Roofing and covering device

Abstract

A roofing and covering device comprises a set of shaped plates (3), each having respective first (5) and second (7) longitudinal side edges and a set of connection means (9) configured for fixing each plate (3) to a support structure. The cross section of the second longitudinal side edge (7) has, starting from its free border, a curved portion (13) which forms a first cavity (14) facing the respective plate (3); an inflexion portion (15) which forms a housing gap (17) with said edge; a bent portion (19) which forms, with the inflexion portion (15), a longitudinal second cavity (20) facing in a direction opposite to that (C1) of the first cavity (14); a further bent portion (21) which forms a longitudinal third cavity (22) inclined with respect to those (C1, C2) of the first (14) and second (20) cavities. Said longitudinal curved (13), inflexion (15), bent (19) and further bent (21) portions form a shaped element protruding perpendicularly from the plane of the respective plate (3) and with a shape approximately complementary to that of a longitudinal hollow seat (25) defined by the first longitudinal side edge (5) which is bent approximately in an inverted "U" shape and with a longitudinal first rib (27) and an hooking portion (29), consisting in a bending of the respective free longitudinal edge end. The first rib (27) and hooking portion (29) are respectively configured to engage the housing gap (17) and to hook a convexity of the bent portion (19) in a condition of installation of such adjacent plates (3). Each connection means (9) has a coupling portion (31) configured, in the installation condition, to be housed in a volume comprising at least part of the third cavity (22) of the bent portion (19) of the second longitudinal side edge (7) of a plate (3) and bounded by a matching longitudinal portion (33) of the first longitudinal side edge (5) of the adjacent plate (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field concerning the construction and building sector and refers to a roofing and covering device particularly for the construction of coverings and / or roofs for covering buildings and constructions, such as houses, warehouses, sheds, civil and industrial buildings in general, made of bricks and / or concrete and / or metals and / or wood and its derivatives and / or made of natural products or elements obtained from the latter.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] There are known coverings and roofs, for example from document EP 2 105 549 A1, made of metal plates, each having shaped edges for the coupling of adjacent plates and for their fixing, by means of respective connection means, to the support structure that they must cover and protect.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An object of the present invention is to propose a roofing and covering device alternative to the known coverings made of the known plates and connection means and capable to easily and quickly make safe and solid roof and coverings.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to propose a device capable of making flat roofs inclined at almost any angle and even horizontally.

[0005] A further object is to propose a device suitable also for making curved roofs, for example vaulted roofs.

[0006] Another purpose is to propose a device to make roofs and / or covers without holes for nails, screws, rivets and the like exposed to the outside.

[0007] A further purpose is to propose a device comprising fixing reinforcements for the edges of the roofs and covering plates and / or supports for elements to be applied above the roof, such as photovoltaic panels and / or for solar heating, supports for antennas and equipment and structures in general.

[0008] Another purpose is to propose a device avoiding water infiltration even in areas subject to particularly adverse environmental conditions, such as strong and very strong winds, intense rains, heavy snow and ice growing.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWNINGS

[0009] The characteristics of the invention are highlighted below with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a partial and cross-sectional view of a plate of the roofing and covering device object of the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 show enlarged views of respective side portions of the plate of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a connection means of said device; Figure 5 illustrates a partial and cross-sectional view of the edges of two plates mutually engaged and engaged to a connection means in an installation condition of the device to a support structure; Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a crowning element optionally included in the device; Figure 7 illustrates the device of Figure 5 provided with the optional crowning element of Figure 6 in the installation condition; Figures 8 and 9 illustrate views in orthogonal projection respectively of the connection means of Figure 4 and of the optional crowning element of Figure 6; Figure 10 illustrates an exploded and partial view of Figure 7. BEST MODE TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] With reference to Figures 1-10, numeral 1 indicates the roofing and covering device, object of the present invention, comprising at least one set of shaped plates 3 and a plurality of connection means 9 configured for fixing each plate 3 to a support structure consisting, for example, of an attic, arches or beams for a roof or cover or external or partition walls, to which the device must be fixed to obtain an installation condition of the same in which the edges of the adjacent plates are interconnected and fixed to the support structure by means of the connection means.

