Packed flashing assembly for use with a group of roof windows and a method for weatherproofing a group of roof windows

Abstract

A packed flashing assembly (1) for use with a group of roof windows comprising at least two roof windows mounted adjacent to each other in a sloped roof structure (3) is disclosed. The flashing assembly comprises a first set (I) of flashing members including one top flashing member (11), one bottom flashing member (12), and two side flashing members (13, 14) contained in a first packaging element (4), and a second set (II) of flashing members including one middle gutter flashing member (15, 19) and two other flashing members (11, 12; 13, 14) contained in a second packaging element. When mounting the flashing assembly at least three flashing members of the first set are mounted at a first roof window, and at least one flashing member of the first set is mounted at a second roof window, and the second set is mounted at the second roof window.

Claims

1. A packed flashing assembly for use with a group of roof windows comprising at least two roof windows mounted adjacent to each other in a sloped roof structure having a slope direction, where each of said at least two roof windows comprises a frame comprising a top frame member and a bottom frame member both extending horizontally in a mounted state of the roof window and two side frame members extending in the slope direction in the mounted state of the roof window, where said packed flashing assembly comprises packaging elements and at least one top flashing member configured for extending along a top frame member, at least one bottom flashing member configured for extending along a bottom frame member, at least two side flashing members each configured for extending along a side frame member, and at least one middle gutter flashing member configured for extending between roof windows, the packed flashing assembly comprises a first set of flashing members including one top flashing member, one bottom flashing member, and two side flashing members contained in a first packaging element, and a second set of flashing members including one middle gutter flashing member and two other flashing members contained in a second packaging element.

2. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 1, where the two other flashing members are side flashing members.

3. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 1, where the two other flashing members are a top flashing member and a bottom flashing.

4. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a third set of flashing members contained in a third packaging element and comprising one middle gutter flashing member and two other flashing members.

5. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a fourth set of flashing members contained in a fourth packaging element and comprising two middle gutter flashing members, one for use between roof windows mounted side by side and one for roof windows mounted one above another.

6. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 1, where the first set of flashing members further comprises a telescopic drainage gutter configured for extending along the top frame member of one roof window in an un-extended state and for extending along the top frame members of two roof windows in an extended state.

7. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 4, where the third set of flashing members further comprises a drainage gutter.

8. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 1, where a middle gutter flashing member comprises two components, each being configured for being arranged along a frame member of one of two adjacent roof windows, said frame members facing each other.

9. A method for weatherproofing a group of roof windows comprising at least two roof windows mounted adjacent to each other in a sloped roof structure having a slope direction, where each of said at least two roof windows comprises a frame comprising a top frame member and a bottom frame member both extending horizontally and two side frame members extending in the slope direction, where a flashing assembly is mounted with at least one top flashing member extending along a top frame member, at least one bottom flashing member extending along a bottom frame member, at least two side flashing members extending along a side frame member, and at least one middle gutter flashing member extending between roof windows, wherein at least three flashing members of a first set of flashing members, which first set of flashing members includes one top flashing member, one bottom flashing member, and two side flashing members, are mounted at a first roof window, and at least one flashing member of the first set of flashing members is mounted at a second roof window, and that a second set of flashing members including one middle gutter flashing member and two other flashing members supplied in a separate packaging element is mounted at the second roof window.

10. The method according to claim 9, where the first and second roof windows are arranged one above the other in the slope direction and where the two other flashing members are side flashing members.

11. The method according to claim 9, where the first and second roof windows are arranged side-by-side and where the two other flashing members are a top flashing member and a bottom flashing.

12. The method according to claim 9, where a third set of flashing members including one middle gutter flashing member and two other flashing members and supplied in a separate packaging element is mounted at a third roof window of the group of roof windows.

13. The method according to claim 9, where a fourth set of flashing members including two middle gutter flashing members and supplied in a separate packaging element is mounted at a fourth roof window of the group of roof windows with one middle gutter flashing member extending between roof windows mounted side by side and one middle gutter flashing member extending between roof windows mounted one above another.

14. The method according to claim 9, where a telescopic drainage gutter belonging to the first set of flashing members is extended and mounted along the top frame members of two roof windows arranged side-by-side.

15. The method according to claim 12, where a drainage gutter of the third set of flashing members is mounted along the top frame member of the third roof window of the group of roof windows.

16. The method according to claim 9, where a middle gutter flashing member comprises two components, where one component is arranged along a frame member of one of two adjacent roof windows, and where the other component is then arranged along a frame member of the other of the two adjacent roof windows, said frame members facing each other.

17. The packed flashing assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth set of flashing members contained in a fourth packaging element and comprising two middle gutter flashing members, one for use between roof windows mounted side by side and one for roof windows mounted one above another.

