GB2383347A

GB2383347A - Panel end fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2383347A
Application number: GB0130631A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Anthony Jones; Paul Malcolm Hullock
Original assignee: Aspect Management Ltd
Current assignee: Aspect Management Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-20
Filing date: 2001-12-20
Publication date: 2003-06-25
Also published as: GB0130631D0

Abstract

A roofing structure comprises an eaves structure 12, glazing bars supported on the eaves structure 12, one or more roofing panels 10 supported by the glazing bars and an end fitting 14 coupled to the eaves structure 12. A portion 20 of the end fitting 14 overlies an end of the or each roofing panel 10. The coupling between the end fitting 14 and the eaves structure 12 is through an eaves connector part and an end fitting connector part which are in the form of male 124 and female 128 connector parts which are coupled together by push insertion such that the male part 124 is captive against withdrawal from the female part 128. The eaves connector part is be rotatably coupled to the eaves structure. The eaves connector part may be received within a longitudinal socket in the eaves structure such that it is captive against removal through the lengthwise extending mouth of the socket. The eaves connector part may provide a tiltable connection of the glazing bars to the eaves structure.

Description

PANEL END FITTINGS This invention relates to roof structures and is particulary concerned with a roofing structure as referred to in prior UK patent application No. 0124767. 5 dated 16 October 2001, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

In that prior patent application, an end fitting is connected to the eaves structure through male and female connector parts which are arranged to be coupled together by push insertion of the male part into the female part in a direction transverse to the eaves structure in such a way that the male part is captive against withdrawal in the opposite direction to insertion.

The invention in the prior application is exemplified by embodiments in which the female connector part is an integral part of the eaves structure.

The present application discloses a further embodiment of the invention of the prior application in which the connector part (herein referred to as the eaves connector part) associated with the eaves structure is a separately formed component which is adapted to be coupled rotatably to the eaves structure.

The eaves connector part may be received within a longitudinal socket in the eaves structure in such a way that it is captive against removal through the lengthwiseextending open mouth of the socket.

The eaves connector part may have a part cylindrical outer surface for cooperation with a complementary internal configuration of the socket.

The eaves connector part may optionally be utilised in providing a tiltable connection of the glazing bars to the eaves structure.

The eaves connector part may be of a plastics material, metal or metal alloy.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of part of a roofing structure for a conservatory ; Figure 2 is a similar view to that of Figure 1 but showing the components in an exploded layout; and Figure 3 is a side elevation corresponding to the view of Figure 1.

The roofing structure illustrated in the drawings is generally similar to that disclosed in prior UK patent application No. 0124767. 5 and like components will therefore be depicted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment of the invention, the spigot 26 of the end fitting 14 is received in the longitudinally extending socket 28 of the eaves structure 12 via an channel part 50 which is inserted endwise into the socket 28 and is rotatable about the axis of elongation of socket 28. The part 50 and socket 28 have complementary external and internal contours respectively for this purpose.

The spigot 26 is insertable as a push fit through the open mouth of the channel part 50 and, once inserted, is held captive by wing portions 30 against withdrawal through the open mouth. As in the prior application, the spigot 26 is appropriately designed to permit such insertion into the channel part 50. The spigot 26 and hence the end fitting 14 need not be tiltable with respect to the channel part 50 since tilting of the end fitting 14

in accordance with the desired pitch of the roof is accommodated by rotation of the part 50 within the socket 29. However, the possibility of some degree of tilting of the spigot 26 with respect to the channel part 50 is not excluded.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 also shows the inner members 52 of the glazing bar assembly which have shoulders 54 to provide direct or indirect support for the side edges of the roofing panels 10. The glazing bar assemblies also include outer elongate members (not shown) which are adapted to be coupled to the inner members 52 to trap the roofing panels 10 between them. Suitable means for coupling the inner and outer members together are disclosed for example in prior UK patent applications Nos. 0118713. 7 and 0118716, 0 dated I August 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

The inner members 52 can be connected tiltably to the eaves structure 12 via socket 28 using threaded bolts 56 projecting from a carrier 58 which may be rotatably received in the socket 26 either directly or through insertion into the channel part 52. In both instances, the arrangement is such that the bolts are tiltably mounted on the eaves structure 12 to accommodate the desired pitch of the roof In practice, during fabrication of the roofing structure, the channel parts 50 corresponding to each panel 10 and the carriers 58 are introduced endwise into socket 28 from one end of the eaves beam and are moved to appropriate locations along the eaves beam. After the glazing bar inner members 52 have been placed and secured in position, the end fittings 14 are fitted to the ends of the panels 10 and are then push inserted into the channel parts 50 which, by virtue of their being rotatable within the socket 36, allow the end fittings 14 to take up the tilted orientation appropriate for the pitch of the roof.

Although in the illustrated embodiment, the female part is associated with and rotatably mounted by the eaves structure, the possibility of the male part being associated with and rotatably mounted by the eaves structure is not excluded. Also, the longitudinal socket 28 need not be located as shown in the illustrated embodiment; it may for instance be located on the front wall of the eaves structure in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 of UK patent application No. 0124767. 5.

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, the end fitting being connected to the eaves structure through male and female connector parts which are arranged to be coupled together by push insertion of the male part into the female part in a direction transverse to the eaves structure in such a way that the male part is captive against withdrawal in the opposite direction to insertion, the eaves connector part being a component which is adapted to be coupled rotatably to the eaves structure.
2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 in which the eaves connector part is received within a longitudinal socket in the eaves structure in such a way that it is captive against removal through the lengthwise-extending open mouth of the socket.
3. A structure as claimed in Claim 2 in which the eaves connector part has a part cylindrical outer surface for co-operation with a complementary internal configuration of the socket.
4. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the eaves connector part provides a tiltable connection of the glazing bars to the eaves structure.
5. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the male part includes a pair of oppositely directed wing portions which can deflect towards one another to allow insertion through an entry opening of the female part but which restore once inserted and block withdrawal of the male part.

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6. A structure as claimed in Claim 5 in which the blocking action is implemented by co-operation between the free ends of the wing portions and the margins of the entry opening. in such a way as to prevent deflection of the wing portions towards each other.
7. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the eaves connector part is of a plastics material, metal or metal alloy.
8. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the male part has an arrowhead configuration.
9. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the eaves connector part is adapted to be located on the top wall thereof or at the junction between the top and the front wall of the eaves structure.
10. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the eaves connector part is adapted to be located on the front wall thereof.
11. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the eaves connector part comprises the female part.
12. A fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.