NZ578392A - Sealing device for overlapping profiled sheets with recesses and protrusions to complement sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

Sealing device for use providing a seal between the ends of overlapping profiled sheets, such as roofing sheets, has an elongate body which, relative to one in-use orientation, has upper and lower longitudinal surfaces and laterally outwardly facing longitudinal side surfaces. In side elevation relative to that orientation the sealing device defines at one or more locations along its length an engagement portion at which the upper surface is raised, and at which the lower surface is raised and preferably is recessed. Each of the lower and the upper surfaces of the engagement portion has a respective form which at least in part corresponds respectively to the form in cross-section of the outer, upper surface and of the inner, lower surface of profiled ribs of longitudinally overlapping profiled sheets with which the sealing device is to be used.

Description

Patent Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TITLE: SEALING DEVICE We Stramit Corporation Pty Limited, an Australian company, of Level 5, Tower 'A' Zenith Centre, 821 Pacific Highway, Chatswood, New South Wales, 2067, Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 4003q 2 SEALING DEVICE This application claims priority from Australian Provisional Application No. 2008903629 filed on 15 July 2008, the contents of which are to be taken as 5 incorporated herein by this reference.

This invention relates to a sealing device for use in sealing between overlapping profiled sheets such as roofing sheets.

The sealing device has particular use in joining profiled steel roofing sheets of a long span roof. The term "long span" refers to an industrial roof that may, for example, be up to 80 metres long and have a fall to enable rainwater run-off which can be as low as 1°. The roofing sheets are held in place by being engaged with roofing clips mounted on a supporting roof frame over which the 15 sheets are installed. The engagement is to be such as to allow for thermal expansion of the sheets relative to the roof frame and clips. In many systems, the sheets are pushed onto the clips so as to secure a head portion of each clip above a re-entrant surface or shoulder within a rib defined by the profiled sheet.

The length of roofing sheets that cover a long span can be of a relatively short, transportable length, such as from 12 to 20 metres. Alternatively, the sheets can be of a relatively long continuous length of up to about 80 metres if the sheets are manufactured on site. A waterproof step joint is necessary where 25 shorter length sheets join, but the need for such intermediate joints is avoided by using such long continuous length sheets. However, use of the long continuous lengths incurs the costs of transporting a sheet roll former to manufacture the sheet on site and of the necessary handling equipment for moving the long continuous sheet onto a roof frame and into place. Those 30 costs are high, and can be prohibitive for some roofing requirements.

As intimated, using short, transportable sheets necessitates a waterproof step joint where the ends of longitudinally successive sheets overlap. That is, a 3 seal is required where the lower end of one sheet overlaps with the upper end of another sheet below the one sheet. Also, there typically needs to be two purlins below and supporting each step joint. The height of a typical step joint is visually significant as it can be as great as about 100mm and, hence, it can 5 be aesthetically undesirable. The step, in addition to providing a waterproof joint, is to function as an expansion joint. That is, the joint is to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the sheets caused by ambient temperature cycles.

The present invention provides a sealing device for use in providing a seal between the ends of overlapping profiled sheets, such as roofing sheets. At least in preferred forms, the sealing device enables the provision of a step between the ends of overlapping roofing sheets which is substantially less than 100mm in height. Also, at least in preferred forms, the sealing device 15 facilitates the provision of a waterproof joint between the ends of overlapping roofing sheets, even in roofing having a fall for rainwater run-off as low as about 1°.

The sealing device of the present invention has an elongate body which, 20 relative to an in-use orientation, has upper and lower longitudinal surfaces and laterally outwardly facing longitudinal side surfaces. In side elevation relative to that orientation the sealing device defines at one or more locations along its length an engagement portion at which the upper surface is raised, and at which the lower surface is raised, and preferably is recessed. Each of the 25 lower and the upper surfaces of the engagement portion has a respective form which at least in part corresponds to the form in cross-section of the outer, upper surface and the inner, lower surface of profiled ribs of longitudinally overlapping profiled sheets with which the sealing device is to be used. The lower surface enables the sealing device to be pressed down onto and engage 30 with a rib of a lower first one of the overlapping sheets, while the raised surface enables the second, upper one of the overlapping sheets to be pressed down onto the device to engage a rib of the second sheet with the raised upper surface of the formation, with the body of the device engaging 4 each sheet laterally to at least one side of the ribs. Thus, the device is able to provide sealing between the ends of the overlapping sheets by the engagement portion being engaged with and sealing at a rib of each of the sheets, with the body providing a seal between a pan section of the sheets 5 laterally from the ribs.