[0011] The plates have an elongated shape, with a length that can reach tens of meters, with a width much less, even tens of times, than the length and with a thickness between tenths of a millimetre and a few millimetres.

[0012] Preferably the plates are made by cold profiling of metal sheet strips and the material of the plates is endowed with resilience or elasticity sufficient to allow its elastic deformations.

[0013] The device is configured for covering flat inclined, horizontal and vaulted or curved roofs and, alternatively or even at the same time, is configured for covering vertical or inclined walls. Therefore, a construction can be covered on the top or laterally covered or roofed and covered with the device placed on horizontal, inclined or vertical planes or on curved surfaces in any orientations.

[0014] Each plate 3 has the respective longitudinal side edges first 5 and second 7 shaped for the mutual hooking of adjacent plates 3 and for the hooking of these edges 5, 7 to a set of connection means 9 for the fixing thereof to the support structure.

[0015] The features and the parts of the device are shown in figures 1-10 in cross section or sectioned by a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal development of the plates and in their orientation in the condition of installation of the roof or cover.

[0016] In the following, unless otherwise specified, the shapes, dimensions and geometric characteristics of the parts and features of the device refer to such cross sections, in other words sections perpendicular to the longitudinal development of the plates.

[0017] The transverse section of the second longitudinal side edge 7 has, starting from its free border, a curved portion 13 and an inflexion portion 15 spaced from said border with which it forms a housing 17.

[0018] The curved portion 13, alone or in collaboration with the inflexion portion 15, forms a first longitudinal cavity 14 with concavity, or with concave curvature, C1 facing the portion of the respective plate 3 comprised between the side edges 5, 7.

[0019] The transverse section of the second longitudinal side edge 7 has, further on the inflexion portion 15, a bent portion 19 which forms, with the inflexion portion 15 itself, a second longitudinal cavity 20 whose concavity, or curvature, C2 faces toward a opposite direction to that C1 of the first cavity 14; subsequently the transverse section of the second longitudinal side edge 7 has a further bent portion 21 which forms a third longitudinal cavity 22 whose concavity C3 is inclined with respect to those C1, C2 of the first 14 and second 20 cavities.

[0020] By way of example and also referring to the orientation of the figures, in the inflexion portion 15 of the second longitudinal edge 7 the sign of the curvature (meant as the sign of the second derivative of the geometric curve that represents the profile of the corresponding cross section) passes by the value of the curvature C1 of the curved portion 13 (negative in the figures) to the opposite one of the curvature C2 of the bent portion 19 (positive in the figures); the median portion of the cross section of the inflexion portion 15 therefore has a second derivative with zero value and therefore the longitudinal median portion of the inflexion portion 15 is almost flat with an inclination (corresponding to the value of the first derivative of the median part of such geometric curve), comprised between 20° and 70°, preferably of about 45° with respect to a horizontal line drawn in Figure 3.

[0021] The first 14, second 20 and third 22 longitudinal cavities are open longitudinally; preferably the first 14 and third 22 longitudinal cavities have undercut cross sections, in other words the width of the respective openings is smaller than the corresponding internal transverse dimension parallel to the geometric plane defined by such openings.

[0022] The vectors C1, C2 and C3 of Figure 3 are a possible graphic representation of the orientations of the concavities of the respective cavities 14, 20, 22: the respective segments are directed and oriented from the inside of the cavities towards the outside through the respective openings, the respective arrows point outward.

[0023] Said longitudinal curved 13, inflexion 15, bent 19 and further bent 21 portions form a shaped element with longitudinal development which protrudes perpendicularly from the plane of the median portion of the respective plate 3.

[0024] The first side edge 5 is folded approximately in an inverted "U" shape forming, along such edge, a sort of channel, which in the figures appears open downwards, where such sort of channel constitutes a longitudinal hollow seat 25.

[0025] Said shaped element, comprising longitudinal curved 13, inflexion 15, bent 19 and further bent 21 portions, has an overall shape approximately complementary to the inner form of the hollow seat 25 which, in the installation condition, houses this shaped element.