18. A packed flashing assembly for use with a group of roof windows comprising at least two roof windows mounted adjacent to each other in a sloped roof structure having a slope direction, where each of said at least two roof windows comprises a frame comprising a top frame member and a bottom frame member both extending transverse to the slope direction in the mounted state of the roof window and two side frame members extending in the slope direction in the mounted state of the roof window, where said packed flashing assembly comprises packaging elements and at least one top flashing member configured for extending along a top frame member, at least one bottom flashing member configured for extending along a bottom frame member, at least two side flashing members each configured for extending along a side frame member, and at least one middle gutter flashing member configured for extending between roof windows, the packed flashing assembly comprises a first packaging element containing a first set of flashing members including one top flashing member, one bottom flashing member, and two side flashing members, and the packed flashing assembly further comprises a second packaging element containing a second set of flashing members including one middle gutter flashing member and two other flashing members contained in a second packaging element wherein the second packaging element omits a flashing member corresponding to a displaced flashing member of the first set of flashing members that the one middle gutter flashing member will displace when the one middle gutter flashing member is mounted at a first roof window allowing the displaced flashing member of the first set of flashing members when installed to be mounted at a corresponding portion of a second roof window to avoid scrapping of the displaced flashing member of the first set of flashing members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] In the following description embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the schematic drawings, in which

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of two roof windows mounted side by side with a prior art flashing assembly,

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of two roof windows mounted side by side with a flashing assembly,

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of three roof windows mounted side by side with a flashing assembly,

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of two roof windows mounted one above the other with a flashing assembly,

[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of three roof windows mounted in a L-shaped configuration with a flashing assembly,

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic view of four roof windows mounted in a two by two matrix constellation with a flashing assembly, and

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic view of several possible combinations of packed sets of flashing members into packed flashing assemblies.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a prior art flashing assembly 1 for use with two roof windows mounted adjacent to each other side by side in a sloped roof structure 3 is shown. As the construction of the roof windows are not of importance, they are here represented only by two frames 2, each comprising a top frame member 21 and a bottom frame member 22 both extending horizontally in the mounted state and two side frame members 23, 24 extending in a slope direction of the roof structure in the mounted state. Likewise, the roof structure 3 is represented only by a single rafter and a few laths and the slope direction is indicated by the arrow D.

[0038] The flashing assembly 1 comprises two top flashing members 11 each configured for extending along a top frame member 21, two bottom flashing members 12 each configured for extending along a bottom frame member 22, two side flashing members 13, 14 each configured for extending along a side frame member 23, 24, and a middle gutter flashing member 15 configured for extending between the two roof windows. Common to all flashing members is that they comprise an outer portion 111, 121, 131, 141, 151 configured for extending substantially in plane with the roof structure and at least one inner portion 112, 122, 132, 142, 152 configured for extending up along a frame member of a roof window.

[0039] The top flashing members 11 and the bottom flashing members 12 are provided with corner sections, 113, 114, 123, 124 configured for establishing an overlap with the side flashing members 13, 14 and the middle gutter flashing member 15, and cover members 16, 17 are provided for interconnecting the corner sections 114 of the top flashing members above the middle gutter flashing member.

[0040] In FIG. 1, the flashing assembly 1 is configured for use with roof windows mounted deep in a roof structure, and the side flashing members are configured specifically for use at a left-hand side frame member 13 and at a right-hand side flashing member 14 of a roof window, respectively. The same applies to the two top flashing members 11 and the two bottom flashing members 12.

[0041] References to right and left are to be understood as references to the flashing assemblies and the frames of roof windows as shown in the drawing, and thus as seen by a person viewing them from outside a building in which they are mounted.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a flashing assembly 1 similar to that in FIG. 1. The flashing members 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are here shown in simplified versions, where the top, bottom, and side flashing members 11, 12, 13, 14 have a simple L-shape in cross-section and the middle gutter flashing member 15 has a simple U-shape in cross-section, but it is to be understood that they may represent more sophisticated flashing members, such as those shown in FIG. 1. Several possible embodiments of such flashing members are well known to the skilled person and will therefore not be described in further detail here. The same applies to FIG. 3-6.

[0043] The flashing assembly in FIG. 2 consists of two sets of flashing members; a first set I including one top flashing member 11, one bottom flashing member 12, and two side flashing members 13, 14, and a second set II including one middle gutter flashing member 15, one top flashing member 11, and one bottom flashing member 12. The first set I is a standard flashing assembly of the type used for a single roof window mounted alone in a roof structure, whereas the second set II comprises the supplementary flashing members needed for weatherproofing two roof windows mounted side by side as indicated by the two roof window frames 2a, 2b.

