ROOFING ELEMENT, ROOF COMPRISING SUCH A ROOFING ELEMENT, AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SUCH A ROOF

Abstract

The invention relates to a roofing element comprising: a container (20) having at least one water inlet orifice (25), characterized in that it further comprises: a receptacle (5) adapted to be able to receive and hold said container in place and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base and peripheral side walls making it possible to hold said container, and in that each container comprises at least one connector adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to permit a flow of the water between said containers.

The invention also relates to a roof comprising such roofing elements and to a method for installation of such a roof.

Claims

1. A roofing element comprising: a container into which water can be introduced, the container comprising a receptacle adapted to be able to receive and hold said container in place and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base and peripheral side walls making it possible to hold said container, wherein the container comprises at least one connector adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to enable a flow of the water between said containers.

2. The roofing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is generally a polyhedron in shape, in particular of a generally parallelepiped shape.

3. The roofing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has at least one water inlet orifice, and in particular at least two water inlet orifices.

4. The roofing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has an upper face adapted to extend principally in parallel with a slope of said roof.

5. The roofing element as claimed in claim 3, wherein each water inlet orifice of said container is provided with a non-return valve so as to permit water to be introduced into the inside of said container and to prevent the water exiting to the outside of said container.

6. The roofing element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roofing element further comprises a covering device adapted to be able to cover said container, said covering device comprising at least one opening adapted to permit the water to pass toward at least one water inlet orifice of said container.

7. The roofing element as claimed in claim 6, wherein said covering device has the appearance of tiles.

8. The roofing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roofing element comprises rails formed from at least one material selected from the group formed from metals, metal alloys and composites thereof, said receptacle being adapted to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building by means of said rails.

9. A roof of a building, wherein the roof comprises at least one roofing element comprising a container into which water can be introduced, the container comprising: a receptacle adapted to be able to receive and hold said container in place and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base and peripheral side walls making it possible to hold said container, wherein the container comprises at least one connector adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to enable a flow of the water between said containers.

10. Method for installation of a roof (40, 42) comprising at least one roofing element comprising a container into which water can be introduced, the container comprising: a receptacle adapted to be able to receive and hold said container in place and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base and peripheral side walls making it possible to hold said container, wherein the container comprises at least one connector adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to enable a flow of the water between said containers, wherein: said receptacle is fixed to said roof of a building, said container is disposed inside said receptacle, after having put said receptacle and said container in place on said roof, said covering device is fixed above said container.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one connector of the container of a first roofing element is connected to a connector of the container of a second roofing element separate from said first roofing element.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0041] Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description given solely in a non-limiting way and which makes reference to the attached figures in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a roofing element in accordance with the invention,

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a roofing element in accordance with the invention,

[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a roof in accordance with the invention,

[0045] FIG. 4 is a schematic view from below of a container of a roofing element in accordance with the invention,

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a building provided with a roof in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0047] In the figures, for the purposes of illustration and clarity, scales and proportions have not been strictly respected.

[0048] Furthermore, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same reference signs in all the figures.

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a roofing element 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a roof 40, or the slope of a roof, comprising four roofing elements 1 in accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, said roofing elements being juxtaposed (one of said roofing elements being illustrated without a container and two without a covering device).

[0051] Each roofing element 1 comprises: [0052] a container 20 having at least one water inlet orifice 25, [0053] a receptacle 5 adapted to be able to receive and hold in place said container 20 and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, [0054] a covering device 35.

[0055] Each container 20 is of a generally parallelepiped shape of small thickness. The container and the receptacle of a single roofing element have shapes which are conjugate with each other so as to enable fitted insertion of the container into the receptacle. Each receptacle has an upper face 21 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) adapted to extend principally in parallel with a slope of the roof, and a lower face (shown in FIG. 4) opposite to and extending in parallel with the upper face 21.

[0056] Throughout the rest of the description, the terms upstream and downstream are used with reference to the direction of flow of the rainwater under gravity over the surface of the roof as oriented (inclined) in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, each container 20 has six sealed connectors: two connectors 26, 27 provided on an edge section, referred to as upper edge section, of the container 20, which are adapted to be able to be connected to a container of an adjacent roofing element disposed upstream of the roofing element 1; two side connectors 28, 29 adapted to be able to be each connected to a container of a laterally juxtaposed roofing element (at the same level of the roof, neither upstream nor downstream); and two connectors 30, 31 provided on an edge section, referred to as lower edge section, of the container 20, which are adapted to be able to be connected to a container of an adjacent roofing element disposed downstream of the roofing element 1. Each connector 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 can thus be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to enable a flow of the water between said containers.

