Background to the Invention Figure 1 shows a plan view of a typical conservatory roof 10, in which two ridges 12,14 intersect 16. In the example shown, the ridges 12,14 are perpendicular at the intersection point 16. At the intersection point, the two ridges 12,14 form an internal angle in which a valley 18 is created. Valleys provide drainage functions in the roof e. g. in the form of valley gutters.

Rafters are inclined lateral beams sloping from the ridge towards the wall-top. Rafters typically act to support the roof covering e. g. the glazing material in a conservatory roof.

In a conservatory where a valley is formed, the valley must be able to accept rafters. Figure 1 illustrates an example of a rafter 20 sloping from the ridge 12 to the valley 18. Such rafters, and the glazing material associated with the rafters, must be able to drain into the valley whilst remaining securely located.

Current practice is for the glazing material to be secured to the valley by using double sided tape to join the glazing material with the valley along the position where the glazing material rests on the valley assembly. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) extruded end trims may also be located on the glazing material, to provide a secure surface for the tape to stick to.

This practice has a number of disadvantages. Over the seasons, the adhesive on the tape will fail. Further, the PVC will degrade to the extent that it becomes brittle.

Consequently, such a fixing technique does not provide any secure fixing over a period of time.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved manner of glazing retention that addresses one or more of the problems of the prior art, whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Statements of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a glazing retention clip comprising: a rafter connector for connecting the clip to an end of a longitudinally extending rafter for holding glazing material in a first plane; and a glazing stop providing, in use, a surface extending substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

Preferably, said glazing stop is pivotable about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

Preferably, the glazing stop is arranged, in use, to provide a surface either side of the longitudinal axis of

the rafter, each surface extending substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

Preferably, the clip further comprises a valley support member, the member in use being placed upon an upper surface of a valley so as to provide support for the clip.

Preferably, the rafter connector comprises two longitudinally extending legs. The legs may be arranged to fit either side of an upright of a rafter. Both legs may be arranged to fit within the hollow chamber formed by two uprights of a rafter.

Preferably, a hole extends through each leg for allowing the arms to be secured to the uprights by a mechanical fixing extending through the holes.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a roof having a valley and a rafter for supporting glazing in a first plane, a first end of the rafter being connected to the valley, the roof further comprising a glazing retention clip connected to the first end of the rafter, the glazing retention clip providing a glazing stop providing a surface extending substantially perpendicular to the first plane for prevention of slippage of the glazing material towards the valley.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of constructing a glazed roof, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a glazing retention clip to a first end of a rafter, the rafter being arranged to support glazing in a first plane; connecting the first end of the rafter to a valley; the clip having a glazing

stop providing a surface extending substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a conservatory roof incorporating a valley and a rafter extending from a ridge to the valley; Figures 2A and 2B show different perspective views of a glazing retention clip in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figures 3A and 3B show respectively a side view and a plan view of the arm of the clip shown in Figures 2A and 2B; Figures 4A and 4B show respectively a side view and a plan view of the body of the clip shown in Figures 2A and 2B; Figure 5 shows a perspective view indicating how the arm connects to the body of the clip; Figures 6A and 6B show two different perspective views of a glazing bar rafter connected to a valley assembly, with a glazing retention clip attached to the rafter; and Figures 7A and 7B show plan views of the arrangement shown in Figures 6A and 6B, with 7B additionally showing cross sectional views of the rafter and the valley assembly.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment As shown in Figures 2A-5, a preferred embodiment of a glazing retention clip 100 comprises an arm 140 pivotably connected to a body 120.

The arm 140 preferably comprises two flat surfaces 142, 144 symmetrically mounted either side of the pivot point 146. In this instance, the first flat surface 142 and the second flat surface 144 form a continuous flat surface. A hole 146 extends through the arm 140, the hole acting to define the pivot point of the arm.

