U.S. patent application number 11/119590 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for tubular skylight with dome flashing and protective corrugation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Solatube International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Muhlestein, Michael W., Prenn, Joseph W., Rillie, David W., Stevens, Christian P..
Application Number | 20050188629 11/119590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34217857 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050188629 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rillie, David W. ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
Tubular skylight with dome flashing and protective corrugation
Abstract
In a tubular skylight, a corrugated Aluminum sheet is formed
with a hole that is pressed into a curb which is fastened over the
turret of a roof-mounted skylight flashing. Roof tiles above the
dome of the skylight are placed onto the sheet, while below the
dome the sheet is placed over roof tiles and manually conformed
thereto, owing to the corrugations. Any water that leaks past tiles
above the dome will be directed by the sheet around the curb and
down onto the tops of tiles that are below the dome, thereby
providing a water seal for the skylight.
Inventors: |
Rillie, David W.; (Cardiff,
CA) ; Prenn, Joseph W.; (San Diego, CA) ;
Muhlestein, Michael W.; (Vista, CA) ; Stevens,
Christian P.; (Oceanside, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROGITZ & ASSOCIATES
750 B STREET
SUITE 3120
SAN DIEGO
CA
92101
US
|
Assignee: |
Solatube International,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34217857 |
Appl. No.: |
11/119590 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11119590 |
May 2, 2005 |
|
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|
10653297 |
Sep 2, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/1476 20130101;
E04D 2013/034 20130101; E04D 13/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/200 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/18 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A tubular skylight, comprising: a transparent dome; a flashing
coupled to the dome to mount the dome on a roof; a skylight tube
depending downwardly from the dome; and a sheet of corrugated metal
mounted on the roof and coupled to the flashing, the sheet having a
hole formed therein, the hole defining a continuous, closed
periphery closely spaced from the flashing, the sheet being
conformable to roof tiles to provide a seal, the sheet being
corrugated around the entire periphery.
2-5. (canceled)
6. The skylight of claim 1, wherein the sheet is made of a single
piece of material including at least one of: Aluminum, Copper,
Lead, malleable Zinc, plastic, and rubber.
7. The skylight of claim 1, wherein the roof defines an incline and
the sheet defines elongated corrugations extending generally
parallel to the incline when the sheet is mounted on the roof.
8-13. (canceled)
14. A lighting system comprising: a transparent skylight cover; a
light diffuser; a tubular structure extendable between the cover
and diffuser; and a single corrugated sheet configured for
circumscribing the tubular structure between the cover and the
diffuser to impede water leakage through a roof above which the
cover is to be disposed, the sheet including structure coupled to a
flashing associated with the cover.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the flashing is couplable to
the cover to mount the cover on a roof and at least one skylight
tube is configured for depending downwardly from the cover.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sheet has a hole formed
therein, the hole defining a periphery closely spaced from the
flashing.
17-18. (canceled)
19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a flashing extension
coupling the flashing to the cover.
20. The system of claim 14, wherein the sheet is made of a material
selected from the group consisting of: Aluminum, Copper, Lead,
malleable Zinc, plastic, and rubber.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to skylights.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Skylights are used to illuminate buildings in a pleasing and
energy-conserving way. Tubular skylights such as those made by the
present assignee typically have a roof-mounted transparent cover or
dome, a light conveying tube assembly extending down from the dome
into the building to a ceiling, and a light diffuser plate covering
the bottom of the tube at the ceiling.
[0003] To mount the dome on the roof, a flashing typically is
provided. The flashing may have a flat skirt that is inclined to
match the incline of the roof, and a cylindrical turret extending
vertically upward from the skirt. The dome is fastened to the
turret, with the tube assembly also engaging the turret to
establish a single continuous light passageway through the dome and
down into the tube assembly.
[0004] Many roofs are tiled. To install a skylight, some of the
tiles typically are removed to expose the flat roof substrate, and
the skirt of the flashing is then positioned over a hole that is
cut into the roof substrate. The tiles are then replaced around the
flashing.
[0005] The present invention is an improvement to prevent
subsequent water leakage from the upper tile surface around the
flashing/tile penetration down onto the roof substrate. Previous
solutions include placing three or four rectangular pieces of board
or other material to fill the gap between the tile penetration and
cylindrical turret. While such an arrangement is not without
utility, as recognized herein in the context of tubular skylights
(and, concomitantly, round flashing turrets), placing several
rectangular pieces around a round hole will result in incomplete
coverage through which water can flow. Moreover, the present
invention recognizes that the previous use of lead pieces, used
because of its malleability such that it can be conformed by hand
around the tops of the lower tiles, entails structural and health
risks. The present invention still further understands that
rectangular multi-layer corrugated sealing pieces such as are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,601 not only fail to account for
the above-noted geometric mismatch between tubular skylights and
rectangular sealing pieces, but also require comparatively
elaborate multi-layer construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A tubular skylight includes a transparent dome, a flashing
coupled to the dome to mount the dome on a roof, and a skylight
tube depending downwardly from the dome. The system also includes a
sheet of corrugated metal mounted on the roof and coupled to the
flashing. The sheet has a circular hole defining a periphery
closely spaced from the flashing. Owing to the corrugations, the
sheet is conformable to roof tiles to provide a water seal, as well
as a rodent and insect barrier.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the sheet is formed with a curb
circumscribing the hole, and the curb is coupled to the flashing.
