WO2014027303A1

WO2014027303A1 - Skylight arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2014027303A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/056600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephanus Jacobus NEETHLING
Original assignee: Neethling Stephanus Jacobus
Priority date: 2012-08-15
Filing date: 2013-08-13
Publication date: 2014-02-20
Also published as: ZA201500907B; CL2015000340A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a skylight arrangement for a rooftop having a foundation being adapted to be secured to a roof sheet of the rooftop. A support base is joined to the foundation, with an opening extending through the support base for receiving a tubular sleeve. The sleeve has an outward collar at one end being adapted to abut against an internal structure and, at its other end, has an outward flange for engaging with the support base. A translucent body is supported by the support base to close off the opening.

Description

SKYLIGHT ARRANGEMENT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a skylight arrangement. More particularly, the present invention relates to a skylight arrangement for the building construction industry.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Skylights are formed by providing windows in a roof or ceiling. They are also often referred to as light transmitting fenestrations being formed by products filling openings in a building envelope and forming all, or at least a portion of, the roof of the building. The advantage provided by skylights are that they convey abundant daylight into the building and thereby provide a connection to the outdoor environment for occupants of the building.

Conventional skylights have a structural perimeter frame supporting a panel of glazing, such as glass or plastic. If the skylight is within easy reach of an occupant of the building, then they can be made to open to allow venting.

Most skylight units are pre-assembled during manufacture and shipped to the building site for installation. However, this can cause difficulties if the skylight is not fully compatible with the roof system into which it is to be installed. This lack of synergy requires purpose made flashings and the use of rubber and adhesives to ensure a waterproof fitting and proper insulation. They are thus often difficult to install and require various lifting machinery/equipment to reach the installation point from below. In addition the known skylight structures are not cost-effective, are expensive and cumbersome and often also unattractive.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a skylight arrangement, which will assist in overcoming these problems. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a skylight arrangement for a rooftop includes a foundation being adapted to be secured to a roof sheet of the rooftop; a support base joined to the foundation, the support base defining an opening therethrough; a tubular sleeve extending through the opening, the sleeve having an outward collar at one end being adapted to abut against an internal structure and the sleeve further having an outward flange at its other end being adapted to engage with the support base; and a translucent body supported by the support base to close off the opening.

The foundation may be a bridge plate being adapted to extend across adjacent ridges of a profiled roof sheet of the rooftop.

The support base may be joined to the foundation above the rooftop.

The sleeve may be adapted to be inserted into the opening from above the rooftop.

The internal structure may be a ceiling or insulation board located beneath the rooftop against which the collar can abut. The translucent body may be a lens, preferably being a prismatic lens.

The skylight arrangement may include a translucent dome supported by the support structure above the rooftop, the dome being adapted to protect the translucent body from the environment.

The dome may be a diffuser dome. The skylight arrangement may be adapted to be fully installed from above the rooftop.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a method of installing a skylight arrangement in a rooftop, whereby all the installation steps are performed from above the rooftop.

The method may include the steps of removing a roof sheet from a rooftop to form an open lane in the rooftop; of joining a support base to the roof sheets so that it traverse the width of the open lane, the support base defining an opening therein being located above the open lane; of inserting a tubular frame into the opening so that it forms a sleeve lining extending through the opening; and of locating a translucent body to be supported by the frame to close of the opening.

The method may include the step of providing and securing a foundation to the roof sheets bordering the open lane, onto which foundation the support base is to be joined.

The method may include the step of cutting out any sub-rooftop ceiling or insulation board located beneath the opening to permit insertion of the frame, the cutting being performed through the opening.

The method may include the step of attaching a translucent dome to the support structure above the rooftop, the dome being adapted to protect the translucent body from the environment.

