of the secondary side member 15x.A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 6. In this embodi ment the exposed exterior major surface 5g of the insulating glazing unit 5 is not only located below a most exterior surface 25x of the primary frame in 5 said upward direction U but also below a most interior edge 91 of the covering 9.

In this embodiment both the primary side member 10 and the sec ondary side member 14 is made from hollow core sheet material profiles with cavities inside and a block of insulating material 25a is provided inside the 10 sheet material profile 25d as also described above.

The secondary side member 14 extends down along the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5 and, as described above with reference to Fig. 5, the insulating glazing unit 5 and the weather shield pane 8 are located across to each other at opposite sides 15i, 15x of the secondary frame, here represent- 15 ed by the secondary side member 14. A closed space 58 is thus defined be tween the insulating glazing unit, the weather shield pane, and the secondary frame members.

The insulating glazing unit 5 is located at a most interior surface 15i of the secondary side member 14, which is also a most interior of the secondary 20 frame as such, and the weather shield pane 8 is located at a most exterior surface 15x of the secondary side member 14, which is also a most exterior of the secondary frame as such.

In this embodiment, the closed space 58 between the insulating glaz ing unit 5 and said weather shield pane 8 has a height in the upward direction 25 constituting 50% of the total height of the skylight window, and the primary side members 10 overlap 60% of the total height of the secondary side mem bers 14.

In this embodiment, the weather shield pane 8 is supported directly on the secondary side member 14 rather than indirectly via the covering 9 as 30 in the embodiments described above, and the covering overlaps the exterior side of the weather shield pane 8 instead of being attached to the interior side thereof as in Figs 2-5. 140121

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24

In this embodiment, the insulating glazing unit 5 is a two-layer pane, but it is to be understood that a three-layer pane could also be employed. This applies to all embodiments shown with a two-layer pane, and it is like wise to be understood that two-layer panes may be employed in embodi- 5 ments shown and described herein as having three-layer panes.

In this embodiment, the skylight window 1 is shown as being mounted on an upstand 2’ built on the roof structure rather than directly on the roof structure 2. This may also apply to other embodiment of the invention. The skylight window in Fig. 6 may also be mounted directly on the roof structure if 10 replacing the primary frame covering 47 with a curb flange as described above with reference to Fig. 1.

A further embodiment, where the exposed exterior major surface 5g of the insulating glazing unit 5 is not only located below a most exterior sur face 25x of the primary frame in said upward direction U but also below a 15 most interior edge 91 of the covering 9, is shown in Fig. 7. In this embodi ments as in Figs 2-4 and Fig. 6 the secondary side member 14 comprises a second leg 16 projecting underneath the exposed interior major surface 5b of the insulating glazing unit 5, but the second leg 26 of the primary side mem ber 10 projects even further and is provided with a sealing gasket 22, which is 20 in contact with the exposed interior major surface 5b of the insulating glazing unit 5 in the closed position of the window.

In this embodiment, the primary side member 10 comprises a housing profile 25h having a U-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L in addition to a sheet material profile 25d and a block 25 of insulating material 25a. The housing profile is configured for housing a de vice, such as a motor unit for moving the secondary frame in relation to the primary frame, but could also or alternatively house a hinge arrangement, a screening device, a motor for a screening device, or an insulating member.

In this embodiment the covering 9 contacts both the primary side 30 member 10 and the secondary side member 14 via respective sealing gas kets, and the primary side members 10 overlap 90% of the total height of the secondary side members 14. 140121

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25

In this embodiment the first leg 15 of secondary side member 14 con sist of only a single sheet of material and it thus has a very small thickness in a width direction compared to the first legs of embodiment in Figs 2-4. The first leg 15 may be said to be generally plate-shaped, consisting of one single 5 section of substantially solid material and thickness T is preferably less than 1 cm. This means that the distance from the peripheral side 5a of the insulating glazing unit 5 to a primary side member 10 measured in a direction parallel til the exposed interior major surface 5b of the insulating glazing unit can be comparatively small, allowing the IGU to extend almost all the way out to the 10 first leg 25 of the primary frame member. A distance of 20mm or less from the peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit 5 to a primary side member is possible, giving the skylight window excellent insulating properties.

