In the renovation of existing building structures such as roofs, lcnown retaining elements for example known from WO-00/40823 for holding a building sheet are mounted to a mounting structure which is attached directly on the existing building structure or support structure. These existing building structures may be uneven. This unevenness of the existing building structure should usually not be replicated in the renovated building structure. However, an uneven existing building structure, such as a roof made using bitumen, makes it difficult to mount an elongate mounting structure on the building structure. In that case several smaller mounting structures could be used, leading to problems among other things in positioning the mounting structures with respect to each other and to the building sheet which is to be held by the retaining elements mounted on the mounting structures.

French Patent Application 78 02571 discloses a device for mounting panels to a wall comprising one element mounted to the wall and another element mounted to the panel which elements are fixable to each other. For mounting a panel to a wall a large number of these devices is required and the positioning and the alignment is time consuming.

Another solution is to locally remove the unevenness in the building structure to be renovated by using filler means below the mounting structure, or to make the surface below the mounting structure level by taking away some of the existing building structure, for instance by milling. A disadvantage of this solution is that a large effort is required. Alternatively, the filler means may also be retaining elements of different whereby the unevenness of the existing building structure is suppressed. However, this use of retaining elements with different lengths is not desirable from a standardisation point of view and positioning such retaining elements is time consuming.

It is the object of the invention to provide means for holding a building sheet to a building structure or support structure whereby one or more of the abovementioned problems is solved.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is reached by an assembly for holding a building sheet on a building structure which holding assembly comprises

a mounting element for mounting on the building structure and holding means for holding a retaining element, the holding means comprising a holding element comprising a base section, said base section comprising a retaining side for engaging the bottom portion of the retaining element and a connecting side on the opposite side of the retaining side for cooperating with the adjustment means, the retaining element having a head portion for engagement with the building sheet and a bottom portion for engagement with the holding means, wherein the assembly also comprises adjustment means for adjusting the distance between the mounting element and the head portion and wherein said distance is fixable for holding a building sheet on a building structure which holding assembly comprises a mounting element for mounting on the building structure and holding means for holding a retaining element having a head portion for engagement with the building sheet and a bottom portion for engagement with the holding means wherein the assembly also comprises adjustment means for adjusting the distance between the mounting element and the head portion and wherein said distance is fixable, and wherein the holding element and/or the mounting element is elongate.

This achieves the effect that the distance between the head portion of the retaining element and the mounting element is adjustable with respect to each other so that the distance between the head portion head portion and the mounting element can initially be changed allowing to adapt the distance to the local situation. Since the mounting element is mounted on the building structure, adjusting the distance between the head portion and the mounting element implies adjusting the distance between the head portion and the building structure, and hence between the building sheet which is to be held by the head portion and the building structure. The position of the holding element with respect to the mounting element can be fixed by the connection means, thereby also fixing the distance between the head portion and the building structure.

Furthermore, the use of an elongate holding element and/or elongate mounting element contributes to the stiffness of the assembly and thus to the construction. Also the use of elongate elements prevents alignment difficulties and is time efficient in mounting to the building structure as compared to using many non-elongate elements. The bottom portion of the retaining element engages the retaining side of the base section. The opposite side of the base section, the connecting side, cooperates with the adjustment means so as to adjust the distance between the base section of the holding element and the mounting element. This allows for the use of standardised retaining elements,

because the distance between the head portion of the retaining element is adjusted by adjusting the distance between the base section of the holding element and the mounting element.

In an embodiment of the invention the distance between the base section of the holding element and the mounting element is adjustable by the adjustment means, and wherein said distance is fixable by connection means. This embodiment enables adjusting the distance between the base section of the holding element and the mounting element and the subsequent fixing of said distance by connection means and thereby, after adjusting the distance using adjustment means, fixing of the distance between the head portion of the retaining element and the building structure.

In an embodiment of the invention the base section of the holding element is substantially quadrangular, said base section also comprising a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to and opposite of said first edge. The use of substantially quadrangular base sections enables using a simple shape as a base section for engaging the bottom portion of the retaining element on the retaining side of the base section, as well as for cooperation with the adjustment means. The relatively simple shape means that it is also relatively easy to produce and therefore economical.

In an embodiment of the invention the retaining side is provided with means for detachably receiving the bottom portion of the retaining element. When the retaining side of the base section is provided with means for detachably receiving the bottom portion of the retaining element this allows easy placement and removal of the retaining element as well as easy alignment of the retaining element with respect to other retaining elements already placed or to be placed on the building structure.

In an embodiment of the invention the connecting side of the base section of the holding element is provided with at least a flange as adjustment means, wherein the flange is substantially a flat panel which is substantially perpendicular to the connecting side of the base section and extends towards the mounting element, and wherein the holding element is fixable to the mounting element by the connection means thereby fixing the distance between the holding element and the mounting element. In this embodiment the flange provides an increased stiffness of the holding element.

