Profile system for fitting insulation panels

Abstract

 The present invention provides a profile system (10) for fitting insulation panels (6) between elongated, parallel construction elements related to a space. The profile system comprises two first elongated profile portions (11) which each have a body part (13) for abutting with an outer side thereof against one of two mutually facing longitudinal sides of two respective adjacent construction elements, and two second elongated profile portions (12) which each have a finishing part (32) for abutting with an inner side thereof against the side of an insulation panel, at the circumference thereof, which faces the space and which panel is fitted between two first profile portions. The profile system further comprises connection means (16,31) for connecting each of the first profile portions with a second profile portion, and sealing means for sealing the seam between the inner sides of the two respective body parts and an oppositely located part of the circumferential edge of the insulation panel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a profile system for fitting insulation panels between elongated, parallel construction elements related to a space, which profile system comprises two first elongated profile portions which each have a body part for abutting with an outer side thereof against one of two mutually facing longitudinal sides of two respective adjacent construction elements, and two second elongated profile portions which each have a finishing part for abutting with an inner side thereof against the side of an insulation panel, at the circumference thereof, which side faces the space and which panel is fitted between two first profile portions, connection means for connecting each of the first profile portions with a second profile portion, and sealing means for sealing the seam between the inner sides of the two respective body parts and an oppositely located part of the circumferential edge of the insulation panel.

[0002] Insulation panels are known to be used in particular for insulating roofs. These insulation panels are at least predominantly made of foam material such as EPS and are provided in a space on the inner side of a wall or roof between parallel arranged, horizontal, vertical or sloping beams. These insulation panels are in any case provided with a finishing layer, for example a chipboard, on the side in view, so that plastering of said insulation panels is not necessary.

[0003] A profile system as described in the opening paragraph is marketed by the firm of Ecotherm and is to be used in combination with insulation panels referred to as iSoEasyⓇPro. With this system, two first, oppositely located profile portions are screwed onto facing longitudinal sides of two parallel roof beams. Next, an insulation panel is cut to size. Subsequently, swelling tape is attached to facing sides of the body segments of the two first profile portions. To this end, the swelling tape comes on a roll and is provided with an adhesive layer which, on the roll, is also protected by a protective layer. Next, the insulation panel is fitted between the first profile portions, such that the swelling tape abuts against the circumference of the insulation panel, after which a connecting rib of the second profile portion is inserted into a connecting groove of the first profile portion so as to be a tight fit therein, as a result of which the insulation panel is retained.

[0004] In practice, insulation panels cannot always be readily fitted between the first profile portions. Particularly when they are used for insulating roofs, insulation panels, after they have been provided between two first profile portions, show the tendency to fall from between the first profile portions under the influence of gravity, before the second profile portions are tightly secured to the first profile portions. This is the reason why the operation of fitting the insulation panels is frequently performed by two persons. One person holds the insulation panel in place, while a second person positions the second profile portions to retain the insulation panel. Another practical problem may occur if the insulation panel made to size appears to be slightly too large, so that it cannot be readily fitted between the facing sides of the swelling tape. After unrolling the swelling tape, it needs some time to start swelling. If comparatively much time passes between the provision of the swelling tape and the fitting of the insulation panels, the tape may already have swollen to its maximum thickness, in which case the above problem occurs in particular. On the other hand, the swelling capacity of a swelling tape is limited, so that the insulation panels must be cut to size comparatively accurately. If an insulation panel made to size is slightly too small, the swelling tape and the insulation panel do not abut accurately, which adversely affects the insulating power.

[0005] EP 29277 A1 discloses a profile system enabling insulation panels to be fitted. The profile system described therein comprises first profile portions which are secured to adjacent, parallel beams and second profile portions which are provided with pins which can be secured in a side face of an insulation panel. The first profile portions have a lug behind which an edge of a second profile portion, which is attached to an insulation panel, can be secured by means of a snap-connection. A drawback of the described profile system, which, as far as is known, was never marketed on a large scale, resides in that, after insulation panels have been made to size, additional operations are required in order to secure the second profile portions to the insulation panels. In addition, there is an unattractive visible seam or slit between a first profile portion and a second profile portion which is secured thereto by means of a snap-connection.

[0006] Said snap-connection further entails that in spite of the fact that an insulation panel has been fitted, said insulation panel is subject to play, which may give rise to disturbing vibrations. Due to said play there is also the risk that air can travel across an insulation panel, i.e. from one side of the panel to the other side of the panel, which, needless to say, adversely affects the insulating power. This risk is further increased by the fact that there is no air seal between the purlin and the first profile portion, nor between the first profile portion and the second profile portion or between the longitudinal sides of the insulation panels and the second profile portions. The first profile portion is secured to two square sides of a purlin, as a result of which, additionally, there is no freedom as to the "depth" at which an insulation panel is fixed between purlins. This also results in the drawback that the known system is unsuitable for use in combination with ridges.

