System for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction

Abstract

A system for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction includes a roof batten, an S-shaped bracket defining a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion, a sealing plate and two glass roof tiles arranged side by side along a first longitudinal direction defined by the roof batten. The first U-shaped portion of the bracket is clamped onto the roof batten and retained in relation thereto solely by means of friction and gravity. An end portion of the sealing plate and a lower end portion of each of the glass roof tiles are snugly fit into the second U-shaped portion of the bracket. The glass roof tiles can be mounted on the roof construction in an easy and fast manner without the use of fastening means or tools.

Claims

1. A system for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction, the system comprising: a roof batten extending along a first longitudinal direction, a S-shaped bracket defining a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion, a sealing plate extending along a second longitudinal direction being transverse to the first longitudinal direction, and two glass roof tiles arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, wherein the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket is clamped onto the roof batten and retained in relation thereto solely by means of friction and gravity, and in that an end portion of the sealing plate and a lower end portion of each of the two glass roof tiles are snugly fit into the second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket, such that the S-shaped bracket and the sealing plate overlap the respective lower end portions of the two glass roof tiles when the two glass roof tiles are arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, and such that the sealing plate and the two glass roof tiles are retained in relation to the S-shaped bracket solely by means of friction and gravity; wherein the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket is defined by two mutually spaced wall sections and a connecting section interconnecting the wall sections, and wherein each of the wall sections has a height not exceeding the height of the roof batten, so that each of the wall sections is in abutment with the roof batten along an entire height of the respective wall section.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two glass roof tiles is or comprises a photovoltaic element.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing plate has one or more sealing members mounted thereon.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the one or more sealing members mounted on the sealing plate comprises a first sealing member arranged in contact with a first of the two glass roof tiles, a second sealing member arranged in contact with a second of the two glass roof tiles, and a third sealing member arranged in contact with both of the two glass roof tiles.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sealing members is releasably fixed to the sealing plate.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing plate defines at least one resilient surface portion.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two glass roof tiles are arranged in a first row, the system further comprising a third glass roof tile of a second row, wherein an upper end portion of the third glass roof tile overlaps the roof batten, and wherein the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket defines an inner dimension, and wherein the sum of the thickness the third glass roof tile and the thickness of the roof batten are dimensioned to securely retain the S-shaped bracket in relation to the roof batten and the third roof tile solely by means of friction and gravity when the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket is clamped onto the roof batten and the upper end portion of the third glass roof tile.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket defines an inner dimension, and wherein a sum of a thickness of each glass roof tile and the thickness of the sealing plate is larger than the inner dimension of the second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the S-shaped bracket has an extent in the second longitudinal direction not exceeding a height of the roof batten by more than 10%.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket and second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket are composed of planar and mutually perpendicular sections.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing plate is rectangular when seen in a planar projection onto a surface of the roof defined by the roof tiles, with no elements, parts or portions of the sealing plate extending beyond the S-shaped bracket when seen in the longitudinal direction of the roof batten in said planar projection.

12. A system for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction, the system comprising: a roof batten extending along a first longitudinal direction, a S-shaped bracket defining a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion, a sealing plate extending along a second longitudinal direction being transverse to the first longitudinal direction, and two glass roof tiles arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, wherein the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket is clamped onto the roof batten and retained in relation thereto solely by means of friction and gravity, and in that an end portion of the sealing plate and a lower end portion of each of the two glass roof tiles are snugly fit into the second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket, such that the S-shaped bracket and the sealing plate overlap the respective lower end portions of the two glass roof tiles when the two glass roof tiles are arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, and such that the sealing plate and the two glass roof tiles are retained in relation to the S-shaped bracket solely by means of friction and gravity; wherein the second U-shaped portion rests on an upwardly facing surface of the roof batten.

13. A system for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction, the system comprising: a roof batten extending along a first longitudinal direction, an S-shaped bracket defining a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion, a sealing plate extending along a second longitudinal direction being transverse to the first longitudinal direction, and two glass roof tiles arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, wherein the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket is clamped onto the roof batten and retained in relation thereto solely by means of friction and gravity, and in that an end portion of the sealing plate and a lower end portion of each of the two glass roof tiles are snugly fit into the second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket, such that the S-shaped bracket and the sealing plate overlap the respective lower end portions of the two glass roof tiles when the two glass roof tiles are arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, and such that the sealing plate and the two glass roof tiles are retained in relation to the S-shaped bracket solely by means of friction and gravity; wherein the S-shaped bracket has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the roof batten which is at least equal to half of a width of the sealing plate.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two glass roof tiles define a substantially planar roof surface extending parallel to the second longitudinal direction, and wherein the sealing plate comprises an extruded profile extending parallel to the roof surface.

