U.S. patent number RE33,720 [Application Number 07/177,958] was granted by the patent office on 1991-10-22 for skylight assembly.
Invention is credited to Peter A. Cummings.
United States Patent |
RE33,720 |
Cummings |
October 22, 1991 |
Skylight assembly
Abstract
A skylight assembly for a sloping roof is mounted so that the
upper end may be tucked beneath the roof covering so that rain
water will drain onto an outer skylight panel; the panel is concave
and its lower end extends over the roof covering so that rain water
will drain from the panel onto such covering; within and beneath
the skylight there is an inner skylight panel mounted for movement
to permit ventilation of the room beneath.
Inventors: |
Cummings; Peter A. (Harbor
Springs, MI) |
Family
ID: |
26873819 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/177,958 |
Filed: |
April 5, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
728842 |
Apr 30, 1985 |
04589239 |
May 20, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/200;
52/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D
13/031 (20130101); E04D 13/0354 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04D
13/035 (20060101); E04D 13/03 (20060101); E04D
013/03 (); E04B 007/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/22,72,200,204,207,213,397 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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74858 |
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Oct 1952 |
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DK |
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1098699 |
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Feb 1961 |
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DE |
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2263565 |
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Jul 1974 |
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DE |
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2650090 |
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May 1978 |
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DE |
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2142733 |
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Jul 1978 |
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DE |
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233372 |
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Jul 1944 |
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CH |
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Other References
Fine Homebuilding "Curbless Skylight" by Rob Thallon Dec. 1983/Jan.
1984 pp. 36-39..
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Primary Examiner: Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Burton; Ralph M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A skylight assembly for a sloping roof comprising in
combination:
a rectangular casing having a header, side and bottom rails, to be
received in a complementary-shaped hole in a roof;
a translucent outside skylight panel mounted in said casing and
bridging the space between the rails and extending over and beyond
the bottom rail; .[.and.].
.Iadd.an inside translucent skylight panel disposed within the
casing spaced from the outside skylight panel and bridging between
the rails to form an air space between the panels; .Iaddend.
means on said casing for supporting the .Iadd.outside skylight
.Iaddend.panel beneath the roof covering along the header and side
rails while supporting the panel to overhang the roof covering
along the bottom rail.
2. The invention defined by claim 1 wherein said outside skylight
panel is of an elongated shallow trough-like configuration.
3. The invention defined by claims 1 or 2 wherein the side rails
are disposed closer together than the width of the skylight panel
in a flat planar configuration whereby the .Iadd.outside
.Iaddend.panel is held deformed in said trough-like configuration
between the side rails.
4. The invention defined by claims 1 or 2 wherein the side rails
are disposed closer together adjacent the bottom rail than the
width of the .Iadd.outside .Iaddend.skylight panel in a flat planar
configuration whereby the panel is held deformed in said
trough-like configuration between the side rails adjacent the
bottom rail, and said header having means for engaging the
.Iadd.outside .Iaddend.skylight panel and holding it at the header
in said trough-like configuration.
5. The invention defined by claims 1 or 2 wherein means are
provided for supporting the .Iadd.outside .Iaddend.skylight panel
in the casing for slidable insertion or removal over the bottom
rail of the casing.
6. The invention defined by claims 1 or 2 wherein an inside
translucent skylight panel is disposed within the casing spaced
from the outside skylight panel and bridging between the rails to
form an air space between the panels.
7. The invention defined by claim 6 wherein .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.vent means are provided in the header and bottom rails to
vent the space between the panels to spaces below the roof in which
the assembly is mounted.
8. The invention defined by claim 1 or 2 wherein .[.an inside
translucent skylight panel is disposed within the casing spaced
from the outside skylight panel and.]. vent means are provided in
the rails to allow air flow beneath the roof in which the skylight
assembly is installed through the space between the two skylight
panels.
9. A skylight assembly for sloping roof comprising common
combination:
a rectangular casing having a header, side and bottom rails, to be
received in a complementary shaped opening in a roof;
a translucent outside skylight panel mounted in said casing and
bridging the space between the rails and extending over and beyond
the bottom rail;
means on said casing for supporting the outside panel beneath the
covering of a roof in which the assembly is installed along the
header and side rails while supporting the panel to overhang the
roof covering along the bottom rail;
an inside translucent skylight panel in said casing spaced below
the outside skylight panel and bridging between the rails; and
means for supporting the inside skylight panel for swingable in
movement toward and away from the outside skylight panel to vent
the space between the panels into a room beneath the assembly.
