U.S. patent application number 11/028994 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-08 for standing seam panel clips.
Invention is credited to Neyer, Leo E., Simpson, Harold G..
Application Number | 20050193644 11/028994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34748968 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050193644 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simpson, Harold G. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2005 |
Standing seam panel clips
Abstract
A standing seam roof assembly in which a male sidelap extends
from one side edge of a panel and a female sidelap extends from the
opposing side edge. The female sidelap, supporting a sealant bead,
is shaped fit over the male sidelap. A clip member has a clip tab
shaped to be seamed with the male and female sidelaps to connect
the standing seam assembly in the assembled mode. The clip tab,
having a clip inclined portion with at least one sealant flow hole,
with the male and female sidelaps forms lower and upper sealant
chambers along a clip tab, the sealant flow hole communicating
between the upper sealant chamber and the lower sealant chamber to
spread sealant to encapsulate the clip tab. The clip has a clip
body slidably connected to a clip base having protruding bearing
feet to penetrate and compress insulation when mounted to support
structure.
Inventors: |
Simpson, Harold G.; (Tulsa,
OK) ; Neyer, Leo E.; (Edmond, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens
Bank One Tower
Suite 1700
100 North Broadway
Oklahoma City
OK
73102-8820
US
|
Family ID: |
34748968 |
Appl. No.: |
11/028994 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60533832 |
Dec 31, 2003 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/91.3 ;
52/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 2003/3615 20130101;
E04D 3/364 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/091.3 ;
052/200 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/02; E04D
003/36; E04B 007/04; E04B 007/18; E04D 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a standing seam roof assembly in which roof panels are
supported by underlying support structure in overlapping edge
relationship to form a standing seam assembly, the improvement
comprising: a male sidelap extending from a panel and having a male
leg member; a female sidelap extending from a second panel, the
female sidelap having a female leg member shaped to fit over the
male leg member; sealant supported by one of the female leg member
and the male leg member; and clip means for connecting the male and
female sidelaps to the support structure, the clip means forming an
upper sealant chamber and a lower sealant chamber, the sealant
disposed in the upper and lower sealant chambers in the assembled
mode and encapsulating a portion of the clip tab.
2. The standing seam roof assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip
means has a clip tab shaped to engage and be retained with the male
leg member and the female leg member in the assembled mode, the
clip tab having a clip inclined portion cooperating with the male
and female leg members to form the upper and lower sealant
chambers.
3. The standing seam roof assembly of claim 2 wherein the clip
inclined portion has a sealant flow hole communicating between the
upper and lower sealant chambers.
4. The standing seam roof assembly of claim 3 wherein the sealant
is supported by the female leg member to align with the clip the
upper sealant chamber of the inclined portion of the clip tab in
the assembled mode.
5. The standing seam roof assembly of claim 4 wherein the sealant
is caused to partially extrude through the sealant flow hole from
the upper sealant chamber to the lower sealant chamber while
assuming the assembled mode.
6. The standing seam assembly of claim 5 wherein a portion of the
sealant in the upper and lower sealant chambers is caused to flow
around the edges of the clip tab in the assembled mode.
7. The standing seam assembly of claim 6 wherein the female leg has
a clip tab has a clip dimple portion supporting one end of the clip
inclined portion.
8. The standing seam assembly of claim 9 wherein the clip tab has
clip end edges, and wherein the clip inclined portion has a clip
end notch in at least one of the clip end edges.
9. The standing seam assembly of claim 8 wherein the clip end notch
is tapered.
10. The standing seam assembly of claim 9 wherein the clip end
notch is coined to be smooth and substantially burr free.
11. The standing seam assembly of claim 10 wherein the clip means
comprises: a clip body; a clip base slidably supporting the clip
body.
12. The standing seam assembly of claim 11 wherein the clip body
has a groove forming connector, and where the base has a clip
retaining tongue disposed to be received in the groove forming
connector whereby the clip body is permitted to slide relative to
the clip base.
13. The standing seam assembly of claim 12 wherein the clip base
further comprises: stop means for limiting the sliding movement of
the clip body along the clip base.
14. The standing seam assembly of claim 13 wherein the clip base
has a plurality of bearing feet spaced to support the clip base on
the underlying support structure.
15. In a standing seam roof assembly in which roof panels are
supported by underlying support structure in overlapping edge
relationship to form a standing seam assembly, the improvement
comprising: a male sidelap extending from a panel and having a male
leg member; a female sidelap extending from a second panel, the
female sidelap having a female leg member shaped to fit over the
male leg member; sealant supported by one of the female leg member
and the male leg member; and clip means for connecting the male and
female sidelaps to the support structure, the clip means having a
clip tab shaped to engage and be retained with the male leg member
and the female leg member in the assembled mode, the clip tab
having a clip inclined portion on the clip tab and cooperating with
the male leg member and the female leg member to form a lower
sealant chamber and an upper sealant chamber, the clip inclined
portion having a sealant flow hole communicating between the upper
sealant chamber and the lower sealant chamber, the sealant extruded
between the upper sealant chamber and the lower sealant chamber to
encapsulate a portion of the clip tab.
16. The standing seam roof assembly of claim 15 wherein the sealant
is supported by the female leg member to align with the clip the
upper sealant chamber of the inclined portion of the clip tab in
the assembled mode.
17. The standing seam roof assembly of claim 16 wherein the sealant
is caused to partially extrude through the sealant flow hole from
the upper sealant chamber to the lower sealant chamber while
assuming the assembled mode.
18. The standing seam assembly of claim 17 wherein a portion of the
sealant in the upper and lower sealant chambers is caused to flow
around the edges of the clip tab in the assembled mode.
19. The standing seam assembly of claim 18 wherein the female leg
has a clip dimple portion supporting one end of the clip inclined
portion.
20. The standing seam assembly of claim 19 wherein the clip tab has
clip end edges, and wherein the clip inclined portion has a clip
end notch in at least one of the clip end edges.
21. The standing seam assembly of claim 20 wherein each clip end
notch is tapered.
22. The standing seam assembly of claim 23 wherein each clip end
notch is coined to be smooth and substantially burr free.
23. The standing seam assembly of claim 22 wherein the clip means
comprises: a clip body; a clip base slidably supporting the clip
body.
24. The standing seam assembly of claim 23 wherein the clip body
has a groove forming connector, and where the base has a clip
retaining tongue disposed to be received in the groove forming
connector whereby the clip body is permitted to slide relative to
the clip base.
