US20080005978A1

US20080005978A1 - Method and apparatus for filling a space between a sloping roof of a building and a peaked roof of an adjoining extension

Info

Publication number: US20080005978A1
Application number: US11/820,644
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexis Spyrou; Michael Johnston
Original assignee: FOUR SEASONS SOLAR PRODUCTS LLC
Current assignee: FOUR SEASONS SOLAR PRODUCTS LLC
Priority date: 2006-06-21
Filing date: 2007-06-20
Publication date: 2008-01-10

Abstract

An assembly of prefabricated metal extrusions is utilized to secure roof plates in a construction to fill a void or space between a sloped roof of a building such as one family house and a peaked roof of an adjoining extension such as a sunroom. The extrusions have angularly adjustable channels for adjustably receiving the roof plates.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.: 60/815,398, filed on Jun. 24, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to methods and apparatus related to building construction and particularly to filling a space between a sloped roof of a building, such as a private house or the like and a peaked adjoining extension, such as a greenhouse.

BACKGROUND

In conventional practice, in order to fill the space between a sloped roof of a building and the peaked roof of an adjoining extension, a framing is constructed on site with beams and studs to support a conventional predominantly triangular frame plate on opposite sides of a ridge bar of the framing. The framing and frame plates form a gable which is covered with tar paper and shingles to match the existing roof of the building and the gable fills the space between the sloped roof of the building and the peaked roof of the extension.
The construction of the framing requires cutting various wood members with compound miters and different lengths and securing them to one another and to the existing roof. This requires careful measurement and precision cutting of the wood members and laborious installation to assure that the triangular frame plates are properly fitted in place. This is time consuming and requires skill in measurement and installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus which avoid the problems associated with the conventional practice of framing construction.
A further object of the invention is to minimize skill and precision in assembling the framing.
A further object of the invention is to provide prefabricated parts which are installed with simplicity to capture the frame plates in precise positions.
Yet another object of the invention is to simplify the installation of the framing and enable it to be constructed in relatively simple manner without a high degree of skill.
Still another object of the invention is to provide prefabricated members which will allow them to be used for different sizes and shapes of roofs.
Yet another object of the invention is to permit the construction of the framing with a minimum number of parts.
In order to satisfy the above and further objects of the invention, there is provided a construction of prefabricated members adapted for attaching a peaked extension to a roof of a building sloping towards the extension, the construction comprising a prefabricated ridge bar extending horizontally from the sloped roof of the building for attachment at one end to a peak of the extension, the ridge bar having an opposite end secured to the roof of the building. The ridge bar has a side opening or channel for receiving one edge of a predominantly triangular roof plate. A prefabricated base plate is secured to the roof and extends from where the end of the ridge bar is secured to the roof along the roof towards the edge of the roof. The base plate is angled away from the ridge bar.
A prefabricated fitting member is secured to the base plate and has a side opening or channel facing the channel of the ridge bar to receive an opposite edge of the triangular roof plate whereby the roof plate is engaged in the channels of the fitting member and the ridge bar to cover the roof of the building and fill in a void between the peaked extension and the sloped roof of the building.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the ridge bar provides angular adjustment of its channel and the fitting member is pivotally connected to the base plate to provide angular adjustment of its channel whereby to enable the edges of the roof plate to be engaged in the channels.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the ridge bar and the fitting member are made as extruded metal members, preferably of aluminum.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the ridge bar comprises two members hingeably connected together and having respective channels facing away from one another to support edges of respective roof plates on opposite sides of the ridge bar.
According to a further feature, a hinged flap is secured to the roof adjacent to the fitting member to cover a space between the building roof and the fitting member.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of filling the space between the sloping roof of the building and the peaked roof of the extension adjoining the building, comprising the steps of:

- securing the ridge bar to the peak of the extension such that the ridge bar extends horizontally from the peak to an end at which the ridge bar is secured to the roof of the building,
- forming the ridge bar as a prefabricated extruded metal member,
- securing a metal base plate to the roof on each side of the ridge bar, each base plate extending from the end of the ridge bar towards the edge of the roof at an angle away from the ridge bar,
- attaching a prefabricated extruded fitting member to each base plate,
- providing side openings or channels at opposite sides of the ridge bar facing respective side openings or channels in the fitting members, and
- inserting predominantly triangular roof plates into the side openings at opposite sides of the ridge bar to form a peaked assembly on the sloped roof of the building which coincides with the peaked roof of the extension to fill the space between the extension and the sloped roof of the building.

