GB2306979A

GB2306979A - Eaves ventilator, sofit and facia arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2306979A
Application number: GB9522964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Hardy
Original assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1995-11-09
Publication date: 1997-05-14
Also published as: GB9522964D0

Abstract

An eaves ventilator for a building comprises a rigid elongated component incorporating a plurality of ventilation openings 16, the component being adapted for connection at one longitudinal edge thereof to the outer edge of a soffit board 6, and having means 18 at or adjacent the other longitudinal edge thereof adapted to engage and rigidify a facia board 8. The means for rigidifying the facia board preferably comprises a generally vertical plate member adapted to abut against the rear face of the facia board.

Description

TRIM COMPONENTS FOR BUiLDINGS This invention relates to trim components for buildings and particularly to soffit and facia assemblies for the roofs of buildings.

The edge portions of the roof structures of buildings which project over the building walls are conventionally finished by horizontal soffit boards and vertical facia boards secured to the extremities of the roof timbers. Traditionally soffits have been constructed from solid boards bridging the gap between the wall of the building and an outer facia board.

However modern building regulations require that soffits be ventilated and this is generally effected by incorporating a slotted component between the outer edge of the soffit board and the rear of the facia board. In order to minimise maintenance facia boards are commonly produced from cellular plastics materials which are fitted by securing them to the outer ends of the roof joists. However as a result of tolerance variations the roof joists are generally not precisely aligned and this has resulted in bending of the facia boards producing a wavy effect which is unacceptable aesthetically.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

The invention provides a combined soffit ventilator and facia stiffener comprising a rigid elongated component incorporating a plurality of ventilation openings, the component being adapted for connection at one longitudinal edge thereof to the outer edge of a soffit board1 and having means at or adjacent the other longitudinal edge thereof adapted to engage and rigidify a facia board.

Preferably the component is adapted for connection to the soffit board by first attachment means arranged to locate over the outer edge of the soffit board. Preferably the attachment means comprise an elongated channel into which the edge of the soffit board may be located. The channel may incorporate retaining means serving to resist disengagement of the component from the soffit board once fitted.

Preferably said means for rigidifying the facia board comprises a generally vertical plate member adapted to abut against the rear face of the facia board.

The component preferably also includes second attachment means for engagement with a lower hooked portion of a facia board. The second attachment means is preferably dimensioned to form a tight friction fit with said hooked portion.

Preferably the component is formed from aluminium and the facia and soffit boards from cellular plastics material.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for the construction of a roof trim assembly comprising a soffit board1 a facia board, a combined soffit ventilator and facia stiffener according to the preceding paragraphs and means for securing the inner edge of the soffit board to a wall of a building.

Preferably said means for securing the inner edge of the soffit board comprises a support bracket having an elongated channel adapted to receive an edge of the soffit board and means for attaching the bracket to the building wall.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of an end of a combined soffit ventilating and facia stiffening component according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a roof trim assembly incorporating the component of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings1 there is shown a roof trim assembly for mounting on a building comprising a soffit support bracket 5, a soffit board 6, a combined soffit ventilator and facia stiffener 7 and a facia board 8. The bracket 5 is formed from synthetic plastics material, the soffit board 6 and facia board 8 from cellular plastics material and the ventilator and stiffening component 7 from aluminium. Advantageously all the components of the trim assembly may be formed by extrusion.

The bracket 5 comprises an outwardly opening channel 10 adapted to receive the inner edge 6A of the soffit board 6. A flange 11 extends upwardly from the channel 10 and is provided with a series of apertures (not shown) by means of which the bracket 5 may be secured in position on a wall 12 of a building.