25. The standing seam assembly of claim 24 wherein the clip base
further comprises: stop means for limiting the sliding movement of
the clip body along the clip base.
26. The standing seam assembly of claim 25 wherein the clip base
has a plurality of bearing feet spaced to support the clip base on
the underlying support structure.
27. In a standing seam roof assembly in which roof panels supported
by underlying support structure overlap to form a standing seam
assembly, the improvement comprising: a male sidelap extending from
a first panel and having a male leg member; a female sidelap
extending from a second panel and supporting a bead of sealant, the
female sidelap shaped to fit over the male sidelap; a clip member
having a clip tab shaped to hook over the male sidelap between the
female sidelap and the leg member of the male sidelap, the clip tab
having an inclined portion supported over the male leg member and
forming a sealant chamber there between, the inclined portion
having a sealant flow hole communicating from above the clip tab to
the sealant chamber, the bead of sealant supported by the female
sidelap above the inclined portion in the assembled mode, and
whereas a portion of the sealant is extruded through the sealant
hole during assembly to encapsulate the inclined portion of the
clip tab whereby a water tight dam to prevent water penetration is
formed.
28. The standing seam assembly of claim 27 wherein a portion of the
sealant in the upper and lower sealant chambers is caused to flow
around the edges of the clip tab in the assembled mode.
29. The standing seam assembly of claim 28 wherein the clip tab has
clip end edges, and wherein the clip inclined portion has a clip
end notch in at least one of the clip end edges.
30. The standing seam assembly of claim 29 wherein each clip end
notch is tapered.
31. The standing seam assembly of claim 30 wherein each clip end
notch is coined to be smooth and substantially burr free.
32. The standing seam assembly of claim 31 wherein the clip means
comprises: a clip body; a clip base slidably supporting the clip
body.
33. The standing seam assembly of claim 32 wherein the clip body
has a groove forming connector, and where the base has a clip
retaining tongue disposed to be received in the groove forming
connector whereby the clip body is permitted to slide relative to
the clip base.
34. The standing seam assembly of claim 33 wherein the clip base
further comprises: stop means for limiting the sliding movement of
the clip body along the clip base.
35. The standing seam assembly of claim 34 wherein the clip base
has a plurality of bearing feet spaced to support the clip base on
the underlying support structure.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/533,832 filed Dec. 31, 2003, entitled Standing
Seam Panel Clips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to pre-engineered building
construction, and more particularly but not by way of limitation,
to improvements in standing seam panel clips for the metal roof
industry.
[0004] 2. Discussion
[0005] Standing seam metal panel clips are used widely in the metal
roof industry. However, there has not been a systematic approach to
optimizing the design, production, cost and use of clips for
various panel and clip configurations found in the industry.
[0006] This has meant that design attention to such clips has not
kept pace with those of the other portions of the panel seams. The
present invention provides an improved design of such a clip and
the attendant problem of achieving continuity in the watertight
sealant that must be achieved in the panel seams.
[0007] Standing seam roofs have become the most popular metal
roofing assembly due mainly to the avoidance of panel penetration
when securing roofing panels to underlying building support
structures. Also, since the outer surfaces of a metal roofing
assembly is directly exposed to a wide variety of weather
conditions, standing seam roofs utilize connectors that provide for
expansion and contraction of metal roof panels.
[0008] To eliminate or minimize the use of "through fasteners"
(fasteners that penetrate the panels to attach them to supporting
structure), standing seam metal roofs are secured to the support
structure by non-penetrating clip connectors, and the sidelap
joints of the standing seam metal roof panels and attaching
fasteners are joined together, usually by a seaming process.
[0009] Of course, the type of seaming utilized will vary depending
on the panel design. In some cases, such as in the case of simple
interlocking panel arrangements, seam joinder is accomplished by
snapping the panels together. In more complex designs, the seaming
process will involve pressing the panel sidelaps together to
initially interlock the sidelaps as the panels are positioned on
the building roof support structures (typically purlins), following
which seaming of the joint is achieved by either: (1), a seaming
implement or machine that elastically joins the sidelaps; or (2),
by a seaming implement or machine that inelastically forming (i.e.,
by bending and folding) the sidelaps into the standing seam
assembly.
[0010] Non-penetrating clips that connect roof panels to underlying
building support structure (such as purlins) are connected between
overlapping panel sidelaps prior to joining and seaming. Panel clip
connectors attach the roof to the building structure in the
installed position, stabilizing and bracing the roof from
environmental factors, such as the uplift forces of a strong wind.
The clips also stabilize and brace the support structure, and
provide for expansion and contraction of the roof panels as
temperature gradients are imposed on the roof members and the
underlying building structurals.
[0011] To secure roof panels to the underlying support structure,
clips typically have tabs designed to be disposed within the panel
seam. Such clip tabs are generally shaped as required by the
particular shape of the panel design. Because most panels have
unique shapes, each clip model is configured for a particular panel
shape to which it is to be connected. One important requirement for
such clip tabs is that a watertight seal be maintained about the
clip tabs in the finally formed standing seam assembly.
[0012] Water tightness is usually achieved by a factory applied
bead of sealant disposed on the under side of the female sidelap.
As adjacent panel sidelaps are seamed, the sealant material is
pressed against the top side of the male sidelap to form a
watertight dam, preventing water and air from moving between the
two sidelaps in the final seam assembly. At the locations where
clip tabs are interposed between the male and female sidelaps, such
clip tabs prevent the sealant on the female sidelap from contacting
the male sidelap, with the female sidelap carried sealant instead
being pressed against the tops of the clip tabs at those
locations.
[0013] That is, as the sealant is compressed to flow toward the
male at the clip locations, the sealant must flow around the clip
tabs. While encapsulation of the clip tabs is desired, what happens
in practice is that the sealant flow at the clip tabs results in
gaps in the sealant between the under side of the clip tab and the
top of the male side seam. It has been well verified that, because
of these gaps, voids and sealant discontinuities, water and air can
migrate between the under side of the panel clip tabs and the top
side of the male sidelap. In time, this condition will deteriorate
the sealing further (such as water freezing, roof leaks, etc.),
leading to building leaks and diminished roof panel life.
