Roof penetrating closure structures and systems

• US 20110252726A1
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T&M Inventions LLC
• Original Assignee: T&M Inventions LLC
• Inventors: McLain, Michael J., Pendley, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,438,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/200
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/03 Sky-lights; Domes; Ventilating sky-lights E04D13/14 takes precedence; structures therefor, e.g. dormer windows E04B7/18; saw-tooth roofs with light-transmission E04B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0305 Supports or connecting means for sky-lights of flat or domed shape
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/031 characterised by a frame for connection to an inclined roof
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0315 characterised by a curb frame
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/24 with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like E04D3/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/30 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/36 Connecting; Fastening
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/364 by folding of the edges
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/365 by simple overlapping of the marginal portions with use of separate connecting elements, e.g. hooks or bolts for corrugated sheets

Abstract

The invention provides an environment-accessing structure for providing environmental access to the interior of a building through an aperture in the roof. The environment-accessing structure can provide natural day-lighting by use of a skylight lens as the closure member, or a smoke vent which can be opened and closed. Such smoke vent can be transparent or translucent to natural sunlight, or can be opaque. Such environment-accessing structure is installed in an aperture in a metal roof. The system limits opportunity for water leakage from the outside environment. The environment-accessing structure includes a rail and closure structure adapted to be supported by adjacent rib elevations of adjacent roof panels, a closure panel adapted to be supported on the rail and closure structure, and a diverter which seals a cut away portion of the rib structure and diverts water laterally away from the rail and closure structure.

Claims

1. A roof adaptive system configured to be installed as a roof-penetrating, environment-accessing structure on a metal roof, such metal roof comprising a metal roof profile defined by a plurality of roof panels having lengths, and arranged side by side, edges of adjacent such roof panels meeting at elevated rib structure portions thereof, said roof adaptive system comprising:

(a) a rail and closure structure configured to be supported by adjacent ones of the elevated rib structures of the respective roof panels beam strength;

(b) a closure member configured to be supported on said rail and closure structure; and

(c) a diverter member configured to seal a cut away portion of such rib structure, thus to divert water away from said rail and closure structure.

2. A roof adaptive system as in claim 1, said rail and closure structure comprising an elongate rail configured to conform to at least a portion of a cross-section of a such rib structure, along the length of such elevated rib structure.

3. A roof adaptive system as in claim 2, said rail and closure structure comprising first and second elongate rails configured to conform to respective first and second rib structure on respective adjacent roof panels.

4. A roof adaptive system as in claim 3 wherein said elongate rails are configured to conform to outside surfaces of such rib structures, thereby to float with expansion and contraction of such roof panels.

5. A roof adaptive system as in claim 3, further comprising an upper end diverter configured to conform to an upper surface profile of such roof panel as is to be spanned by said rail and closure structure, and to close off said rail and closure system at the upper end thereof from intrusion of water.

6. A roof adaptive system as in claim 5, further comprising a lower end closure configuration to close off the lower end of said rail and closure structure from intrusion of water.

7. A roof adaptive system as in claim 6 wherein said lower end closure conforms to an elevated rib structure of a known such roof panel.

8. A roof adaptive system as in claim 6, said lens comprising a skylight lens mounted to a skylight frame and extending along a perimeter of said lens, said skylight frame being fastened to said rail structure, at spaced locations along the length of said rail structure.

9. A roof adaptive system as in claim 1 wherein said closure member comprises a skylight lens.

10. A roof adaptive system as in claim 1 wherein said closure member comprises an operable vent which can be alternatively closed, and opened to the outside environment or other roof mounted devices or penetrations.

11. A building, comprising:

(a) a building structural support system; and

(b) a roof supported by said structural support system, said roof comprising

(i) a plurality of elongate roof panels arranged in side-by-side relationship, said roof panels having first lengths, defining opposing first and second ends thereof, and opposing first and second sides of said roof panels, said sides of said roof panels comprising elongate elevated rib structure, the elevated rib structure on a first said roof panel being joined with the elevated rib structure on adjacent said roof panels to form first and second elevated ribs at such joinder, said roof panels further comprising panel flat portions between said elevated ribs,

(ii) an aperture in said roof, said aperture being confined within the width of a single said roof panel, and

(iii) a roof-penetrating, environment-accessing structure, said environment accessing structure comprising

A. a rail and closure structure having a second length defining third and fourth ends thereof, and a second width, corresponding directionally to the first lengths and the first widths of said roof panels, first and second elongate rails extending along the length of said rail and closure structure, said first and second rails being attached to said elevated ribs at spaced locations along the lengths of said ribs and said rails, said rail and closure structure spanning the width of a single said roof panel plus a said rib portion of an adjacent said roof panel,

a diversion slot, having a width corresponding to the length of the respective said elongate roof panels, such diversion slot extending across a said elevated rib at, and extending away from an end of said rail and closure structure, and at an elevation corresponding with an elevation of the respective said panel flat,

B. at least one closure panel secured to, and supported by, said rails, and

C. a diverter in the diversion slot, extending the full width of the diversion slot and extending across the respective said rib, thereby to divert water laterally away from the end of said environment-accessing structure and onto the adjacent said roof panel.

12. A building as in claim 11, said elongate rails having cross-section profiles which parallel cross-section profiles of the respective said elevated ribs such that said rails are in substantial face-to-face contact with the respective said ribs along the lengths of said ribs and said rails.

13. A building as in claim 11 wherein said environment-accessing structure comprises at least first and second said environment-accessing structures in side-by-side relationship to each other and overlying a single such aperture.

14. A building as in claim 11 wherein said rail and closure structure is secured to and moves with said elevated ribs and is above the flat of the panel.

15. A building as in claim 11, said first and second rails conforming to profiles of said first and second ribs along the lengths of the respective said roof panels.

16. A building as in claim 11 wherein said rails are configured to conform to outside surfaces of respective said ribs, whereby said environment-accessing structure moves with expansion and contraction of the respective said ribs.

17. A building as in claim 11, said roof comprising a sloped roof, further comprising an upper end diverter configured to conform to a top surface profile of the respective said roof panel overlain by said environment-accessing structure at an upper opposing end of said environment-accessing structure, and closing off said rail and closure structure at such upper end thereof from intrusion of water into the roof aperture.

18. A building as in claim 11, further comprising a lower end roof panel profile closure, closing off the lower end of said rail and closure structure from intrusion of water.

19. A building as in claim 18 wherein said lower end closure conforms to outer surfaces of the respective said elevated ribs.

20. A building as in claim 11, said closure panel comprising a skylight lens mounted to a skylight frame, said skylight frame extending about a perimeter of said lens, said skylight frame being mounted to said rail structure, at spaced locations along the length of said rail structure.