The present invention relates to an anchorage for fitting on a roof, comprising an anchoring plate for fixing on said roof and a pin which projects from said anchoring plate and is provided with an anchoring member on the free end projecting from the roof. Authorities are setting increasingly stringent requirements as regards the safety provisions for persons going onto a roof, or as regards constructions to be fitted temporarily on a roof. In the case of flat roofs, persons present on the flat roof must always be provided with an attached lanyard if they are within a particular distance from the edge of the roof. The requirements for attaching via a lanyard are also becoming increasingly strict for persons on sloping roofs.

It is known hi the state of the art to provide hooks which are permanently present on sloping roofs. These hooks project along roof tiles or other roof-covering material and a person wishing to go on the roof can attach himself to them. However, such hooks are not very safe because the strength of those hooks and their anchorage to the roof construction become seriously impaired over the years, particularly because of moisture. Highly dangerous situations can consequently arise. Moreover, roofs with pins projecting from them look extremely unattractive and projecting pins can constitute a hazard in that they can be struck by lightning. In the state of the art it has been proposed that constructions be provided under the roof covering, such as tiles, for attaching persons via a lanyard. As a result, the drawback of the harmful influence of moisture and the like is largely removed. However, for this it would have to be easily possible to remove the roof covering temporarily and replace it again without damage. However, there is an increasing demand for roof coverings to be permanently fixed on a roof, so that it is not easily possible to remove them temporarily. Moreover, it is not always clear to the workman where such a removable roof covering is situated.

Various publications, such as DE 7I35049U, DE 20008053U and GB 2272937, disclose constructions wherein a hitching point is made adjustable relative to the roof at the time of installation. That is to say, depending on the prevailing conditions, the position of, for example, an eye relative to the roof can be determined at the time of installation.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an anchorage for a roof which is not affected by weather conditions and is easily accessible without the removal of the roof

covering. Moreover, this anchorage must be fixed in an extremely secure way to the roof construction, so that it cannot fail in any circumstances whatsoever.

This aim is realised with an anchorage of the type described above in that said pin can be moved relative to said anchoring plate between a position in which said anchoring member is situated near said anchoring plate and a position in which said anchoring member is distant from said anchoring plate, said anchoring member in said distant position being firmly connected to said anchoring plate.

According to the present invention, the anchorage consists of a pin with an anchoring member, such as an anchoring point, on the end. An example of this is an anchoring eye. Such an anchoring eye can be used either for attaching persons via a lanyard or for fastening scaffolding, ladders and other climbing equipment. According to another embodiment of the invention, the pin is provided with a screw thread (internal or external) at the end. The scaffolding and the like described above can be coupled to this. The anchoring eye described above can optionally be provided with a projecting threaded part According to the present invention, the pin can move back and forth in a direction essentially perpendicular to the roof to a position in which the top end of the anchoring member is fitted approximately flush with the roof and a position in which the anchoring member is projecting from said roof. Ih the first position mentioned, i.e. the non- operational position, the appearance of the roof is not adversely affected. It is easily possible in that position to screen off the pin, mat is to say to protect said pin fully against external weather conditions. Ih the projecting position, the pin — and mote particularly the anchoring member — can clearly be distinguished and a fastening can easily be fitted to it The present invention can be used on both flat and sloping roofs.

Making use of an anchoring plate ensures that the transverse force applied to the pin when subjected to a load can be absorbed easily. Such an anchoring plate can be fastened to the roof construction in any way known in the state of the art

According to the present invention, when the anchorage is used, the anchorage is moved outwards relative to the roof covering and can be moved back again after use. This action is repeated as often as the anchorage is used. This contrasts with constructions wherein one adjustment is made at Ihe time of installing the anchorage.

Although the movement of the pin relative to the roof can be achieved in any way conceivable in the state of the art, such as by sliding, hydraulically and the like, this movement is preferably achieved by providing the anchoring plate with a threaded socket

(nut construction) and providing the pin with a corresponding external screw thread.