[0058] For the peripheral or outer edges of a roof it is possible to provide roofing elements, the container of which would have no connector on one or two edge sections, i.e. the edge section(s) not requiring a sealed connector on their free edge, not juxtaposed with another roofing element. It is also possible to use the same roofing elements as those illustrated and to provide for the placing of plugs making it possible to close the unused connectors which cannot be connected to a separate container.

[0059] There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for the side edges of each receptacle of the adjacent roofing elements to be configured between themselves so as to be able to partly overlap so as to improve the sealing tightness of the roof formed. The overlap between the edge of one receptacle and the edge of a separate receptacle may be lateral or between roofing elements which are upstream or downstream of each other. For example, each edge can have a U-shaped transverse cross-section, the arms of which are sufficiently deformable to be able to be clipped on the U-shaped edge of an adjacent roofing element.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, each container 20 comprises five apertures 23 making it possible to stiffen the structure of the container 20 formed, for example, of polymer material or of composite material with a polymer matrix.

[0061] Each receptacle 5 has a base 4 and peripheral side walls 6 making it possible to hold the container 20 in place when it is used on a roof.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the base 4 of the receptacle 5 has four studs 8 configured to be inserted into the interior of four of the apertures 23 of the container 20. This is not indispensable but can help to stabilize the container 20 in the receptacle 5. The base 4 of the receptacle 5 also has protruding lines 9. These are, in this case, reinforcement lines making it possible to improve the rigidity of the receptacle 5 while limiting its weight. There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for the base of the receptacle 5 to be totally planar (without any protruding or recessed part). Neither is there anything to prevent the provision, as a variant or as a complement to the protruding lines 9, of channels formed in a recessed manner in the base 4 of the receptacle 5 also making it possible to enhance its rigidity but also to act as channels for evacuation of residual water (or water coming from a possible leak).

[0063] Furthermore, the side walls 6 have notches 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 provided to enable the respective connectors 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 of the container 20 to be housed therein. This also contributes to the holding of the container 20 in place in the receptacle 5.

[0064] Each roofing element in accordance with the invention also comprises a covering device 35 making it possible to achieve a predetermined aesthetic appearance in place of the usual covering of said roof. Each covering device comprises at least one opening 36 adapted to permit the water to pass through toward at least one water inlet orifice of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, the covering device thus comprises four openings 36, i.e. as many openings 36 as water inlet orifices 25 of the container 20.

[0065] The covering device 35 may be of any desired shape, in particular the shape of tiles (flat, Roman . . . ), slates or even comprise at least one photovoltaic panel, or even a living roof support (a support able to be planted up with vegetation or a support already planted up).

[0066] The covering device 35 can have tabs 38 making it possible to clip it and hold it laterally facing the receptacle 20.

[0067] Tubes 32 can be provided so as to connect each opening 36 of the covering device 35 to a water inlet orifice 25 of the container 20 so as to enable the flow of the rainwater entering via the openings 36 through filters 37 to the interior of the container. A non-return valve is disposed inside each tube so as to close each water inlet orifice in the direction of the outlet of the water toward the outside of the container while permitting the introduction of water into the interior of the container. For example, it may be a non-return ball valve, for example a non-return valve comprising a polystyrene ball.

[0068] A roofing element in accordance with the invention thus makes it possible, if necessary, to be able to replace a container which may be damaged, without having to replace its receptacle or to remove said receptacle from the roof. It is also easy to take off each covering device 35, for example, in order to inspect said containers and said receptacles.

[0069] In one exemplified embodiment in accordance with the invention, each container 20 measures about one meter by one meter (1000 mm along a side), for a thickness of the order of 52 mm and each container has a maximum capacity of the order of 40 liters. Such a container, formed for example from polyoxymethylene or polyethylene, has a mass of the order of 5.8 kg. Furthermore, each water inlet orifice 25 has a diameter of the order of 45 mm.

[0070] In one exemplified embodiment in accordance with the invention, each receptacle 5 measures about 1100 mm along a side, for a thickness of the order of 65 mm. Such a receptacle, formed for example of polyoxymethylene or polyethylene, has a mass of the order of 9.6 kg.

