Safety device for a roof skylight, and method for making the roof skylight resistant against burglary
The invention relates to a safety device for a roof skylight that comprises a translucent 5 element, connected to a support structure by means of connecting elements. The invention further relates to a method for making a roof skylight resistant against burglary, using the safety device.
Skylights are used for closing off openings in walls, roofs and the like and for providing 10 light from outside into buildings. The known skylight typically comprises a translucent element, for instance in the form of a dome, and a support structure which usually comprises a circumferential body that is placed on a cavity or opening, made in the roof. The support structure supports the translucent element and connects it to the substrate in the form of a wall or roof.
15
Although skylights are increasingly used in buildings and roofs, they also offer an opportunity for burglars to enter such a building. In order to prevent burglary, building decrees have adopted several rules and tests related to the prevention of burglary for skylights. A skylight should presently be guaranteed against burglary and tests are 20 prescribed that prevent burglars from accessing a building through a skylight for a prolonged period of time. In this respect, a skylight has to be resistant against destruction by two burglars for at least three minutes. This severe test is not met by most of the skylights at present.
25 It is an object of the invention therefore to provide a skylight that is more resistant against burglary than the known skylight. It is also an object to provide a method for obtaining such an improved skylight.
These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by providing a safety 30 device for a roof skylight that comprises a translucent element, connected to a support structure by means of connecting elements, the safety device comprising a bracket with first attachment means adapted to connect to a connecting element of the roof skylight, and second attachment means adapted to connect to a circumferential flange of the translucent element and to the support structure. The safety device provides an 2 improved resistance against burglary. In fact a skylight protected by one or more of the invented safety devices is resistant against destruction for more than 3 minutes by two burglars, in particular by two burglars that act together and use a standardized set of tools.
5
The invention also provides a method for making a roof skylight resistant against burglary, the method comprising providing a safety device according to the invention, connecting the first attachment means to a connecting element of the roof skylight, and connecting the second attachment means to a circumferential flange of the translucent 10 element and to the support structure. In the method according to the invention, the bracket is provided such that its first and second attachment means are positioned in close proximity to a connecting element of the roof skylight and a circumferential flange of the translucent element, where after the bracket is fixated onto the skylight by connecting the first and second attachment means to the connecting element, and to the 15 circumferential flange of the translucent element and the support structure respectively.
The translucent element of a roof skylight may be made from various materials, such as from plastics, like polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and/or polycarbonate, and/or glass, and may also comprise a composition of at least two plates, positioned at some distance 20 from each other, between which plates a gas is located. The translucent element of a skylight is typically attached to a circumferential support structure or body of for instance metal, plastic or wood, aluminium, ABS, polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride and the like. The invention provides a safety device for securing the skylight to such a support structure in a way that resists house breaking or burglary.
25
In a preferred embodiment, a safety device is provided wherein the first and second attachment means act in a different direction. By this is meant that the forces necessary to disrupt the first attachment means from the connecting element and the second attachment means from the circumferential flange of the translucent element and the 30 support structure act in a different direction. According to this embodiment for instance, the first attachment means may act in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the translucent element in the installed position, whereas the second attachment may act in a direction that is substantial parallel to the plane of the roof in the installed position.
3
It has turned out that such an embodiment importantly increases the time needed for a burglar to disrupt the skylight and provide himself access to the building.
In another preferred embodiment, the safety device according to the invention 5 comprises first attachment means that are shaped such that they shield the connecting element to which the bracket is connected. Preferably, a safety device according to another embodiment has first attachment means comprising a cap that is positioned around the connecting element. Such embodiments prevent a burglar from twisting the connecting element with respect to the translucent element of the skylight. It also 10 protects the connecting element against climatic influences, such as UV radiation and water. Twisting the connecting element is also prevented by the second attachment means that effectively fixate the bracket against rotation.
In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, a safety device is provided 15 wherein the second attachment means comprise a fold-over part, adapted to be placed around the circumferential flange of the translucent element. Such an embodiment further increases the time to demolish the skylight.
