Roof edge seal and barrier devices and their manufacture

Abstract

The present invention is directed roof edge seal and barrier devices and their method of manufacture. A method of manufacturing a comb-like sealing strip for use as a roof edge seal or barrier comprises stamping or cutting an elongate strip of material along a sinuous path located between the edges of the strip and then separating the strip into two portions, each of which consists of a fixing edge corresponding to the edge of the original strip from which project a series of teeth or prongs forming a comb structure.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a comb-like sealing strip for use as a roof edge seal or barrier which comprises stamping or cutting an original elongated strip of material along a sinuous path located between the edges of the original elongated strip and then separating the original elongated strip along the sinuous path into two portions by pulling the two portions apart, wherein each of the two portions consists of a fixing edge corresponding to the edge of the original strip, a side portion extending a distance from the fixing edge, and a series of teeth or prongs extending from the side portion and forming a comb structure wherein each individual tooth or prong in the series of teeth or prongs is spaced apart such that a gap is present between each individual tooth or prong.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the original elongated strip is stamped or cut along a sinuous path that includes interruptions of unstamped or uncut material and separating the original elongated strip into the two portions by fracturing the interruptions as the two portions are pulled apart.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the original elongated strip is uncoiled prior to being stamped or cut and then re-coiled once the original elongated strip is stamped or cut.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein, during the separation of the original elongated strip along the sinuous path into two portions, the original elongated strip is passed through a folding or creasing mechanism which acts to provide a fold or crease in the side portion of one or both of the two portions at a location near or at where the series of teeth or prongs extends from the side portion.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of impressing dents or punching holes in the side portion of one or both of the two portions to act as a guide for nails.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising stamping or cutting a number of cuts or slots extending parallel to the edges of the original elongated strip, in order to facilitate folding or creasing one or both of the two portions.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the comb structure is provided with an overlay of flexible material across the gaps between each tooth or prong of the series of teeth or prongs to enable the comb structure to better resist penetration from small flying insects.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein, following the separation of the original elongated strip along the sinuous path into two portions, one or both of the two portions is passed through a folding or creasing mechanism which acts to provide a fold or crease in the side portion of one or both of the two portions at a location near or at where the series of teeth or prongs extends from the side portion.

9. A method of manufacturing a comb-like sealing strip for use as a roof edge seal or barrier which comprises punching a strip of material with a plurality of transverse slots and subsequently parting the strip to provide two strips, one or both having a comb-like set of teeth on it such that there is a gap between the individual teeth of the comb-like set of teeth and wherein the comb-like set of teeth is provided with an overlay of flexible material across the gaps between the individual teeth to enable the comb-like set of teeth to better resist penetration from small flying insects.

10. A method of manufacturing a comb-like sealing strip for use as a roof edge seal or barrier which comprises punching a plurality of transverse slots in a strip of material and subsequently removing one edge of the strip to produce a comb-like structure having a series of teeth spaced apart such that a gap is present between each tooth and wherein the transverse slots in the strip of material are sized and spaced such that in the comb-like structure, the series of teeth are disposed along a length of the comb-like structure such that the teeth occupy a larger portion of the length of the comb-like structure than the gaps between the teeth.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the comb-like structure is provided with an overlay of flexible material across the gaps present between each tooth in the series of teeth to enable the comb-like structure to better resist penetration from small flying insects.

12. The method according to claim 11 which includes applying a highly elastic fabric, netting or loosely flocked or felted material to one side of the comb-like structure or impaling such a material on the series of teeth of the comb-like structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the method of manufacture.

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an alternative method of manufacture.

(4) FIG. 3 shows how the manufactured product is installed.

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a further alternative.

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a separate further alternative approach.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Referring first to FIG. 1, this shows diagrammatically a section of a strip of material having two edges 1, 2 and which has been cut, for example, by punching along a sinuous line 3 using a suitable machine. The output of the machine can be chopped into appropriate lengths and the two sides of the strip 1 and 2 are then pulled apart to leave two separate comb-like units 4 and 5 shown at the right of the drawing.

(8) FIG. 2 shows an alternative approach where the sinuous punch line 3 is interrupted at three separate positions 6. These are shown at the left-hand side of FIG. 2 only. In addition, a series of slits or slots 7 are provided running along the strip. Slits 7 constitute an area of weakening enabling the side portions denoted 8 and 9 on the right-hand side of FIG. 2 to be bent relative to the plane of the teeth of the comb which is produced by separating the two sections with fracture of the small connecting areas along the lines 6. As can be seen on the right-hand side of FIG. 2, extending from each of the side members 8 and 9 is a set of prongs or teeth 10.

(9) FIG. 3 shows the installation of the units shown in FIG. 2 on the right-hand side below a corrugated roofing sheet 12. The side portion 9 is first bent relative to the prongs or teeth 10 and then fixed to the top of a wall 11. When the corrugated sheet 12 is placed on top, it depresses the prongs or teeth 10, to a maximum extent at the lowest portions of sheet 12, shown at 13 in the right-hand side of FIG. 3, and to a minimum extent at the top, denoted 14 on the right-hand side of FIG. 3.

(10) FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically a roll of material such as can be delivered to a site where the edge seal/barrier is to be installed. As can be seen, the strip rolled into a roll 16 has two edge portions 18 and 19, each of which has a series of punched slots in it at regular intervals denoted 20 which serve to enable a nail or like fixing to be inserted through the edge of the strip to hold it down against the top of a wall.

(11) The edge portions 18 and 19 may be bent up using an appropriate jig or die or an appropriate machine to a position as shown in the right-hand side of FIG. 4 and, at the same time, the strip can be bisected centrally to form two comb-like portions, each of which can then be used to form an edge seal/barrier in a roofing structure of the type described.

(12) In the alternative structure shown in FIG. 5, the roll 22 has a side region 18 with punched holes 20 in it as in the case of FIG. 4, but the opposite side of the strip is formed with a very narrow continuous portion 24 which may be cut or snapped off to leave the generally flat unit shown at 25 which, following bending, adopts the shape shown at 26. The unit denoted 26 can then be installed as described above.

(13) The rolls 16 and 22 may be made by taking a strip and passing it through a punching machine to provide the apertures, or a sinusoidal cut as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the strip then rolled up again for ease of transport. At the site, the strip can be unrolled, treated to provide a series of combs including cutting to the appropriate length by means of a simple shear, and bent using an appropriate jig or by passing the edges through a pair of opposed rollers to provide the desired angle profile.

(14) It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiment disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its various aspects.

(15) Throughout the specification and claims the use of the term comprise and its derivatives is intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the context determines otherwise.