For the overlapping sheets, a respective sealing device may be used to engage and provide sealing between each of successive pairs of overlapping ribs of the sheets. In that case, the longitudinal extent of the body of each 10 device preferably is such that the ends of successive devices are able to abut to provide a seal for the overlapping sheets between abutting ends of successive devices. The abutting ends may inter-fit to assist in providing the seal. However, as an alternative, the body of the sealing device may have a length, and a respective engagement portion for each successive pairs of 15 overlapping ribs of the sheets, to enable a seal to be provided by one sealing device across the full lateral extent of the overlapping sheets. In each case, the seal able to be achieved most preferably results from the body of the sealing device bearing against a pan or trough of each sheet, between the successive pairs of overlapping ribs, with each engagement portion providing a 20 seal in each of overlapping ribs of the sheets.

While a given roof may have only a single line of longitudinally successive sheets, it is more usual for there to be at least two laterally adjacent lines of sheets, with side edge margins of the sheets of one line overlapping and 25 sealingly inter-fitting with side margins of the sheets of the next adjacent line. It is preferred that a seal provided between the overlapping ends of successive sheets of one line is continuous across the in-line overlapping ends of sheets of the next adjacent line. This can be achieved by an end of a sealing device for the one line abutting an end of a sealing device for the next line, with the 30 abutting ends preferably inter-fitting. Alternatively, a single sealing device may provide a seal between the ends of the sheets of each of two or more lines.

It is possible for a single sealing device to provide a seal across in line overlapping ends of all of two or more lines of sheets, such as across the full width or lateral extent of a roof. However, this can create installation difficulties, and give rise to a risk of the device being damaged or being 5 incorrectly installed. It generally is most convenient if the longitudinal extent of the body of the sealing device corresponds substantially to the width or lateral extent of the sheets.

The sealing device can be made for a number of arrangements. As indicated, 10 in one arrangement there may be a respective device for each overlapping pair of ribs of a line of sheets while, in another arrangement, a single device may extend across each overlapping pair of ribs of a line, or of two or more laterally adjacent lines. However, successive devices preferably abut and most preferably are inter-fitted. Also, an arrangement of a single device which 15 extends across each overlapping pair of ribs of the sheets of a single line is preferred. In the following, an arrangement using a single device for each overlapping pair of ribs for a single line of sheets is assumed, although much of the description of that single device is applicable to the other arrangements for the device.

In a usual form of profiled sheet for roofing, the side margins are of an inter-fitting form such that laterally adjacent sheets co-operate to form a profiled rib. Intermediate of the side margins, the sheet has at least one profiled rib which is spaced from a side margin or a next adjacent rib by a pan or trough of a 25 standardised width. The arrangement is such that, with the sheets installed in lines which inter-fit at side margins, the appearance is of a uniform array of parallel profiled ribs substantially uniformly spaced by pans or troughs. The preferred form of sealing device is consistent with this in that the sealing device has: a) a body of a length corresponding substantially to the width between side edges of the profiled sheet with which it is to be used; 6 b) respective end portions of the body each able to abut end wise an end portion of another in-line sealing device so the abutting end portions have the form of a engagement portion; c) intermediate of the end portions, at least one engagement portion; and d) a spacing portion of the body by which one engagement portion is spaced from an end portion or a next adjacent engagement portion.

The arrangement is such that an end to end series of the sealing devices have 10 the appearance of a uniform series of engagement portions substantially uniformly spaced by spacing portions of the bodies.