[0007] With respect to the above drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to at least partly alleviate these drawbacks by means of improvements which may or may not be comprised in preferred embodiments. To achieve this, according to the present invention, every first profile portion is provided with at least one elongated clamping strip portion which is resiliently connected to the inner side of the body part, with the clamping strip portions associated with the first two body parts being subject to deformation during and due to an insulation panel being fitted between the body parts and said clamping strip portions exerting a resilient force on the insulation panel, thereby tightly fitting it between the two first profile portions. Within the scope of the present invention, there may be the resilient connection between the at least one elongated clamping strip portion and the inner side of the body part, because the clamping strip portion is made of a resilient material, as a result of which it may deform elastically, or because the connection itself between the clamping strip portion and the body part is of a resilient nature, in other words the clamping strip portion could be made of a relatively rigid material, but also of resilient material. The use of the resiliently connected clamping strip portions enables a person to perform single handedly the operation of fitting insulation panels to, for example, a sloping roof wall, since the clamping action of the clamping strip portions prevents the insulation panels fitted between two first clamping strip portions from falling or moving under the influence of gravity.

[0008] Quite preferably, each clamping strip portion encloses an angle in the range of 30 degrees to 85 degrees, more preferably in the range of 45 degrees to 75 degrees, with the associated body part, with the clamping strip portion facing towards the outside of the space. This applies to the unloaded condition where a first profile portion is secured to a construction element, but no insulation panel has been fitted yet. At such angles it has been found to be possible, on the one hand, to tightly press an insulation panel between two first profile portions with only a limited amount of force, while on the other hand differences in the size of the insulation panels as a result of the insulation panels being made to size, can be coped with, the dimension of the clamping strip portions of course also being important in this connection.

[0009] To enhance the clamping effect, the end portion of the clamping strip portion facing away from the body part is advantageously provided with teeth facing towards the inside of the space, which teeth tightly grip into the insulation panel.

[0010] Customary inaccuracies in the process of making the insulation panels to size can apparently be coped with in a very suitable manner if the end portion of the clamping strip portion facing away from the body part is situated at a distance in the range of 5mm to 15mm from the inner side of the body part. This refers to the unloaded condition of the clamping strip portion.

[0011] An extremely reliable tight fit of the insulation panels between two profile portions is obtained if every first profile portion comprises at least two clamping strip portions.

[0012] From the viewpoint of manufacturability, the clamping strip portion is preferably made of the same material as the associated body part. The first profile portions can thus be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner by means of extrusion.

[0013] A very practical embodiment is obtained if the connection means for each pair of a first profile portion and a second profile portion comprise a connecting groove at the first profile portion, which groove is open on the side facing the space and which is present between the inner side of the body part, on the longitudinal side thereof facing the space, and a connection strip which is provided at a distance from the body part on the inner side thereof and which is connected to the body part, as well as a connecting rib on the side of the second profile portion facing away from the space, which connecting rib can be tightly fitted into the connecting groove. By pressing down the connecting rib of the second profile portion in the connecting groove of the first profile portion, further clamping of an insulation panel can be achieved, wherein the clamping force is directed in the thickness direction of the insulation panel.

[0014] A reliable connection between the first profile portion and the second profile portion can be achieved, in particular, if in accordance with another embodiment the connecting rib and the connecting groove are provided with teeth on mutually facing sides.

[0015] In order to preclude as much as possible an undesirable airflow between the first profile portions and the insulation panels, which is advantageous from an energy point of view, another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that every first profile portion is provided on the inside of the body part with at least one elongated packing strip portion of a flexible, rubber-like material. The flexible, rubber-like character of the material enables the packing strip portion to accurately follow the contours of the insulation panel.

[0016] The packing strip portion is preferably made of soft PVC. Soft PVC can suitably be extruded simultaneously with another, more rigid synthetic resin material, such as hard PVC.

[0017] Within the framework of the present preferred embodiment, the packing strip portion may be connected either directly to the body part or via a clamping strip portion.

[0018] In the latter case, the packing strip portion preferably abuts against the longitudinal edge of the clamping strip portion facing away from the body part.

[0019] A sloping roof with purlins also comprises a horizontal beam in the ridge of the roof. The cross-section of this beam has a vertical orientation. This beam is referred to as ridge purlin. In those cases where a floor connects to the sloping roof, there is a horizontal beam having a vertical cross-section which is horizontally oriented. This beam is commonly referred to as wall plate. Within the framework of the present description, the term "orthogonal construction element" as used herein, is to be understood to include at least the ridge purlin and the wall plate. A characteristic of the orthogonal construction elements is that there is a horizontally or vertically oriented flank, whereas "regular" purlins have slopingly oriented flanks at right angles to the slope of the roof in question. Insulation panels have to be fitted not only between regular slopingly oriented purlins, but also between a regular purlin and a ridge purlin situated over it, or between a regular purlin and a wall plate situated underneath it. For this purpose, it is known to employ wooden rails which are bevelled off and secured to a flank of the ridge purlin or wall plate, such that a side of the bevelled rail forms a flank which faces towards and extends parallel to a flank of the regular purlin. Between the relevant rail and the regular purlin, insulation panels can be fitted in a manner corresponding to the way in which an insulation panel is fitted between purlins themselves. It is incidentally noted that instead of a bevelled off wooden rail, use can alternatively be made of bevelled off comparatively narrow strips of insulation panels which can be secured in line to the ridge purlin or wall plate. As compared to the use of a bevelled off wooden rail, these strips result in a higher insulating value. The invention also provides a profile system wherein the connection means comprise a connection profile to which both the first profile portion and the second profile portion can be connected, which connection profile has a first abutting portion to be abutted on an outer side thereof by the outer side of a first profile portion and a second abutting portion for abutting, with an outer side thereof, against a longitudinal side of an orthogonal construction element, said first abutting portion and said second abutting portion enclosing an angle with each other, at least at the location of the abutting areas, in the range of 10 degrees to 80 degrees, preferably in the range between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. In this manner, the use of bevelled off parts, as described hereinabove, may be rendered superfluous in the case of roofs having different angles of slope, resulting in a substantial saving of time in the process of fitting insulation panels on the inner side of a sloping roof.

[0020] Moreover, a connection profile as described hereinabove cannot only advantageously be applied to profile systems in accordance with the invention, as described hereinabove, but also to profile systems according to the prior art, such as, for example, the above-mentioned iSoEasy®Pro. The reason for this being that the advantages achieved by using a connection profile as described hereinabove is independent of the possible use of clamping strip portions. Therefore, the present invention also provides a profile system for fitting insulation panels between elongated, parallel construction elements related to a space, which profile system comprises two first elongated profile portions which each have a body part for abutting with an outer side thereof against two mutually facing longitudinal sides of two respective adjacent construction elements, and two second elongated profile portions which each have a finishing part for abutting with an inner side thereof against the side of an insulation panel, at the circumference thereof, which side faces the space and which panel is fitted between two first profile portions, connection means for connecting each of the first profile portions with a second profile portion, and sealing means for sealing the seam between the inner sides of the two respective body parts and an oppositely located part of the circumferential edge of the insulation panel, wherein the connection means comprise a connection profile to which both the first profile portion and the second profile portion can be connected, which connection profile has a first abutting portion to be abutted on an outer side thereof by the outer side of a first profile portion and a second abutting portion for abutting, with an outer side thereof, against a longitudinal side of an orthogonal construction element, said first abutting portion and said second abutting portion enclosing an angle with each other, at least at the location of the abutting areas, in the range between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0021] According to a very favourable embodiment, the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are flexibly, preferably resiliently, interconnected, enabling the angle they enclose with each other to be changed. By virtue thereof, one and the same profile system can be employed for roofs having different angles of slope.

[0022] According to another preferred embodiment, the second abutting portion forms part of a wall portion of the connection profile, which wall portion, in the unloaded condition, has a curved shape in cross-section, and which wall portion is at least partly made of elastic material, enabling it to deform, in the loaded condition, at the location of the second abutting portion from a curved shape to a flatter shape. Such a flatter shape could in extreme cases be completely flat; in practice, however, it will still be slightly curved. The curved shape offers the user more freedom in terms of the positioning of the connection profile with respect to the orthogonal construction element, since abutment takes place as soon as the connection profile is brought so close to the orthogonal construction element that the latter is within the range of the curved shape.

[0023] When use is made of an above-mentioned wall portion, it is advantageous if at least said wall portion and the first abutting portion together define an enclosed area; thus, it can be noted that said enclosed area can also be defined by other parts of the profile system. Within the enclosed area, after the insulation panels have been fitted, the air will be still, which has a certain insulating effect.

[0024] If the connection profile is provided with at least one bridge part which flexibly, for example elastically, interconnects the inner sides of the wall portion and the first abutting portion, said at least one bridge part can contribute to the formation of one or more closed areas and also contribute to the flexible connection between the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion, as described hereinabove, enabling the angle which they enclose with one another to be changed. Besides, the at least one bridge part can contribute to the rigidity properties of the connection profile.

[0025] In general, the connection profile preferably comprises at least one deformable air chamber between the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion, which air chamber extends over the length of the connection profile. Such an air chamber contributes to the insulating value.

[0026] Specifically for use with a ridge purlin, it is very advantageous if the connection profile forms part of a ridge profile of which also another connection profile forms part, which connection profiles are arranged mirror symmetrically with respect to one another and are interconnected via a coupling part. By virtue thereof, connection profiles can be simultaneously provided on both vertical flanks of a ridge purlin, the connection between the ridge profile and the ridge purlin is brought about by means of the coupling part.

[0027] The first abutting portions of, respectively, the connection profile and the further connection profile preferably enclose, at least in the unloaded condition, an angle in the range of 60 degrees and 120 degrees.

[0028] According to a very advantageous embodiment, the connection profile and the further connection profile are resiliently interconnected by the coupling part. By virtue of such a resilient connection, the connection profile can tightly embrace a ridge purlin, so that the connection profile can independently hang on the ridge purlin, as a result of which the connection profile can be permanently connected to the ridge purlin, for example using nails or screws, in a very easy manner.

[0029] Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the coupling part has a parting line which extends in the longitudinal direction of the connection profile, and which enables the connection profile and the further connection profile to be separated from each other. Such a parting line may be, for example, a perforation line or a line along which the wall thickness of the profile has been substantially reduced, so that said separation can be brought about in a relatively simple manner, if required even without the use of tools. This parting line preferably extends in the plane of symmetry. The halves resulting from said separation can each be used with wall plates.

[0030] Within the framework of the present invention, it is also conceivable that the connection profile and the first profile portion are designed so as to be integral. If so, at least one of the two first profile portions is provided, on the side of the body part facing away from the at least one elongated clamping strip portion, with an abutting portion for abutting with an outer side thereof against a longitudinal side of an orthogonal construction element, the body part and the abutting portion enclosing an angle with each other in the range of 10 degrees to 80 degrees, preferably between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0031] In this respect it is very favourable if the body part and the abutting portion are flexibly, preferably resiliently, interconnected, enabling the angle they enclose with each other to be changed.

[0032] The present invention also relates to a connection profile for use with a profile system according to any one of the preceding embodiments of the invention comprising a connection profile.

