US1971160A - Skylight construction - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1934. G. H. LENKE 7 0 SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T In .19927201? Geoaqe H Zen Zre.

i atenteci Aug. 21 1934 UNITED STATES eArr FFICE 1,971,160 SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION George H. Lenke, Elmhurst, 111., assignor of oriehalf to Julius J. Ohlis, Oak Park, 11!.

Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,275

17 Claims. 31. 108-16) an'improved supporting rib structure, and an improved condensation gutter structure and arrangement; a construction which is absolutely water-tight, and in which the parts are fabricated and connected together in an improved manher; and a construction which has adequate strength, and which is simple and inexpensive to produce on a production basis. i I

The device of my present invention enables employment of relatively small openings, and relatively small glass panes whereby the device may be rendered burglar-proof, and the breakage of glass and the cost of maintenance reduced.

The present invention includes an improved system of connecting the parts together without riveting or welding, as Well as improvements in the arrangement of the parts andv in the construction of certain parts per se.

, The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v V

m Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skylight section embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is'a fragmentary perspective view of the central longitudinally extending supporting rib, showing the adjacent ends of two aligned transverse supporting ribsconnected thereto;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on-the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through the joint between two skylight sections embodying the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint and adjacent side bars and fiashing structures shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the joint between the side and end bars at one corner of a skylight section embodying the present invention, and the joint between one of the transverse supporting ribs and the adjacent side bar and flashing structure;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the joint between the central longitudinal su porting rib and the lower transverse end bar;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through the longitudinal supporting rib, showing another manner of locking the adjacent ends of the transverse supporting ribs thereto, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of the joint between the central longitudinally extending supporting rib and the adjacent end of one of the transverse supporting ribs shown in Figure 2, and of the means for connecting such ribs together.

Ref erring to the drawings, the longitudinal supporting rib 5 is of V-shaped section, and preferably formed of sheet metal, although rolled steel, extruded metal, or any other suitable or preferred material may be employed within the scope of the present invention. This longitudinal rib 5 is of any desired length. The transverse supporting ribs 6 are likewise of V-shaped section, and preferably are formed of sheet metal, although these ribs, too, may be of rolled steel, extruded metal, or of any other suitable or preferred stock. The ribs 6 may, in fact, be of the same stock as the rib 5, and are arranged normal to the rib 5 and cut to fit between the rib 5 and the sheet metal end bars and flashing members i r to define a plurality of rectangular spaces 7.

Positioned internally in the top of the rib 5 is a longitudinal gutter cap bar 8. This bar is in the form of an inverted channel, the base 9 of which has an upright closed fold 10 extending longitudinally between the sides of the base 9. The lower ends of the opposite side flanges 11 of the bar 8 are extended out at 12, and the outer margins of the outwardly extending portion 12 are turned up at 13. The upturned portions 13 are inclined to correspond with the inclination of the upwardly diverging sides 5a and 5b of the rib 5, and to fit tightly therebetween. The upturned portions 13 with the adjacent outturned portions 12 and side flanges 11 form condensation gutters 14, one extending longitudinally along each of the opposite sides of thegutter cap bar 8. The longitudinal gutters 14 are relatively deep to permit the ends of the transverse condensation gutters to enter and discharge into the same as will hereinafter appear.

, The inner ends of the transverse supporting ribs 6 are cut at an inclination at 15 to fit against the sides of the intermediate rib 5, and these inclined endsl5 have integral tabs or cleats 16, which pass through slots 1'? in the sides of the rib 5, and into overlapping relation within the rib 5. The wedge member 13 has a fiat top with triangular side tabs 19, the opposite edges of which are at an angle equal to theangle between the sides of the rib 5. The angular side tabs 19 fit down within the longitudinal rib 5, and between the tabs or cleats 16 with their edges in engagement with the inner sides of the rib 5. The side tabs 19 converge downwardly at an angle which is substantially the "ZIP same as the angle between the side flanges of the transverse ribs 6, to fit tightly against the inner sides of the tabs 16. The tabs 16 and 19 have perforations 20, which register when the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 3, and a cotter key 21, or a bolt or other'suitable fastener is inserted through these registering perforations to lock the supporting ribs firmly together and in place.

