CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT AND A METHOD FOR WEATHER PROOFING A ROOF WINDOW ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A connector arrangement for a flashing assembly for use in a roof window arrangement is disclosed. It comprises a base connector element, an elevation element and a top connector element. Both connector elements have a gutter in their exterior side, and the gutter is open at one end so that water can drain out of it. An attachment section on the interior side of the base connector element is configured for being attached to a bracket used for connecting a roof window to a load-bearing structure, and the elevation element supports the top connector element so that it is positioned above the base connector element. In the mounted state the second end of the top connector element is arranged above the gutter of the base connector element and their length directions extend substantially in parallel to each other. A method for weather proofing a roof window arrangement is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A connector arrangement for a flashing assembly for use in a roof window arrangement, said connector arrangement comprising a base connector element configured for being arranged with an exterior side facing an exterior in a mounted state, an interior side opposite the exterior side, and a length direction of the base connector element extending from a first end towards a second end, where the exterior side comprises a base gutter with two longitudinal edges extending between the first and second ends, where the base gutter is open at the second end so that water can drain out of the base gutter, and where an attachment section on the interior side is configured for being attached to a bracket used for connecting a roof window to a load-bearing structure, the connector arrangement further comprises an elevation element and a top connector element, said elevation element is connected to the base connector element and supporting the top connector element so that the top connector element is positioned above the base connector element when seen in a height direction extending from the interior side towards the exterior side, said top connector element comprises a top gutter with two longitudinal edges extending between a first end and a second opposite open end, where a length direction of the top connector element extends from the first end towards the second opposite open end of said top connector, and when arranged on the elevation element, the top connector element is arranged with its second opposite open end above the gutter of the base connector element and with the length direction of the top connector element extending substantially in parallel to the length direction of the base connector element.

2. A connector arrangement according to claim 1, where the top connector element is displaceable in relation to the base connector element along the length direction of the base connector element.

3. A connector arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising a fixation mechanism for fixating the top connector element in relation to the elevation member and/or for fixating the elevation member in relation to the base connector element.

4. A connector arrangement according to claim 1, where the elevation member and the base connector element are formed as a single piece.

5. A connector arrangement according to claim 1, where the top connector element comprises a series of attachment sections adapted for use in the attachment of a flashing member to the top connector element.

6. A connector arrangement according to claim 1, where the top connector element comprises one or more weakenings and/or separation guides adapted for aiding in the removal of a part of the top connector element.

7. A method for weather proofing a roof window arrangement using a connector arrangement, said method comprising the following steps: A) attaching a base connector element to a bracket used for connecting a roof window to a load-bearing structure using an attachment section on an interior side of the base connector element so that an exterior side of the base connector element faces an exterior and so that an elevation element connected to or integrated with the base connector element projects from the base connector element in a height direction extending from the interior side towards the exterior side, where said base connector element has a length direction extending from a first end towards a second end, and said exterior side comprises a base gutter with two longitudinal edges extending between the first and second ends, and where the base gutter is open at the second end so that water can drain out of the base gutter, B) arranging a top connector element on the elevation element so that the top connector element is positioned above the base connector element when seen in the height direction, where said top connector element comprises a top gutter with two longitudinal edges extending between a first end and a second opposite open end, where a length direction of the top connector element extends from the first end towards the second opposite open end of said top connector, and so that the top connector element is arranged with the second opposite open end above the gutter of the base connector element and with the length direction of the top connector element extending substantially in parallel to a length direction of the base connector element, C) attaching two cover or flashing members of a flashing assembly to the base connector element so that an edge of each cover or flashing member extends along a longitudinal edge of the base gutter, and D) attaching two cover or flashing members of a flashing assembly to the top connector element so that an edge of each cover or flashing member extends along a longitudinal edge of the top gutter.

8. The method according to claim 7, where, during step B) the top connector element is displaced in the length direction in relation to the elevation element.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: E) removing a part of the top connector element, step E) being performed before or during step B).

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: F) fixating the top connector element in relation to the elevation element, step F) being performed before or during step B).

11. The connector arrangement according to claim 2, where the elevation member and the base connector element are formed as a single piece.

12. The connector arrangement according to claim 3, where the elevation member and the base connector element are formed as a single piece.

13. The connector arrangement according to claim 2, where the top connector element comprises a series of attachment sections adapted for use in the attachment of a flashing member to the top connector element.

14. The connector arrangement according to claim 3, where the top connector element comprises a series of attachment sections adapted for use in the attachment of a flashing member to the top connector element.

15. The connector arrangement according to claim 4, where the top connector element comprises a series of attachment sections adapted for use in the attachment of a flashing member to the top connector element.

16. The connector arrangement according to claim 2, where the top connector element comprises one or more weakenings and/or separation guides adapted for aiding in the removal of a part of the top connector element.

17. The connector arrangement according to claim 3, where the top connector element comprises one or more weakenings and/or separation guides adapted for aiding in the removal of a part of the top connector element.

18. The connector arrangement according to claim 4, where the top connector element comprises one or more weakenings and/or separation guides adapted for aiding in the removal of a part of the top connector element.