[0033] The invention further relates to a first profile portion for use with a profile system according to the invention as described hereinabove.

[0034] Within the framework of what has been stated above, the present invention also relates to a method of fitting insulation panels between elongated, parallel construction elements related tof a space, while using a profile system in accordance with the invention as described hereinabove, which method comprises the following subsequent steps:

• securing first profile portions to two construction elements, such that body parts of each one of the first profile portions abut with their respective outer sides against elongated sides facing each other of said two construction elements,
• fitting an insulation panel between two clamping strip portions connected to the inner sides of the two respective body parts, such that the clamping strip portions associated with the two body parts deform during and due to the fitting of an insulation panel between the body parts, and clamp the insulation panel between the two first profile portions under the influence of a resilient force,
• interconnecting second profile portions and first profile portions, such that finishing parts of the second profile portions abut, with inner sides thereof, against the space-facing side of the insulation panel at the circumference thereof.

[0035] In this respect, it is further preferred that during fitting the insulation panel between the two clamping strip portions, the circumference of the insulation panel is non-engaging. Thus, apart from cutting it to size if required, the insulation panel does not have to be undergo any additional operations before being fitted.

[0036] The invention will now be explained in greater detail by means of the description of a possible embodiment of a profile system according to the invention. In this description reference is made to the following figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loft space where a profile system according to the invention is applied;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view at the location of a purlin;

Figure 3 shows in end view the first profile portion and the second profile portion of the profile system applied;

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a first profile portion;

Figure 5 shows the application of the profile system according to figure 1 at the location of a ridge purlin;

Figure 6 shows in end view a connection profile of the kind that may form part of the profile system according to figure 1;

Figure 7 shows the connection profile according to figure 6, in a practical application involving a ridge purlin;

Figure 8 shows one half of the connection profile according to figure 6;

Figure 9 shows the profile according to figure 8 in a practical application involving a roofing sheet;

Figure 10 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a first profile portion;

Figures 11 a to 11c show respectively vertical cross-sectional views of the first profile portion according to figure 3 and wider variants thereof for use with thicker insulation panels;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a seam profile;

Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the seam profile according to figure 12, in a practical application involving two adjacent insulation panels;

Figures 14 through 16 show vertical cross-sectional views of three variants of insulation panels with an insulating strip.

[0037] Figure 1 shows (a part of) a loft space with a floor 2, a roof 3 and a stone wall 4. Roof 3 comprises a number of purlins 4 formed by horizontally extending wooden beams of rectangular cross-section and exhibiting a sloping orientation, which purlins are at right angles to the plane of the roof. The purlins are typically arranged at a mutual interspace of approximately 120 cm. The ridge of the roof is provided with a special purlin, i.e. a ridge purlin 28 which is also formed by a horizontally extending wooden beam. The substantially rectangular cross-section of the ridge purlin 28 is vertically oriented. At the location where roof 3 and floor 2 meet, floor 2 is provided with a wall plate which is also formed by a horizontally extending wooden beam. The cross-section of this wooden beam is horizontally oriented. A wooden roof boarding 5 of planks is secured, for example by means of screws or nails, to the outer sides of the purlins 4.

[0038] To insulate the roof 3, use is made of insulating panels 6 which are provided on at least one side, in this example on two sides, with a finishing plate 7 (see figure 2).The insulating panels are provided between purlins 4.

[0039] To provide the insulating panels 6 between the purlins 4, use is made of a profile system 10 (also see figure 3). This profile system comprises a first profile portion 11 and a second profile portion 12. The first profile portion 11 comprises a body part 13, a stop part 14 enclosing an angle α ranging between 85 degrees and 89 degrees with the body part 13, two clamping strip portions 15a, 15b ( which may hereinafter be jointly indicated by means of reference numeral 15) and a connection strip portion 16 which via bridge part 17 is connected to body part 13. The parts/portions 13 to 17 as described hereinabove, are made of a synthetic resin material, such as hard PVC, which can suitably be extruded and which is still slightly deformable, at least in the case of the present wall thickness of 1 mm.

[0040] The body part 13 and the connection strip portion 16 jointly form a connecting groove 18 between them; at the location of the connecting groove 18, the body part 13 and the connection strip portion 16 are provided with teeth on the sides facing each other. The clamping strip portions 15 enclose an angle ß of approximately 60° with the body part 13.

[0041] The first profile portion 11 further comprises four so-termed softlips 20 to 23. These softlips 20 to 23 are made of a flexible, elastic synthetic resin material, such as soft PVC, but in any case of a material different from that used for the manufacture of the other part of the first profile portion 11. As a result, the softlips 20 to 23 are much more flexible than the other parts of the first profile portion 11. Softlips 20,21 extend in line with the clamping strip portions 15a, 15b. Softlip 22 faces towards the body part 11 and encloses an angle y of approximately 35 degrees with the stop part 14. Softlip 23 directly connects to body part 13, namely on the opposite side with respect to clamping strip portions 15, at a location between clamping strip portion 15b and stop part 14. Softlip 23 encloses an angle δ of 35 degrees with body part 13. At the end of clamping strip portions 15, a barb 24 is provided at a distance of 10 mm from the body part 13.