The fact that the IGU 5 extends this far over the seconds legs 26,16 of the primary and secondary side members 10, 14 respectively means that 15 the supporting members 23 separating the pane layers of the IGU 5 are en tirely hidden from view from inside the building as indicated by the dash- dotted view-lines V. Furthermore, the secondary frame 14 is hidden from view when seen from the interior side of the skylight window 1 , at least when in a closed position of the skylight window. In this context it noted that as skylight 20 windows are mounted on roofs of buildings, people will usually be not get close to the skylight window when inside the building and that the skylight window will therefore normally be seen from a distance. The view-lines V re flect this.

The dash-dotted daylight lines DL illustrate how daylight entering 25 through the sections 84 of the weather shield pane 8 located above the sec ond legs 16, 26 of the secondary and primary frames may enter the building when the direction of the light is not perpendicular to the weather shield pane.

In this embodiment each primary side member 10 has an outer surface 25o extending in the upward direction U from a most interior surface 30 10a of the primary side member to a most exterior surface 25x of the primary side member, and said outer surface is substantially straight and extending substantially perpendicular to the exposed interior major surface 5b of the 140121

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26

IGU. It is possible to add a separate curb flange as described above, just as it is possible to integrate a curb flange in the design of the primary frame, but curb flanges are not appropriate for all installation situations.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment, which has some similarities with that in 5 Fig. 7, the most important difference being the construction of the primary side member 10, which is composed of a L-shaped load-bearing structure 25d and an insulating member 25a. The load-bearing structure 26 is here made from a wood-base core encased in a shell of polyurethane. Another difference is that the covering 9 is here not in contact with the primary side 10 member 10. In this embodiment too, the exposed exterior major surface 5g of the insulating glazing unit 5 is not only located below a most exterior surface 25x of the primary frame in said upward direction U but also below a most interior edge 91 of the covering 9.

In this embodiment the weather shield pane 8 extends beyond the 15 outermost surface 25o of the primary side member 10 in the width direction W thereby providing an overhang which may contribute to a better protection of the window portion.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of the embodiment in Fig. 8, where a mo tor unit 100 is arranged at the outer side of the primary side member 10 and 20 where the weather shield pane 8 and the covering 9 have been made wider so that they are able to cover both the window portion 4, which includes the IGU 5, the primary frame 7, and the secondary frame 6, and the motor unit 100.

A further embodiment of the invention, where the exposed exterior 25 major surface 5g of the insulating glazing unit 5 is not only located below a most exterior surface 25x of the primary frame in said upward direction but also below the most interior edge 91 of the covering 9 is shown in Fig. 10.

In this embodiment the overall design of the primary side member 10 resembles that in Fig. 8, except for the insulation member 25a between the 30 first leg 25 and the peripheral side 5a of the IGU 5 being wider in the width direction W and shorter in the height direction H. This in turn requires that the horizontal leg of the L-shaped load-bearing structure 25d is longer than in Fig. 140121

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27

8.

To be able to span over the insulation member 25a, the secondary side member 14 is here made with a stepped configuration comprising five leg sections, two of which correspond to the second and fourth legs 16, 31

5 described with reference to Fig. 2-4. The remaining three leg sections 15f, 15g, and 15h replace the first leg 15 described with reference to Fig. 2-4, a first leg section 15f extending from the second leg 16 up between the IGU 5 and the insulation member 25a, a second leg section 15g extending away from the IGU 5 in the width direction W over the insulation member 25a, and

10 a third leg section 15h extending from the second leg section to the fourth leg 31.

In this embodiment a cover 80 covers the second and third leg sec tions 15g, 15h and creates a funnel like effect for the skylight window, direct ing light from the exterior towards the interior with an angled surface relative

15 to the height direction H. If the skylight window 1 is to be provided with a screening device as will be described later, the cover 80 may be removed. In this way the same secondary side members 14 may be used for all windows, attaching either a cover 80 or a screening device depending on demand.

In this embodiment the weather shield pane 8 is substantially flat and

20 the weather shield 3 comprises a weather shield covering 9 attached to the interior side of the weather shield pane and extending along the peripheral sides thereof.

A further embodiment is shown in Fig. 11. In this embodiment the primary side member 10 is substantially identical to that in Fig. 10, except for

25 a groove 10b being provided in the second leg 26 for receiving a lining panel 50 as described with reference to Fig. 4. The secondary side member 14 comprises five leg sections 15f, 15g, 15h, 16, 31 as described with reference to Fig. 10, but the first leg section 15f is considerably shorter so that the sec ond leg 16 can be attached to the exterior exposed major surface 5g of the

30 IGU 5 instead of to the interior exposed major surface 5b. The first leg section 15f thus does not extend along the peripheral side 5a of the IGU, but only from the second leg section 15g down to the exterior exposed major surface 140121

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5g.

