US3296762A

US3296762A - Roof expansion joint

Info

Publication number: US3296762A
Application number: US248579A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wenzel W Thom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-12-31
Filing date: 1962-12-31
Publication date: 1967-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-10

Description

Jan. 10, 1967 W W, THQM 3,296,762

Roor EXPANSION JOINT Filed Dec. 31, 1962 2 SheetS-Shee' l z .I u

/ W 0 JN INVENTOR. /Ve/Yze/ /44 7h am 'f w? ATTORNE Jan. 10, 1967 w. w. THoM 3,296,762

ROOF EXPANSION JOINT Filed Dec. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 524 64 fb m .82 466 45/' 72 IN VENTOR. We/fze/ W 7/70/7? f' MNEY United States Patent O 3.296,762 ROOF EXPANSION JOINT Wenzel W. Thorn, Wichita, Kansi, assignor of one-half to Cecil D. Jones, Wichita, Kans. Filed Dec. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 248,579 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-395) This invention relates to novel expansion joint structure, and particularly to a roof expansion joint cover adapted to eifectively Seal the joint between a pair of relatively movable roof Sections without in any way interfering with expansion and contraction of the Sections under varying atmospheric conditions.

It is the primary object 'of the present invention to provide a roof expansion joint cover assembly which is effective to seal the joint fbetween roof Sections without interfering with relative movement thereof, 'but which may be manufactured and installed at a lower cost than prior expansion joint covers, and has a useful life at least as great and in most instances, greater than presently used cover members.

Another significant object of the invention is to provide an improved roof expansion joint cover assembly which may be prefabricated in standard lengths and then cut to size at the site of installation thereof, thus substantially lowering the cost of the assembly from both the construction and fabrication standpoints by virtue of the elimination of costly custom installation methods.

A further important `object of the invention is to provide a roof expansion joint cover assembly that may be prefabricated to standard size as referred to above wherein novel structure is employed to permit end-to-end installation of standard length components without in any way interfering with the weather-tight Seal provided `over the relatively movable roof Sections and without presenting problems of close tolerance requirements to assure provision of an effective seal over the roof joint.

Also an important aim of the invention is to provide a roof expansion joint cover assembly which may be manufactured and distributed at a lower price than the cost of custom roof joint cover installations because the components of the present joint cover are configured to permit extrusion thereof from material such as aluminurn having a high strength-to-weight ratio. In this respect, another important object of the invention is to provide a roof expansion joint cover assembly which may be extruded of corrosion resistant material capable of with- Standing relatively great loads thereon, obviating the requirement of conducting frequent maintenance on the cover assembly and permitting utilization of the cover assembly in various climates, including those where relatively heavy snow loads are encountered on roof Sections.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accornpanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary, perspective view of one embodiment of the expansion joint cover structure forming the subject of the present invention and illustrated in the normal disposition thereof 'on a pair of roof sections, parts being broken away and in section to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the side of the expansion joint structure opposite to the side illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1, parts being broken away and in section to illustrate constructional details;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, Vertical, cross-sectional view of the expansion joint cover structure mounted on the spaced roof sections with the initial positions of the longitudinally extending flanges of the opposed joint structures being illustrated in dotted lines, while the location of the flanges in relation to conventional layers of roof- 3,2%,752 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 ing material empl'oyed 'on the roof Sections is indicated by the full-line flange disposition; and

FIG. 4 is a Vertical, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention and illustrating the manner in which the same is mounted on a roof section adjacent the extremity thereof abutting the upright wall of a building.

The present invention relates to roof expansion joint cover structure adapted to be mounted on either a pair of opposed, spaced roof Sections, or in covering relationship to a joint between a roof section and an upright wall forming a part of a building on which the cover assembly is mounted, and operable t'o effectively seal the joints, lregardless of expansion and contraction of the roof sections under varying atmospheric conditions.