Such a threaded socket is preferably situated in a bush, extending perpendicularly to the plate and to be fitted in a hole to be made in the roof construction.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, there is an additional plate. According to this variant, the anchoring plate is fitted on the outside of the roof and the additional plate is fitted on the inside and these plates are connected to one another, for example, by means of bolts. With this arrangement the roof construction is clamped between the anchoring plate and the additional anchoring plate, as a result of which a particularly stable unit, inside which the pin is situated, is obtained. This additional plate is provided with an opening for the bush. It is also possible to design this additional plate in the form of two plate parts which can be moved towards one another for the enclosure of the bush that may be present

The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising an anchorage of the type described above as well as a roof passage part, which roof passage part comprises an opening for said pin to move throughit, wherein said opening can be closed off when said pin is in the position near the anchoring plate. Roof passage parts are generally known for ventilation and the like. That is to say, in structural terms such roof passage parts can be made 100 % watertight According to a particular variant of the assembly described above, the anchoring point is provided near its free end with a part acting as a cap, which part can interact with the opening in the roof passage. By means of the inward movement of the pin to the storage position, the cap automatically comes to rest in a sealing manner on the remainder of the roof passage.

The invention also relates to a roof construction comprising an external roof panel, roof covering placed thereon and a supporting construction and/or insulating layer underlying this, as well as an anchorage of the type described above wherein said pin is fitted so that it can be moved from the inside of said roof construction. According to the present invention, it is possible to operate the pin from the inside with any type of construction. By simple screwing action the pin can be moved from the inside outwards relative to the outside of a roof and back again. There may be a covering cap on the inside, if so desired. With a roof construction designed in this way, it is possible for the person wishing to go on the roof first to release the anchoring point onto the outside of the roof by operation from the inside, that is to say to make it accessible for attaching a lanyard and then to make use of this safety facility immediately on the roof. This means that it is no

longer necessary for the person concerned to search for the anchorage on the roof, so that the "unsafe period" is shortened as much as possible.

The invention also relates to a method for fitting an anchorage on a roof construction having a roof panel and a supporting construction and/or insulation underlying this, comprising making a hole in said roof panel and supporting construction and/or insulation underlying this, providing an anchoring plate with bush projecting from it, inserting said bush through said hole during positioning of said plate on the outside of the roof panel, fitting an additional anchoring plate on the inside of the roof construction and fitting bolts extending through the roof panel and supporting construction and/or insulation in order to drive said anchoring plate and additional anchoring plate towards one another with said roof construction becoming clamped between them.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the different parts of a first embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention;

Fig.2 shows the assembly according to Figure 1 fitted on a roof construction, in the non-operational slate;

Fig.3 shows said construction according to Fig.2 in the operational state; and

Fig.4 shows a second embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, fitted on a roof construction in the operational state.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, indicated in its entirety by 1. This assembly consists of an anchorage indicated in its entirety by 2 and a roof passage part indicated by 3. The roof passage part 3 is shown here as a roof tile, but it will be understood that this roof passage part can be in any form conceivable in the state of the art that is best suited to the roof covering in question. Such a roof covering can be either a ceramic roof covering or a roof covering based on bituminous material, or any other roof covering known in the state of the art

Roof passage part 3 is provided with an opening 4 with a raised edge 5.

The anchorage consists of a pin or spindle 13, which is provided with an external screw thread 27 and with an eye 14 and 15, respectively, on the two ends. Eye 15 is an operating eye, while eye 14 functions as an anchoring point A threaded stud 7 is provided on eye 14, for example by welding. A cap 16, provided with a corresponding internal screw thread, can be screwed onto said threaded stud.

Pin 13 can be adapted to the desired length by shortening. The anchorage 2 further comprises an anchoring plate 10 on which a bush 11 is permanently fixed. This plate is provided with an internal screw thread 12 and near the outer periphery is provided with a number of bolt holes 24. There is an additional anchoring plate 17 that comprises two plate parts 18 that can be moved towards one another for accommodation of bush 11 in the recess between them. These plate parts 18 are likewise provided with bolt holes 24. Reference numeral 25 indicates a bolt embodied to extend through said bolt opening 24 and 26 is a nut.

