GB2284836A - Roof ridge for e.g. conservatory - Google Patents

Abstract

A ridge cap (10) for a glazed roof comprising glazing bars (44, 46) supporting glazing panels (48) therebetween has at least one downwardly extending leg (20) and means for retaining means for securing the ridge cap to a ridge structure, the retaining means comprising an undercut channel (50) located on the underside of the ridge cap in order to retain a head of a securing bolt. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: Roofs DESCRIPTION This invention relates to roofs and, in particular, to a roof cap for a ridge structure of a conservatory roof.

It is known to construct conservatory roofs from polycarbonate roofing sheets supported between glazing bars. The glazing bars are supported and connected at one end to a ridge structure and at the other end are supported and connected to an eaves structure. Such ridge structures comprise a pair of ridge legs on which the glazing bars are supported and connected to. A ridge cap is connected to the ridge structure and provides cover for the ridge structure and the ends of both the glazing bars and roofing sheets. The ridge cap comprises two downwardly extending legs which overlie the ridge structure, and the ends of both the glazing bars and the roofing sheets in order to provide said cover.The legs of the ridge cap are kept spaced apart from the glazing bars and roofing sheets so as to define a passageway therebetween in order to allow ventilation of the ridge structure and consequently, the interior of the conservatory.

Manufacturers are continuously seeking to reduce the time taken to assemble such conservatories since reduction in assembly time results in a saving of costs.

In particular, the connection of the above described ridge cap to the ridge structure is, at present, time consuming and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a connection arrangement for a ridge cap which is simpler and less time consuming to connect than prior art connection arrangements.

According to the present invention, there is provided means for securely connecting a ridge cap to a ridge structure wherein said means comprises captive means located on the underside of the ridge cap in order to retain the head of a bolt.

It is preferred that apertures are provided in the ridge structure for locating the bolts through the structure and nuts for securing the bolts. Said captive means may be provided by a longitudinal channel formed on the underside of said ridge cap.

It is preferred that said channel is formed with a longitudinal slot such that during connection, the head of the bolt may be orientated in order for the head to pass through the slot and into the channel whereupon the bolt is rotated such that the head engages sides of the channel and is held captive thereby.

Preferably means are provided on the at least one downwardly extending leg in order to connect deflectable barrier means to at least one of said legs wherein said barrier means extend from their respective leg. The deflectable barrier means are preferably brushes and are connected to the underside of at least one leg.

It will be appreciated that the term brushes will be taken to mean a plurality of bristles lying parallel to each other and forming a line of indefinite length.

The thickness of the line is defined by a plurality of bristles and the density of bristles along the line being sufficient to provide the required water and draft proofing.

It is preferred that the ridge cap further comprises a central horizontal section having two parallel side edges. Preferably, the ridge cap has two legs which extend, one from each of said side edges, downwardly and outwardly and that the brushes are connected to the underside of each leg.

Said means for connecting the brushes to the underside of each leg may include a channel formed on the underside of the legs and into which the end brushes may be press fitted. The brushes may be glued into position within the channel or, alternatively, side walls of the channel may resiliently hold the ends of the brushes.

The channels are preferably formed separately from the legs of the cap and are provided with a connecting member which engages a slot formed in the leg.

The brushes may be held in the channel such that the bristles are vertical or more preferably, the bristles may be held at an angle to the vertical plane.

Preferably the brushes form a continuous line along the length of each of the respective legs.

It is preferred that the ridge cap is a vacuum formed G.R.P. or aluminium extrusion.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ridge cap and ridge structure in accordance with the present invention; and Figures 2A and 2B are respective plan view and front view of the head of the bolt illustrated in Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1 in the first instance, a ridge cap is illustrated generally by numeral 10. The ridge cap 10 comprises a central horizontal portion 12, first leg sections 14, 16 extending downwardly from either side of central portion 12 and second leg sections 18, 20 extending downwardly and outwardly from edges 23, 24 defining the lower end of the first leg sections. Extending downwardly from the lower end of legs sections 18, 20 and flanges 25, 26. Flanges 25 and 26 each have an inward facing longitudinal slot 27 for receiving a T-member 28. Said T-member 28 form an integral part of a brush connector 30. Brush connector 30 further comprises a longitudinal channel for receiving the ends of bristles which form brushes 32.

The end of the bristles are press fitted into the channels and are held resiliently by the side walls of the channel. In addition, the bristles may be glued into position.

The brushes 32 extend inwardly from the flanges and extend continuously along the length of said flanges.

A ridge structure is also illustrated and indicated by numeral 34. The structure 34 comprises a pair of ridge legs 36 which are connected to each side of a ventilation box 38. Each ridge leg 36 has a longitudinal channel 40 formed therein for receiving round headed cross-nut bolts 42 for securing glazing bars 44, 46 to the surface of respective ridge legs.

The glazing bars support roofing sheets 48 as illustrated.

As indicated, a longitudinal channel 50 is formed on the underside of the central portion 12 of the ridge cap. The channel comprises parallel sides 51, inwardly extending lips 52 and return flanges 53.

A longitudinal slot 54 is defined between opposing flanges 53.

With the ridge cap connected to the ridge structure as illustrated in Figure 1 and described hereinbelow, the lower end of flanges 25, 26 are in contact with the upper surfaces of the glazing bars 44 and 46 respectively. It will be appreciated that the bristles, forming the brush, which are coincident with the glazing bars will be deflected to either side of the bars or backwards so as to lie on the surface of the bars as illustrated and indicated by numeral 60. The lower ends of the remaining bristles lie in contact with the roofing sheets and hence a waterproof and draftproof seal is formed between the ridge cap and the glazing bars and roofing sheets which form the roof.

In order to provide ventilation for the ridge structure, a series of slots 62 are provided in the brush connectors and it will be appreciated that the slots which overlie the roofing sheets 48 will be open to the external atmosphere and hence air passageways are provided as indicated by arrows 64.

The connection arrangement for securely connecting the ridge cap to the ridge structure will now be described. As illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, a bolt comprises a rectangular shaped head with end edges 65 and side edges 66. A lip 68 extends downwardly from each of said end edges 65.

In order to connect the ridge cap to the ridge structure a bolt is orientated such that the side edges 66 of the head lie parallel with flanges 53 and then the head is inserted into the channel 50. The bolt is moved along the length of the channel until it is located at the required position and then the bolt is rotated such that the side edges become perpendicular to the flanges 53. In this position, the lips 68 of the head engage with return flanges 53 and the head is held securely in position. This procedure is repeated a number of times until the required number of bolts have been positioned. The bolts are then located through apertures formed in the ridge structure and secured by nuts 70.

The above described connection arrangement can be achieved simply and from the interior of the conservatory without the need to gain access from the roof. Consequently, the connection of the ridge cap to the ridge structure can be performed far more quickly than by prior art connection arrangements.

Claims (5)

1. A ridge cap for a glazed roof, wherein the roof comprises glazing bars supporting glazing panels therebetween, the ridge cap comprising at least one downwardly extending leg and having means for securing the ridge cap to a ridge structure, said securing means comprising captive means located on the underside of the ridge cap in order to retain a head of securing bolt.

2. A ridge cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said captive means are provided by a longitudinal channel formed on the underside of the ridge cap.

3. A ridge cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said channel is formed with a longitudinal slot which during connecting the head of the bolt is orientatable in order for the head to pass through the slot and into the channel whereupon the bolt is rotated such that the head engages sides of the channel and is held captive thereby.

4. A ridge cap for as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 having on its underside brush means for forming a weather barrier between the ridge cap and the glazing bars and panels.

5. A ridge cap as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with the reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.