19. The connector arrangement according to claim 5, where the top connector element comprises one or more weakenings and/or separation guides adapted for aiding in the removal of a part of the top connector element.

20. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: E) fixating the top connector element in relation to the elevation element, step E) being performed before or during step B).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] In the following description embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the schematic drawings, in which

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof window arrangement including two roof windows installed side by side with parts of the flashing assembly removed;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the detail marked II in FIG. 1 with parts of the flashing assembly removed,

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector arrangement used in FIG. 2 seen from the exterior,

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector arrangement used in FIG. 2 seen from the interior,

[0028] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view along the line V-V in FIG. 1,

[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view along the line VI-VI in FIG. 1,

[0030] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top connector element of FIGS. 3 and 4 seen from the exterior,

[0031] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the top connector element of FIGS. 3 and 4 seen from the interior,

[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the base connector element and elevation element of FIGS. 3 and 4 seen from the exterior,

[0033] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the base connector element and elevation element of FIGS. 3 and 4 seen from the interior,

[0034] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the top connector element seen from the exterior side, and

[0035] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the top connector element in FIG. 11 seen from the interior side.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a roof window arrangement 1 including two roof windows 2 installed side by side on an upstand 31 forming part of a roof structure 32 and adjacent to a wall 33. The joints between the roof windows and the upstand and the wall are covered by a flashing assembly 4 comprising a plurality of cover and flashing members, where the cover members cover the joints between flashing members and the roof windows. In FIG. 1 only the cover and flashing members 41-45 used at the top of the roof window arrangement are shown, but it is to be understood that the sides and bottoms of the two roof windows will also be covered in the finished state of the roof window arrangement. The joints between windows are covered by cladding members 5.

[0037] The detail marked II in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2 with the top corner flashing member 41, top corner cover member 42, and side flashing member 43 removed, so that the connector arrangement 6 used for attaching and interconnecting the top cover and flashing members is exposed. The connector arrangement 6 is shown alone in FIGS. 3 and 4 and a cross-sectional view along the centre line of an identical connector arrangement is shown in FIG. 5.

[0038] The connector arrangement 6 comprises a base connector element 61 with an integrated elevation element 62 and a top connector element 63 attached to the elevation element. The base connector element 61 is attached to a mounted bracket assembly 21 used for connecting the frame 22 of the roof window to a beam 34 attached to the wall 33. The base connector element 61 lacking the elevation element 62 is similar to the connector element 6 disclosed in the co-pending European patent application no. EP3680416A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 11,002,016, the description of which in U.S. Pat. No. 11,002,016 is hereby incorporated by reference, and its attachment to the mounting bracket will therefore not be described in further detail here.

[0039] As is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, both connector elements 61, 63 have a gutter 611, 631 in their exterior sides, each of said gutters being delimited by two longitudinal edges 612, 632 extending a length direction L between a first end 613, 633 and an opposite second end 614, 634, where the gutter is open so that water can drain out of the gutter. In this case the length directions of the two connector elements 61, 63 extend in parallel and they thus share a common length direction L. In the mounted state the connector elements are both arranged with a slight inclination towards the second end, said inclination corresponding substantially to the slope of the roof windows, i.e. to the inclination of the panes 23 of the roof windows in the mounted state.

[0040] By being arranged on the elevation element 62, the top connector element 63 is positioned above the base connector element 61 when seen in a height direction H extending from the interior side towards the exterior side.

[0041] Referring now also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the top connector element 63 is used for attachment and interconnection of the top flashing member 44 and the top corner flashing members 41. In this embodiment a bent edge 441 of the top flashing member 44 projects into the top gutter 631 and the top corner flashing members 41 overlaps both the top connector element 63 and a section of the top flashing member 44. By passing a screw or like fastener (not shown) through the opening 411 in the top corner flashing members 41 and into a reception section 635 of the top connector element 63, the top corner flashing members 41 is attached to the top connector element 63 and the top flashing member 44 is fixated by being clamped between them. In the same way, the base connector element 61 is used for attachment and interconnection of the top cover member 45 and the top corner cover members 42, by the top cover member 45 being provided with a bent edge 451 projecting into the base gutter 611 and the top corner cover members 42 having an opening 421 for receiving a fastener directly above a reception section 615 of the base connector element 61.

[0042] In this embodiment the top connector element 63 is provided with a wall section 636 extending perpendicular from the longitudinal edge 632 as is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. This wall section matches an indentation 4411 in the bent edge 441 of the top flashing member 44 as seen in FIG. 5 and thus prevents the top flashing member from moving in the length direction in relation to the top connector element.