15. A method for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction, the method comprising the steps of: providing a roof batten extending along a first longitudinal direction, providing a S-shaped bracket defining a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion, mounting the S-shaped bracket on the roof batten by clamping the first U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket onto the roof batten, thereby retaining the S-shaped bracket in relation to the roof batten solely by means of friction and gravity, and mounting a sealing plate and two glass roof tiles on the S-shaped bracket by snugly fitting an end portion of the sealing plate and a lower end portion of each of the two glass roof tiles into the second U-shaped portion of the S-shaped bracket, such that the two glass roof tiles are arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction, and such that the S-shaped bracket and the sealing plate overlap the respective lower end portions of the two glass roof tiles, thereby retaining the sealing plate and the two glass roof tiles in relation to the S-shaped bracket solely by means of friction and gravity; wherein the first U-shaped portion of the bracket is defined by two mutually spaced wall sections and a connecting section interconnecting the wall sections, and wherein each of the wall sections has a height not exceeding the height of the roof batten, so that each of the wall sections is in abutment with the roof batten along an entire height of the respective wall section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an S-shaped bracket for a system according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from two different directions,

(3) FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a sealing plate for a system according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from two different directions,

(4) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the bracket of FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the sealing plate of FIGS. 3 and 4,

(6) FIG. 7 is a detail of the sealing plate of FIG. 6 with a sealing member mounted thereon, and

(7) FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an S-shaped bracket 1 for a system according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from two directions. The bracket 1 comprises a first U-shaped portion 2 and a second U-shaped portion 3. The open ends of the U-shaped portions 2, 3 face in opposite directions, and thereby the two U-shaped portions 2, 3 form the S-shape of the bracket 1.

(9) It can be seen that the space available inside the first U-shaped portion 2 is significantly larger than the space available inside the second U-shaped portion 3. Accordingly, larger items can be accommodated within the first U-shaped portion 2 than within the second U-shaped portion 3.

(10) FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a sealing plate 4 for a system according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from two directions. The sealing plate 4 extends along a longitudinal direction, indicated by arrow 5. Thus, the dimension of the sealing plate 4 along the longitudinal direction 5 is significantly larger than the dimension of the sealing plate 4 along any other direction. The sealing plate 4 is made from a rigid material, e.g. aluminium or a hard plastic material.

(11) The sealing plate 4 has a profile which defines three recesses 6 formed in one of the surfaces of the sealing plate 4. The recesses 6 extend parallel to the longitudinal direction 5 and in the entire length of the sealing plate 4. A resilient sealing member 7 is mounted in each of the recesses 6. The sealing members 7 are made from a material which is softer, and thereby more resilient, than the material of the sealing plate 4, e.g. rubber or a soft plastic material. This allows the sealing members 7 to provide sealing towards another part arranged in contact with the sealing members 7. Furthermore, the sealing members 7 may be compressed, and thereby a force which seeks to restore the shape of the sealing members 7 may contribute to retaining the sealing plate 4, and possibly other parts arranged in contact with the sealing plate 4. This will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

(12) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the bracket 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The first U-shaped portion 2 and the second U-shaped portion 3 can be clearly seen.

(13) FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the sealing plate 4 of FIGS. 3 and 4, without the sealing members mounted thereon. The recesses 6 can be clearly seen. It can further be seen that each of the recesses 6 is provided with protruding portions 8 which are configured to retain a sealing member in the recess 6.

(14) FIG. 7 shows a detail of the sealing plate 4 of FIG. 6, illustrating one of the recesses 6 with a sealing member 7 mounted therein. It can be seen that the protruding portions 8 engage corresponding recesses 9 formed in the sealing member 7, thereby retaining the sealing member 7 in the recess 6.

(15) FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of a system 10 according to an embodiment of the invention for mounting glass roof tiles on a roof construction. The system 10 comprises a roof batten 11, an S-shaped bracket 1, a sealing plate 4 and two glass roof tiles 12, one of which is shown. The glass roof tiles 12 could, e.g., be in the form of or comprise photovoltaic elements.

(16) The roof batten 11 extends along a first longitudinal direction, illustrated by arrow 13. The first longitudinal direction 13 may advantageously be substantially horizontal and/or substantially parallel to the ground.

(17) The S-shaped bracket 1 comprises a first U-shaped portion 2 and a second U-shaped portion 3. The bracket 1 may, e.g., be the bracket 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

(18) The sealing plate 4 extends along a second longitudinal direction, illustrated by arrow 5. The second longitudinal direction 5 is transverse to the first longitudinal direction 13, i.e. the sealing plate 4 extends transversely to the roof batten 11. The sealing plate 4 further has three sealing members 7 mounted thereon, two of which are shown. The third sealing member 7 is arranged between the sealing plate 4 and the glass roof tile 12, and thereby in sealing contact with the glass roof tile 12. The sealing plate 4 may, e.g., be the sealing plate 4 illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7.

(19) The first U-shaped portion 2 of the bracket 1 is clamped onto the roof batten 11, i.e. a portion of the roof batten 11 is arranged in the first U-shaped portion 2 of the bracket 1. Thereby the bracket 1 is retained in relation to the roof batten 11 solely by means of friction and gravity, i.e. no additional fastening means, such as screws, are required in order to retain the bracket 1 relative to the roof batten 11.

(20) An end portion of the sealing plate 4 and a lower end portion of the glass roof tile 12 are snugly fit into the second U-shaped portion 3 of the bracket 1. Normally, an additional glass roof tile will be positioned with a lower end portion in the second U-shaped portion 3 of the bracket 1 in such a manner that the glass roof tiles 12 are arranged side by side along the first longitudinal direction 13. However, in FIGS. 8 and 9 the additional glass roof tile has been removed in order to reveal details of the sealing plate 4.

(21) Thereby the bracket 1 as well as the sealing plate 4 overlaps the respective lower end portions of the glass roof tiles 12, and the bracket 1 as well as the sealing plate 4 bridges the region where the two glass roof tiles 12 abut. Furthermore, the bracket 1 as well as the sealing plate 4 is arranged in contact with both of the glass roof tiles 12.

(22) The sealing members 7 are arranged in such a manner that a first sealing member 7 is arranged in contact with only a first of the glass roof tiles 12, a second sealing member 7 is arranged in contact with only a second of the glass roof tiles 12, and a third sealing member 7 is arranged in the region where the two glass roof tiles 12 abut, and thereby in contact with both of the glass roof tiles 12. Thereby appropriate sealing is provided between the glass roof tiles 12 and the sealing plate 4.

(23) When inserting the sealing plate 4 and the glass roof tiles 12 into the second U-shaped portion 3 of the bracket 1, the sealing members 7 are compressed in order to allow the sealing plate 4 and the glass roof tiles 12 to move relative to the bracket 1. Once the sealing plate 4 and the glass roof tiles 12 are in position, the pressure on the sealing members 7 is released, and they will seek to restore their original shape. Thereby the sealing plate 4 and the glass roof tiles 12 are retained firmly in relation to the bracket 1 solely by means of friction and gravity. Since both of the glass roof tiles 12 are retained by the bracket 1, due to the bracket 1 and the sealing plate 4 bridging the region where the glass roof tiles 12 abut, a correct relative position of the sealing plate 4 and the two glass roof tiles 12 is obtained in an easy and convenient manner.

(24) In summary, the bracket 1 is retained in relation to the roof batten 11 and the glass roof tiles 12 are retained in relation to the bracket 1, solely by means of friction and gravity. Accordingly, the glass roof tiles 12 are retained in relation to the roof batten 12 solely by means of friction and gravity, i.e. without the need for additional fastening means, such as screws. This allows the glass roof tiles 12 to be mounted on the roof construction in an easy, fast and convenient manner, possibly without the use of tools.

(25) In FIG. 9 an additional roof batten 11a and an additional bracket 1a are shown. The additional bracket 1a is clamped onto the additional roof batten 11a in the same manner in which the bracket 1 is clamped onto the roof batten 11, i.e. as described above. It can be seen that the sealing plate 4 and the glass roof tile 12 are arranged in the first U-shaped portion 2a of the additional bracket 1a. An additional sealing plate and two additional glass roof tiles can be inserted into the second U-shaped portion 3a of the additional bracket 1a, in the manner described above. These additional glass roof tiles will then form part of another row of glass roof tiles arranged above the glass roof tile illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Similarly, glass roof tiles arranged in a lower row of glass roof tiles may be inserted into the first U-shaped portion 2 of the bracket 1 along with the roof batten 11.

(26) The first U-shaped portion 2 of the bracket 1 is defined by two mutually spaced wall sections 2A and a connecting section 2B interconnecting the wall sections 2A. Each of the wall sections 2A has a height Y1 (see FIG. 1) not exceeding the height Y2 (FIG. 8) of the roof batten 11, so that each of the wall sections 2A is in abutment with the roof batten 11 along the entire height Y1) of the respective wall section 2A.

(27) The bracket 1 preferably has an extent X1 (FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction of the roof batten 11 which is at least equal to half of the width X2 (FIG. 3) of the sealing plate.