The expansion joint cover assembly is made up of a number of components of cross-section configuration permitting extrusion thereof so that the components may be manufactured in standard lengths and then cut to size at the site of installation thereof. The cover assembly includes a pair of elongated members adapted to be secured to the opposed, spaced roof Sections in longitudinal alignment therewith and having upstanding portions thereon movable toward and away from each other during expansion and contraction of the roof Sections and serving as means for mounting a horizontally disposed extension overlying the space between the upstanding portions, and of greater width to provide a seal thereover, regardless of the space between the members. An el'ongated, flexible sealing member is provided at'the upper margins of the elongated members to provide a weather-tight Seal therebetween and preferably extending the full length of the cover members to preclude entrance of moisture into the space between the upstanding porti'ons of the cover members under all weather conditions, including complete covering of the cover assembly with snow.

Novel flashing members are provided to permit joinder of the main expansion members in end-to-end relation- Ship without sacrifice to the weather-proofness there-of, or the ability of the expansion joint cover to withstand heavy loads and expand and contract during atmospheric changes.

Although the various components of the present cover assembly are designed to be produced in standard lengths to minimize the cost -thereof, the construction thereof is such as to permit installation 'of the components without wastage of material by virtue of the novel way in which the components are assembled in place and the effective seals that are provided Where members are in end-to-end relationship.

The expansion joint cover structure ernbodying the preferred concepts of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 in the drawings and includes a pair of elongated members 12 and 14 of cross-sectional configuration permitting extrusion thereof from aluminum or similar corrosion resistant, high-load bearing material, with each of the members 12 and 14 being provided with a relatively flat foot segment 16 adapted to be secured to opposed wooden roof section stringers 18 and 20 located on

spaced roof Sections

22 and 24 respectively. As apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3, the

roof Sections

22 and 24, and thereby the stringers 18 and 20, are located in spaced relationship 'to present a joint therebetween. The planar foot segments 16 of members 12 and 14 are adapted to be secured to respective stringers 18 and 20 by fasteners 26 Such as screws extending through suitable apertures 28 therefor in foot segments 16, and with opposed, longitudinally extending adjacent margins 16a thereof in Vertical alignment With the opposed facing surfaces of stringers 18 and 20.

The members 12 and 14 are provided with a normally upstanding, longitudinally extending leg portion 30 integral with an intermediate, longitudinal segment of respective foot portion 16 of members 12 and 14, and are of transversely arcuate configuration adjacent the latter to cause the upright faces 30a of leg portions 30 to be in vertical alignment with the joint defining faces of stringers 18 and 20, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The longitudinally extending, transversely rectangular segments 32 integral with the upper marginal sections of leg portions 30 project away from faces 30a in overlying relationship to the arc'uate sections of leg portions 30, and each have a longitudinally extending, transversely trapezoidal notch 34 in the normally uppermost faces thereof, and downwardly opening, longitudinally extending grooves 36 in the lower surfaces thereof adjacent leg portions 30.

An elongated, transversely L-shaped flashing element 38 and preferably of the same length as member 14, is mounted on segment 32 thereof through a plurality of screws 40 extending through suitable apertures 42 therefor in the main upright planar portions 38a of members 38 and complementally threaded into an extruded slot 51 extending longitudinally of the segment 32 of member 14. The inwardly directed leg segment 381) of element 38 is normally located in overlying, vertically spaced relationship to the segment 32 of member 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

In the construction of element 38, the metal billet from which the same is formed is passed through a die of configuration causing a groove 44 to be formed in the face thereof normally directed toward and adjacent leg portion 30 of member 14 and dividing planar portion 38a into individual segments 38a' and 38a with the normally lowermost segment 38a at an obtuse angle with respect to the upper segment 38a' as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 3. A longitudinally extending, enlarged rib 38c integral with the normally lowermost margin of segment 38a, has an inwardly directed, arcuate face adapted to be forced into engagement with layers of roofing material such as tar paper, as will be explained hereinafter.

The elongated cover element broadly designated 46 and mounted on member 12 is similar to element 38 in major respects in that the same has a main, normally upright, planar portion 46a divided into upper and lower segments 46a' and 46a with the latter initially being at an obtuse angle with reference to segment 46a', as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3.

The laterally extending leg portion 461; of cover element 46 is adapted to extend across the space between members 12 and 14 and has a short, transverse leg segment 46b' integral with planar portion 46a at the upper margin thereof, and of a width generally equal to the transverse, horizontal dimension of segment 32 of member 12 and located in substantially the same spaced relationship therefrom as the spacing between leg portion 38h and segment 32 of member 14. The main planar segment 4611 of cover 46 and integral with segment 46b' through offset 46b', is vertically spaced from segment 46h' a distance to complementally engage the upper face of leg segment 38h of element 38. An outer downturned leg segment 46c, integral with the longitudinal margin of leg segment 4617 remote from main planar portion 46a thereof, is normally located outboard of element 38 and has an inwardly directed lip 46c' on the lower longitudinal edge thereof. The segment 461) of cover element 46 is of suficient transverse width to permit substantial movement of member 14 relative to member 12 without engagement of 'the planar segment 38a of element 38 with the leg portion 46c of element 46.

The planar segment 46a of element 46 is provided With a series of apertures 48 located in spaced relationship longitudinally of element 46 and adapted to clear respective screws 50 identical to screws 40 and complementally threaded into elongated slot 51 formed in segment 32 at the upper portion of member 12 at the time of extrusion thereof.

In order to provide an effective weather-proof seal for the joint between members 12 and 14, an elongated gasket 52 of resilient material such as rubber or neoprene is clamped between cover element 46 and segments 32, as best shown in FIG.- 3. The gasket 52 is of a width to span the distance between members 12 and 14 when the latter are at the positions thereof represented by the most extreme excursion of one member relative to the other, and -opposed, longitudinal marginal portions of gasket 52 are provided with integral, normally downwardly extending projections 52a adapted to be complementally received within corresponding notches 34 in segments 32. It is to be noted that when the members 12 and 14 are located in their normal closest relationship, the intermediate section of gasket 52 is transversely folded, presenting a valley so that member 14 may move through substantial distances relative to member 12 without stretching of gasket 52 transversely thereof.

In view of the fact that members 12 and 14 are preferably extruded in standard lengths to minimize the cost of the over-all assembly, and to reduce the number of elements required to be stocked if the

roof sections

22 and 24 and thereby stringers 18 and 20 exceed the normal standard lengths of members 12 and 14, the latter may be located in end-to-end relationship as illustrated in FIG. l. Under these circumstances, structure is provided for permitting weather-tight sealing of the joints between abutting ends of members 12 and 14 thereby avoiding wastage of any of the cover assembly elements. It is to be understood however, that the gasket 52 is preferably furnished in a length sufiicient to extend the full stretch of the joint defined by stringers 18 and 20, so that any moisture that might pass between adjacent ends of members 12 and 14, or under the lower face of cover elements 46, will be trapped by gasket 52 and thereby precluded from passing downwardly into the roof joint.

FIGURE 1 shows the way in which members 12 and 14, as well 'as a pair of cover elements 46, may be joined in end-to-end relationship where the length of stringers 18 and 20 exceeds the normal longitudinal dimension of a full-length member 12 or 14, or cover element 46, or pieces cut from other sections used on roof joints of the same or dilferent buildings. In order to maintain structure 10 in a weather-tight condition, the members 12 and 14 and the cover elements 46, are preferably broken at spaced points longitudinally of structure 10, thereby preventing direct excess of moisture to the portion of the joint cover directly above the upper surface of gasket 52. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the break for members 12 and 14 is spaced approximately 24 inches from the point of break-age of the cover elements 46. It is, of course, obvious that the distance between the breaks can be varied, depending upon the particular installation. It is also to be preferred that adjacent extremities of members 12 and 14, as well as proximal ends of cover elements 46, be located in slightly spaced relationship to compensate for longitudinal expansion of the members under varying 'atmospheric conditions.

A pair of splicer panels 54 are provided for the break joint of members 12 and 14 in order to cover the joint between adjacent ends thereof and as best shown in FIG. 1. Each of the splicer panels 54 has a transversely curved main segment 56 designed to complementally engage the upwardly facing surfaces of members 12 and 14 respectively, with the upper edges of segments 56 being received in grooves 36 in the lower faces of segments 32 of members 12 and 14. The transversely L-shaped skirt portion 58 of panels 54 are configured to extend beyond the outer margins of members 12 and 14 and to lie in flat, complemental engagement with the tapered faces 60 of stringers 18 and 20.

The panels 54 are preferably secured to stringers 18 and 20 by a series of screws 62 passing through suitable apertures therefor in skirt portions 58 and threaded into tapered surfaces 60 of stringers 18 and 20. The panels 54 Can obviously be of any desired length but it has been found desirable to employ 18 in. panels to assure adequate covering of the joint between adjacent ends of members 12 and 14.

The break joint between cover elements 46 is covered by an elongated, transversely irregular plate 64 of configuration to complementally engage the outer surface of adjacent extremities of cover elements 46 with the plate 64 having longitudinally extending, transversely interconnected segments complementally engageable with the various leg portions of cover elements 46 as is best shown' in FIG. 3.

The lowermost leg portion 64a of plate 64, engageable With the leg portions 46a of cover elements 46, is provided with a series of apertures 65 spaced longitudinally of plate 64 adjacent one end thereof and adapted to clear respective, self-tapping metal screws 66 threaded into suitable openings 68 therefor in one of the cover elements 46. It is to be appreciated that the apertures 65 can be formed in cover plate 64 at the time of fabric-ation thereof, but the openings 68 are preferably drilled at the time of installation of structure 10. Apertures 70 in the longitudinally extending planar leg portion 64h of plate 64, and directly opposite to apertures 65 remote from leg portion 64a and spaced longitudin-ally of plate 64 at the one end thereof, receive self-tapping metal screws 72 threaded into openings 74 drilled in the leg segment 640 of cover element 46. Again, the plates 64 are preferably about 18 inches long and thereby terminate in relatively close relationship to the adjacent extremities of panels 54. As apparent in FIG. 1, the plate 64 is rigidly secured to only one of the cover elements 46 to permit relative movement between adjacent cover elements 46.

In installing structure on

roof Sections

22 and 24, the members 12 and 14 are initially placed on stringers 18 and 20 in the loc-ations shown, whereup screws 26 are driven into the upper surfaces of stringers 18 and 20 to securely affix the members thereto. If the

roof Sections

22 and 24 are of greater length longitudinally of the joint therebetween, it is necessary that more than one member 12 or 14 be provided on respective stringers 18 and 20 and, therefor, a pair of the members is located in end-toend relationship as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Approximately one-quarter inch spacing is provided between proximal extremities of the members 12 and 14 to compensate for expansion thereof. The panels 54 are mounted on stringers 18 and 20 in spanning relationship to the break joints between members 12 and 14 with the upper extremities of panels 54 being located in corresponding grooves 36 in members 12 'and 14, with the skirt portions 58 thereof rigidly affixed to tapered faces 60 of stringers 18 and 20 by screws 62.

Next, the usual layers of tar paper provided on

roof Sections

22 and 24 are laid thereover with the margins of the paper 76 laid against the outwardly disposed surfaces of segments 16 and leg portions of members 12 and 14, as indicated in FIG. 3. Four or five Courses of the paper 76 are normally placed over

roof Sections

22 and 24, and tar may be used to cause the margins thereof to lay in complemental engagement with the outwardly curved surface of foot segments 16 and leg portions 30 of members 12 and 14.

The gasket 52 is then installed with the projections 52a thereof located in notches 34 and with the gasket 52 preferably extending the full length of stringers 18 and 20. Next, the generally L-Shaped elements 38 are sec'ured to segments 32 of aligned members 14 with the leg segments 38h of elements 38 clamping the proximal longitudinal margin of gasket 52 against segments 32 of members 14. The screws 40 are threaded through apertures 42 into slots 51 to firmly affix elements 38 to corresponding members 14. It is to be understood that elements 38 are 0 preferably of the Same length as members 14 and are broken at the Same points as members 14.