[0044] The broken lines encircling each set of flashing members are to be understood as an indication that the sets are package in separate packaging elements.

[0045] As shown by the arrows in FIG. 2, the top flashing member 11, the bottom flashing member 12, and the left-hand side flashing member 13 of the first set I are mounted at the left-hand frame 2a in the same way as they would have been if used with a single roof window. Had the left-hand roof window been a single roof window, the right-hand side flashing member 14 of the first set I would have been mounted along the right-hand side frame member 24 of frame 2a. In this case, however, the right-hand side flashing member 14 is mounted at the right-hand side frame member 24 of the right-hand frame 2b, i.e. at the corresponding frame member of the second roof window, on the opposite side of the second roof window compared to its intended position on a single roof window.

[0046] The middle gutter flashing member 15 of the second set II is mounted between the two roof window frames 2a, 2b, covering the gap between them, and the top flashing member 11 and the bottom flashing member 12 of the second set II are mounted at the top and bottom of the right-hand roof window frame 2b.

[0047] It is to be understood that it would work equally well to mount the top flashing member 11, the bottom flashing member 12, and the right-hand side flashing member 14 of the first set I at the right-hand frame 2b and the flashing members of the second set II at the left-hand frame 2a.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first set I comprises a telescopic drainage gutter 18 supplied in an un-extended state and mounted in an extended state, where it extends along the top frame members 21 of both roof window frames 2a, 2b. In the mounted state the drainage gutter 18 is inclined with one end, here the right-hand end, located slightly lower in the slope direction D than the other end so that the water entering the drainage gutter will be drained off at the right-hand side of the group of roof windows. While FIG. 2 shows two drainage gutters it is to be understood that they represent one and the same drainage gutter shown in an un-extended state of delivery and in a mounted state.

[0049] In FIG. 3 three roof window frames 2a, 2b, 2c are arranged side by side and the flashing assembly further comprising a third set III of flashing members comprising one middle gutter flashing member 15, one top flashing member 11, one bottom flashing member 12 and a telescopic drainage gutter 18.

[0050] The first set I of flashing members and the second set II of flashing members are mounted in the same way as described with reference to FIG. 1, i.e. with the right-hand side flashing member 14 of the first set I at the right-most side frame member 24. Here the right-most side frame member 24 is that of the frame 2c of the third roof window of the group, whereas it belonged to the frame 2b of the second roof window in FIG. 2.

[0051] The middle gutter flashing member 15, top flashing member 11, and bottom flashing member 12 of the third set III are mounted at the frame 2c of the third roof window as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, i.e. in the same way as described with reference to the second set II in FIG. 2.

[0052] The drainage gutter 18 of the third set III is depicted as a telescopic drainage gutter, but in this situation the telescopic function in not necessary, as the drainage gutter of the first set I is capable of extending along both the first frame 2a and the second frame 2b. The drainage gutter 18 of the third set III may therefore be mounted so that it extends along the top frame member of third frame 2c in an un-extended state. It is, however, also possible to provide the third set III of flashing members with a simpler, non-extendable drainage gutter, or to extend the telescopic drainage gutter of the third set to also extend over the second frame 2b and leave the drainage gutter of the first set I un-extended. The drainage gutters of the first set I and the third set III will typically be inclined in opposite directions, so that one drains off water at one side of the group of roof windows and the other drains off water at the other side. They may, however, also be arranged in continuation of each, possibly interconnected, so that they form one gutter. A connector piece for interconnecting drainage gutters may be provided, for example as part of the third set.

[0053] Another embodiment of a group of roof windows, represented by two frames 2a, 2d mounted one above the other in the slope direction D, is shown in FIG. 4. Here the second set II of flashing members comprises one middle gutter flashing member 19 and two side flashing members 13, 14. As shown by the arrows, the second set II is mounted at the uppermost frame 2d with the middle gutter flashing member 19 extending between the two frames 2a, 2d, and the top flashing member 11 of the first set I is mounted at the uppermost frame 2d. The method of mounting the flashing assembly thus corresponds to that described with reference to FIG. 2, except for the fact that it is the top flashing member 11 of the first set I being used at the second frame 2d instead of a side flashing member. Furthermore, the drainage gutter 18 of the first set can be mounted in its un-extended state, as it only needs to cover the width of one roof window.