Moreover, the connections means connecting the holding element to the mounting element can be fixed thereto, for fixing the position of the holding element with respect

to the mounting element, thereby also for fixing the distance between the holding element holding the retaining element and the building structure.

In an embodiment of the invention the connecting side of the base section of the holding element on the first edge is provided with a first flange, and on a second edge is provided with a second flange, wherein the flanges are part of the adjustment means, wherein the flanges are substantially parallel panels which are substantially perpendicular to the connecting side of the base section and extend in use towards the mounting element, and wherein the holding element is fixable to the mounting element by the connection means. This embodiment provides a further increase in stiffness of the holding assembly. Moreover, the connections means connecting the holding element to the mounting element can be fixed thereto, for fixing the position of the holding element with respect to the mounting element, thereby also for fixing the distance between the holding element holding the retaining element and the building structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mounting element comprises a mounting base section, preferably a substantially quadrangular mounting base section, wherein the mounting base section comprises a holding side, a mounting side on the opposite side of the holding side for mounting to the building structure, a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to and opposite of said first edge, which first edge on the holding side of the mounting base section is provided with a first flange and on the second edge is provided with a second flange, wherein the flanges are part of the adjustment means, wherein the flanges are substantially flat panels which are substantially perpendicular to the holding side of the base section and extend in use towards the holding element, and wherein the first flange of the holding element overlaps at least partly with the first flange of the mounting element and wherein the second flange of the holding element overlaps at least partly with the second flange of the mounting element and wherein the holding element is fixed to the mounting element by the connection means to form a support.

The maximum height of the support, i. e. the distance between the substantially parallel base section of the holding element and the substantially parallel mounting base section of the mounting element, is exceeded when there is no longer any overlap between the first flanges of the holding element and the mounting element and/or the second flanges of the holding element and the mounting element. The minimum height

of the support is reached when the first and/or second flange of the mounting element touches the mounting side of the base section of the holding element and/or when the first and/or second flange of the holding element touches the holding side of the mounting base section of the mounting element. The first flange of the holding element can be easily connected to the first flange of the mounting element using connection means, such as a screw, and the second flange of the holding element can be easily connected to the second flange of the mounting element using connection means. By this connection, the height of the support becomes fixed on the desired value. In case of an uneven surface whereupon the mounting element (or mounting elements) is to be mounted, the height of the support can be varied in order to compensate the unevenness in the existing building structure. In this way unevenness in the existing building structure is not passed on or replicated to the new building structure which comprises building sheets which are to be held by the retaining elements mounted on retaining side of the base section of the holding element. The support also contributes to the stiffness of the construction In an embodiment of the invention, the support has a substantially rectangular cross-section. This form of the support, a beamlike form, contributes strongly to the stiffness of the structure.

In an embodiment of the invention, the holding element is a U-shaped profile, preferably an extruded profile, for instance an aluminium or aluminium-alloy extruded profile. A typical size for such a profile for the holding element is that the height of the flanges is between about 30 to 100 mm, for instance about 70 mm, and that the width is between about 60 and 140 mm, for instance about 100 mm.

In an embodiment of the invention the mounting element is a U-shaped profile.

This U-shaped-profile may for instance be an extruded profile, for example made from aluminium or an aluminium-alloy or it may be a bent profile, e. g. from aluminium or an aluminium-alloy or steel, galvanised and/or organically coated steel. It may also be made from a material, which is thermally insulating, e. g. a plastic material, thereby preventing thermal bridges between the support structure and the building sheet. A typical size for this profile for the mounting element is that the height of the flanges is between about 30 to 120 mm, for instance 80 mm, and that the width is between about 60 and 140 mm, for instance about 90 mm. Typical thickness for both profiles is

between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably between 1.0 and 3.0 mm, more preferably about 1.5 to 2. 0 mm.

In an embodiment of the invention the support is formed by the holding element and the mounting element whereby the flanges of the holding element which extend towards the mounting element, envelope at least part of the flanges of the mounting element which extend towards the holding element. In this embodiment, when the mounting element is mounted on the existing building structure both flanges of the mounting element are at least partly enveloped by both flanges of the holding element.

Among other things, the risk of any water entering the support for instance when used in a roof construction is thereby minimised.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the support is internally provided with a thermally insulating material. This contributes significantly to the insulating capacity of the building structure.

In still a further embodiment of the invention the base section of the holding element comprises a recess substantially parallel to the side edge of the base section on the retaining side of the base section for receiving a retaining element, said recess being formed by opposed overhanging retaining flanges forming, with the base of the recess, slots for receiving the bottom portion of the retaining element. A retaining element can be inserted into the slots and moved to the position where the retaining element has to hold a building sheet. The retaining element can be fixed at that location using known fastening means, such as a screw. When using a retaining element which is freely detachable from the slots in a first position and held firmly in the slots in a second position, the retaining element can be inserted in the first position in the location where the retaining element has to hold a building sheet and then brought in the second position, e. g. by rotation of the retaining element, to hold the building sheet. An extruded profile for the holding element can be provided with the retaining flanges already in place.