The raised upper surface and the recessed lower surface of engagement portions preferably have substantially complementary forms. That 15 complementary form preferably is exhibited by the abutting end portions of inline sealing devices when they are abutting endwise. The complementary forms most preferably correspond substantially to the cross-sectional profile of the lower, inner surface and the outer, upper surface, respectively, of profiled ribs of the profiled sheets.

One form of rib provided on roofing sheets defines a channel which is of a reentrant shape in cross-section. The channel has at least one shoulder which faces away from the opening to the channel. Thus, the channel is able to be pressed down onto a clip, for retaining the sheet on a supporting roof 25 framework, to locate a cleat formation of the clip beyond and against the shoulder. The rib may for example, be of a hollow mushroom shape in cross-section, having a head and a stem which narrows to the head. Thus, as the sheet is forced down onto a clip of a somewhat complementary form, the cleat formation of the clip forces side walls of the rib apart until the cleat formation 30 enters the head. The side walls them are able to recover to their initial spacing, to retain the cleat formation in the head, with a respective shoulder defined by each side wall of the rib, at the underside of the head, resisting separation of the sheet from the clip. Preferably there is a similar relationship 7 between the engagement portion of the sealing device and the form of ribs of roofing sheets with which the sealing device is to be used.

The body of the sealing device may have a level of resilience by which it is 5 able to deform elastically between overlapping sheets and thereby provide a seal with each sheet along the length of the body of the sealing device. To enable this, the body of the device may be partly or wholly formed of a resilient material, such as a resilient plastics material, preferably a foam of a synthetic plastics material. Where the resilient material is a foam, it preferably is a 10 closed cell foam, such as of a ethylene propylene diene monomer or of a polyamide. While resilient, the body of the sealing device preferably is sufficiently stiff as to sufficiently resist compression as the upper sheet is pressed down onto the sealing device, and thereby provide a positive pressure against each of the sheets for effective sealing between the sheets.

Subject to the chosen material, the body of the sealing device and its at least one engagement portion may be formed entirely of the one resilient material, such as a foam material. However, it can be beneficial for the sealing device to include along its length a relatively more stiff reinforcing member, such as for 20 stiffening resilient material of the body. The sealing device may, for example have adjacent layers of foam or other resilient material and reinforcing material. Thus, in a first form, one of the side surfaces of the body may be defined by a layer of a resilient material, with the other side surface defined by a reinforcing member. In a second form, the sealing device has three layers, 25 with the side surfaces defined by a respective layer of resilient material secured to an intermediate layer forming the reinforcing member. In a third form, a single layer of resilient material is secured between respective reinforcing members each defining a respective side surface. In each of those forms, the width of the or each layer of foam or other resilient material, 30 between the upper and lower surfaces of the body of the sealing device, exceeds that of the or each reinforcing member to enable the resilient material to be compressed to provide a seal between overlapping sheets. 8 In an alternative form, each of the upper and lower surfaces of the body of the sealing device is defined by a respective layer of foam or other resilient material. In that form, the body has reinforcing member intermediate of the layers of resilient material, preferably with those layers secured directly to the 5 reinforcing member.

Overlapping roofing sheets are secured to a roof frame at locations other than where they overlap using roofing clips. The sealing device of the invention enables a short length of overlap between sheets, such as of about 180 to 10 220mm. As a consequence, the sheets can be adequately secured relative to each other at their overlap by a respective roof clip for each sheet just beyond that overlap. In that case, the sealing device does not need to provide for securement between the sheets at their overlap. Rather, the sealing device may principally or solely provide sealing between the sheets. However, 15 despite this, it is preferred that the at least one engagement portion of the body of the sealing device is adapted to strongly engage with each of the overlapping ribs. To enable this, the engagement portion preferably includes a cleat structure of a relatively rigid material and able to achieve a snap-fit engagement with each of the ribs and thereby assist in securing the 20 overlapping sheets together.