Typically, the arm will be of length 100 millimetres, the radius of the hole 146 will be 5 millimetres, the surfaces 142,144 will be of height 30 millimetres, and the continuous surface connecting the two surfaces 142, 144 will be of height 18 millimetres (i. e. the depth of the hole 146 will be 18 millimetres), with the width of each surface 142 being 35 millimetres.

Holes 130,132 extend through both of the legs 122,124.

These holes are typically of diameter 5 millimetres, and the separation between the holes is typically 40 millimetres.

The body 120 comprises two longitudinally extending legs 122,124. The legs have a rectangular cross section, and are approximately 100 millimetres long, 2.5 millimetres wide and 12 millimetres high. The separation between the two legs is approximately 2.5 millimetres, with the legs being substantially parallel. The two legs are joined at one end, and are connected to a substantially cylindrical

member 126. The member 126 is mounted with the axis of the cylinder substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending legs.

A recess 128 extends around the periphery of the member 126. This recess 128 corresponds to a slight narrowing 148 of the hole 146 extending through the arm 140.

Consequently, when the member 126 is inserted into the hole 146 (in the direction shown by the arrow X in Figure 5) the recess will engage with the protrusion 148 to provide a snap fit arrangement to secure the arm 140 to the body 120 whilst allowing the arm 140 to pivotally rotate about the axis defined by the cylindrical member 126.

Preferably, the clip 100 further comprises a support member 160 (as for instance shown in Figures 2A and 2B) extending in the opposite direction from and coaxial with the cylindrical member 126 i. e. the support member 160 is also substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending legs 120,124.

The clip may be formed of any desired material, including metals and plastic. Preferably, the clip is formed of injection moulded plastic, such as polycarbonate, polypropylene or ABS (Acrylonitrile-Btuadiene-Styrene).

If desired, one or more elements or surfaces of the clip 100 can be made of or covered with rubber e. g. the member 160 maybe made of rubber or coated with rubber to prevent abrasion of any surface which the member contacts.

Figures 6A-7B illustrate the clip 100 in situ.

The figures show a ridge 18 to which is coupled a glazing bar rafter 20. Although Figure 7B generally shows a plan view of the valley 18, rafter 20 and clip 100, also illustrated (to improve clarity) are cross sectional views of the rafter 20'and the valley assembly 18' (within the dotted areas). The clip 100 is slotted onto the end of the rafter 20 by means of extending legs 122, 124. In the particular embodiment shown, the rafter 20, 20'is in the form of an inverted T, where 20a'forms the base of the T and 21'is the single upright), with an additional weather cap 20b'. As the rafter 21'has a single upright, the two legs 122,124 are arranged to slide either side of the upright. The legs are then securely positioned by placing mechanical fixings (e. g. bolts) through the holes in the legs (shown as holes 130,132 in Figures 4A and 5).

In some instances, the rafter will have two substantially parallel uprights, in which case the legs 122,124 can be arranged to slide into the hollow chamber between the two uprights (also termed webs).

In use, the flat surfaces 142,144 of the arms prohibit the glazing 200,210 from slipping down into the valley 18. The support stand member 160 sits against an upper surface 184 of the valley assembly. The glazing may also be further secured in position by providing double sided tape on the underneath side of the glazing 200,210 at the point at which the glazing panes (or the extruded end trim of the panes) would otherwise touch the valley assembly (shown as surface 102'in Figure 7B).

The clip is normally installed by firstly securing the body 120 to the end of the glazing bar rafter 18. The

member 126 will subsequently be in line with the longitudinally extending glazing bar, and not interfere with the glazing. The rafter is then secured to the valley using conventional methods. The arm 120 of the clip loo is then offered over the upright member 126 and secured in place with a clip fit detail. This allows the arm 120 to be freely pivotable whilst remaining perpendicular to the plane of any subsequently installed glazing panels connected to the glazing bar. When the glazing is installed at the roof, the surfaces 142,144 of the arm 120 will sit against the lower edges 202,212 of the glazing panels 200,210, and prohibit the glazing panels 200,210 from slipping downwards into the valley.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each

feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.