[0042] The second profile portion 12 comprises a connecting rib 31 and a stop part 32. Connecting rib 31 is provided with teeth 33, comparable to teeth 19. The thickness of connecting rib 31 corresponds to that of connecting groove 18, as a result of which connecting rib 31 can be tightly fitted into connecting groove 18 for the purpose of connecting the second profile portion 12 to the first profile portion 11. Stop part 32 connects, near a longitudinal edge thereof, to the connecting rib 31. The connecting rib 31 and the stop part 32 are made of the same synthetic resin material as (at least the largest part of) the first profile portion 11. The second profile portion 12 is further provided with two relatively short softlips 34, 35 at the two opposing longitudinal edges of stop part 32. These softlips 34, 35 are made of the same material as the material used for softlips 20 to 23.

[0043] With reference to figure 2, it will be explained how an insulation panel 6 is fitted between purlins 4 by means of profile system 10. Initially, the profile portions 11, after they have been made to the required length, are secured to mutually facing longitudinal sides (flanks) of purlins 4 between which an insulation panel is to be fitted, wherein stop part 14 is directed towards the roof boarding but is located at a distance from said roof boarding. It is to be noted that, in practice, purlins 4 often are not dead straight but rather slightly curved. The nature of the material used to manufacture the first profile portion 11 and the shaping thereof make it possible, however, for the first profile portion 11 to adapt its shape to that of the purlin 4 to which it is secured, so that a proper connection is obtained. In the event of a possible development of an air gap between the body part 13 and the purlin 4, softlip 23 causes the air gap to be sealed.

[0044] Subsequently, also the insulation panels 6 are cut to the required length. The insulation panel 6 cut to size is then slid between the associated purlins 4, in other words it is slid between the first profile portions 11 which are secured to these purlins. The above operation of cutting the insulation panel 6 to the required size is carried out such that the length of the insulation panel 6 exceeds to a limited extent the distance between barbs 24 of the two opposing first profile portions 11. As a result, the clamping strip portions 15 will deform, because, on the one hand, angles ß become smaller, while on the other hand, the originally straight shape of the clamping strip portions 15 becomes slightly curved, thereby creating room for the insulation panel 6 to pass between the two respective barbs 24, in other words, to pass between the two associated clamping strip portions 15 of two different first profile portions 11. The insulation panel 6 is pushed along until it is stopped at the stop part 14. In that condition, barbs 24 and the resilience of clamping strip portions 15 make sure that also after the insulation panel 6 has been released, the insulation panel 6 remains tightly fitted between the first profile portions 11 and hence will not fall to the ground, even if the insulation panel is not supported by additional means. The softlips 20, 21 and 22 will also deform when the insulation panel 6 is being fitted, and will provide for an airtight connection of the insulation panel 6 to the first profile portion 11.

[0045] In the final step, two second profile portions 12 are connected to the two respective first profile portions 11 by pressing connecting rib 31 into connecting groove 18. As a result, the inner side of stop part 32 will press against the viewing side of insulation panel 6 and press the insulation panel 6 slightly further in the direction of the roof boarding 5, causing slight deformation of the stop part 5 (angle α will increase), so that there is a certain degree of clamping stress also in the thickness direction of the insulation panel 6. Between adjacent insulation panels 6 fitted between the same purlins 4, further finishing operations may be performed by providing finishing strips 40 at said locations.

Fig 4 shows an alternative embodiment 51 of a first profile portion which, if necessary, may also be used in combination with the second profile portion 12. The only difference between the first profile portion 11 and the first profile portion 51 resides in that the softlips 20, 21 have been replaced by (longer) softlips 52, 53, which connect directly, with a longitudinal edge, to body part 13, and the opposite longitudinal edge of which is at a similar distance from body part 13 as the free longitudinal edges of softlips 20, 21.

Figure 5 shows how profile system 10 can also be used for fitting insulation panels 6 between ridge purlin 28 and the underlying purlin 4. Ridge purlin 28 has a vertically oriented longitudinal side 27 which thus encloses an angle with the (upper) longitudinal side of purlin 4. For this reason, ridge purlin 28 is unsuitable for having a first profile portion 11 secured directly to the longitudinal side of said purlin, which first profile portion would consequently also be vertically oriented. In figure 5, however, use is made of a strip 26 cut at an angle from an insulation panel. Insofar as ridge purlin 28 is longer than the associated insulation panel, a number of strips 26 can be applied sequentially. Strip 26 is secured to longitudinal side 27 of ridge purlin 28. The angle at which the strip 26 is bevelled off is chosen such that longitudinal side 25 of strip 26 extends completely parallel to the longitudinal sides of purlin 4. This longitudinal side 25 has thus become suitable to be secured, at the location of said longitudinal sides, to a first profile portion 11 of the profile system 10. In an exactly comparable manner, use can be made of a bevelled off strip at the location of a wall plate 29, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art. In the present example, strips 26 originate from an insulation panel. This has the advantage that also at the location of strip 26, a substantial insulating effect is achieved. Alternatively, use could be made of bevelled off wooden rails.

Figure 10 shows another alternative embodiment 91 of a first profile portion which can also be applied in combination with the second profile portion 12. The only difference between the first profile portion 11 according to figure 3 and the first profile portion 91 resides in that the clamping strip portions 92a, 92b are mutually different both in terms of thickness and length. Thus, still larger dimensional tolerances are permissible as regards the insulation panels 6 to be tightly fitted. In fact, the clamping strip portions 92a, 92b are provided with different elastic constants by manufacturing them so as to be shorter-longer and/or thinner-thicker.

