GB2235476A

GB2235476A - Improvements in or relating to the construction of panelled roofs

Info

Publication number: GB2235476A
Application number: GB8919874A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edward Rawlings
Original assignee: SKYLINE SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: SKYLINE SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1989-09-02
Filing date: 1989-09-02
Publication date: 1991-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-02
Also published as: GB2235476B; GB8919874D0

Abstract

An assembly for use in the construction of a sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof includes an anchor member (17) comprising a base element having upper and lower flanges (19, 20). A number of rectangular fixing arms (21) extend outwardly and downwardly from the anchor member and receive the upper ends of extruded metal support members (15). The triangular glass panels of the roof are carried in extruded plastics frame members (27) which are supported on flanges (23) on the metal support members. The assembly provide a strong, neat and weatherproof construction where the triangular glass panels meet at the apex of the roof. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements in or relating to the construction of panelled roofs" The invention relates to the construction of panelled roofs and, in particular, to the construction of sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, roofs.

In a popular form of conservatory, one end of the conservatory is part-polygonal as seen from above.

To provide a roof structure of translucent or transparent panels for this part of the conservatory it is necessary for each panel to be generally triangular in shape, the panels sloping upwardly from the tops of the side walls of the conservatory and meeting at an apex. In order to support the edges of the panels, elongate support members also slope upwardly from the tops of the side walls to the apex, where they converge.

Difficulties have been experienced in securing such support arms together at the apex and existing solutions to this problem are often unsightly when viewed from inside the conservatory, as well as being insecure and of inadequate strength. Furthermore, accurate mounting of the upper ends of the support arms usually depends on the skill and accuracy of the person assembling the conservatory and inaccurate fitting may result in joints which are not weatherproof. This problem arises particularly in the case, which frequently occurs, where the components of the conservatory are supplied as a kit which must be assembled on site, often by comparatively unskilled personnel.

Although the most common design of conservatory incorporates a part-polygonal end on an otherwise rectangular structure, the problem also arises in the construction of free-standing fully polygonal conservatories or similar structures having panelled roofs.

The present invention sets out to provide an assembly for use in the construction of such roofs which enables the support members for the roof panels to be easily and accurately fitted together at the apex of the roof so as to provide a strong, weatherproof and neat finish at this point.

According to the invention there is provided an assembly for use in the construction of a sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof, the assembly including an anchor member comprising a base element and a plurality of fixing arms rigidly connected to the base element and extending outwardly therefrom, the fixing arms being spaced angularly apart about an axis which is upright in use of the assembly, and being inclined downwardly as they extend away from the base element, said assembly further including a plurality of elongate support members adapted for connection at one end to said fixing arms respectively and having means extending longitudinally thereof for locating and supporting an edge of a panel which, in use, extends between adjacent support members.

Since the fixing arms are rigidly secured to the base element of the assembly, the angular and spatial disposition of the support members connected to the arms are accurately determined.

Each fixing arm may be separately formed from the base element and rigidly connected thereto, for example by being screwed to the base element.

Alternatively, the fixing arms may be integral with the base element.

Preferably each elongate support member is of hollow section, for example is a hollow extrusion, and is connected to one of said fixing arms by the fixing arm being received in the hollow end of the support member and secured thereto. For example, each fixing arm may be of generally rectangular cross-section, the interior of the hollow support member being of substantially corresponding cross-section.

The means for locating and supporting an edge of a panel on each support member may comprise an elongate frame member, separately formed from the support member, and capable of being connected thereto, the frame members being formed with longitudinally extending side flanges for locating and supporting a panel edge. The support members are preferably formed from metal and the frame members from plastics material.

The support members and frame members may be formed with inter-engaging longitudinal flanges and recesses whereby they may be readily clipped together.

Two frame members may be connected to each support member, one on each side thereof. In this case the frame member on one side of one support member may be connected to the adjacent frame member on an adjacent support member, where the frame members come together in the vicinity of the anchor member.

