Abstract: There is disclosed herein a skylight installation for a pitched roof having a planar section and for passing visible light from the ambient to the building interior while minimizing the ambient elements from entering the building through the skylight installation. The skylight unit includes a roof engaging mounting frame constructed to engage the planar roof section in a substantially coplanar manner and which defines a head end, a sill end and a pair of side edges. The side edges also include a pair of upstanding seam members for sealing to the roof. A sash is removably and hingedly connected to the mounting frame and carries a planar glass pane. Primary sealing means are associated with the frame for sealingly engaging the sash and secondary sealing means are provided in association with the frame for sealingly engaging the pane. The hinge includes one hinge element associated with the frame head member and a second hinge element associated with the sash head member.

Abstract: A plastic skylight having a central dome and a pair of standing seam edges is suitable for installation in metal standing seam roofs and shingled roofs without a curb. The standing seam edges are joined to adjacent metal standing seams with the same covered by battens. The other edges of the skylight form flat flanges overlapping adjacent metal panels. When used on a shingled roof, step flashings and anchor clips are fastened to the plastic standing seams. The skylights may be clustered to form sunroofs.

Abstract: A low profile glass skylight for a sloping roof has a unitary rectangular frame having an upstanding standing seam element along each longitudinal edge and head and sill flashings. Webs depending from the frame form an insert for a glass pane. A rectangular wood frame disposed in the insert maintains the glass pane in place. The skylight is installed in a sloping shingled roof with the sill flashing overlapping shingles and shingles overlapping the head flashing. Cleats attached to the roof sheathing engage the standing seam element and a plurality of step flashings adjacent the standing seams and interleaved with shingles. A weather cap is installed over the standing seams.

Abstract: A skylight system for providing an all plastic skylight in a barrel tile roof without the use of a curb. A sheet of plastic has a pair of longitudinal edges bent upward at a right angle to form a standing seam edge. A dome is formed in the center portion of the plastic sheet. The upper edge of the sheet is provided with a riser and is fastened to the roof sheathing adjacent an opening in the roof. A horizontal row of tiles rests on the riser. The lower edge is formed to match the contour of a horizontal row of tiles and is attached thereto. Anchor clips are attached adjacent the longitudinal edges of the opening and abut the standing seam edges. A plurality of step flanges also abut the standing seam edges to form a standing seam engaged by the anchor clips. The step flanges are formed to the contours of a vertical row of tiles and attached thereto. A batten strip is placed over the standing seam.

Abstract: A skylight system for standing seam metal roofs, shingle roofs and sun roofs in which sheet plastic skylights having upstanding edges are provided. In one embodiment, a skylight is installed in a roof formed from metal standing seam panels. In another embodiment, a skylight is installed in an opening in a shingle roof in which step flashing is used to form a standing seam with the skylight upstanding edges and a watertight joint with the roof shingles. Another embodiment utilizes the skylights in which the flat edges are formed by folding over to make lateral joints between adjacent skylights while longitudinal joints are formed by abutting the upstanding edges to thereby produce a sun roof.

Abstract: A prefabricated skylight support curb is formed to be a protective packaging for the skylight during shipment and then to be used as a curb for mounting the skylight on a roof. A prefabricated skylight support curb for supporting a skylight thereover has a bottom flange angled, upright sides, and a top lip round the top of the sides forming an opening through the curb. A skylight is adapted to cover the opening through the skylight support curb when installed, and has a domed portion and an angled curb portion extending from the dome portion and a drip edge on the curb portion. The skylight curb portion is shaped to fit over a portion of the prefabricated skylight support curb angled upright portion and top lip. The skylight support curb is shaped to nest an accompanying skylight therein having the skylight curb portion adjacent to the interior of the skylight support curb angled upright walls to protect the skylight during shipping and storing.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding a polycarbonate plastic sheet into a skylight dome and the like. A heated clamp frame is provided for clamping the edges of a plastic sheet and preheating the edges to about 250.degree. F. Ovens heat the clamped sheet to about 300.degree. F. to soften the plastic for forming by a pair of co-acting peripheral heated molds to form steps and pushes in the periphery of the softened sheet immediately adjacent to the clamp frames. A vacuum is then drawn over the center portion of the plastic sheet to free form a dome.

Abstract: A method for molding a polycarbonate plastic sheet into a skylight dome or the like. A clamp frame is preheated to a first temperature. A polycarbonate plastic sheet is thereafter clamped around its perimeter in the preheated clamp frame and preheated to approximately the first temperature. The unclamped portion of the plastic sheet is heated to about 300.degree. by ovens to soften the plastic for forming. The softened plastic sheet is then subjected to forming by a pair of coacting peripheral heated molds to form steps and pushes in the plastic sheet immediately adjacent to the clamp frames. A vacuum is drawn over the center portion of the sheet to free-form a dome. The molds are separated and the formed article is removed from the heated clamp frame. The steps of preheating the plastic sheet perimeter in the heated clamp frame and heating of the peripheral molds prevents distortion of the flange area of the slylight dome and of the step and push areas of the dome.

Abstract: An improved skylight having high structural strength and improved insulation capabilities. A sheet of polycarbonate plastic is formed into an outer dome having an extended flange around the perimeter of the dome. The extended flange has first and second steps formed therein adjacent to the perimeter of the dome. A second dome having its narrow flange around its perimeter forms a middle dome having its narrow flange fitting into the first of the steps in the flange of the outer dome and having its dome spaced a short distance from the outer dome to provide a narrow dead air space having good insulation properties. A third dome having a narrow flange around its perimeter forms an inner dome in which its flange will overlap the flange of the middle dome and fit into the second step in the outer dome flange and having the inner dome spaced a short distance from the middle dome providing a second insulating dead air space to minimize heat flow through the three domes.

Abstract: Apparatus for making skylights from thin polymer sheets. Heated clamp frames are provided for clamping the perimeter of a thin polymer sheet and preheating the perimeter thereof to a preselected first temperature. An oven is provided for further heating the preheated perimeter and for heating the center portion of the polymer sheet to a selected second temperature greater than the first temperature to soften the polymer for forming. Upper and lower perimeter platens are provided having a plurality of stepped edges therein which are clamped onto the softened polymer sheet to thereby form a plurality of steps within the perimeter of the polymer sheet. A vacuum forming chamber is provided for forming a dome in the center portion of the polymer sheet above the stepped portion thereof. A push member may also be provided adjacent the upper platen for forming a sharp rise or push around the perimeter of the dome and between the steps and the dome.