GB2259540A

GB2259540A - Roof window/ventilator structure

Info

Publication number: GB2259540A
Application number: GB9211939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Wilson; Alan John Godden
Original assignee: MECANEX Ltd
Current assignee: MECANEX Ltd
Priority date: 1991-06-13
Filing date: 1992-06-05
Publication date: 1993-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-05
Also published as: GB9112681D0; GB9211939D0; GB2259540B

Abstract

The invention provides a ventilator structure for a conservatory roof, and comprises a roof panel 10 which replaces part of a conventional double glazed roof panel and it has an aperture 14 defined by an upturned flange 16 which is integral with the remainder of the panel, and a covering panel 11 which may be hinged to the roof panel and comprises a tray 28 with a downturned flange 30 which encircles the roof panel flange to provide a water seal. A compressable sealing strip (58, Figure 3) may be provided between the roof panel flange and the base of the tray and the roof panel and tray are double skinned (Figure 3). <IMAGE>

Description

Window / Ventilator Structure This invention relates to a window or ventilator structure.

The structure can serve as a window, or a ventilator, or both but the structure was invented to overcome an acute difficulty which arises in connection with the erection and functioning of conservatories.

In the United Kingdom, there is a considerable increase in the building of conservatories onto domestic dwellings as house owners enjoy what conservatories provide, namely the ability to have the feeling of sitting and eating out of doors, but without experiencing the chill of the wind or other effects of the elements. Conservatories are constructed basically of materials to define a framework and glazing, and therefore are not as weatherproof as brick or stone built dwellings. Because of their construction it is difficult completely to seal the conservatories against the elements, and a major disadvantage of conservatories is that many of them for various reasons do allow ingress of water to the annoyance of the occupants.

Furthermore, the glazing which is used in conservatories is double skinned, for the obvious reason of retaining heat inside the conservatory, but the utilisation of this double skin or "double glazing" (although the skin is usually of plastics material) brings the disadvantage that the conservatory can overheat. To enable relief from overheating, it is usual to provide openable ventilators in the conservatory roof, but the provision of ventilators provides the disadvantage that the ventilators themselves constitute locations where in other climatic conditions, rain can enter the interior of the conservatory.

There is always pressure to keep the cost of a conservatory down, as it is viewed by houseowners as something which is provided for pleasure as opposed to somewhere to live, and consequently the ventilators which have been proposed heretofore have not been satisfactory in keeping out rain in wet and in particular wet and stromy conditions.

The present invention was concieved to provide a novel form of roof window/ventilator for a conservatory, but the invention as well as having wider application, also has a number of aspects.

In accordance with the invention, in a first aspect thereof, a ventilator structure comprises a roof panel provided with a window aperture therein, said roof panel being provided with an upstanding flange around the aperture to form a water break and for closuring by means of a glazing panel including a downturned flange which in use encircles the upturned flange.

The invention also provides a combination of said roof panel and glazing panel, the glazing panel being hingedly connected to the roof panel.

The hinges which are used preferably are connected to the outer surface only of the roof panel, for example by a bonding technique, so that there are no hinge fixing apertures through the roof panel, which could encourage the ingress of moisture.

In an alternative arrangement, the glazing panel need not be transparent, in which case the structure would function simply as a ventilator rather than as a glazed window.

There may be an opening mechanism connected between the glazed or covering panel and the roof panel whereby the glazed or covering panel can be opened for the purposes of ventilation. Such means may be automatic and may be controlled by sunlight or heat, or alternatively a simple manually operated mechanism may be provided.

As a further measure to prevent the ingress of moisture, there may be a sealing gasket on the top edge of the upwardly extending flange of the roof panel which seats resiliently against the inner surface of the glazing panel when the glazing panel is closed.

According to yet a further feature of the invention, the glazing panel comprises two tray assemblies which are nested together in that a rim of a smaller tray rests upon the rim of the larger tray, and the said rims may be sealed together, the trays being dimensioned so as to create an air insulation space between the tray bases, and preferably also between the tray walls.

If the trays are of clear plastic material and an adhesive which is clear in nature is used for connecting the trays, a particularly efficient and transparent assembly results.

This novel form of tray assembly constitutes a separate aspect of the invention which can be utilised in other areas such as in buildings, caravans, boats and so on.

Indeed, the concept of the present invention in any aspect may have other areas of application.

When specifically applied to a conservatory roof, the roof panel replaces a portion of the conventional double skin double glazing in the roof, and the panel may extend between a pair of parallel roof rails extending from the ridge to the gutter, the roof panel lying under the roof ridge bar, and the lower edge of the roof panel having a skirt which overlies a portion of said double skin material, the sides of the roof panel being engaged in the receiving channels which normally receive the double skin double glazing panels.

The roof panel preferably is constructed from a thermally insulating sandwich material comprising a central layer of thermally insulating plastic foam, to opposite sides of which are applied for example pvc or glass reinforced plastics sheeting.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the components of a window/ventilator structure for a conservatory; Fig. 2 shows the structure of Fig. 1 when embodied in a conservatory roof; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Fig. 1, the structure according to this embodiment of the invention comprises a roof panel 10 and a covering panel 11, which is either a transparent panel, which is the preferred case, or may simply be an opaque covering panel, in which latter case the structure provides for ventilation only.

The panel 10 comprises a flat outer frame 12, surrounding an aperture 14, and the panel includes an upstanding flange 16 which is integral with the surrounding frame 12.

The frame 12 is of a sandwich construction comprising two layers 18 and 20 of for example pvc or glass reinforced plastic material between which is sandwiched a layer 22 of an insulating foam material such as polyurethane foam.

The plastic skins 18 and 20 also extend to and are integral with the flange 16, except that within the flange between the skins are provided wooden support battens for strength purposes.