In one non-limiting implementation, the flashing defines an upper
circular edge and bendable tabs extend radially inwardly from the
curb of the sheet. The tabs may be bent over the edge to engage the
sheet with the flashing without the need for fasteners. The sheet
may be made of Aluminum, or it may be made of Copper, Lead,
malleable Zinc, plastic, or rubber. Preferably, the corrugations of
the sheet extend generally parallel to the incline of the roof when
the sheet is mounted on the roof.
[0008] In another aspect, a method for mounting a tubular skylight
includes receiving a corrugated single piece sheet defining a hole
and a curb rising above and circumscribing the hole. The method
further includes engaging the curb with a skylight flashing on a
roof with an upper portion of the sheet being disposed underneath
at least one roof tile above the flashing and with a lower portion
of the sheet being disposed on top of at least one roof tile below
the flashing. A skylight cover can then be coupled with the
flashing.
[0009] In still another aspect, a lighting system includes a
transparent skylight cover, a light diffuser, and a tubular
structure extendable between the cover and diffuser. A single
corrugated sheet is configured for circumscribing the tubular
structure between the cover and the diffuser to impede water
leakage through a roof above which the cover is to be disposed.
[0010] The details of the present invention, both as to its
structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to
like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
present skylight with corrugated sealing member, with portions cut
away; and
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the corrugated sealing
member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a skylight is shown,
generally designated 10, that includes a roof-mounted hard plastic
transparent dome 12, an internally reflective light conveying tube
assembly 14 covered by the dome 12, and a ceiling-mounted light
diffuser plate 16 covering the bottom end of the tube assembly 14.
The preferred skylight 10 is a tubular skylight. A metal flashing
18 having a flat skirt 20 and generally cylindrical turret 22
rising at an incline from the skirt 20 is mounted over a circular
hole (not shown) that is cut into a roof 24 of a building by means
known in the art to support the dome 12.
[0014] A preferably unitary single piece sheet 26 of corrugated
metal such as Aluminum is mounted on the roof 24. As shown in FIG.
1, the sheet 26 is coupled to the flashing 18 in accordance with
disclosure below. As can be appreciated in cross-reference to FIGS.
1 and 2, the sheet 26 has a circular hole formed in it which
defines a periphery 28 that is closely spaced from the turret 22 of
the flashing 18. In accordance with present principles, the sheet
26 is conformable to roof tiles 30, and in particular the sheet 26
conforms over the top of roof tiles 30 that are below the turret
22, to provide a seal.
[0015] With more specificity in reference to FIG. 1, the sheet 26
is formed with a cylindrical or frusto-conical shaped curb 32 that
circumscribes the hole. To form the curb 32, a hole is cut into the
sheet 26 and then the portion of the sheet 26 that is adjacent the
hole to pressed into the curb configuration shown. Then, in the
preferred embodiment as best shown in FIG. 2, the top of the curb
32 is bent inwardly to a horizontal orientation and then cut to
define plural bendable tabs 34 for coupling the sheet 26 to the
flashing 18. Specifically, the tabs 34, which extend radially
inwardly from the curb 32 of the sheet 26, can be manually bent
over the top edge of the flashing 18 to engage the sheet 26 with
the flashing 18 without the need for fasteners.
[0016] With the above disclosure in mind, and now referring back to
FIG. 1, tiles can be removed from the roof 24 and the flashing 18
positioned on the roof with the skirt 20 flat against the roof 24
as shown. Tiles 30 below the flashing 18 can be placed back on the
roof 24. Then, the corrugated sheet 26 can be fitted over the
turret 22 of the flashing 18, with the curb 32 of the sheet 26
circumscribing the turret 22. The tabs 34 can then be bent over the
top edge of the turret 22, and tiles 30 above the flashing 18
replaced over the upper part of the sheet 26 as shown in FIG. 1.
Preferably, the elongated corrugations defined by the sheet 26
extend generally parallel to the incline of the roof 24 as shown in
FIG. 1 when the sheet 26 is mounted on the roof 24.
[0017] Next, if desired a flashing extension 36 can be fastened by,
e.g., screws to both the dome 12 and the flashing 18 and/or curb 32
to couple the flashing 18 to the dome 12. The flashing extension 36
can be established by one or more tubes. In any case, owing to the
corrugations of the sheet 26, a person can easily deform the sheet
26 as necessary to generally conform to the tiles 30 that are below
the dome 12 and that lie underneath the lower portion of the sheet
26.
[0018] With this invention, any water that leaks down past tiles 30
which are above the dome 12 will be directed by the sheet 26 around
the curb 32 and down onto the tops of tiles 30 that are below the
dome 12, thereby providing a water seal for the skylight 10.
[0019] While the particular TUBULAR SKYLIGHT WITH DOME FLASHING AND
PROTECTIVE CORRUGATION as herein shown and described in detail is
fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the
invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently
preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus
representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated
by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention
fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to
those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present
invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the
appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular
is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so
stated, but rather "one or more". All structural and functional
equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred
embodiment that are known or later come to be known to those of
ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by
reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.
Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address
each and every problem sought to be solved by the present
invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims.
Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present
disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of
whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly
recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed
under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112, sixth paragraph,
unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means
for" or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited as a
"step" instead of an "act". Absent express definitions herein,
claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed meanings
that are not irreconciliable with the present specification and
file history.
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