Technical Field
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The present invention relates to an installation frame for at least one roof window installed in a roof structure, to a roof window installed in a roof structure with an installation frame, and to a method for installing an installation frame at at least one roof window installed in a roof structure.
Background Art
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When installing a roof window or a group of roof windows in a roof of a building, it is necessary to make an opening in the roof structure, thereby interrupting the building envelope that separates the interior of the building from the exterior and provides both water-proofing and thermal insulation.
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Insulating installation frames arranged with installation frame members extending between the roof window(s) and the roof structure may be used for establishing a well-insulated joint between the roof window(s) and the roof structure, thereby giving the joint insulating properties corresponding to those of the roof window and/or the roof structure. In cold climate zones this will prevent heat loss from the building and in warmer climate zones it may reduce the amount of energy needed for cooling. One example of such an insulating installation frame is known from
EP2677092A1 .
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As also explained in
EP2677092A1 , an underroof collar may be used for water-proofing the joint between the roof window(s) and the roof structure by extending over the installation frame, having an inner rim at the frame of the roof window(s) and an outer skirt part being in engagement with an underroof of the roof structure.
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The installation frame and underroof collar described in
EP2677092A1 have been widely used and work very well with traditional roof windows mounted one by one, but the installation may be difficult when the roof window is very large and/or when two or more roof windows are mounted closely side-by-side or one above the other in the same opening in the roof structure.
Summary of Invention
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With this background, it is an object of the invention to provide an installation frame facilitating installation.
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In a first aspect of the invention, this and further objects are achieved with an installation frame for at least one roof window installed in a roof structure, said installation frame comprising a plurality of installation frame members, a plurality of frame connector brackets, and an underroof collar; where each installation frame member comprises at least one structural part and at least some of the installation frame members comprise an insulating part; where each frame connector bracket is configured for attachment to structural parts of at least two installation frame members; where the underroof collar comprises two or more separate collar parts, each collar part comprising an inner rim configured for extending along the at least one roof window and an outer skirt part configured for coming into engagement with the roof structure; and where each collar part is attached to at least one installation frame member, at least one collar part being attached to a structural part of an installation frame member.
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With this installation frame, the structural parts of the installation frame members are used both for interconnection of the installation frame members via the frame connector brackets and for carrying the collar parts of the underroof collar. The collar parts may be attached to the structural parts in a state of delivery, or the attachment may be established manually when having unpacked the installation frame.
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Whereas the traditional installation process has typically involved assembling the installation frame before arranging it in the opening in the roof structure, then installing the frame of the roof window, and then applying the underroof collar, it is now possible to install one installation frame member at a time together with a relevant part of the underroof collar. As an example, a bottom installation frame member may be installed first at a bottom edge of the opening in the roof structure, then two side installation frame members may be connected to the bottom installation frame member and arranged to extend along side edges of the opening, and finally a top installation frame member may be connected to the side installation frame members and arranged to extend along a top edge of the opening. Likewise, the collar parts of the underroof collar may also comprise a bottom collar part, a top collar part, and two side collar part each configured for extending between the bottom collar part and the top collar part, these collar parts being arranged in engagement with the roof structure one at a time in the same sequence as the installation of the installation frame members described above. In this way it will no longer be necessary to handle a large one-piece underroof collar and the risk of the underroof collar not being installed, either intentionally or unintentionally, is reduced.
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The terms "bottom" and "top" refer to the situation where the roof window or group of roof windows is installed in a pitched roof. Bottom refers to parts and positions below a roof window seen a direction of inclination of the pitched roof and top refers to parts and positions above the roof window seen the direction of inclination. The same applies to other indications of direction such as "upper" and "lower". The term "side" is used for parts and positions adjacent to the roof window, such as installation frame elements extending between a bottom and a top.
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It is presently considered advantageous that at least some of the installation frame members are installed before the roof window(s) or roof window frame(s), which they will be in contact with in the installed state.
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Likewise, installation may be facilitated by providing one or more insulating parts separately, so that they can be installed before or after an installation frame member, along which it is intended to extend in the installed state. This will typically be relevant at the top and/or at the bottom, as roof windows are often swung into place in the opening in the roof structure by turning them about a horizontal axis. In one embodiment of the installation frame each of the bottom installation frame member and the side installation frame members comprises at least one insulating part, and an insulating part configured for use at and/or attachment to the top installation frame member is provided separately. Such a separate insulting part may be attached to a structural part of the installation frame member at which is it installed, here the top installation frame member, but it may also be attached to the roof structure or to another installation frame member, or it may simply be sandwiched between the roof window and the roof structure and kept in place by friction.
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It is to be understood that all installation frame members may comprise at least one insulating part in the state of delivery, and that a separate insulating part may serve as a supplement to one or more other insulating parts of the installation frame. A separate insulating part may be composed of two or more sub-parts, possibly made from two or more different materials, just as the insulating parts integrated in the insulating frame members.
