GB2409688A

GB2409688A - Roof support structure

Info

Publication number: GB2409688A
Application number: GB0400028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Parkins
Original assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-03
Filing date: 2004-01-03
Publication date: 2005-07-06
Also published as: GB0400028D0

Abstract

A cross member (102) having at least one part circular section recess (104) which, in use, can receive an end part of a roof assembly (94), such that the roof assembly is rotatable to be set at a required pitch. Preferably the cross member is in the form of a roof ridge and has two oppositely facing part circular section recesses. Preferably the roof end member includes means for fastening the assembly at the required pitch (78, Figure 1) and markings to aid alignment at the correct orientation. The end member may also include a captive bolt (84, Figure 1) secured to a spacer member (86, Figure 1), a mounting strip (90, Figure 1) and/or seals (60, Figure 1).

Description

a- 2409688 Building System This invention relates to a building component,

a building system, a set of components formable in a roof structure, and a roof structure.

In conservatory construction it is known to provide ridges which permit the roof panels to be installed at one of a choice of fixed pitch angles.

However, in conservatory design there is often a desire to use a different pitch angle, which angle may be determined by an adjoining building, space requirements, or other factors.

According to the present invention there is provided a building component in the form of a cross member to which a roof assembly can be mounted, the cross member defining a part circular section recess which can locate an end part of a roof assembly, with the end of the roof assembly rotatable in the recess about the axis of the part circular section recess, such that the roof assembly can be set at a required pitch.

The cross member is preferably in the form of an elongate moulding, which may be made of aluminium.

The cross member may include a formation to enable mounting to a fixture.

The cross member may include two part circular section recesses facing in opposite directions for mounting respective roof assemblies to each thereof.

The cross member may be in the form of a ridge member. (A

The cross member may include a formation for mounting a seal member thereon.

The invention also provides a building system including a cross member according to any of the preceding six paragraphs, and an end member of a roof assembly, the end member being restrainable locatable in the part circular section recess in the cross member at a required orientation to provide a desired roof pitch.

Where the cross member has two recesses, an end member may be provided for each recess.

The end member is preferably configured to permit roof panels to be mounted thereon. A mounting strip may be fixable on the end member, to which mounting strip the roof panel can be mounted.

The end member and/or mounting strip may be in the form of an elongate moulding.

The end member may be made of aluminium. The mounting strip may be made of plastics material.

The end member may include a formation for receiving a fastening member which is engageable with the cross member to retain the end member at a required relative orientation. The formation may be in the form of a recess for receiving the head of a screw.

The elongate member may include a formation for receiving a spacer member engageable with a roof panel. The formation may be in the form of a recess for non rotatably receiving the head of a bolt.

The end member preferably includes a plurality of spaced surfaces engageable with the walls of the cross member recess, and at least some of the space surfaces desirably have an arcuate face corresponding to the part circular cross section of the cross member recess.

Markings may be provided on the surface of the cross member recess to enable alignment of the end member at a required orientation. The markings may be in the form of tangential grooves.

JO The invention also provides a set of components formable into a roof structure, the components including a building system according to any of the preceding nine paragraphs.

The invention yet further provides a roof structure made from such a set of components.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. l is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a first roof mounting structure according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through a component of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view through a second roof mounting structure according to the invention, with the structure having two roof assemblies respectively in first and second orientations; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 but with the roof assemblies in third and fourth orientations; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through a component of the second structure; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through a component of the first and second structures; and Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view through a number of components connected together for use in the first or second constructors.

l O Fig. 1 shows a first roof mounting structure 10 suitable for instance for mounting the roof of a lean too conservatory, against a wall. The structure 10 includes a cross member 12 in the form of a hollow aluminium extrusion. The cross member 12 has four legs 14, 16 engageable against a wall, with lower and upper legs 14 being formed by L-shaped members, and two middle legs 16 being formed by an H-shaped configuration.