In further accordance with the invention, the channels in the ridge bar and the fitting members are angularly adjustable to facilitate engagement of the side edges of the roof plates therein.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, two pivotal parts of the ridge bar are connected by a hinge at a lower edge and have curved slidable flanges at an upper edge.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a hinged flap is secured on the roof adjacent to an edge of each fitting member to cover a space between the edge of each fitting member and the roof.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, each fitting member is hinged to its respective base plate for adjusting the angle of the respective channels of the fitting members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a building to which is attached an adjoining extension.
FIG. 1A is similar to FIG. 1 and shows apparatus according to the invention which fills a space between the building and the adjoining extension.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 3 is a schematic end view of the extension and the building.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, broken in length, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 4A illustrates a modification of a member in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a framing to fill the space between the building roof and the extension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing and in particular to FIGS. 1-3 therein is seen a first structure 1 and a second structure 2 adjoining one another. The first structure 1 is intended as an extension of the second structure 2 and preferably is in the form of a glass sunroom or greenhouse or the like. The second structure is a building, such as a conventional one family dwelling. The first structure 1 (hereafter referred to as “the extension”) has a gabled or peaked roof 3 as shown in FIG. 3. The gabled roof 3 has a peak 4 at the top of the extension. The second structure (hereafter referred to as “the building”) has a sloped roof 5, which is predominantly planar (see FIG. 1) and faces the end of the extension 1. As seen in FIG. 1, when the extension 1 adjoins the building 2, a space or void 6 is formed between the end 7 of the extension 1 and the roof 5 of building 2.
It is the object of the invention to fill the space 6 with a construction 8 which smoothly joins the gabled roof 3 of the extension 1 with the sloped roof 5 of the building 2.
In conventional constructions, a framework is constructed in situ from wood members i.e. studs and beams which are cut to length, mitered and assembled on the roof 5. As previously stated in the Background section, this is time consuming and requires substantial precision, often resulting in considerable waste.
In accordance with the invention, a plurality of prefabricated members are used to assemble the construction 8 to fill the space 6. As will be seen, these members can be easily installed with relatively little skill quickly and without significant waste.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a first prefabricated element 10 is seen in the form of a ridge bar for the construction 8. The ridge bar 10 is adapted for being secured to the extension 1 at the peak 4 thereof and the ridge bar 10 extends predominantly horizontally from the peak towards the roof 5 of the building 2 whereat the end of the ridge bar contacts and is supported by the roof 5 of the building 2 at a region 11. The end of the ridge bar can be cut at an angle to match the slope of the roof 5.
The ridge bar 10 is formed by two extruded metal fittings 12,13 which are connected at their lower ends by a hinge 14. The fittings 12 and 13 have respective curved flanges 15,16 at their upper ends which ride on one another when the fittings 12,13 are pivoted around hinge 14. Each fitting has straight upper and lower flanges 17,18 facing away from flanges 15,16. A web 19 joins the upper and lower flanges of each of the fittings. The flanges, 17,18 and web 19 form a space or channel 20 for a purpose to be explained later. It is to be noted that by rotating the fittings 12, 13 around hinge 14 the angle of he channels 20 can be changed to match the angle of the roof 3 of the extension 1.
At the region 11 where the ridge bar 10 contacts the roof 5, a pair of metal base plates 21 are secured to the roof 5 and extend symmetrically from region 11 to the end of roof 5. The base plates 21 are secured by screws 23 to the roof 5. The plates 21 extend on both sides of the ridge bar 10 and are angled away from the ridge bar such that the ends of the base plates 21 are substantially aligned with the sides 22 of the extension 1 as seen in FIG. 5.
At one edge of each base plate 21, a socket 24 is formed for a purpose which will be explained later. Two prefabricated metal fittings 25 are disposed adjacent to base plates 21 and are formed at an edge thereof with ball shaped rods 26 which engage in sockets 24 to form ball joint connections providing pivotal movement of the fittings 25 with respect to the base plates 21.
Each fitting 25 is formed as an extruded prefabricated member and has upper and lower flanges 27, 28 which form a space or channel 29 facing towards the ridge bar 10. Each fitting 25 has a web 30 at the back of channel 29 and a flange 31 extending in a direction away from the flange 27, and facing roof 5. The channels 29 of fittings 25 and channels 20 of ridge bar 10 face one another and have respective angular adjustment by virtue of the ball and socket joints 24 and the hinge 14.
A roof plate 32 (FIG. 5) of conventional construction of wood or plastic and of approximate triangular or angulated shape is insertable into channels 29 and 20 of fittings 25 and ridge bar 10 respectively. The roof plate can be of hollow core construction with upper and lower flanges UF, LF and connecting webs (not shown). The apex of the triangular plate 32 can be cut back so that the plate closely abuts against the roof 5 at the ridge bar and can be sealed thereat. The roof plates 32 with the ridge bar 10 and the fittings 25 form an assembly 33 (FIG. 5) of prefabricated members which collectively form the construction 8 that fills the space 6 between the extension 1 and the roof 5 of the building 2. The construction 8 has the shape of an inverted V which extends in continuation of the gable shape of the roof 3 of extension 1.
For large constructions, the roof plate 32 can be made-up by two or more elements.
The assembly 33 further includes a sub-assembly 34 intended to close a space 35 between the side of each fitting 25 and the surface of the roof 5. The sub-assembly includes a plate 36 fixed to the roof 5 and connected by a ball and socket joint 37 to a second plate 38. The second plate 38 serves as a pivotal flap which rests on the flange 31 of the fitting member 25 and is ultimately secured thereto by screws or similar fasteners.
A triangular assembly 39 of wood or similar members 40 can be secured to the roof 5, preferably in proximity to its edge 41 (FIG. 2) to serve as a prop for the ridge bar 10 before it is secured to the roof and engages the roof plates 32.
After the edges of the roof plates 32 have been installed in the channels of the fittings 25 and the ridge bar 10, the edges are secured in the channels by screws or bolts 42. The curved flanges 15, 16 of ridge bar 10 are secured by screws 43. The ridge bar 10, the fittings 25 and subassembly 34 are finally secured and sealed to the roof by means of screws or similar fasteners and flashing.
The flange 38 of sub-assembly 34 is then secured to the flange 31 of fitting 25.
The assembly of the prefabricated members, now secure and fastened to the roof 5 of the building 2, is then covered with tar paper and shingles to match the shingles of the roof 5.
Although the fitting 25 has been shown in FIG. 4 as an integral extruded member with an integral web 30 joining flange 28 with flanges 27 and 31, FIG. 4A shows a modification in which the fitting is divided into upper extruded fitting part 25A and lower extruded fitting part 25B. The upper and lower extruded fitting parts 25A and 25B have respective webs 30A and 30B which overlap one another in abutting relation. The upper and lower fitting parts 25A and 25B define respective spaces 29A and 29B which collectively form channel 29.
The installation of roof plate 32 in fitting parts 25A and 25B is somewhat different from that described in connection with FIG. 4 where the edge of the roof plate is inserted into channel 29 of fitting 25. Namely, the edge of roof plate 32 is rested on flange 28 of lower fitting 25B after flange 28 has been angularly adjusted to align with channel 20 in ridge bar 10. The upper fitting 25A is then mounted on the upper surface of the roof plate 32 with its web 30A abutting against web 30B. The roof plate 32 and the fitting parts 25A and 25B are then secured together by screws 42.
The space 6 between the end of the extension 1 and the sloped roof 5 of the building 2 has now been filled with construction 8 comprised of prefabricated metal members holding the roof plates. The metal members are preferably made of aluminum or other lightweight material.
Although the invention has been described with reference to a disclosed embodiment, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations can be made within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A prefabricated construction for filling a space between a peaked extension and a roof of a building sloping towards the extension, said prefabricated construction comprising