According to the invention in another aspect, a building structure is provided which building structure comprises at least one holding assembly as described in this description and at least one building sheet. This building structure may be a roof structure, for instance a roof structure that is to be renovated or repaired. The building structure or support structure may also be a new structure.

According to the invention in another aspect, a holding element for a holding assembly is provided, wherein the holding element comprises a substantially quadrangular base section, said base section comprising a retaining side for detachably receiving and holding a retaining element for engagement with a building sheet, a connecting side on the opposite side of the retaining side, a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to and opposite of said first edge, wherein the connecting side of the base section of the holding element on the first edge is provided with a first flange, and on a second edge is provided with a second flange, wherein the flanges are substantially parallel panels which are substantially perpendicular to the connecting side of the base section, and wherein the base section of the holding element comprises a recess substantially parallel to the side edge of the base section on the retaining side of the base section for receiving a retaining element, said recess being formed by opposed overhanging retaining flanges forming, with the base of the recess, slots for receiving the bottom portion of the retaining element, and wherein the holding element is elongate.

The present invention will now be further explained by the following non- limitative drawings.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a holding assembly according to the invention ; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a building structure comprising a holding assembly according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows schematic representations of cross sections of support according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a holding assembly 1 for holding a building sheet which holding assembly comprises a holding element 2 and a mounting element 3 for mounting on the building structure and connection means 4 for fixedly connecting the holding element to the mounting element. The holding element 2 comprises a substantially quadrangular base section 5, said base section comprising a retaining side 5a for detachably receiving and holding a retaining element for engagement with a building sheet, a connecting side 5b on the opposite side of the retaining side, a first edge 5c, and a second edge 5d substantially parallel to and opposite of said first edge 5c, wherein the connecting side of the base section of the holding element on the first edge 5c is provided with a first

flange 6a, and on a second edge 5d is provided with a second flange 6b, wherein the flanges are substantially parallel panels which are substantially perpendicular to the connecting side of the base section and in use extend towards the mounting element.

The mounting element 3 comprises a substantially quadrangular mounting base section 7, said mounting base section 7 comprising a holding side 7a, a mounting side 7b on the opposite side of the holding side for mounting to the building structure, a first edge 7c and a second edge 7d substantially parallel to and opposite of said first edge, which first edge 7c on the holding side of the base section is provided with a first flange 8a and on the second edge 7d is provided with a second flange 8b, wherein the flanges are substantially flat panels which are substantially perpendicular to the holding side of the mounting base section and extend in use towards the holding element. In use the first flange 6a of the holding element 2 overlaps at least partly with the first flange 8a of the mounting element 3 and the second flange 6b of the holding element overlaps at least partly with the second flange 8b of the mounting element 3 and wherein the holding element is fixed to the mounting element by the connection means 4 to form a support.

These connections means may be fastenable and releasable means such as screws or nuts and bolts, or the connection means may comprise means to provide a more permanent connection such as a weld or adhesives. The connection means may also comprise a click-type connection wherein a corrugated profile, e. g. a saw tooth profile, is provided in at least one of the flanges of the holding element and in at least one corresponding flange of the mounting element so that the corrugated profiles cooperate to fasten the mounting element to the holding element by clicking into the desired position.

The retaining side 5a of the base section 5 of the holding element 2 comprises a recess 5e substantially parallel to the side edge 5c for receiving a retaining element, said recess 5e being formed by opposed overhanging retaining flanges 9a, 9b forming, with the base of the recess, slots for receiving edge portions of the retaining element.

The base of the recess is formed by portions of the retaining side which is enclosed by the opposed overhanging retaining flanges 9a, 9b. In Figure 2 these opposed overhanging retaining flanges 9a, 9b are represented as T-shaped. It will be clear to the skilled person that the overhanging flanges can also be created otherwise, for example by r-type flanges.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a holding assembly 1 for holding building sheets 10 which holding assembly comprises a holding element 2 provided with a retaining element 11 comprising a head portion 15 for engagement with the building sheets 10 and a bottom portion 16 for engagement with the retaining side Sa of the holding element 2, wherein the holding element is formed from an extruded U- profile, and wherein the mounting element is formed from a U-profile, and wherein the mounting element is mounted to a building structure 12. Thermally insulating material 13 is provided in the support formed by the interlocking U-profiles of the holding element and the mounting element, and thermally insulating material 14 is provided in the space between the building structure and the building sheets.

Figure 3a shows a cross section of a support where both flanges of the holding element envelope both flanges of the mounting element and where the support has about its maximum height. Figure 3b shows the same configuration where the support has about its minimum height. Figure 3c shows a cross section of a support where the flanges of the holding element do not envelope both flanges of the mounting element.

It is of course to be understood that the present invention is not in any way limited to the described embodiments and examples described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the description and the following claims.