[0026] The first side edge 5 bent approximately in a "U" shape has at least a longitudinal first rib 27 and carries a hooking portion 29 consisting of a fold of the respective free longitudinal end.

[0027] Said first rib 27 and hooking portion 29 are configured respectively to engage the housing 17 and to hook a convexity of the bent portion 19 of the second longitudinal edge 7 of a plate 3 adjacent to that of said first edge 5 in the installation condition of these adjacent plates 3.

[0028] Preferably and as illustrated, for example, in Figure 2, the hooking portion 29 has the extreme side edge bent inwards at least for the purpose of rounding its outer border to facilitate its sliding without jamming.

[0029] Each connection means 9, for example made of solid or tubular material or of solid or hollow profile and made of metal or plastic or resin material, also of the type reinforced with fibres or granules, and it 9 has a longitudinal development equal to a fraction of that of the plates.

[0030] Each connection means 9 carries a coupling portion 31, having an overall shape approximately hook or shank and fluke, configured, in the installation condition, to be housed in a longitudinal volume comprising at least part of the third cavity 22 of the bent portion 19 of the second longitudinal edge 7 of a plate 3 and delimited by a matching longitudinal portion 33 of the first edge 5 of the adjacent plate 3 connected to the previous one.

[0031] The transverse section of the hooking portion 29 of the first side edge 5 is approximately shaped like a rounded "V" and, as already specified, its perimeter portion of the free longitudinal end is folded inside said portion of the hooking portion 29.

[0032] The hooking portion 29 of the first side edge 5 is more acute than the bent portion 19 of the second side edge 7 which is more open; in the installation condition, the bent portion 19 does not completely occupy the hooking portion 29 forming an interposed longitudinal seat for a waterproof seal 35 between the first side edge 5 of a plate 3 and the second side edge 7 of an adjacent plate 3.

[0033] Such seal 35 is optional and is expected to be adopted when the device is positioned with inclined orientation and / or is installed in a location with environmental or meteorological conditions that could lead to infiltrations; for example when the device is installed to make a horizontal or low-slope roof and or in areas with risk of heavy rainfall, it is advisable to provide the device with the seal 35. In other situations, for example in the case of installation in arid areas and / or with installation of the very inclined roof, the device can be installed without the seal 35 and in this case the longitudinal seat interposed between the bent 19 and hooking portions 29 acts as a drainage channel which reduces the risk of infiltrations in the event of severe atmospheric events.

[0034] The seal 35 consists of a solid or tubular section profile of elastic and impermeable material which, in the installation condition in which it is housed in the respective longitudinal seat, is compressed between the first side edge 5 of a plate 3 and the second side edge 7 of an adjacent plate 3.

[0035] The extreme side end bent towards the inside of the hooking portion 29 acts as an abutment or matching surface for the seal 35 and, by strengthening and stiffening the outer side of the hooking portion 29, it allows to compress such seal 35 without deforming the hooking portion 29.

[0036] Each connection means 9 has a base plate 39 from which the respective coupling portion 31 protrudes almost perpendicularly; such base plate 39 is provided with seats 40 for fastening elements, such as screws, nails, rivets, bolts and the like, to the support structure.

[0037] The coupling portion 31 is provided with a hook portion 32 which forms an undercut and configured, in the installation condition, to occupy the second cavity 20, delimited by the inflexion 15 and bent 19 portions of the second side edge 7, hooking it.

[0038] The base plate 39 has a first barb element 41 having approximately the shape of the barb of the hook or of the harpoon and approximately facing the hook portion 32 with which it forms a first hollow housing 42 approximately reproducing the shape of the third cavity 22 of the second side edge 7, such first hollow housing 42 is configured, in the installation condition, to house the further bent portion 21 of the second side edge 7.

[0039] Preferably and as illustrated in Figure 5, the further bent portion 21 and the surface of the connection means 9 which delimits the first hollow housing 42 have similar polygonal shapes, i.e. not identical, and with rounded corners and the respective median or central faces, in the condition of installation, are slightly separated by a thin hollow space.

[0040] As verified with trials and tests, such shapes and proportions, in particular those that form the cavity, facilitate the operations necessary for hooking the connection means 9 to the second side edge 7.

