A ROOF WINDOW WITH A DIVERTER RAIL

Abstract

A roof window (1) comprising a frame (2), a sash (3), a pane element (4), and a covering assembly (10), the covering assembly (10) comprising a diverter rail (103), where the diverter rail (103) extends along a top frame member (21) in a length direction and projects from the top frame member, forming a diverter angle (A) of 45-89 degrees with respect to a plane (C) defined by an exterior surface (4e) of the pane element (4).

Claims

1. A roof window, comprising: a frame defining a frame opening, a sash, a pane element, and a covering assembly, the covering assembly comprising a diverter rail, where said pane element has an interior surface configured for facing in an interior direction towards an interior of a building and an opposite exterior surface configured for facing in an exterior direction away from an interior of a building, where the frame comprises a top frame member and the sash comprises a top sash member, said top frame member and said top sash member extending in parallel in a length direction, and where said covering assembly comprises a top flashing member extending along the top frame member in the length direction and a top sash covering extending along the top sash member in the length direction, wherein the diverter rail extends along the top frame member in the length direction, said diverter rail having a proximal edge attached to the top frame member and an exposed diverter surface facing away from the top frame member and projecting from the top frame member, the exposed diverter surface forming a diverter angle of 45-89 degrees with respect to a plane defined by the exterior surface of the pane element, and the diverter rail further including a main body having a distal edge and a head flange projecting from the main body at the distal edge, wherein the head flange gives the director rail an overall shape of a letter T, the head flange including a first section projecting towards the top flashing member and away from the top frame member and a second section projecting towards the top frame member.

2. The roof window according to claim 1, where a distance measured perpendicular to the exterior surface of the pane between a most exterior point on the diverter rail seen in the exterior direction and a most exterior point of the top frame member seen in the exterior direction is less than 10 mm.

3. The roof window according to claim 1, where the exposed diverter surface of the diverter rail forms an internal angle of 80-135 degrees with respect to an adjoining surface of the diverter rail, which adjoining surface extends away from the top frame member.

4. The roof window according to claim 3, where a ratio of the diverter angle to the internal angle is in interval 0.30-0.95.

5. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter rail is provided with a drainage gutter.

6. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter rail is in engagement with a sealing lip on an interface unit on the top frame member.

7. The roof window according to claim 1, where an extension element is attached to the diverter rail.

8. The roof window according to claim 7, where a sealing gasket is provided on the diverter rail and/or on the extension element and covering a gap between the diverter rail and a top sash covering.

9. The roof window according to claim 3, where the main body extending from the proximal edge and the distal edge is opposite the proximal edge wherein the head flange (1034) comprises the adjoining surface to the exposed diverter surface forming the internal angle.

10. The roof window according to claim 9, where the head flange abuts the distal edge.

11. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter rail comprises a diverter flange between the proximal edge and the distal edge, said diverter flange projecting away from the top frame member.

12. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter rail is attached to the top flashing member or the top sash covering.

13. The roof window according to claim 1, where the proximal edge of the diverter rail is inserted into a groove in the top frame member or in an interface unit attached thereto.

14. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter angle is adjustable.

15. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter rail is replaceable.

16. The roof window according to claim 1, where the diverter rail is attached to a flange of the top flashing member.

17. The roof window according to claim 16, where the diverter rail includes a bent edge in which the flange of the top flashing member is inserted.

18. A roof window, comprising: a frame defining a frame opening, a sash, a pane element, and a covering assembly, the covering assembly comprising a diverter rail, where said pane element has an interior surface configured for facing in an interior direction towards an interior of a building and an opposite exterior surface configured for facing in an exterior direction away from an interior of a building, where the frame comprises a top frame member and the sash comprises a top sash member, said top frame member and said top sash member extending in parallel in a length direction, and where said covering assembly comprises a top flashing member extending along the top frame member in the length direction and a top sash covering extending along the top sash member in the length direction, wherein the diverter rail extends along the top frame member in the length direction, said diverter rail having a proximal edge attached to the top frame member and an exposed diverter surface facing away from the top frame member and projecting from the top frame member, the exposed diverter surface forming a diverter angle of 45-89 degrees with respect to a plane defined by the exterior surface of the pane element, and the diverter rail further including a main body having a distal edge and an upper segment projecting from the main body at the distal edge, the upper segment including a first section projecting away from the top frame member and a second section projecting towards the top frame member wherein a longitudinal axis of the main body extends between a portion of the first section and a portion of the second section.