Figures 11 a through 11 c show three first profile portions 11, 93, 94, respectively, which differ in the length of the body parts 13, 95, 96 thereof. Furthermore, the number of clamping strip portions connected to the respective body parts (and the number of softlips connected to the ends of the body parts) increase as the length of the body parts increases. Thus, the profile system is also suitable for use with insulation panels of different thicknesses.

[0046] The process of bevelling off strips 26 and securing them to a longitudinal side of a ridge purlin or a gutter as explained hereinabove with reference to figure 5, is relatively time-consuming. Within this framework, the invention also provides a connection profile, shown in figure 6, which renders the use of bevelled off parts, as described hereinabove, superfluous. Ridge profile 61 is a synthetic resin extruded product which, like the first profile portion 11 and the second profile portion 12, is largely made from hard PVC and the remainder is made from soft PVC.

[0047] Ridge profile 61 is mirror-symmetrical and comprises two (symmetrical) connection profiles 63 which are interconnected by means of coupling part 64. Each connection profile 63 comprises a first abutting portion 64 which (in cross-section) is rectangular in shape and a curved wall portion 65. At the location of the reference numerals 66, 67, the longitudinal edges of the first abutting portion 64 and of the curved wall portion connect to one another. Thus, the first abutting portion 64 and the curved wall portion 65 define an enclosed area which is divided into three rooms 68, 69, 70 due to the presence of two bridge portions 71, 72 which interconnect the inner sides of the curved wall portion 65 and the first abutting portion 64. After insulation panels 6 have been fitted on the inner side of roof 3, still air will be present inside the rooms 68, 69, 70, bringing about some degree of insulating effect.

[0048] Each connection profile 63 is further provided, on the outer side of the first abutting portion 64 at the location where the coupling part 64 connects to the connection profile 63, with a connecting rib 73, comparable to connecting rib 31, and a connecting groove 74, comparable to connecting groove 18.

[0049] Coupling part 64 comprises a relatively thick-walled central part 75 having a parting seam 76 in the plane of symmetry 62. Parting seam 76 extends throughout the length of ridge profile 61 and makes it possible (in figure 6) to separate in a simple manner the left portion of ridge profile 61 from the right portion of ridge profile 61. Figure 8 shows one of the two resultant halves, while figure 9 shows how such a half can be used for fitting an insulation panel adjoining a wall plate 29. Coupling part 64 comprises bending parts 77 at the two opposing longitudinal edges thereof, which bending parts are made, unlike the remaining part of ridge profile 61, from soft PVC material, so that the bending parts connect the associated connection profile 63 in a flexible and resilient manner to the central part 75. In the unloaded condition, as shown in figure 6, the first abutting portions 64 of the two connection profiles 63 of a ridge profile 61 enclose an angle of approximately 90 degrees with each other, and the curved wall portions 65 of the two connection profiles 63 of the ridge profile 61 are spaced a minimum distance x from each other.

[0050] Figure 7 shows how ridge profile 61 can be used at the location of ridge purlin 28 having a width b. In order to be able to secure the ridge profile 61 at the right position with respect to ridge purlin 28 and roof 3, a packing lath 78 is provided on the lower side of the ridge purlin 28. Subsequently, from the lower side, the ridge profile 61 is slid over the ridge purlin 28. Based on the assumption that the width b of ridge purlin 28 exceeds to a limited degree (for example 3cm) the distance x, the connection profiles 63 will tend to oppose the spring action of bending parts 77 and the elastic power of deformation of the connection profiles 63, so as to diverge such that distance x becomes equal to width b. At the location(s) where the curved wall portions 65 abut against the longitudinal side 27 of ridge purlin 28, the curved wall portion 65 will tend to assume a flatter shape. The area of each of the curved wall portions 65 where they abut against longitudinal side 27 is referred to as the second abutting portion 79. Particularly because of the spring action of bending parts 77, the curved wall portions 65 of ridge profile 61 will exert a clamping force on the longitudinal sides of ridge purlin 28, as a result of which the ridge profile can remain suspended independently. As a result a user does not have to use his hands to keep the ridge profile properly positioned when he permanently secures the ridge profile to ridge purlin 28, for example by screwing a screw through central part 75 into packing lath 78 and, if necessary, into ridge purlin 28.

[0051] After the ridge profile 61 has been secured, a first profile portion 11 is secured to a connection profile 63 (right-hand side in figure 7) by pressing connecting groove 18 around connecting rib 73, such that the body part 13 abuts against the first abutting portion 64. Subsequently, a cut-to-size insulation panel 6 between said first profile portion 11 and a first profile portion 11, is pressed against the upper flank of a ridge 4 situated below ridge purlin 28, so that the first profile portion 11, visible in figure 7, will swing slightly counter-clockwise, while simultaneously further deforming the curved wall portion 65 and enlarging the second abutting portion 79. In figure 7, the second abutting portion 79 is depicted as a flat longitudinal side, but in practice it is very well possible that the second abutting portion 79 maintains a slightly curved shape. The fitted insulation panel 6 is kept in place by virtue of the clamping action of clamping strip portions 15a and 15b, so that further finishing can be readily performed by inserting the second profile portion 12 by means of connecting rib 31 into connecting groove 74.

[0052] As indicated hereinabove, one half of ridge profile 61, as shown in figure 8, can be used, in a completely comparable manner, in the case of a wall plate 29 to which a packing lath 80 may be secured to make sure that the first profile portion 11 is eventually properly positioned there.