The first and second attachment means may in principle be connected to the skylight, 20 and in particular to a connecting element and a circumferential flange of the translucent element and the support structure thereof, by any means known in the art. A useful embodiment of the safety device according to the invention is characterized in that the attachment means comprise adhesive and/or mechanical fastening means such as screws. Such fastening means are readily applied and moreover provide sufficient 25 strength to meet the demands with respect to burglary resistance.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides a safety device wherein the mechanical fastening means of the first attachment means are adapted to pass through the connecting element to which the bracket is attached and through a wall of 30 the support structure. Such an embodiment secures the safety device to a roof skylight and simultaneously secures the skylight to its support structure. This offers economy of installation.
4
Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides a safety device wherein the mechanical fastening means of the second attachment means are adapted to pass through the circumferential flange of the translucent element and through a wall of the support structure. When combined with an embodiment wherein the second attachment 5 means comprise a fold-over part, adapted to be placed around the circumferential flange of the translucent element, the mechanical fastening means of the second attachment means will pass through the circumferential flange of the translucent element, through the fold-over part, and through a wall of the support structure.
10 In addition and according to another embodiment of the safety device, the mechanical fastening means of the second attachment means comprise a blind rivet, that preferably also passes through the circumferential flange of the translucent element and through the fold-over part.
15 In still another embodiment of the invention, a safety device is provided that comprises an assembly of two brackets with first attachment means adapted to connect to a connecting element of the roof skylight, and second attachment means adapted to connect to a circumferential flange of the translucent element and to the support structure. Such an embodiment would typically be applied around comers of a skylight, 20 securing two connecting elements positioned at each side of such comer and relatively close to it.
Although the safety device can be used in conjunction with any connecting element, used in the art for connecting a roof skylight to a support structure, a preferred safety 25 device comprises first attachment means that are adapted to connect to a connecting element that comprises a first and a second unit adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the translucent element and to clamp the translucent element between them by tightening cooperating connecting means of the units, the first and second unit in the tightened position defining a common bore through which a screw and/or nail can be 30 provided for attachment to the support structure. This combination in particular provides a still further improved resistance against burglary.
5
In a useful embodiment of the safety device the screw and/or nail acts as fastening means for the bracket as well. To prevent getting grip on the screw and/or nail, these are preferably countersunk with respect to the surface of the first attachment means.
5 The safety device according to the invention may be made from any material that is strong enough for the purpose, whereby embodiments substantially manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, preferably steel, and fiber reinforced polymers are preferred.
10 To increase the water tightness properties of the safety device in combination with the connecting elements, this connecting element is preferably substantially manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of styrene copolymers, such as ABS and ASA, and polyformaldehydes (polyacetals), such as polyoxymethylene (POM). Especially the latter are preferred.
15
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a safety device according to an embodiment of the invention in combination with a skylight; 20 figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the safety device of figure 1 in connected state; figure 3 shows a view in perspective of a safety device according to another embodiment of the invention in combination with a skylight; and figure 4 shows an exploded view of a connecting element preferably used in combination with the safety device according to the invention.
25
With reference to figures 1 and 2, an embodiment of a safety device 1 according to the invention is shown. Safety device 1 is used in conjunction with a roof skylight that comprises a translucent element 4 (which is only partly shown) connected to a support structure 2 that may be circular, but in general will be square or rectangular in the 30 circumferential direction thereof and is attached to a roof through screws 25, applied to a lower flange 26 of the support structure and into the roof 60. The support structure 2 is typically a PVC or polyester upstand (as shown) or a concrete or timber roof beam or the like. In the embodiment shown, the translucent element 4 actually comprises a composition of three plates 4a, 4b, 4c, positioned at some distance from each other. The 6 outer plates 4a, 4c are made of polycarbonate (PC), while the inner plate 4b is made from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The translucent element 4 is connected to the support structure 1 by means of connecting elements 35, shown in more detail in figures 4 and 5. The safety device 1 comprising a bracket 3, the extremities thereof defining 5 first attachment means 5, adapted to connect to a connecting element 35 of the roof skylight, and second attachment means 6, adapted to connect to a circumferential flange 4d of the translucent element 4 and to the support structure 2, in particular an outer sidewall 22 thereof In the embodiment shown the first attachment means 5 comprise a cap that is positioned around the connecting element 35, of which only a part (the first 10 component 10 thereof, see further below) is visible. The cap forms a shield for the connecting element 35 to which the bracket 3 is connected. The first attachment means 5 comprise a central bore that is accessible through a hole 7 in the top part of the cap 5. As shown more clearly in figure 2, mechanical fastening means in the form of a screw 8 pass via the hole 7 through the connecting element 35 to which the bracket 3 is attached, 15 and through an upper wall 24 of the support structure 2. The screw 8 connects the bracket 3 to the connecting element 35 and the upper wall 24 of the support structure simultaneously whereby the skylight is automatically connected to the support structure 2 as well.