The wedge member 18 forms a wedge between the tabs or cleats 16, also a'spacing wedge between the sides of the longitudinal rib adjacent to the attachment of the ribs 6 thereto. The flat top of the wedge member 18 .forms within the V-shaped member 5 a seat for the longitudinal gutter cap bar 3, the out-turned portion 12 of this bar 8 seat ing down upon the top of the wedge member 18 within the rib 5. I

The upper end bar and flashing member, as the section is viewed in Figure l. is indicated at 24. The lower end bar and flashing member is indicated at 25, and the end bars and flashing members at the sides are indicated at 26, 26. The outer margins of the bars 26, 26 are turned down at 27. The inner margins of these bars 26 are turned down at 28, with the lower ends of the down-turned 1nargins28 turned or stepped inwardly to form seats 29 for the glass panes 30. At the inner ends of the seats 29, the bars 26, 26 are turned down at 31. The lower ends of the down-turned portions 31 are turned in at 32, and the inner ends of these in-turned portions 32 are turned up at 33 and form the longitudinal side gutters 43. The upturned margins 33 are inclined to correspond with the inclination of the. outer ends of the transverse supporting ribs 6.

The flashing members 34 have the vertical walls 35 turned in at 36 along the lower margins, with the inner edges of the iii-turned portions 36 turned up at an inclination at .4 to fit the. inclination of the outer ends of the ribs 6. The upper margins of the vertical walls 35 are turned down andoutwardly in oblique directions at 3'7, and the lower margins of these oblique portions 37 are turned into parallelism with the vertical portions 27 of the bars 26, and may be secured thereto if and as desired. The oblique portions 37 form gutters 38, and these oblique portions 37 have weep holes 39 to allow seepage from the gutters 38 to drain into the main gutters 40.

The upper and lower bars 24 andfi25 may, as shown, be similar to the bars 26, except that the gutters 42 are of less depth than the gutters 43 to fit and drain into the deeper gutters 43 at opposite ends. In the illustrated construction, transverse supporting ribs 6 are provided at the upper and lower ends, and the in-turned walls 36a of the flashing members 340. extend into abutting engagement with the inverted apices of the adjacent ribs 6. The abutting edges of the in-turned walls 36a may be soldered or otherwise secured to the ribs 6.

The outer ends of the transverse ribs 6 are inclined at to fit the walls .4 and are provided with integral tabs 16a, which pass through slots 17a in the inclined walls 44 and'straddle and are for, and other parts are concealed from View by the flashing members 34 in themanner in which the gutters 14, the cap bars forming these gutters,

and the wedge member, and connecting parts for the adjacent or inner ends of the transverse ribs are covered and concealed from view by the longitudinal supporting rib 5. The upper surfaces of the wedge members 18a form seats for the gutters 43.

The bars 24, 25 and 26 define one skylight section, and it is'to be understood that the skylight may be made up of as many such sections as desired by arranging the same in endwise relation as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The lower margins of the walls 27a, for. example, of adjacent sections are turned or folded up at 48 to receive the lower edges of inverted channel members 49, the channel members 19 defining the bottoms of spaces 50, in which and between the walls 27a of adjacent sections suitable caulked expansion joints 51 are provided. The upper surfaces of the joints 51 preferably are finished flush with the upper horizontal portions of the bars 24 and 25.

As shown at 52, in Figure 4, the opposite ends of the longitudinal gutters 14 open and discharge into the end gutters 38a. The end gutters 38a discharge into the main gutters 40, which, as shown in Figure 5, are of channel section, and are arranged around the entire skylight section and/or along all meeting sides of adjacent sections. The main gutters 40 bridge the inverted channel connections eabetween adjacent sections, the lower wall of the main gutter i0 extending across the bottom of the space between the flashing members 34a, and the upright side walls 53 fit tightly against thewalls 35a, or against spacers along these walls and may be suitably secured thereto, with the upper margins of the side walls 53 extending'well up into the apices of the gutters 38.

The transverse cap bars 58 are positioned internally in the tops of the transverse supporting ribs 6. These bars 58, like the bar '8, are in the form of inverted channel members, the bases of which have upright folds 59 extending longitudinally between the sides of the base portions of these bars 58. The lower margins of the opposite side flanges 60 are extended'out at 61, and the outer margins of these outwardly extending portions 61 are turned up at 62. The upturned margins 62 are inclined to correspond with and fit the inclination of the upwardly converging sides 6a and 6b of the ribs 6, and to fit tightly within the ribs 6. The upturned margins 62 with the adjacent out-turned portions 61 and the side flanges 50 form the transverse condensation gutters 64, one along each of the opposite sides of the inverted channel portions of the transverse cap bars, and all disposed within the transverse ribs and concealed thereby.