10. Invention defined by claim 9 wherein said means for swingably
supporting the inside skylight panel is disposed substantially at
the center of balance of such panel.
11. Invention defined by claim 1 wherein said header rail is
shallower than the bottom rail and the side rails taper from a
shallower end at the header to a deeper end at the bottom rail
whereby upon mounting the casing in a roof with the inside exposed
surfaces of the side rails uniformly spaced from the underside of
the roof, the header rail may be flush with the outside of the roof
line while the bottom rail projects above the outside roof line and
the outside exposed edges of the side rails gradually taper
upwardly away from the outside roof line from the header to the
bottom rail; and
means for bridging between the roof line adjacent the side rails
and the exposed surfaces of the side rails whereby a roof covering
will make a gradual transition therebetween.
12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the side rails taper from the
header rail to the bottom rail along the outside exposed surfaces
of each at an angle of from between 21/4.degree. to 6.degree..
13. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein a waterproof
flexible membrane extends from the header and side rails outwardly
over the roof line to underlie a roof covering surrounding the
skylight assembly when it is mounted in a roof.
14. A skylight assembly for a sloping roof comprising in
combination:
a rectangular casing having a header, side and bottom rails, to be
received in a complementary shaped opening in a roof;
said header rail being shallower than said bottom rail and the side
rails tapering from a shallower end at the header to a deeper end
at the bottom rail, whereby upon mounting the casing in a roof with
the inside exposed surfaces uniformly spaced from the underside of
the roof, the header rail may be flush with the outside of the roof
line while the bottom rails projects above the roof line and the
outside exposed edges of the side rails gradually taper upwardly
away from the outside roof line from the header to the bottom
rail;
a translucent outside skylight panel mounted in said casing and
bridging the space between the rails and extending over and beyond
the bottom rail, said translucent outside skylight panel being
concave in a trough-like formation extending from the header rail
to the bottom rail;
means on said casing for supporting the outside panel beneath the
covering of a roof in which the skylight assembly is installed
along the header and side rails while supporting the panel to
overhang the roof covering along the bottom rail;
an inside translucent skylight panel swingably supported in said
casing below the outside skylight panel and bridging between the
rails;
means for locking the inside skylight panel in a closed position
spaced substantially uniformly from said outside skylight panel;
and
a vent means in the header rail and in the bottom rail to allow air
flow from beneath the roof in which the skylight assembly is
mounted into and from the space between the outside and inside
skylight panels. .Iadd.
15. A skylight assembly for a sloping roof comprising in
combination:
a rectangular casing having a header, side and bottom rails, to be
received in a complementary-shaped hole in a roof;
a translucent outside skylight panel mounted in said casing and
bridging the space between the rails;
an inside translucent skylight panel mounted in the casing spaced
from the outside skylight panel and bridging the space between the
rails to form an air space within the casing between the panels;
and
vent means in the casing venting the space between the panels into
the space below the roof in which the assembly is mounted.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The invention as in claim 15 further including
means for supporting the inside skylight panel for movement between
closed and open positions to vent the space between the panels
directly into a room beneath the assembly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The
invention defined by claim 15 wherein the outside skylight panel
extends over and beyond the bottom rail to overlie the roof
adjacent the bottom rail. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The invention as
defined by claim 15 wherein said vent means is provided in
some of said casing rails. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The invention
defined by claim 1 or 2 wherein vent means are provided in the
casing to vent the space between the panels below the roof in which
the assembly is mounted. .Iaddend.
Description
DESCRIPTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a skylight assembly for a sloping
roof.
2. Background of Invention
In providing a skylight for sloping roofs, there have been
long-standing problems in making the skylight weather-tight at the
joints with the roof, in particular, preventing water from leaking
along the edges of the skylight into the room below. In addition,
there has been a need to provide a skylight construction which will
enable it to be readily installed in an existing roof in an
expeditious manner and which will be weather-tight when the
installation is completed.