In an alternative construction the means for locating and support an edge of a panel may be integral with each elongate support member. Thus, each elongate support member may itself have longitudinally extending side flanges for locating and supporting a panel edge.

For example, each elongate support member may comprise a central metal core portion surrounded by an outer plastics portion formed with said side flanges.

The anchor member may include a capping flange on the upper part of the base element, which capping flange overlies the upper ends of the support members when they are connected to the fixing arms of the anchor member.

The anchor member may also include a bottom flange which underlies the upper ends of the support members. The capping flange -and bottom flange may be integral with the base element.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a typical conservatory of the kind to which the present invention relates, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing components of an assembly according to the invention when used in a conservatory of the type shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1: the conservatory is of the type designed to extend away from an existing wall 10 of a house. It comprises two longitudinal parallel side walls 11 and three end walls 12 arranged at an angle to one another to provide a part-polygonal end to the structure.

The roof structure comprises a ridge 13 at one end of which is an apex 14, and support members 15 extend angularly outwardly and downwardly from the apex 14 to meet the junctions between the upper ends of the wall portions 11 and 12. Triangular roof panels 16, usually of glass or transparent plastics material, fill the spaces between the support members 15. Similar panels extend between the ridge 13 and the upper ends of the longitudinal side walls 11. In order to support these panels further support members may extend from the ridge 13 to the upper ends of the side walls, but these are not shown in Figure 1.

As previously explained, difficulties may be experienced in providing a strong, neat and weatherproof assembly for securing the support members 15 together at the apex 14, and Figure 2 shows an assembly according to the invention whereby this may be done.

Referring to Figure 2, the assembly comprises an anchor member 17 to which the support members 15 are secured at their upper ends. The anchor member 17, which may be formed of aluminium, steel or other suitable metal, comprises a base element 18 which is part cylindrical in shape. Integrally formed on the base element 18 is an upper capping flange 19 and a bottom flange 20, both flanges being part circular.

Metal fixing arms 21, of rectangular crosssection, extend between the upper and lower flanges 19, 20 and are secured at one end to the part cylindrical surface of the base element 18. The fixing arms 21, only one of which can be seen in Figure 2, are spaced angularly apart by 45" around the base element 18 and are also angularly inclined downwardly according to the required slope of the roof. The ends of the fixing arms 21 may be secured to the base element 18 by screws which pass through the base element 18 from the other side and engage in threaded holes in the ends of the fixing arms 21. However-any other suitable -form-of fixing may be employed, or the arm 21 may be integrally cast with the base element 18.

Means (not shown) are provided for securing the anchor member 17 to the end of the ridge support 22 of the roof structure. For example, the anchor member 17 may have secured thereto, or formed integral therewith, a lug which is received within a hollow end portion of the ridge member 22, and secured thereto.

The support members 15 for the part-polygonal portion of the roof are extruded from metal, for example aluminium, and are hollow in cross-section. The fixing arms 21 are of such cross-sectional shape that they are a sliding fit within the upper ends of the support member 15. The support members are therefore slid over the fixing arms 21 and are pushed upwardly between the flanges 19 and 20 of the anchor member 17, which are spaced sufficiently far apart for this purpose, until the upper ends of the support members 15 abut or are close to the surface of the base element 18. The ends of the support members may be secured to the fixing arms, for example by screws passing through registering holes in the members and arms respectively.

The lower ends of the support members 15 are secured in conventional manner to the upper ends of the wall members from which the end walls of the conservatory are constructed.

The support members 15 are provided along each side thereof with longitudinal flanges 23, 24 which are engageable with corresponding recesses 25, 26 on elongate extruded plastics frame members 27.

Each plastics frame member 27 is formed with a wide longitudinal flange 28 on which rests a side edge of the corresponding roof panel 16 (not shown in Figure 2). Longitudinal recesses are provided on the frame member 27 adjacent the flange 28 to receive conventional retaining and sealing means for the roof panels.

At its upper end in the vicinity of the anchor member 17, each frame member 27 is shaped so that it may be welded or otherwise bonded at 45e to the facing frame member on the adjacent support member 15.