Figures 12 and 13 relate to the manner in which finishing strips 40 (see figure 1) could be embodied as seam profiles 101. Seam profile 101 comprises a body part 102 and two stop parts 103a, 103b which preferably each enclose an angle α in the range of 85 degrees and 89 degrees with the body part 102 in order to bring about a properly resilient abutting contact with an insulation panel 6. However, also the situation in which said angle is a right angle (90 degrees) falls within the scope of the present invention. The body part together with the stop parts 103a, 103b is T-shaped. At the ends of the stop parts 103a, 103b, short softlips 104a, 104b are provided which, in practical application, abut against the innermost finishing plate 7 of an insulation panel 6. On the side of the body part 102 facing away from the stop parts 103a, 103b, seam profile 101 further comprises a connection strip portion 105 having, on the opposite side thereof, serrated edges 106. The connection strip portion 105 extends at right angles to the body part 102, on one side thereof. On the other side of body part 102, the seam profile 101 comprises two longer softlips 107, 108, comparable to softlips 52, 53 in figure 4. Figure 13 shows seam profile 101 in a practical application in which the seam 110 between two adjacent insulation panels 6 is optically neatly finished by the seam profile 101. For this purpose, the insulations panels 6 are provided, during the manufacture thereof, with a longitudinal groove 111 in which the connection strip portion 105 can be inserted, and serrated edges 106 provide for a clamping abutting contact with the inner walls of the respective groove 111. After this connection has been established, the insulation panel 6 on the right to which the seam profile 101 is secured, can be moved in the direction of the arrow 112 so as to be placed adjacent the left insulation panel 6, thereby also causing softlip 104a to abut against the left insulation panel 6 so that the situation shown in figure 13 is obtained. As a result, the softlips 107, 108 are deformed and abut against the circumference of the (left) insulation panel 6. If required, it is also possible to provide softlips, such as softlips 107, 108, on the other side of the body part 102, in order to achieve a further improvement of the insulating action of the seam profile 101.

Figures 14 and 15 show possible further improvements of the insulation at the location of the seam 110. These improvements are based on the insight that by impeding an airflow in the seam 110 from the so-called "cold" side at reference numeral 113 in figure 13, the insulating effect of the insulation panels 6 can be effectively maintained to the extent possible. After all, seam 110 forms a potential path enabling air to pass the two adjacent insulation panels 6. In the embodiment according to figure 14, the insulation panel 14 comprises a foam tape 120. This foam tape 120 is applied throughout the length of seam 110 and can be applied during the manufacture of the insulation panel as well as at a later stage at the building site.

[0053] In the embodiment according to figure 15, instead of foam tape 120, use is made of a flexible, resilient ring 121, which is made for example of the same material as that used for the above-mentioned softlips. Like foam tape 120, ring 121 extends throughout the length of seam 110 and forms part of a sealing member 122 which further comprises a connection strip portion 123 to which the ring 121 is connected. The connection strip portion 123 is comparable to connection strip portion 105 and, in practical application, is inserted into groove 124 which is provided directly underneath the outermost finishing plate 7 at the edge of the insulation panel. Although not shown here in figure 15, some material of the insulation panel 6 may have been locally removed at the location of ring 121, as a result of which the left half of ring 121 is recessed as it were in the insulation panel 6, which is also the case of foam tape 120 in figure 14. In the latter case, also some material of the outermost finishing plate 7 has been removed. This has been done for the purpose of creating space for the foam tape 120.

[0054] Moreover, figures 14 and 15 show more clearly than figure 13 that also some material of the insulation panel 6 has been removed between the innermost finishing plate 7 and groove 111 so as to create room for body part 101 with softlips 107, 108.

[0055] The embodiment according to figure 16 is a variant of the embodiment according to figure 15. Ring 121 does not form part of a separate sealing member 122, but of a seam profile 131 instead, which seam profile is comparable to seam profile 101 yet with a lengthened body part 132. Figure 16 shows four softlips 133 on one side of body part 131. In an alternative embodiment, softlips 133 may also be provided on the other side of body part 131, if required. In practical application, the softlips 133 may cause air compartments between adjoining softlips 133, by virtue of which heat loss or loss of cold can be reduced to a minimum. By applying embodiments according to figures 14, 15 and 16, a substantial improvement can be achieved as compared to the air leak occurring along seam 110, as a result of which the actual Rc value is maintained at a satisfactory level.

[0056] In view of the embodiments elucidated hereinabove with reference to figures 14 through 16 in particular, the present invention generally also relates to an insulation panel comprising two opposing longitudinal sides which determine the thickness of the insulation panel, and comprising, between the longitudinal sides, a circumferential edge along at least a part of which an insulating strip is provided extending in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential edge. The term "strip" is used to refer in particular to the elongated shape thereof, rather than to the cross-section thereof. Said cross-section may be, for example, rectangular (figure 14) or round/oval (figure 15). The strip is preferably flexible, so that, despite dimensional tolerances of the insulation panels used, it can contribute to a proper abutting contact between adjacent insulation panels. It is also preferred that the strip is made of elastic material. It is further preferred that the insulating strip is, in general, provided near one of the two longitudinal sides, i.e. not in the centre of the thickness of the insulation panel. The strip preferably forms part of a sealing member which is or can be inserted into a groove made in the insulation panel. This sealing member may also comprise finishing parts which, in practical application, abut on the inside (i.e. the side facing the space) against the insulation panel for optically finishing the seam between two adjoining insulation panels. The sealing member is preferably a tight fit in the groove. Within this framework, the present invention also relates to an insulation panel comprising two opposing longitudinal sides which determine the thickness of the insulation panel, and comprising a circumferential edge between the longitudinal sides, a groove being formed in at least a part of said circumferential edge, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential edge. Said groove is preferably formed near one of the two longitudinal sides, i.e. not in the centre of the thickness of the insulation panel, and preferably directly underneath a finishing panel of the insulation panel provided on a longitudinal side of the insulation panel. Preferably, the insulation panel comprises, in the circumferential edge, at the location of the insulating strip, a recessed portion, so that mutually facing circumferential edge portions of adjoining insulation panels can abut contiguously outside the area of the strip.

Claims

1. A profile system for fitting insulation panels between elongated, parallel construction elements related to a space, which profile system comprises two first elongated profile portions which each have a body part for abutting with an outer side thereof against one of two mutually facing longitudinal sides of two respective adjacent construction elements, and two second elongated profile portions which each have a finishing part for abutting with an inner side thereof against the side of an insulation panel, at the circumference thereof, which side faces the space and which panel is fitted between two first profile portions, connection means for connecting each of the first profile portions with a second profile portion, and sealing means for sealing the seam between the inner sides of the two respective body parts and an oppositely located part of the circumferential edge of the insulation panel, characterized in that every first profile portion is provided with at least one elongated clamping strip portion which is resiliently connected to the inner side of the body part, with the clamping strip portions associated with the two body parts being subject to deformation during and due to an insulation panel being fitted between the body parts and said clamping strip portions exerting a resilient force on the insulation panel, thereby tightly fitting it between the two first profile portions.

2. A profile system according to claim 1, characterized in that each clamping strip portion encloses an angle in the range of 30 degrees to 85 degrees, more preferably in the range of 45 degrees to 75 degrees, with the associated body part, with the clamping strip portion facing towards the outside of the space.

3. A profile system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end portion of the clamping strip portion facing away from the body part is provided with teeth facing towards the inside of the space, which teeth tightly grip into the insulation panel.

4. A profile system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that every first profile portion comprises at least two clamping strip portions.

5. A profile system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection means for each pair of a first profile portion and a second profile portion comprise a connecting groove at the first profile portion, which groove is open on the side facing towards the space and which is present between the inner side of the body part, on the longitudinal side thereof facing the space, and a connection strip which is provided at a distance from the body part on the inner side thereof and which is connected to the body part, as well as a connecting rib on the side of the second profile portion facing away from the space, which connecting rib can be tightly fitted into the connecting groove.

6. A profile system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that every first profile portion is provided on the inside of the body part with at least one elongated packing strip portion of a flexible, rubber-like material, the packing strip portion being connected to the body part via a clamping strip portion.

7. A profile system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection means comprise a connection profile to which both the first profile portion and the second profile portion can be connected, which connection profile has a first abutting portion to be abutted on an outer side thereof by the outer side of a first profile portion and a second abutting portion for abutting, with an outer side thereof, against a longitudinal side of an orthogonal construction element, said first abutting portion and said second abutting portion enclosing an angle with each other, at least at the location of the abutting areas, in the range of 10 degrees to 80 degrees, preferably in the range between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

8. A profile system according to claim 7, characterized in that the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are flexibly, preferably resiliently, interconnected, enabling the angle they enclose with each other to be changed.

9. A profile system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second abutting portion forms part of a wall portion of the connection profile, which wall portion, in the unloaded condition, has a curved shape in cross-section, and which wall portion is at least partly made of elastic material, enabling it to deform, in the loaded condition, at the location of the second abutting portion from a curved shape to a flatter shape.

10. A profile system according to any one of claim 7 through 9, characterized in that the connection profile forms part of a ridge profile of which also a further connection profile forms part, which connection profiles are arranged mirror symmetrically with respect to one another and are interconnected via a coupling part.

11. A profile system according to claim 10, characterized in that the connection profile and the further connection profile are resiliently interconnected by the coupling part.

12. A profile system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two first profile portions is provided, on the side of the body part facing away from the at least one elongated clamping strip portion, with an abutting portion for abutting with an outer side thereof against a longitudinal side of an orthogonal construction element, the body part and the abutting portion enclosing an angle with each other in the range of 10 degrees to 80 degrees, preferably between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

13. A profile system according to claim 12, characterized in that the body part and the abutting portion are flexibly, preferably resiliently, interconnected, enabling the angle they enclose with each other to be changed.

14. A method of fitting insulation panels between elongated, parallel construction elements related to a space, while using a profile system according to any one of the claims 1 through 13, which method comprises the following subsequent steps:

- securing first profile portions to two construction elements, such that body parts of each one of the first profile portions abut with their respective outer sides against elongated sides facing each other of said two construction elements,

- fitting an insulation panel between two clamping strip portions connected to the inner sides of the two respective body parts, such that the clamping strip portions associated with the two body parts deform during and due to the fitting of an insulation panel between the body parts, and clamp the insulation panel between the two first profile portions under the influence of a resilient force,

- interconnecting second profile portions and first profile portions, such that finishing parts of the second profile portions abut, with inner sides thereof, against the space-facing side of the insulation panel at the circumference thereof.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein during fitting the insulation panel between the two clamping strip portions, the circumference of the insulation panel is non-engaging.

Drawing