20 The second attachment means 6 comprise an outer part 9a and a fold-over part 9b, which together form a kind of hook which allows to place the second attachment means 6 around a circumferential flange 4d of the translucent element 4. The bracket 3, outer part 9a and fold-over part 9b are all provided with holes 11,12 that cooperate to allow the passage of a blind rivet 13 and a screw 14 respectively. In the embodiment shown 25 the mechanical fastening means of the second attachment means 6 in the form of screw 14 passes through the outer part 9a, fold-over part 9b, and through outer sidewall 22 of the support structure 2, which effectively connects the bracket 3 to the support structure 2. Blind rivet 13 on the other hand passes through the outer part 9a, fold-over part 9b and the circumferential flange 4d of the translucent element 4, as shown in figure 2.
Since the screws 8 and 14 act in a different direction, the safety device 1 is removed from the skylight with great difficulty only.
30 7
The safety device 1 is preferably used in conjunction with connecting elements 35 of a particular type. With reference to figures 4 and 5, such a connecting element comprises a first component 10 and a second component 20. The connecting element 35 is adapted to connect the translucent element 4 of a roof skylight to the support structure 2. The 5 first component 10 comprises a longitudinal body 100, a flange part 110 and a central bore 120. The longitudinal body 100 can be inserted in a hole 41 made in the translucent element 4. The second component 20 comprises a longitudinal body 200 with a central bore 220 for receiving the longitudinal body 100 of the first component 10. The second component 20 is preferably also provided with a flange part 210. Preferably, the flange 10 part 210 is at least at the outer circumference thereof provided with a collar 230 of resilient material, such as a rubber, to prevent leakage between the flange part 210 and the translucent element 4. The first and/or second components are typically made of a polymer, such as ABS or a polyformaldehyde (polyacetal), such as polyoxymethylene (POM).
15
In use, the first and second component 10, 20 are positioned on either side of the translucent element 4, as shown in figure 4, where the first component 10 is positioned below the translucent element 4 and the second component 20 above the translucent element 4. The first and second components 10, 20 are provided with outer and inner 20 screw thread respectively that cooperate to tighten the translucent element 4 between the first and second components 10, 20 by rotation thereof. Thereto the longitudinal body 100 is inserted in hole 41 of the translucent element 4, and into the central bore 220 of the second component 20. By rotating the components 10, 20 relative to each other they are brought together by the screw threads and finally clamp the translucent 25 element 4 between said components. In the tightened position, the first and second components 10,20 define a common bore, formed by the central bores 120,220 through which the screw 8 may be provided for attachment to the support structure 2.
A safety device 1 is then placed with its parts 9a, 9b around the circumferential flange 30 4d of the translucent element 4 and with its cap 5 covering the assembly 10, 20 of the connecting element 35. A screw 8 is then inserted through the hole 7 of the cap 5 and through the common bore of the components 10, 20. The assembly of the cap, components 10,20 and the translucent element 4 is then fastened to the support structure 2 by screwing screw 8 into the support structure 2. To complete the fastening 8 of the safety device 1 to the skylight, the blind rivet 13 is applied and tightened, and a screw 14 inserted through the holes 12 of the second attachment means 6, through the parts 9a, 9b and then fastened to the support structure 2 by screwing screw 14 into the support structure front wall 22.
5
The above described steps are repeated as many times as necessary, and in particular to preferably cover every connecting element 35 of the roof skylight, or at least the minimum number of connecting elements 35 needed to comply with the requirements.
10 With reference to figure 3, another embodiment of the safety device according to the invention is shown. The embodiment shown comprises an assembly of two brackets 3a, 3b, substantially as described above, which brackets 3a, 3b are interconnected by a brace 15. This embodiment allows to secure two connecting elements 35 (not visible in figure 3) by one safety device 1 only, which accelerates installation and still provides a 15 good resistance against burglary. A further advantage of the present embodiment is that it provides more strength since the safety device is connected to the skylight and support structure by more than one screw.
20