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The underroof collar parts may be brought into contact with the underroof of the roof structure before or after the installation of the roof window(s) or roof window frame(s). One or more may be brought into contact with the underroof before installation of the roof window(s) or roof window frame(s), while one or more others wait until after.
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Bringing the underroof collar parts into contact with the underroof does not necessarily mean that a large contact area must be established. It only means that the collar parts must come down to the underroof so that any water reaching the underroof collar, for example having penetrated between tiles, does not reach the joint between the roof window(s) and the roof structure but is led onto the underroof.
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An installation frame intended for use with roof windows mounted side by side or one above the other in the roof structure may comprise a middle installation frame member or just a middle insulating part extending either between the bottom installation frame member and the top installation frame member in parallel with the side installation frame members or between the side installation frame members in parallel with the bottom installation frame member and the top installation frame member. The underroof collar may then also comprise a middle collar part, to mimic the traditional one-piece underroof collar, which would have the overall shape of the number 8. Installation frames with separate openings for two or more windows may be especially difficult to install in an assembled state due, both due to their large size and to their structural complexity, and the same applies to the traditional one-piece underroof collars. The advantages of the invention are therefore especially pronounced in such installation situations.
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A middle installation frame member may be provided with or without an insulating part, and one or more separate insulating parts may be used between roof windows, regardless if the installation frame comprises a middle installation frame or not.
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In cases where the roof windows are mounted side by side or one above the other in the roof structure, one or more of the installation frame members may be composed of two separate installation frames members interconnected by a connector bracket. The connector brackets may thus comprises both corner connector brackets and middle connector brackets. It is presently considered advantageous that the separate installation frame members connected by middle connector brackets each have a length corresponding to the length or width of a single roof window. This may allow the same installation frame members to be used both with roof windows mounted alone and in groups, leading to fewer different elements having to be produced and kept on stock. A middle connector bracket may be configured to be able to compensate for a distance between neighbouring roof windows and/or to allow the use of the same installation frame in several different installation situations, where the distance between neighbouring roof windows is different. It is also possible to interconnect installation parts of different lengths, for example allowing installation frame members of different standard lengths to be combined into several other standard lengths and thus be used for several different installation situations.
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The connector brackets may be made from metal or a polymer. They may comprise engagement members, such as projections configured for engagement with openings in the structural parts. A snap-locking engagement between the structural parts and the connector brackets may be advantageous as it may facilitate interconnection and hinder unintentional disconnection of the installation frame members.
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The structural parts may for example be metal rail members, made for example from steel, but they may also be made from other materials, such as wood or a polymer, for example to have a low thermal conductivity. Different materials may be combined into one structural part or two or more structural parts of different materials may form part of one installation frame member. The structural parts may have a non-straight cross-sectional shape, such as an L-shape or a Z-shape, to provide strength and/or stiffness. The cross-sectional shape may have to be match a shape of the connector bracket to facilitate interconnection.
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The insulating parts may for example be made from a foamed polymer or mineral wool. Different materials may be combined into one insulating part or two or more insulating elements of different materials may form part of one installation frame member. Likewise different installation frame members may have different insulating parts.
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The collar parts can be made from any deformable material suitable for weather proofing and for extending over the installation frame members and coming into contact with the roof structure. Typically it will be a pliable, textile-like material, such as a non-woven made from a polymer. Different collar parts may be made from different materials and/or combinations of materials. One or more collar parts may comprise pleating to provide a surplus of material, which will allow the collar part to expand and extend over an irregular roof structure, such as over and between battens in a roof structure where tiles or slate are used as roofing.
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One or more collar parts may comprise a fastener for attachment to another collar part, to another installation frame member, to the roof structure, and/or to a roof window. The fastener may for example be an adhesive, which may be covered to a cover layer in a state of delivery, or a member configured for mechanical engagement, such as a projection with a barb configured with an opening in an installation frame member or in a frame of a roof window. Other examples include snap locks and hook-and-loop type fasteners, such as Velcro.
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Each collar part has an interior side adapted for facing the roof structure and the at least one roof window in an installed state and an opposite exterior side adapted for facing away from the roof structure and the at least one roof window in an installed state. One or both of the exterior side and the interior side may be provided with a coating, for example to provide watertightness or wind-tightness, and/or with information about the intended use of the collar part, said information for example being printing on the collar part or provided on a stickers attached to the collar part.
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One or more collar parts may be in a compacted state in a state of delivery, for example being arranged on the installation frame member in a folded or rolled state. This may facilitate installation of the installation frame, as the risk of the collar parts being in the way when arranging the installation frame members in the opening in the roof structure is reduced. In one embodiment, the collar parts in their compacted state do not extend beyond the outer dimensions of the frame formed by the installation frame members when interconnected, at least not the outer dimensions in the plane of the installation frame, i.e. in the plane extending in parallel to the plane of the roof in the installed state.