[0054] A further embodiment of a group of roof windows, represented by three frames 2a, 2b, 2d mounted in a L-shaped configuration, is shown in FIG. 5. Here the top flashing member 11 and the drainage gutter 18 of the first set I of flashing members are mounted above the frame 2d in the same way as described with reference to FIG. 4, and the side flashing member 14 of the first set I is mounted at the frame 2b in the same way as described with reference to FIG. 2. The second set II is mounted at the frame 2d as described with reference to FIG. 4 and the third set III is mounted at the frame 2b as described with reference to FIG. 3. Here both drainage gutters 18 are mounted in the un-extended state as each will only have to cover the width of one roof window. It is, however, also possible to provide the third set without a drainage gutter if the drainage gutter of the first set is composed of two parts, which can be separated and used as single non-telescopic drainage gutters.

[0055] A still further embodiment of a group of roof windows, represented by four frames 2a, 2b, 2d, 2e mounted in a two by two matrix configuration, is shown in FIG. 6. Here the flashing assembly further comprises a fourth set IV of flashing members comprising two middle gutter flashing members 15, 19, one for use between roof windows mounted side by side and one for roof windows mounted one above another.

[0056] When mounting this flashing assembly, the first flashing member 14 of the first set I is mounted at the right-most side frame member 24 of the lowermost row of roof windows as described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, here at the frame 2b, and the top flashing member 11 and the drainage gutter 18 of the first set I is mounted at the uppermost frame 2d of the left-hand column of roof windows as described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, here at the frame 2d. As compared to the FIG. 5, the addition of a fourth roof window, here represented by frame 2e, entails that there is no longer room for the right-hand side flashing member 14 of the second set II and the top flashing member 11 of the third set III at the second and third frames 2b, 2d, and they are therefore used at the fourth frame 2e as shown by the arrows in FIG. 6. The remaining flashing members of the second and third sets are used as described with reference to FIG. 5, and the middle gutter flashing members 15, 19 of the fourth set IV are used at the fourth frame 2e where it faces the frames 2d and 2b, respectively.

[0057] As will be understood by the skilled person, any group of roof windows can be weatherproofed using a combination of the sets of flashing members shown in the drawing, as long as the frames 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e are aligned horizontally and in the slope direction D.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows five such sets I, IIa, IIb, III, IV of flashing members packed in separate packaging elements 4, a separately packed drainage gutter 184, and six examples of packed flashing assemblies 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107.

[0059] Set I comprises a top flashing member, a bottom flashing member, two side flashing members and possibly a drainage gutter.

[0060] Set IIa and set IIb each comprises one middle gutter flashing member and two other flashing members. In set IIa the two other flashing members are a top flashing member and a bottom flashing member, corresponding to the sets of flashing members marked II in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and in set IIb the two other flashing members are side flashing members, corresponding to the sets of flashing members marked II in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6.

[0061] Set III comprises a middle gutter flashing member, a top flashing member, a bottom flashing member, and possibly a drainage gutter.

[0062] Set IV comprises two middle gutter flashing members, one for use between roof windows mounted side by side and one for roof windows mounted one above another.

[0063] The first packed flashing assembly 102 is composed of sets I and IIa, corresponding to the flashing assembly shown in FIG. 2.

[0064] The second packed flashing assembly 104 is composed of sets I and IIb, corresponding to the flashing assembly shown in FIG. 4.

[0065] The third packed flashing assembly 103 is composed of sets I, IIa, and III, corresponding to the flashing assembly shown in FIG. 3.

[0066] The fourth packed flashing assembly 105 is composed of sets I, IIb, and III, corresponding to the flashing assembly shown in FIG. 5.

[0067] The fifth packed flashing assembly 106 is composed of sets I, IIb, III, and IV, corresponding to the flashing assembly shown in FIG. 6.

[0068] The sixth packed flashing assembly 107 is composed of set I, two other sets, and a separately packed drainage gutter 184. This is intended to illustrate that set III does not need to include a drainage gutter, and that it is also possible to provide the first set I without a drainage gutter. As drainage gutters are only used with some roofing materials and in certain roof structures, this may allow a broader use of set I and/or set III, and avoid or reduce scrapping of drainage gutters.

[0069] The separately packed sets forming a packed flashing assembly may be interconnected using straps 5, as shown on the last packed flashing assembly 107, or an adhesive.

[0070] In FIG. 7 the sets I, IIa, IIb, III, IV are shown as being packed in the packaging elements of substantially the same size. This need not be the case, but it may facilitate handling of the flashing assemblies.

[0071] Above the invention has been described primarily with reference to new installations of groups of roof windows, but it is to be understood that it is also advantageous when adding one or more new roof windows adjacent to an existing roof window. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the left-hand frame 2a might represent an existing roof window mounted with a standard flashing assembly, which would then constitute the first set I. In that case it would only be necessary to de-mount the right-hand side flashing member 14 and move it to the right-hand side of the frame 2b of the new roof window and then mount the second set II of flashing members as well as possibly extending the drainage gutter 18.