Improvements relating to roofing panels

Abstract

 A roofing panel has a central portion (1) and first and second rib portions (2) and (3). The sloping flank (10) of the sportion (3) covers over the fixing plate (8) of an adtacent panel and the head (11) of the portion (3) has a snap fit over the head (5) of the portion (2). Panels can be fitted together guickly and securely and with the fixing screws (9) fully protected.

Description

[0001] It is common for roof structures, particularly barns, warehouses and factory buildings to be covered by overlap­ping roofing panels. A problem arises in achieving an sadequate overlap between adjacent panels whilst minimizing the possibility of rainwater passing through to the inner side of the panels where fixing screws are provided to secure the panels to the support structure or to each other. This invention aims to alleviate this difficulty in a manner which is attractive and which allows for rapid assembly of the panels. According to the invention there is provided a roofing panel whose two side edges incorporate upwardly projecting respective first and second rib portions, the first rib portion having projecting lips at the sides of the upper end of the rib portion, and the second rib portion having reentrant formations complementary to said lips at the sides of the upper end of the second rib portion, such that a first rib portion on one panel will be a snap fit with a second rib portion on another such panel, the first rib portion terminating in a lateral extension at the lower end thereof and projecting to the free edge of the panel to act as a fixing plate for securement of the panel to an underly­ing support structure, such that the fixing plate extension will be masked by an adjacent panel attached to the first panel. An array of such panels can be mounted onto a support sructure by securing the one edge by means of the fixing plate and fitting the other edge, by means of the comple­mentary snap-fit rib portions, to a previously secured panel. In this way the securing means for securing the fixing plate to the support structure will be hidden from view and the elements, and there will be no visible external openings through the panels which might enable water to pass through. Although the rib portions will overlap one another along their whole lengths, the complementary engaging formations on the rib formations may be provided at spaced positions along the lenghts of the rib portions. In the preferred arangement the two rib portions will have flank portions facing one another on the panel which slope down to the intermediate main portion of the panel. The first rib portion will ideally be formed with an outer groove at its upper end face and running along the length of the rib portion, for receipt of a natural or synthetic resinous sealant material for the gap between two rib portions when interlinked. The invention may be performed in various ways and one preferred example thereof is shown in the accompanying drawing which comprises a, section through an assembled pair of panels formed in accordance with the invention. Each panel has a main intermediate portion 1 of any desired width. This can be flat so as to overlie the supporting structure directly or could have ribbed form­ations which extend along the length of the panel. At the two ends of the central portion 1 there are provided first and second rib portions, 2 and 3. The first rib portion 2 has a sloping flank portion 4 leading to an upper head 5 formed with a pair of projecting lips 6. A vertical wall 7 extends to a fixing plate 8 which will be attached to a support structure by means of screws 9, bolts or other fixing devices. The other rib portion 3 also has a sloping flank portion 10 leading to a head 11 which defines reentrant portions 12 which can be secured by a snap fit over the lips 6 and thus hold that end of the other panel in place. A groove 13 is formed in the top wall of the head 5 of the first rib portion 2 and will receive a synthetic resin material which will seal the space between two interengaged rib portions 2 and 3. By means of the structure illustrated in the drawings the fixing of the one end of the panel to the support structure is hidden away and fully protected from the elements and adjacent panels are interlinked by a method which avoids the need to puncture holes through the panels (for fixing screws or the like) which could provide an entry point for rainwater. Also the assembly of the panels to one another is made easier than a method which requires the location and securing of fixing screws through the two panels.

Claims

1. A roofing panel whose two side edges incorporate upwardly projecting respective first and second rib portions, the first rib portion having projecting lips at the sides of the upper end of the rib portion, and the second rib portion having reentrant formations complementary to said lips at the sides of the upper end of the second rib portion, such that a first rib portion on one panel will be a snap fit with a second rib portion on another such panel, the first rib portion terminating in a lateral extension at the lower end thereof and projecting to the free edge of the panel to act as a fixing plate for securement of the panel to an underlying support structure, such that the fixing plate extension will be masked by an adjacent panel attached to the first panel.

2. A panel according to Claim 1, wherein the comple­mentary engaging formations on the rib formations are provided at spaced positions along the lengths of the rib portions.

3. A panel according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the two rib portions have flank portions facing one another on the panel, which portions slope own to the intermediate main portion of the panel.

4. A panel according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the first rib portion is formed with an outer groove at its upper end face and running along the length of the rib portion, for receipt of a natural or synthetic resinous sealant material for the gap between two rib portions, when interlinked.

5. A roofing panel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing