Tubular skylight with dome flashing and protective waffle pattern corrugation
In a tubular skylight, an Aluminum sheet having corrugations that may be in a waffle pattern is formed with a hole that is pressed into a curb which is fastened over the turret of a roof-mounted skylight flashing. Roof tiles above the dome of the skylight are placed onto the sheet, while below the dome the sheet is placed over roof tiles and manually conformed thereto, owing to the corrugations. Any water that leaks past tiles above the dome will be directed by the sheet around the curb and down onto the tops of tiles that are below the dome, thereby providing a water seal for the skylight. Clips can be used to hold the lower edge of the sheet onto the tiles.
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This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/653,297, filed Sep. 2, 2003, incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to skylights.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSkylights are used to illuminate buildings in a pleasing and energy-conserving way. Tubular skylights such as those made by the present assignee typically have a roof-mounted transparent cover or dome, a light conveying tube assembly extending down from the dome into the building to a ceiling, and a light diffuser plate covering the bottom of the tube at the ceiling.
To mount the dome on the roof, a flashing typically is provided. The flashing may have a flat skirt that is inclined to match the incline of the roof, and a cylindrical turret extending vertically upward from the skirt. The dome is fastened to the turret, with the tube assembly also engaging the turret to establish a single continuous light passageway through the dome and down into the tube assembly.
Many roofs are tiled. To install a skylight, some of the tiles typically are removed to expose the flat roof substrate, and the skirt of the flashing is then positioned over a hole that is cut into the roof substrate. The tiles are then replaced around the flashing.
The present invention is an improvement to prevent subsequent water leakage from the upper tile surface around the flashing/tile penetration down onto the roof substrate. As recognized herein, while previous solutions to this problem are not without utility, they can result in incomplete coverage through which water can flow. Moreover, the present invention recognizes that the previous use of lead pieces, used because of its malleability such that it can be conformed by hand around the tops of the lower tiles, entails structural and health risks. The present invention still further understands that rectangular multi-layer corrugated sealing pieces such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,601 not only fail to account for the above-noted geometric mismatch between tubular skylights and rectangular sealing pieces, but also require comparatively elaborate multi-layer construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA tubular skylight includes a transparent dome, a flashing coupled to the dome to mount the dome on a roof, and a skylight tube depending downwardly from the dome. The system also includes a sheet of corrugated metal mounted on the roof and coupled to the flashing. The sheet has a circular hole defining a periphery closely spaced from the flashing. Owing to the corrugations, the sheet is conformable to roof tiles to provide a water seal, as well as a rodent and insect barrier. The corrugations can include a first set of parallel corrugations and a second set of parallel corrugations, with the corrugations in the first set being orthogonal to the corrugations in the second set.
In a preferred embodiment, the sheet is formed with a curb circumscribing the hole, and the curb is coupled to the flashing. In one non-limiting implementation, the flashing defines an upper circular edge and bendable tabs extend radially inwardly from the curb of the sheet. The tabs may be bent over the edge to engage the sheet with the flashing without the need for fasteners. The sheet may be made of Aluminum, or it may be made of Copper, Lead, malleable Zinc, plastic, or rubber. Preferably, the corrugations of the sheet extend generally parallel to the incline of the roof when the sheet is mounted on the roof.
In another aspect, a method for mounting a tubular skylight includes receiving a corrugated single piece sheet defining a hole and a curb rising above and circumscribing the hole. The method further includes engaging the curb with a skylight flashing on a roof with an upper portion of the sheet being disposed underneath at least one roof tile above the flashing and with a lower portion of the sheet being disposed on top of at least one roof tile below the flashing. A skylight cover can then be coupled with the flashing. The corrugations may be in a waffle pattern.
In still another aspect, a lighting system includes a transparent skylight cover, a light diffuser, and a tubular structure extendable between the cover and diffuser. A single corrugated sheet is configured for circumscribing the tubular structure between the cover and the diffuser to impede water leakage through a roof above which the cover is to be disposed. The sheet has at least first and second elongated corrugations that are perpendicular to each other.
