GB2378205A

GB2378205A - Roof panel end fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2378205A
Application number: GB0118715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Anthony Jones; Colin Antony Jones
Original assignee: Aspect Management Ltd
Current assignee: Aspect Management Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-01
Filing date: 2001-08-01
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Also published as: GB0118715D0

Abstract

A roofing structure comprises an eaves structure 12, glazing bars supported by the eaves structure, one or more roofing panels 10 supported by the glazing bars and an end fitting 14. The end fitting 14 includes a portion 20 overlying one end of the roofing panel, and is coupled to the eaves structure at a position internally of its outer face. The end fitting 14 preferably incorporates a channel 16 arranged to receive the outward extending end of a roofing panel, a laterally projecting leg 24 which serves as a fulcrum to allow tilting of the end fitting so as to accommodate the pitch of the roof, and a portion 26 extending inwardly of the leg 24 and enabling engagement with the eaves structure on the inboard side.

Description

PANEL END FITTING This invention relates to roof structures.

The invention has particular application to roof structures for glazed conservatories in which roofing panels, of polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride or glass for example, are supported by glazing bars which in turn are supported by an eaves structure.

In a known form of glazing bar assembly, as disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2347963, the assembly comprises an elongated bar which serves to support the panels and an elongated capping element which has a plastics connector which engages as a push fit in a channel in the bar. This design offers virtually no security against break-in by a would-be intruder through the roof of a conservatory or other premises since the capping element can readily be levered away from the bar thereby allowing one of more roofing panels to be lifted to gain access.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved security for roofing structures.

According to the present invention there is provided a roofing structure comprising an eaves structure, glazing bars supported on the eaves structure, one or more roofing panels supported by the glazing bars and an end fitting including a portion overlying one end of the roofing panel and coupled to the eaves structure internally of the outer face of the latter.

In this way, lifting of the panel (s) is prevented at that end of the roofing structure. Usually the other end of the roofing panel or panels extend to a ridge structure

part of which overlies that end of the roofing panel (s) and it will be seen that the end fitting associated with the eaves structure will, in this event, afford security against break-in even if the glazing bars are designed as disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2347963 because both ends of the panel remain trapped at the ridge and eaves structures thereby obstructing any attempt to remove the panel (s).

The end fitting may include a channel-defining portion at its forward end for reception of the forward end of the panel (s) and a section which extends rearwardly between the panel (s) and the eaves structure and is adapted to be engaged with the eaves structure on the inboard side of the latter.

The end fitting may be of a plastics material or it may of a metal or metal alloy particularly one which may be extruded, e. g. aluminium.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, the end fitting may comprise a channel for reception of the forward end of a roofing panel, a laterally projecting leg which serves as a fulcrum to allow tilting or rocking of the end fitting so as to accommodate the pitch of the roof and an L-shaped section extending rearwardly of the leg to provide a limb which extends laterally in the same general direction as the leg whereby the limb may be engaged with the eaves structure at a location on the inboard side of the eaves structure.

The limb may be provided with one or more projections for co-operation with the eaves structure to allow the extent of the tilting angle to be set.

The leg and the eaves structure may be provided with formations which can be interfitted to allow tilting or rocking of the end fitting.

The interfitting formations may be of part-circular configuration and the arrangement may be such that the formation associated with the leg forms a knuckle fitting within a socket associated with the eaves structure.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view through the eaves structure of a pitched conservatory roof, illustrating one form of end fitting; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second form of end fitting; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a third form of end fitting.

Referring to Figure 1, a pitched conservatory roof comprises a number of spaced glazing bars (not shown) between which polycarbonate or like roofing panels 10 are supported along their edges. The glazing bars extend between a ridge structure (not shown) and a box section eaves structure 12 which may be manufactured as an aluminium or aluminium alloy extrusion. The panels are supported with their ends overhanging the eaves structure 12 to drain into guttering (not shown). The eaves structure 12 surmounts a side of the conservatory.

Associated with the lower or forward ends of the panels 10 is an end fitting 14 which may be manufactured as a plastics extrusion or a metal extrusion such as an aluminium or aluminium alloy extrusion. The end fitting 14 has at its forward end a channel 16 having a rearwardly directed open mouth for reception of the forward ends of the panels 10. The channel 16 is defined by a base 18 which closes the open end of the polycarbonate panel, a wall 20 which overlies the marginal edges at the lower ends of the panels 10 and a lower wall 22 which underlies the lower end of the panel. The wall 22 may

serve as a thermal break in that it prevents direct exposure of the overhanging portions of the inner faces of the panels.

The fitting includes a downwardly directed leg 24 which projects laterally from the wall 22, e. g. at an angle of 90 degrees, for engagement with the top wall of the eaves structure 12 so as to act as a fulcrum about which the fitting can tilt or rock about an axis parallel to the axis of elongation of the end fitting (i. e. perpendicular to the plane of the paper as viewed in Figure 1) to accommodate the pitch of the roof The leg 24 also serves as a closure for the gap between the underside of the panel 10 and the top of the eaves structure 12.

An L-section shaped portion 26 extends rearwardly of the leg 24 and includes a laterally projecting limb 28 which is spaced from and extends downwardly in generally parallel relation with the leg 24 for co-operation with the rear of the eaves structure. The limb 28 is intended to be fastened to the eaves structure so as to locate the end fitting 14.

To this end, the limb 28 and the rear of the eaves structure may be drilled to receive a selftapping screw to firmly secure the end fitting in place. It will be noted that the attachment of the end fitting 14 to the eaves structure 12 is located interiorly and cannot be accessed from the exterior when the roof panels are in place.