[0014] Past attempts at preventing this condition have included
such measures as a factory applied sealant on the underside of each
clip tab that aligns with the sealant on the underside of the
female sidelap when the clip tab. This sealant on the clip tab is
positioned to generally align with the female sidelap carried
sealant when the components of the standing seam assembly is
assembled. To assure water tightness, the sealant on the female
sidelap and on the clip tab, when joined and seamed, must form a
continuous seal; this requires that the sealant on the clip tab
extend past the tab edges in order to contact the sealant on the
female sidelap during sealing. The purpose is to achieve
encapsulation of the clip tab and to assure the integrity of the
resultant seal between the male and female sidelaps when the seam
is formed. However, tests have shown that this approach is less
than totally successful, as for many reasons, the continuity of the
sealant is far from perfect, there continuing to be some
discontinuities in the sealant along the length of the standing
seam assembly near the locations of the clips.
[0015] Furthermore, although an improvement in providing a
continuing watertight seal, the placement of a sealant on the clip
tab is costly in material and labor because a separate
manufacturing step is required after the final clip forming
operation. This means that a separate line must be provided, and
that additional handling of the clips is required.
[0016] Some manufacturers have attempted to eliminate the clip
sealant by designing a clip with perforations, or holes, in the
clip tab, the purpose being to allow the sealant on the female
sidelap to flow through the tab perforations onto the male sidelap
during seaming. This has met with only limited success because the
sealant flow through such perforations during seaming has not been
consistent to a degree necessary to assure watertight integrity of
the seal along the total length of the panel seam, as it has been
shown that gaps and discontinuities frequently occur between the
stream of sealant extruded through the holes and the sealant
extruded around the edges of the clips.
[0017] There is therefore a need for a clip design that assures
complete sealant encapsulation of the clip tabs with the seaming of
a standing seam panel assembly. Preferably, as well, such design
would make unnecessary having a sealant pre-applied to the clip
tabs prior to installation; that is, complete encapsulation of the
clip tabs will be achieved by only the sealant carried by at least
one of the panel sidelaps during sealing thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention provides an improved standing seam
roof assembly in which roof panels are supported by underlying
support structure in overlapping edge relationship. A male sidelap
extends from a first side edge of the panels and a female sidelap
extends from the opposing second side edge of each panel. The male
sidelap has a male leg member and the female sidelap has a female
leg member shaped to fit over the male leg member and to be seamed
together.
[0019] A sealant bead is supported on the underside of the female
leg member and is disposed to sealingly contact the top side of the
male leg member. A clip has a clip leg member that is shaped to fit
over the male leg member and be seamed with the male and female leg
members to connect the standing seam assembly to an underlying roof
support structure in the assembled mode, the clip tab having a clip
inclined portion with at least one sealant flow hole and
cooperating with the male leg member and the female leg member to
form a lower sealant chamber and an upper sealant chamber along the
clip tab, the sealant flow hole communicating between the upper
sealant chamber and the lower sealant chamber, the sealant extruded
in the upper sealant chamber and the lower sealant chamber to
encapsulate a portion of the clip tab.
[0020] The advantages and features of the present invention will
become apparent when the following detailed description is read in
conjunction with the drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an elevational end view of a female sidelap member
constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a
sealant adhered to the underside of the female sidelap.
[0022] FIG. 2 is an elevational end view of a corresponding
configured male sidelap member constructed in accordance with the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is an end, cross-sectional view of a standing seam
assembly having joined together female and male sidelaps of FIGS. 1
and 2.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an end, partially cutaway, cross-sectional view of
a clip member also constructed in accordance with the present
invention and configured to connect to the standing seam assembly
of FIG. 3.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a view of the standing seam assembly of FIG. 3
after being inelastically seamed by a seaming tool/machine.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective, partial view the clip member of
FIG. 4 hooked over the male sidelap of FIG. 2.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of one end edge portion of the
clip of FIG. 6 showing the notch therein.
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a cut longitudinally
through the top of joined male and female sidelap members of FIGS.
1 and 2 and illustrating the sealant flow through sealant flow
holes in the clip member of FIG. 4 when the attached clip member is
square ended.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 but with the clip
member constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0030] FIGS. 10 through 12 depict the components of another
embodiment of a standing seam assembly constructed in accordance
with the present invention.
[0031] FIGS. 13 through 15 depict the components of yet one more
embodiment of a standing seam assembly constructed in accordance
with the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the clip of FIG. 4.
[0033] FIG. 17 is an isometric top view of the base portion of the
clip of FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 18 is an isometric bottom view of the base portion of
the clip of FIG. 4.
[0035] FIG. 19 is a partial, elevational view of the clip of FIG. 4
attached to a supporting purlin member.
[0036] FIG. 20 is an elevational view of a female sidelap member
constructed in accordance with the present invention
[0037] FIG. 21 shows a partially cutaway, cross-sectional,
elevational end view of a clip member constructed in accordance
with the present invention and configured for elastic joinder with
the female sidelap of FIG. 20.
[0038] FIG. 22 is an assembled, elastically seamed standing seam
assembly having the clip member of FIG. 21, the female sidelap of
FIG. 20 and a male sidelap constructed in accordance with the
present invention to form another embodiment of the standing seam
assembly of the present invention.
[0039] FIGS. 23 through 26 illustrate the typical, state of the art
elastically seamed standing seam assembly components that are
typically are referred to as a snap-together seam.
[0040] FIGS. 27 through 30 illustrate an alternate adaptation of
the present invention utilizing only one sealant chamber and
incorporating sealant both on the underside of the female sidelap
and the clip member.
[0041] FIGS. 31 and 32 show yet another embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0042] Referring to the drawings in general, and particularly to
FIG. 1, shown therein is a female sidelap 10 formed along one
longitudinal edge of a panel 12 of the kind used in multiple units
to form the roof of a building structure, such as a pre-engineered
metal building. Shown in FIG. 2 is a male sidelap 14 formed along
the opposite side edge of the panel 12.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a standing seam assembly 16 that is formed when
the male sidelap 14 of a side-adjacent panel 12A is inserted into
the female sidelap 10 of the panel 12. It will be understood the
roof containing the panels 12 and 12A will have a series of like
panels positioned in side-adjacent juxtaposition on supporting
structures, such as purlins, with the side edges being formed into
standing seams like the standing seam assembly 16 depicted in FIG.
3. Each such panel used in forming the roof will have one side edge
formed in the shape of the female sidelap 10 along one longitudinal
edge, and will have its opposite side edge formed in the shape of
the male sidelap 14 along the opposite longitudinal edge. The
female sidelap of one panel will be joined with the male sidelap of
an adjacently disposed panel to form the standing seam assembly
16.