There has also been a need to provide a skylight in which the
skylight panel could be readily replaced in the event of its
damage. In addition, there has been a need to provide a skylight
design which would enable the skylight panel to admit light to the
room below while at the same time insulating the panel to prevent
heat losses therethrough. In addition, there has been the need to
provide a skylight which will not be readily frosted by humidity
within the room below, but which will be kept clear thereof by
natural drafts within the building structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have developed a skylight assembly which may be readily insulated
in an existing roof structure in an expeditious manner and which
will not unpleasingly interfere with the roofline and which may be
readily sealed against the weather. The design is such that water
on the skylight is channeled to the center line and may run off
harmlessly onto the shingles or other roof covering on the slope
below the skylight. In addition, the skylight panel may be readily
removed for replacement or repair. The skylight panel is insulated
from the room below the skylight by a separate inner skylight panel
which is mounted for movement to permit ventilation of the room
below. In addition, the space between the outside and inside
skylight panels is vented to the space between the roof and the
ceiling of the room in which the skylight is mounted whereby air
movement through such space is promoted and frosting of the
skylight thereby reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view with some of the shingles removed for
clarity showing my skylight mounted in a sloping roof;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the means for locking the
outer skylight panel in place;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner skylight panel hinge;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 7--7
of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 8--8
of FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 9--9
of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the locking mechanism of FIG. 9.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A skylight assembly embodying my invention is shown in FIG. 1
mounted in the sloping roof 10 of a building structure. In the
drawings, rafters 14 (see FIG. 3) extend from the peak to the eaves
along opposite sides of the skylight assembly with transverse
members 16 (see FIG. 2) extending between rafters 14 and framing
the opening within which the skylight assembly is disposed.
Overlying the rafters 14 and the transverse members 16 is an
underlament 18 such as plywood sheeting. Over the sheeting is
insulation 20. Spaced above the insulation are roof boards 22 to
which the shingles 24 are secured. Roof constructions may vary
somewhat from that herein depicted, but in general, they will
comprise rafters, sheeting on the rafters, insulation either above
or below the sheeting and shingles overlying the whole.
My skylight assembly is intended to be mounted in a conventional
sloping roof of the general construction above-described by cutting
a hole 26 (see FIG. 3) in the roof of a size and shape to
complement the skylight casing (hereinafter described), framing
such opening with tranverse members 16 which will extend between
the rafters 14 as above-mentioned. The opening may be further
framed with side members 28, a header member 30 and a bottom member
32 whereby the opening in the roof is not only structurally
supported but the opening is also neatly finished off.
The skylight assembly comprises a rectangular casing 34 which may
be built of wood or any other suitable material, consisting of a
header rail 36, opposed side rails 38 and 40 and a bottom rail 42.
The rails are secured together at their meeting corners. The header
and bottom rails may be provided with vent means in the form of
apertures 44 and 46 to permit air blow beneath the roof through the
space within the casing. The side rails 38 and 40 are of identical
construction. Each includes, when the frame is formed of wood,
three numbers 48, 50 and 52, secured together by any suitable
fastening. Members 48 are connected at opposite ends to the header
and bottom rails 36 and 42. The members 50 overlie the members 48
on the inside of the frame and are cut diagonally at 54 (see FIG.
2) to provide a space between the side rails through which the
inside skylight panel 111 may pivot as shown in phantom outline in
FIG. 2, and to limit the opening movement of such panel. The member
52 extends downwardly along the lower edge of the member 48 from
the pivot 129 for the inside panel to the bottom rail 42 and
provides a ledge for a seal at 53 when the inner panel is closed.
Another seal is provided along edge 55 of member 50 when the inner
panel is closed. Another ledge for a seal is provided by member 56
along the lower edge of bottom rail 42 as shown in FIG. 2, and
another edge seal is provided along the bottom edge 57 of the
header rail.
The casing 34 is supported at the header end in the roof opening on
an angle member or the like 37, one leg of which is fastened to a
header member 76 atop the casing header 36, and the other leg
overlies the roof boards 22 with the upper edge of the casing at
the header substantially flush with the roof boards as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower end of the casing at the bottom rail is
supported in the roof opening by the side members 74 and 78 as
later explained.