The opposite ends of the transverse gutters 64 extend, as shown in Figures 3 and 8, beyond the "oppositeends 15, 65 of the transverse V-shaped ribs 6. Notches 68, through the upper margins of the side flanges 5a and 5b, and through the upturned flanges 13 permit the inner ends of the ext-ending gutters 64 to'enter the relatively deep longitudinal gutters '14.; through the upper margins of the upturned and inclined sides 44 of the outer flashing members 34, and through the inclinedflanges of the outer longitudinal gutters 43,permit the outer ends of the extendin gutters 64 to enter the relatively deeper outer longitudinal gutters 43. The engagement of the projecting ends 'of the gutters 64, with the bottom edges of the notches 68 at one end, and with the bottom edges of the notches -69-'at the opposite end, form adequate support Similar notches 69,

on the longitudinal gutters and adjacent flanges of the supporting structure for the opposite ends of the transverse gutters, and wedge members therefore are unnecessary within the transverse V--shaped ribs in the manner of the wedge mem: her in the longitudinal rib, although such wedge members may, of course, be employed in the transverse ribs if and as desired. The opposite ends of the base portions 61 of the gutters 64 are notched at 62 to space the ends of the base portions of the gutters 64 from the side flanges 11 of the bars 8, and allow free drainage from the inner ends of the transverse gutters 64 into .the longitudinal gutters 14. The outer ends of the gutters 64 are similarly notched at 62 to permit free drainage into the gutters 43; l

The outer ends of the main gutters 14 may project outwardly over the upper ends of the vertical side walls 35a of the flashing members 34a, with the outer ends of the base portions .of the gutters 14 notched at '73 to permit drainage from the outer ends of the longitudinal gutters 14 into the end gutters 38a. The gutters 43 enter and-drain into the upper and lower end gutters 38a ina similar manner, and the gutters 38a drain into the main gutters 40 as shown in Figure 5. It is understood, of course, that instead of extending the main gutters 40 around the entire section, these main gutters 40 may extend only along the transverse flashing members, for example, or along the meeting margins of adjacent skylight sectionsand that the gutters 38a along the transverse flashing members. will catch, the seepage from the longitudinal gutters l4 and drain the same into the opposite side portions of theygutters 38, and from there into the main gutters 40 through the weep holes 89. i I a The glass panes 30 fit down into the depressions formed by the down-turned walls 28015 the side bars 26, and the. corresponding down-turned walls of the end bars 24 and 25, with their lower surfaces seating marginally upon'the base portions 9 of the cap bars 8, upon the corresponding base portions of the gutter cap bars 58, and upon the in-turned portions 29 of the bars 26, and the correspondin in-turned portions of thebars. 24 and 25. Strips 76, of cork or other suitable insulating material, are interposed between the seated margins of the panes 30 andthe metal seats therefor, these seating strips forming yieldable seats for the panes 30, and at the same timeinsulate the glass from the metal and prevent cold from penetrating and causing excessive condensation. The opposite edges of the panes 30 are spaced from the folded ribs 10 and 59, and from the down-turned walls 28 of the side members 26, as well as from the corresponding down-turned walls of the end members 24 and 25, and these spaces are filled with a mastic compound 78' of tar and sulphur, or other suitable plastic filling. The edges of the pane 30 may, if desired, be grooved to increase the anchoring engagement with this filling, and the filling is flush with the upper surfaces of the panes 36 to provide aperfectly smooth top surface over the entire area of the skylight section. The filling 78 is anchored in place and held against detachment by the folded webs l0 and 59.

The gutter Cap bars 8 and '58, as well as the transverse and longitudinal supporting ribs, and the metal end bars, and flashing members are all preferably formed of sheet metal, although rolled steel, extruding metal, or any other suitable or preferred material may be employed within the scope of the present invention. Adjacent to the ends of the transverse ribs 6, the side walls 5a and 5b of the rib 5, and the walls 44 have integral tabs 78 and '79, respectively, these tabs 78 and 79 being folded tightly over the margins of the adjacent walls of the gutter bars 8 and 26 to lock the longitudinal gutter bar 8 and the end bars 26 firmly in place. Additional locking tabs of this sort may be provided throughout the structure as desired. The folded webs 59 of the transverse gutter cap bars 58 project beyond the opposite ends of these bars and overlap the base portions 9 of the bars 8, and the seats 29 of the bars 26, 26 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The in-turned flanges 97. of the transverse end members 24 and 25. maybe soldered. at 98 to the adjacent ends of the end longitudinal members 26, 26.