The cover elements 46 are next installed in overlying relationship to members 12 and 14 w-ith the break joints for cover elements 46 being located in spaced relationship from the break joints for members 12 and 14, as previously described. The cover elements 46 clamp the other longitudinal margin of gasket 52 against segments 32 of members 12, thereby securely fixing the gasket 52 against longitudinal movement of members 12 zand 14. Screws 50 are threaded into slots 51 .in segments 32 of members 12 to rigidly mount cover elements 46 on members 12. The plates 64 are then placed over the break joints between cover elements 46 as shown in FIG. 1, with the

screws

66 and 72 being threaded into apertures 68 and 74 drilled in cover elements 46. The

screws

66 and 72 are threaded into only one of adjacent cover elements 46 to permit relative movement between each plate 64 and an adjacent pair of members 12 and 14.

It has been found preferable to construct cover elements 46 with the angle between legs 46a and 461) thereof at 'approximately so that upon securing of legs 46a to segments 32 of members 12, the under faces of legs 46h are in clamping engagement with the upwardly disposed surfaces of leg portions 38h of elements 38.

The workmen then pound the segments 33a of elements 38 inwardly against the paper to cause the ribs 38c thereof to form recesses in the paper extending longitudinally of members 12 and 14. The lines of weakness in elemen-ts 38 provided by elongated grooves 44, assure that the legs 38a of elements 38 bend along grooves 44 as the workmen pound the segments 38a toward the layers of paper or felt 76.

Next, tar is laid over the paper or felt layers 76 and also up over the outer surfaces of elements 38, as well as panels 54 and plates 64. The usual gravel finish is then deposited on the tar while in a viscous condition and with the gravel also extending over the lower extremities of the elements 38 and leg portions 64a of plates 64.

As is most apparent in FIG. 3, the members 12 and 14 are preferably of identical cross-Sectional configuration so that the same may be formed from the same die and significantly reducing the number of parts that must be stocked by the fabricator of the expansion joint cover structure 10, and also, minimizing wastage of material at the site of installation of the components.

The expansion joint cover assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 of `the drawings and broadly designated by the numeral is Specifically designed to elfectively cover the expansion joint between a roof section such as 22 or 24, and an upright wall 178 of a building. The structure 110 employs an elongated member 112 which is identical in cross-seotional configuration to members 12 and 14 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive. The member 112 is mounted on roof section 24 for example, adjacent the upright joint defining face 24a thereof with the planar foot portion 116 of member 112 being secured to roof Section 24 by a series of fasteners in the nature of screws 126 extending through apertures 128 in foot por-tion 116 and threaded into roof section 24.

The upper segment 132 of member 112 is identical with the segments 32 of members 12 and 14 is thereby provided with a longitudinally extending, upwardly opening notch 134 in the upper face thereof designed to receive the integral, longitudinally extending rib projection 152a of a gasket 152 designed specifically for use with structure 110. The fiashing element 138 mounted on member 112 in clamping engagement with the proximal longitudinal margin of gasket 152, is identical in construction to the flashing element 38 and is secured to segment 132 by a series of screws 140 passing through suitable apertures 142 therefor and received in the longitudinally extending slot 151 in segment 132.

A generally Z-shaped cover plate 146 is provided for closing the joint between the upright face of wall 178 and member 112. The normally upright leg 180 of cover plate 146 is adapted to be secured directly to the face of wall 178 opposed to member 112 with a series of openings 182 being provided in leg 180 of plate 146 in spaced relationship longi-tudinally thereof for receiving a series of screws 184 threaded into wall 178. The face 180a of leg 180 is provided with a longitudinally eXtending projection 186 thereon in generally perpendicular relationship to face 180a and adapted to engage the outer surface of wall 178 to serve as a fulcrum point when 'the screws 184 are drawn down tight against leg 180 to force the planar leg 188 of plate 146 integral with the normally lowermost margin of leg 180, into tight frictional engagement with the upper surface of segment 132 of member 112.