a ridge bar extending predominantly horizontally and positioned to extend from the sloped roof of the building for attachment at one end to a peak of the extension, the ridge bar having an opposite end secured to the roof of the building, said ridge bar having a side opening for receiving one edge of a roof plate,

a base plate secured to the roof where said opposite end of the ridge bar is secured to the roof, said base plate extending along said roof towards an edge of the roof and being angled away from the ridge bar, and

a fitting secured to said base plate and having a side opening facing the side opening of the ridge bar to receive an opposite edge of the roof plate whereby the roof plate is secured by the fitting and the ridge bar to cover the roof of the building and fill in a space between the peaked extension and the roof of the building.

2. The prefabricated construction of claim 1, wherein said ridge bar provides angular adjustment for the side opening thereof, the end of the fitting being pivotally connected to the base plate to provide angular adjustment of the side opening thereof whereby to enable the roof plate to be engaged at its side edges in said side openings in the ridge bar and fitting.

3. The prefabricated construction of claim 2, wherein said ridge bar and said fitting comprise respective extruded members.

4. The prefabricated construction of claim 3, wherein said extruded members are made of aluminum.

5. The prefabricated construction of claim 1, wherein said ridge bar comprises two members hingeably connected together and having respective said side openings facing away from one another to support edges of two said roof plates on opposite sides of the ridge bar.

6. The prefabricated construction of claim 1, further comprising a hinged flange secured to the roof adjacent to said fitting to cover a space between the building roof and the fitting.

