GB2430446A

GB2430446A - Glazed ridge assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2430446A
Application number: GB0519226A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Molesworth
Original assignee: Glazing System Profiles Ltd
Current assignee: Glazing System Profiles Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-21
Filing date: 2005-09-21
Publication date: 2007-03-28
Also published as: GB0519226D0

Abstract

A glazed assembly comprises two roof sections joined by an elongate ridge bar 11 which is reinforced from above by a separate elongate upper component 20. An extruded or pultruded ridge crest for use along the ridge of a glazed roof is also claimed. The glazed assembly may be a conservatory. The upper component 20 and the ridge bar 11 may be provided with interengaging elements 22 along their length. The upper component may be an extruded or pultruded component providing a ridge crest 23.

Description

Glazed assembly

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a glazed assembly, such as a conservatory, and to components for use as part of such an assembly.

Background to the invention

It is known to build glazed assemblies, typically conservatories, onto the exterior of an existing ("host") building. One common type of conservatory, often preferred because of its simplicity and hence relatively low cost, is the so-called "lean-to" conservatory in which a series of generally parallel roof glazing bars, supporting a series of roof glazing panels such as of glass or polycarbonate, extend outwardly from the host wall to provide a roof which slopes downwards in a single plane. The end wall of the conservatory rises to meet the distal end of the sloping roof The height of the lean-to end wall is dictated by the slope of the roof and the length to which it extends from the host wall. It is also dictated by the height at which the roof attaches to the host wall. This in turn can be constrained in certain cases, for instance in order to avoid other parts of the host building such as windows or roof elements. In particular where a lean-to is attached to a low-roofed host building such as a bungalow, the height at which the lean-to roof can begin its slope is necessarily low. Thus in order to retain a reasonable height at its distal end wall, the overall area of the lean-to is significantly limited.

This problem can be partly overcome by the use of a relatively low pitch roof A more conventional pitch for a sloping conservatory roof might lie between 10 and 30 o, whereas a low pitch roof might have a slope of significantly less than 100, typically only from 3 to 7 0 sometimes as low as 2.5 0 However, even with a pitch this low, the overall length to which the lean-to extends from the host building can still be limited if its end wall is to have a reasonable height.

Another solution is to construct a so-called "Edwardian" style conservatory, in which two trapezium-shaped roof sections are joined together at one edge by a so-called "ridge bar" which runs typically perpendicular to the plane of the host wall. Third and fourth roof sections, each generally triangular in shape, are positioned between the first s two roof sections, one at each end of the assembly, and one of these is joined along an edge to the host wall. Such an assembly is, however, inevitably more complex and hence more expensive to produce than the lean-to type. It also requires a gutter to be provided around the entire perimeter of the conservatory, again increasing the cost of its construction.

Also known are conservatories having two roof sections joined by a ridge bar which is attached directly to the host wall. Provided the two roof sections have a sufficiently large pitch (say for example 15 or greater, ideally 20 or greater), then the ridge bar need not have too high a degree of structural strength as the two roof sections to an extent support one another, the ridge bar serving primarily to hold them in their correct relative positions. Much of the weight of the roof sections is directly downwardly through the conservatory side walls, and the load on the ridge bar need not be too great.

However, where the two roof sections have a low pitch, the ridge bar must have a greater strength in order to support them at the correct angle. The weight of the two roof sections now acts outwardly as well as downwardly on the conservatory side walls; if the ridge bar has insufficient strength this can result in damage to or displacement of the side walls, compromising the whole structure. Too low a strength can also result in the ridge "sagging" in its unsupported middle region between its proximal end (at the host wall) and its distal end (typically at the conservatory end wall).

Reinforcement of a ridge bar is typically achieved by increasing its height, often in a vertically downwards direction. This too can compromise the maximum height achievable for the roof, and in turn the overall surface area of the conservatory.

The present invention can provide glazed assemblies which can overcome or at least mitigate the above described problems.

