Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cupola or skylight
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-24
2001-07-24
Callo, Laura A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cupola or skylight
C052S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to skylights, for example, of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,006, No. 4,549,379 and No. 4,823,525 which are owned by the assignee of the present invention, and the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. In such skylights, it is common to construct a wood rectangular frame-like curb which projects upwardly from a sloping roof deck. The curb may also be constructed by vacuum-forming a sheet of thermoplastics material with an outwardly projecting integral peripheral flange or flashing portion, such as disclosed in connection with
FIG. 3
of above U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,379. A skylight unit is mounted on the curb and commonly includes one or more spaced flat panes of glass surrounded by a rectangular aluminum trim frame, and sealant strips are used between the lower glass pane and the supporting surface of the curb and also between the glass panes and the surrounding trim frame. The skylight unit may also be constructed of one or more panes of transparent plastics material, and the panes may be dome-shaped with the upper or outer pane including an integral depending skirt which surrounds the curb unit, as also disclosed in above U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,379.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved skylight assembly which is leakproof and provides for different levels of thermal insulation in addition to being economical in construction and easy to install on a roof deck of a building or other cover after an opening is cut or formed within the roof deck or cover. The skylight assembly of the invention also provides for the optional use of step flashing and eliminates any joints or connections where air or moisture may seep from the outside into the room below the skylight. In accordance with the invention, a one-piece sheet of transparent plastic material, such as polycarbonate, is vacuum-formed to provide an inner pane or glazing and a surrounding planar flange or flashing which are integrally connected by curb portion of the sheet. In one embodiment, the curb portion has a stepped cross-sectional configuration and provides for supporting either a glass top pane or glazing or one or more sheets of transparent plastics material which may be vacuum-formed to define a plurality of sealed air chambers between the sheets. In another embodiment, a top pane or glazing is formed by the sheet, and one or more inner panes may be formed by separate sheets of the plastics material.
An extruded aluminum trim strip surrounds the curb portion of the vacuum-formed one-piece sheet and at least one glazing panel. Strips of rigid foam insulation material may be bonded to inner surfaces of the curb portion, and inner wood trim strips may be bonded to the foam insulation strips. In the one embodiment, the upper edge surfaces of the wood trim strips are attached by sealant strips to the step portion of the inner sheet, and strips of adhesive sealant material bond the step portion of the inner sheet to the glazing sheets. The inner wood trim strips are also provided with grooves for receiving sheets of drywall which define the view opening for the skylight assembly.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2918023 (1959-12-01), Bettcher
patent: 3127699 (1964-04-01), Wasserman
patent: 3350823 (1967-11-01), Murray
patent: 4296578 (1981-10-01), Keckman
patent: 4344261 (1982-08-01), Weisner et al.
patent: 4408422 (1983-10-01), Bechtold
patent: 4548006 (1985-10-01), Roberts, Sr.
patent: 4549379 (1985-10-01), Hoy et al.
patent: 4776141 (1988-10-01), Powell
patent: 4823525 (1989-04-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 4825608 (1989-05-01), Makin
patent: 4896468 (1990-01-01), Sampson et al.
patent: 4972638 (1990-11-01), Minter
patent: 5062247 (1991-11-01), Dittmer
patent: 5299396 (1994-04-01), Raap et al.
patent: 5323576 (1994-06-01), Gumpert et al.
patent: 6052956 (2000-04-01), Hoy et al.
patent: 689527 (1964-06-01), None
patent: 315248 (1956-08-01), None
patent: 35133 (1965-07-01), None
“Consolite, Easier to Install on any Roof”, Consolidated General Products, Inc., Architecture Record, p. 63, Jan. 1958.
Hoy W. Douglas
Hoy Walter S.
Callo Laura A.
Fox Lite, Inc.
Jacox Meckstroth & Jenkins
LandOfFree
Skylight assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Skylight assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Skylight assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2498782