19. The roof window of claim 18, wherein the first section is a diverter flange.

20. The roof window of claim 19, wherein in a head flange is connected to an upper portion of the second section.

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 with a covering assembly;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a top flashing member;

[0026] FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, only seen from a different angle;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the top flashing member in FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to a cross section along the line V-V in FIG. 1 and an enlarged detail thereof;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the top of another roof window with a covering assembly;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the top of a covering assembly; and

[0031] FIG. 8 is an enlargement of the detail marked VIII in FIG. 7;

[0032] FIG. 9 shows the diverter rail when in use;

[0033] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the diverter rail in use; and

[0034] FIG. 11 a cross-sectional view corresponding to a cross section along the line XI-XI in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a roof window 1 is shown with a covering assembly 10, where the right-hand side of the top flashing member 1011 is shown in a state of delivery, before adaptation to the shape of a roofing material (not shown) used alongside the roof window.

[0036] The left-hand side of the top flashing member 1011 in the state of delivery is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-4.

[0037] As may be seen, the top flashing member comprises a flange 1017, which will project substantially in parallel with the exterior surface 4e of the pane element 4 of the roof window 1 in the mounted state, and a diverter rail 103 being attached to this flange. In this embodiment, the diverter rail has a bent edge 1036 fitting over the flange 1017 on the top flashing member, but it might also be a flange of the diverter rail fitting into a bent edge of the top flashing member, or the diverter rail might be an integral part of the top flashing member.

[0038] The diverter rail 103 extends in a length direction L of the top flashing member and will thus extend along the top frame member of the roof window 1 in the mounted state.

[0039] In FIG. 5 a top flashing member 1011 and a diverter rail 103 as those shown in FIGS. 2-4 are shown attached to a roof window 1 mounted in a roof structure 11, the roof window being illustrated only by a top frame member 21, an interface unit 8 and an insulating frame 7 and the roof structure only by a lath 111 and an underroof 113.

[0040] As is best seen in the enlargement at the top of FIG. 5, the flange 1017 of the top flashing member 1011 and the bent edge 1036 of the diverter rail 103 are inserted into a groove 85 in the interface unit 8, but it could also have been inserted into a groove in the top frame member 21.

[0041] In the embodiments in FIGS. 2-5, the diverter rail 103 comprises a main body 1031 having a distal edge 1033 and a head flange 1034 projecting from the main body at the distal edge. The head flange 1034 gives the diverter rail the overall shape of the letter T, having a first section 10341 projecting towards the top flashing member 1011 (and thus away from the top frame member 21) and a second section 10342 projecting towards the top frame member 21.

[0042] The diverter rail 103 projects from the top frame member 21 and has an exposed diverter surface 103d forming a diverter angle A of approximately 80 degrees with respect to a plane C defined by the exterior surface 4e of the pane element 4, and the head flange 1034 comprises a surface which is an adjoining surface to the exposed diverter surface 103d and forms an internal angle B of 90 degrees with the exposed diverter surface 103d. The relationship between the diverter angle A and the internal angle B is here 0.89.

[0043] The most exterior point 103e on the diverter rail 103 seen in the exterior direction E is located at a distance D above plane C defined by the exterior surface 4e of the pane element 4.

[0044] In the embodiments shown in the drawing, the most exterior point 103e on the diverter rail 103 seen in the exterior direction E is located at level with the most exterior point 21e of the top frame member 21, but in some cases there may be a distance between them.

[0045] Turning now to FIG. 6 an alternative embodiment of the diverter rail 103 is shown. In this embodiment, the head flange 1034 projects only towards the top flashing member 1011 (and thus away from the top frame member 21) but is located on a section of the diverter rail, which is bent back towards the top frame member 21 in relation to the main body 1031. The diverter rail 103 further comprises a diverter flange 1035 projecting away from the top frame member 21, the function of which will be described below with reference to FIG. 10. In FIG. 6 the diverter angle A is approximately 70 degrees. Internal angle B is here 110 degrees formed at the diverter flange 1035 which comprises an adjoining surface to the exposer diverter surface 103d, and the relationship between the diverter angle A and the internal angle B is 0.64.

[0046] A still further embodiment of the diverter rail 103, where the diverter angle A is approximately 60 degrees, is shown in FIG. 7. As is seen in the enlargement in FIG. 8, the joint between the bent edge 1036 of the diverter rail and the flange 1017 of the top flashing member is here sealed by a sealing strip 1037. The internal angle B is here 120 degrees, and the relationship between the diverter angle A and the internal angle B is 0.50.

[0047] In the embodiments shown, the diverter rails 103 are made from one piece of sheet metal, such as stainless steel, which has been bent into shape. It is, however, also possible to make them from two or more pieces, or to make them by other means, such as moulding or extrusion.

[0048] Turning now to FIGS. 9-10 the function of the diverter rails 103 is shown.