Statements of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a glazed assembly comprising two roof sections lying in two different planes, the two sections being joined at adjacent edges by an elongate ridge bar, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced in strength from above, along at least a part of its length, by a separate, preferably elongate, upper reinforcing component.

Reinforcing the ridge bar from above in this way can bring a number of advantages, as will become apparent from the following description. In particular, it can allow a relatively low pitch roof to be adequately supported along a reasonable length and without undue loss of available height. This in turn makes possible the combination of a low pitch roof and a ridged construction, which allows a glazed assembly of much greater useable surface area to be constructed even where the host building to which it is attached puts constraints on the maximum roof height. The ridge bar itself, since strengthened by another component, need not have too great a height; its height need only be great enough for it to accommodate the two roof sections.

The ridge bar is ideally reinforced in such a way that it is better able, in its reinforced region(s), to support the weight of the two roof sections. Preferably it is better able, where reinforced, to bear that component of the weight which acts in a vertically downwards direction (typically parallel to the plane of the walls of the assembly).

More preferably it is better able to bear a component of the weight which acts in a direction other than vertically downwards, for instance out of, typically perpendicular to, the plane of the walls of the assembly.

Suitably the ridge bar is reinforced in such a way as to reduce its tendency to deform away from its longitudinal axis, in particular in its vulnerable middle region intermediate its proximal and distal ends, ideally in that region which includes the midpoint of the length of the ridge bar. Such deformation may be downward or (for instance due to wind pull) upward.

The ridge bar may be supported from above by the reinforcing component. In other words, at least a part of its weight (in particular that component which acts in a vertically downwards direction) may be borne by the reinforcing component. It may for example be suspended from the upper reinforcing component.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the glazed assembly is typically a conservatory or a conservatory roof assembly. The assembly may be of the traditional "Victorian" or "Edwardian" type, and may incorporate additional roof sections, in different plane(s) to the two which are joined by the ridge bar. Conveniently, however, the assembly includes only the two roof sections which are joined along adjacent edges by the ridge bar. This type of construction requires a roof gutter only along the two side walls which run typically parallel to the ridge bar, and does not for instance require a gutter along its end wall or at the joins between the roof sections and the host wall (although such gutters may still be included if desired).

Each of the roof sections will comprise one or more, typically two or more, roof glazing panels, suitably of glass or polycarbonate, joined to one another by means of an appropriate number of elongate glazing bars. Such constructions are well known in the field. The ridge bar must be capable of accommodating along its length not only the edges of the glazing panels of the two roof sections, but also the ends of the glazing bars by which those panels are joined together. This too is conventional in conservatory roofing systems.

The ridge bar may thus be of relatively conventional construction. It should have two oppositely directed elongate roof section receiving means, typically channels although simple support flanges may suffice, each capable of receiving one of the roof sections.

The angle between the two receiving means (measured around the longitudinal axis of the bar) should be chosen to provide the desired angle between the two roof sections, and hence the desired roof pitch. The ridge bar may be made from any suitable material such as wood, glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GRP), aluminium, a plastics material such as uPVC, or a combination of two or more of these such as in known aluminiumlPVC, wood/PVC or woodlaluminium composite components. It is preferably made from aluminium or a PVC.

The ridge bar is preferably of constant cross-section along its length, and can thus conveniently be manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion, ideally as a single piece extrusion. However it may itself be made up of more than one inter-engaging component. For example, it may comprise a central elongate body flanked on either side by separate elongate elements each of which is capable of receiving one of the roof sections. Either or both of these two roof section receiving elements may be joined to the central body of the ridge bar by any appropriate means, which may - in the case for instance of a hinge or pivot or similar joint - allow for the angle between the central body and the roof section receiving element to be varied according to requirements.

Other features of the ridge bar may be as for known ridge bars. This applies to the shape of its roof section receiving means; to the provision of glazing bead- or seal- receiving channels; to the incorporation of thermal breaks, drainage channels or internal reinforcing members such as of aluminium or steel; to the provision of additional elements such as condensation or protective covers; and to other features such as are already known for ridge bars.