The casing 34 includes means for mounting an outside translucent,
preferrably transparent, skylight panel 72 which desirably may be
formed of quarter-inch plexiglass. Such mounting means comprises
three grooved members 74, 76 and 78, which are mounted on the upper
edges of the side and header rails and constitute part of the
casing 34. Members 74, 76 and 78 form an upper outside edge on the
casing over which the roofing shingles 24 or other roof covering
may extend to overhang somewhat the skylight panel 72. Each of the
members 74, 76 and 78 is provided with a groove for receiving the
marginal edge of the skylight panel, such grooves being shown at
82, 84 and 86 in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings. The panel is bowed
downwardly thereby forming a concave or trough-like structure which
extends longitudinally of the casing when the panel 72 is seated in
the grooves as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The groove 84 in the
header member is curved to receive the margin of the skylight panel
and helps to hold it in its trough-like configuration. As shown in
FIG. 4, a wedge 87 is inserted in the groove 82, a similar wedge
being provided for the groove 86 in the opposite side rail, and
such wedges serve to bow the panel 72 downwardly at its lower edge.
The bottom rail member 42 is provided with a concave upper surface
90 which conforms the panel 72 to the concave configuration. A
plate 110 swingably mounted on a fastener 109 may be moved upwardly
(counter-clockwise) from the position shown in FIG. 4, to overlie
the wedge and marginal edge 92 of the skylight panel 72 to retain
the same in place. The grooves 82 and 86 permit the panel 72 to be
slidably inserted into the casing after the casing has been mounted
in the roof opening. The lower end 92 of the outside skylight panel
72 overlies the shingles 24 adjacent the bottom rail 42 as best
shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 whereby water collecting on the skylight
panel will be channeled to the center of the panel as a result of
its concave shape and will flow down the center of the panel to be
deposited on the shingles 24 extending below the bottom rail 42.
Thus the skylight will shed water readily keeping it away from the
side rails. It will be apparent that by grasping the lower edge 92
of the outside skylight panel, the same may be withdrawn downwardly
for removal from the skylight assembly.
It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the side rail members 74 and 78
extend beyond the bottom rail 42 to overlie the shingles 24 of the
roof and support the lower end of the casing 34 in the roof
opening. To fill the space between the upper edges 100 of the
members 74 and 78 and the surface of the shingles 24 adjacent the
side rails, a polygonal flaring piece 102, a filler triangle 104
and an elongated wedge-shaped member 105 are disposed on the roof
adjacent each side rail as best shown in FIG. 1. The flaring piece
102 is provided with a long edge 103 overlying the side rails and
wedge 105 and also has tapering edges 106 and 108 which overlie the
roof boards. Shingles 24 are laid over the flaring piece as shown
in FIG. 1 to provide a smooth transition from the upper edges of
the side rails to the roof line. A waterproof membrane 109 is laid
around the two sides and the header rail of the skylight frame and
over the upper edges of the frame. The membrane is disposed above
the polygonal flaring piece 102 and extends out over the roof
boards. The membrane serves to insure a water-tight
installation.
It will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 6 that the upper edge of the
casing 34 is mounted in the roof opening slightly askew to the roof
line with the member 76 atop the header rail 36 being disposed so
that its upper edge is flush with the upper surface of the roof
boards 22 while the members 74 and 78 are at least partially below
the roof line at the header and are above the shingles adjacent the
bottom rail. To accomplish this the upper edge 48a of the casing
sides 48 are cut at a long taper of from 21/4.degree. to 6.degree.
and diverge from the lower edge 48b from the header end toward the
bottom rail end. In addition, the header rail comprising the header
36 and header rail member 76 are shallower than the bottom rail
comprising the bottom rail 42 and the rail member 42a. As a result
of this construction, the exposed edge 48b of the side rails and
the lower edge 42b of the bottom rail parallel the ceiling line
while the outer edge of the casing overlies the roof boards and
shingles adjacent the bottom rail yet is flush with the roof line
at the header. As a consequence the shingles may be carried up over
the casing sides and header and yet are beneath the side members 74
and 78 adjacent the bottom rail. The advantage of this construction
will become apparent as this description proceeds.
