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Title:
ROOF SHEET CLIP
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/232555
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A roof sheet clip (10) for interconnecting a roof sheet (13) and a roof sheet support structure, which includes a mounting formation (12) for, in use, mounting the roof sheet clip (10) onto the roof sheet support structure, a resiliently deformable roof sheet engaging formation (14) extending upward the mounting formation (12) for complementary engaging with and supporting a portion of the roof sheet (13), when in use, and, a limiter (16, 116, 216) for limiting the degree of downward displacement of the roof sheet engaging formation (14).

Inventors:
FRIEL ALLEN (ZA)
WHYTE MARK (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/ZA2019/050028
Publication Date:
December 05, 2019
Filing Date:
June 03, 2019
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
FRIEL ALLEN THOMAS (ZA)
WHYTE MARK MATTHEW (ZA)
ROBERTS ERNEST STEPHANUS JOHANES (ZA)
International Classes:
E04D3/36; E04D3/363
Foreign References:
GB848358A1960-09-14
AU439223B21973-08-13
EP0271246A11988-06-15
AU473604B21976-06-24
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HAHN AND HAHN (ZA)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1 A roof sheet clip for, in use, interconnecting a roof sheet and a roof sheet support structure, which includes: a mounting formation for, in use, mounting the roof sheet clip onto the roof sheet support structure; a resiliently deformable roof sheet engaging formation extending upward the mounting formation for complementary engaging with and supporting a portion of the roof sheet, when in use; and a limiter for limiting the degree of downward displacement of the roof sheet engaging formation.

2 A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 1 , the outer dimensions of which exceed the inner dimensions of complementary shaped receiving formations of the roof sheet, for allowing snap fit interconnection thereinbetween.

3 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims which is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material.

4 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims which is manufactured from a metallic material.

5 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims which is manufactured from a plastics material.

6 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the roof sheet engaging formation is manufactured from spring steel.

7. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the roof sheet engaging formation is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material.

8. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the mounting formation is triangular shaped in front view.

9. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the mounting formation includes fastening holes for receiving fasteners therethrough for fixing the roof sheet clip onto a purlin or any other suitable roof sheet supporting structure.

10. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the roof sheet engaging formation is arcuate shaped in cross sectional side view.

1 1. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the roof sheet engaging formation includes a plurality of channels defined about an outer surface thereof.

12. A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the channels are of truncated form in cross sectional view and arranged evenly spaced apart transversally the roof sheet clip.

13. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein peripheral end regions of the roof sheet engaging formation is bend to overlay itself. 1 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims which includes a pair of symmetrically shaped roof sheet clip portions.

1 A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the pair of roof sheet clip portions are defined by folding a piece of sheet like material, bent on itself to define a substantial C shape in plan view.

1 A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 15 wherein each roof sheet clip portion includes a flat horizontal orientated mounting segment, transitioning into an first upward segment angularly deposed relative the flat mounting segment, a second upward segment orthogonally deposed relative the flat mounting segment, and, an arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment extending away from the second upward segment.

1 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of claims 14 to 16 which is defined by interconnecting the second upward segments of each roof sheet clip portion such that the pair of arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments extend away from one another so as to define the roof sheet engaging formation.

1 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter is configured to be connectable to the pair of second upward segments, transversally the roof sheet clip, with an upper surface abutting against the pair of arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments, and a lower surface resting on the first upward segment.

1 A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter includes a slot formation defined centrally therein for receiving a pin type element extending from the second upward segment for mounting the limiter.

20. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the upper surface of the limiter is dimensioned so as to partially support each of the arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments about an inner surface thereof such that downward displacement is restricted to a free end region of each arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments.

21. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter is shaped and dimensioned to fill a space defined between the first upward segment, second upward segment, and, arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment, respectively.

22. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter is configured to also limit the degree of upward displacement of at least one of the pair of roof sheet engaging segments.

23. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter includes a limiter extension which extends angularly and upward away from the upper surface of the limiter, protruding a slot defined in the roof sheet engaging segment and to overlap the roof sheet engagement segment about an outer surface thereof, thereby restricting upward displacement of the roof sheet engaging segment.

24. A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 23 wherein the limiter extension is crescent shaped in side view.

25. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter includes a female type receiving formation defined about a peripheral region thereof for receiving a male type engaging formation extending from the roof sheet engaging segment.

26. A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 25 wherein the male type engaging formation is defined about an end region of the roof sheet engaging segment in register with the female type receiving formation of the limiter, when in use.

27. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the limiter is in the form of a protrusion extending from an upper surface of the triangular shaped mounting formation.

28. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims which includes a spacer shaped and configured to be secured onto and overlaying an outer surface of the roof sheet engaging formation for in use, spacing the roof sheet engaging formation away from the roof sheet.

29. A roof sheet clip as claimed in claim 28 wherein the spacer is manufactured from a non -heat conductive material for limiting the transfer of heat energy from the roof sheet to the roof sheet clip, when in use.

30. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the spacer is dimensioned to partially overlay the roof sheet engaging formation.

31. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the spacer includes peripherally defined securing formations for securing the overlay about a peripheral region of the roof sheet engaging formation.

32. A roof sheet clip as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims which includes a base for mounting the roof sheet clip onto the base, the base being mountable onto a roof support structure.

Description:
ROOF SHEET CLIP

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a roof sheet clip for interconnecting a roof sheet to a roof sheet support structure without the need to perforate the roof sheet.

Background to the invention

The inventor is aware of conventional concealed clips for fixing corrugated roof sheets to a set of purlins wherein the clips are fixed onto the purlins where after the roof sheets are clipped onto clips, typically in a snap fit formation. These types of clips typically have no yield and / or flexible characteristics which negatively impacts the gripping of the roof sheet.

The applicants having considered the above invented the clip as described herein below so as to address at least some of the problems associated with conventional roof sheet clips of the kind.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a roof sheet clip for interconnecting a roof sheet and a roof sheet support structure, which includes: a mounting formation for, in use, mounting the roof sheet clip onto the roof sheet support structure; a resiliently deformable roof sheet engaging formation extending upward the mounting formation for complementary engaging with and supporting a portion of the roof sheet, when in use; and a limiter for limiting the degree of downward displacement of the roof sheet engaging formation. The roof sheet may include complementary shaped receiving formations for complementarily receiving the resiliently deformable roof sheet engaging formation.

The complementary shaped receiving formations may extend longitudinally a fluted profile of the roof sheet and defined about an inner surface thereof. The outer dimensions of the roof sheet clip may slightly exceed the inner dimensions of the roof sheet’s complementary shaped receiving formations for allowing snap fit interconnection thereinbetween.

The roof sheet engaging formation may be manufactured from a resiliently deformable material. The roof sheet engaging formation may be manufactured from spring steel.

The roof sheet clip may be manufactured from a metallic material and / or an alloy thereof.

The roof sheet clip may be manufactured from a plastics material.

In another form of the invention the mounting formation may be triangular shaped in front view.

The mounting formation may include fastening holes for receiving fasteners therethrough for fixing the roof sheet clip onto a purlin or any other suitable roof sheet supporting structure.

The roof sheet engaging formation may be arcuate shaped in cross sectional side view.

The roof sheet engaging formation may include a plurality of channels defined about an outer surface thereof. The channels may be of truncated form in cross sectional view and arranged evenly spaced apart transversally the roof sheet clip.

Peripheral end regions of the roof sheet engaging formation may be bent to overlay itself.

The roof sheet clip may include a pair of symmetrical roof sheet clip portions. Each roof sheet clip portion may be defined by folding piece of sheet like material, bent on itself to define a substantial C shape in plan view.

Each roof sheet clip portion may further include a flat horizontal orientated mounting segment, transitioning into an first upward segment angularly deposed relative the flat mounting segment, a second upward segment orthogonally deposed relative the flat mounting segment, and, an arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment extending away from the second upward segment.

The roof sheet clip may be defined by interconnecting the second upward segments of each roof sheet clip portion such that the pair of arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments extend away from one another so as to define a convex shaped roof sheet engaging formation.

The limiter may be configured to be connectable to the pair of second upward segments, transversally the roof sheet clip, with an upper surface abutting against the pair of arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments, and a lower surface resting on the first upward segment.

The limiter may include a slot formation defined centrally therein for receiving a pin type element extending from the second upward segment for mounting the limiter.

The upper surface of the limiter may be dimensioned so as to partially support each of the arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments about an inner surface thereof such that downward displacement is restricted to a free end region of each arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments.

The limiter may be shaped and dimensioned to fill a space defined between the first upward segment, second upward segment, and, arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment, respectively. In another form of the invention the limiter may be configured to also limit the degree of upward displacement of at least one of the pair of roof sheet engaging segments. In this form of the invention the limiter may include a limiter extension which extends angularly and upward away from the upper surface of the limiter, protruding a slot defined in the roof sheet engaging segment and to overlap the roof sheet engagement segment about an outer surface thereof, thereby restricting upward displacement of the roof sheet engaging segment.

The limiter extension may be crescent shaped in side view.

In yet another form of the invention the limiter may include a female type receiving formation defined about a peripheral region thereof for receiving a male type engaging formation extending from the roof sheet engaging segment. The male type engaging formation will typically be defined about an end region of the roof sheet engaging segment in register with the female type receiving formation of the limiter, when in use. This aforementioned configuration will allow the limiter not to extend past the outer surface of the roof sheet engaging formation.

In yet a further form of the invention the limiter may be in the form of a protrusion extending from an upper surface of the triangular shaped mounting formation.

The roof sheet clip may also include a spacer shaped and configured to be secured onto and overlaying an outer surface of the roof sheet engaging formation for spacing the roof sheet engaging formation away from the roof sheet, when in use.

The spacer may be manufactured from a non-metallic material. The spacer may be manufactured from a non -heat conductive material for limiting the transfer of heat energy from the roof sheet to the roof sheet clip, when in use. The spacer may be manufactured from any one or more of the group selected from rubber, fabric, nylon, Teflon™ , or the like.

The spacer may be dimensioned to partially overlay the roof sheet engaging formation.

The spacer may include peripherally defined securing formations for securing the spacer about a peripheral region of the roof sheet engaging formation.

The roof sheet clip may further include a base for mounting the roof sheet clip onto the base, the base being mountable onto a roof support structure.

A plurality of roof sheet clips may be arranged in register in an evenly spaced apart relationship onto the base. In use, a plurality of roof sheet clips will be mounted in register with one another onto a roof support structure, for example a purlin type structure, whereafter a roof sheet having a complementarily shaped receiving portion will be aligned to rest onto the row of roof sheet clips. The resultant downward pressure exerted on the roof sheet and thereby the roof sheet clips, will result in the downward displacement of the free end regions of the roof sheet engaging formation, thereby decreasing its width dimension until it overlaps the rib formations defined inner the roof sheet’s fluted corrugations, and assuming its original orientation and dimensions to abut against inner side walls of the fluted corrugations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: - Figure 1 is a top perspective showing a first embodiment 10 of the roof sheet clip including the spacer;

Figure 2 is a schematic showing the spacer;

Figure 3 is a top perspective illustrating the second embodiment 1 10 of the roof sheet clip; Figure 4 is a top perspective illustrating the third embodiment 210 of the roof sheet clip; and

