GB2346389A

GB2346389A - Roofing element for valleys with inverted V-shaped protrusion

Info

Publication number: GB2346389A
Application number: GB9902149A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Edward Bishop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-20
Filing date: 1999-02-02
Publication date: 2000-08-09
Also published as: GB9902149D0; AU2255299A

Abstract

A roofing element (10) comprises an elongate channel-shaped body (12) defined by a base wall (14) and side walls (18) with a partition formation (20) disposed along a line centrally between the side walls. The partition formation may be an inverted V-shape (21) and may define two parallel channels. The base wall segments (16) may be inclined operatively downward towards the V-shaped formation. In use, the element (10) is located between angularly disposed sloping roof segments. The side walls (18) are secured to the end of battens and the roof tiles are positioned to abut against the partition (20). The element (10) serves as a channel to allow rain water to flow from the roof, and prevents water leakage into the roof interior. The element (10) may be made of a flexible plastics material to allow adjustment for varying roof configurations.

Description

A ROOFING ELEMENT THIS INVENTION relates to a roofing element.

The invention relates particularly to a roofing element for use in the construction of a valley within a roof structure, for facilitating the support of roofing tiles, or other forms of roof covering elements. Any reference hereinafter to a roofing element accordingly must be interpreted as a reference to a roofing element provided for the above purpose.

It is well known that the construction of a valley within a roof structure, i. e. the location where two angularly disposed sloping roof segments meet, often presents difficulties. These valleys are difficult and time consuming to construct, particularly for tiled roofs, and often are associated with water leakage during rain storms. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to at least alleviate the known problems associated with the construction of valleys within roof structures.

According to the invention there is provided a roofing element which comprises an elongate channel-shaped body, the body being defined by a base wall ; two side walls extending along opposite sides of the base wall ; and a partition formation disposed between the side walls along a line centrally between the side walls.

The partition formation typically comprises an inverted V-shaped formation dividing the base wall of the elongate body into two separate spaced base wall segments extending along the length of the body on opposite sides of the partition formation. Also, the partition formation divides the elongate body into two parallel adjacent channel-shaped formations, each channel-shaped formation being defined by a base wall segment, one of the side walls of the body and one wall of the inverted V-shaped formation.

The base wall segments defined on opposite sides of the V-shaped formation may be inclined operatively downwardly towards the V-shaped formation with the body viewed in end view. Also, the V-shaped formation may have an operative height which exceeds the operative height of the side walls of the body. Particularly, the V-shaped formation may exceed the operative height of the side walls by between 100% and 200%.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the operative height of the side walls of the body is such that these walls can be secured between the roof battens of two angularly disposed roofing segments between which a valley is to be formed in a configuration in which the top edge of the side watts can then serve to support roof covering elements thereon. As such, in the operative configuration of the roofing element, the partition formation can serve as a rest against which roof covering elements supported on the side walls of the body can bear.

The body forming the roofing element of the invention may be formed of a synthetic plastics material, particularly a UV resistant material having suitable properties for the purpose. Clearly, the body may be formed by any suitable synthetic plastics forming process, e. g. an extrusion process, an injection moulding process, or the like. The material of the roofing element may have qualities of resilience which provides for adjustability within the cross-sectional configuration thereof and thereby permit use of the roofing element between angularly disposed roofing segments defining different angular relationships.

In the above regard, a particular roofing element will be suitable for use between roofing segments defining an angular relationship between two predetermined limits so that different roofing elements can be provided where this angular relationship between roofing segments to be joined by a valley fall within different ranges. Clearly, the inherent resilience of the material forming the body will permit sufficient adjustability in relation to the angular relationship between the components of the body and the effective width of the body, to accommodate irregularities that may occur within the roof structure segments between which the roofing element is to be located, in use.

Although reference is made above to the use of roof tiles in association with the roofing element of the invention, the roofing element also can be used in association with other forms of roof covering elements that are associated with similar valleys, it being envisaged particularly that the roofing element of the invention may be adapted for use with different forms of roof covering elements.

In use, in order to form a valley between two angularly disposed roofing segments of a roof to be constructed, as part of the formation of the roof structure for supporting roof tiles, or another form of roof covering elements to be utilised, a roofing element, in accordance with the invention, will be secured in its required location between the roof structure segments of the two roofing segments.

Thereafter the roof tiles are placed in position in a conventional manner, utilising the partition formation of the roofing element as an abutment wall for roof tiles disposed immediately above the valley.

Further features of the invention are described hereafter with reference to an example of the invention, illustrated by way of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an end portion of a roofing element, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates schematically in plan view the operative configuration of the roofing element of Figure 1.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, a roofing element, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The roofing element comprises a synthetic plastics elongate body 12 formed by any suitable plastics forming process, e. g. an extrusion process, an injection moulding process, or the like. The body 12 defines a channel-shaped cross-sectional profile as shown. In particular, the body 12 has a base wall 14 which inclues two angularly disposed base wall segments 16 disposed on opposite sides of a partition formation 20. A side wall 18 extends along each side of the base wall 14, the partition formation 20 extending parallel to the side walls along a line disposed intermediate between the side watts 18.