Disposed within the casing spaced below the outside skylight panel
72 is a translucent (preferably transparent) inside skylight panel
111. This panel comprises a rectangularly-shaped frame having
header rail 112, side rails 114 and 116 and a bottom rail 118,
suitably joined at their meeting ends. The inside skylight panel
also includes a translucent or transparent panel element 120 which
may be a double glazed panel as shown in FIG. 9 and bedded against
the upper edge of the frame on a silicone sealant or the like 121,
with L-shaped retainers 123 overlying the upper face of the panel
and extending down alongside the side rails 114 and 116 and secured
thereto to hold the panel on the frame.
This inside skylight panel is mounted within the casing spaced from
the outside skylight panel to provide an insulating air space
therebetween and is movable to be opened to admit air to and from
the room beneath the skylight into the space beneath the outside
panel whereby air within such room may pass upwardly through the
opening inside skylight panel and into the opening 44 to carry air
from the room below up along the underside of the roof as shown by
the arrows 126 in FIG. 2. The inside skylight is mounted for
pivotable movement as shown in phantom outline in FIG. 3 by hinge
means disposed substantially at the center of balance of the inside
skylight panel. The hinge means may comprise as shown in FIG. 5, a
pair of hinge elements 127 and 127a with the former attached to the
upper edge 53 of the member 52 and the latter to the side frame
members of the inner skylight panel. The hinge elements have
interfitting portions 129 and 129a whereby the inner panel may be
swung between the positions shown in FIG. 2.
The inside skylight is locked in closed position by a latch
assembly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The latch assembly is mounted on
the bottom rail 42 adjacent its lower edge. The latch assembly is
mounted in a notch in the member 56 on the bottom rail 42. The
latch assembly includes a plate 140 having holes 141 through which
fasteners 142 extend into the bottom rail 42 to secure the latch
thereto. On the plate 140 is a downwardly opening chamber 144
defined by walls 146 integral with the plate 140. The bottom of the
chamber is partially closed by an in-turned lip 148 pressed from
the plate 140 and adapted to catch and pivotally support an
actuating lever 152 the upper end of which is received within a
notch 154 of a spring-loaded latching bolt 156. The spring 158 for
the bolt is disposed within a provided recess within the bottom
rail 42. The spring urges the latching bolt outwardly to enter a
provided notch 119 in the bottom member 118 of the inside
skylight.
Extending up into the lower end of the chamber 144 adjacent the
lever 152 is a primary actuating lever 164. This lever is attached
to a handle assembly 160 having a mounting bracket 161 attached by
fasteners 163 to the handle. Ears 165 of bracket 161 overlie the
ears 166 and 168. When the handle assembly 160 is attached by
fastener 170 to the lever 164 the ears 165 are trapped above ears
166 and 168 within the handle assembly and the mechanism is thus
locked together within the chamber 144. However, upon removal of
the fastener 170 the latching mechanism may be readily
disassembled.
By lifting the handle 160 at its outer end 160', the handle is
caused to pivot on the ears 166 and 168 causing the levers to shift
the latching bolt 156 to the left as shown in FIG. 9 thereby
disengaging the inside skylight and permitting it to be raised to
the phantom outlined position of FIG. 2. Conversely, when the
skylight is tilted back to the solid outline position, it may be
locked in its closed position.
It will be observed from a review of the disclosure herein that I
have designed a skylight which may be installed and sealed in place
without the use of metal flashing. It is only necessary for the
installer after the skylight casing has been inserted and fastened
in the roof opening to apply the trim pieces 104, 105 and 102 and
then cover them with the flexible membrane 109 as above indicated
and finish the roofing by applying the shingles over the membrane
to cover the exposed upper edges of the members 74, 76 and 78. The
shingles adjacent the bottom rail 42 will simply butt up against
such rail. The installer may desire to caulk such joint with
urethane sealant or the like. The outside skylight panel is then
inserted in the groove between the side rails and the panel slid
upwardly to final position, forced into its bowed or concave
condition by the header groove 84 and the wedges 87, and then
locked in place by the retainers 110.
* * * * *