Figure 5 is a front view of the third embodiment 210 shown in figure 4 illustrating the location of the roof sheet, when in use, in accordance with the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally depicts a roof sheet clip in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 a second embodiment of the roof sheet clip 1 10, and figures 4 and 5 a third embodiment 210. Figure 1 shows the first embodiment of the roof sheet clip 10 for interconnecting a roof sheet (not included in figure 1 ) and a roof sheet support structure such as a purlin structure or the like (not shown), which includes a mounting formation 12 for, in use, mounting the roof sheet clip 10 onto the roof sheet support structure, a resiliently deformable roof sheet engaging formation 14 extending upward the mounting formation 12 for complementary engaging with and supporting a portion of the roof sheet, when in use, and, a limiter 16 for limiting the degree of downward displacement of the roof sheet engaging formation 14. The roof sheet engaging formation 14 will typically be arcuate shaped.

Peripheral end regions 18 of the roof sheet engaging formation 14 is further bend to overlay itself to promote structural integrity.

Turning now to Figure 2, the roof sheet clip 10, 1 10 and 210, further includes a spacer 42 shaped and configured to be secured onto and overlaying an outer surface of the roof sheet engaging formation 14 for spacing the roof sheet engaging formation 14 away from the roof sheet 13, when in use.

The spacer 42 will be manufactured from a non-heat conductive material for limiting the transfer of heat energy from the roof sheet 13 to the roof sheet clip 10, 1 10 and 210, when in use. The spacer 42 can be manufactured from any one or more of the group selected from rubber, fabric, nylon, Teflon™ , or the like.

The spacer 42 further includes peripherally defined securing formations 44 for securing the spacer about a peripheral region of the roof sheet engaging formation.

Figure 5 more clearly shows the arrangement of the roof sheet 13, and spacer 44 on roof sheet clip 216, when in use. The roof sheet clip 10, 1 10 and 210, is further comprised of a pair of symmetrical roof sheet clip portions 20.1 and 20.2, respectively.

Each roof sheet clip portion 20.1 and 20.2 is defined by folding a piece of sheet like material, bend on itself to define a substantial C shape in plan view. Each roof sheet clip portion 20.1 and 20.2 further include a flat horizontal orientated mounting segment 22.1 and 22.2, transitioning into an first upward segment 24.1 and 24.2 angularly deposed relative the flat mounting segment, a second upward segment 26.1 and 26.2 orthogonally deposed relative the flat mounting segment 22.1 and 22.2, and, an arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment 28.1 and 28.2 extending away from the second upward segment 26.1 and 26.2, respectively.

The roof sheet clip 10,1 10 and 210 is defined by interconnecting the second upward segments 26.1 and 26.2 of each roof sheet clip portion 20.1 and 20.2, such that the pair of arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments 28.1 and 28.2 extend away from one another so as to define the convex and / or arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging formation 14.

The limiter 16, 1 16 and 216, is configured to be connectable to the pair of second upward segments 26.1 and 26.2 respectively, transversally the roof sheet clip 10, with an upper surface abutting against the pair of arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments 28.1 and 28.2, and a lower surface resting on the first upward segment 24.1 and 24.2.

The limiter 16, 1 16 and 216 further includes a slot formation defined centrally therein for receiving a pin type element 30 extending from the second upward segment 26.1 and 26.2 respectively, for mounting the limiter 16. The limiter 16 will further secure the symmetric portions 20.1 and 20.2 together while mounted.

The upper surface of the limiter 16, 1 16 and 216 is dimensioned so as to partially support each of the arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments 28.1 and 28.2 about an inner surface thereof such that downward displacement is restricted to a free end region 32.1 and 32.2 of each arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segments 28.1 and 28.2.

