(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 790 368 A1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(43) |
Date of publication: |
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20.08.1997 Bulletin 1997/34 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 16.09.1994 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
18.09.1993 GB 9319349
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(62) |
Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC: |
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94306794.2 / 0644305 |
(71) |
Applicant: ULTRAFRAME PLC |
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Clitheroe,
Lancs. BB7 1PE (GB) |
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(72) |
Inventor: |
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- Lancaster, John Edward
Clitheroe,
Lancashire (GB)
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(74) |
Representative: Lyons, Andrew John et al |
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ROYSTONS,
Tower Building,
Water Street Liverpool L3 1BA,
Merseyside Liverpool L3 1BA,
Merseyside (GB) |
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Remarks: |
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This application was filed on 28-04-1997 as a divisional application to the application
mentioned under INID code 62. |
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(54) |
Installation of roofing panels |
(57) An end cap (74) for ducted plastics panels (72) comprises a channel section member
(80) having an intended upper side (82) and an intended lower side (83), the upper
side including a co-extruded gasket, whereby when the end cap is pushed onto a plastics
panel, the gasket lies on the panel surface to limit passage of water past the gasket.
Extending upwardly from the upper side wall of the channel section is a rail baffle
(88).
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[0001] This invention concerns installation of roofing panels.
[0002] Conservatories and like structures can have a roof structure comprising parallel
glazing bars extending from one or both sides of a ridge member with glazing panels
supported between the glazing bars. A common glazing material is polycarbonate sheeting,
which may have two or three skins joined at their edges and intermediate their edges
to form longitudinal ducts through the panels. When such panels are fitted to a conservatory
roof, the ends of the panels are sealed with a breather tape to prevent ingress of
water into the ducts of the panels. The ends of the panels are then covered with a
simple polycarbonate cap however, polycarbonate panels are generally not as flat as
glass panes, so that some ingress of water is still possible between the polycarbonate
panels and their end caps, which eventually finds its way into the polycarbonate panels
themselves.
[0003] An object of this invention is to provide a means for preventing the aforesaid ingress
of water into glazing panels of the ducted type.
[0004] According to the invention, there is provided an end cap for ducted plastic panels,
comprising a channel section member having an intended upper side and an intended
lower side, the upper side including a co-extruded gasket, whereby when the end cap
is pushed on to a plastics panel, the gasket lies on the panel surface to limit the
passage of water past the gasket, wherein extending upwardly from the upper side wall
of the channel section is a rain baffle.
[0005] In a preferred embodiment of the invention an end cap for a glazing panel comprises
a channel section for receiving an end of a glazing panel, which section includes
one or more co-extruded sealing strips along an upper side wall of the channel. The
sealing strips are preferably directed inwardly. The lower side wall of the channel
section preferably has a co-extruded gasket along its free edge.
[0006] A preferred rain baffle comprises a first web which extends upwardly from the upper
side wall of the channel member and a second web which is connected to the first member
by a resilient flexible coupling, whereby the second web is normally urged to overlie
the first web. In use, the second web is raised until glazing bars are fitted, usually
up against the first web, when the second web is released to lie on top of the glazing
bars. The two webs together provide a rain baffle which prevents water being driven
behind the end cap.
[0007] This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference
to the accompanying drawing which shows a ridge assembly for a conservatory.
[0008] Referring to the accompanying drawing, a ridge system for a conservatory comprises
a ridge beam 50 supported at each end. The ridge beam is of box section and has side
panels 52 indented at 54 to provide locations for glazing panel ends. The box section
of the ridge beam is open but covered by a first cap 56 and by a capping 58, which
is secured to the beam by means of a bolt 60, which has a head 62 that locates in
the formation 64 on the underside of the capping and which passes through the base
of the ridge beam to be secured in place by a wing nut 70.
[0009] Polycarbonate glazing panels 72 are provided with end caps 74, which are fitted into
the indentations of the side panels of the ridge beam. The end caps comprise channel
section 80 which has an upper side wall 82 with two sealing strips 85 of rubber or
elastomeric material depending therefrom. The end cap has a lower side wall 83 also
with a sealing strip 86 extending from its free edge. Extending at right angles from
the upper side wall of the end cap is a rain baffle 88 which comprises a first web
90 fixed relative to the upper side wall of the end cap and second web 92 which is
connected to the first web by flexible resilient material 93, whereby the second web
tends to overlie the first web. On the underside of the lower side wall of the end
cap and on the rear face of the first web of the rain baffle are retaining ribs 94
and 96 respectively, which locate behind cooperating ribs 98 and 100 respectively
at the mouth of the indentation of the side panel of the ridge beam, whereby the end
caps can be pushed-fitted into the indentation of the ridge beam.
[0010] In use, the end caps are either fitted to the ridge beam first and the polycarbonate
glazing panels fitted to the end caps or the end caps may be fitted first to the polycarbonate
panel and then the assembly fitted to the ridge beam. Then, when glazing bars 102
are to be added to secure the glazing panels, the second web of the rain baffle is
lifted, so that the glazing bars can be positioned and then released to rest on the
glazing bars. The first and second webs of the rain baffle then prevent water ingress
passed the end caps by deflecting rain water back on itself to run back down the glazing
panels to guttering.
1. An end cap (74) for ducted plastics panels (72), comprising a channel section member
(80) having an intended upper side (82) and an intended lower side (83), the upper
side including a co-extruded gasket, whereby, when the end cap is pushed onto a plastics
panel, the gasket lies on the panel surface to limit passage of water past the gasket,
characterized in that extending upwardly from the upper side wall of the channel section
is a rain baffle (88).
2. An end cap (74) as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a channel section (80) for
receiving an end of a glazing panel (72), which section includes one or more co-extruded
sealing strips (85) along an upper side wall (82) of the channel.
3. An end cap (74) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the sealing strips (85)
are directed inwardly.
4. An end cap (74) as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the lower side
wall (83) of the channel section has a co-extruded gasket (86) along its free edge.
5. An end cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rain
baffle (88) comprises a first web (90) which extends upwardly from the upper side
wall (82) of the channel member (80) and a second web (92) which is connected to the
first web by a resilient flexible coupling (93), whereby the second web is normally
urged to overlie the first web.