However because the ridge bar is reinforced from above in accordance with the invention, it can be relatively simple in construction, requiring only two roof section receiving means (typically channels) and optionally means by which the bar can be secured to, preferably suspended from, the upper reinforcing component.

The angle between the two roof sections may be for instance from 175 to 120 0 but might more typically be from 176 to 150 or 140 0 preferably from 176 to 160 0 more preferably from about 176 to 166 0 or from 176 to 170 0 ideally about 176 or 174 0 0.5 o. In other words, the "pitch" of each of the roof sections, measured with respect to the horizontal, may be from 2 to 30 0, preferably from 2 to 15 0 more preferably from 2to 100, yet more preferably from 2 to 7 or from 2 to 50, such as about 2 or3 0 05 25. The invention is particularly suited to glazed assemblies with low pitch roofs, ie, with each roof section having a pitch of less than 10 0, more typically less than 7 or even 5 o Both roof sections will slope downwardly away from the ridge bar.

The ridge bar is reinforced by the separate upper reinforcing component, by which is meant that the reinforcing component imparts additional strength andlor rigidity to the ridge bar. The ridge bar is typically positioned vertically below the upper reinforcing component, and may be suspended, vertically downwards, from the reinforcing component. It may be joined to the reinforcing component in any appropriate manner, for instance by screws or other similar fixing means, by glueing or by welding.

Preferably the reinforcing component and the ridge bar are each provided with inter- engaging elements, for example co-operating hooks, flanges and/or flange- receiving channels, by means of which they may be fitted together along at least a part, preferably all, of their lengths. Such connections may be provided at discrete locations, for instance at intervals along the lengths of the two components, or more preferably are continuous along at least part, most preferably all, of the lengths of the components.

The upper reinforcing component may be made from the same material(s) as are listed above in connection with the ridge bar. Again it is preferably manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion, and conveniently has a constant cross section along its length.

This allows it to be produced to any desired length, and thus to provide reinforcement along the entire length of, or any part of the length of, the ridge bar.

Preferably the upper reinforcing component has a decorative section located above the ridge bar, in particular above the roof sections which it joins together. More preferably this decorative section is integral with that part of the reinforcing component which is joined to the ridge bar. The decorative section may be shaped to improve the aesthetic appearance of the glazed assembly, for example to mimic the "crests" which are traditionally used to finish the roofs of Victorian- or Edwardian-style conservatories.

The decorative section may for instance comprise an upstanding portion, in which a series of appropriately shaped holes or slots may be provided (for instance, by machining) at intervals along its length.

Thus in accordance with the invention, a single component may function both to reinforce the ridge bar and also for decorative purposes, suitably as a combined reinforcing component and crest component.

In a glazed assembly according to the invention, the ridge bar will typically be secured at its proximal end to a host wall (for instance by means of a bracket, as is conventional) and at its distal end to the end wall of the assembly and/or to another roof component such as a roof glazing bar, another ridge bar, a valley gutter or whatever, depending on the construction of the overall assembly. It is suitably reinforced, by the upper reinforcing component, along its entire length between its proximal and its distal ends, or at least along substantially this entire length or along at least 90 % or 80 % of this length. In this context "substantially" the entire length may mean greater than 95 % or 98 % or preferably 99 % of the entire length. Alternatively the ridge bar may be supported along 50 % or more, preferably 60 or 70 % or more, of its length. When reinforced along only a portion of its length, the ridge bar is preferably reinforced along its more vulnerable middle region intermediate its proximal and distal ends, ideally along a region which includes the midpoint of the length of the ridge bar.

Instead or in addition, the upper reinforcing component may be secured to the host wall. It will also typically be secured, at its distal end, to the end wall of the assembly (typically at an eaves component such as an eaves beam or wall plate) and/or to other roof glazing components.