On the opposite side of the cross member 12 a part circular recess 18 with an axis 20 is provided. The recess 18 extends for a little under half of a circle, and extends further outwardly at its lower part 22 to substantially below the axis 20. A small recess 24 with a restricted opening is provided immediately above the upper part 26 of the recess 18. A plurality of spaced tangential grooves 28 are provided at 5 intervals from the lower part 22. A recess 30 is provided at the mid height part of the recess 18 to receive the head of a mounting screw 32, as shown in Fig. 1, for mounting the structure 100nawall.

A top cover 34 in the form of a plastic extrusion is mounted along the top of the cross member 12. The top cover 34 has a vertical section 36 engageable against the wall leading to a first sloping part 38 which ends in a step 40. A second sloping part 42 extends from the step 40 to a downwardly turned lip 44. A recess formation 46 is provided on the underside of the first sloping part 38 to receive the head of a bolt 48 which can be fixed to the cross member 12 by a wing nut 50 to retain the top cover 34 on the cross member 12.

A lower cover 52 is provided to close off the underside of the cross member 12. The lower cover 52 has two vertically extending upwardly open relatively narrow recesses 54 with teeth on the facing surfaces thereof.

Barbed downwardly extending projections 56 on the cross member 12 are locatable in the recesses 54 to retain the lower cover 52 on the cross member 12. A seal 58 is provided on the inner end of the lower cover 52 to be JO engageable against a wall. A further seal 60 is provided with a transverse projection 62 which engages in the small recess 24. The seal 60 comprises three transverse projections 64 engageable with the underside of the top cover 34, and a downwardly extending projection 66.

An end member 68 also in the form of an aluminium extrusion locates at least partially within the recess 18. The end member 68 has three surfaces 70, 72, 74 engageable against the recess 18. The surfaces 70, 72, 74 have a arcuate shape corresponding to the shape of the recess 18. The end member 68 defines an outwardly facing recess 76. A transversely extending recess 78 extends from the recess 76. The recess 78 can locate the head of a self tapping screw 80 engageable through the end member 68 and through the face of the recess 18 to lock the end member 68 at a required orientation.

The lowermost surface 74 is provided by a recess 82 with a restricted opening. The recess 82 non rotatably locates a short bolt 84 upon which a spacer member 86 is mounted by an internal nut 88. A mounting strip 90 in the form of a plastics material extrusion is mounted on the end member 68, and may be mounted by one or more screws (not shown) if required. The mounting strip 90 includes a recess 92 which locates the end of a roof panel 94, which panel 94 may be in the form of polycarbonate sheeting. The recess 92 locates within the recess 76, and for different sizes of roof panels 94 a different size recess 92 can be selected. Behind the roof panel 94 one of a plurality of rafters 96 is shown. A pair of opposed seals 98 are provided on the entrance to the recess 92.

In use, the end member 68 is located in the recess 18, and rotated to a required position to provide a desired pitch. The tangential grooves 28 can be used if required to show the correct position for the lowermost end of the surface 74. Fig. 1 shows a roof pitch of 40 . If required a jig may be used to correctly position the end member 68 in the recess 18. Once the end member 68 is correctly positioned, the screw 80 is inserted and screwed into the cross member 12 to retain the end member 68 in the required orientation. A plurality of screws 80 will be provided at spaced intervals. The mounting strip is then fitted to the end member 68. Following construction of the conservatory or other structure, the roof panels 96 are fitted into place.

Figs. 3 to 5 show a second roof mounting structure 100 which in many respects is the same as the structure 10, and similar components are shown with the same reference numerals. The components shown in Fig. 6 and 7 can be used in either of the structures 10, 100. The structure 10, and the components shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be used in either of the structures 10, 100. The structure 100 is a ridge structure suitable for use for example as a ridge of a conservatory. The structure 100 includes a cross member 102 which has a generally similar configuration to the cross member 12 except as follows. The cross member 102 defines two opposite outwardly facing part circular recesses 104. As the structure 100 is a ridge structure, no recess is required for a wall mounting screw.

A top cover 106 is provided which is again similar to the top cover 34 except that it extends downwardly on either side of the ridge. An upwardly facing channel shaped recess 108 is provided for mounting a finial. A lower cover 110 is provided again similar in most aspects to the lower cover 52.