[0044] FIG. 4 shows a clip member 18 that hooks over the male
sidelap 14 of panel 12A before the male sidelap 14 is inserted into
the female sidelap 10 of the panel 12 to form the standing seam
panel assembly 16. The clip 18 has a clip tab 20 that is formed to
permit sealant passage there through; further, the clip 18 has a
first leg member 22, preferably extending generally perpendicular
to the medial portion of panel 12A; a clip second leg member 24
extending angularly from the first leg member 22 at a clip apex
radius portion 26; and a third leg member 28 extending angularly
from the clip second leg member 24 at a clip intermediate radius
portion 30. In the embodiment shown, the clip 18 has a fourth leg
member 32 extending angularly from the third leg member 28 at the
clip distal radius portion 34 and generally toward the
aforementioned portions of the clip 18. The medial portion of the
clip second leg, member 24 of the clip 18 is crimped to form an
angularly clip first inclined portion 35 and a clip second inclined
portion 36, the clip second inclined portion 35 being perforated to
have a plurality of sealant flow holes 38. The clip sealant flow
holes 38 can be regular in shape (such as slots or circular holes)
or irregular in shape, and the clip sealant flow holes 38 can be
spaced uniformly or non-uniformly down and across the clip inclined
portion 36, to accommodate different sealant flow rates there
through so as to achieve encapsulation of the clip tab 20 to form a
water tight seal.
[0045] Returning to FIG. 1, the underside of the female sidelap 10
has a bead of sealant 40 that extends along the length of the
sidelap edge of the panel 12. The sealant 40 is preferably
factory-installed, but as appropriate, can be field installed prior
to assembly. It will be understood that several of the clips 18
will be hooked at intervals along the length of the male sidelap
14, and once in place, the female sidelap 10 will be positioned
over the male sidelap 14 and the clips 18 in the manner illustrated
in FIG. 3. In this position, it will be understood that the
location of the sealant bead 40 on the female sidelap 10 will be
determined such as to generally align with the clip inclined
portion 36, and thus, with the sealant flow holes 38 of the clips
18.
[0046] During initial assembly of the standing seam assembly 16, as
the female sidelap 10 is joined with the male sidelap 14 with the
clips 18 hooked there over, the assembly process forces, or
extrudes, the sealant 40 through the sealant flow holes 38 in the
clip inclined portion 36 of the clip 18 into a lower sealant
chamber 42 formed between the clip inclined portion 36 and the male
sidelap 14, as shown in FIG. 3. A portion of the sealant 40 will
flow longitudinally along the lower sealant chamber 42 for the
length of clip tab 20.
[0047] FIG. 3 depicts the components following the initial assembly
of the standing seam assembly 16, that is, before any seam forming,
or seam rolling, has been performed. It will be noted that the
weight of the female sidelap 14 borne by the sealant bead 40 will
cause it to deform from its initial shape depicted in FIG. 1 to
assume a first compressed sealant shape 44 (shown in FIG. 3), a
portion of the sealant 40 being forced to flow into an upper cavity
or upper sealant chamber 46, formed between the under surface of
the female sidelap 10 and the upper surface of the clip inclined
portion 36. And, as noted, a portion of the sealant 40 will be
forced to flow into the lower sealant chamber 42, effectively
sealing the male and female sidelaps between the locations of the
clip members 18.
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates one possible final shape of the standing
seam assembly 14 at the locations of the clip members 18 after the
male and female sidelaps have been formed by a sealing
tool/machine, such sealing tool/machine being conventional except
for the shape achieved by the particular dies at hand, as will be
understood by one skilled in the art. The sealant 40, flowing under
compressive force, flows from the upper sealant chamber 46 through
the sealant flow holes 38 to the lower sealant chamber 42 and
around the end edges of the clip tab 20. This will be further
described below with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9. It will be
understood that the male and female members 14, 10 can be: (1)
continuously seamed (by the aforementioned sealing tool/machine)
between the locations of the clip members 18, including at the
locations of the clip members 18; (2) seamed (by the sealing
tool/machine) only at the locations of the clip members 18; or (3)
any combination of (1) and (2) intermittently as may be
desired.
[0049] It will be noted that the lower sealant chamber 42 and the
upper sealant chamber 46 have cross sectional profiles that are
generally triangularly shaped. The sealant chambers 42, 46 are
protected from collapse by the crimped clip first inclined portion
35, and further, by a crimped dimple portion 48 formed between one
end of the clip first inclined portion 35 and the clip apex radius
portion 26 (between the clip first leg member 22 and the clip
second leg member 24) as shown in FIG. 4.
[0050] It should also be noted that the angle of incline 37 of the
more vertical clip first inclined portion 35 may be varied to
adjust the resistance to collapse of the lower sealant chamber 42
and the upper sealant chamber 46, as well as the amount of spring
back occurring. The more vertical the position of the clip first
inclined portion 35, the greater the resistance to collapse and the
less spring back that will occur, unless the clip first inclined
portion 35 is eliminated altogether. It should also be noted that
the angle of incline of the clip second inclined portion 36 may be
varied to increase or decrease the distance between the clip apex
radius portion 26 and the clip intermediate radius portion 30 to
accommodate different panel shapes.
[0051] The triangular profiles of the sealant chambers 42, 46
result in sealant cavities in which the sealant is significantly
thicker than that achieved by conventional clip to panel
configurations in which the surface contact does not provide such
sealant cavities. The benefit of the sealant thickness achieved by
the present invention becomes apparent to one skilled in the art
when considering the phenomena of metal "spring back." As the
sidelap seam is formed by the sealing tool/machine, the lower
sealant chamber 42 and the upper sealant chamber 46 are slightly
compressed and the metal will have a certain amount of metal spring
back to its pre-seamed condition, and a thicker bead of sealant,
such as in the sealant chambers 42 and 46, will provide a greater
elastic length so that a set limit on unit elasticity can
accommodate a greater overall movement without failure to better
accommodate and compensate for the spring back and compression
during seaming.
[0052] Seaming pressure and metal spring back will cause the seam
cavities to close and then open somewhat, and the greater thickness
of the sealant bead in the sealant chambers 42, 46 insures that the
sealant is not broken or displaced during the seaming process.
Rather, when the spring back occurs, allowing some separation of
the female sidelap 10, the male sidelap 14 and the clip tab 20, the
sealant 40 prevents creation of water flow paths between the seam
components, thereby substantially eliminating potential leaks.
Thus, the sealant bead 40 adhered to, and carried by, the underside
of the female sidelap 10, forms a watertight barrier between the
female sidelap 10 and the male sidelap 14 even at clip
locations.