[0041] The side of the base plate 39 opposite the first barb element 41 with respect to the coupling portion 31, carries a second barb element 43, for example specular in shape to that of the first barb element, and approximately facing the coupling portion 31 with which it realizes a second hollow housing 44 configured to house a ribbing 47 made in the first side edge 5, which is lateral with respect to the base opposite the hooking portion 29, of the matching longitudinal portion 33.

[0042] Preferably, the shape of the cross section of the ribbing 47 is S-shaped or in any case such as to reproduce the profile of the cross section of the second hollow housing 44 and of the second barb element 43.

[0043] The portions of each plate 3 adjacent to the respective first 5 and second 7 longitudinal side edges have respective shaping 51, 53 configured, in the installation condition, to house the side portions of the base plate 39 of the connection means 9.

[0044] The side of the coupling portion 31 opposite the hook portion 32 has a groove 55 configured, in the installation condition, to house a longitudinal second rib 57 obtained in the matching longitudinal portion 33 of the first edge 5.

[0045] The device may comprise a set of optional crowning elements 61, each comprising an upper member 63 provided with at least one stiffening member 65 protruding therefrom and each defining a clamping channel 67 of complementary shape and dimensions equal to or slightly smaller than those of the part of the first side edge 5 between the hooking portion 29 and the ribbing 47.

[0046] Preferably the crowning elements 61 are monolithic and made by moulding, plastic deformation, extrusion or the like in resilient or elastic material of the metal or synthetic type.

[0047] The upper member can be, for example, in the form of a plate or an elongated beam and can be configured to support elements, such as solar or photovoltaic panels, above the roofing.

[0048] The elongated beam upper member may be provided with a plurality of stiffening members 65 spaced apart to engage respective junctions between adjacent plates to contribute to the strength of the roofing and covering device.

[0049] Such clamping channel 67 has at least one undercut, for example reliefs configured to engage with the first 27 and / or second 57 ribs or longitudinal bending of the edges configured to embrace the hooking portion 29 or other parts of the edges of the plate.

[0050] The elasticity of the material and the shape of the stiffening member 65 allow the insertion and elastic hooking of the first side edge 5 into the clamping channel 67; to facilitate such insertion, the upper member 63 can be provided with one or more grooves or depressions which facilitates its elastic bending to spread the arms or side edges of the clamping channel 67 facilitating their insertion and engagement by the first side edge 5.

[0051] The surface of the upper member 63 in which the groove or depression is made can be flat before coupling to the first side edge 5 and shaped like a roof, with a small angle, after such coupling; following the fixing of a flat element to be supported on this surface, it can bring it back to planarity by further tightening the arms or side edges of the clamping channel 67 on the first side edge 5.

[0052] In any case, the crowning elements 61 reinforce the coupling and fixing of the side edges of the plates.

[0053] The device can be installed by fitting, for example manually, a certain number of mutually spaced connection means 9 to the second longitudinal side edge 7 of a plate 3 and then fixing the connection means 9 to the support structure by means of nails, screws or the like engaged in the seats 40 of the base plates 39 of the connection means.

[0054] The first longitudinal side edge 5 of an additional plate 3 is superimposed and press-fitted to the second longitudinal side edge 7 of the previous plate 3 and the device is then completely installed to form the curved or flat and horizontal or inclined roofing or the vertical or sloping covering.

[0055] Optionally, the device can provide for the application of a plurality of crowning elements 61 for the reinforcement of the device and for the possible application of accessory elements such as panels, attachments, systems, closing profiles, sheet metals and the like.

[0056] The engagements and joints of the plates and any crowning elements of the installed and working device preferably occur by elastic deformation of the resilient materials with which they are made.