If the ridge bar is suspended from the upper reinforcing component, it need not itself be secured to the host wall and/or to components at its distal end. It is however preferred for the ridge bar to be secured to the host wall, so that the upper reinforcing component need not then extend all the way to the host wall - this allows the reinforcing component to be partially cut away at its proximal end, for instance to accommodate features of or associated with the host wall such as windows and roof structures. The ridge bar is then still supported along at least a part of its length, preferably along at least its vulnerable middle region, yet the additional height of the reinforcing component need not cause a problem at the join with the host wall where height might be most limited.

The ridge bar and/or the upper reinforcing component may be secured to the host wall, and/or to other components of the glazed assembly, in known ways.

It is also possible, in a glazed assembly according to the invention, for the ridge bar not to meet the host wall but instead to be secured at either or both of its ends (and/or for its upper reinforcing component to be secured at either or both ends) to other roof components such as hip bars or firring panels.

The angle between the longitudinal axis of the ridge bar and the plane of the host wall may be between (though not including) 0 and 360 O Typically it will be about 90 O such as from 80 to 100 o* Preferably the ridge bar will extend from the host wall, and it may do so for any desired length: because of its construction this will not constrain the height of the end wall of the assembly. The ridge bar may for instance extend from the host wall for 1.5 to 7 metres, preferably for 2 to 7 metres or for 2.5 to 6 metres, ideally for at least 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or even 6 metres.

The width of the glazed assembly, ie, the span of the two roof sections which are joined by the ridge bar, may be for instance up to 4 or 6 or even 8 metres; it might typically be 3 metres or more, or in cases 4 or even 5 metres or more.

The glazed assembly may be built onto a host wall which places constraints on the maximum height of the roof of the assembly. In particular it may be built onto a single-storey or other low-roofed host building.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a ridge bar assembly for use as part of a glazed assembly according to the first aspect. The ridge bar assembly comprises a ridge bar and an upper reinforcing component, as described above.

Preferably the ridge bar is joined, along at least a part of its length, to the upper reinforcing component.

A thir'd aspect of the invention provides a reinforcing component for use as the upper reinforcing component in a glazed assembly according to the first aspect and/or a ridge bar assembly according to the second. This preferably also comprises a decorative section such as for use as "cresting" along the top of the ridge bar assembly.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an elongate crest component for use along the ridge of a glazed roof, the crest component having been manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion, preferably the former. This component will have an upstanding decorative section, ideally designed to mimic the appearance of a traditional Victorian-style crest.

It is we believe novel to manufacture a crest component in this way. A typical crest component is designed to a traditional Victorian style, having a series of discrete, decoratively shaped, upstanding elements along its length. This shape cannot be reproduced by extrusion or pultrusion because the component clearly does not have a constant crosssection along its length. Thus, conventionally crest components have been manufactured by casting, for instance from aluminium, iron or steel, or have been moulded from plastics materials such as PVC or GRP, or have been cut from wood, which has necessitated their production in only relatively short lengths such as about 0.25 to 1 metre. Such components can be relatively complex and expensive to produce and to paint, as well as difficult to join together on site and subsequently to maintain.

Because they are only available in short lengths, they cannot be used as structural elements in a glazed roof assembly.

In accordance with the present invention, in contrast, a crest component can be manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion, preferably extrusion, and hence to virtually any desired length. It can therefore be used at least partly as a structural component.

For example, it will typically have not only a decorative section but also a section which, as described above, is capable of being joined to, preferably engaging with, another glazing component such as in particular a ridge bar. In this way it may be capable of reinforcing andlor supporting the other component, conveniently from above. Ideally the crest component is able to function as, andlor forms an integral part of, an upper reinforcing component as described in connection with the first aspect of the invention.

Being typically lighter than a cast alternative (in particular when functioning only as a decorative component and not for instance as a reinforcing component), a crest component according to the invention is likely to place less of a load on other roof components to which it is joined. It can also be cheaper and easier to produce and to instal.