The limiter 16, 1 16 and 216 is further symmetrically shaped and dimensioned to partially fill a space defined between the first upward segment 24.1 , second upward segment 26.1 , and, arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment 28.1 , respectively, as well as between between the first upward segment 24.2, second upward segment 26.2, and, arcuate shaped roof sheet engaging segment 28.2 of the other C shaped portion roof sheet clip portion. Figure 3 shows the second embodiment of the roof sheet clip 1 10 and limiter 1 16. In this embodiment the limiter 1 16 is configured to also limit the degree of upward displacement of the pair of roof sheet engaging segments 28.1 and 28.2, respectively. In embodiment 1 10 the limiter 1 16 includes a limiter extension 34 which extends angularly and upward away from the upper surface of the limiter 1 16, protruding a slot 36 defined in the roof sheet engaging segment 28.1 and 28.2 and to overlap the roof sheet engagement segment about an outer surface thereof for restricting upward displacement. The limiter extension 34 is typically crescent shaped in side view.

Figures 4 and 5 show the third embodiment 210 wherein the limiter 216 includes a female type receiving formation 38 defined about a peripheral region thereof for receiving a male type engaging formation 40 extending from the roof sheet engaging segment 28.1 and 28.2 respectively. The male type engaging formation 40 will typically be defined about an end region of the roof sheet engaging segment 28.1 and 28.2, respectively, in register with the female type receiving formation 38 of the limiter 216, when in use. The male type formation 40 is further defined out of plane relative the roof sheet engaging segment 28 extending below the roof sheet engaging segment 28. This aforementioned configuration will allow the limiter not to extend past the outer surface of roof sheet engaging formation 14.

In use, the roof sheet 13, included in figure 5, will typically have a fluted profile with complementarily shaped receiving formations 15 extending longitudinally a fluted profile of the roof sheet 13 and defined about an inner surface thereof for complementarily receiving the resiliently deformable roof sheet engaging formation 14 about a peripheral region thereof.

The width aspect of the roof sheet clip 10,1 10 and 210, will slightly exceed the width aspect of the inner fluted profile of the roof sheet 13 for allowing snap fit interconnection between the complementary shaped receiving formations 15 and the roof sheet clip 10,1 10 and 210, when in use. At least the roof sheet engaging formation 14 of the roof sheet clip 10, 1 10 and 210 will be manufactured from a resiliently deformable material such as spring steel.

The mounting formation 12 will further include fastening holes for receiving fasteners therethrough for fixing the roof sheet clip 10 onto a purlin or any other suitable roof sheet supporting structure.

The roof sheet clip 10, 1 10 and 210, can further include a base (not shown) for mounting the roof sheet clip 10, 1 10 and 210 onto the base, the base being mountable onto a roof support structure.

A plurality of roof sheet clips 10,110 and 210, will be arranged in register in an evenly spaced apart relationship onto the base.

The roof sheet engaging formation 14 can further include a plurality of channels defined about an outer surface thereof (not shown). The channels can be of truncated form in cross sectional view and arranged evenly spaced apart transversally the roof sheet clip. In yet a further embodiment, not shown, the limiter 16 can be in the form of a protrusion extending from an upper surface of the triangular shaped mounting formation (not shown).

In another embodiment of the invention the mounting formation may be triangular shaped in front view (not shown). In use, a plurality of roof sheet clips will be mounted in register with one another onto a roof support structure, for example a purlin type structure, whereafter a roof sheet having a complementarily shaped receiving portion will be aligned to rest onto the row of roof sheet clips. The resultant downward pressure exerted on the roof sheet and thereby the roof sheet clips, will result in the downward displacement of the free end regions of the roof sheet engaging formation, thereby decreasing its width dimension until it overlaps the rib formations defined inner the roof sheet’s fluted corrugations, and assuming its original orientation and dimensions to abut against inner side walls of the fluted corrugations. The Applicants believe that a roof sheet clip in accordance with the invention is an advantage in that a clip is provided wherein the degree of downward flexibility is limited and / or controlled thereby resulting in a more rigid and sturdy concealable clip for fixing a corrugated roof sheet to a roof support without the need to perforate the said sheet thereby eliminating the possibility of abrasion at the contact points which in turn can result in corrosion and pitting of the steel, and subsequent loss/ failure of the roof cover.