Abstract
A roof, wall or faade structure suitable for new flat or pitched roofs, or renovation or reconstruction thereof, to a kit of parts for constructing, reconstructing or renovating a roof, wall or faade structure and a method for constructing or reconstructing a roof, wall or faade structure.
Claims
1. A roof, wall or faade structure comprising: a retaining element having a head section for engaging and holding at least one building sheet of a roof, wall or faade, a base section spaced from the head section, and a connecting member fixedly connecting the head section and the base section, and a supporting rail comprising a first profile section for detachably receiving and holding the base section of the retaining element and a second profile section, wherein the base section, when positioned in the first profile section is rotatable relative to the supporting rail around the axis perpendicular to the supporting rail between a first position at which the base section is freely detachable from the first profile section of the supporting rail and a second position at which the base section is secured in the first profile section of the supporting rail, the rotation enabling the alignment of the longitudinal axis of the head section of the retaining element with the flanged edges of the building sheet, and a mounting element comprising a head portion for receiving and holding the second profile section of the supporting rail, a foot portion spaced from the head portion for mounting the mounting element on a roof, wall or faade substructure and a connecting portion connecting the foot portion and the head portion, wherein the supporting rail is rotatable around its longitudinal axis when held by the head portion of the mounting element to enable alignment of the longitudinal axis of the elongate head section of the retaining element with the inclination of the wall, roof or faade.
2. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim wherein the head section of the retaining element is elongate for engaging at least one building sheet of a standing seam roof, wall or faade, by flanging a free end of the building sheet over the elongate head section.
3. The standing seam roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein the head section of the retaining element is elongate for engaging at least one building sheet of a standing seam roof, wall or faade, by flanging a free end of the building sheet over the elongate head section, a base section spaced from the elongate head section, and a connecting member fixedly connecting the elongate head section and the base section.
4. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element is moveable in the longitudinal direction of the first profile section to adjust the position of the retaining element with respect to the free end of the building sheet.
5. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 2 comprising one or more retaining elements wherein the elongate head section comprises a middle section and two dome-shaped end sections.
6. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 2 comprising one or more retaining elements wherein the elongate head section comprises a middle section and two dome-shaped end sections, and wherein the diameter of the middle section is not constant.
7. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, comprising one or more mounting elements wherein the length of the connecting portion of the mounting elements is variable to allow the distance between the head portion and the foot portion to be adapted to a desired distance when constructing the roof, wall or faade structure, and wherein the length of the connecting portion is fixable to keep the desired distance between the head portion and the foot portion after construction.
8. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 7 comprising one or more mounting elements wherein the connecting portion of the mounting elements comprises a telescoping section, wherein one part of the telescoping section is fixedly attached to the head portion, and wherein another part of the telescoping section is fixedly attached to the foot portion.
9. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1 wherein the retaining element is fixedly connected to the supporting rail in the second position.
10. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, comprising one or more retaining elements produced by die-casting.
11. The roof, wall or faade structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising one or more retaining elements consisting of die-cast metal, such as zinc or a zinc alloy, or a suitable polymer such as polyamide or glass-fibre reinforced polyamide.
12. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1 wherein one or more of the mounting elements D comprise a tubular connecting portion, a head portion releasably fixed thereto on one end, and a foot portion releasably fixed thereto on the other end.
13. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein the supporting rail and/or the mounting element comprise metal or a polymer.
14. The kit of parts for constructing or reconstructing a roof, wall or faade structure comprising one or more retaining elements, one or more supporting rails and one or more mounting elements the retaining elements, supporting rails and mounting elements being according to any one of claim 1, the kit of parts optionally also comprising one or more building sheets for forming a roof, wall or faade.
15. The method of constructing or reconstructing a roof, wall or faade structure using the kit of parts according to claim 14 comprising the steps of securing one or more mounting elements to a building by fixing the foot portion to a building, providing one or more supporting rails and positioning the second profile section of the supporting rail over the head portion of the mounting element for holding the supporting rail in place, mounting the base section of one or more retaining elements in the first profile section of the supporting rail, providing at least one building sheet, wherein the head sections of retaining elements engage and hold the at least one building sheet.
16. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 5, comprising one or more retaining elements wherein the middle section is substantially rotationally symmetric along its longitudinal axis.
17. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 6, wherein the middle section is substantially rotationally symmetric along its longitudinal axis.
18. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the mounting elements D comprise a tubular connecting portion, a head portion releasably fixed thereto on one end, and wherein the foot portion comprises a ball-and-socket joint.
19. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein the supporting rail and/or the mounting element comprise steel, aluminium or polyamide.
20. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein the supporting rail and/or the mounting element consist of metal or aluminium or a polymer.
21. The roof, wall or faade structure according to claim 1, wherein the supporting rail and/or the mounting element consist of steel, aluminium or polyamide.
Description
[0042] The method using this kit of parts allows the construction, reconstruction or renovation of a roof, wall or faade to be achieved according to the description and figures. The invention will now be further explained by means of the following, non-limitative drawings:
[0043] FIG. 1 shows the basic elements of the system and elements of the kit of parts: retaining element A, supporting rail C and mounting element D.