In this embodiment the weather shield covering 9 is attached to the weather shield pane 8 by means of an adhesive 92, as has also been the case in the embodiments described above, and to the secondary side mem

5 ber 14 by means of a releasable fastener 93.

A still further embodiment is shown in Fig. 12, where the primary side member 10 and secondary side member 14 have substantially the same structure as in Fig. 11 , except for the first leg section 15f being longer than in Fig. 11. This compensates for the IGU 5 being a two-layer pane in Fig. 12 and

10 thus thinner than the three-layer pane in Fig. 11, but also provides a relatively longer distance between the IGU 5 and the weather shield pane 8.

In this embodiment, the covering 9 is attached to the peripheral side of the weather shield pane 8 by an adhesive (not shown) and sandwiched between a the weather shield pane and an attachment member 94 provided

15 on the fourth leg 31 of the secondary side member 14.

Turning now to Figs 13 and 14, a skylight window 1 with primary and secondary side members 10, 14 corresponding substantially to those in Figs. 10 are shown, the only difference being that the primary side members 10, 11 comprise a groove 10b being provided in the second leg 26 for receiving a

20 lining panel 50 as described above. This window further comprises a screen ing device 34, which is mounted in a spacing delimited in the width direction W by secondary side members 13, 14 and in the height direction FI by the direction by the weather shield pane 8 towards the exterior and towards the interior by the step surface provided by the second leg section 15g of the

25 secondary side member 14.

The screening device 34 is here depicted as a roller curtain, which includes a screening body 36, which is moveable between a first, non screening end position and a second, screening end position. In the first, non screening end position the screening body is rolled up on a collection roller 35

30 at the first secondary side member 14, and in the second, screening end position, the screening body 36 is extended between the first 14 and second 13 secondary side members, covering the IGU 5. In Fig. 13 the screening 140121

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29 body 36 is shown in a screening position in which the screening body partly extends between the first 14 and second 13 secondary side members, the screening body 36 being partly rolled up on the collection roller 35.

The collection roller 35 is provided within a casing 38 and the casing 5 is attached to the first secondary side member 14 by an integrated fixation member 39. The fixation attachment is in this embodiment a hook or cleat type fixation member, but other types of fixation members (not shown) attached to or incorporated in the secondary side member may also be employed. Such a fixation member may also be used for the fixation of the 10 weather shielding pane 8.

In this embodiment the casing 38 extends almost down to the exterior exposed major surface 5g of the IGU 5, thereby both hiding the secondary side member 14 from view from inside the building and protecting it from exposure to sunlight.

15 The screening body 36 is provided with a bottom bar 36a attached to the screening body 36 at a front edge thereof. The bottom bar 36a hinders sagging of the screening body 36 and prevents the screening body from completely entering the casing 38. The ends of the bottom bar 36a are guided by side rails 63 of the screening device 34 mounted on the secondary side 20 members extending perpendicular to the secondary side member 14 to which the casing 38 is attached. Each side rail 63 has a recess 63a which is adapted to receive part of the bottom bar 36a, when the screening body 36 is in a screening position. In addition to guiding the bottom bar 36a and the edges of the screening body 36, the side rails 63 prevent light from entering 25 through a gap, which might otherwise be present between the screening body and the secondary frame.

One or both side rails 63 may further accommodate connecting means, such as cords, wires, or chains (not shown), possibly connecting the screening body 36 or the bottom bar 36a to an actuator (not shown).

30 Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 15. Here the structure of the primary and secondary side members 10, 14 is substantially as in Fig. 14, but the IGU 5 is a two-layer pane and the casing 38 does not extend downwards 140121

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30 towards the IGU. Accordingly, the secondary side member is partially exposed, and the visual appearance of the skylight window is different. The recess 148 in the secondary side member 14, which was used for attachment of the cover 80 in Fig. 10 may also be used for attachment of the screening 5 device 34.

If wishing to make the screening device less visible, the second leg 16, the second leg section 15g, and/or the part of the second leg 26 of the primary side member 10 extending underneath the IGU 5 could be made wider than shown in Fig. 15. In this way the screening body 36, when 10 positioned in the non-screening, end position, and preferably the entire screening device 34 can be hidden from view.