The crest component will typically be adapted to be located along at least a part of the length of a roof ridge and can be securable to a ridge bar, and/or to other roof components, in known manner. It preferably comprises a decoratively shaped upstanding section which will typically, in use, extend vertically upwards from a roof.

It has been found that suitable decorative shaping may be provided in an extruded or pultruded component by cutting appropriately shaped holes and/or slots at intervals along its length; this may be done for example by punching, drilling or cutting (for instance laser cutting) through the upstanding section, suitably after the component has been extruded/pultruded. Thus although a crest component in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention may at its simplest comprise just an upstanding section, and ideally a base section by which it can be joined to a glazed roof, preferably the upstanding section is also provided with one or more apertures as described above, to improve its appearance.

It is also possible for an extruded crest component in accordance with the invention to form an integral part of a ridge bar or other glazing component. Thus a fifth aspect of the invention provides a combined ridge bar and crest component, which has been manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion, preferably the former.

Crest components in accordance with the invention are preferably made from a PVC such as uPVC, or from aluminium; they may also be made from GRP or steel or from the composite materials listed above in connection with the ridge bar and reinforcing component of the first aspect of the invention.

Preferred features of the second and subsequent aspects of the invention may be as described in connection with any of the preceding aspects.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following examples. Generally speaking the invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings). Moreover unless stated otherwise, any feature disclosed herein may be replaced by an alternative feature serving the same or a similar purpose.

JO

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, of which: Fig I is a plan view of a typical prior art lean-to conservatory attached to a low-roofed host building; Fig 2 is a side view of the Fig 1 conservatory; Fig 3 is a plan view of a conservatory according to the present invention; Fig 4 is an end view of the Fig 3 conservatory; Fig 5 is a part section along the line V-V in Fig 3, showing the ridge bar assembly of the Fig 3 conservatory; Fig 6 is a section through part of the eaves region of the Fig 3 conservatory; Fig 7 is a section through a crest component in accordance with the invention; and Fig 8 is a perspective view of part of the Fig 7 component.

All drawings are schematic.

Detailed description

Fig I is a schematic plan view of a traditional "lean-to" conservatory I attached to the host wall 2 of a building such as a single-storey house. The conservatory roof lies in a single plane and comprises a series of glazing panels 3, typically either glass or polycarbonate, supported by a series of roof glazing bars 4. At their proximal ends, the glazing panels and roof bars are secured to the host wall in conventional fashion, via a back wall plate 5. At their distal ends, they abut an eaves beam 6 positioned along the top of the end wall of the conservatory.

From Fig 2, which is a side view of the Fig 1 conservatory, it can be seen that the height HI of the end wall 7 is dictated by (a) the height H2 at which the back wall plate 5 attaches the lean-to roof to the host wall, (b) the length L of the conservatory and (c) the pitch of the roof. For HI to be adequate for normal use, the maximum length L is likely to be constrained by H2, which in turn may be constrained by structural features of the host building, such as its roof 8, gutters, windows and the like. In this case, the pitch is only about 2.5 - the conservatory thus has an extremely low pitch roof- yet often the maximum length L will be undesirably small and the overall area of the conservatory correspondingly limited.

A conservatory in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figs 3 to 6. The plan view in Fig 3 shows that the conservatory roof comprises a ridge bar 11 attached at its proximal end to the wall 12 of a host building. The ridge bar joins together two roof sections 13 and 14, each of which comprises a number of glazing panels secured together by roof bars such as 15. The two roof sections meet at an angle a (see Fig 4).

It can be seen from Figs 3 and 4 that the maximum length L of this conservatory is not constrained by the height at which the ridge bar joins the host wall. This immediately allows a larger surface area for the conservatory. Nevertheless in order to keep the height Hi of the end wall adequate for normal use, without undue constraint on the width W of the assembly, it can still be desirable to have a relatively low pitch for the two roof sections 13,14. In the conservatory of Figs 3 and 4, the roof section pitch is approximately 2.5 (not shown to scale); a is therefore approximately 175.