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A collar part may be kept in the compacted state by a retainer. The retainer may for example be an adhesive tape, and it is to be understood that one collar part may be retained by more than one retainer, depending for example on the size of the collar part and the size of the retainer relative to the size of the collar part. Other examples of suitable retainers are adhesive, string, strips or clamps. Spotwelding sections of the collar part to each other may also provide retention and may be the only retainer used.
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As mentioned above, the collar parts of the underroof collar may comprise a bottom collar part, a top collar part, and two side collar part each configured for extending a corresponding installation frame member. Each of these collar parts may project beyond the structural part to which it is attached, at least when in an extended use state, to form a corner of the underroof collar and/or overlap with one or more of the other collar parts. In one embodiment, the bottom collar part projects beyond the structural part of the bottom installation frame member at both ends, the side collar parts project beyond the structural part of the side installation frame members at least at the ends closest to the bottom installation frame member in the installed state, and the top collar part projects beyond the structural part of the top installation frame member at both ends. This allows the bottom collar part to first be brought into an extended use state first and for the side collar parts to then be extended so that they project over and overlap with the projecting parts of the bottom collar part. The projecting parts, also referred to as end sections, of the bottom collar part and the side collar parts thus form lower corners of the underroof collar. Likewise, the top collar part may be installed to overlap with the side collar parts at both sides, thereby forming upper corners of the underroof collar. This may be achieved in the same way as for the bottom collar part, but it is presently considered advantageous to use a top collar part having a U-shape with sections extending down along the side installation frame members in the extended use state. The overlap between the top collar part and the side collar parts will thus be located at the side installation frame members, whereas the upper corners of the underroof collar may be formed solely by the projecting parts of the top collar part.
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Regardless of the configuration of the collar parts they should form a continuous underroof collar in the extended use state, and the inner rims of the collar parts will delimit a collar opening surrounding the roof window(s) in the installed state.
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In an alternative embodiment, the side collar parts are integrated in the top collar part, which thus has a U-shape with long arms, and there are consequently no separate side collar parts. The top collar part may then extend all the way down to the bottom collar part and overlap with it, forming lower corners as described above, but it is also possible to use a U-shaped bottom collar part, extending up along the sides in the extended use state in the same way as the top collar part, so that the lower corners are formed solely by the projecting parts of the bottom collar part. Likewise, it is possible to use to U-shaped side collar parts and no bottom and top collar parts.
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The attachment of the collar parts to the structural parts may be achieved by for example by the collar part being clamped in a bent edge of the structural part or by the use of adhesive. The best suited means for attachment will depend on the materials used for the structural parts and the collar parts as well as their shapes, and different means may be used for attachment of different collar parts of the same underroof collar. Welding, staples, nails, snap locks, hook-and-loop type fasteners, and friction may also be used for attachment of collar parts.
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It is presently considered advantageous that the collar parts are attached to the structural parts at their inner rims, but this need not be the case.
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The attachment of the collar parts to the installation frame in the state of delivery may be temporary and another or supplemental attachment may be established as part of the installation process.
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The use of the installation frame may result in a roof window installed in a roof structure, where each installation frame member extends between the roof window and the roof structure, where each frame connector bracket interconnects the structural parts of at least two installation frame members, and where the underroof collar extends over and water-proofs a joint between the roof window and the roof structure with the inner rim of each collar part extending along the roof window and the outer skirt part being in engagement with the roof structure. It may also result in a group of roof windows installed in a roof structure, where each installation frame member extends between at least one roof window and the roof structure, where each frame connector bracket interconnects the structural parts of at least two installation frame members, and where the underroof collar extends over and water-proofs a joint between at least one roof window and the roof structure with the inner rim of each collar part extending along the at least one roof window and the outer skirt part being in engagement with the roof structure.
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While the installation frame has been and will be described primarily as a rectangular frame it is to be understood that other shapes are also possible and that the number and relative length of the installation frame members will then have to differs from what has been described. The shape and/or number of the connector brackets may also vary, depending on the intended shape of the installation frame.
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In a second aspect of the invention, at least the object described above is achieved with a method for installing an installation frame at at least one roof window installed in a roof structure, comprising:
- A) arranging a plurality of installation frame members between the at least one roof window and the roof structure, each installation frame member comprising at least one structural part and at least some of the installation frame members comprising an insulating part,
- B) using a plurality of frame connector brackets for interconnecting the installation frame members by attaching each structural part to at least one of the frame connector brackets, and
- C) arranging an underroof collar so that it extends over and water-proofs a joint between the at least one roof window and the roof structure by arranging two or more separate collar parts with an inner rim of each collar part attached to the at least one structural part of an installation frame member and extending along the at least one the roof window and by separately arranging an outer skirt part of each collar part in engagement with the roof structure.
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By allowing the installation frame members and the collar parts to be installed one by one, the installation work may become easier as it is not necessary to handle big and complex units. This may not only contribute to actual and correct installation of the installation frame including the underroof collar, but may also provide work safety advantages as it can be a challenge to handle big installation frames and underroof collars, which are easily caught by wind.