[0071] In one exemplified embodiment in accordance with the invention, each covering device 35, formed for example of polyoxymethylene or polyethylene, has a mass of the order of 7.7 kg. Thus, in this exemplified embodiment, the roofing element has a total thickness of the order of 180 mm (when the container is disposed in the receptacle and the covering device is put in place above these two parts).

[0072] The roofing elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 all have the same dimensions. However, it is possible, of course, to provide variable sizes, for example for the peripheral or outer edges (top, bottom and/or side edges or joining edges between different slopes) of the roof (not necessitating sealed connectors on their free edges, not juxtaposed with another roofing element).

[0073] FIG. 5 illustrates a roof 42 of a building comprising a number of slopes entirely fitted with roofing elements in accordance with the invention. It may be noted that the external appearance of such a roof is totally similar to that of a conventional roof. Of course, shapes other than those of Roman tiles as illustrated are possible.

[0074] A roofing element in accordance with the invention can be installed on a very wide range of roofs and buildings, in particular roofs, the slopes of which have inclines which can vary, or even on flat roofs. Each receptacle can be installed on a framework of a building so that its base extends at least partly in a plane forming an angle between 0 and 90 with the horizontal (an angle of 0 corresponding to a flat roof (not pitched)).

[0075] It is also possible to provide for an overlapping of the side edges of each receptacle of the adjacent roofing elements with each other. Each edge can, for example, have a U-shaped transverse cross-section, the arms of which are sufficiently deformable to be able to be clipped on and/or to cover the U-shaped edge of an adjacent roofing element.

[0076] The roof 40, 42 can also comprise a control module incorporating a remotely controllable valve making it possible to control the opening/closing of this valve in order to evacuate the rainwater stored in the containers of a roof as a whole, for example toward the storm drainage system, when this is desirable, for example when a severe storm is forecast. During the storm, the rainwater is thus stored in the containers of roofs, thus moderating the effects of the storm or of heavy rain.

[0077] The installation of a roof is effected by carrying out the following steps: [0078] a group of receptacles 5 is fixed to the framework of a roof of a building, [0079] a container 20 is disposed inside said receptacle 5, [0080] the connectors of adjacent receptacles are connected to each other, [0081] after having put the receptacles and the containers in place on the roof, a covering device 35 is fixed above each container 20.

[0082] Furthermore, if appropriate, after having disposed the container 20 inside each receptacle 5, at least one holding bar is fixed above the container 20, each bar having ends which are fixed to the side walls 6 of the receptacle and/or of the covering device 35 of an adjacent roofing element. For example, it is possible to dispose two holding bars (not illustrated) in parallel with each other and in parallel with two upper edges and side walls 6 of the receptacle 5. These holding bars can also serve as fixing supports for any type of covering device.

[0083] Each container 20 and each receptacle 5 can each be formed of a least one material selected from the group formed by polymer materials, composite materials with a polymer matrix, metals, metal alloys and composites with a metal matrix.

[0084] Each covering device 35 can also be formed of various materials depending on the desired appearance. In the case where the appearance is to be that of Roman tiles as illustrated in the figures, the covering device 35 can be formed of a polymer material or composite material with a polymer matrix. This makes it possible in particular to limit the mass of the covering device in comparison with terracotta tiles (i.e. of ceramic material). However, there is also nothing to prevent the use of a covering device 35 formed from terracotta.

[0085] Furthermore, each covering device 35 of a single roofing element can be formed from a single piece or from a group of pieces fitted together. In the illustrated embodiment, each covering device 35 can be formed from a block (from a single piece) at least as far as its part having the appearance of tiles is concerned, despite the appearance of individual tiles seeming to be fitted together in a traditional way.

[0086] Of course, shapes other than those of Roman tiles as illustrated are possible. In the case where the appearance is to be that of flat tiles, it is possible to provide guides formed in relief so as to increase the quantity of water flowing toward the water inlet orifices 25 toward the inside of the receptacle.

[0087] Moreover, each receptacle 5 can, for example, be fixed to the framework of a building by means of rails or battens (not illustrated). Such fixing rails can be formed of at least one metallic material selected from the group formed from metals, metal alloys and composites thereof. The fixing rails are, for example, of aluminum or formed from an aluminum-based alloy. 5

[0088] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the tiles can be of different shapes. There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for each container to be fixedly attached to the receptacle of a single roofing element. In cases where the covering device comprises photovoltaic panels, it is possible to provide a device making it possible to cool these panels using the rainwater contained in the containers of each roofing element.