The skin 18 has bonded thereto or embedded therein a pair of hinges 24 and 26 which are for connection to the cover panel 12.

As shown, the cover panel 11 comprises a tray assembly having a base 28, a side wall 30 and a flange 32. When the cover panel 11 is in use, the flange 32 rests in face to face relationship with the skin 18 of the frame 12, whilst the upstanding flange 16 is housed within the recess of the tray assembly.

In fact the tray assembly forming a cover for frame 12 comprises two trays, one of which is smaller than the other, and fits inside the other so as in fact to leave an insulating air space 34 as best seen in Fig. 3. The air space 34 exists between the base 36 of the outer tray, and the base 38 of the inner tray, as well as between the walls 40 of the outer tray and the walls 42 of the inner tray.

The respective flanges of the inner and outer trays are however fused together by a suitable cement. The entire cover panel 11 preferably is of transparent plastics material such as a polycarbonate or an acrylic material.

The rim 32 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in use is in fact secured to the roof panel 10 by means of hinges 24, 26, so that the panel 11 can be pivoted to an open position as shown at 44 in Fig. 3, for ventilation purposes, and to this end there may be a cover opening device 46 connected between the base 38 of the inner tray and the underside of the roof panel 12.

The operation of the structure will be readily understood.

The opening device 46 may in fact be automatically operated in that it may be sensitive to heat and/or sunlight so that the cover 12 will be raised automatically when the temperature inside the conservatory reaches an unacceptable level.

In the fitting of the structure in a conservatory roof as shown in Fig. 2, the structure is preferably fitted between a pair of roof bars 48 and 50 between which the usual double skin glazing panel is fitted, and to this end the roof panel 12 will be of appropriate size so that its edges fit into grooves in the bars 48 and 50. The top edge of the panel 10 fits under a roof ridge profile 52, and at the lower edge as shown in Fig. 3, the upper skin 18 is provided with an extension skirt 18A which overlies a portion of said conventional double skin glazing 54 so that said skirt will shed rain water onto said glazing portion 54, and to the gutter edge of the conservatory roof which is in the region 56.

An examination of the structure in the arrangement of Fig. 2, and a consideration of its functioning, will reveal that a particularly effective window and ventilation arrangement is provided. Considering Fig. 3, it will be seen that over the entire structure, thermal insulation is provided, especially since a resilient gasket 58 is provided on the top edge of the flange 16 and which seats on the underside of the inner tray base 38.

The flange 16 forms a water barrier preventing the ingress of rain, and by virtue of the materials used for the structure, condensation which occurs on aluminium frame bars is avoided.

The structure provides for ventilation in conservatory roofs which overcomes difficulties which have prevailed for a long time. The skirt or flashing 18A ensures shedding of water from the structure onto ajacent double skin glazing sections 54.

The utilisation of the structure in the drawings provides what is known as an opening light window, but the structure according to the invention can be used in other applications.

Claims

1. A ventilator structure comprising a roof panel provided with a window aperture therein, said roof panel being provided with an upstanding flange around the aperture to form a water break and for closuring by means of a panel including a downturned flange which in use encircles the upturned flange.

2. A ventilator structure according to to claim 1, wherein the roof panel comprises two spaced skins of sheet material, each provided with an upstanding flange.

3. A ventilator structure according to claim 2, wherein said skins are spaced by a thermally insulating material sandwiched between the skins.

4. A ventilator structure comprising the combination of the roof panel of claims 1, 2 or 3 and a covering panel, the covering panel being hingedly connected to the roof panel.

5. A ventilator structure according to claim 4, wherein the hinges which are used are connected to the outer surface only of the roof panel, for example by a bonding technique, so that there are no hinge fixing apertures through the roof panel, which could encourage the ingress of moisture.

6. A ventilator structure according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the covering panel is transparent.

7. A ventilator structure according to claim 4, 5 or 6, including an opening mechanism connected between the covering panel and the roof panel whereby the glazed or covering panel can be opened for the purposes of ventilation.

8. A suitable structure according to claim 7, wherein the opening mechanism is automatic and is controlled by sunlight or heat.

9. A ventilator structure according to any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the covering panel comprises two tray assemblies which are nested together in that a rim of a smaller tray rests upon the rim of the larger tray, and the said rims may be sealed together, the trays being dimensioned so as to create an air insulation space between the tray bases, and preferably also between the tray walls.

10. A ventilator structure according to claim 9, wherein the trays are of clear plastic material and are adhered by a clear adhesive.

11. A ventilator structure according to any preceding claim, wherein there is a sealing gasket on the top edge of the upwardly extending flange of the roof panel which seats resiliently against the inner surface of the covering panel when the covering panel closes said aperture.

12. A conservatory roof including a ventilator structure according to any of one of the preceding claims wherein said roof panel replaces a portion of the conventional double skin double glazing in the roof, and the panel extends between a pair of parallel roof rails extending from the roof ridge to the roof gutter, and roof panel lying under the roof ridge bar, and the lower edge of the roof panel having a skirt which overlies a portion of said double skin material, the sides of the roof panel being engaged in the receiving channels which normally receive the double skin double glazing panels.

13. For a ventilator structure as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, a covering panel comprising two tray assemblies which are nested together in that a rim of a smaller tray rests upon the rim of the larger tray, and the said rims may be sealed together, the trays being dimensioned so as to create an air insulation space between the tray bases, and preferably also between the tray walls.

14. A covering panel according to claim 13, wherein the trays are of clear plastics material and are adhered by a clear adhesive.

15. A ventilator structure according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A ventilator structure comprising a roof panel and covering panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A conservatory roof provided with a vantilator structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A covering panel for a ventilator structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.