Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FACIA SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facia system for buildings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The facia is that part of a building where the roof terminates. Typically,
most
residences and relatively small commercial or industrial establishments
utilise a sloping
roof. The roof structure includes a plurality of rafters upon which a solid
material such as
plywood or the like is placed. Subsequently, the weatherproofing component is
applied on
top thereof, the weatherproofing component typically being asphalt tiles
although sheet
metal, shakes, other types of tiles, and composite materials are also
utilised.
At the point where the rafters terminate, a facia is installed and extends
along the
ends of the rafters. Typically, the facia may comprise a wooden member and/or
a metal
member secured thereto. Typically, the metal member comprises an L-shaped
member
which extends along the facia and inward towards the soffit portion of the
eaves.
One of the problems which is frequently encountered is the finishing
arrangement
such that water will not run back underneath the shingles or other material at
the end of
the roof. As a result, specially designed drip edges are frequently installed;
however,
many of these drip edges do not function properly. Thus, it is well known by
installers of
gutters or eaves troughs that there is almost inevitably some water leakage
between the
back wall of the gutter and the facia.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facia arrangement
wherein the
problem with an effective drip edge is obviated.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a facia system
wherein a
facia member has an adjustable height.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a facia system
which is
aesthetic and easily installed.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
facia
system comprising a first member and a second member. The first member has an
upper
section designed for securement to a roof, and a drip edge formed at an
extremity of the
upper section. A second lower section includes a generally vertically
extending portion,
the generally vertically extending portion having first cooperative locking
means
associated therewith. The second member comprises a facia member having second
cooperating locking means at an upper portion thereof, the first and second
cooperative
locking means being designed such that first cooperative locking means hold
the facia
member in position. The second member has a generally planer central portion
and an
inwardly extending flange arrangement at a bottom end of the generally planer
portion
which abut an adjoining soffit.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a
building having a roof structure including a plurality of sloping rafters
extending beyond
an adjacent wall structure and which sloping rafters terminate in a facia, and
wherein the
rafters are covered by a roofing material, the improvement comprising a facia
system, the
facia system comprising a first member and a second member, the first member
having an
upper section secured to the rafters under the roofing material; a drip edge
formed at an
extremity of the upper section; a second lower section which includes a
generally
vertically extending portion, the generally vertically extending portion
having first
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cooperative locking means thereon, the second member comprising a facia member
having second cooperative locking means at an upper portion thereof, the first
and second
cooperating locking members being engaged such that the facia member is held
in
position, the second member having a generally planar central portion; and an
inwardly
extending flange arrangement at a bottom end of the generally planar portion,
the inwardly
extending flange abutting an adjoining soffit.
The facia system of the present invention would typically be manufactured from
a
sheet metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy which can easily be formed
into
various configurations by known methods. However, it is also within the scope
of the
invention to use other materials such as a plastic material which could be
extruded or
otherwise formed into the desired configurations.
As aforementioned, the facia system includes a first member and a second
member,
the first member being secured to the building structure and being designed to
support the
second member in a desired position.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first member has an upper
section
which is designed for securement to the roof; the upper section would
conventionally be
secured to the top of the sheet material attached to the rafters - i.e.
plywood or other
composite products. The means of securing may be any conventional including
adhesives
and/or mechanical securement means such as nails and screws.
The upper section preferably includes a first portion which is secured to the
roof as
aforementioned and a second portion which will extend outwardly from the roof
edge and
which second portion is slightly angled with respect to the first portion. It
is the second
portion which will terminate in a drip edge.
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There is also provided a lower section which includes a generally vertically
extending portion designed to lie adjacent the facia's structure. The lower
section also
includes a portion extending between the drip edge and the vertically
extending portion.
In this respect, from the drip edge, there is preferably provided a segment
which extends
upwardly to thereby define the drip edge and which will then extend downwardly
to the
generally vertically extending portion.
The generally vertically extending portion will have a first cooperative
locking
means associated therewith. Although many such cooperative locking means can
be
envisaged, one of the simpler structures will include a formed hook and recess
engagement as will be discussed hereinbelow.
The second member is the portion which covers the facia. At the upper end, the
second member is provided with a second cooperative locking means designed to
engage
with the first cooperative locking means. Conveniently, as aforementioned,
this may be
provided by a plurality of hooks or projections extending outwardly from the
second
member and which are designed to engage within recesses or other supports of
the first
cooperative locking means. An advantage of such an arrangement is that they
may easily
be provided by conventional metal forming equipment well known in the art.
Preferably, the first and second cooperative locking means are adjustable with
respect to each other such that they may be engaged in different positions. By
so doing, a
arrangement is provided for differing facia heights.