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It will also be possible to provide a wholly or partially pre-assembled installation frame and unfold the collar parts one by one.
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The inner rim of each collar part extending along the at least one the roof window does not mean that the inner rim part needs to be in contact with the roof window. As an example, an installation frame member or an insulating element may be located between the collar part and the roof window.
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The steps of the method do not necessarily have to be performed and completed in alphabetical order. As an example, step B) may be performed before, during, or after step A), meaning for example that the installation process may include arranging a bottom installation frame member at a bottom of a roof window, then connecting side installation frame members to the bottom installation frame member, then swinging the side installation frame members into position, and finally connecting a top installation frame member to the side installation frame members. Likewise, one or more collar parts of the underroof collar may be brought into its/their extended use state before all installation frame members have been arranged in their intended position, i.e. initiating step C) before completing step A).
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Step C) may include the following sequence:
- C1) arranging a bottom collar part with the outer skirt part in engagement with the roof structure below a roof window installed in a pitched roof when seen in the direction of inclination of the pitched roof,
- C2) arranging side collar parts with the outer skirt part in engagement with the roof structure adjacent the roof window and partially overlapping the outer skirt part of the bottom collar part, and
- C3) arranging a top collar part with the outer skirt part in engagement with the roof structure above the roof window seen in the direction of inclination of the pitched roof and partially overlapping the outer skirt part of the side collar parts.
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Additionally, or alternatively, step C) may include attaching at least one collar part to another collar part, to another installation frame member, to the roof structure, and/or to a roof window. If using an adhesive for the attachment, the adhesive may be provided on the collar part in the state of delivery and may be covered by a cover layer, such as a strip of a polymer material or coated paper, to prevent unintended adhesion.
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Step C) may further include opening a pleating of a collar part to provide a surplus of material and allow adaptation to the shape of the roof structure.
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The method may further comprise D) installing a separate insulating part at the top installation frame member and/or attaching a/the separate insulating part to the top installation frame member. Providing one or more insulating parts separately may facilitate installation of a well-insulated roof window in that insulation material, which could otherwise be in the way during installation on the installation frame and/or of the roof window or roof window frame, can be installed separately.
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The advantages and embodiments described above with reference to the first aspect of the invention also apply to the second aspect of the invention and to avoid undue repetition they will not be described again. Likewise, advantages and embodiments described with reference to the second aspect also apply to the first aspect. The same applies to advantages and embodiments described below with reference to the drawing.
Brief Description of Drawings
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In the following description embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the schematic drawings, in which
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of roof structure with an opening;
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an installation frame during assembly;
- Fig. 3 shows the installation of two roof window frames in the opening in Fig. 1 and the installation frame in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4 shows the installation of a prior art underroof collar on the two roof window frames in Fig. 3;
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a single roof window frame installed in an opening in a roof structure;
- Fig. 6 is a simplified cross-section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5;
- Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an installation frame with an underroof collar part;
- Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an installation frame with an underroof collar part;
- Fig. 9 shows an installation frame with an underroof collar installed in an opening in a roof structure;
- Fig. 10-17 show the installation of the underroof collar in Fig. 9;
- Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of an installation frame with an underroof collar;
- Fig. 19 is an enlargement of the detail marked XX in Fig. 18,
- Figs 20-22 are cross-sectional views each corresponding to a cross-section along the line X-X in Fig. 5;
- Fig. 23 shows a perspective view of details of an embodiment corresponding to that in Fig. 22; and
- Fig. 24a and 24b are further cross-sectional views corresponding to a cross-section along the line X-X in Fig. 5.
Description of Embodiments
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Referring initially to Figs 1-4, a typically method for installation of a group of two roof windows side-by-side is shown.
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In Fig. 1 an opening 10 is cut in a roof structure 1 of a building.
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The roof structure 1 is pitched with a direction of inclination D and comprises battens 11 for supporting a roofing material 12, here slate, and an underroof 13 providing additional water- and wind-proofing. When the opening is cut, the battens, laths 14 supporting the battens, and the underroof is interrupted, leaving sections 131 of the underroof, which are subsequently folded up over battens and laths, primarily to ensure that neighbouring sections of the underroof stay in place and for wind-proofing purposes. Auxiliary battens 112 may be provided to support the sections 131 of the underroof as well as an installation frame and/or roof windows, as is seen in Fig. 3.
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Fig. 2 shows the assembly of an installation frame 2 matching the size and shape of the opening 10 in the roof structure. In this embodiment, the installation frame comprises six installation frame members; two bottom installation frame members 21, two top installation frame members 22, and two side installation frame members 23 extending between the top and bottom installation frame members. Each bottom installation frame member and each top installation frame member has a length corresponding substantially to the width of one roof window frame 3 as is seen in Fig. 3.