[0053] FIG. 3 depicts the relation of the components during the
initial assembly of the male sidelap 14, the female sidelap 10 and
the clip member 18, and it should be noted that only the upper
portion of the clip 18 is shown in this view, the lower portion
being configured to attach to underlying support structure of the
building on which the panel members are installed.
[0054] The dimple portion 48 of the clip 18 supports the clip
second inclined portion 36 above the male second leg member 72 of
the male sidelap 14 to form the sealant chamber 42. That is, the
sealant chamber 42 is positioned between the clip intermediate
radius portion 30 and the dimple 48, and the lower sealant chamber
42 is formed by the upper surface of the male second leg member 72
of the male sidelap 14. The sealant flow holes 38 that communicate
with the lower sealant chamber 42 can vary in number and can be of
various shapes and sizes depending on the clip tab tooling
requirements and the sealant flow characteristics, including
durometer, surface tension, etc.
[0055] The upper sealant chamber 46 is formed between the underside
of the female second leg member 52 of the female sidelap 10 and the
upper surface of the clip second inclined portion 36 at each clip
location, as depicted in FIGS. 3-5. As the female sidelap 10 is
positioned over the clip member 14 and the male sidelap 14, a
portion of the sealant 40 is caused to flow by compression thereof,
assuming the first compressed shape 44 shown in FIG. 3. This
partial compression causes the sealant to flow along the upper
sealant chamber 46 of the clip tab 20 and through sealant flow
holes 38 in the clip tab 14. Preferably, the sealant flow holes 38
are spaced at appropriate longitudinal intervals along the clip tab
20 in a staggered lateral pattern, so as to help assure a portion
of the sealant flows into the lower sealant chamber 42.
[0056] Returning to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the female
sidelap 10 has a first female leg member 50 preferably extending
generally perpendicularly to the medial portion of the panel 12; a
second female leg member 52 extending angularly from the first
female leg member 50 at a female apex radius 54; a third female leg
member 56 extending angularly from the second female leg member 52
at an intermediate female radius portion 58; and a fourth female
leg member 60 extending angularly from a distal female radius
portion 62. In FIG. 2, the male sidelap 10 has a male first leg
member 70 preferably extending generally perpendicularly to the
medial portion of the panel 12; a male second leg member 72
extending angularly from the male first leg member 70 at a male
apex radius 74; and a male third leg member 76 extending angularly
from the male second leg member 72 at a male intermediate radius
portion 78.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, after the standing seam assembly 16 has
been inelastically seamed and the seaming process has formed the
components into the shape shown, the components of the female
sidelap 10, the female apex radius portion 54, the female
intermediate radius portion 58 and the female distal radius portion
62, are stretched and tightly compressed against the components of
the clip 18: the clip apex radius portion 26, the clip intermediate
radius portion 30 and the clip distal radius portion 34,
respectively.
[0058] The inelastic seaming of the standing seam assembly 16 has
caused a partial closure of the upper sealant chamber 46 between
the clip intermediate radius portion 30 and the female intermediate
radius portion 58 of the female sidelap 10 along the upper surface
of the clip second inclined portion 36, as shown. Thus, the upper
sealant chamber 46 is formed by the underside of the female sidelap
10 and the top surface of the clip member 18, including at least
partially around the intermediate radius portion 30. The seam
forming process reduces the volume area in which the sealant 40 was
disposed following the initial extruding force that was exerted (as
discussed above for FIG. 3) by partially bearing the weight of the
female sidelap 10, thus creating an additional second surge of
extruding force that further forces sealant in the upper chamber 46
through the sealant flow holes 38 into the lower sealant chamber 42
where the sealant 40 is caused to travel longitudinally along the
lower sealant chamber 42 to seal along the top of the male second
leg member 72.
[0059] The upper sealant chamber 46 which forms a dam against the
underside of the female second leg portion 52 of the female sidelap
10, and sealant 40 in the upper sealant chamber 46, being
compressed by the seaming process, causes a portion of the sealant
40 to flow toward the clip intermediate radius portion 30 of the
clip 18 and out and over the clip first and second end edges 80, 82
(see FIG. 8). However, the sealant 40 is prevented from freely
flowing past the clip intermediate radius portion 30, since the
female intermediate radius portion 58 and the clip intermediate
radius portion 30 are stretched together to prevent further passage
of sealant. Thus, the interference created from seaming compression
of the female sidelap 10 over the clip member 18 will cause part of
the sealant 40 in the upper sealant chamber 46 to extend along the
width and length of the clip tab 20, joining with the portion of
sealant 40 that is pressed through the sealant flow holes 38 into
the lower sealant chamber 42, to seal around the end edges and ends
of the clip 18. With the sidelaps 10, 12 inelastically formed into
the shape shown, the applied compressive forces cause the sealant
40 to essentially encapsulate the clip inclined portion 36.
[0060] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrated therein is a
portion of the clip 18 showing further details of the clip inclined
portion 36 of the clip second leg member 24. In FIG. 6 the clip 18
hooked over the male sidelap 14 prior to installation of the female
sidelap 10. FIG. 7, which shows the clip 18 having a clip first end
edge 80 and a clip second end edge 82, is provided as the best view
to describe the notching of the clip ends. The clip end edges 80,
82 of the top portion of the clip tab 20 have tapered notches 84,
and the notches 84 preferably are smooth and generally free of
burring, having coined notch portions 85.
[0061] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 8 and 9 to illustrate
the purpose of the notches 84 of FIGS. 6 and 7, having coined notch
portions 85, as theses tapered, smooth edges assure integrity and
achieve continuity of the sealant 40 at the locations of the clip
members 18 in the standing seam assembly 16. FIG. 8 is a sectional
view cut longitudinally through the standing seam assembly 16 at
the sealant flow holes 38 in the clip second inclined portion 36 of
the clip member 18. This view illustrates the sealant 40 in the
upper and lower sealant chambers 46, 42 at a panel clip location.
However, in FIG. 8, instead of having the preferred notched ends
80, 82, the clip 18 is depicted as though the clip 18 has a square
cut end 81; that is, the end 81 of the clip member 18 will be
considered momentarily as not having tapered, notched ends.
[0062] Thus, FIG. 8 depicts what can be expected when the sidelaps
10 and 14 have been seamed with the clip 18 having square formed
ends, with the sealant 40 having been forced to flow into the upper
and lower sealant chambers 46, 42, as previously described. Also,
the sealant 40 on the underside of the female second leg member 52
of the female sidelap 10 has joined with the sealant on top of the
male second leg member 72 of the male sidelap 14 along the seam
joint; and, a portion of sealant 40 that flowed through the sealant
flow holes 38 into the lower sealant chamber 42 has been extruded
out and around the clip square cut end 81.