The face 180a of leg 180 is also provided with a pair of

grooves

190 and 192 therein, extending longitudinally of plate 146 in generally parallel relationship and located in proximal relationship to the zone of merger of leg 180 with leg 188 thereof. The groove 192 is of generally rectangular cross section, while the groove 190 is of parallelepiped configuration.

The longitudinal margin 152a of gasket 152 has a pair of parallel, outwardly extending

rib projections

194 and 196 respectively, of configuration to be complementally received in the

grooves

190 and 192 respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 4. By virtue of the parallelepiped configuration of groove 190, and thereby the rib extension 194, the margin 15211 of gasket 152 is eifectively maintained in proper disposition between the face 180a of leg 180 and the upright proximal face of wall 178. As explained with respect to structure 10, the gasket 152 is preferably of sufficient transverse width to form an intermediate fold therein longitudinally of the same to permit the member 112 'to shift relative to wall 178 without stretchng the gasket 152 across the width thereof.

The outer, downwardly directed leg 198 of cover plate 146, integral with the outer margin of leg 188 remote from building wall 178, and configured identically with leg portion 46c of cover plate 46, is designed to preclude entrance of moisture into the joint over the top of segment 132 of member 112.

It is also contemplated that each of the members 112 and coverplates 146 be of standard lengths, thereby oftentimes requiring that the members 112 and plates 146 be positioned on roof section 24 in end-to-end relationship. The members 112 and cover plates 146 are located in slightly spaced relationship as set forth above to compensa-te for expansion thereof, and a panel broadly designated 200 is located over the break joint between adjacent extremities of cover plates 146. The cover panels 200 covering each break joint should be approximately 18 nches long and are of cross-sectional configuration to complementally overlie and engage the upwardly disposed surfaces of adjacent extremities of cover plates 146.

Attention is directed to |the integral, outwardly directed rib 202 integral with the upper margin of leg 180 and lying in the major plane thereof which serves as a retainer for the hook ex'tremity 204 of panel 200 that extends longitudinally of the upper margin of the latter. The other structure for retaining panel 200 on adjacent extremities of cover plates 146 comprises a series of metal, self-tapping screws 206 passed 'through suitable apertures therefor in the lower leg portion 200a of cover panel 200 and threaded into suitable openings therefor drilled in one of the legs 198 of cover plates 146. Since the screws 206 are secured to only one of adjacent extremities of cover plates 146, 'the latter are free to shift relatively beneath the cover panel 200.

Another elongated cover plate 208 is mounted on flashing elements 38 over the break joint therebetween with self-tapping metal screws 210 passing through suitable openings therefor in plate 208 and threaded into openings therefor in one of the extremities of adjacent flashing elements 138, and etfectively precludes entrance of moisture into the break joint 'between adjacent members 112.

' ening the cost It is preferable that the break joints of members 112 be spaced from 18 to 24 nches from the lbreak joints for cover plates 146 as previously described.

In mounting structure on a roof, the members 112 are preferably initially secured to roof section 24 in the disposition illustrated in FIG. 4 employing the screws 126, Whereupon layers of felt 76 are placed over roof section 24 and lapped against the outer, upwardly directed surface -of member 112. The gasket 152 is then placed in proper disposition with the projection 152a thereof located in 'groove 134 of segment 132 and the flashing elements 138 then located 'over gasket 152 and secured to segment 132 by the screws 140. If the longtudinal dimension of roof section 24 exceeds the standard lengths of members 112, the latter are broken at spaced joints as indicated. The break joints between elements 138 which preferably are generally aligned with the break joints in members 112, are covered .'by the plates 208 suitably secured to one of each adjacent pairs of fiashing elements 138 by screws 210. The workmen then pound the lower leg portions 138a" against the layers of felt to provide a waterproof seal at the lower margin of structure 110.

