Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Th~ present ~nvention relates to skylights, and ~n
particular, to a skylight which has an integral body and
is easy to install.
Skyli~ht systems are well known in situations where
existin~ or new dwellinqs require further light than is
rece~ved throuqh windows or doors.
The most common form of skyli~ht is to construct a
frame, usually of e~ther wood or metal, from the ceilin~ to
the roofin~ panels. A clear material such as PERSPEX (Trade
Mark) covers the openinq in the ceilinq and the openinq in
the roof.
This method of construction is not standardized as
each separate installation is different. This tends to
increase the averaqe cost of installation per unit.
It is also the case that qenerally to obtain suffi-
cient light from the skYliqht, the sk~ ht has to be of a
size which requires the removal of some sections of roof
joist and roof battens which in turn chanqes the loadinq of
the roof thereon. To overcome the problems associated with
sucn construction, a structual analysis should be made of
the renovations and possible further structural members
may be required.
It is an ob~ject of the present invention to provide
an imProved skyliqht which substantially overcomes or
ameliorates the abovementioned disadvantaqes.
According to one aspect of the invention there is
provided a skylight system for a building having a roof and
a ceiling spaced from the roof with a cavity therebetween.
The system includes a tubular body for positioning in the
cavity and haYing a first end and a second end. A first
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transparent cover is attached to the first end o the body
and extends above the roof and forms a light-permeable
chamber above the first end of the body. A second
transparent cover is attached to the second end of the body
and is located at the ceiling. A reflector is located
within the light-permeable chamber and extends above the
roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into
the body.
According to anothex a~pect of the in~ention there
is provided a method of constructing a skylight system
which includes the steps of forming an opening in each of a
roof and a ceiling of a building having a cavity between
the roof and ceiling, positioning a tubular body in the
cavity and securing the body in position. The body has a
first and a second end so that a first transparent cover,
attached to ~he first end of the body, extend~ above the
roof and forms ~ light-pexmeable chamber above the first
end. A second transparent cover is attached to the second
end so as to be located at the ceiling. The light-
permeable chamber has a reflector loc~ted therein, which
extends above the roof ~o as to reflect at least some light
incident ~hereon into the bod~.
Preferably~ the internal surfaces of the skyliqht tube
are coated for maximum transmission of liqht therethrouqh.
Some embodiments of the present invention will now
be described with reference to the drawinqs in which
Fiq. 1 is a partial cut-away side view of an installed
skyliqht accordinq to a preferred embodiment,
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Fiq. 2 i5 d diacram of a reflector which is used in
the skyliqht of Fiq. 1,
Fiqs. 3 and 3a are plan views of a roof cavit~
showinq support components for the installation of the
skyliqht of Fiq. 1,
Fiq. 4 is an inverted plan view of the skyliqht of
Fiq. 1~
Fiq. 5 is a ~lan view of the installed skyliqht of
Fiq. 1,
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Fig. 6 is a partial cut-away side view of an installed
skylight according to an alternate embodiment,
Fig. 7 is a diayram of a reflector to be used in
the skylight as shown in Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the roof cavity showing
support components for the skylight of Fig, 6,
Fig. 9 is an inverted plan ,view of the skylight of
Fig. 6,
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the installed skylight of
Fig. 6,
Fig. 11 is a partial cut-away view of an installed
skylight with optional venting according to another preferred
embodiment,
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the skylight of Fig. 11,
Fig. 13 is a partial cut-away of an installed skylight
with sectional indicator through optional venting of the
skylight of Fig. 11,
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the venting of
Fig. 11,
Fig. 15 is a partial cut-away view of an installed
skylight with optional venting according to an internate
embodiment, and
Fig. 16 is a plan view of the installed skylight
with optional venting according to an internate embodiment.
The skylight 1 of the preferred embodiment as illus-
trated in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a tube 2 which has one
hemi-spherical end cap or upper bubble 3 and one dished or
"bowter" end cap or diffuser 4 attached thereto.
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The top end cap 3 is made of a clear PERSPEX (Trade
Mark~ or similar such material and the lower surface has a
pattern impressed thereto forming a diffusing effect typical
to K15 (Trade Mark). The top end cap or upper bubble 3 has
a reflector 5 affixed thereto on its inside surface. The
reflector 5 reflects the light that would otherwise pass
through the sides of the upper bu~ble 3, into the tube 2
adding to the light incident and transmitted through the
tube 2.
The material of the tube 2 is either metal, fiber or
plastics, and has a finish which is a highly reflective
polish or coating, as found on "11~0 alloy alluminium",
electroplating, anodising or metalised plastic film. The
coatings applied to all the internal surfaces thereof.
The highly reflective nature of the internal surfaces
of the tube 2 assit in transmitting and reflecting light
through the diffuser 4. The combined light passes through
the diffuser 4 and is re-directed sideways and upwardly,
which is then reflected off walls 16 and ceiling 8 and
therefore creates indirect lighting for the room 20.
