Support structures on roofs

• US 20110252727A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• 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 8,438,799 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 13/031 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 3/364 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

This invention provides support structures on roofs. Such support structure can be used to support a roof load, or a closure structure which closes an aperture in the roof, thus to provide access to the interior of a building through an aperture in the roof. The support structure can support a skylight to provide natural day-lighting, or a smoke vent, or a variety of other loads optionally relating to matter or energy communication between the inside and outside of the building. The support structure includes rails adapted to be supported by adjacent rib elevations on opposite sides of a flat of a roof panel, elevated above the water line of the panel flat. Where the support structure surrounds an aperture, a diverter seals a cut away portion of the rib structure and diverts water through the rib structure and laterally away from the rail and closure structure.

Claims

1. A roof adaptive system configured to be installed as a roof-penetration closure assembly about an aperture in a metal roof, such metal roof comprising a metal roof profile defined by a plurality of roof panels, such roof panels having lengths and widths, panel flats extending across such panel widths, such roof panels being 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 having a length, and being configured to be supported by elevated rib structures of the respective roof panels and to overlie such panel flat of a single such roof panel between adjacent such elevated ribs;

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

(c) a high end diverter configured to extend through a cut away portion of such rib structure, thus to divert water laterally away from said rail and closure structure and onto a such panel flat of a next-adjacent such roof panel.

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 sides of such panel flat.

4. A roof adaptive system as in claim 3 wherein said elongate rails are configured to conform to outer surfaces of such roof panels at such rib structures on opposing sides of such panel flat, thereby to move with such ribs as such ribs expand and contract.

5. A roof adaptive system as in claim 3, said high end diverter having a transverse profile which conforms to an upper surface profile of such roof panel as is to be spanned by said rail and closure structure, and which closes off said rail and closure system at the upper end thereof from intrusion of water inwardly, through said rail and closure structure and toward such aperture in such metal roof.

6. A roof adaptive system as in claim 5, further comprising a lower end roof panel profile closure 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 roof panel profile closure conforms to an elevated rib structure of a known such roof panel.

8. A roof adaptive system as in claim 6, said closure member comprising a skylight, said skylight being mounted to said rail and closure structure at spaced locations along the length of said rail and closure 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 roof adaptive system as in claim 1, an opening being defined in said closure member, such opening cooperating with a conduit which conveys a gas through an aperture in such roof.

12. A roof adaptive system as in claim 1 wherein said rail and closure structure mounts to such elevated rib structure such that said rail and closure structure, at such rib structure, is above such panel flat of such single roof panel.

13. A roof adaptive system as in claim 1, said rail and closure structure comprising first and second elongate rails on opposing sides thereof, wherein said first and second rails mount to such ribs on opposing sides of such panel flat and above such panel flat.

14. 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 joinders, 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 load support structure extending about an aperture in said roof, said load support 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 having lengths, and extending along the length of said rail and closure structure, said rail and closure structure spanning the flat portion of a single said roof panel, said first and second rails being mounted to respective said first and second elevated ribs adjacent such panel flat and on opposing sides of such panel flat, at spaced locations along the lengths of said ribs and said rails.

15. A building as in claim 14, further comprising 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 adjacent such panel flat at, and extending away from an end of said rail and closure structure, and at an elevation corresponding with an elevation of the respective panel flat.

16. A building as in claim 14, said rail and closure structure comprising a high end closure extending across such panel flat from said first rail to said second rail, and closing off said rail and closure structure above such panel flat, between the respective said ribs, and extending from such panel flat upwardly to an upper;

opening in said rail and closure structure.

17. A building as in claim 14, further comprising a diversion slot cut through, and extending across, a said elevated rib adjacent such panel flat, and a diverter in the diversion slot, thereby diverting water laterally away from the end of said environment-accessing structure and onto the adjacent said roof panel.

18. A building as in claim 14, 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.

19. A building as in claim 14 wherein said load support structure comprises at least first and second said rail and closure structures in end-to-end relationship to each other and overlying a single such aperture.

20. A building as in claim 14 wherein said rail and closure structure, at said rib structure, is above such panel flat of said single roof panel.

21. A building as in claim 14, said first and second rails conforming to profiles of said first and second ribs along the lengths of the respective said roof panels.

22. A building as in claim 14 wherein said rails are configured to conform to outer surfaces of said roof at respective said ribs, whereby said load support structure moves with the respective ribs as such roof panel expands and contracts.

23. A building as in claim 14, said roof comprising a sloped roof, further comprising a high end diverter configured to conform to a top surface profile of the respective said roof panel overlain by said closure structure at an upper opposing end of said closure structure, and closing off said rail and closure structure at such upper end thereof from intrusion of water into the roof aperture.

24. A building as in claim 14, further comprising a lower end roof panel profile closure, closing off the lower end of said rail and closure structure from intrusion of water.

25. A building as in claim 24 wherein said lower end closure conforms to outer surfaces of the respective said elevated ribs.

26. A building as in claim 14 rail and closure structure defining a top opening extending therethrough, said closure structure further comprising a closure panel closing off the top opening.

27. A building as in claim 26, 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 first and second rails, at spaced locations along the length of said rail structure.

28. A building as in claim 26 wherein said closure panel comprises a skylight lens.

29. A building as in claim 26 wherein said closure panel comprises a smoke vent panel.

30. 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 inside-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 joinders, said roof panels further comprising panel flat portions between said elevated ribs,

(c) first and second rails having second and third lengths corresponding directionally to the lengths of said roof panels, said first and second rails being mounted to respective said first and second elevated ribs at spaced locations along the lengths of the respective said ribs and said rails; and

(d) a downwardly-directed load mounted to, and overlying, ones of said ribs such that the respective said ribs carry substantially all of said load.

31. A building as in claim 30 wherein said load is mounted to adjacent ones of said ribs corresponding to opposing sides of a respective said roof panel.