[0044] FIG. 2A shows a retaining element A with elongate head section 1, connecting member 2 and base section 3, and a head section comprising a middle section 1b and two substantially dome-shaped end sections 1a and 1c. This embodiment shows the optional non-constant width of the connecting member 2 which is smaller at the base section and wider at the elongate head section.
[0045] FIG. 2B shows retaining element A of FIG. 2A with elongate head section 1, connecting member 2 and base section 3 rotated about its vertical axis through 90 compared to FIG. 2A. The base section 3 clearly shows the functionality of a bayonet catch for cooperating with the first profile section of supporting rail C. The optional weight saving holes and stiffening ribs are present in this particular embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows a retaining element A mounted in the supporting rail C with at least one building sheet B with a free end 9 flanged over the elongate head section 1 of the retaining element.
[0047] FIG. 4 shows a perpendicular view of FIG. 3. The dashed circle schematically represents the head portion 6 of a mounting element D. The circle also illustrates the ability of the supporting rail C to be rotated with its centre of rotation being the centre of the circle. An example of this rotation is clearly shown in FIG. 7. The rotatability of supporting rail C allows easy adapting of the pitch of the flanges of the building sheets with respect to the building onto which the system is mounted.
[0048] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the supporting rail C with a first profile section 4 into which the base section 3 of a retaining element A can be slotted, and a second profile section 5 designed to cooperate with the head portion of mounting element D. However, if so desired, the profile section can be installed directly onto the building without the use of a mounting element D.
[0049] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the mounting element D where the head portion 6 is shaped to cooperate with the second profile section of a supporting rail C, and allow rotatability of the supporting rail C around the centre of the head portion. The connecting portion 8 of the mounting element is presented in this embodiment as being of an adjustable length so as to allow the height of the structure comprising the retaining element A, supporting rail C and mounting element D to be adjusted to the correct height to allow the correct pitch of the roof, wall or faade to be obtained. After adjusting the connecting portion to the correct length, its length may be fixed by using fixing means such as screws. The embodiment presented here shows a telescopic version of the connecting portion, but alternative ways are also encompassed by the invention. The foot portion 7 is used to fix the mounting element to the building.
[0050] FIG. 7 the arrows demonstrate the degrees of freedom offered by the interplay between retaining element A, supporting rail C and mounting element D. Retaining element can be rotated along the axis perpendicular to the supporting rail C, and supporting rail C can be rotated along the centre of the head portion of mounting element D, and the length of the connecting portion 8 can be adjusted. If the connecting portion 8 would be provided in a circular tubular form, and not in a rectangular form as in this figure, there would be an additional rotatability (indicated by the dashed arrow) of the system around the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion 8.
[0051] FIG. 8A shows the retaining element A after inserting the base section 3 in the first position in the first profile section 4 of a supporting rail C, and FIG. 8B shows the retaining element A in a second position in the first profile section of supporting rail C, i.e. after rotating the retaining element A from the first position of FIG. 8A to the second position in FIG. 8B.
[0052] FIG. 9 shows an example of an existing structure E renovated with a roof B mounted on top using the elements A, C and D of the system according to the invention. The foot portion of the mounting element D is fixed onto the old roof E, in this example in an additional U-shaped profile which is mounted onto the existing structure E. Insulation 10 may be provided between the roof B and the existing structure E, as well as between the mounting element D and the existing structure E if required. Mounting element D may also be provided with a base part 19 to spread the load across a greater surface area of the existing structure E. The base part, shown here in the form of a u-shaped profile, ensures that the load is spread over the tops of the trapezium-shaped structure E. The base part has to be able to spread the load, and for that it needs sufficient stiffness. Although not restricted to this particular shape, the u-shaped profile is effective in achieving this and be relatively lightweight at the same time. The profile can e.g. consist of an extruded profile, either from a suitable metal, such as aluminium or aluminium alloys, or a suitable polymer, such as polyamide, or a roll-formed material such as (galvanized) steel or aluminium. This allows the profile to be produced at standard lengths, which can be made to fit on the building site, with a minimum of loss of material, and a minimum of logistical issues.
[0053] This way it is possible to increase or decrease the inclination of a structure by progressively adapting the distance between the head portion and the foot portion of the mounting elements.
[0054] FIG. 10 shows a schematical representation of the use of the system to change the pitch of a roof of an existing building using the elements of the system according to the invention.
[0055] FIG. 11A shows retaining element A of FIG. 11B rotated about its vertical axis through 90 compared to FIG. 11B. In FIG. 11A the retaining element can be lifted out of the first profile section of supporting rail C.
[0056] FIG. 11B shows a retaining element A with a head section provided with a W-shaped recess which is able to receive and hold suitably shaped flanges of building sheet panels B. The connecting member 2 and base section 3 have the same function as those for the retaining element depicted in FIG. 8. In FIG. 11B the retaining element can not be lifted out of the first profile section of supporting rail C. The edge 9 of two neighbouring building sheets B are shown in the position where they are held in the W-shaped recess in the head section 1 of the retaining element A. The supporting rail C is described in FIG. 5.
[0057] FIG. 12A shows a head portion 6 of mounting element D which is designed to slide over the connecting portion 8 as depicted in FIG. 14A, 15A and 15B. The downwardly protruding parts of head portion 6 fit into the grooves of connecting portion 8 and can be fixed to the connecting portion 8, e.g. by screws after having determined the correct position to obtain the correct length of mounting element D.
[0058] FIG. 12B shows the ball portion 12 of the ball-and-socket joint which, together with the socket part 13 and the insert piece 14 of FIG. 13 form the foot portion of mounting element D. The upwardly protruding parts of ball portion 12 fit into the grooves of connecting portion 8 and can be fixed to the connecting portion 8, e.g. by screws after having determined the correct position to obtain the correct length of mounting element D. In most cases the (in this example) square ball portion 12 will be flush with the lower end of the connecting portion 8, and the length will be mainly adjusted by means of the positioning of head portion 6.
[0059] FIG. 13 shows the socket portion 13 and the insert piece 14 which, together with the ball part 12 of FIG. 12B and the connecting portion 8 provides the lower end of the mounting element D as presented in FIG. 14A. FIG. 13 also shows the orientation of the ball-part in the socket immediately after introducing the ball part into the socket. When turning the ball-part upwardly the movement of the ball part is restricted by the annular opening on top of the socket part, indicated with 16 in FIG. 13. By flattening the ball slightly (see FIG. 12B) the circumference is changed such that it can enter through the hole 17 in FIG. 13 when held in the direction as depicted in FIG. 13, but it cannot slip out of the socket when turned upright.
[0060] FIG. 14B shows the level of flexibility in using the ball-and-socket joint An inclination of 15 is shown by means of example, and the connecting portion 8 can be rotated 360 (a rotation of 90 is shown) in FIG. 14B. The H-shaped cross section of the connecting member 8 is shown as well, with the grooves for receiving the protrusions in ball-part 12 and head portion 6.
[0061] FIG. 15A shows an exploded view of all the elements of the structure. The screws and bolts are not numbered. All elements A to D are shown in the embodiment with the ball-and-socket joint and the head portion 6 which can move up and down in the grooves in the connecting portion 8 of mounting element D. FIG. 15B shows the assembled structure.
[0062] FIG. 16 shows a different embodiment of the ball-and-socket joint in the foot portion 7 of mounting element D. The socket part is formed by combining parts 20 and 21. 21 comprises a lower portion of the socket to receive the ball portion 12, and 20 is a cover part which can be placed in part 21 from above. To enable this straight edges are provided to the cover part 20 to allow dropping it in part 21 from above. Once dropped into place in part 21 and appropriately positioned as depicted in FIG. 16 I and II the ball portion 12 can be lowered along the dashed line through the decentrally placed hole and locked into place by sliding it to the central hole (II). Once located in the central hole the ball portion 12 cannot be lifted up, but it can be inclined (see FIG. 17, middle picture), and rotated if so desired. By rotating the cover part 20 (V.fwdarw.VI) the ball portion is also fixed in the central hole, because it can no longer move sideways due to the shape of part 21. The cover portion can be secured, e.g. by screws, as depicted with the exclamation mark in VI, and FIG. 17, middle picture. The lower part of part 21 is shaped so as to potentially cooperate with part 22. Part 21 can be used as a load distribution part instead of base part 19 in FIG. 15A. Part 22 functions e.g. as a thermal break. However, part 21 can also be directly mounted in base part 19. Part 22 may (e.g.) be produced by extrusion from polyamide or from any other material with adequate insulating properties. Cover part 20 may be produced from a die-cast metal, such as zinc or a zinc alloy, or a suitable polymer such as polyamide or glass-fibre reinforced polyamide. Part 21 is preferably produced by extrusion aluminium or an aluminium alloy and subsequent machining to provide the securing holes. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 17 the parts 21 and 22 have interlocking portions. However, this is not crucial. The bottom part of 21 and the top part of 22 may also be flat or any other suitable shape, as long as they are secured to the substructure. In this latter case, part can also be a rubber-like material or any other flat material having insulating properties. The ball portion 12, and thereby the connecting portion 8 and head portion 6 can be inclined, and rotated, as depicted in FIG. 17, middle picture.
[0063] FIG. 18 shows still another embodiment of the ball-and-socket joint in the foot portion 7 of mounting element D. In this embodiment part 21 is shaped so as to include a longitudinally shaped channel which is able to receive and hold the ball portion of part 12 by sliding it into the channel from the end. Once part 12 is in the desired position, it is locked in place by means of a securing element 23 which prevents the ball portion from sliding along the channel. The securing element 23 is fastened, e.g. by one or more screws as depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19. Optional notches in part 21 and securing element 23 help properly position the securing element before fastening it with the desired fastening means. FIG. 19 shows a 3D-sketch of this embodiment, in this case without part 22.
[0064] It is noted that the figures show structures with a standing seam roof. It should be noted that for use of the invention with another type of panel such as the FC-rainscreen or steproof the only change that is needed is the head section 1 of the retaining element A.
