Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02231964 2004-07-16
ROOF RIDGE ASSEMBLIES
This invention concerns roof ridge assemblies, especially for conservatories.
It is known to construct conservatory roofs from polycarbonate roofing panels
supported between glazing bars. The glazing bars are supported and connected
at one end
to a ridge structure and at the other end are supported by and connected to an
eaves
structure. Such ridge structures comprise a pair of flanges which the glazing
bars ane
supported on and connected to. A ridge capping is connected to the ridge
structure and
provides cover for the ridge structure and the ends of both glazing bars and
roofing panels.
The ridge capping comprises two downwardly extending flaps or wings which
overlie tlhe
ridge structure and the ends of the glazing bars and roofing panels to provide
such covf,r.
The wings of the ridge capping are kept spaced apart from the roofing panels
so as to
define a passageway therebetween in order to allow ventilation of the ridge
structure and
consequently the interior of the conservatory.
Manufacturers are continually seeking to reduce the time taken to assemble
such
conservatories since reduction in assembly time results in a saving of costs
as well as to
improve resistance to rain ingress and ventilation facilities.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved conservatory roof ridge
assembly.
The present invention provides a ridge assembly for a roof comprising a ridge
body
having a base, side walls extending upwardly from the base and flanges
extending
outwardly and downwardly from the base, wherein the ridge body has one or more
of the
following further featureso
1. means for receiving ridge capping support elements;
2. the side walls are stepped to provide locations for glazing panel ends
and/or
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glazing bar ends;
3. the side walls have locations for receiving rain baffle elements;
4. ends of the flanges are adapted to retain undercladding;
5. ends of the flanges are adapted to receive reinforcing cross bracing.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ridge
assembly for a roof comprising a ridge body having a base, side walls
extending upwardly
from the base and flanges extending outwardly and downwardly from the base,
ridge
capping support elements mounted on the side walls of the ridge body and a
ridge capping
on the ridge capping support elements, wherein the ridge capping support
elements have a
central section and wings with downwardly directed edges and the ridge capping
has
upwardly directed internal projections which snap-fit under the downwardly
directed
edges of the wings of the ridge capping support elements to hold the ridge
capping in
place.
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2a
The means for receiving ridge capping support elements are preferably internal
projections on which the support elements are mountable. The elements are
preferably by
being either slidable thereonto for positioning or may be snap-fitted onto the
projections.
In one preferred embodiment the ridge capping support elements are box
sections with
lateral extensions from top edges thereof on which the ridge capping sits.
Additional
means for fixing the ridge capping down may be required for this embodiment.
Such
additional fixing means preferably comprises a bolt with a head releasably
engageab~le
with the underside of the ridge capping and a stem fixable through the ridge
body,
possibly by a nut or the like but more preferably by a wedging action. For
example, a
wedge element may be slidable in a part of the ridge body to engage the stem
of the bolt
and hold same against axial movement.
In another preferred embodiment, the ridge capping support elements have a
central section and upwardly and outwardly directed wings with downwardly
directf;d
edges. The ridge capping preferably has upwardly directed internal projections
which can
fit under the downwardly directed edges of the wings of the support elements
to hold the
capping in place.
The ridge cap support elements are preferably height adjustable to accommodate
different depths of glazing bar. Preferably the support elements
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comprise two parts that are relatively adjustable, one part capable of fitting
onto the
ridge body and the other part capable of being fitted to the first part to
provide
support elements at different relative heights for the ridge cap.
In one preferred form, said other part has a body with a series of annular
grooves on its outer surface and said ore part has means for selectively
engaging one
of said grooves to retain said other part. Said one part preferably has an
aperture
therethrough into which the other part can be fitted in one orientation and
then rotated
to another orientation, preferably at 90~ to the first, whereby one of said
grooves is
engaged in the first part to retain said other part.
The ridge body preferably has on opposite sides channels to receive ends of
glazing panels. These channels may further include locations for retention of
rain
baffles which are provided to inhibit passage of rain about glazing panel ends
into the
ridge assembly.