In the installation procedure, the position in the
ceiling 8 i-s determined and a suitable hole 9 is cut out.
The corresponding roof tiles 10 vertically above the hole 9
are also removed. ~t is noted at this point that some
small portion of battens 13 may need to be removed depending
on the positional requirements. The same applies to small
and remediable portions of the roof structurei
Once the abovementioned has-been noted, the tube 2
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is then moved into position between the battens 13, and
rested on the ceiling 8. Angle brackets 18 are fixed to
the ceiling joist 19 with fasteners 21. The tube 2 is then
lowered into the correct ceiling 8 level (flush with the
ùnderside of) which is aùtomatically determined by aligning
a bolt 17 with bracket 18 whereby the bolt 17 is affixed.
This is associated with the embodiment of Fig. 3a whilst in
the embodiment of Fig. 3 a plurality of tabs 18 rest on the
ceiling 8.
Flashing 6 is then placed and dressed to the tube 2,
and the roof tiles 10 are replaced. It should be noted that
the flashing 6 is placed under the roof tile 10 surrounding
the tube 2. A hose clamp 11 i s then fixed over the tube 2
and the upturn of the flashing 6 and a suitable water resis-
tent sealant is applied therebetween.
The upper bubble 3 is then affixed, and is secured
onto the tube 2 by a hose clamp 11. The reflector 5 has
already been placed upon the top side oF the tube 2 prior
to installation.
The lower bubble or diffuser 4 is then affixed to
the lower end of the tube 2 through the hole 2 provided in
the ceiling 8. The diffuser 4 has a flange 12 or alter-
natively a dress trim. The diffuser 4 can have varying
shapes as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 6, 9, 11 and 13 as
well as the upper bubble 3 having different shapes as
illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 6, 11 and 15.
According to the different embodiments of the inven-
tion in the drawings, the reflector is illustrated in
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Figs. 2 and 7.
After the skylight 1 has been installed, ambient,
permeative, and direct sunlight from the sky enters the
upper bubble 3, a large proportion of the light striking the
reflector 5, the balance of the light that would normally
pass through the clear material of the upper bubble 3 is
reflected back into the tube 2 by means of the reflector 5
located at the elevation away from the sun of the upper
bubble 3 which is fixed to the tube 2 between the external
surface of the tube 2 and the internal surface of the upper
bubble 3. This reflected light now enters the tube 2 at a
corresponding and opposite angle to the light received
through the upper bubble 3. The combination of the varia-
bility angled light strikes the diffuser 4 and the light is
scattered throughout the room 20.
As the skylight 1 is a sealed unit, dust ingress is
prevented by the close fit of the upper bubble 3 with the
tube 2 and correspondingly the close fit between the tube 2
and the diffuser 4. In a similar manner, pests are also
prevented from entering into the skylight 1.
With regard to the thermal. considerations, it is
found that greater amounts of heat are found under skylighted
areas in the summer time and conversely, less with the lower
temperatures in winter. The present invention eliminates
- such problems due to the subst`ant.ially sealed nature of the
skylight 1. The beforementioned close fit of all the
components prevents excess air movement which creates a
static column of air within the skylight 1. The column of
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air acts as an insulator combined with the insulating
properties of plastics forming the upper bubble 3 and
diffuser 4 which prevents heat from entering the room 20.
The heat that builds up within the skylight 1 is dissipated
into the roof cavity via the conductive material of the
tube 2.
Conversely, in a winter situation, it is found that
heat rises, therefore the roof cavity would not be as cool
as the external temperature prevaïiing on the outside of
the building. The conductive material of the tube 2 would
absorb some of the heat warming the air column within. As
the air column is heated, it therefore follows that the
skylight 1 acts as an insulator and maintains a substantial
amount of heat within the room 20.
Another embodiment of the skylight 1 is illustrated
in Figs. 6 to 10. This embodiment illustrated comprises a
skylight having a square or rectangular cross-section.
A method of venting the skylight 1 is illustrated in
Figs. 11 - 16. When the skylight l is vented, dust and
pests are prevented from entering the skylight 1 by means
of a fine metal fly screen 14.
Taking into consideration the thermal operation of a
vented skylight 1, a venting system 22 has a vent tube 23
painted a substantially black colour which absorbs light.
The light energy is converted into heat energy and the heat
causes the air in the exposed portion of the vent assembly
24 to the top of the tube 2 to expand. The expanded air
rises out of the vent assembly 24 causing the displacement
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further down the vent tube 23 which subsequently originates
from the room 20, thereby creating a constant airflow from
the room 20 through to the outside.
A raim cover 27 is additionally supplied to the vent
tube 23.
The main benefit of the skylights of the preferred
embodiments is that the efficiency of the skylight enables
the sky to have a smaller diameter/area than equivalent
prior art skylights which provides for economy and speed
of installation.
The foregoing describes only some embodiments of
the present invention, and modifications obvious to those
skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