The cleat structure may have a form corresponding at least partially to that of the engagement portion. The cleat structure may be incorporated within the engagement portion, or it may be secured against at least one side face of the 25 engagement portion. In one convenient arrangement, the cleat structure has a respective cleat part secured against each side face of the engagement portion. In that arrangement, at least one projection or pin may extend through the engagement portion to engage and to secure the cleat parts in assembly. Alternatively, each cleat part may be securely bonded to a respective side of 30 the engagement portion.

The cleat structure may be made of a rigid engineering plastics material. In the case of a cleat structure having cleat parts secured in assembly by a 9 projection or pin, the projection or pin may be formed integrally with a cleat part. Alternatively, the cleat parts may be secured in assembly by a projection or pin applied through each of the cleat parts.

The cleat parts may be formed of a metal, such as sheet steel. If having two cleat parts, those parts may be secured in assembly by any suitable form of projections or pins, such as rivet pins.

A modified form of cleat structure can be provided at abutting ends of longitudinally in-line sealing devices. While the cleat structure may be similar overall to the forms described above, it preferably is secured in place once the ends are abutting. Also, the cleat structure preferably includes a linking member which secures the cleat structure to each of the abutting ends.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, reference now is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing part of a roof frame with overlapping roof sheets of a roofing system; Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, but shows enlarged detail of a sealing device between overlapping ends of the roof sheets; Figure 3 shows, in a partially exploded end elevation, enlarged detail of a connection in the system of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating a first embodiment of a sealing device; Figure 4 shows a perspective exploded view of the connection of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sealing device; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a sealing device; Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of the device of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a sealing device; Figure 10 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 9; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 9; and Figure 12 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a sealing device.

The views of Figures 1 and 2 show two longitudinally in-line roof sheets R1 and R2, shown truncated in Figure 1, and very much shortened in Figure 2 to show essentially only that part of sheets R1 and R2 at and adjacent to their overlap. The sheets R1 and R2 are mounted in relation to a C-section purlin P comprising part of a roof frame (not otherwise illustrated). The roofing of which sheets R1 and R2 form part is inclined downwardly to the left so that rainwater will drain to sheet R1 from sheet R2.

The upper end of sheet R1 is secured on purlin P by a connector C. A strap S of connector C is secured along the top surface of purlin P, while a number of uniformly spaced clips C1, C2 and C3 are mounted on the strap S. The connector C shown in Figure 1 is provided for a second sheet R1 to be laterally adjacent the sheet R1 shown, with the laterally adjacent sheets having inter-fitting side margins. The second sheet R1 would be installed before sheet R2, but has been omitted for ease of illustration. 11 The lower end of sheet R2 overlaps with the upper end of sheet R1 and a sealing device D, shown more clearly in Figure 2, provides sealing between the overlapping ends of sheets R1 and R2. Below purlin P along sheet R1, sheet R1 is similarly connected to other purlins by respective connectors C 5 while, above purlin P along sheet R2, respective connectors C will connect sheet R2 to other purlins. Also, unless sheet R1 is the lowermost sheet or sheet R2 is an uppermost sheet, its other end will similarly overlap with a further sheet.

Each sheet R1 and R2 has laterally spaced ribs 10 spaced from each other by a pan or trough 12. The side margins of laterally adjacent sheets are profiled and inter-fit to form a composite rib (not shown) of the same form as ribs 10. The spacing between ribs 10 and between the composite ribs and the closest rib 10 is uniform and corresponds to the spacing between clips C1 to C3 of 15 connector C.