Ends of glazing bars preferably lie on and are securable to the outwardly
extending flanges of the ridge body. Ends of the flanges are preferably
stepped to
provide locations for retaining undercladding. The preferred undercladding has
a base
and returned sides which locate on said steps. The undercladding preferably
has at
least one location for ventilation means, preferably of the hit or miss type,
i.e. where
a series of apertures in the undercladding can be opened or closed by a
similarly
apertured slidable strip. Such ventilation means may be provided in any one or
more
of the base of the undercladding or the returned sides thereof. In each case
the
undercladding will have a channel-like slot for receiving the slidable
apertured strip.
Preferably on the underside of the flanges of the ridge body are formations
for
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receiving ends of cross braces. Preferably the cross braces can be slid into
desired
positions.
This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is an end view first embodiment of a ridge assembly for a
conservatory roof;
Figure 2, shows components of the assembly of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of a second embodiment of a ridge assembly for a
conservatory roof;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a ridge assembly for a
conservatory roof;
Figure 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is an end view of a fourth embodiment of a ridge assembly for a
conservatory roof.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 7; and
Figure 9 shows a component of the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8.
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a ridge assembly for a
conservatory roof has a ridge body 10 formed as an aluminium extrusion. The
ridge
body 10 is generally slim and open-topped. The ridge body 10 is shaped to
provide
locations for attachment means for a ridge cap 12, glazing bars 14 and panels
16, and
undercladding 18.
The ridge body provides at its upper part upwardly divergent sides 20 which
CA 02231964 2004-07-16
form the bases of outwardly open channel sections 22 having top sides 24 and
bottom
sides 26. Within the channel 22 the top side 24 has a longitudinal returned
rib 28 and
the bottom side 26 has a longitudinal rib 30.
From the outer ends of the bottom channel sides 26 the ridge body walls hame
downwardly extending sections 32 which are stepped at 34. The sections 32 are
joined by a base section 36. Where the walls are stepped at 34 there are
sideways
continuation flanges 40.
Near the top of the divergent sides 20 of the ridge body 10 on their inwards
facing surfaces are projections 42 for receiving spaced apart box section
carriages 44.
The carriages 44 have at their lower corners suitably shaped slots 46 whereby
they
can be slid onto the projections 42 and into position on the r7dge body. The
carriages
44 have a top 48 that is extended to both sides 50 laterally and over a final
part 52
upwardly to provide a support for a ridge top capping 12 .
The glazing bars 14 comprise an aluminium glazing beam 56 with upper and
lower cappings, each of which has co-extended gaskets along its edges that
abut
' ' against the glaing panels 16. The glazing beams 56 are fixed onto the ~uYS
40 and
abut against the ridge body. Longitudinal channels 58 are provided in the
flaps 40
with an upstanding internal rib 60 on their bottom surface and returned lips
62. The
channels 58 are to receive heads of securing bolts (not shown) which fix the
glazing
beams 56 in place. The channels allow the bolts to be slid to the appropriate
positions whilst holding them captive.
The glazing panels 16 extend into the channel sections 22 and top and bottom
rain baffles 64, 66 respectively are provided. The top rain baffle 64 is a
generall~~ L-
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shaped plastics extrusion with a resilient flexible elbow 68. One limb 70 of
the baffle
64 is slightly arcuate terminating in a foot 72 that rests on top of the
glazing beams
56. The other limb 74 has a series of projections 76 extending normally
thereto,
which provide a series of slots 78 with serrated side walls any of which can
be push
fitted onto the top side 24 of the channel section, which has serrated upper
and lower
surfaces for grip, depending on the thickness of the glazing panels. At its
bottom end
the other limb 74 ha<> a co-extended gasket strip 80 that provides a seal
between the
glazing panels and the baffle.
The bottom rain baffle 66 is a plastics extrusion and has three webs 82, 84
and
86 generally at right angles to each, whereby the first and third webs are
substantially
parallel, the first web extending upwards from one side of the second web 84
and the
third web extending downwards from the other side of the second web.