Fig 5 shows how the ridge bar 11 can be sufficiently strengthened to be able to support even a very low pitch roof over a relatively long conservatory length L. In the present case L may be equal to for example up to 6 or 7 metres, even though the conservatory is built onto a singlestorey host building which limits its total height.

As seen in Fig 5, the ridge bar 11 is joined to an upper reinforcing component 20.

Component 20 is made from extruded PVC or aluminium, as is the ridge bar 11. It comprises a base portion 21 to which the ridge bar is secured by means of inter- engaging flanges and slots generally indicated at 22, and an upstanding portion 23 which also functions as a crest and hence enhances the appearance of the conservatory roof. The upstanding portion 23 may be provided with decoratively shaped apertures such as those shown in the crest component of Figs 7 and 8.

The upstanding portion 23 may be partially cut away at its proximal end, for instance by up to 100 or even 200 mm, to accommodate host wall features such as roof, gutters and the like. This still leaves the important middle section of the ridge bar adequately reinforced so as to prevent it from deflecting downwardly due to the weight of the low pitch roof sections it supports.

The ridge bar 11 has two roof section receiving channels generally labelled 24 and 25, which receive the edges of the glazing panels and their associated glazing bars. It also incorporates a thermal break 26, which can be bridged in conventional fashion for instance by polyamide bridging strips crimped into place in the elongate slots 27.

Fig 6 shows how a glazing panel 30 may be supported along a side wall 31 of the Fig 3 conservatory. Elongate gutter element 32 provides support, by means of its flange portion 33, for the edge of the glazing panel and any associated roof glazing bars 15.

An elongate end closer 34 covers the upper edge of the panel 30 and is adapted to connect to the gutter element 32 by means of inter-engaging flanges shown generally at 35. An elongate insert 36 sits on the flange 33 and ensures, by its shape, that the roof panel is supported at the desired angle. The insert 36 may be made from any appropriate material, for instance wood, aluminium, steel or a plastics material such as nylon; instead of a single elongate insert, a series of discrete inserts may be used to support individual roof glazing bars.

The gutter element 32 is supported on top of the (typically glazed) side wall 31 of the conservatory; it will typically be secured to an eaves beam. The two elements 32 and 34 are preferably manufactured as aluminium or PVC (preferably aluminium in the case of the gutter element)extrusions.

Glazing panels, glazing beads, glazing seals, condensation covers and other conventional components have been largely omitted from Figs 5 and 6 for clarity, but would typically all be present in a conservatory according to the invention, as in any other conservatory.

The crest component shown in Figs 7 and 8 is manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion; for instance it may be extruded from aluminium or a PVC. It has a base portion 41, by which it can be joined to a ridge bar or other roof component for instance in the manner illustrated in Fig 5, and an upstanding portion 42. The upstanding portion has a series of decoratively shaped apertures 43 machined along its length (see Fig 8); this results in an overall appearance similar to that of the more traditional cast metal crests.

The use of an extruded or pultruded component for the crest can provide the benefits discussed above; in particular the crest can be produced to any desired length and can thus be used for structural as well as decorative purposes.