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Each installation frame member comprises a structural part 212, 232 in the form of a steel rail and an insulating part 211, 231 in the form of polymer foam, reference numbers here only being applied to the left-hand side installation frame member and the right-hand bottom installation frame member to avoid obscuring the drawing.
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The installation frame members 21, 22, 23 are interconnected by four corner connector brackets 24.
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In this embodiment the structural parts 212 of the two bottom installation frame members 21 are attach directly to each other and the same applies to the two top installation frame members 22, but it is also possible to provide two middle connector brackets, using one of these between the two bottom installation frame members and the other between the two top installation frame members.
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While all installation frame members 21, 22, 23 of the embodiment in Fig. 2 comprise insulating parts and all of these insulating parts appear substantially identical, it is to be understood that this may not be the case in all embodiment. The engagement with the roof structure 1 may for example result in different requirements for the insulating parts at the sides versus the top and the bottom.
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In Fig. 3 the installation frame 2 has been arranged in the opening 10 in the roof structure 1. One roof window frame 3 has already been arranged in the opening and another is being installed as shown by arrows so that both will be enveloped by the installation frame. Here the arrows indicate that the roof window frame 3 is installed by a movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the roof structure, but it is well known to the skilled person that roof window frames are often installed by first being arranged to rest on the bottom installation frame member or an auxiliary batten 112 and then swung into place, either from the interior or from the exterior. An insulating part on the top installation frame member 22, which will provide good insulating properties in the installed state, may be in the way of such a swinging motion and it may therefore be advantageous that it is provided as a separate insulating part, which can be installed after the roof window frame. The use of one or more separate insulating parts may also be advantageous when installing the roof window frames as shown in Fig. 3.
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Fig. 4 shows the installation of an underroof collar 4 around the roof window frames 3. An inner rim 401 of the underroof collar is attached to the roof window frames and an outer skirt part 402 extends over the installation frame (not visible), thereby extending over and water-proofing the joint between the roof window frames and the roof structure 1.
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As indicated by knife-symbols 51, the underroof collar is here cut to allow it to come down around laths 14, below the opening 10 seen in the direction of inclination D. At the sides of the underroof collar a pleating is unfolded to allow them to come down between the battens 11 as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 4. In this way the outer skirt part 402 comes into engagement with the underroof 13 underneath the battens and the laths. As indicated by a stapler-symbol 52, the outer skirt part of the underroof collar is attached to the battens 11.
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When subsequently applying a flashing assembly (not shown) and a roofing material on top of the battens 11, the underroof collar will be hidden from view and protected from the weather.
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Turning now to Fig. 5, a single roof window frame 3 is shown together with parts of a roof structure 1, and a cross-section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 6. In these figures as well as in the following ones, the same references numbers as in Figs 1-4 will be used for items having the same function, even though they may have a different structure. Differences between such elements are only described when of importance to the present invention.
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As is best seen in Fig. 6, the installation frame 2, represented by side installation frame member 23, extends between the roof window, represented by side roof window frame member 33, and the roof structure 1. In this embodiment, the entire installation frame is located below the exterior plane of the roof structure, defined by the exterior side of the battens 11, and mounting brackets 34 of the roof window extend over the installation frame, resting on the exterior side of the battens. This is not necessarily the case in other embodiments. As an example an installation frame may be strong enough to carry the entire weight of the roof window, and/or the installation frame may comprise insulating parts located above the mounting brackets in the installed state.
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In this embodiment, the side installation frame member 23 comprises one insulating part 231 and one structural part 232. The insulating part consists of two polymer foam elements, one element 2311 made from soft foam, which will yield when coming into contact with roof structure 1, and another element 2312 made from a stiffer foam, which forms a ledge extending underneath the side roof window frame member 33. The structural part consists or a rail made from a sheet of stainless steel by bending, for example by roll-forming, and comprises a first section 2321 extending into a groove between the two elements 2311, 2312 of the insulating part and a second section 2322 extending over the battens in the installed state. The same structure of a side installation frame member is seen in Figs 7-8, and it is to be understood that this is just one embodiment of a side installation frame member and that the top installation frame member and/or the bottom frame member may be embodied differently from the side installation frame member of the same installation frame.
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In Figs 7-8 a side collar part 43 of an underroof collar is shown attached to the second section 2322 of the structural part 232of a side installation frame member 23. In Fig. 7 the side collar part is a compacted rolled state and a retainer 44 in the form of a piece of adhesive tape is attached to the side collar part at one end and to the insulating part 231 at the other end, thereby keeping the side collar part in the compacted state. In Fig. 8 the side collar part 43 is folded instead of rolled, and the tape 44 is attached to the second section 2322 of the structural part 232 instead of to the insulating part, but the function is substantially the same.
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In Fig. 8 the tape retainer 44 has an end section 441, which is not attached to the structural part. This end section can be used for holding on to the tape, thus making it easier to remove the tape. The retainer in Fig. 7 could also be provided with such an end section.