In another aspect, a device includes a corrugated single piece sheet defining a hole and a curb rising above and circumscribing the hole. The sheet has corrugations in a waffle pattern.
In still another aspect, a method for engaging a corrugated member with a tile roof includes disposing a corrugated metal sheet over at least two overlapping roof tiles, and fastening a leading edge of the sheet to at least one of the tiles. The sheet may be engaged with a skylight flashing on a roof, and a skylight cover can be coupled with the flashing. The method can include deforming the sheet to conform to at least one roof tile. The sheet can be fastened to the roof by sliding a leg of a clip between the tiles, and then bending a tab of the clip over the sheet. A fastener may then be disposed through at least the tab and sheet to hold the clip to the sheet.
In another aspect, a roof sealing system includes one or more clips, each formed with a first portion and a second portion. The system also includes a corrugated sealing member that is disposable over some roof tiles and under other roof tiles and that is generally conformable to the tiles. The first portion of each clip can be disposed between overlapping tiles and the second portion of each clip can be folded over an edge of the sheet to facilitate fastening the clip to the sheet.
In another aspect, a tubular skylight has a transparent dome, a flashing coupled to the dome to mount the dome on a roof, and a skylight tube depending downwardly from the dome. A sheet of corrugated metal is mounted on the roof and is coupled to the flashing. The sheet is conformable to roof tiles to provide a seal. The sheet may be made integrally with the flashing and may have one and only one set of parallel corrugations.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring initially to
A preferably unitary single piece sheet 26 of corrugated metal such as Aluminum is mounted on the roof 24. As shown in
With more specificity in reference to
With the above disclosure in mind, and now referring back to
Next, if desired a flashing extension 36 can be fastened by, e.g., screws to both the dome 12 and the flashing 18 and/or curb 32 to couple the flashing 18 to the dome 12. The flashing extension 36 can be established by one or more tubes, and it may be made integrally with the flashing if desired. In any case, owing to the corrugations of the sheet 26, a person can easily deform the sheet 26 as necessary to generally conform to the tiles 30 that are below the dome 12 and that lie underneath the lower portion of the sheet 26.
With this invention, any water that leaks down past tiles 30 which are above the dome 12 will be directed by the sheet 26 around the curb 32 and down onto the tops of tiles 30 that are below the dome 12, thereby providing a water seal for the skylight 10.
Now referring to
In accordance with the embodiment shown in
With the waffle pattern shown in
With more specificity,
With the above clip structure in mind, reference is now made to
It is to be understood that while the clip shown in
While the particular TUBULAR SKYLIGHT WITH DOME FLASHING AND PROTECTIVE CORRUGATION as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. '112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited as a “step” instead of an “act”. Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconciliable with the present specification and file history.
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A method for engaging a corrugated member with a tile roof, comprising:
- disposing a corrugated metal sheet over at least two overlapping roof tiles; and
- fastening a leading edge of the sheet to at least one of the tiles.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising engaging the sheet with a skylight flashing on a roof.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling a skylight cover with the flashing.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising deforming the sheet to conform to at least one roof tile.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of fastening comprises:
- sliding a leg of a clip between the tiles;
- bending a tab of the clip over the sheet; and
- disposing a fastener through at least the tab and sheet to hold the clip to the sheet.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of fastening comprises at least one of;
- disposing adhesive between the sheet and at least one tile; and
- engaging a fastener with the sheet and at least one tile.
13-14. (canceled)
15. A roof sealing system, comprising:
- at least one clip formed with a first portion and a second portion;
- a corrugated scaling member disposable over some roof dies and under other roof tiles and generally conformable to the tiles, wherein the first portion of the clip can be disposed between overlapping tiles and the second portion of the clip can be folded over an edge of the sheet to facilitate fastening the clip to the sheet.
16. The system of claim 15, comprising plural clips and plural threaded fasteners for engaging the clips with the sheet.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first portion is a leg and the second portion is a tab shorter than the leg and orthogonal thereto.
18-19. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 21, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2005
Applicant:
Inventors: Joseph Prenn (San Diego, CA), David Rillie (Cardiff, CA), Christian Stevens (Oceanside, CA)
Application Number: 11/186,173