[0063] Both the sealant 40 above the clip tab 20 and the portion of
the sealant 40 extruded into the sealant chamber 42 in FIG. 8 are
united at a sealant boundary line 86. However, because there is
much less extruding force exerted at the ends of the clip 18 (due
to the greater cross section there) and due to the inability of the
sealant to flow vertically down due to its flow characteristics
(viscosity, cohesion, adhesion, etc.) or to flow upwardly up the
square cut end 81, both sealant portions join at the sealant
contact line 86. As the compressed sealant portions (that flowing
out the end of the lower sealant chamber 42 and that flowing out
the end of the upper sealant chamber 46), a sealant void 88 is
created, disrupting the integrity of the sealant and providing
unwanted voids that lead to fissures in the sealant and potential
water leakage routes.
[0064] FIG. 9, on the other hand, illustrates what happens to the
sealant 40 when the clip member 18, rather than having square cut
ends, is provided with the tapered end notches 84 as described with
reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 above. This inventive configuration at
the ends of clip tab 20 allows the sealant 40 above the clip tab 20
(in the upper sealant chamber 46) and the sealant below the clip
tab 20 (in the lower sealant chamber 42) to merge at the boundary
line 86A without a sealant void. That is, this feature assures that
the sealant 40 compressed to fill the lower sealant chamber 42 and
the upper sealant chamber 46 will unite at the boundary line 86A to
provide continuity of the watertight seal, assuring seal integrity
continuously along the entire length of the seam. The reason for
this is that, in FIG. 8, the inner surface of the notch is located
away from the end of the clip 18 where the sealant is compressing
and forced flow of the sealant is occurring.
[0065] The sealant flow holes 38 in FIGS. 6 and 7 are shown in a
staggered pattern, with some of the holes centered on a
longitudinal axis A and some holes centered on a longitudinal axis
B, and it will be appreciated that the flow holes can be staggered
as may be required when a greater alignment tolerance between the
flow holes 38 and sealant 40 is desired, thereby facilitating
adequate flow of the sealant 40 into the lower sealant chamber 42.
Depending on the dimensions, this can be useful in assuring a
uniform water entry prevention dam, and such staggered hole pattern
will accommodate greater location tolerances for the placement of
the sealant 40 on the under side of female sidelap 10 and for the
dimensions of the clip member 18.
[0066] FIGS. 10 through 12 depict another embodiment of the present
invention in which a female sidelap 10A, a male sidelap 14A and a
clip 18A are depicted as forming a standing seam assembly 16A.
Where the component parts are the same as those described herein
above for the standing seam assembly 16, identical component
numbers are depicted. Further description is not believed necessary
as the purpose of including FIGS. 10-12 is to illustrate that the
present invention can be incorporated in other embodiment shapes of
the finally formed standing seam assembly, and the above
description for the standing seam assembly 14 is incorporated by
reference to that of the standing seam assembly 14A.
[0067] FIGS. 13 through 15 depict another embodiment of the present
invention in which a female sidelap 10B, a male sidelap 14B and a
clip 18B are depicted as forming yet another standing seam assembly
16B. Where the component parts are the same as those described
herein above for the standing seam assembly 16, identical component
numbers are depicted. Further description is not believed necessary
as the purpose of including FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C is to illustrate
that the present invention can be incorporated in other embodiment
shapes of the finally formed standing seam assembly, and the above
description for the standing seam assembly 16 is incorporated by
reference to that of the standing seam assembly 16B.
[0068] Turning to another beneficial attribute, it should be noted
that the clip member 18, described above, can provide added
stabilization for the roof purlins of a building structure. As will
be appreciated by one skilled in the art of metal panel roofs, a
purlin load force can cause a translation or rotation of a zee or a
cee purlin. The panel clip can be designed to resist a portion of
such force tending to cause the purlins to translate or rotate by
transferring a portion of the force required to resist such
movement through the clip to the seam of a standing seam panel
assembly of the type discussed herein where it is then transferred
to other portions of the building structure.
[0069] The clip members of a standing seam panel roof are usually
installed over a blanket insulation of from 2 to 6 inches in
thickness placed over the supporting roof purlins. When the base of
the clip members are attached to the roof purlins, this blanket
insulation will be compressed, the amount of such compression
depending on the thickness and type of insulation and the
compressive force placed on the insulation, unless means are
incorporated in the clip base to prevent or limit the compression
of the blanket insulation.
[0070] This compressibility of blanket insulation can permit clip
bases to move, or rock, on the purlin surfaces, and this in turn
allows the purlins to rotate, thus reducing the purlin load
carrying capacity. The clip base of the invention has rigid
penetrating clip base support feet spaced laterally apart. These
feet concentrate the compressive force over a small area so the
feet compress the insulation to the point where it is virtually
solid and the clip base will not rock.
[0071] FIGS. 16 through 19 show the clip member 18 that has been
described in part herein above. As shown, the clip 18 has a clip
body 90 having an upstanding clip first leg member 22 and a clip
base 92, the clip body 90 slidably connected to the clip base 92.
This sliding movement is the means whereby the roof panels are
permitted to expand and contract with gradient temperature changes
between the roof panels the support purlins. Thus, differential
movement between the clip tab 20 and the standing seam assemblies
16 is prevented, with differential movement between the purlin and
the panels is compensated for by the clip 18 sliding in its base
92.
[0072] As will be noted in FIGS. 16-18, the clip base 92 has a web
portion 94 that folds back under the upstanding clip first leg
member 22 of the clip body 90, the web portion 94 having several
base clearance holes 96. The clip base 92 has a plurality of clip
fastener holes 98 equal in number to the base clearance holes 96
and each clip fastener holes 98 having a vertical axis coincident
with one of the base clearance holes 96 so that clip fasteners 100
can pass there through to attach the clip base 92 to a supporting
purlin 102 (as shown in FIG. 19).