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While the retainers 44 in Figs 7-8 are shown as connecting the collar part to the installation frame member, the retainer could also be attached to the collar part only. This would for example allow the collar part to be provide separately from the installation frame member and be attached to the structural part as part of the installation process.
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In both embodiments in Figs 7-8, the side collar part 43 does not extend beyond the outer dimensions of side installation frame member 23 seen in the horizontal plane and hence will not extend beyond the outer dimensions of the installation frame formed by the installation frame members in the plane of the frame, i.e. in the plane extending in parallel to the plane of the roof in the installed state.
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Turning now to Figs 9-17, steps of the installation of an underroof collar attached to an installation frame is shown.
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In Fig. 9 an installation frame 2 has been installed in a roof structure 1 comprising battens 11, laths 14 and an underroof 13. The installation frame comprises a bottom installation frame member 21, a top installation frame member 22, and two side installation frame members 23, and a bottom collar part 41, a top collar part 42, and two side collar parts 43 of an underroof collar are attached to the respective corresponding installation frame members. Each collar part is retained in a compacted rolled state by three retainers 44 in the form of strips of adhesive tape.
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Fig. 10 shows the unrolling of the bottom collar part 41 following removal of the retainers retaining the bottom collar part, bringing it into an extended use state, and Fig. 11 shows the unfolding of end sections 411 of the bottom collar part so that the bottom collar part projects beyond the installation frame member to which it is attached at both sides.
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Fig. 12 shows the unrolling of one of the side collar parts 43 following removal of the retainers retaining it, and the unrolling is followed by an unfolding of an end section 431 so that it comes to overlap with one of the end sections 411 of the bottom collar part as shown in Fig. 13. The overlapping end sections 411, 431 form a lower corner of the underroof collar, and they may be attached to each other to ensure that they stay in the intended overlapping position, for example by means for an adhesive or by passing one or more mechanical fasteners, such as staples, through both end sections and into the roof structure underneath them. In this embodiment, the end section 431 of the side collar part only extends over about 10 cm of the end section 411 of the bottom collar part, but it is to be understood that the relative dimensions may be different, including the possibility that the ends sections may be of substantially the same size and shape so that they overlap entirely.
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In the embodiment shown, the outer skirt part 434 of side collar part 43 is made from a pleated textile-like material allowing adaptation to the shape of the roof structure 1 by opening the pleating. The surplus of material thus achieved will allow the outer skirt part to reach down to the underroof 13 between the battens 11. Here the end section 431 of the side collar part is shown as comprising a pleating, whereas the entire bottom collar part 41 including the end sections 411 of is made from a flat textile-like material. It is to be understood that the end section 431 of the side collar part may also be made from flat material and/or that the end sections 411 of the bottom collar part may be made from a pleated material.
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The opposite side collar part at the opposite side of the installation frame is unrolled and comes to overlap with an end section of the bottom collar part in the same way as described above.
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It the installation frame is intended for use with roof windows mounted side-by-side or one above the other, it may comprise a middle collar part for extending between the roof windows. The middle collar part may be embodied as the side collar part, except possibly for being made entire from a flat material, or it may be provided with end sections at both ends.
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Fig. 14 shows the unrolling of the top collar part 42, Fig. 15 shows the unfolding of an end section 421 of the top collar part, and Fig. 16-17 shows the attachment of an inner rim part 423 of the end section to the structural part 232 of the side installation frame member 23. The top collar part comprises identical, only mirror-inverted, end sections at both ends.
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The end sections 421 of the top collar part 42 not only project beyond the top installation frame member 22 in a length direction L thereof but also project down along the side of the installation frame, where they overlap with the side collar parts 43. In this embodiment the top collar part may be said to have a U-shape, and as the side collar parts 43 do not project beyond the side installation frame members 23 at the top, the upper corners of the underroof collar are form solely by the top collar part.
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It the installation frame is intended for use with roof windows mounted side-by-side or one above the other, the top collar part may have an E-shape with a middle sections intended for extending between the roof windows and overlapping with a middle collar part. The same applies to the bottom collar part.
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The end sections 421 of the top collar part 42 here have outer skirt parts 424 made from a pleated material just as the side collar parts 43, allowing the end sections to extend in continuation of the side collar parts and be adapted to the shape of the roof structure in the same way as the side collar parts.
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The end sections 421 are kept in their intended positions by being attached to an upstanding part 2323 of the structural part 232 of the side installation frame member 23. Here a fastener in the form of an adhesive is provided on the top collar part in a state of delivery, covered by a cover layer 45 to prevent unintentional adhesion. Fig. 16 shows the removal of the cover layer, and Fig. 17 shows how the inner rim part 423 is pressed against the upstanding part of the structural part to establish an adhesive contact.
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Turning now to Figs 18-19, an embodiment of a side installation frame member 23 where the structural part 232 comprises an upstanding part 2323 is shown.