Figs 2 and 3 show the abovementioned assembly in the fitted state. The assembly is fitted on a roof panel 20, underneath which insulation and a further roof panel are situated. These are indicated by 21. It should be understood that beams and the like can also be situated underneath the roof panel, but for the sake of simplicity these are not shown. It is clear from the drawings that the anchoring plate 10 is situated on the outside of the roof panel 20, while the additional anchoring plate 17 is situated on the inside of the roof panel or roof construction. It is also clear that the roof passage part 3 and the rest of the roof covering are fitted over the anchoring plate 10, so that the latter is not exposed to weather conditions. The anchoring plate 10 and the additional anchoring plate 17 are coupled to one another by means of the bolts 25 and nuts 26, with the roof construction being clamped between them. This is a particularly stable construction. The roof construction is further provided with a hole 28 for receiving the bush 11.

The pin 13 is fitted in the bush 11 so that it can be moved up and down. This movement is achieved by screwing and more particularly by turning eye 15.

It will be understood that eye 15 or eye 14 is not fitted on pin 13, for example by welding, until after pin 13 has been fitted in bush 11. At the bottom, eye 15 is concealed from view by covering cap 22, which is hinged in such a way that the hinge is on the underside of the covering cap 22. Covering cap 22 is provided with internal insulation.

After the removal of cap 22, eye 15 can be rotated with a hook 23. In this way the pin or spindle 13 can be moved to the outside. As a result of this, anchoring point 14 moves outwards, taking cap 16 with it. This is shown in Fig. 3. Ia this position a lanyard or other construction can be hitched onto anchoring point or eye 14. By unscrewing cap 16 any type of construction such as fixing equipment for scaffolding, ladders and other fall prevention equipment can be screwed onto the threaded stud 7 exposed in this way.

The construction shown here is particularly stable and can easily be distinguished in its extended position projecting outwards. In its retracted position said construction is essentially flush with the roof.

It will be understood that special measures can be taken to avoid the occurrence of cold bridges as far as possible. Rubber sealing plugs and the like can be present. A suitable choice of material can also prevent condensation as far as possible.

In a variant it is possible for the bush 11 not to extend to additional plate 17. It is possible for additional plate 17 to be made in one piece and provided with an additional bush projecting inwards. This can additionally prevent the occurrence of a cold bridge. In a further variant the construction described above is recessed in the roof construction on the inside of the roof, so that in the closed position the covering cap is essentially flush with the inner surface of the roof construction, as a result of which a more attractive appearance is obtained.

Figure 4 shows a variant of the present invention. This is indicated in its entirety by 31. A specially designed roof tile 3 with passage hole 4 is also used in this embodiment .There are no bolts 25 in this variant. The bush 41 is provided with a dish 48 which is integral with it The bush 41 is fitted in opening 58 and provided with an internal screw thread 55. The top plate 40 is in one piece and is provided with a additional bush 54 that is joined to it and is provided with an external screw thread 51. External screw thread 51 and internal screw thread 55 can interact with each other and the distance between the top plate 40 and the dish 48 can be set by turning so as to accommodate the device in a clamped manner. Top eye 44 is provided with a threaded part 57, which engages on a screw thread in the additional bush 54. The additional bush is extended upwards by a collar 34, which is also provided with internal screw thread so that it can interact with screw thread 57. The length of the externally threaded part 51 is chosen such that, in principle, there are sufficient clamping possibilities for any roof thickness. If the distance to be bridged between dish 48 and top plate 40 is short, it is possible to remove a part of the threaded part 51 by sawing or in another way.

The parts described above are preferably made of a plastic material. Of course, it must be a high-grade plastic material and the parts of it exposed to the light must be UV- resistant. Such a material is a nylon material that can easily be injection moulded. Problems in respect of cold bridges and other undesirable heat transfers can be avoided by using plastic material.

The cap 46 can be fixed on the top eye 44 of the spindle 43 in any conceivable way.

In the case of certain embodiments it is possible to fix the dish 48 directly on an underlying roof part. This is the case in particular with flat roofs, where it is particularly easy to use the device illustrated above. Separate measures can be taken if necessary to provide a larger supporting surface for either the top plate 10 or the dish 48. For instance, it is possible to affix separate sheet material parts in the manner that corresponds to the positioning of the divided plates 18, as shown with reference to Figure 1.

In this embodiment as well, the spindle 43 can be moved from a non-operational position (not shown), in which the cap 46 closes off the opening 4, to an operational position as shown in Figure 4.

After reading the above description, numerous variants will be apparent to a person skilled in the art by combining constructions known from the state of the art. These fall within the scope of the appended claims.