7. A method of filling a space between a sloping roof of a building and a peaked roof of an extension adjoining the building, said method comprising the steps of:

securing a ridge bar to a peak of the extension such that the ridge bar extends predominantly horizontally from the peak to an end at which the ridge bar is secured to the sloping roof of the building,

forming said ridge bar as an extruded member,

securing a metal base plate to the sloping roof of the building on each side of the ridge bar, each base plate extending from the end of the ridge bar towards an edge of the roof at an angle away from the ridge bar,

attaching an extruded fitting to each said base plate to extend therealong,

providing side openings at opposite sides of the ridge bar facing side openings provided in the fitting,

inserting angulated roof plates into said side openings at opposite sides of the ridge bar extending from said end of the ridge bar to said extension to form a peaked assembly which covers the space formed between the extension and the sloped roof of the building.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising providing angular adjustment of the side openings in the ridge bar and the fitting to adjust angularity of said side openings to facilitate engagement of the side edges of the roof plates therein.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising forming said ridge bar as two hinged parts each with a respective said side opening.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising connecting said two hinged parts of the ridge bar with a hinge at a lower edge and with slidable flanges at an upper edge.

11. The method of claim 7, comprising mounting a hinged flap on the roof adjacent to a side of edge fitting to cover a space between the side of each fitting and the roof

12. The method of claim 7, comprising forming the ridge bar and the fittings members with respective lengths to adjust size of the assembly to cover spaces of varying size.

13. The method of claim 7, comprising providing a hinge connection between each clamping member and its receptive base plate for adjusting the angle of the side opening of the respective clamping member.

14. Apparatus for joining a roof of a first structure with a roof of a second adjoining structure in which the roofs have different roof shapes and form a void therebetween, said apparatus comprising

an assembly of pre-fabricated elements

said prefabricated elements being shaped and arranged to be fixed to the roof of the first structure so that the assembly extends to the roof of the second structure to form a continuation of the roof of the second structure.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said assembly includes a roof plate having opposite side edges and said prefabricated elements comprise opposed first and second pre-fabricated members secured to the roof of the first structure and respectively engaging the opposite edges of the roof plate to support the roof plate.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first and second prefabricated members include respective angularly adjustable channels in which the opposite edges of the roof plate are inserted.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first and second members respectively comprise extruded metal members having said channels which are sized and dimensioned to receive the edges of the roof plate.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first and second members hold the roof plate in aligned extension of the roof of the second structure when the first and second members are properly angularly adjusted.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the roof of the second structure is of gable shape having a peak at its top, said first prefabricated member comprising a ridge bar extending in extension of said peak and including two elements on opposite sides of the ridge bar, said two elements being slidable on one another to provide the angular adjustment of the channels, said second member comprising two fittings extending on opposite sides of the ridge bar and being secured to the roof of the first structure such that the channels of the fittings face the channels of the ridge bar, two said roof plates being provided on respective opposite sides of the ridge bar and being engaged in the respective channels of the fittings of the second members and the channels of the ridge bar to form an inverted V shape for said assembly which extends in continuation of the gable shape of the roof of the second structure to the roof line of the second structure.

20. A method of joining a roof of a first structure to a roof of a second structure in which the first and second roofs have different roof lines, said method comprising the steps of:

assembling a plurality of pre-fabricated members on the first roof,

engaging roof plates with the assembly of pre-fabricated members, and

constructing and arranging the prefabricated members and the roof plates

to form an assembly which is continuous with the roof of the second structure and extends to the roof of the second structure.

21. A method according to claim 20, comprising forming the pre-fabricated members with channels in which side edges of the roof plates are fitted.

22. Prefabricated members for assembling a roof gable on an existing sloped roof, comprising

a first prefabricated member extending horizontally from a point in contact with the sloped roof towards an edge of the roof,

said first prefabricated member including two hinged elements facing in opposite directions away from the prefabricated member and having respective open channels,

two second prefabricated members hingeably connected to the roof, said two second prefabricated members having open channels facing the open channels of said hinged elements of the first prefabricated member,

said second prefabricated members extending from the point where the first prefabricated member contacts the roof at angles away from the first prefabricated member towards the end of the roof,

said open channels in the hinged elements and in the second prefabricated members being angularly adjustable to receive side edges of angulated roof plates to form an assembly defining a gable shape on said roof.

23. The prefabricated members of claim 22, wherein said first and second prefabricated members comprise metal extrusions.

24. The prefabricated members of claim 23, wherein said metal extrusions are aluminum.

25. The prefabricated members of claim 22, wherein said first prefabricated member forms a ridge bar of said gable shape.