Claims

Claims 1. A glazed assembly comprising two roof sections joined by an

elongate ridge bar, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced in strength from above, along at least a part of its length, by a separate elongate upper reinforcing component.
2. A glazed assembly according to claim I, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced in such a way that it is better able, in its reinforced region(s), to support that component of the weight of the two roof sections which acts in a vertically downwards direction.
3. A glazed assembly according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced in such a way that it is better able, in its reinforced region(s), to support a component of the weight of the two roof sections which acts in a direction other than vertically downwards.
4. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced in such a way as to reduce its tendency to deform in a region intermediate its proximal and distal ends.
5. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the weight of the ridge bar is borne by the upper reinforcing component.
6. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ridge bar is positioned vertically below the upper reinforcing component.
7. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ridge bar is suspended from the upper reinforcing component.
8. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a conservatory or conservatory roof
9. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes only two roof sections, being those which arc joined by the ridge bar.
10. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle between the two roof sections is from 176 to 160 O*
1 1. A glazed assembly according to claim 10, wherein the angle between the two roof sections is from 176 to 166
12. A glazed assembly according to claim 11, wherein the angle between the two roof sections is from 176 to 170.
13. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper reinforcing component and the ridge bar are each provided with inter- engaging elements by means of which they may be fitted together along at least a part of their lengths.
14. A glazed assembly according to claim 13, wherein the interengaging elements are continuous along at least part of the lengths of the ridge bar and the upper reinforcing component.
15. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper reinforcing component is manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion.
16. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper reinforcing component has a decorative section located above the ridge bar.
17. A glazed assembly according to claim 16, wherein the decorative section is integral with that part of the reinforcing component which is joined to the ridge bar.
18. A glazed assembly according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the decorative section comprises an upstanding portion in which appropriately shaped apertures are provided at intervals along its length.
19. A glazed assembly according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein a single component functions as a combined upper reinforcing component and crest component.
20. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ridge bar is secured at its proximal end to a host wall.
21. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced, by the upper reinforcing component, along at least 50 % of its length.
22. A glazed assembly according to claim 21, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced, by the upper reinforcing component, along at least 80 % of its length.
23. A glazed assembly according to claim 22, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced, by the upper reinforcing component, along its entire length or substantially its entire length between its proximal and its distal ends.
24. A glazed assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the ridge bar is reinforced, by the upper reinforcing component, along a middle region between its proximal and its distal ends, the middle region including the midpoint of the length of the ridge bar.
25. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper reinforcing component is partially cut away at its proximal end, to accommodate features of or associated with the host wall.
26. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ridge bar extends from the host wall for at least 2 metres.
27. A glazed assembly according to claim 26, wherein the ridge bar extends from the host wall for at least 4 metres.
28. A glazed assembly according to claim 27, wherein the ridge bar extends from the host wall for at least 6 metres.
29. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which is built onto a host wall which places constraints on the maximum height of the roof of the assembly.
30. A glazed assembly according to claim 29, which is built onto a singlestorey host building.
31. A glazed assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
32. A ridge bar assembly for use as part of a glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the ridge bar assembly comprising a ridge bar and an upper reinforcing component.
33. A ridge bar assembly according to claim 32, wherein the ridge bar is joined, along at least a part of its length, to the upper reinforcing component.
34. A ridge bar assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
35. A reinforcing component for use as the upper reinforcing component in a glazed assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 31 and/or a ridge bar assembly according to any one of claims 32 to 34.
36. A reinforcing component according to claim 35, which comprises a decorative section for use as a crest along the top of a ridge bar.
37. A reinforcing component substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
38. An elongate crest component for use along the ridge of a glazed root the crest component having been manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion.
39. A crest component according to claim 38, which has been manufactured by extrusion.
40. A crest component according to claim 38 or claim 39, which has an upstanding decorative section which, in use along the ridge of a glazed roof, extends vertically upwards from the roof.
41. A crest component according to claim 40, wherein the upstanding decorative section is provided with one or more apertures along its length.
42. A crest component according to claim 41, wherein the one or more apertures are provided by machining after the component has been extruded or pultruded.
43. A crest component according to any one of claims 38 to 42, which has a base section capable of engaging with a ridge bar.
44. A crest component according to any one of claims 38 to 43, which is able to function as, and/or forms an integral part of, a reinforcing component according to any one of claims 35 to 37.
45. A crest component according to any one of claims 38 to 43, which forms an integral part of a ridge bar.
46. A crest component substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
47. A combined ridge bar and crest component, which has been manufactured by extrusion or pultrusion.