As shown in Figure 3, the sheet R1 is able to be pressed down onto the connector C to locate, and lock, each of clips C1 to C3 in a respective channel or groove 14, shown in Figure 4 as defined by the respective ribs 10 and the 20 composite rib. As can be appreciated most readily from Figure 4, the ribs 10 are of a mushroom shape as seen in end elevation. The ribs 10 have side walls16 in which the groove 14 tapers inwardly towards a head 18 within which the groove 14 has re-entrant shoulders 20. Each of the clips C1 to C3 is of a complementary form to groove 14, in having a stem portion 22 which tapers 25 inwardly away from strap S to an enlarged head 24. As sheet R1 is pressed down onto connector C, the head 24 of each of clips C1 to C3 enters a respective groove 14 and forces apart the side walls 16 of the rib 10. The head 24 of the clip is able to enter the head 18, after which the walls 16 recover to position shoulders 20 behind head 18 and thereby hold the rib 10 30 captive on the clip C. With sheet R1 locked down on purlin P by connector C, the sealing device D then is able to be pressed down onto, and engaged with, sheet R1. The sheet R2 then is able to be pressed down onto, and engaged by the sealing device D. 12 As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the device D has an elongate body sections B which have upper and lower surfaces 26 and 28, and respective sides 29 which extend between surfaces 26 and 28. Also, at spaced centres 5 corresponding to the spacing between centres for ribs 10, the device D has upstanding engagement portions or formations F. The formations F provide raised parts 26a of the upper surface, and recessed parts 28a of the lower surface, of body B.

As can be appreciated from Figure 4, the lower surface 28 of the body B of device D as viewed in side elevation is substantially the complement of the upper surface of sheet R1, while the upper surface 26 is substantially the complement of the lower surface of sheet R2. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, the engagement formations F have a mushroom-like shape in side elevation, 15 provided by legs 30 which converge, away from body B, to an enlarged head section 32. The recessed part 28a defines a recess defined by the spacing between legs 30 and the interior of head section 32, while the raised part 26a of surface 26 is similar in form to a rib 10 and is defined by the outer surface of legs 30 and the exterior of head section 32. As a consequence, the device D 20 is able to be pressed down onto lower sheet R1 to enable the head 18 of each rib 10 of sheet R1 to be received in a recessed part 28a within a respective formation F. The head 18 of rib 10 is able to pass between legs 30 to locate in head section 32 of formation F. Thus, device D is able to be engaged on sheet R1 in a manner analogous to the securement of sheet R1 on purlin P by 25 connector C. As device D is pressed onto sheet R1, the head 18 of each rib 10 resiliently deforms the legs 30, to enable the head 18 to be received in the enlarged head section 32, after which the legs recover to contact walls 26 of rib 10.

Similarly, as also shown in Figure 4, sheet R2 is able to be pressed onto device D to enable each head section 32 of each formation F to be received within a groove 14 of a respective rib 10 of sheet R2. For this, the walls 26 of the ribs 10 of sheet R2 pass down over and resiliently compress the head 13 section 32, until the head section 32 is received into the head 18 of the rib and recovers to locate behind shoulders 20. Thus, sheet R2 is able to be engaged on device D in a manner analogous to the securement of sheet R1 on purlin P by connector C, such that sheet R2 is in overlapping relation to sheet R2. To a 5 degree, device D is secured on sheet R1 once sheet R2 is installed. However, sheets R1 and R2 are secured in relation to each other by connector C securing sheet R1 to one side of device D and a further connector located to the other side of device D and securing sheet R2.

With the device D engaged on sheet R1, the re-entrant shoulders 34 defined in each head section 32 of formation F locate under the head 18 of a respective rib 10 of sheet R1. This acts to resist device D from lifting from sheet R1. Also, with sheet R2 secured on device D, the re-entrant shoulders 20 in each head 18 of the ribs 10 of sheet R2 locate under the head section 32 of the 15 respective formation F. This similarly acts to resist sheet R2 from lifting from device D. Also, in being constrained on a rib 10 of sheet R1 by location within a rib 10 of sheet R2, deformation of formations F is resisted, securing the assembly of sheets R1 and R2 and device D therebetween. Despite this, it is respective connectors C which secure the overlapping ends of sheets R1 and 20 R2 in relation to each other.

Figures 3 and 4 are provided primarily for the purpose of illustrating how a seal between the overlapping ends of sheets R1 and R2 is provided by the sealing device D. However, it also will be noted that device D is strengthened at each 25 formation F by what, in Figures 5 and 6, is referred to as cleat structure having a respective part at each side of body B. The cleat structures are stiff or rigid and will be understood from description of other embodiments subsequently detailed herein. As with some of those embodiments, the parts of each cleat structure are inter-connected by pins extending laterally through body B. Also, 30 abutting ends of successive devices D can be inter-connected by such a cleat structure. 14 The device D may have a body B of a length corresponding substantially to the width of the roofing sheets with which it is to be used. Alternatively, the body B may be built up of successive end to end abutting modules which are secured together by a cleat structure.