The method may include the step of installing multiple skylights in the rooftop, the skylights being linearly aligned along the open lane, and of securing cover plates between neighbouring skylights to space apart the neighbouring skylights and/or to close off spaces between the neighbouring skylights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawing there is shown in:

Figure an exploded perspective view of a skylight arrangement according to the invention;

Figure cross-section end view transverse through the assembled skyl arrangement of Figure 1;

Figure a cross-section side view lengthwise through the assembled skylight arrangement of Figure 1 Figure 4: A) a plan view of a Step 1 for installing the skylight arrangement of Figure 1;

B) a cross section view of installation Step 1; Figure 5: A) a plan view of a Step 2 for installing the skylight arrangement of Figure 1;

B) a cross section view of installation Step 2; Figure 6: A) a plan view of a Step 3 for installing the skylight arrangement of Figure 1;

B) a cross section view of installation Step 3; Figure 7: A) a plan view of a Step 4 for installing the skylight arrangement of Figure 1;

B) a cross section view of an initial step of installation Step 4;

C) a cross section view of a subsequent step of installation Step 4;

Figure 8: A) a plan view of a Step 5 for installing the skylight arrangement of Figure 1;

B) a cross section view of installation Step 5, further showing an enlarged area of a junction point;

Figure 9: A) a plan view of a Step 6 for installing the skylight arrangement of Figure 1;

and

B) a cross section view of installation Step 6, further showing an enlarged area of a junction point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a skylight arrangement in accordance with the invention, being generally indicated by reference numeral 10, having one or more skylights 12 provided in a rooftop 14 formed by a number of roof sheets 16. The roof sheets 16 can be profiled, e.g. having an IBR profile or being corrugated. Also shown are the various requisite steps for installing the skylights 12 in the rooftop 14. The skylight 12 has two opposite elongated bridge plates 22 that are adapted to be aligned to extend parallel to the slope of the roof sheets 16 and to be joined thereto. The bridge plates 22 are spaced apart to form an open lane 18 between them. The bridge plates 22 form a foundation being adapted to strengthen the load carrying capacity of the roof sheets 16.

A support base in the form of a chimney plate 24 is supported by and joined to the bridge plates 22. The chimney plate 24 has a flat sheet body 26 spanning the open lane 18 with the opposite sides of the sheet body 26 being bent off into depending skirts 30 for engagement with the bridge plates 22. The sheet body 26 has a central opening 32 of rectangular shape that is bordered by a perimeter ridge 34 upstanding from the sheet body 26.

The chimney plate 24 supports a rectangular tubular frame 36 within the opening 32 to form an inner sleeve therein. The frame 36 has a first open end being adapted to be located within a building beneath the rooftop 14 and a second open end to be located above the rooftop 14, thereby forming a passage for conducting daylight. At the first end there is a collar 38 extending outwardly from the frame 36, which is adapted to abut against a ceiling 37. At the second end there is a flange 40 extending outwardly from the frame 36, which is adapted to clip over the perimeter ridge 30 to secure the frame 36 within the opening 32. A rubber seal 42 covers over the joint of the flange 40 and perimeter ridge 34 to form a weather seal. A translucent lens 40 is supported within the frame 36 to extend across and close off the opening 32. Preferably the lens 40 is a prismatic lens. The skylight 12 further has a translucent dome 46 being supported and joined to the chimney plate 24 and covering the lens 44 to protect it from the environment.

For the installation, in Step 1 (Figures 2 and 10) an open lane 18 is formed by removing adjacent roof sheets 16, being aligned linearly down the slope of the rooftop 14, from the rooftop 14. When removing the roof sheets 16, it is preferable to start at the top at the roof apex under the roof cap 20. In Figure 2, the human figure and adjacent skylight are shown for scale only. In Step 2, elongated bridge plates 22 are fixed to the opposite roof sheets 16 adjacent to the open lane 18. The bridge plates 22 are aligned parallel to the open lane 18 and crest the profiles of the roof sheets 16 so as to provide a foundation for the skylight 12. The bridge plates 22 are fixed to the roof sheets 16 using self-tapping screws. The open lane 18 is then populated with either chimney plates 24 and/or cover plates 28, both of which traverse the open lane 18 and are mounted on the bridge plates 22 using self-tapping screws. It is preferable to populate the open lane 18 from the top nearest to the roof cap 20.

The chimney plates 24 are adapted to form the skylights 12 and thus have a central opening 32 formed within an upstanding perimeter ridge 34, whereas the cover plates 28 merely serve to space the chimney plates 24 apart from each other and to close off any intermediate spaces between the chimney plates 24 and also the roof cap 20 and roof sheets 16 at the top and bottom ends of the open lane 18. The cover plates 28 also serve to avoid locating a chimney plate 24 directly above a roof purlin. The adjacent chimney plates 24 and cover plates 28 are joined to each other using self-tapping screws. Step 3 requires the cutting out of any roof insulation material and or ceiling board 37 located underneath the roof sheets 16. This is achieved by working through the central opening 32 of the chimney plates 24 and cutting along the inner edge of the central opening 32.