The soffit board 6 comprises an elongated board or strip of cellular plastics material adapted to extend horizontally between the bracket 5 and the component 7. The latter includes a central body portion 15 incorporating a series of ventilating apertures 16 (Fig. 1) through which air may pass into the roof structure of the building. A first or inner attachment portion in the form of an elongated channel 17 is provided at the inner edge of the component 7 and is adapted to engage the outer edge 6B of the soffit board 6. A vertical flange or plate 18 is provided at the outer edge of the component 7 and is adapted to abut against the inner surface 8A of the facia board 8. The lower portion of the plate 18 is turned inwardly and upwardly to form a hook 18A adapted to engage in a recess 19 defined by an inwardly and upwardly directed hooked portion 8B of the facia board 8.The hooked portion 1 8A is adapted to form a tight friction fit within the recess 19 so as to force the plate 18 against the inner surface of the facia 8 and assist in holding the latter in position on the component 7.

The trim assembly is fitted by first securing the bracket 5 to the wall 12 of the building in the desired position. The soffit board 6 is then engaged in the channel 10 of the bracket 5 and the component 7 attached to the outer edge of the soffit board. The facia board 8 is then pushed upwardly into engagement with the component 7 until the hook 18A is fully engaged with the recess 19. The facia is then secured at intervals to the roof trusses by pins or like fastening means 20 inserted through the upper portion of the facia into the roof trusses 21 as shown in Fig. 2.

The component 7 serves the dual function of providing ventilation through the soffit and stiffening the facia by virtue of engagement of the plate 18 with the rear surface of the latter. As the component 7 is formed from aluminium and is therefore essentially rigid, it serves to prevent flexing of the facia board 8 and thus eliminates the wavy effect which might otherwise be produced by virtue of the fact that roof timbers invariably do not project beyond the building to exactly the same extent. Moreover by virtue of the rigidfying effect produced by the component 7, the soffit board and facia board may be made of relatively lightweight flexible cellular plastics materials thereby reducing weight and cost while producing an aesthetically acceptable flat outward appearance by virtue of the rigidifying action of the component 7.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example a wide range of shapes and sizes of ventilating opening may be provided in the component 7 and the end formations of the component may be differently constructed provided they enable attachment to the soffit board at one edge and serve to rigidify the facia board. The facia board may be connected to the ventilating component by alternative means and alternative means of attaching the inner edge of the soffit board to the wall of the building may be provided if desired. The components may also be made of alternative materials provided the ventilating and rigidifying component is substantially rigid.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLaIMS.

1. A roof trim component for a building comprising a rigid elongated component incorporating a plurality of ventilation openings, the component being adapted for connection at one longitudinal edge thereof to the outer edge of a soffit board, and having means at or adjacent the other longitudinal edge thereof adapted to engage and rigidify a facia board.

2. A roof trim component according to claim 1 adapted for connection to the soffit board by first attachment means arranged to locate over the outer edge of the soffit board.

3. A roof trim component according to claim 2 wherein said attachment means comprise an elongated channel into which the edge of the soffit board may be located,

4. A roof trim component according to claim 3 wherein said channel incorporates retaining means serving to resist disengagement of the component from the soffit board once fitted.

5. A roof trim component according to any preceding claim wherein said means for rigidifying the facia board comprises a generally vertical plate member adapted to abut against the rear face of the facia board.

6. A roof trim component according to any preceding claim including second attachment means for engagement with a lower hooked portion of a facia board.

7. A roof trim component according to claim 6 wherein said second attachment means is dimensioned to form a tight friction fit with said hooked portion.

8. A roof trim component according to any preceding claim formed from aluminium.

9. A roof trim component for a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A kit of parts for the construction of a roof trim assembly comprising a soffit board, a facia board, a roof trim component according to any preceding claim, and means for securing the inner edge of the soffit board to a wall of a building.

11. A kit of parts according to daim 10 wherein said means for securing the inner edge of the soffit board comprises a support bracket having an elongated channel adapted to receive an edge of the soffit board and means for attaching the bracket to the building wall.

12. A kit of parts according to claim 10 or 11 in which said facia and soffit boards are formed from cellular plastics material.

13. A kit of parts for the construction of a roof trim assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A roof trim assembly constructed from a kit of parts according to any of claims 10 to 13.

15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.