Claims

1. Roofing and covering device comprising a set of shaped plates (3), each having respective first (5) and second (7) longitudinal side edges and a set of connection means (9) configured for fixing each plate (3) to a support structure; said device being characterized in that the cross section of the second longitudinal side edge (7) has, starting from its free border, a curved portion (13) which forms a longitudinal first cavity (14) with concavity facing the portion of the respective plate (3) between the longitudinal side edges (5, 7); an inflexion portion (15) spaced from said free border with which it forms a housing gap (17), a bent portion (19) which forms, with the inflexion portion (15), a longitudinal second cavity (20) whose concavity faces in a direction opposite to that of the first cavity (14); a further bent portion (21) which forms a longitudinal third cavity (22) whose concavity is inclined with respect to those of the first (14) and second (20) cavities where said longitudinal curved (13), inflexion (15), bent (19) and further bent (21) portions form a shaped element that protrudes perpendicularly from the plane of the respective plate (3) and having a shape approximately complementary to that of a longitudinal hollow seat (25) defined by the first longitudinal side edge (5) which is bent approximately in an inverted "U" shape and which has at least a longitudinal first rib (27) and carries an hooking portion (29) consisting in a bending of the respective free longitudinal edge end, where such first rib (27) and hooking portion (29) are respectively configured to engage the housing gap (17) and to hook a convexity of the bent portion (19) of the second longitudinal strip (7) of a plate (3) adjacent to that of such first longitudinal side edge (5) in a condition of installation of such adjacent plates (3); each connection means (9) has a coupling portion (31) configured, in the installation condition, to be housed in a volume comprising at least part of the third cavity (22) of the bent portion (19) of the second longitudinal side edge (7) of a plate (3) and bounded by a matching longitudinal portion (33) of the first longitudinal side edge (5) of the adjacent plate (3).

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cross section of the hooking portion (29) of the first longitudinal side edge (5) is approximately shaped like a rounded "V" and that the perimetral portion of the free longitudinal edge end is folded inside of the hooking portion (29).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the installation condition, the bent portion (19) does not completely occupy the hooking portion (29) to form an interposed longitudinal seat for a seal (35) between the first longitudinal side edge (5) of a plate (3) and the second longitudinal side edge (7) of an adjacent plate (3).

4. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the seal (35) consists of a solid or tubular profiled of elastic and impermeable material which, in the installation condition in which it is housed in the respective longitudinal seat, is compressed between the first longitudinal side edge (5) of a plate (3) and the second longitudinal side edge (7) of an adjacent plate (3).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connection means (9) has a base plate (39) from which the respective coupling portion (31) protrudes almost perpendicularly, said base plate (39) having seats (40) for fastening elements, such as screws, nails, rivets, bolts and the like, to the support structure.

6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the coupling portion (31) is provided with a hook portion (32) configured, in the installation condition, to occupy the second cavity (20) delimited by the inflexion (15) and bent (19) portions of the second longitudinal side edge (7) and in that the base plate (39) has a first barb element (41) approximately facing the hook portion (32) with which it forms a first hollow housing (42) with a shape oppressively reproducing that of the third cavity (22) of the second longitudinal side edge (7); this first hollow housing (42) is configured, in the installation condition, to house the further bent portion (21) of the second longitudinal side edge (7).

7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the side of the base plate (39), opposite the first barb element (41) with respect to the coupling portion (31), has a second barb element (43) which faces approximately towards the coupling portion (31) with which it forms a second hollow housing (44) configured to house a ribbing (47) made in the first longitudinal side edge (5), lateral to the base opposite the hooking portion (29), of the matching longitudinal portion (33).

8. Device according to claims 6 and 7 characterized in that the portions of each plate (3) adjacent to the respective first (5) and second (7) longitudinal side edges have respective shaping (51, 53) configured, in the installation condition, to house the side portions of the base plate (39) of the connection means (9).

9. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the side of the coupling portion (31) opposite the hook portion (32) has a groove (55) configured, in the installation condition, to house a longitudinal second rib (57) carried out in the matching longitudinal portion (33) of the first longitudinal side edge (5).

10. Device according to claim 7 characterized in comprising a set of crowning elements (61) each comprising an upper member (63) provided with at least one stiffening member (65) protruding therefrom and each defining a clamping channel (67) with a complementary shape and dimensions equal to or slightly smaller than those of the part of the first longitudinal side edge (5) positioned between the hooking portion (29) and the ribbing (47), where such clamping channel (67) has at least an undercut and the elasticity of the material and the shape of the stiffening member (65) allow the insertion and hooking of the first longitudinal side edge (5) in the clamping channel (67).

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