Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cupola or skylight
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-03-06
Purol, David M. (Department: 3634)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cupola or skylight
C052S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195948
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to skylights and finds particular application to skylights installed on the top of enclosures such as a roof of a house or alternatively on the top of a solarium or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Skylights have become more and more popular with new homes or when renovating an older home. Skylights may be installed in the roof of a home or in a solarium, or a sunroom enclosure. When manufacturing skylights it is typical that they are made to fit a particular standard sized opening. The installer, (typically the roofer) for a replacement skylight, must therefore carefully measure the opening in which the skylight will be installed and provide the manufacturer with these dimensions. When creating the opening in a roof, it will be necessary to extend the opening down through an attic and ultimately into the room into which the light is desired. A tunnel therefore, must be formed between the room through the attic and adjacent to the opening in the roof. This tunnel is lined with drywall, or wooden boards, or the like. These boards or drywall extend up to near the roof line and must be accommodated with any skylight installation. In some instances, for example with a curb mount unit, unsightly pockets or steps are created which attract dust and insects. It would be advantageous to be able to make adjustments for manufacturing tolerances at the site, resulting in a better fit and finish of the installation. Heretofore a skylight assembly accommodating installation variations is unknown.
In order to install known skylight assemblies, the installer will insert the skylight into the opening and will be required to enter the home and climb a ladder to access the underside of the skylight to fasten it properly, for example a curb, to adjacent the tunnel area. Most installers are roofers, as window installers normally will not climb onto a roof.
It would be advantageous to provide a skylight assembly which may be installed from the roof only or from the tunnel area only. This will result in a significant amount of labour savings in retrofit installations or maintenance. It would also be advantageous to provide a standardized skylight assembly for retrofit installations which includes a predetermined latitude for adjustment by the installer.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a skylight assembly which will accommodate variations from installation to installation.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a skylight assembly which may be utilized for installation in a roof of a dwelling, or the same assembly may be utilized for installation in a solarium.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide standardized cross sections for skylight assemblies for various installations with a curb mount system, a curbless mounting system, and sunroom or solarium installation.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a standardized framing section for a skylight assembly which may be used with a curb installation, without a curb installation, and within the solarium by providing removable portions formed with the framing section.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a section which may be utilized to interconnect adjacent skylights and provide water shedding capabilities therefore.
Further and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the following summary of the invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a primary aspect of the invention there is provided a skylight for installation in an opening disposed in the top of an enclosure (such as a roof for a building, i.e. a dwelling, a solarium or the like), comprising framing sections adapted for installation adjacent the opening, said sections providing for variation in installations and accommodating on site adjustments when fastening and fitting the skylight within the opening of the enclosure, said framing sections being adapted to receive supplementary moldings adapted to friction fit with the framing section such as a quick connect and preferably snap on or clip on moldings which provide for variation in installation tolerances and cover any undesirably exposed portions of the enclosure, resulting from installation of said skylight, accommodating on site adjustments.
In one embodiment the moldings are generally “F” shaped in cross section preferably with one leg being trimmable at several positions along the leg to accommodate various thicknesses of drywall, wood or the like forming the tunnel within the enclosure adjacent said opening. In another embodiment the moldings are generally “L” shaped in cross section for abutting the aluminum sheeting proximate the bottom of a solarium ceiling, and at the same time covering any exposed rough edges of metal, foam, or insulation. In another embodiment the molding is generally “J” shaped in cross section and preferably includes a trimmable flange to allow for variation in thickness of drywall, wood or the like forming the tunnel within the enclosure adjacent said opening. The trimmable flanges for both the “F” and “J” shaped cross sectional moldings provide for adjustment to accommodate side to side and end to end variations from installation to installation. By providing with the “J” shaped molding a ⅛ inch adjustment, a total ¼ inch accommodation in side to side and end to end variations is available. Further the “F” shaped molding, can be trimmed to accommodate ½ inch drywall or up to 1 and ¼ inch planks located in the tunnel. This provides for side to side and end to end variations of 1 and ½ inches providing the installer with a lot of latitude.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a skylight assembly comprising a main frame for surrounding an opening in a top of an enclosure, such as a “roof” of a dwelling or solarium, said enclosure separating an interior space and an exterior, and having a top, said opening extending from the exterior into the interior space of the enclosure, said main frame including at least one main frame section having a top, a bottom, a first exterior side and a second interior side and two ends, said top of said section for receiving and securing a glass light in cooperation with a separate cap section preferably made of aluminum (in one embodiment said cap being general “F” shaped to avoid excessive loading on the glass while loading adjacent a seal), said bottom of said section for securing to adjacent the top of the enclosure adjacent the opening and in one embodiment to a curb formed adjacent the opening, preferably said top of said section including; a screw port for receiving a fastener, a glass receiving channel, an exterior condensate receiving channel located proximate the first exterior side, an interior condensate receiving channel located proximate the second interior side; preferably said main frame section having a flashing anchoring member disposed proximate the top thereof proximate the first exterior side and preferably a removable flashing portion disposed proximate the bottom of the first exterior side, said removable flashing portion being removed when the skylight is installed without a curb in a solarium, sundeck or the like (thus providing an aesthetically more pleasing installation), preferably the bottom of said frame section having a removable leg provided therewith extending downwardly away from said frame section for abutting one side of the drywall, wooden slats or the like within the tunnel forming the opening when the skylight is installed on a roof or the like, said leg being removable when the skylight is installed in for example a solarium, the main frame section also having a supplementary molding engaging portion disposed proximate the second interior side of the main frame section, and in one embodiment the supplementary molding engaging portion is disposed proximate the top thereof preferably when the frame secti
Hughes Ivor M.
Hughes Neil H.
Poly Lite Windows Ltd.
Purol David M.
Sarkis Marcelo K.
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