The second member, as aforementioned, actually forms or covers the facia and
as
such, is substantially plainer in nature although certain embossing or spacing
projections
may be provided as will be discussed with respect to the preferred embodiment.
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At the lower end, the second member is provided with an inwardly extending
portion which is designed to abut the soffit structure of the building. In a
particularly
preferred arrangement, the lower portion of the second member is formed to
have a recess
at a lower extremity defined by the lower portion of the vertically extending
wall and the
inwardly extending portion. This recess may be utilised to accommodate a
tensioning
member which is secured to the roof structure and which engages the lower
portion of the
second member. To this end, the tensioning member will, as aforementioned, be
secured
to the roof structure and have a downwardly extending portion designed to seat
within the
aforesaid recess. Preferably, the tensioning member has a certain resilience
and to this
end, may be provided with a sinusoidal portion to provide the desired
resiliency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a facia and soffit arrangement employing the
facia
system of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the facia system of the present
invention
illustrating the mounting thereof on a portion of a structure;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the structural components of the
housing
structure being removed and showing the adjustability of the system.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the upper member of the facia system;
Figure 5 is a perspective view thereof;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the lower member of the facia system
according to the present invention;
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Figure 7 is a perspective view thereof;
Figure 8 is side elevational view of a tensioning member which can be utilised
in
the facia system of the present invention; and
Figure 9 is a perspective view thereof.
Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, the
facia system of the present invention is generally designated by reference
numeral 10 and
includes a first upper member designated by reference numeral 12 and which
will now be
referred to.
First upper member 12 includes a first upper section generally designated by
reference numeral 11 and which includes a planer portion 14 which is designed
to lie
adjacent to a roof structure R such as is employed in a conventional house. In
this respect,
it will be understood that under normal circumstances, planer portion 14 will
lie on the
roof under the shingles or other similar roof covering.
From planer portion 14, upper section 11 includes a downwardly inclined
portion 16 which is angled with respect to planar portion 14 and which
terminates in a
drip edge 18.
From drip edge 18, first upper member 12 has an upwardly and inwardly
extending
portion 20 which ensures the proper formation of the drip edge 18.
Subsequently, there is
provided a second downwardly inclined portion 22 which terminates in an outer
vertical
wall 24. The material forming first upper member 12 then is folded to have an
inner
vertical wall 26 which is formed with a plurality of recesses 28.
A second lower member generally designated by reference numeral 30 has an
upper portion 32 with a plurality of hook-shaped projections 34 formed
therein.
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Second lower member 30 also includes a main planer portion generally
designated
by reference numeral 36 and which has formed therein a plurality of spacer
projections 38.
At its lower end, second lower member 30 has an inwardly extending flange
portion
generally designated by reference numeral 40. Inwardly extending flange
portion 40 has a
first horizontal section 42 which joins an arcuately upwardly concave portion
44. There is
thus formed a cavity generally designed by reference numeral 45. At the end of
arcuate
section 44, there is provided a diagonally upwardly extending section 46 which
terminates
in a horizontal end portion 48.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is also provided a spacer and tensioning
member 50. Spacer and tensioning member 50 is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9
includes an
upper planer portion 52, and a sinuous section generally designated by
reference numeral
54 and which includes a plurality of arcuate sections in an overall S-shaped
configuration.
Sinuous section 54 terminates in a bottom section generally designated by
reference
numeral 56 and which is designed to seat within cavity 45.
In use, and referring to Figures 2 and 3, first member 12 is installed in a
position on
roof R with planar portion 14 being secured thereto by suitable means (not
shown). This
thus provides a drip edge 18 with vertical portions 24 and 26 lying parallel
to a facia
board F.
Spacer and tensioning member 50 may then be secured in the position to facia
board F and subsequently, second member 30 is hung in a position and supported
by first
member 12. In this regard, hook shaped projections 34 are engaged within
recesses 28 of
first member 12. Spacer and tensioning member 50 seats within cavity or a
pocket 45 of
second member 30 and maintains a tension on second member 30 to ensure hook
shaped
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projections 34 remain engaged within recesses 28. Inwardly extending flange
portion 40
is arranged to engage a soffit S and support one edge thereof. The other edge
of soffit S
is supported by a suitable supporting member 74 as is disclosed in U.S.
Application serial
number 10/797,830 published as Publication No. 2005/0223657.
As seen in Figure 3, the structure of the present invention provides for
adjustability as shown in the dashed and complete lines. Thus, a first member
12 may
assume different positions depending upon the particular engagement of
projections 34
with recesses 28.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of
illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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