As is clearly illustrated, the partition formation comprises an inverted V-shaped formation which provides for two parallel adjacent channel-shaped formations to be defined on each side of the partition formation 20, each channel-shaped formation being defined by a base wall segment 16, one side wall 18 and one wall 21 of the partition formation 20.

The thickness of the walls forming the body 12 are variable and particularly will be determined by the type of synthetic plastics material used for forming the body 12. In this regard it will be appreciated that in relation to the proposed application of the roofing element, the synthetic plastics material must have UV resistance, while having inherent qualities of resilience which will accommodate the use of the roofing element as is described in more detail hereafter. The body 12 also can be formed of any alternative suitable material such as a glass fibre reinforced material, or the like, while still permitting the use of the roofing element in the manner described hereafter.

As illustrated, the partition formation 20 extends operatively above the side walls 18, the operative height of the partition formation 20 typically being in the order of 90mm, whereas the operative height of the side walls 18 typically will be in the order of 38mm, which coincides essentially with the thickness of timber battens to be used in conjunction with a roof structure with which the roofing element is intended to be used.

The angular relationship between the base wall segments 16 of the base wall 14 is variable and is determined by the angular relationship between angularly disposed roofing segments between which a valley must be formed with the aid of a roofing element 10. By being formed of a synthetic plastics material as herein envisaged, and which has inherent flexibility properties, the roofing element can conveniently accommodate a range of angles between roofing segments between which a valley is to be formed with the aid of the roofing element. It is envisaged in this regard that different roofing elements can be provided for use in conjunction with the formation of valleys between roofing segments that define different ranges of angular relationships between them.

Referring also to Figure 2 of the drawings, the roofing element 10, in use, is located between angularly disposed, sloping roofing segments 30 where these roofing segments 30 meet and where a valley is conventionally required. The roofing element will extend along the length of the valley to be formed, from the operative apex 32 of the roof towards the lower edge 34 of the roof, the side walls being secured to the ends of the battens forming a part of the associated roofing support structure.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the side walls 18 can be secured to the ends of battens 36 by any suitable nails, 38, or the like. When secured in the configuration as described, the top edge of the side walls 18 can assist with the support of roof tiles 40, together with associated battens 36, corner regions of roof tiles being conventionally cut in an angular configuration. As such, in the operative configuration of the roof tiles, the tiles are positioned to abut against the partition formation 20 of the roofing element 10. The location of the roof tiles 40 is thereby facilitated and, at the same time, the roofing element 10 will serve as an effective channel-formation for rain water to flow from the roof. The side walls 18, in addition to their support function for supporting roofing tiles, also can serve to prevent water leakage into the roof structure interior.

It will be understood that the exact configuration of the roofing element is greatly variable, while still incorporating the principes of the roofing element as defined and described above. Also, the mode of use of the roofing element of the invention is variable while still fulfilling the purpose as described. It is anticipated that with the use of a roofing element, in accordance with the invention, the general construction of roofing structures and particularly the formation of valleys will be greatly facilitated, providing not only for a more cost-effective mode of roof construction, but also reducing the possibility of water leakages occurring, which are commonly associated with heavy rainfalls in the valley regions of roof structures.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A roofing element which comprises an elongate channel-shaped body, the body being defined by a base wall ; two side walls extending along opposite sides of the base wall ; and a partition formation disposed between the side walls along a line centrally between the side walls.
2. A roofing element as claimed in Claim 1, in which the partition formation comprises an inverted V-shaped formation dividing the base wall of the elongate body into two separate spaced base wall segments extending along the length of the body on opposite sides of the partition formation.
3. A roofing element as claimed in Claim 2, in which the partition formation divides the elongate body into two parallel adjacent channel-shaped formations, each channel-shaped formation being defined by a base wall segment, one of the side walls of the body and one wall of the inverted V shaped formation.
4. A roofing element as claimed in Claim 3, in which the base wall segments are inclined operatively downwardly towards the V-shaped formation with the body viewed in end view.
5. A roofing element as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the V shaped formation has an operative height which exceeds the operative height of the side walls of the body.
6. A roofing element as claimed in Claim 5, in which the operative height of the V-shaped formation exceeds the operative height of the side walls by between 100% and 200%.
7. A roofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the operative height of the side watts of the body is such that these walls can be secured between the roof battens of two angularly disposed roofing segments between which a valley is to be formed in a configuration in which the top edge of the side walls can then serve to support roof covering elements thereon.
8. A roofing element as claimed in Claim 7, in which the partition formation can serve as a rest against which roof covering elements supported on the side walls of the body can bear.
9. A roofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body is formed of a synthetic plastics material.
10. A roofing element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the material of the roofing element has qualities of resilience which provides for adjustability within the cross-sectional configuration thereof and thereby permit use of the roofing element between angularly disposed roofing segments defining different angular relationships.
11. A roofing element substantially as described in the specification with reference and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.