Another difference between the embodiments in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 is that the covering 9 of the weather shield in Fig. 15 is shorter in the height direction, potentially allowing the skylight window to be mounted deeper in a 15 roof structure than the skylight window in Fig. 14.

The primary side member shown in Fig. 15 has an outer surface 25o, extending in the upward direction from the most interior surface 10a to a most exterior surface portion including the most exterior surface 25x, which is substantially straight and extending substantially perpendicular to the 20 exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit. The presences of local projections and/or depressions, here in the form of an opening 45a for receiving a fastener at the bottom of the primary side member 10, a sealing gasket supporting flange 25p, and a deflection flange forming the most exterior surface 25x, is not to be taking into consideration in this regard. The 25 frame side member shown in Fig. 15 is thus considered as having a straight outer surface extending from a most interior surface portion to a most exterior surface portion of the primary side member.

A still further embodiment comprising a screen device 34 is shown in Fig. 16. Flere, the overall structure of the primary and secondary side 30 members 10, 14 is substantially as in Fig. 8, but the weather shield pane 8 is dome-shaped.

The screening device 34 is attached at the top of the first leg 15 of 140121

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31 the secondary side member 14 in a manner not shown and it is to be understood that it may be housed in a casing 38 as described above. The high position of the screening device may be advantageous from a screening point of view or from an insulation point of view, but the screening device 5 would have been less visible from the interior side if arranged closer to the IGU 5, possibly even resting on the exterior major surface 5g of the IGU.

In all of Figs 14-16 the screening device 34 is located below the most exterior surface 14x of the secondary side member 14 when seen in the height direction, except for the integrated fixation member 39 of the casing 38 10 hooking over the edge of the secondary side member. This allows the screening body 36 to be arranged close to a flat weather shield pane 8 when in a screening position as indicated in Figs 14 and 15, which may be advantageous from an insulation point of view and may provide aesthetic advantages.

15 The screening devices 34 in Figs 13-16 are shown with only one screening body 36 , but it is to be understood that they might include two or more screening bodies, and that additional components such as a bottom roller, side rails, motors etc. might also be present even if not described or shown in the drawing. Though depicted as a roller blind, the screening device 20 34 might also be another type of blind or a shutter.

An actuator 100 for operating a screening device 34 or for opening and closing the skylight window 1 may located in a separate actuator housing 102 at the outer side of the primary frame as shown in Fig. 9, in a space within the primary side member 10 as shown in Fig. 5, or in a space delimited 25 by the primary side member 10 and the secondary side member 14. In Fig. 17 the actuator 100 is a motor unit located in a space delimited in the height direction by the secondary side member 14 and the second leg 26 of the primary side member and in the width direction W by the load-bearing structure 25d of the primary side member and a block of insulating material 30 25a. It could, however, also have been limited in the width direction by the primary side member 10 on one side and the second secondary side member 14 or a peripheral side 5a of the IGU on the other side. If limited by the 140121

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32 second secondary side member 14 or a peripheral side 5a of the IGU, the actuator would be exposed in an open state of the skylight window 1 and might then need protection, for example to be provided with an actuator covering. Positioning the actuator 100 outside the periphery of the IGU 5 may 5 improve the light entry and view through the skylight window.

In the embodiments shown in Figs 5, 9 and 17 the motor-driven actu ator 100 comprises an elongated lifting element in the form of a chain 101 connected to the secondary side member 14 for moving the secondary frame 6 between an open position and a closed position of the skylight window.

10 As shown in Fig. 17, the chain 101 has a top end 101a, in this case a top end of a top joint of the chain. The motor-driven actuator 100 has a first position in which the skylight window 1 is in the closed position and a second position in which the skylight window is in the open position. In the closed po sition, the chain 101 may rolled-up within the motor-driven actuator 100, with 15 only the top of the chain 101 that is connected to the first secondary side member 14 exposed as shown in Fig. 17. To open the skylight window 1 from the closed position, the chain actuator 100 unrolls the chain 101 from the first position to the second position, thereby pushing the secondary side member 14 and thus the entire secondary frame 6 together with the IGU 5 in the exte- 20 rior direction and into the open position of the skylight window 1.

The lifting element 101 may alternatively be a lifting rod, a stem, a spindle, a telescopic lifting element, a screw, or the like. This may especially be relevant in embodiments as the one shown in Fig. 5, where more space is available between the housing 102 of the actuator and the secondary side 25 member 14 than what is shown in Fig. 17.