The V-"shaped section of the ribs 5 and 6 imparts great strength to these ribs and to the en'- tire structure, and'thearrangement of the gutter cap 'bars within these V-shaped ribs forms an ex cellent mounting for these bars and positions the gutter cap bars where said bars are effectively concealed from below by the ribs 5 and 6. This presents a more finished and ornamental appearance than possible heretofore. The V shaped section of the rib members 5 and 6 is an important aspect of' this invention, as is the disposition and concealment of the gutter bars withinthe channels formed by these ribs 5 and 6, it being understood that the feature of mounting and concealment of the gutter bars may be obtained with ribs of other sections within the scope of this invention. The system of drainage of condensation fromthe ends of the transverse gutters into the longitudinal gutters, and from the longitudinal gutters into the main gutters, is another im- I portant aspect of this invention. Any water that seeps in at the corners will 'drain into the main gutters. The seating arrangement of the longitudinal V-shaped members for the longitudinal gutter bars is also an important aspect of this nvention, as is thearrangement of the main gutters around the bottom of the meeting edges of adjacent skylight sections. The sheet metal wedge member 18 maintains the desired spacing of the sides of the V-shaped rib 5, and the desired spacing between the walls 44 and the outer vertical walls of the flashing members 34.

In the embodimentof Figure 9, the ends of the transverse V-shaped ribs 80, instead of being provided with tabs extending through slots in the sides of the longitudinal ribs, are closed at 81, and these closed ends 81 are inclined to fit against the sides 82 of the longitudinal rib 83. The sheet metal wedge member 84 is placed within the rib 83 and between the sides thereof. The wedge 84 has its main sides tapered to correspond with the 95 to fit the closed ends 81, have apertures through which the bolt 90 extends, these connection plates .94 holding the supporting ribs firmly in place and distributing clamping pressures along the opposite sides thereof. As before, the

gutter cap bars and connecting means between the V-shaped ribs are disposed within the ribs an concealed thereby. z

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim: I

1. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shaped section arranged with the opposite sides of the member opening upwardly, an angular wedge member disposed within and spacing the opposite sides of the supporting member, and a gutter member disposed within the supporting member and seated upon said wedge member. 1

2. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shaped section, a gutter member disposed within said supporting member and having inclined outer flanges'fitting the sides of said supporting member andmeans pressed upwardly from said gutter member and forming a single direct support for a plurality of panes of glass which extend outwardly from opposite side thereof.

3. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shaped section, an angular wedge member disposed Within and-spacing the opposite sides of the supporting member, a gutter member disposed within saidsupporting member and seated upon said wedge member and having inclined outer flanges fitting the sides of said supporting member, said gutter member having an intermediate inverted" channel section with gutters formed-between the inverted channel section and the outer flanges.

4. In: a skylight construction, 'a. supporting member of generally V-shaped section, an angular wedge member disposed within andspacing'the opposite sides of the supporting member, a gutter member disposed within said supporting member and seated'upon said wedge member and having inclined outer flanges fitting the sides of said supporting membenfsaid gutter member having an intermediate inverted channel section with gutters formedbetween the inverted channel section and the outer flanges'the base of the intermediate inverted channel section of said gutter member having a fold extending upwardly and forming an anchor. p

5. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally v shaped section, a gutter member disposed within said supporting member and having a single intermediate inverted channel section, the lower margins of the sides of said section being turnedoutwardly and" the 'outer margins of said out-turned margins being turned upwardly to'form gutters between the opposite sides of said intermediate channel section and said upturned margins, and separate panes of glass seating directly on and extending outwardly from opposite sides of said single intermediate channel section. I

6. In a. skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shaped section, a gutter member disposed within said supporting member and having a single intermediate inverted channel section, the lower margins of the sides of said section being turned outwardly and the outer margins of said out-turned marginsbeing turned upwardly to form gutters between the opposite sides of said intermediate channel section and said upturned margins, the base of the intermediate channel section having a fold extendingupwardly and forming an anchor, and'a pane of glass seating directly on said single intermediate channel section at each sideof said-fold."

. ..7. In a skylight construction, longitudinal and transverse supporting members of. generally V'- shaped'section, and-means disposed within and enclosed by the V-shaped sections or" the supportingmembers for joining. said members together.

8.. In a. skylight construction, a longitudinal supportingmember of generally V-shaped section, apair of transverse supporting members of gen.- erally Veshaped section arrangedin alignment and having'ends inclined to correspond with the inclination of .the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and arranged in abutting relationthereto, a wedge member disposed within the longitudinal supporting member and between the ends of thetransverse members, and meanspassing through said'wedgemember and engaging the ends-of the transverse supporting members for locking said transverse members to said longitudinal member. 1

.:9. In.a skylight construction-a longitudinal supporting member of generally V-shaped section, a pair. of transverse supporting members of generally V-shaped sect-ion arranged in alignment and. having end'walls paralleling the sides of the longitudinal member and arranged in abutting re ation thereto, and means engaging the end wallsof-said transverse supporting members and disposed within the longitudinal supporting member forlocking said members together. 10. In a skylight construction, a longitudinal supportingmember of angular section, a pair of transverse supporting members of angular section arranged in alignment and having ends inclinedto correspond with the inclination of the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and arranged iin abutting relation thereto, tabs on said transverse members extending through slots in the sidesof the longitudinal member, and means disposed within the longitudinal member and engaging said tabs forlocking said members together. a 7