Obviously the lower cover 110 extends to each side of the cross member 102, and only one upwardly open recess 1 12 is required on each side thereof.

The structure 100 can be assembled in a similar manner to the structure 10 with end members 68, mounting strips 90 and roof panels 94.

Figs. 3 and 4 show respectively four different orientations of roof panels 94.

The left hand side in Fig. 3 shows a 40 pitch. With this arrangement it can be seen that the lower cover 110 does not extend as far upwardly onto the cross member 102 as in Fig. 4. In contrast the right hand side of Fig. 3 shows a pitch of 5 where the rafters 96 would engage against the top cover 106. An extra thin H shape seal 114 is provided over the outermost edge of the lower cover 1 10, to prevent moisture ingress. Fig. 4 shows a pitch of 30 on the left hand side and a pitch of 20 on the right hand side.

There are thus described roof mounting structures and components usable in such structures which provide for a number of advantages. The pitch of the roof can be chosen to a precise required angle about the axis of the recess. Despite the wide variety of angles used, a number of common components can be used whether the cross member is mountable on a wall or provides a ridge. The end members 68 may be mounted on the cross members 12, 102 during fabrication, or could be mounted in a required orientation on site. The grooves help to permit correct alignment, particularly when installed on site.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example different extrusions could be provided. The structures could be used in applications other than those indicated above.

Different means could be provided for mounting the end members in required positions on the cross members. Different seal arrangements could be provided.

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

1. A building component in the form of a cross member to which a roof assembly can be mounted, the cross member defining a part circular section recess which can locate an end part of a roof assembly, with the end of the roof assembly rotatable in the recess about the axis of the part circular section recess, such that the roof assembly can be set at a required pitch.

2. A component according to claim 1, in which the cross member is in the to form of an elongate moulding.

3. A component according to claim 2, in which the cross member is made of aluminium.

4. A component according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross member includes a formation to enable mounting to a fixture.

5. A component according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross member includes two part circular section recesses facing in opposite so directions for mounting respective roof assemblies to each thereof. -:

6. A component according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross member is in the form of a ridge member. .... :. :---.

7. A component according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cross member includes a formation for mounting a seal member thereon.

8. A building system including a cross member according to any of the preceding claims, and an end member of a roof assembly, the end member so being restrainably locatable in the part circular section recess in the cross member at a required orientation to provide a desired roof pitch.

9. A system according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 5, in which an end member is provided for each recess.

10. A system according to claims 8 or 9, in which the end member is configured to permit roof panels to be mounted thereon.

11. A system according to any of claims 8 to 10, in which a mounting strip is fixable on the end member, to which mounting strip the roof panel can be mounted.

12. A system according to claim 11, in which the mounting strip is made of plastics material.

13. A system according to any of claims 8 to 12, in which the end member iS in the form of an elongate moulding.

14. A system according to any of claims 8 to 13, in which the end member is made of aluminium.

to

15. A system according to any of claims 8 to 14, in which the end member includes a formation for receiving a fastening member which is engageable, with the cross member to retain the end member at a required relative :.

orientation. : e:

16. A system according to any of claim 15, in which the formation is in the form of a recess for receiving the head of a screw. . , :-

17. A system according to any of claims 8 to 16, in which the end member includes a formation for receiving a spacer member engageable with a roof So panel.

18. A system according to claim 17, in which the formation is in the form of a recess for non rotatably receiving the head of a bolt.

l 9. A system according to any of claims 8 to 18, in which the end member includes a plurality of spaced surfaces engageable with the walls of the cross member recess.

20. A system according to claim 19, in which some of the spaced surfaces have an arcuate face corresponding to the part circular cross section of the JO cross member recess.

21. A system according to any of claims 8 to 20, in which markings are provided on the surface of the cross member recess to enable alignment of the end member at a required orientation.

22. A system according to claim 21, in which the markings are in the form of tangential grooves.

23. A set of components formable into a roof structure, the components JO including a building system according to any of the preceding claims. .

24. A roof structure made from a set of components according to any of the.

preceding claims. A. :--

25. A building component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. :-

26. A building system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A roof structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. 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. . .. --. - -e.e . . - -- ..- . .