In the description above the secondary side members 12, 13, 14 have all been shown and described as being made from one or more sheet material profiles, but it is to be understood that they may also comprise blocks of insulation material as described with reference to the primary side 30 members 10, 11, 18. Alternatively or in addition, the secondary side members may be provided with a thermal break (not shown) made from a material of a lower thermal conductivity than other parts of the secondary side member 14 140121

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33 to reduce any potential thermal bridges, which would otherwise occur in the secondary frame.

Further items of the invention include:

1. A skylight window for being installed at a roof of a building, said 5 skylight window comprising: a primary frame comprising four primary side members delimiting a primary frame opening, a secondary frame comprising four secondary side members delimiting a secondary frame opening, each of the secondary side members 10 extending in parallel with one of the primary side members, an insulating glazing unit supported by the secondary frame and covering the secondary frame opening, said insulating glazing unit comprising multiple layers of glazing with a sealed space between them, where an inert gas, such as argon or krypton, or a vacuum is present in the sealed space, 15 said insulating glazing unit having an exposed interior major surface for facing an interior of said building in an installed position of the skylight window, an exposed exterior major surface opposite said exposed interior major surface, and peripheral sides extending between said exposed interior major surface and said exposed exterior major surface, where an upward direction extends 20 away from said exposed interior major surface towards said exposed exterior major surface at a right angle to said exposed interior major surface, and a weather shield pane arranged above said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit in the upward direction for protecting the primary frame, the secondary frame, and the insulating glazing unit from 25 weather in the installed position of the skylight window, where each of the primary side members extends in a longitudinal direction along a peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit in parallel with said exposed interior major surface, and wherein said insulating glazing unit is located at a most interior 30 surface of said secondary frame and wherein said weather shield pane is located at a most exterior surface of said secondary frame.

In other words, the insulating glazing unit is located opposite to and 140121

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34 across to said weather shield pane in a height direction extending in parallel to the upward direction. The insulating glazing unit and the weather shield pane are thus located across to each other at opposite sides of the secondary frame, and a closed space is defined between the insulating glazing unit, the 5 weather shield pane, and the secondary frame members.

2. A skylight window as defined in item 1 , wherein the closed space between the insulating glazing unit and said weather shield pane has a height in the upward direction constituting 35% or more, such as 45% or more, of a

10 total height of the skylight window in the upward direction measured from a most interior surface of the primary frame to a most exterior surface of the weather shield pane.

3. A skylight window as defined in item 1 or 2, wherein the primary

15 frame surrounds the secondary frame, and where each of the primary side members overlap 40% or more of a total height of the secondary side member extending in parallel therewith, said total height of the secondary side member being measured in the upward direction from a most interior surface of the secondary side member to a most exterior surface of the

20 secondary side member.

4. A skylight window as defined in one or more of items 1-3, where said secondary frame is made from one or more materials, which is/are structurally stable at 100°C (212°F) and comprising a metal.

25

5. A skylight window as defined one or more of items 1-4, wherein each primary side member has an outer surface extending in the upward direction from a most interior surface of the primary side member to a most exterior surface of the primary side member, and where said outer surface of

30 each primary side member is substantially straight and extending substantially perpendicular to the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit. 140121

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The primary frame may made local projections or depressions, for example adapted for receiving and/or supporting sealing gaskets or fasteners. The presences of such local projections or depressions in not to be taken into consideration.

5

6. A skylight window as defined in one or more of items 1-5, wherein the weather shield pane extends beyond an outermost surface of at least one primary side member in the width direction.

10 7. A skylight window as defined in one or more of items 1-6, wherein the secondary frame is connected to the primary frame by a hinge arrangement, so that the secondary frame can open and close in relation to the primary frame, and wherein, in the closed position, the secondary frame is hidden when seen from the interior side of the skylight window.

15

8. A skylight window as defined in one or more of items 1-7, wherein the weather shield pane is releasably attached to the secondary frame thereby enabling access to the closed space between the weather shield pane and the insulating glazing unit and to the exterior major surface of the

20 insulating glazing unit.

9. A skylight window as defined in one or more of items 1-8, wherein said insulating glazing unit is located at a most interior surface portion of said secondary frame and wherein said weather shield pane is located at a most

25 exterior surface portion of said secondary frame.