After the four support members 15 have been slid over and secured to their associated fixing arms 21, the welded-together pairs of frame members 27 are clipped on to the side flanges on the support members and wedged firmly against the anchor member 17. It will be seen that the outer frame members 27a on the outermost support members 15 are welded to similar frame members 29 which extend longitudinally of the ridge member 22.

Thus, the support members 15 are securely connected to the anchor member 17, and the frame members 27 are securely connected to the support members 15.

The upper ends of all the members are covered from above by the capping flange 19 and from below by the bottom flange 20. This provides a very neat internal and external appearance and, with suitable flexible sealing means, these flanges also assist in providing a weathertight junction. Since the relative angular dispositions of the support members 15 and frame members 27 is entirely predetermined by the positions of the fixing arms 21 on the anchor member 17, the accurate disposition of these members is assured and is not dependent on the skill and accuracy of the person assembling the structure. It is also found that the structure using the assembly according to the invention is very strong.

Instead of the frame members 27 and support members 15 being separately formed, there may be provided a combined support and frame member which comprises a metal extruded core portion of hollow section embedded in a surrounding frame portion of plastics material. The core portion of each such integral unit is then slid over the appropriate fixing arm 21 and the surrounding plastics portion is formed with side flanges suitable for supporting and locating the roof panels.

Claims

1. An assembly for use in the construction of a sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof, the assembly including an anchor member comprising a base element and a plurality of fixing arms rigidly connected to the base element and extending outwardly therefrom, the fixing arms being spaced angularly apart about an axis which is upright in use of the assembly, and being inclined downwardly as they extend away from the base element, said assembly further including a plurality of elongate support members adapted for connection at one end to said fixing arms respectively and having means extending longitudinally thereof for locating and supporting an edge of a panel which1 in use, extends between adjacent support members.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each fixing arm is separately formed from the base element and rigidly connected thereto.

3. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein each fixing arm is screwed to tlia base element,

4. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the fixing arms are integral with the base element.

5. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each elongate support member is of hollow section and is connected to one of said fixing arms by the fixing arm being received in the hollow end of the support member and secured thereto.

6. An assembly according to Claim 5, wherein each fixing arm is of generally rectangular cross-section, the interior of the hollow support member being of substantially corresponding cross-section.

7. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for locating and supporting an edge of a panel on each support member comprises an elongate frame member, separately formed from the support member, and capable of being connected thereto, the frame members being formed with longitudinally extending side flanges for locating and supporting a panel edge.

8. An assembly according to Claim 7, wherein the support members are formed from metal and the frame members from plastics material.

9. An assembly according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the support members and frame members are formed with inter-engaging longitudinal flanges and recesses whereby they may be readily clipped together.

10. An assembly according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein two frame members are connected to each support member, one on each side thereof.

11. An assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the frame member on one side of one support member is connected to the adjacent frame member on an adjacent support member, where the frame members come together in the vicinity of the anchor member.

12. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for locating and supporting an edge of a panel are integral with each elongate support member.

13. An assembly according to Claim 12, wherein each elongate support member has longitudinally extending side flanges for locating and supporting a panel edge.

14. An assembly according to Claim 13, wherein each elongate support member comprises a central metal core portion surrounded by an outer plastics portion formed with said side flanges.

15. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the anchor member includes a capping flange on the upper part of the base element, which capping flange overlies the upper ends of the support members when they are connected to the fixing arms of the anchor member.

16 An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the anchor member includes a bottom flange which uiiderlies the upper ends of the support members.

17. An assembly according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the capping flange and/or the bottom flange are integral with the base element.

18. An assembly for use in the construction of a polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof structure incorporating an assembly according to any of the preceding claims.

20. A building incorporating a sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof structure incorporating an assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 18.

21. A kit of parts for assembly into a sloping polygonal, or part-polygonal, panelled roof structure, or into a building incorporating such a roof structure, and including an assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 18.