IES77878B2

IES77878B2 - A connector for use in a pre-fabricated roof assmebly

Info

Publication number: IES77878B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Brian C Allport; Susan M Allport; Mark C Allport; Phillip B Allport; Hannah S Allport
Original assignee: Brian C Allport; Susan M Allport; Mark C Allport; Phillip B Allport; Hannah S Allport
Priority date: 1997-08-07
Filing date: 1997-08-07
Publication date: 1998-01-28
Also published as: GB2328226A; IES970586A2; GB2328226B; GB9717143D0

Abstract

A connector 14 for joining first and second elongated ridge members 10, 12 in a T-shaped configuration, each ridge member having a shallow arched cross-section with an upwardly opening channel 16 extending centrally along the top of the arch. The connector 14 comprises a body having a front end including a slot 26 which conforms to the cross-section of the first ridge member 10 such that one end of the first ridge member may be slidably inserted into and frictionally retained by such slot, and a rear end including a hook member 30 for engaging in the channel 16 of the second ridge member 12.

Description

- 1 - CS670 F 5 « A CONNECTOR FOR USE IN A PRE-FABRICATED ROOF ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a connector for use in a pre-fabricated roof assembly, in particular for joining elongated ridge members in a T-shaped configuration. 10 According to the present invention there is provided a connector for joining first and second elongated ridge members in a T-shaped configuration, each ridge member having a shallow arched cross-section with an upwardly opening channel extending centrally along the top of the arch, wherein the connector comprises a body having a front end including a slot which conforms to the 15 cross-section of the first ridge member such that one end of the first ridge member may be slidably inserted into and frictionally retained by such slot, and a rear end including a hook member for engaging in the channel of the second ridge member. 20 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 25 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of a pair of ridge members joined in a T-shaped configuration by a connector according to the embodiment of the invention, * S 7 78 7 8 Fig. 2 is a view of the assembly of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 3 is a view of the assembly of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow B,Fig. 4 is a side view of the connector used in the assembly of Fig. l, Fig. 5 is a front end view of the connector of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a top view of the connector of Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 is an underneath view of the connector of Fig.

. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the assembly there shown comprises first and second elongated ridge members 10 and 12 respectively - only a short section of each is shown - joined in a T-shaped configuration by a connector 14. Each ridge member 10, 12 has a substantially constant cross-section along its length, which cross-section is in the form of a shallow arch.

An upwardly opening channel 16 extends centrally along the top of each arch, and each ridge member is laterally symmetrical relative to the centre line of the channel. Each channel 16 has a restricted opening to retain a series of crest sections (not shown). The ridge members 10, 12 may be made from extruded aluminium.

In this embodiment the ridge members 10, 12 are substantially of the form indicated by reference numeral 12 in Fig. 2 of Irish Patent Specification S60160. Further details of such ridge members, and the manner in which they may be used in constructing a pre-fabricated roof, are described in the aforesaid Irish Patent Specification.

Referring additionally to Figs. 4 to 7, the connector 14, which is preferably a body moulded from plastics material, has opposite ends 18 and 20 which are referred to herein as the front and rear ends respectively (Fig. 4).The front end 18 of the connector body 14 has upper and lower flanges 22, 24 which define a slot 26. The slot 26 conforms to the cross-section of the ridge member 10 such that one end 28 of the ridge member 10 may be slidably inserted into and frictionally retained by the slot 26, as seen in Figs. and 2. Further, the rear end 20 of the connector body 14 includes a hook member 30 which, in use, engages in the channel 16 of the ridge member, as also seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The connector body 14 also includes a stop surface 32 recessed interiorly of and forming the base of the slot 26. The one end 28 of the ridge member 10 may be pushed into the slot 26 until it abuts the stop surface 32, the stop surface 32 thereby defining the maximum extent to which the one end 38 of the ridge member 10 may be inserted into the slot.

As seen in Fig. 2, when the hook member 30 is engaged in the channel 16 of the ridge member 12 the stop surface 32 is located substantially at the lateral edge 38 of the ridge member 12, so that, when the one end 28 of the ridge member 10 is inserted into the slot 26 to its maximum extent, the one end 28 of the ridge member 10 substantially abuts the lateral edge 38 of the ridge member 12.

The underside of the connector body 14 has a bearing surface 34 whose profile conforms to and, in use of the connector, bears against the flank 36 of the ridge member 12 to define a predetermined orientation of the ridge member 10 relative to the ridge member 12. In particular, and as seen in Fig. 2, when the hook member 30 is engaged in the channel 16 of the ridge member 12 and the surface 34 bears against the flank 36 of the ridge member 12, the ridge member 10 extends substantially horizontally away from the ridge member 12 if the latter is orientated symmetrically relative to a plane P passing vertically through the centre of its channel 16.

Finally, the connector body 14 has a channel 40 extending forwardly from the slot 26, such channel forming an extension of the channel 16 in the ridge member 10 towards the channel 16 in the ridge member 12.

It will be understood that by using two connectors 14 as described above, directly opposite one another on opposite sides of the ridge member 12, two ridge members 10 may be joined to opposite sides respectively of the ridge member 12 to provide a cross formation.

Claims

1. A connector for joining first'and second elongated ridge members in a T-shaped configuration, each ridge member having a shallow arched cross-section with an upwardly opening channel extending centrally along the top of the arch, wherein the connector comprises a body having a front end including a slot which conforms to the cross-section of the first ridge member such that one end of the first ridge member may be slidably inserted into and frictionally retained by such slot, and a rear end including a hook member for engaging in the channel of the second ridge member.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underside of the body further has a bearing surface which conforms to and bears against the flank of the second ridge member to define a predetermined orientation of the first ridge member relative to the second ridge member.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the body includes a stop surface interiorly of the slot for abutment by the one end of the first ridge member, the stop surface defining the maximum extent to which the one end of the first ridge member may be inserted into the slot.

4. A connecter as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the hook member is engaged in the channel of the second ridge member the stop surface is located substantially at the lateral edge of the second ridge member so that, when the one end of the first ridge member is inserted into the slot to its maximum extent, the one end of the first ridge member substantially abuts the said lateral edge of the second ridge member.

5. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, 5 wherein the body has a channel extending forwardly from the slot, such channel forming an extension of the channel in the first ridge member towards the channel F. R. KELLY & CD.