Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Machine or implement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-29
2001-08-28
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Machine or implement
C052S749100, C052S282100, C052S461000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279290
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention concerns roof beams, especially for use in constructing conservatories and like structures having roofs comprising panels usually of translucent material supported between roof beams.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Translucent panels for conservatory roofs are generally sandwiched at their edges between upper and lower roof beam forming extrusions or cappings coupled to a glazing bar, usually of aluminum. To provide a good seal above and below the translucent panels, provisions are made for the roof beam to retain gaskets in suitable positions.
Upper roof beam forming extrusions or cappings may have gaskets formed integrally with panel contacting edges thereof and gaskets for the underside of the panels are usually retained in special formations of the aluminum glazing bars. These gaskets have to be fitted to the extrusions on site which takes up time. Also, the extrusions are more expensive to produce because of the additional gasket retaining formations required.
Furthermore, in order to retain the lower beam forming cappings, the aluminum glazing bars require further formations on which the lower beam cappings can locate.
In our co-pending British Patent Application No. 2275958A it was proposed to provide a roof beam construction for use in constructing conservatory roofs comprising a glazing bar and upper and lower cappings therefor having gaskets formed integrally on edges thereof between which a roofing panel is to be retained and means for locating the cappings on said glazing bar, wherein the means for locating the lower capping on the glazing bar comprises the integrally formed gaskets, which in use are trapped between the glazing bar and roofing panel.
The lower cappings are formed with either a flat base or with a base having a pair of angled longitudinal facets. For each type of capping the glazing bar, generally an inverted T in section, has its cross bar correspondingly shaped, i.e. either flat or with two angled facets. In forming Victorian style conservatories, both types of glazing bar will usually be used. The glazing bars with the flat base and corresponding cappings are usually used as transom bars extending from opposite sides of a ridge of the conservatory to the eaves and the angled base glazing bars with corresponding cappings are used for forming the Victorian roof end, which is formed with triangular section roofing panels. Thus, in forming a Victorian style conservatory, two different types of glazing bar and lower cappings are required, which adds to the cost. Furthermore, care has to be taken when erecting such a conservatory to ensure that glazing bars are installed in the correct positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of this invention is to provide a glazing bar for construction of roof beams for conservatories, which may have universal application for transom and Victorian situations as defined above.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a glazing bar for use in forming roof beams of conservatory roofs, the glazing bar being of generally inverted T-section having an, in use, upstanding limb to which an upper capping may be fixed, and a cross bar having a central section and edges, the edges being shaped to extend below the central section to form a recess in the underside of the cross bar.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the edges of the cross bar may be in the form of troughs extending below the central section of the cross bar. The troughs of the cross bar are preferably formed with outer side walls that also have inward returns. The side walls are preferably in planes parallel to the plane of the upstanding limb. The inward returns of the side walls preferably have arcuate top surfaces.
The overall height of the cross bar side walls may be chosen to receive transom and Victorian style lower cappings of the same or a similar depth, whilst the recess on the underside of the cross bar can accommodate the angled facets of the Victorian lower capping base. The glazing bars of the invention may also accommodate glazing panels at a variety of angles. Furthermore, as the same glazing bars may be used for transom situations and for roof end situations where glazing panels are angled relative to each other, it may be possible to use the same size top cappings on both rather than having to use a larger size top capping on the roof end glazing bars.
Where the cross bar recess is formed by continuations of side walls below the cross bar, these continuations may be shaped so as to provide means of engagement with cooperating formations of a lower capping for the glazing bar. Such engagements may comprise, for example, corresponding hook like formations or may comprise ribs that snap fit into channels. Such channels are preferably formed internally of the lower cappings.
Thus, with this type of formation for the cross bar, a capping having either a flat base or an angled facet base can be accommodated thereon, so that the need for two different formations of glazing bar can be eliminated. By having the top surfaces of the inward returns of the side walls arcuate or curved, integral gaskets on top edges of the capping can be accommodated irrespective of the angle of the co-extruded gasket.
The inward returns of the side walls preferably also have top surfaces that are profiled or roughened in order to provide improved grip for the capping on the underside of the cross bar especially for co-extruded gaskets on edges of cappings, which in use are sandwiched between the glazing bar and glazing panels.
Conveniently the troughs at each side of the glazing bar cross bar provide drainage channels for collecting and directing water which has penetrated the roof beam, so that it can run off via the roof eaves. To improve drainage further, it is preferred that the central section of the glazing bar cross bar be inclined downwards from each side of its junction with the upstanding limb, so that any water collected in the glazing bar can run into the troughs. As any fixings made between the glazing bar and other conservatory components at the ridge or eaves will generally be made in the central section, such as by way of screws or bolts, it is advantageous to have the extra drainage facility, so that water cannot collect around such fixings and cause corrosion.
For some situations, especially in large conservatory constructions, where glazing bars will be unsupported over a considerable length, there is a risk of them twisting.
A second object of the invention is to provide a glazing bar for construction of roof beams for conservatories which may have resistance to twisting forces, especially in unglazed condition, such as may be caused by uneven or eccentric loadings on opposite sides of a glazing bar.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a glazing bar for use in forming a conservatory roof beam, the glazing bar being of generally inverted T-section and having its upstanding limb in the form of a hollow section duct.
The cross bar of the glazing bar according to this aspect of the invention may be of a prior art type as described above or may be of a type as defined according to the first aspect of the invention.
The upstanding limb of the glazing bar of this aspect of the invention may be of any suitable cross section. One suitable cross section is a rectangular cross section but a tapered section either upwardly or downwardly, such as of a triangular cross section, may also be very suitable for the invention, especially in the form of an isosceles triangle either way up. A triangular section duct is believed to be advantageous in providing a self resolving shape for lateral forces.
Another type of glazing bar according to this aspect of the invention has two or more ducts, preferably spaced apart by single web stems. Preferably such ducts are of rectangular, especially square, section.
Generally the double web duct should be as small as possible without losing the advantage of strength. That is to facilitate extrus
Glessner Brian E.
Howell & Haferkamp LC
Kent Christopher T.
Ultraframe Plc of Enterprise Works
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