To facilitate tilting of the end fitting according to requirements, the limb 28 may be provided with a number of forwardly directed projections 30 for co-operation with a flange 32 projecting rearwardly from the eaves structure. As shown in Figure 1, the flange 32 is located between the uppermost and intermediate projections 30 but it will be understood that the angle of tilt of the end fitting can be increased by arranging it so that the flange 32 is located between the intermediate and lower projections 30. In the illustrated embodiment, three such projections are provided; by using a larger number of

projections and/or a different spacing between adjacent projections, the incremental change in the tilting angle may be modified as desired.

Figure 2 illustrates a modification in which like parts are depicted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the limb 28 is not provided with projections 30 as in Figure 1. In this case, the limb 28 is simply connected, e. g. by means of a screwthreaded fastener, to the eaves structure after it has been tilted to the appropriate angle about the leg 24. In Figure 2, it will be noted that the upper wall 20 is downwardly inclined so that insertion of the panel into the channel 16 involves some flexure of the wall 20 which may then bear against the panel. This feature may also be present in the embodiment of Figure I if desired.

Figure 3 illustrates another modification using the same reference numerals as in Figure 1 to identify like parts. In this embodiment, the leg 24 terminates in a knuckleshaped formation 36 which is adapted for reception in a channel 40 of the eaves structure (see Figure 1) in such a way that the formation 36 can pivot or rotate in the channel 40 to afford the tilting action necessary to accommodate the pitch of the roof. As illustrated, the knuckle 36 and the channel 40 are of part-circular section for this purpose. To facilitate insertion of the knuckle 36 into the channel, it may be hollow and interrupted, as shown at 42, so that it can be deformed sufficiently for insertion as a push fit into the channel 40 and then spring back to its original shape especially where the end fitting is of a plastics material. In other instances, the knuckle 36 may be introduced from one end of the channel 40 and slid to the desired location.

In each embodiment, the wall 22 may be provided with spacing elements such as ribs to space the underside of the roof panel from the wall 22 to permit water drainage in the event of water ingress into the channel 16. If desired, the channel, e. g. the wall 22, may be provided with outlet holes to allow drainage of any water into the guttering.

The end fittings in each case will typically be cut to length (from an extruded profile) to correspond with the spacing between adjacent glazing bars, although the possibility of using an end fitting of a length sufficient to span the width of two or more roofing panels is not excluded nor is the possibility of using end fittings which are somewhat narrower than the spacing between adjacent glazing bars.

The ridge structure includes a part which overlies the upper ends of the panels with the consequence that lifting of the upper ends is prevented. If the glazing bars are designed as disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2347963, after the capping elements have been levered from the bars to expose the edges of the roofing panels, it is then a simple matter to slide the panel downwardly clear of the ridge structure so that it can be removed thereby giving an intruder access to the interior of the conservatory. The use of an end fitting according to the present invention, e. g. as illustrated in the embodiments of Figures I to 3, serves to trap the lower end of each panel thereby preventing the lower end of the panel being lifted and a would-be intruder is further hindered by the fact that the fixture of the end fitting is located interiorly and is not therefore accessible without damaging the roofing panel thereby creating noise which could alert others to the intruder's activity.

In a modification of the illustrated embodiments, the end fitting may be provided with a downwardly depending leg located forwardly of the fulcrumming leg 24 and forming a closure or weatherproofing member which covers the gap between the underside of the roofing panels and the forward face of the eaves beam. This is depicted in phantom outline by reference numeral 50 in the embodiment of Figure I but it will be appreciated that it may also be incorporated in other embodiments of the invention. The weatherproofing member 50 may be of a flexible nature so that, regardless of the angle of tilt of the end fitting, it makes sealing contact with a front surface of the eaves beam.

Where the end fitting is fabricated as a metal extrusion, it may incorporate a thermal break between the fulcrum and the remainder of the end fitting, e. g. between the leg 24 and the lower wall 22.

The end fitting of the present invention may be used in conjunction with eaves bar assemblies as disclosed in our co-pending British Patent Application of even date herewith and filed under reference N01/0455/GB, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A roofing structure comprising an eaves structure, glazing bars supported on the eaves structure, one or more roofing panels supported by the glazing bars and an end fitting including a portion overlying one end of the roofing panel and coupled to the eaves structure internally of the outer face of the latter.
2. An end fitting for a roofing structure, the end fitting comprising a channel for location at the eaves structure of the roofing structure and arranged to receive the forward end of a roofing panel, a laterally projecting leg which serves as a fulcrum to allow tilting or rocking of the end fitting relative to the eaves structure so as to accommodate the pitch of the roof, and a section extending rearwardly of the leg to provide a limb which extends laterally in the same general direction as the leg whereby the end fitting may be engaged with the eaves structure at a location on the inboard side of the eaves structure.
3. A fitting as claimed in Claim 2 comprising an extrusion.
4. A fitting as claimed in Claim 3, made of a plastics material or a metal or metal alloy.
5. A fitting as claimed in Claim 2,3 or 4 in which the limb is provided with one or more projections for co-operation with the eaves structure to allow the extent of the tilting angle to be set.
6. A fitting as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5 in which the leg is provided with a formation for interfitting with a generally complementary formation associated with the eaves structure.

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7. A fitting as claimed in Claim 6 in which the interfitting formations are of part-circular configuration and the arrangement is such that the formation associated with the leg forms a knuckle fitting within a socket associated with the eaves structure.
8. A fitting as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 in which the formation associated with the leg is resiliently deformable to allow it to be deformed for insertion into the formation associated with the eaves structure.
9. A fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding clams including a weatherproofing member for co-operation with the eaves beam.
10. A fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.