The most interior surfaces and the most exterior surfaces of the secondary frame referred to in the description above form part of the most interior surface portion and the most exterior surface portion of said secondary frame, respectively. Likewise, the primary frame comprises a most

30 interior surface portion and a most exterior surface portion comprising the most interior surface and the most exterior surface of the primary frame, respectively. 140121

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Embodiments comprising a combination of one or more features described in items 1-9 with one or more features described in the claims are also possible, one example being that the definition of the relative size of the 5 closed space given in item 2 will also apply to skylight windows as defined in claims 1 and 2. As another example, the definition of the materials used for the secondary frame given in item 4 will also apply to a skylight window as defined in claim 6.

10

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List of reference numerals

1 Skylight window

2 Roof

3 Weather shield

4 Window portion

5 IGU

5a Peripheral side

5b Exposed interior major surface

5c Layer of glazing

5d Interior pane / layer of glazing

5e Layer of glazing

5g Exposed exterior major surface

6 Secondary frame

7 Primary frame

8 Weather shield pane

84 Section above seconds legs

9 Weather shield covering

91 Most interior edge of weather shield covering

92 Adhesive

93 Releasable fastener

94 Attachment member

10 Primary side member

10a Interior surface of primary side member

10b Lining panel recess

10e Lining panel protrusion

11 Primary side member

12 Secondary side member

13 Secondary side member

14 Secondary side member

148 Recess

14x Most exterior surface

15 First leg

15a Interior end

15d Sheet material profile

15e Exterior end

15f First leg section

15g Second leg section

15h Third leg section

15i Most interior surface

15x Most exterior surface

16 Second leg

16a Resting surface

16b Inner end

16f Surface

17 Third leg WO 2021/156313 PCT/EP2021/052563

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17a Lower supporting surface

18 Primary side member

19 Holding member

21 Rotary hinge

22 Sealing

23 Sealing member

24 Sealing member

25a Insulation material

25b Insulation material

25d Load-bearing structure / sheet material profile

25h Housing profile

25o Outer surface

25p Projection

25x Most exterior surface

28 Groove

29 Groove

30 Fixation member

31 Fourth leg

31a Outer sheet material profiles

31b Inner sheet material profiles

34 Screening device

35 Collection roller

36 Screening body

38 Casing

39 Fixation member

40 Curb flange

45a Opening

47 Primary frame covering

50 Reveal panel or lining panel

58 Closed space

74 Adhesive

78 Abutment element

80 Secondary frame cover

100 Motor-driven actuator / chain actuator

100a Top element of motor-driven actuator

101 Elongated lifting element / chain

101a Top end of elongated lifting element / top end of chain

102 Actuator housing

D Downward direction

DL Daylight-line

H Height direction

L Longitudinal direction

T Thickness u Upward direction

V View-line w Width direction

Claims

39 Claims

1. A skylight window for being installed at a roof of a building, said skylight window comprising: a primary frame comprising four primary side members delimiting a

5 primary frame opening, a secondary frame comprising four secondary side members delimiting a secondary frame opening, each of the secondary side members extending in parallel with one of the primary side members, an insulating glazing unit supported by the secondary frame and

10 covering the secondary frame opening, said insulating glazing unit comprising multiple layers of glazing with a sealed space between them, where an inert gas, such as argon or krypton, or a vacuum is present in the sealed space, said insulating glazing unit having an exposed interior major surface for facing an interior of said building in an installed position of the skylight window, an

15 exposed exterior major surface opposite said exposed interior major surface, and peripheral sides extending between said exposed interior major surface and said exposed exterior major surface, where an upward direction extends away from said exposed interior major surface towards said exposed exterior major surface at a right angle to said exposed interior major surface, and

20 a weather shield pane arranged above said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit in the upward direction for protecting the primary frame, the secondary frame, and the insulating glazing unit from weather in the installed position of the skylight window, where each of the primary side members extends in a longitudinal

25 direction along a peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit in parallel with said exposed interior major surface, and wherein said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is located below a most exterior surface of said primary frame in said upward direction.