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In this embodiment, the insulating part 231 comprises one element 2311 made from soft foam and two elements 2313, 2314 made from a stiffer foam. The element 2311 made from soft foam is slightly oversize in a state of delivery as indicated by the hatched area and is compressed when the side installation frame member is arranged between the roof structure 1 and the roof window frame (not shown in Figs 18-19), thereby providing a tight contact both between the installation frame and the roof structure and between the installation frame and the roof window frame. The elements made from a stiffer foam protect the soft foam and provides strength and stability to the installation part.
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The side collar part 43 is here shown in an unrolled or unfolded state, where it extends over the roof structure 1, resting on an exterior side of the battens 11. The side collar part is attached to the structural part 232 of the side installation frame member 23 by an edge of the side collar part being clamped in a bent edge 2325 of the structural part.
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In the embodiment shown, the outermost edge of the side collar part is provided with a thickening 435 fitting into the bent edge 2325 of the structural part. The thickening may for example be a polymer edge reinforcement, a textile binding or the like. Alternatively or additionally, an adhesive or a filler may be provided in the pocket formed by the bent edge before insertion of the edge of the side collar part.
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In the unrolled or unfolded state shown in Figs 18-19 the side collar part 43 is bent approximately 180 degrees where it exits the pocket formed by the bent edge 2325. This reduces the risk of the edge of the side collar part being pulled out of the pocket, but is not strictly necessary, meaning that the pocket can be oriented differently if the structural part is embodied differently.
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In the compacted state the side collar part may be rolled or folded as shown in Figs 7-8 and may be arranged at the corner formed by the upstanding part 2323 of the structural part and the part 2324 extending in the plane P of the frame, occupying the space indicated by the circle in broken line in Fig. 19.
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The other collar parts may be attached and arranged in the same way as described with reference to the side collar part in Figs 18-19.
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Turning now to Figs 20-24, four different embodiments of an insulating part 221 of a top installation frame member 22 are shown.
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In Fig. 20a the insulating part 221 of a top installation frame member 22 is shown in a collapsed state and located in a space 6 between a top roof window frame member 32 of a roof window 30 and an auxiliary batten 112 of a roof structure. The structural part 222 rests on the auxiliary batten.
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The insulating part 221 may be an integrated part of the top installation frame member 22 or a separate insulating part, which is inserted in the space 6 after the installation of at least the frame 3 of the roof window. If using a separate insulating part it may be provided with means for attachment to the structural part 222 and/or to the roof structure. Such attachment means may for example be embodied as a pressure sensitive adhesive. The separate insulating part may, however, also simply be sandwiched between the roof window 30 and the roof structure and kept in place by friction in the installed state.
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In Fig. 20b the insulating part 221 has been expanded to fill out the space 6. Even though the insulating part is here shown with a slight distance to the auxiliary batten 112, it will be understood that a contact between them may result in improved insulating properties and will therefore usually be preferred. Such a contact may also serve to keep a separate insulating part in place by friction or the insulating part may be attached to the auxiliary batten or another element of the roof structure.
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The insulating part 221 here supplements an insulating element 35 of the roof window 30, being in contact with it is the expanded state. Instead of this insulating element, the top installation frame member 22 could be provided with an insulating part attached to the structural part 222.
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The insulating part 221 is here a bistable pop-up structure, i.e. allowing the insulating part to stay either in the collapsed state shown in Fig. 20a or in the expanded state in Fig. 20b without the use of retainers, but automatically deforming into the expanded state when triggered to do so, for example by pushing a tool into one or more of the openings 223 in the material. Retainers may, however, be used as a security measure to avoid unintentional / premature expansion.
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The gap existing between the insulating part 221 and the top roof window frame member 32 in the compressed state in Fig. 20a may facilitate installation of a roof window frame 3 or an entire roof window 30, by allowing it to be swung into the opening 10 in the roof structure 1 from the interior side as also explained with reference to Fig. 3. If the insulating part is a separate insulating part not attached to the structural part 222 in the state of delivery, the entire space 6 between the top roof window frame member 32 of a roof window and the auxiliary batten 112 may be available during installation of the roof window / roof window frame.
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The installation of a roof window 30 by swinging about a horizontal axis located at and extending in parallel with a length axis of a bottom installation frame member (not shown) is shown in Fig. 21a and 21b, where the top installation frame member is represented only by the insulating part 221.
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The insulating part 221 is here made from an elastic material, such as an elastic polymer foam, and provided with slits 224 facilitating deformation of the insulating part. A bevelling 225 is provided to guide the roof window 30 during installation. When the roof window is swung into place, it comes into contact with and deforms the insulating member 221 as shown in Fig. 21a. Here it is an insulating element 35 on the top roof window frame member 32 which causes the deformation, but it might as well have been another part of the roof window. When the roof window 30 has reached the intended installed position shown in Fig. 21b, the insulating part 221 is free to move back towards its original shape and comes into contact with both the top roof window frame member 32 and the insulating element 35.