A rectangular tubular frame 36 is inserted through the opening 32 (Step 4) and then pulled back against the ceiling 37 before being joined to the chimney plate 28. The insertion and location of the frame 36 can be assisted by temporarily fixing ropes to the frame 36. The frame 36 has an outward collar 38 at its end that will be located inside and abut against the ceiling 37, whereas the opposite end of the frame 36 has an outward flange 40 being adapted to be clipped over the perimeter ridge 34. A rubber seal 42 is fitted over the joint of the flange 40 and perimeter ridge 34. The wall of the frame 36 between the collar 38 and the flange 40 may also be referred to as a cheek plate.

Step 5 entails locating a translucent lens 44 into the frame 36 to close off the central opening 32. Preferably the lens 44 is a prismatic lens being adapted to direct and focus daylight to a desired location beneath the skylight 12. This serves to redistribute the harvested daylight, focusing it onto the specific areas required by the client, without light wastage due to reflection off the ceiling and the walls.

Finally, in Step 6, a collector or diffuser dome 46 is fitted to the chimney plate 24 over the perimeter ridge 34 to cover the lens 44. The dome 46 is preferably manufactured from a polycarbonate material.

Advantageously, as can be discerned from the installation method, all the steps of the installation are adapted to be performed from above the roof. Accordingly no lifting equipment is required to install from below. Also, no access from a house or factory floor is required and thus the installation can be performed without disrupting work within the building.

The skylight arrangement 10 has the advantage of being relatively simple and easy to transport and install due to its lightweight construction. Furthermore, the skylight 12 is easy to clean and/or service as it can be dismantled from above the rooftop 14 to remove or replace the lens 44. Adjustments to the lens can also be performed to reposition the daylight supply if the tenants or activities within the building change.

This skylight arrangement 10 is compatible with all current soft roof profiles on the market and only requires normal to average roofing "skills" to install successfully.

The skylight arrangement 10 according to the invention is compatible with industrial roof systems and uses only the natural gravity water physics to attain a water tight installation.

Claims

A skylight arrangement for a rooftop including a foundation being adapted to be secured to a roof sheet of the rooftop; a support base joined to the foundation, the support base defining an opening therethrough; a tubular sleeve extending through the opening, the sleeve having an outward collar at one end being adapted to abut against an internal structure and the sleeve further having an outward flange at its other end being adapted to engage with the support base; and a translucent body supported by the support base to close off the opening.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the foundation is a bridge plate being adapted to extend across adjacent ridges of a profiled roof sheet of the rooftop.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the support base is joined to the foundation above the rooftop.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve is adapted to be inserted into the opening from above the rooftop.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the internal structure is a ceiling or insulation board located beneath the rooftop against which the collar can abut.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the translucent body is a lens, preferably a prismatic lens.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a translucent dome supported by the support structure above the rooftop, the dome being adapted to protect the translucent body from the environment.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in claim 7, in which the dome is a diffuser dome.

A skylight arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to be fully installed from above the rooftop.

10. A method of installing a skylight arrangement in a rooftop, whereby all the installation steps are performed from above the rooftop.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, which includes the steps of removing a roof sheet from a rooftop to form an open lane in the rooftop; of joining a support base to the roof sheets so that it traverse the width of the open lane, the support base defining an opening therein being located above the open lane; of inserting a tubular frame into the opening so that it forms a sleeve lining extending through the opening; and of locating a translucent body to be supported by the frame to close of the opening.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, which includes the step of providing and securing a foundation to the roof sheets bordering the open lane, onto which foundation the support base is to be joined.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, which includes the step of cutting out any sub-rooftop ceiling or insulation board located beneath the opening to permit insertion of the frame, the cutting being performed through the opening.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, which includes the step of attaching a translucent dome to the support structure above the rooftop, the dome being adapted to protect the translucent body from the environment.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, which includes the step of installing multiple skylights in the rooftop, the skylights being linearly aligned along the open lane, and of securing cover plates between neighbouring skylights to space apart the neighbouring skylights and/or to close off spaces between the neighbouring skylights.