30 2. A skylight window for being installed at a roof of a building, said skylight window comprising: a primary frame comprising four primary side members delimiting a 40 primary frame opening, each primary side member having an outer surface facing away from the primary frame opening, a secondary frame comprising four secondary side members delimiting a secondary frame opening, each of the secondary side members 5 extending in parallel with one of the primary side members, an insulating glazing unit supported by the secondary frame and covering the secondary frame opening, said insulating glazing unit comprising multiple layers of glazing with a sealed space between them, where an inert gas, such as argon or krypton, or a vacuum is present in the sealed space, 10 said insulating glazing unit having an exposed interior major surface for facing an interior of said building in an installed position of the skylight window, an exposed exterior major surface opposite said exposed interior major surface, and peripheral sides extending between said exposed interior major surface and said exposed exterior major surface, where an upward direction extends 15 away from said exposed interior major surface towards said exposed exterior major surface at a right angle to said exposed interior major surface, a weather shield pane arranged above said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit in the upward direction for protecting the primary frame, the secondary frame, and the insulating glazing unit from 20 weather in the installed position of the skylight window, and a covering extending in a downward direction, which is opposite the upward direction, away from the weather shield pane, where each of the primary side members extends in a longitudinal direction along a peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit in parallel with 25 said exposed interior major surface, where the covering extends in parallel with at least one primary side members and along the outer surface of said at least one primary frame member, and having a most interior edge, which is the part of the covering located furthest away from the weather shield pane, and 30 wherein said exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is located below said most interior edge of the covering in said upward direction. 140121

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3. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where each primary side member has a first leg, which extends in the upward direction and along a peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit, and a second leg, which extends away from the first leg and along a part of said exposed interior major

5 surface of the insulating glazing unit, said second leg having an innermost edge, which is the edge of the second leg located furthest from the first leg measured in parallel with the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit.

4. A skylight window according to claim 3, where the insulating

10 glazing unit abuts on at least one sealing gasket provided on the second leg of at least one primary side member.

5. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where the smallest distance from each peripheral side of the insulating glazing unit to a primary side member extending along said peripheral side measured in a direction

15 parallel til the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing unit is 20mm or less.

6. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where each primary side member comprises a combination of at least one sheet material profile and at least one block of an insulating material chosen from group consisting

20 of expanded polymers, foamed polymers, mineral wool, and composites including these materials.

7. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where at least one primary side member comprises at least one housing profile having a U- shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,

25 and where a device is arranged inside said housing profile, said device being chosen for the group consisting of a hinge, a motor, a screening device, and an insulating member.

8. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where each secondary side member comprises at least one sheet material profile.

30 9. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where each secondary side member comprises a first sheet material profile connected to the weather shield pane, a second sheet material profile connected to the 140121

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42 insulating glazing unit, and a connecting section interconnecting the first sheet material and the second sheet material, where said connecting section has a lower thermal conductivity than the first sheet material profile and second sheet material profile.

5 10. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where said secondary frame is connected to said primary frame by a hinge arrangement and is movable in relation to the primary frame between an open and a closed position of the skylight window.

11. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where said 10 secondary frame is fixed to said primary frame.

12. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where a motor unit is arranged below the weather shield pane seen in the upward direction, said motor unit being connected to at least one of the secondary frame and a screening device so as to be able to move it in relation to the primary frame.

15 13. A skylight window according to claim 12, where the motor unit comprises an actuator chain and where at least a part of the motor unit is located below the exposed exterior major surface of the insulating glazing unit when seen in the upward direction.

14. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where a screening 20 device is arranged between the weather shield pane and the insulating glazing unit, said screening device being chosen from the group consisting of roller shades, pleated shades, cellular shades, roman shapes, korean blinds, Venetian blinds, and panel blinds.

15. A skylight window according to claim 3 and 14, where the 25 screening device includes a screening body, said screening body being moveable between a first, non-screening end position, in which it is in a collapsed state, such as a rolled-up, pleated or folded state, at a first primary side member, and a second, screening end position in which, for the screening of the insulating glazing unit, said screening is extended between 30 the first primary side member and a second primary side member, said second primary side member extending in parallel to the first primary side member and being located on the opposite side of the primary frame opening, 140121

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43 and where, when in the first, non-screening end position, the entire screening body is located between the first leg of the first primary side member and the innermost edge of the second leg of the first primary side member when seen in parallel with the exposed interior major surface of the insulating glazing 5 unit.

16. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where a/the covering comprises a first leg, which extends along the outer surface of at least one primary frame member, and a second leg which extends along a rim of the weather shield pane.

10 17. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where said insulating glazing unit is located at a most interior surface of said secondary frame and wherein said weather shield pane is located at a most exterior surface of said secondary frame.

18. A skylight window according to claim 1 or 2, where said insulating 15 glazing unit is located at a most interior surface portion of said secondary frame and wherein said weather shield pane is located at a most exterior surface portion of said secondary frame.