[0043] Any water penetrating through the joint between the top cover member 45 and the top corner cover members 42 or through the opening 421 or condensing on the interior side of the flashing assembly at the joint will be caught in the base gutter 611. Likewise, water penetrating or condensing at the joint between the top corner flashing members 41 and the top flashing member 44 will be caught in the top gutter 631. As best seen in FIG. 5, water draining out of the top gutter 631 will drip onto the cover members 42, 45 from where it can be let drained off. In this embodiment, the top flashing member 44 is provided with a small drainage opening 46 at the overlap with the top corner flashing member 41, said drainage opening 46 allowing water to exit the space 47 formed between the top flashing member 44 and the top cover member 45 underneath the section of the top connector element 63, which extends from the elevation element 62 to the second end. It is, however also possible to make the top flashing member without the section 442 extending along the exterior surface of the top cover member 45 and with a free edge (no shown) of the inwards section 443 ending slightly the exterior surface of the top cover member so that water may pass underneath the free edge.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 the exterior surface 331 of the wall 33 is substantially vertical and the exterior surface of the panes 23 of the roof windows slope with an angle A of 5 degrees in relation to the horizontal plane. This means that the mutual angle B between the roof window slope and the surface of the wall is 95 degrees.

[0045] If the mutual angle B between the roof window slope and the surface of the wall becomes larger, the centre part 211 of the mounting bracket assembly 21 and hence the entire connector arrangement 6 will turn about the joint 212 of the mounting bracket assembly which is seen in FIG. 2. This will result in the distance between the elevation element 62 and the wall 33 becoming larger. To compensate for this, the top connector element 63 is displaceable in relation to the elevation element 62 in the length direction L.

[0046] In this embodiment this is achieved by the top connector element 63 being provided with a toothed rack 637 extending in the length direction along each side of the top gutter 631 as is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 7 and the elevation element 62 being provided with a tooth 622 on a projection 621 as is best seen in FIG. 10. In the mounted state of the connector arrangement 6, which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top connector element is arranged on the elevation element with each toothed rack extending between a projection 621 and an exterior surface 623 of the elevation element. The teeth 622 on the two sides of the elevation element mate with the tooted racks and thus retain the top connector element at two points, one on each side of the top connector element. The projections 621 on the elevation element are preferably slightly elastic so that they may be forced away from the exterior surface 623 and allow an intentional movement of the toothed racks 637 in the length direction. While only one tooth is shown on each projection 621, it is to be understood that each projection may comprise more than one, and the use of other means for engagement between the elevation element and the top connector element, such as a hook-and-loop type fastener like Velcro, or the use of friction, is also envisaged.

[0047] A second embodiment of the top connector element 63 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The same reference numbers will be used in these figures as in the other figures for features having the same function, even though they may not be identical.

[0048] The top connector element 63 in FIGS. 11 and 12 is considerably longer than the one in FIGS. 2-7 and configured for being shortened depending on the mutual angle B between the roof window slope and the surface of the wall. For this purpose, it is provided with a series of reception sections 635, 635′ along the top gutter 631 and with a series of weakenings 638 on the interior side as shown in FIG. 12.

[0049] The weaknings 638 allow the top connector element 63 to be shortened depending on the installation situation, either by breaking it by hand or by using a tool for breaking or cutting it along a weakening. In this case the weakenings are line-shaped, but it might also be a series of holes or depressions. Alternatively, the weakenings may be replaced with separation guides, such as cutting-indications, for example in the form of printed lines.

[0050] Angle indications 639 indicating respective roof window slope angles are provided at each weakening. Here the angle indications are in the form of number indicating the roof window slope, but other types of indications, such as colour codes, may also be used.

[0051] When the top connector element 63 has been shortened, the part of the top connector element located at the right-hand side in FIG. 11 is used as described with reference to FIGS. 1-9 above while the part at the left-hand side in FIG. 11 is discharged. When shortened for use with a 5 degrees roof window slope, the top connector element 63 will look as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 where only two reception sections 635, 635′ are left. If shortened for use with a larger roof window slope, several of the reception section marked 635′ will be left, but only one or two of them will be used depending on the total remaining length of the top connector element and the need for securing the top flashing member(s) 44 and/or top corner flashing member 41.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0052] 1 roof window arrangement [0053] 2 roof window [0054] 21 mounted bracket assembly [0055] 211 centre part [0056] 212 joint [0057] 22 frame [0058] 23 pane [0059] 31 upstand [0060] 32 roof structure [0061] 33 wall [0062] 331 exterior surface [0063] 34 beam [0064] 4 flashing assembly [0065] 41 top corner flashing member [0066] 411 opening [0067] 42 top corner cover member [0068] 421 opening [0069] 43 side flashing member [0070] 44 top flashing member [0071] 441 bent edge [0072] 4411 indentation [0073] 442 section extending along exterior surface [0074] 443 inwards section [0075] 45 top cover member [0076] 451 bent edge [0077] 46 drainage opening [0078] 47 space [0079] 5 cladding members [0080] 6 connector arrangement [0081] 61 base connector element [0082] 611 gutter [0083] 612 longitudinal edge [0084] 613 first end [0085] 614 second end [0086] 615 reception section [0087] 62 elevation element [0088] 621 projection [0089] 622 tooth [0090] 623 exterior surface [0091] 63 top connector element [0092] 631 gutter [0093] 632 longitudinal edge [0094] 633 first end [0095] 634 second end [0096] 635 reception section [0097] 635′ reception section [0098] 636 wall section [0099] 637 toothed rack [0100] 638 weakening [0101] 639 angle indication [0102] A roof window slope angle [0103] B mutual angle between the roof window slope and surface of wall [0104] H height direction [0105] L length direction