[0049] Due to the angling of the diverter rail, whirls 12 are formed between the diverter rail 103, specifically the exposed diverter surface 103d, and the top flashing member 1011 when water flow from the roof above the roof window is high. When more water comes, it will be deflected by the whirls as shown by the double-arrows and thus forced upwards over the head flange and onto the top sash covering 1021s as shown in FIG. 10, from where it may drain onto the exterior surface 4e of the pane element. The distance D may help create this effect.

[0050] The uppermost whirl in FIG. 10 between the head flange 1034 and the diverter flange 1035 will usually only form when the water load is very high. When less water is present, the channel formed between the head flange 1034 and the diverter flange 1035 may serve as a channel directing water towards the sides of the roof window. The channel formed between the diverter flange 1035 and top flashing member 1011 may also serve to direct water towards the sides of the roof window and in some instances the flow of water in this channel may be relatively calm, while a whirl is present between the head flange 1034 and the diverter flange 1035.

[0051] For further water-proofing, the diverter rail 103 is in all embodiments shown as being in contact with a sealing lip 892 on the interface unit 8 on the top frame member 21, and the diverter rails are all provided with a drainage gutter 1038 for draining off any water passing between this sealing lip and the diverter rail. These features are considered advantageous but not strictly necessary. The drainage gutter 1038 is seen to be formed in a part of the diverter rail 103 which is not exposed to wind and weather, whereas the exposed diverter surface 103 faces away from the top frame member and is exposed to wind and weather.

[0052] Another embodiment of the diverter rail 103 is shown in FIG. 11. Here the diverter rail is provided with an extension element 1039 extending upwards at an angle with respect to the second section 10342 of the head flange and back towards the top frame member at an angle to the exposed diverter surface 103d. In this way the most exterior point 103e on the diverter rail 103 is located higher than when using the diverter rail without the extension element, increasing the distance D and also lifting the most exterior point 103e with respect to the top sash covering 1021s. Thereby the effect described with reference to FIG. 9 may be strengthened.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the extension element 1039 is attached to the diverter rail by having a bent edge fitting over the first section 10341 of the head flange 1034, but other means of attachment are possible, including welding and the use of adhesives.

[0054] The extension element 1039 may extend over the entire extend of the diverter rail 103 or be shorter, for example being present only where the water load is the highest. It is also possible to provide two separate extension elements at a distance from each other on the diverter rail.

[0055] To further improve the water-proofing, a sealing gasket 10391 is provided on the extension element 1039. Here the sealing gasket is retained by being inserted in a fold on the extension element, but other means of attachment are possible, including the use of adhesives. This sealing gasket 10391 engages the top sash covering 1021s and thus supplements the sealing already provided by the contact between the sealing lip 892 on the interface unit 8 and the diverter rail 103. In the embodiment shown, the sealing gasket has a tubular part 103911, shown in its undeformed state, engaging with the top sash covering 1021s. The large internal volume of the tubular part allows a large deformation and hence allows considerable movement of the extension element 1039 relative to the top sash covering with losing the sealing effect. Such movement may for example result from wind loads and/or water loads on the diverter rail and/or the extension element. Other embodiments of the sealing gasket are, however, also possible.

[0056] Even though the extension element 1039 and the sealing gasket 10391 are shown only in use with a diverter rail 103 having a head flange 1034, it is to be understood that a similar extension element and/or sealing gasket could also be used with diverter rails without head flange and/or with diverter rails having a diverter flange.

[0057] Other details of the embodiment in FIG. 11 corresponds to those described with reference to the previous embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0058] 1 Roof window [0059] 10 Covering assembly [0060] 1011 Top flashing member [0061] 1017 Flange of top flashing member [0062] 1021s Top sash covering [0063] 103 Diverter rail [0064] 103d Exposed diverter surface [0065] 103e Most exterior point [0066] 1031 Main body [0067] 1033 Distal end [0068] 1034 Head flange [0069] 10341 First section [0070] 10342 Second section [0071] 1035 Diverter flange [0072] 1036 Bent edge [0073] 1037 Sealing strip [0074] 1038 Drainage gutter [0075] 1039 Extension element [0076] 10391 Sealing Gasket [0077] 11 Roof structure [0078] 111 Lath [0079] 113 Underroof [0080] 12 Whirl [0081] 21 Top frame member [0082] 21e Most exterior point [0083] 31 Top sash member [0084] 4 Pane element [0085] 4i Interior surface of pane element [0086] 4e Exterior surface of pane element [0087] 7 Insulating frame [0088] 8 Interface unit [0089] 85 Groove [0090] 892 Sealing Lip [0091] A Diverter angle of diverter rail [0092] B Internal angle of diverter rail [0093] D Distance [0094] C Plane defined by exterior surface of pane element [0095] E Exterior direction [0096] L Length direction