Figures 5 and 6 show a sealing device D1 according to a second embodiment. The device D1 has an elongate body B1 which has upper and lower surfaces 126 and 128 and respective outwardly facing sides 130. The body B1 is made up of three layers which comprise side layers 40 and an intermediate layer 42 10 between layers 40. The layers 40 and 42 have a similar form except that layer 42 is slightly oversized so as to stand proud of layers 40 along the upper and lower surfaces 126 and 128, and at the ends of device D1.

At uniform distances along body B1, the device D1 has engagement portions or formations F1. The device D1 has two complete formations F1 intermediate of its ends. Also, at each end, device D1 has a respective half formation F1a which is able to form a complete formation F1 with a half formation of another device D1. In side elevation, each complete formation F1, and each formation F1 which results from end to end abutting devices D1, has a shape at upper surface 126 which corresponds substantially to the shape in cross-section of a rib 10 of sheets R1 and R2 and, hence, is substantially the complement of the shape in cross-section of the channel or groove 14 of a rib 10. Also, in side elevation each complete formation F1, and each formation F1 at such abutting ends, has a shape at lower surface 128 which corresponds substantially to the shape in cross-section of a channel or groove 14 of a rib 10 and is the complement of the shape in cross-section of a rib 10. Thus, each formation F1 has upwardly converging legs 130 and a hollow head section 132, while each half formation F1a has one leg 130a and a part 132a of a head section 132.

At each complete formation F1, there is a cleat structure which is made of a relatively rigid material and has a respective part 46 and 47 at each side of the body B1. The parts 46 and 47 each have a form similar to that of the formation F1 in that they have legs 46a and 47a which converge towards an enlarged head portion 46b and 47b. The part 46 has projections 46c which are inserted through holes formed in formation F1 and into holes 47c formed in part 47 in which they are secured; there being two projections 46c extending from head portion 46b and one projection 46c from the end of each leg 46a remote from 5 head section 46b. The parts therefore are secured in assembly on body B1. The legs 46a and 47a of parts 46 and 47 converge to the enlarged head portions 46b and 47b so that, like the formation F1 and the ribs 10 of sheets R1 and R2, the parts 46 and 47 are somewhat mushroom shaped.

Each layer 40 of body B1 may be secured to a respective face of layer 42 by adhesive bonding. They alternatively, or additionally, may be secured by pins 43 shown in Figure 6 which are inserted laterally through body B1, with the pins being retained by having an enlargement at each end. The layers also are held by the engagement, between parts 46 and 47, provided by projections 15 46c of part 46 engaging in the holes 47c of part 47.

The layers 40 and 42 of device D1 may be formed of a first resilient material, such as a foam plastics material, with each layer 40 being of a stiffer resilient material, such as a more rigid foam and, hence, less readily compressible than 20 the material of layer 42. The parts 46 and 47 of structure 44 may be of a flexible, but relatively stiff engineering plastics material so that parts 46 and 47 reinforce the formation F and limit the extent to which they are compressible. The head section 49 of each of parts 46 and 47 is dimensioned so that, as sheet R2 is pressed down on device D1, section 49 initially forces the walls 26 25 of the ribs 10 of sheet R2 apart, and allows the walls to recover when section 49 is within head 18 of the rib 10, behind the shoulders 20.

One of the half formations F1a also has a cleat structure 44 which is substantially the same as the structure 44 at the complete formations F1. 30 However, the projections 46c of part 46 securing parts 46 and 47 together extend through only the half formation, from head section 46b and to head section 47b. Also, the half formation F1a also includes a U-shaped member 50, having parallel arms 50a joined by a web section 50b. The arms 50a 16 correspond to projections 46c in form and function. The arms 50a are spaced by portion 50b so that each arm is able to extend through the end of each leg 46a remote from head section 46b to the other cleat part 47. Member 50 is fitted and secured when two devices D1 are in abutting end to end 5 relationship, with each arm 50a extending through a half formation F1a of a respective device D1, to secure the devices D1 in that relationship.