11. In a skylight construction; a longitudinal supporting memberof angular section, a pair of transverse supporting members of angular section arranged in alignment and with ends abutting the sides of said longitudinal member, a longitudinal gutter member separate from and disposed within said longitudinal supporting member and having an intermediate channel section with outer flanges fitting the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and forming longitudinal gutters along the intermediate channel sectionof; the. gutter. member, and transverse gutter members separate froinand disposed within the' transverse supporting members and having intermediate-channel sections with outer flanges fitting the sides 'of the transverse supporting members and forming transverse gutters along the intermediatechannel sections of the transverse gutter :members, the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and the outer flanges of the longitudinal gutter member being notched to permit the ends of the transverse gutter members to enter and discharge into said longitudinal gutter member, and means disposedwithin said longitudinal supporting member for supporting said gutter member therein. r

12. In a skylight construction, a longitudinal supporting member of angularsection, a pair of transverse supporting members of angular section arranged in alignment and with ends abutting :the sides of said longitudinal member, a longitudinal gutter'member disposed within said longitudinal supporting member and having an intermediate channel section with outer flanges fiiting the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and forming longitudinal gutters along the intermediate channel section of the gutter member, transverse gutter members disposed Within the transverse supporting members and having intermediate channel sections with outer flanges fitting the sides of the transverse supporting members and forming transverse gutters along the intermediate channel sections of the transverse gutter members, the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and the outer flanges of thelongitudinal gutter member being notched to permit the ends of the transverse gutter members to enter and discharge into said longitudinal gutter member, said transverse gutter members having support at opposite ends on said longitudinal supporting member, and a Wedge member positioned within the longitudinal supporting member and forming a seat for the longitudinal gutter mem ber.

13. In a skylight construction, a longitudinal supporting member of angular section, a pair of transverse supporting members of angular section arranged alignmentand with ends abutting thesides of said longitudinal member, a longitudinal gutter member separate from and diswithin said longitudinal supporting member and having an intermediate channel section with outer flanges fitting the sides of the longitudinal supporting member and forming longitudinal gutters along the intermediate channel section of the gutter member, and transverse gutter members separate from and disposed within the transverse supporting members and having intermediate channel sections with outer flanges fitting the sides of the transverse supporting members and forming transverse gutters along the intermediate channel sections of the transverse gutter members, sidesof the longitudinal supporting member and the outer flanges of the longitudinal gutter member being notched to permit the ends of the transverse gutter members to enter and discharge into said longitudinal gutter member, the ends of the base portions of the transverse gutters being notched to form spaces for drainage from said transverse gutters into longitudinal gutters and means disposed within said longitudinal supporting member for supporting said gutter member therein.

14. In a skylight construction, a pair of skylight sections, each having intermediate and outer longitudinal condensation gutters, transverse gutters extending between and draining at opposite ends into said intermediate and outer gutters, said skylight sections being arranged side by side, and a main gutter bridging the joint between said sections and underlying the outer gutters along the adjacent sides of said sections to receive the drainage therefrom.

15. In a skylight construction, a pair of skylight sections, each having intermediate and outer longitudinal condensation gutters, transverse gutters extending between and draining at opposite ends into said intermediate and outer gutters, said skylight sections being arranged side by side, a main gutter bridging the joint between said sections and underlying the outer gutters along the adjacent sides of said sections to receive the drainage therefrom, a channel member interlocked with the adjacent margins of the skylight sections, and a caulked expansion joint disposed upon said channel member and in the space between said-sections.

16. In a skylight, anouter frame member, said outer frame member having a side flange turned out and obliquely downwardly along its upper margin, an in-turned base flange at the bottom of said side flange, an upwardly inclined flange at the inner margin of said base flange, an angular side member having a flange depending downwardly along the lower margin of the outwardly and obliquely downwardly turned flange of the frame member, said side member having an angular wall stepped at its inner margin to form a seat fora pane member and troughed inwardly of said seat to form a gutter, an angular supporting member in endwise abutting engagement with the upwardly inclined flange of the frame member, and a gutter member mounted within said supporting member and having a projecting end extending through a notch in the upwardly inclined flange of the frame member.

1'7. In a skylight, an angular supporting member having spaced side walls, a gutter member positioned in said supporting member between 1 said side walls and having upturned margins

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