The first web 82 of the baffle 66 has along its top edge a lip 88 and a
simiilar
lip 90 on its bottom edge beyond its junction with the second web 84. These
lips 88
and 90 are provided to retain the baffle 66 in the channel section 22, the
lips 88 <md
90 being retained respectively behind the ribs 28 and ~0. The baffle 66. thes
snap~fits
into the channel section 22.
On the outer .face of the third web 86, just below its junction with the
second
web 84 is a co-extended gasket strip 92 which abuts against the ends of the
glazing
bars below the glazing panels 16 which actually sit on the second web 84 of
the rain
baffle 66.
The flanges 40, extending from the ridge body 10 have their ends turned first
downwards and then outwards to provide ledges 94. The ledges 94 are for
retaining
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undercladding 18 in position below the ridge body. The undercladding 18 has a
generally flat base 98 and returned ends 100 edges of which fit over the
ledges !~4.
The undercladding 18 has three positions for fitting of hit and miss
ventilators.
Centrally of the base 98 is a channel 102 with tipped edges 104 to provide a
slot for a strip member 106 . The base 98 along the line of the channel 102
and the
strip 106 each have a series of spaced apertures therethrough, whereby the
strip 106
can be slid along the channel to bring the apertures of the channel and the
strip into
and out of register depending on the ventilat;~n requirements.
The returned ends 100 of the undercladding 18 have internally of the
undercladding channels 107 with tipped edges 108 for retaining aperiured
strips (not
shown). Along the lines of the channels 107 , the undercladding has spaced
apertures
(not shown). The apertured strips are slidable in the channels 107 to provide
further
hit or nuss ventilations, wherein the apertures in the channels 107 are opened
or
closed by the strips being slid along to bring their respective apertures into
or out of
register.
The ventilation paths through the ridge assembly are indicated by arrows. As
will be appreciated the base section 36 of the ridge body 10 is also apertured
at
spaced intervals.
In this embodiment the ridge capping 12 is secured to the ridge assembly by
captive bolts 110. The bolts 110 have a rectangular head 112 (see Figure 2)
with lips
114 on its shorter sides. The bolts have stem 116 which has a lower part 118
serrated on opposite sides for receiving a wedge shaped retaining element 120
with a
generally U-shaped slot 122 therein having in the base of U-slot a web 124
that is
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engageable in the serration 118 of the stem 116 of a bolt I 10.
On the underside of the capping 12 is a channel formation 126 having returned
edges I28. The channel 126 is wide enough to receive the head of a bolt with
its
longer sides parallel thereto, when the bolt can be turned through 90°
so that the Lips
114 of the head of the bolt are retained by the returned edges 128 of the
channel 126.
At its other end the bolt stem passes through an aperture in the base 36 of
the ridge
body 10. Extending below the base 36 are a pair of spaced parallel flanges 130
with
inwardly directed lips 132 to provide a sht for receiving the wedge shaped
element
120. The element 120 has on its sides retaining ribs 134, 136 one of which
extends
along the full length of the element, and the other being shorter, whereby the
element
can be manoeuvred into the slot. Once there, the element is slid along to
engage and
retain the stem of the bolt 110.
It will be noted that the ridge capping 12 top surface has various projections
140 generally designated therefrom. These projections are for receiving and
retaining
decorative ridge elements.
Turning to Figures ~ and 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a
variation of the embodiment of Figure 1. Like parts have been given the same
reference numerals and will not be described in any detail. The main
difference
between the respective embodiments is the means of securing the ridge capping
54.
The ridge capping has been designed so that it can be used with either
securing
method.
In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, instead of the projections 42 on the
inwards faces of the ridge body receiving carriages 44, they receive retaining
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elements 150. The elements 150 have a central section 152 with suitably
slotted
downwards projections 154 at each end thereof for sliding onto the projection
~42.
Extending upwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of the central section
are
wings 156 with downturned edges 158. The retaining elements 150 are generally
provided at intervals along the ridge body 10.