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It would also be possible to provide the insulating part 221 in Fig. 21a and Fig. 21b as a separate insulating part, which could be inserted in a space between the top roof window frame member 32 and the roof structure (not shown) from the interior side after installation of the roof window 30. In that case, the insulating part could advantageously be turned 180 degrees compared to what is shown, so that the slits 224 and the bevelling 225 would facilitate insertion.
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An effect similar to that of the slits 224 could be achieved by composing the insulating part of two sub-parts, one made from a soft material which will easily yield and another of a more stable material carrying the soft material. It would also be possible to combine the two embodiments by providing slits in a soft sub-part.
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Fig. 22a and Fig. 22b show the attachment of a separate insulating part 221 to a roof window 30. Even though not shown, it is to be understood that the roof window is supported by an installation frame as in Fig. 20a and Fig. 20b.
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The separate insulating part 221 is here provided with a projection 226, which is inserted between the top roof window frame member 32 and the insulating element 35. The insulating element is here part of the roof window 30, but it could as well have been part of the installation frame.
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As is better seen in Fig. 23, which shows a slightly different embodiment of the roof window 30, the projection 226 has a small hook 227 at the end. When the projection is inserted, the hook may serve as a barb digging into the relatively soft material of the insulating element 35, thereby contributing to keeping the insulating part 221 in place.
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As is also seen in Fig. 23, the projection 226 is only local and a slit 351 is provided between the insulating element 35 and top roof window frame member 32 to facilitate insertion of the projection. The slit is here formed by a local interruption of the adhesive used for attaching the insulating element to the top roof window frame member, but it could also be formed as a recess in the insulating element.
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The fourth embodiment is shown in Fig. 24. Here the insulating part 221 is attached to the structural part 222 by a hinge 228, which allows the insulating part to move aside during installation of the roof window 30 as shown in Fig. 24a. This in combination with compression of the insulating part, which is further facilitated by slit 229, makes room for the installation of the roof window. When the roof window is in place, the insulating part is moved into contact with the roof window 30, either manually or by elasticity in the materials and may for example be kept in place by being attached to the roof window using an adhesive, and/or by providing the insulating part with a projection as described above.
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The hinge 228 may be a traditional hinge comprising two parts interconnected by a hinge pin, but it is presently considered to use a less complex structure providing a hinge function, such as a thin elastic material attached at one end or side to the structural part 222 and at the other end or side to the insulating part 221. An adhesive tape may be used for this purpose.
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This embodiment may be combined with the use of a soft material, slits and/or a bevelling as described above.
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The embodiments in Figs 20-24 show only top roof window frame members 32, but it is to be understood that the principles described with reference to these figures may also be applied at the bottom and/or at the sides of a roof window, depending on the installation situation, the design of the roof window, and/or the nature of the roof structure. It is also noted that the installation frame member does not need to be supported by an auxiliary batten 112, but could be supported by one or more other elements of a roof structure. It is further noted that features of the different embodiments may be combined.
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Some insulating members and insulating elements have been shown in the drawing as reverting to an original shape after having been compressed. It is to be understood that the such insulating members and insulating elements may still be slightly compressed in the final mounted state and that such a compression may be advantageous in that it will ensure a good contact with a neighbouring member or element, such as frame of a roof window.
List of reference numerals
-
- 1
- Roof structure
- 10
- Opening
- 11
- Batten
- 112
- Auxiliary batten
- 12
- Roofing
- 13
- Underroof
- 131
- Section of underroof
- 14
- Lath
- 15
- Rafter
- 2
- Installation frame
- 21
- Bottom installation frame member
- 211
- Insulating part
- 212
- Structural part
- 22
- Top installation frame member
- 221
- Insulating part
- 222
- Structural part
- 223
- Openings
- 224
- Slits
- 225
- Bevelling
- 226
- Projection
- 227
- Hook
- 228
- Hinge
- 23
- Side installation frame member
- 231
- Insulating part
- 2311
- Soft foam element
- 2312
- Stiffer foam element
- 232
- Structural part
- 2321
- First section
- 2322
- Second section
- 2323
- Upstanding section
- 2324
- Part extending in frame plane
- 2325
- Bent edge
- 24
- Connector bracket
- 3
- Roof window frame
- 30
- Roof window
- 31
- Bottom roof window frame member
- 32
- Top roof window frame member
- 33
- Side roof window frame member
- 34
- Mounting bracket
- 35
- Insulating element
- 351
- Slit
- 4
- Underroof collar
- 401
- Inner rim part
- 402
- Outer skirt part
- 41
- Bottom collar part
- 411
- End section
- 42
- Top collar part
- 421
- End section
- 423
- Inner rim part
- 424
- Outer skirt part
- 43
- Side collar part
- 431
- End section
- 433
- Inner rim part
- 434
- Outer skirt part
- 435
- Thickening
- 44
- Retainer
- 441
- End section
- 45
- Cover layer
- 51
- Knife
- 52
- Stapler
- D
- Direction of inclination
- L
- Length direction
- P
- Frame plane