[0073] The clip fasteners 100 are purposefully established in a
line that is parallel (as opposed to perpendicular) to the clip tab
20 of the clip 18, as this is advantageous in resisting forces on
the clip tab 20. That is, the force exerted by wind uplift load on
the roof panels are transferred through the clip tab 20 to the clip
base 92; this force is in turn transferred substantially equally to
the clip fasteners 100, allowing these multiple fasteners to share
equally the force load received by the clip base 92. If the clip
fasteners 100 were positioned along a line substantially
perpendicular to the clip tab 20, as is the case in prior art
structures, a preponderance of the transferred force would first go
to the clip fastener 100 closest to the clip tab. Once the closest
fastener failed, all the transferred force would then be
transferred to the next fastener in line, which would be subject to
failure at substantially the same load as the closest fastener had
been, the only practical purpose thus being served by the most
distant fasteners would be that of backup to failure of the other
closer fasteners. It will be appreciated that the holding force of
the clip 18 is increased when all the fasteners 100 share portions
of the transferred load and work together, being loaded
equally.
[0074] FIGS. 17 and 18 provide further details of construction of
the clip base 92. The area around the fastener holes 98 is
reinforced by stiffening lips 104 that are formed along the sides
and adjacent to where the fastener holes 98 are disposed. The
stiffening lips 104 reinforce the clip base 92 to receive the
uplift load transferred from the clip tab 20 and transferred to the
clip fasteners 100.
[0075] The web portion 94 folds over itself to form a clip
retaining tongue 106, and the bottom portion of the clip first leg
member 22 is folded into a groove forming, base connector portion
108 that receives the clip retaining tongue 106. This permits the
clip body 90 to slide relative to the clip base 92, with
appropriate limiting stops being provided to restrict the total
movement allowed, such as the tab and slot stop 110 (other stops
can be provided as well along the base connector 108).
[0076] The clip base 92 has a plurality of bearing tabs or feet
112. The bearing tabs 112 are spaced about the bottom of the clip
base 92 and serve to penetrate and embed the underlying blanket
insulation so as to compress the insulation under them; this serves
to place the support of the clip base 92 and its load substantially
directly on the purlin 102. This is depicted in FIG. 19 where the
clip base 92 has been placed over a compressible fiber glass
blanket insulation 114; the clip fasteners 100 have penetrated the
purlin 102 and have been tightened to drive the bearing tabs 112 to
compress the insulation 114 so that the clip base 92 is
substantially mounted right against the upper surface of the flange
of the purlin 102.
[0077] This provides a solid foundation for the clip base 92 on the
purlin 102, as the bearing tabs 112 of the clip base 92 bear
substantially directly against the purlin 102, reducing the amount
of further compression of the insulation 114 and preventing lateral
and longitudinal rocking of the clip base 92 in relation to the
purlin 102.
[0078] A downward load on the roof panels will attempt to translate
or rotate the roof purlin 102. As the roof purlin 102 tends to
move, the roof panels by attachment to the clips 18 tend to resist
the movement of the roof purlin 102. Without the bearing feet 112,
there would remain some compressibility of the insulation 114 under
the clip base 92, and the clip base in relation to the purlin
flange could be rotated by the clip loading; this would tend to
rotate clip base relative to the supporting purlin, resulting in
applying substantially a point load through the insulation 114.
This would further compress the insulation 114 until the insulation
would compress no further, and in effect, the toe end of the clip
base would bear directly on the roof purlin 102, at which point the
load capacity of the purlin would have been compromised because it
had been allowed to rotate in relation to the clip base.
[0079] Resisting purlin rotation, such as that which occurs in the
previously known art, is achieved by the aforementioned transfer of
load more directly to the supporting purlin flange. Stated simply,
purlin rotation does not take place with the clip 18 until the
purlin has rotated an amount that significantly reduces its ability
to resist load.
[0080] In the present invention, the bearing feet 112 concentrate
the total force exerted by the attachment fasteners 100 on the
bearing feet 112, resulting in a more concentrated compression of
the insulation 114 under the bearing feet 112 to the point the
insulation cannot be compressed further by any significant amount,
thus resisting any rotation of the clip base 92 in relation to the
purlin flange. In effect, this causes the insulation 114 under the
bearing feet 112 to provide a substantially solid base. The
compressed insulation 114 therefore bears substantially directly on
the roof purlin 102, so that as the roof purlin 102 tries to rotate
as loading occurs, the load is immediately transferred to the roof
panels through clip tab 20 and the clip base 92 which has close
tolerance between it and the clip base 92 to resist purlin rotation
before the roof purlin 102 has rotated to any significant degree.
This immediate transfer of load allows the roof panels supported by
the clips 18 to provide greater structural stability to the
purlin.
[0081] The present invention assures complete sealant encapsulation
of the clip tab of a clip connecting a standing seam assembly to
underlying building structure, resulting in a more reliable
watertightness seal throughout the complete length of the seams
interconnecting metal building panels. Clip tab sealant
encapsulation is accomplished by utilizing only a single sealant
bead, preferably applied to the female sidelap, but it will be
appreciated that the principles taught herein can as well be
followed by applying the sealant to the top side of the male
sidelap. Thus, the sealant can be automatically and economically
applied to the full length of panels utilized to form a roof or a
siding for such structures as pre-engineered metal buildings.
[0082] As will is clear from the above description of preferred
embodiments of the invention, seam water tightness is accomplished
by extruding the sealant through sealant extrusion holes in a clip
tab into a sealant distributor channel created over and under the
clip tab and over the upper surface of the male sidelap. The result
is a continuous sealant dam between the male and female sidelaps
having greater water tightness than that of the previous art while
maintaining other desirable features, such as strength and
aesthetic qualities. The location of the sealant on the female
sidelap is coordinated with, and complementary to, the location of
the sealant extrusion holes in the clip tabs.
[0083] The end edges of the each clip tab is provided with a
sealant transition notch that is configured to channel the sealant
on the female sidelap in such a manner as to form a continuous seal
at the edges of the clip tab. That is, the ridges and valleys
adjacent to the sealant transfer holes cause the sealant extruded
through the sealant extrusion holes to form a continuous and
effective water entry prevention dam. The clip tab notches can be
provided with coined or configured edges, and as well, the clip
sealant transfer holes can also be coined to assure even sealant
flow, avoiding voids or channels through the sealant dam.
[0084] Staggering, or axially offsetting, the sealant extrusion
holes creates a greater dimensional tolerance through which the
sealant on the female sidelap can flow, helping to assure a uniform
sealant dam. This also provides greater location tolerances for
location of the sealant and the sealant extrusion holes, while also
providing increased field assembly tolerances.