Figures 7 and 8 show respective devices D2 which are sufficiently similar to enable them initially to be described in the same terms. However their differences also will be discussed later herein. Also, the devices D2 are similar in overall form and function to device D1 of Figures 5 and 6, and the initial description of them first will deal with the features by which they each differ from device D1.

The principal difference between each device D2 and the device D1 is that the devices D2 are made up of repeated modules, of which three are illustrated and distinguished as modules M1, M2 and M3. However, the number of modules can be varied as required. Also, as provided for use, the devices D2 can be pre-assembled, as shown in Figure 7, in a required standard length.

In the devices D2, each of modules M1, M2 and M3 is of the same form and includes a respective unit U forming part of the overall body B2, and a respective cleat structure 144. However, the structure 144 is of unitary or integral construction, with parts 146 and 147 connected by a bridging member 52. The formations F2 are created by the modules M1, M2 and M3 abutting in end to end relation in a manner resulting in the member 52 being enclosed between the abutting ends of successive modules, within the head section of a formation F2. As shown in Figure 8, the half formations to produce the formations F2 are recessed at 132a to accommodate member 52.

The unitary structures 144 of each device D2 receives the end formations of abutting end to end units U between a respective half of the opposed parts 146 and 147. The units U then are secured by screws or rivets 53 which pass 17 through one of parts 146, 147 and through holes 54 in the unit U to the other one of parts 146, 147.

The devices D2 differ from each other principally in the material and fabrication 5 of the respective structures 144. In the case of Figure 7, the structures 144 are formed of stiff, but resilient steel, such as a spring steel, shaped and folded to the required configuration. In the case of Figure 8, the structures 144 are made of a stiff, but resilient engineering plastics material, such as polypropylene, polystyrene acrylonitrile or a polyamide, such as by injection 10 moulding.

In relation to each of Figures 7 and 8, it is to be appreciated that each of modules M1, M2 and M3, comprising a part of the overall body B2 in the form of unit U, plus a cleat structure 144, itself is a sealing device according to the 15 invention. That is, the overall sealing device D2 according to the invention is an assembly of end to end connected smaller sealing devices each according to the invention.

Figures 9 to 11 show a device D3 which is similar to device D1 of Figures 7 20 and 8. The principal difference is that of the parts 246 and 247 of structure 244 are secured in assembly by an integral bridging member 152, which extends between the head sections 246b and 247b. Also, parts 246 and 247 are secured on body B3 by U-shaped members 250 similar to members 50 shown in 5 and 6. A respective pair of members 250 is used for each structure 25 244. However, the arms 250a are joined by web section 250b, and one arm 250a of each member 250 extends between the head sections 246b and 247b of parts 246 and 247, while the other arm 250a extends between the ends of legs 246a and 247a remote from sections 246b and 247b.

At one end face, device D3 is provided with a recess 232a. The other end face is provided with a protrusion (not shown) which has a shape complementary to that of recess 232a. This facilitates close inter-fitting between abutting ends of a number of devices D3 assembled end to end. 18 Figure 12 shows a device D4 which is similar to device D1 of Figure 5. However, device D4 is of unitary, integrally moulded form, having opposite ends of complementary form-enabling a number of devices D4 to be assembled end to end.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (21)

19 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A sealing device for use providing a seal between the ends of overlapping profiled sheets, such as roofing sheets, wherein the sealing device 5 has an elongate body which, relative to one in-use orientation, has upper and lower longitudinal surfaces and laterally outwardly facing longitudinal side surfaces, in side elevation relative to that orientation the sealing device defines at one or more locations along its length an engagement portion at which the upper surface is raised, and at which the lower surface is raised, and 10 preferably is recessed, and wherein each of the lower and the upper surfaces of the engagement portion has a respective form which at least in part corresponds to the form in cross-section of the outer, upper surface and the inner, lower surface of profiled ribs of longitudinally overlapping profiled sheets with which the sealing device is to be used. 15

2. The sealing device of claim 1, wherein the body has a length substantially equal to the spacing between at least two successive profiled ribs of the profiled sheets, with each end of the body co-operable with an end of successive other end-to-end sealing devices to form an engagement portion 20 for sealing between the abutting ends.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, for use with profiled sheets with side margins of an inter-fitting form enabling laterally adjacent sheets to co-operate to form a rib, with the sheet having at least one profiled rib which is spaced 25 from a side margin or a next adjacent rib by a pan or trough of a standardised width, wherein the sealing device has: a) a body of a length corresponding substantially to the width between side edges of the profiled sheet with which it is to be used; 30 b) respective end portions of the body each able to abut end wise an end portion of another in-line sealing device so the abutting end portions have the form of a engagement portion; c) intermediate of the end portions, at least one engagement portion; and 20 d) a spacing portion of the body by which one engagement portion is spaced from an end portion or a next adjacent engagement portion.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein an end to end series of the sealing 5 devices has the appearance of a uniform series of engagement portions substantially uniformly spaced by spacing portions of the bodies.

5. The device of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the raised upper surface and the recessed lower surface at each engagement portion have substantially 10 complementary forms which correspond substantially to the cross-sectional profile of the lower, inner surface and the upper, outer surface, respectively, of profiled ribs of the profiled sheets.

6. The device of claim 5, for use with profiled sheets having a rib form 15 defining a channel of a re-entrant shape in cross-section, to provide a rib form of a hollow, mushroom shape, wherein the raised upper surface and the recessed lower surface having a form which corresponds to and is the complement of the mushroom shape of the rib, enabling the device to be forced down against a lower profiled sheet to locate a head portion of a rib of 20 the lower sheet within the recessed lower surface of the clip, and enabling an upper profiled sheet to be forced down against the device to locate the raised upper surface of the device in a head portion of the channel of the upper profiled sheet. 25

7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body of the sealing device has a level of resilience by which it is able to deform elastically between overlapping sheets and thereby provide a seal with each sheet along the length of the body. 30

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the body of the device is formed wholly or partly of a resilient material. 21

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the body is formed at least partly of a resilient plastics material, such as a formed plastics material.

10. The device of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the body, while resilient, 5 is sufficiently stiff as to sufficiently resist compression as the upper sheet is pressed down onto the sealing device and thereby provide a positive pressure against reach of the sheets for effective sealing between the sheets.

11. The device of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the body and the at 10 least one engagement portion is formed entirely of a resilient material, such as a foam material.

12. The device of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the body includes along its length a reinforcing member which is stiff relative to resilient material 15 of the body.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the body has at least one layer of resilient material adjacent to at least one layer of relatively stiff reinforcing member, with the upper and lower surfaces of the body defined by a 20 respective edge of each layer.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein each of the upper and lower surfaces of the body is defined by a respective layer of resilient material, such as a foam material, with the body including a reinforcing member intermediate of the 25 layers of resilient material.

15. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one engagement portion of the body is adapted to strongly engage with each of overlapping ribs of respective overlapping sheets, by the engagement portion 30 including a cleat structure of relatively rigid material and able to achieve a snap-fit engagement with each of the ribs. 22

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the cleat structure has a form corresponding at least partially to the form of the engagement portion.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the cleat structure is incorporated within the 5 engagement portion.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the cleat structure is secured against at least one side face of the engagement portion. 10

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the cleat structure has a respective cleat part secured against each side face of the engagement portion, such as by at least one pin or projection extending through the engagement portion and interconnecting the cleat parts. 15

20. The device of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the cleat structure is made of a rigid engineering plastics material.

21. A surface cladding system having at least one line of at least two profiled sheets having overlapping ends, wherein a sealing device of any one of claims 1 to 20 20 is located and provides a seal between the overlapping ends. C:\pof\temp\SPEC-NZ16606-09.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 7 SEP 2009 RECEIV E D