The ridge capping 12 comprises a hood 160 with flared sides 162 extending
therefrom. Internally of the capping where the sides and the hood meet, are
upwardly
directed lips 164 to provide slots for receiving ~~he edges 158 of the
retaining elemf:nts
150 to retain the capping on the elements. The capping 12 will usually be of
plastics
material and the elements 150 of metal, such as aluminium, so that the capping
can
be snap fitted on to the elements 150.
In Figures S and 6 the ridge assembly shown makes provision for different
depths of glazing bar and hence different thicknesses of glazing panels. The
same
ridge body 10 and ridge cap 12 as shown in the other illustrated embodiments
are
used in this embodiment with the same connection of glazing bars and glazing
panels
but the means of affrxing the ridge cap 12 to the ridge body 10 is different
and will
be described in morf; detail. The ridge body 10 has upwardly directed
projection<,~ 42
and onto these carriages 200 are fitted either by sliding them along the
projections or
by a snap-fit onto the projections. The carriages 200 are in two parts 202 and
204
that interfit. The first part 202 has a base 206 with a pair of channels 208
on its
underside spaced apart and shaped so as to be capable of being slid onto or
snap-fit
onto the projections 42 of the ridge body. Centrahy of the base is a tubular
upstand
209 having in its top a pair of segmental lips 210 in order to provide a top
opening
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having one pair of parallel sides.
The second part 204 of a carriage has a body 212 with three annular grooves
214 one pair of opposed sides whereof are flattened so that the body 212 can
slot isito
the upstand 209 of the first carriage part in one orientation but when rotated
through
90~ the lips 210 engage in the grooves 214 between the flattened portions to
locate
the second carriage part in position.
Extending laterally from opposite sides of the body 212 and parallel to the
flattened sides of the grooves 214 are wings 216 with downturned edges 218.
The
edges 218 locate in the upwardly directed lips 164 of the ridge cap 12.
Atop the second part 204 of the carriage is a foam block 220 which fits the
channel 126 on the underside of the ridge cap 12 to locate and cushion the
ridge cap.
To fit the ridge cap 12 to the ridge body 10, a number of carriages 200 are
fitted onto the ridge body at intervals, the first parts 202 either being
snapped or slid
into place. Then the second parts 204 are fitted into the first parts to a
depth
corresponding to the depth of the glazing bar system making up the roof i.e.
until the
appropriate groove 214 is aligned with the lips 210 of the first part of the
carriage,
when the second part 244 is rotated through 90~ to engage the lips 210 in the
grave
214 in order to locate the second part of the carriage in the first part. The
ridge cap
12 is then pushed down onto the carriages until the lips 164 of the cap 12
lo<:ate
behind the ends of the wings 216. The ridge cap 12 being of plastics material
can
resiliently deform to achieve that.
Figures 7 to 9 of the corresponding drawings show a variation on the
embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 in that the second parts of carriages 200' are
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themselves in two parts that snap together, one part 300 providing the wings
for
attachment of the ridge cap and the other part 302 providing annular grooves
for
height adjustment of the carriages.
The part 300 has a pair of wings 304 either side of a central section having
an
aperture 305 therethrough. On opposite sides of the aperture are pairs of lugs
306.
The pan 302 has a tubular body 308 with three annular grooves 310 formed on
its
outside with opposite sides flattened for it to fit into bottom carriage part
202 in one
a
orientation and to be retained in said part by being rotated through 90 as in
the
embodiment of Figures 5 and 6. Atop the tubular body is a generally flat plate
311
which is sized to fit over the aperture 305 with its edges snap fitting under
the lugs
306. A foam rubber retention and cushioning block 312 may be fitted on top of
the
plate 310.
The carriages 200' are otherwise used in the same way as the carriages 200 of
Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.
The carriage 200' can also be used without the wing part 300 in much the
same way as the carriages 44 of Figures l and 2 of the drawings. The plate 311
has
an upwardly and outwardly curving edge formations 320 that dcan act as ridge
capping supports, the ridge capping being secured in place by means of captive
bolts,
for example, as in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The foam block 312 would
be omitted from that foam. Thus, the carriages 200' can be used in two
different
ways to secure a ridge capping by including or omitting the wing part 300.