[0085] Turning now to FIGS. 20 through 22, presented therein is
another embodiment of the present invention in which a female
sidelap 10C, a male sidelap 14C and a clip member 18C are depicted
as forming a standing seam assembly 16C. Where the component parts
are the same as those described herein above, identical component
numbers are used in the subject drawings. Further description is
believed to be unneeded as the purpose of including FIGS. 20-22 is
to illustrate that the present invention can be incorporated in
other embodiment shapes of the finally formed standing seam
assembly, and the description provided hereinabove for the standing
seam assembly 16 is incorporated here by reference for the standing
seam assembly 16C. It will be noted that the mechanism for
distribution of the sealant 40 is the same as that for initial
assembly of the standing seam assembly 16; that is, the standing
seam assembly 16C of FIG. 22 is elastically seamed and is commonly
referred to as a snap-together seam.
[0086] FIG. 20 displays an elevational view of a female sidelap
member 10C constructed in accordance with the present invention and
having a sealant adhered to the underside of the female sidelap.
FIG. 21 shows a partially cutaway, cross-sectional, elevational end
view of a clip member 18C constructed in accordance with the
present invention and configured for elastically joinder with the
female and male sidelap member 10C.
[0087] FIG. 22 is an assembled, elastically seamed standing seam
assembly 16C having the clip member 18C hooked over a male sidelap
14C joined with the female sidelap 10C to form the completed seam.
As used herein, the term "elastically seamed" is a term of art
referring to a standing seam assembly that has been assembled from
its component parts without additional forming as provided by a
seaming tool/machine; this is contrasted to a the term
"inelastically seamed" which refers to a standing seam assembly
that, after assembly from its component parts, is operated on by a
seaming tool or seaming machine to be formed into its final
shape.
[0088] The elastically seamed standing seam assembly 16C is
assembled by placing the clip members 18C over the male sidelap
14C, following which the female sidelap 10C is placed over the
members 18C and the male sidelap 14C. The application of a vertical
force to the top of the female sidelap 10C will cause the female
second leg member 52 to be forced away from female first leg member
50 within the elastic range of the material of the female sidelap
10 until the female fourth leg member 60 passes by the distal end
of the male second leg 72, allowing the stresses induced as the
female second leg member 52 was forced open during seaming to be
released; this results in compression of the sealant 40 along the
upper sealant chamber 46 through the clip sealant flow holes 38 and
along the lower sealant chamber 42 in a similar manor as described
for the inelastic seaming described above.
[0089] FIGS. 23 through 26 illustrate the typical, state of the art
elastic seam and panel clip. As a convenience to the reader, and to
facilitate understanding, identical component numbers are depicted
therein where the component parts are the same or similar to those
described herein above for the standing seam assembly 16. FIG. 23
is an elevational end view of a female sidelap 10P representing one
type of a state of the art seam having sealant 40 adhered to its
underside. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional, elevational end view of a
typical prior art clip member 18P for assembly with the female
sidelap 10P.
[0090] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional, elevational end view of the
initial joinder of the female sidelap 10P and clip member 18P with
a male sidelap 14P configured to form therewith a prior art
standing seam assembly 16P. FIG. 26 depicts the standing seam
assembly 16P following seaming via a conventional seaming tool or
seaming machine. A bead of sealant 40 and a bead of sealant 40 are
adhered to the undersides of the female sidelap 10P and the clip
member 18P, respectively, the sealants 40, 40A being positioned to
merge when the standing seam assembly 16P is assembled.
[0091] As the panel sidelaps 10P, 14P are seamed, the seaming
process results in compression of the sealant 40 between the
underside of the female second leg member 52 and the top of male
second leg member 72 to form a water resistant dam between clip
members 18 at each clip member 18. The sealant 40 is compressed
between the underside of the female second leg member 52 and the
top of clip second leg member 24. The clip sealant 40A is adhered
to the underside of the clip second leg member 24 in alignment with
the position of the sealant 40 in the female sidelap.
[0092] It should be remembered that the clip members 18P in a
typical installation are about 30 to 50 inches apart. As the
seaming machine forms the standing seam assembly 16P, the resulting
shape being that depicted in FIG. 26, the sealants 40, 40A are
excessively compressed at each clip because of the additional
thickness that the clip members 18 impart between the male and
female sidelaps 14P, 10P at the clip locations. As is frequently
the case, this excessive compression forces sealant to flow around
the panel and clip elements, reducing the effectiveness of the
seal.
[0093] FIGS. 27 through 30 illustrate an alternate adaptation of
the present invention utilizing only one sealant chamber and
incorporating sealant both on the underside of the female sidelap
and the clip member. As above, identical component numbers are
utilized where the component parts are the same or similar to those
described herein above for the standing seam assembly 16. FIG. 27
is an elevational end view of a female sidelap member 10D
constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a
sealant 40 adhered to its underside and located to accommodate the
one sealant chamber adaptation of the present invention.
[0094] FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional, elevational end view of a clip
member 18D adapted for the one sealant chamber with sealant 40A
located on its underside. FIG. 29 depicts the joinder of the female
sidelap 10D and clip member 18D with a male sidelap 14D configured
for forming therewith a standing seam assembly 16D, shown in FIG.
29 prior to inelastic seaming by a seaming tool or seaming machine.
FIG. 30 is a view of the standing seam assembly 16D after the
seaming operation has formed it into its final shape at the clip
locations.
[0095] The present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 27 through
30, greatly improves the seal around the clip members 18D by
forming a partially protected sealant upper chamber 46 between the
underside of female second leg member 52, and the clip second leg
member 24, the clip intermediate radius portion 30 clip, the second
inclined portion 36 and the clip apex radius portion 26. The upper
sealant chamber 46 assures that the sealant 40 will not flow away
from its desired position over the clip sealant 40A when compressed
in the seaming operation. Further, the clip sealant 40A is
prevented from over compression because it is contained in the
lower sealant chamber 42 formed by the clip apex radius portion 26
and the clip second leg member 24 over the male second leg member
72.
[0096] FIGS. 31 and 32 show another embodiment of the present
invention. Clip sealant flow holes 38 are provided in the clip
member clip first inclined portion 36 to permit and facilitate the
merging of the sealant 40 with the sealant 40A above and below the
clip members 18E. FIG. 32 shows the seamed standing seam assembly
16E and depicts the communication between the upper and lower
sealant chambers 46, 42 via the sealant flow holes 38 in the clip
member 18E, providing the benefits of the present invention as
discussed and described above for the standing seam assembly
16.
[0097] It is clear that the present invention is well adapted to
carry out the objects and to attain the ends and advantages
mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently
preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for
purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which
will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and
which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention disclosed
and as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *