Claddings for roofs

Description

[0001] This invention relates to claddings, particularly to claddings for roofs.

[0002] Traditional roof cladding methods include application of slates and tiles of various types, patterns and styles, all requiring fixing, usually via secondary timberwork such as laths often involving nailing thereto and nowadays usually over felting. With time, such roof claddings deteriorate in various ways leading to a need for repairs, ultimately replacement. Wherever there has been penetration of the cladding and passage of water past cladding elements, at least secondary timberwork is usually in a poor state and also requires replacement, most often the underlying felt too, and substantial refurbishment is not infrequently necessary of main timberwork

[0003] Alternative roof claddings using relatively large sheets, usually corrugated and overlapped at sides and ends wherever necessary, generally also involves securement in a manner requiring penetration through the sheets and into underlying timberwork.

[0004] It is an object of this invention to provide cladding suitable, inter alia, for roofs, and that is simpler to install and more reliable after installation, whether at replacement of an existing roof cladding or as original roof cladding.

[0005] According to the invention a cladding panel for a roof comprises an outer water impervious layer, anchorage means and fixing members, said anchorage means being secured to the water impervious layer, said anchorage means receiving fixing members to extend away from the interior surface of the water impervious layer, which fixing members are to be secured to supporting beams/rafters or studding, characterised in that the anchorage means is provided by elongate members that extend substantially across the lateral extent of the panel substantially horizontally in relation to intended installation and afford keyways extending likewise across the panel for retaining engagement by appropriately formed ends of fixing members, and in that said elongate members by their nature and securement to the panel contribute to overall strength and stiffness of the panel, the cladding panel further comprising an inner layer of insulating material and in which the anchorage means and fixing members provide a direct compressive and tensile load bearing connection between the outer water impervious layer and the supporting beams/rollers or studding.

[0006] The inner layer of insulating material can be readily compatible at least in terms of mutual adherence and heat expansion characteristics with the outer layer.

[0007] A suitable outer layer can be made using resin bonded glass fibre materials, preferably self-coloured for the desired exterior finish, and said elongate members for anchoring fixing members can then be bonded onto that outer layer also using resin bonded glass fibre material, advantageously as a further applied layer prior to application of said insulating material itself advantageously as a spray-on foaming plastics material such as a suitable polyurethane.

[0008] Suitable elongate members for anchoring fixing members have an interior key-way within which the first mentioned ends of the fixing members are captive, say after insertion through an elongate slot of such key-way and rotation through an angle, conveniently 90 degrees, into capture below sides of the slot.

[0009] Preferred application of panels hereof to roofs is as single panels for each pitch of a roof, or part of such pitch, at least as to width of the pitch, which avoids side jointing between such panels. If necessary, wide roof pitches could be divided, say stepped, to suit. Alternatively joining of panels to form continuous lengths can be done conveniently by way of guttering for which we find particular advantage from bonding the guttering along an edge of the panelling, usually to one panel inset from the edge then overlapped by the adjacent panel. Such guttering can provide for stepped overlapping of panels in relation to falls as well as side by side connection.

[0010] Accordingly, another preferred aspect of this invention is to produce panels using an overall mould of large enough size to suit most roof pitches, for example 12.02m (forty feet) wide and 6.01m (twenty feet) long, from which full size moulded panels products could be cut down to actual desired size or, normally preferably, the mould selectively partitioned to suit known production requirements.

[0011] Whilst application of panels hereof to roofs is particularly advantageous in covering pitches by a single unpenetrated panel, other applications could be to cladding studding of walls in place ot tiling or slating as is a feature of some buildings. Whether for roofs or other applications, it is feasible to joint panels hereof one below and overlapped by another, preferably then sealed at the overlap.

[0012] Specific implementation of embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary section through part of one panel;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear plan view of part of that panel;

Figure 3 shows a fixing member;

Figure 4 shows fixing to a rafter; and

Figure 5 indicates an adjustable width mould.

[0013] In the drawing, referring first to Figures 1 and 2, part of a roofing panel, though capable of other cladding application, is indicated generally at 10. The panel 10 comprises an outer layer 12 of moulded resin bonded glass fibre material whose outer surface 12A has a multiple tile or slate appearance taken from the bottom of an appropriate mould. Such material can conveniently be self-coloured as desired. Bonded on to the outer layer at its inner surface 12B, using another layer 14 of resin bonded glass fibre, are elongate anchorage members, see 16, presenting an interior key-way 16K entrant from a slot 16S. The panel 10 has an insulating inner layer 18 of a material compatible with the resin-bonded glass fibre, say a foam polyurethane and which may be spray-applied.

[0014] The elongate anchorage members 16 serve for fixing members 20 of generally T-shape, see cross piece 20C and stem 20S in Figure 3, the latter shown flattened to a plate-like form at 20P and apertured for fixing to sides of supporting beams etc, for example nailed to a rafter 22 as in Figure 4.

[0015] Further concerning the elongate anchorage members 16, they are shown disposed extending along the width of the panel 10, i.e. transversely of conventional roof supporting rafters 22, and contribute to strength and stiffness of the panel 10. As shown, the members 16 are of composite construction where a base part carriers joggled side parts to define the key-way 16K and slot 16S, and are typically of steel sheet spot welded together beyond the key-way 16K. However, other materials could be used and other constructions, for example of integral type suitable for extrusion in aluminium and/or plastics materials.

[0016] At least for domestic properties, most roof pitches are less than 12.02m (forty feet) wide and less than 6.01m (twenty feet) long. Accordingly, a mould of that size is envisaged, see 30 in Figure 5, but preferably can be selectively and adjustably partitioned at least as to lesser width, see movable partition 30P. Then, panels 10 can be made to fit the whole of a pitch. Longer pitches can be dealt with by overlapping panels 10 hereof, preferably minus an edge-adjacent portion of inner insulating layer 18 at the intended lower edge, which can be a normal feature of the panels hereof as same would not be required at overhang for draining into gutters.

[0017] Joining of panels to form a continuous length is also contemplated especially by way of guttering extending along one edge of the panelling and on to which an adjacent panel is placed. Such guttering may be of any convenient shape usually providing an open channel with opposite, usually parallel, side edges, one of which may be bonded or otherwise secured to one panel on the undersurface and inset from the edge thereby leaving the guttering projecting from the edge to be contacted by an adjacent panel, usually abutting on that edge providing sealing either by way of a sealing edge say of plastics or by subsequent bonding using resin or the like.

[0018] Resilience in the guttering and/or dimensioning of the free edge may be such as to allow the adjacent panels to fit in overlapping relation. The guttering allows build up of continuous lengths where one piece construction of sufficient size to cover a whole roof pitch, are impractical.

Claims

1. A cladding panel for a roof comprising an outer water impervious layer (12), anchorage means (16) and fixing members (20), said anchorage means being secured to the water impervious layer, said anchorage means receiving fixing members (20) to extend away from the interior surface of the water impervious layer, which fixing members are to be secured to supporting beams/rafters or studding, characterised in that the anchorage means is provided by elongate members that extend substantially across the lateral extent of the panel substantially horizontally in relation to intended installation and afford keyways extending likewise across the panel for retaining engagement by appropriately formed ends of fixing members, and in that said elongate members by their nature and securement to the panel contribute to overall strength and stiffness of the panel, the cladding panel further comprising an inner layer of insulating material (18) and in which the anchorage means and fixing members provide a direct compressive and tensile load bearing connection between the outer water impervious layer and the supporting beams/rafters or studding

2. A cladding panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixing members are apertured for fixing to sides of the supporting beams/rafters or studding.

3. A cladding panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which said ends of fixing meters are captive in the keyway after insertion through an elongate slot of such keyway and rotation into capture below sides of the slot.

4. A cladding panel as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which at least the outer layer (18) is formed in a mould and is exteriorly formed to resemble a traditional slate/tile system

5. A cladding panel as claimed in claim 4 in which the desired size of panel is cut from a larger moulded panel or the mould in which it is made is selectively partitioned to produce a panel of the desired size.

6. A cladding panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the outer layer (12) is made using resin bonded glass fibre materials and said anchorage means are bonded onto that outer layer

Ansprüche

1. Eine Verkleidungsplatte für ein Dach mit einer äußeren wasserundurchlässigen Schicht (12), einem Verankerungsmittel (16) und Befestigungselementen (20), wobei die Verankerungsmittel an der wasserundurchlässigen Schicht befestigt sind, und die Verankerungsmittel die Befestigungselemente (20) derart aufnehmen, daß sie sich von der Innenfläche der wasserundurchlässigen Schicht weg erstrecken, wobei die Befestigungselemente an Tragbalken/-sparren oder -pfosten befestigbar sind,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß das Verankerungsmittel durch Längsglieder gebildet wird, die sich im wesentlichen über die Seitenlänge der Platte im wesentlichen horizontal bezüglich der beabsichtigten Installation erstrecken und Keilnuten bieten, die sich in gleicher Weise über die Platte erstrecken, um einen Halteeingriff durch passend geformte Enden der Befestigungselemente zu bilden, und dadurch, daß die Längsglieder durch ihre Beschaffenheit und durch die Befestigung an der Platte zur gesamten Festigkeit und Steifigkeit der Platte beitragen, die Verkleidungsplatte des weiteren eine innere Schicht aus Isoliermaterial (18) aufweist und in welcher das Verankerungsmittel und die Befestigungselemente eine direkte Zug- und Druckbelastung aufnehmende Verbindung zwischen der äußeren wasserundurchlässigen Schicht und dem Tragbalken/-sparren oder -pfosten vorsehen.

2. Eine verkleidungsplatte gemäß Anspruch 1, bei der die Befestigungselemente geöffnet sind um an den Seiten der Tragbalken/-sparren oder -pfosten befestigt zu werden.

3. Eine Verkleidungsplatte gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei der die Enden der Befestigungselemente in der Keilnut nach Einsetzen durch einen Längsschlitz einer solchen Keilnut und einer Festsetzdrehung unter den Seiten des Schlitzes festgehalten werden.

4. Eine Verkleidungsplatte gemaß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei der wenigstens die äußere Schicht (18) in einer Form gebildet wird und äußerlich derart gestaltet ist, daß sie einem traditionellen Dachschiefer/Dachziegel-System gleicht.

5. Verkleidungsplatte nach Anspruch 4, bei der die gewünschte Plattengröße von einer größeren gepressten Platte ausgeschnitten wird oder die Form, in welcher sie gemacht wird, selektiv aufgeteilt ist um eine Platte der gewünschten Größe herzustellen.

6. Eine Verkleidungsplatte gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei der die äußere Schicht (12) mittels Fiberglasharzverbundmaterial gemacht wird und die Verankerungsmittel auf die äußere Schicht verbunden werden.

Revendications

1. Panneau de bardage pour un toit comportant une couche externe (12) imperméable, des moyens d'accrochage (16) et des organes de fixation (20), lesdits moyens d'accrochage étant accouplés à la couche imperméable, lesdits moyens d'accrochage recevant les organes de fixation (20) en saillie par rapport à la surface interne de la couche imperméable, lesdits organes de fixation devant être immobilisés sur les chevrons-poutres ou les colombages de support, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'accrochage sont pourvus d'organes allongés, qui s'étendent substantiellement à travers l'extension latérale du panneau de façon substantiellement horizontale, en relation avec l'installation, et présentent des rainures s'étendant également à travers le panneau pour un maintien, par leurs extrémités, des organes de fixation de forme appropriée, et en ce que lesdits organes allongés, par leur nature et leur mode d'accouplement sur les panneaux contribuent à la solidité et à la rigidité totale du panneau, le panneau de bardage comprenant en outre une couche interne de matériau isolant (18) les moyens d'accrochage et les organes de fixation réalisant une connexion porteuse directe en compression et en tension entre la couche externe imperméable et les chevrons-poutres ou colombages porteurs.

2. Panneau de bardage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les organes de fixation comportent des trous pour leur fixation sur les côtés des chevrons-poutres ou des colombages.

3. Panneau de bardage selon l'une des revendication 1 à 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdites extrémités des organes de fixation sont verrouillées dans la rainure après leur insertion à travers une fente allongée de la rainure suivie d'une rotation les verrouillant sous les bords de la rainure.

4. Panneau de bardage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que au moins la couche (18) est conformée dans un moule et conformée pour que sa face externe ressemble à un système traditionnel ardoise ou tuile.

5. Panneau de bardage selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la dimension souhaitée du panneau est obtenue par découpe dans un panneau moulé de grande largeur ou par un moule dans lequel on positionne des séparations pour produire le panneau dans la dimension désirée.

6. Panneau de bardage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la couche externe (12) est faite de fibre de verre liée avec de la résine et en ce que les moyens d'accrochage sont fixés sur cette couche externe.

Drawing