The cover plates 146 are then placed in proper disposition on members 112 with screws 184 servin g to rigidly secure each cover |plate 146 to the vertical face of wall 178. If the length of roof section 24 exceeds the standard length of members 112 and cover plates 146, the latter are broken in spaced relationship to the break joint between mem- 'bers 112 and a cover panel 200 placed thereover in disposition as shown in FIG. 4. The screws 206 serve to rigidly fix the cover panel 200 to one of the pairs of adjacent extremities of cover plates 146 presenting a joint therebetween.

The ribs 202 -of the cover plates 146 located in spaced relationship to the proximal face of wall 178, define an upwardly opening, generally rectangular calking groove adapted to receive a line of calking 212 introduced into the groove after fabrication 'of structure 110. Thus, a complete water-proof seal is provided .for the joint between wall 178 and roof section 24 with the latter being free to move relative to wall 178 without interfering with the weather-tight properties of structure 110.

The gasket 152 also preferably lruns the full length of the joint covered by structure 110 to absolutely preclude entrance of moisture into the building through the joint. As previously noted, all of the components are of extrudable cross-sectional configuration, thereby materially lessof the roof joint covering structures and permitting fabrication of the same from relatively lightweight -materials having high-load bearing characteristics and resistant to corrosion of all types. F urthermore, since the

members

112, 12 and 14 are of generally identical construction, the number of parts that the .fabricator must stock is 'substantially reduced and permitting the components to be used on various types of roof installations.

Having thus descri-bed the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Expansion joint structure for a pair of relatively shiftable roof Sections having upper surfaces and separated by a joint, said structure comprising:

a pair of elongated, end-to-end expansion joint assem- 'blies for closing said joint, each |of said assemblies including first and second expansion members adapted to be secured to said roof sections and extend outwardly from the surfaces thereof at the margins of the roof -sections defining said joint, the first and second expansion members of one assembly being substantially aligned with corresponding first and second expansion members of the other assembly;

an elongated, flexible element secured to and spanning the distance between the first and second vmembers of each assembly, said fiexi-ble element extendng longitudinally of said assemblies and bridging the juncton therebetween;

a pair of elongated, end-to-end, first flashing members secured to said first expansion members, said flash- 9 ing members each having a lateral extension overlying the corresponding second me-mber, one of said first flashing members being :disposed with the lateral extension thereof in covering relationship to the junction between said assemblies;

a cover plate secured to the first fiashing members and disposed for icovering the junction t-herebetween;

a pair of elongated, end-to-end, :second fiashing members secured to said second ex'pansion members, one |of said second fiashing members being disposed in closing relationshp to at least a portion of the junction between said a'ssemblies, said first and second flashing members having lowermost extensions norrnally spaced from the major portions of respective first and second expansion members to form regions =f=or receiving roofing material, each of said lowermost extensions being provided With a line of weakness therein to permit the extension to be bent toward the corresponding expansion member and thereby clamp the roofing 'material to the last-mentioned expansion member; and

a pair of coupling plates for interconnecting the assem- 'blies, a first of said coupling plates vbeing secured to the :sides of aligned first expansion members in closing -relationship to the j unction between the assemblies, the `second of said coupling plates being secured to the sides of aligned, second expansion members in closing relationship to the junction between the assemblies.

2. Expansion joint structure for a pair of relatively shiftable roof sections having respective upper surfaces separated by a join therebetween, said structure comprismg:

a pair of expansion members adapted to be secured to respective sections adjacent the margins thereof defining said joint and to extend upwardly from the corresponding surface;

means on one of said members and extending laterally therefrom in overlying relationship to the uppermost margin of the other member for closing said joint when said members are secured to the sections and for permitting relative movement of said other member and said means as the members move toward and away from one another upon expansion and contraction of said sections; and

a fiexible element secured to and spanning the distance between said members below said closing means, said element being disposed for sealing said joint when said members are secured to said sections, said element being provided with a pair of opposed sides, said closing means being disposed for clamping said sides to the uppermost margins of said members,

said other expansion member including a fiashing member having a first portion overlying the corresponding side of the element and slidably engaging said closing means, said flashing member being provided with a second portion extending downwardly from said first portion and being normally spaced from the major portion of said other member to present a region therebetween for receiving a quantity of roofing material.

3. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second portion is provided With a line of weakness therein intermediate the upper and lower extremities thereof, said second portion being bendable about said line of weakness toward said other member to clamp the quantity of roofing material against said other member.

4. Expansion joint cover structure for spaced structural sections forming at least a part of the roof of a building and defining an elongated expansion joint therebetween, at least one of the sections having an outer face extending away from the other section, said cover structure comprismg:

a pair of relatively rigid, extrudable, cover body members adapted to be afiixed to respective sections along the length thereof adjacent said joint therebetween, the member mounted on said one section projecting upwardly therefrom in generally perpendicular relationship to said outer face of the section; and

a cover element rigid with the Iother member and extending across the joint in spanning relationship to the space between said sections when the members are mounted thereon, the upper margin of the member mounted on said one section defining an elongated bearing surface extending longitudinally of the joint, said cover element being disposed to slidably engage said surface in load bearing and substantial sealing relationship and being of sufliicent width to accommodate substantial movement of at least one of the sections relative to the other section While remaining in slidable, sealing engagement with said surface of the member on said one section, there being a longitudinally extending, downturned leg segment on said cover element, said leg segment disposed with a free edge lower than and beyond said bearing surface on the side thereof remote from said other member, said member mounted on said one section having means thereon beneath said element adapted for receiving the margin of a quantity of roofing material therein.

5. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein is included a transversely fiexible and resilient gasket secured to and spanning the distance between said members below said cover element, said gasket being disposed for sealing said joint when said members are secured to said sections.

6. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said cover element is mounted on said one member at an angle relative thereto, causing the cover member to be biased toward said surface when the members are afiixed to respective sections.

7. Expansion joint structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said cover element has a flat segment on the lower side thereof extending longitudinally of said joint, said flat segment and said surface being in complemental engagement throughout their respective lengths for lateral, relative sliding movement therebetween during shifting of the members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

1888 Germany. 10/1957 Italy.

Claims

2. EXPANSION JOINT STRUCTURE FOR A PAIR OF RELATIVELY SHIFTABLE ROOF SECTIONS HAVING RESPECTIVE UPPER SURFACES SEPARATED BY A JOIN THEREBETWEEN, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF EXPANSION MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO RESPECTIVE SECTIONS ADJACENT THE MARGINS THEREOF DEFINING SAID JOINT AND TO EXTEND UPWARDLY FROM THE CORRESPONDING SURFACE; MEANS ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO THE UPPERMOST MARGIN OF THE OTHER MEMBER FOR CLOSING SAID JOINT WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE SECURED TO THE SECTIONS AND FOR PERMITTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID OTHER MEMBER AND SAID MEANS AS THE MEMBERS MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER UPON EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF SAID SECTIONS; AND A FLEXIBLE ELEMENT SECURED TO AND SPANNING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS BELOW SAID CLOSING MEANS, SAID ELEMENT BEING DISPOSED FOR SEALING SAID JOINT WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE SECURED TO SAID SECTIONS, SAID ELEMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDES, SAID CLOSING MEANS BEING DISPOSED FOR CLAMPING SAID SIDES TO THE UPPERMOST MARGINS OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID OTHER EXPANSION MEMBER INCLUDING A FLASHING MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PORTION OVERLYING THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF THE ELEMENT AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID CLOSING MEANS, SAID FLASHING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A SECOND PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION AND BEING NORMALLY SPACED FROM THE MAJOR PORTION OF SAID OTHER MEMBER TO PRESENT A REGION THEREBETWEEN FOR RECEIVING A QUANTITY OF ROOFING MATERIAL.