Fascia & soffit system

Abstract

Roof trim assembly comprising first and second trim pieces 5, 5', the first trim piece having a connecting portion 30 that is insertable into a slot 65 on the second trim piece so the trim pieces inte

Description

Fascias and soffits are crucial components of a roof finish. The fascia is adjacent and runs along a lower end of a roof and faces outwardly. The soffit closes the area below the fascia and the end of the roof from below and faces downwardly towards the ground. The fasicas, soffits and other roof trim pieces play an important role in keeping a roof water and weather tight. In addition, the fasica generally supports the gutters and often supports at least part (e.g. a final row) of a roof covering (e.g. slates or tiles or sheets). The fascia is often fixed to ends of the roof trusses or rafters, e.g. using screws or other suitable fixings. The roof trim pieces such as fascias and soffits can greatly enhance the appearance of a roof line as well as blocking ingress of insects, birds, water, leaves, debris and other unwanted items or creatures. As such, a good standard and quality of finish and installation of the roof trim pieces is greatly desirable. It is also desirable for the assembly of roof trim pieces to be robust and durable. However, there are also pressures on installers to complete jobs quickly, such that ease and speed of installation are also important factors. Summary The aspects of the present invention are defined in the independent claims. Some preferred features are defined in the dependent claims. According to a first example of the present disclosure is a roof trim assembly comprising: a first trim piece, which may be a soffit board, and a second trim piece, which may be a fascia board. The second trim piece comprises a slot part that defines a slot. The first trim piece and the second trim piece may be configured to interlock. A connecting portion of the first trim piece may be insertable into the slot of the second trim piece, e.g. such that the first and second trim pieces interlock. By the soffit engaging piece and the fascia engaging piece being configured to interlock, the soffit board may be, at least in part, securely supported by the fascia board. The first trim piece and the second trim piece may have a width, a length and a thickness, and the length may be greater than the width and the width greater than the thickness. One or both of the first trim piece and the second trim piece may be elongate, e.g. with a length of at least 3 times, or at least 5 times, or at least 10 times, or at least 15 times its width. A long direction of the first trim piece and the second trim piece may be parallel with the length of the soffit board and / or the fascia board. The first trim piece may comprise opposing faces in a plane that extends in length and width directions of the first trim piece, opposing edges that extend in length and thickness directions of the first trim piece and opposing ends that extend in the thickness and width directions. The first and second trim pieces may be identical. The first and second trim pieces may have corresponding features. That is, the first trim piece may comprise any feature or component or combination of features or components described in relation to the second trim piece or vice versa. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may be or be comprised in a side portion of the first trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may comprise one of the edges of the first trim piece and part of one or both faces of the first trim piece that are proximate the edge. The first trim piece may comprise two connecting portions, one connecting portion associated with each edge of the first trim piece. Each of the two connecting portions may be mirror images of each other but may be otherwise identical. The first trim piece and the second trim piece may be elongate. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may extend in the long direction of the soffit board, e.g. over at least 25%, a majority, over 80% or substantially all of the length of the soffit board. The slot may extend in the long direction of the second trim piece, e.g. over at least 25%, a majority, over 80% or substantially all of the length of the second trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece (e.g. the soffit board) and the slot part of the second trim piece (e.g. the fascia board) may be click fit engaging pieces configured to click fit with each other. The slot part of the second trim piece may be or comprise a profile section, e.g. a cross sectional profile section, of the second trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may be or comprise a profile section, e.g. a cross sectional profile section, of the first trim piece. The slot part and the connecting portion may be straight or linear, e.g. comprising profile sections, e.g. cross sectional profile sections through the thickness, of the second trim piece and / or the first trim piece respectively. The slot part and the connecting portion may extend linearly or in a straight line along at least part, a majority or all of the length of the second trim piece and / or the first trim piece respectively. That is, the profile, e.g. cross sectional profile section, of the first trim piece that forms at least part or all of the connecting portion may extend linearly along at least part or all of the length of the first trim piece. The profile, e.g. cross sectional profile section, of the second trim piece that forms at least part or all of the slot part may extend linearly along at least part or all of the length of the second trim piece. In this way, the when the soffit board, e.g. the connecting portion thereof, has been engaged with the slot part of the fascia board, a lower part of the facia board may remain straight longitudinally in line with an edge of the soffit board. The connecting portion of the first trim piece (e.g. the soffit board) may comprise, be comprised in or form an edge of the first trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece (e.g. the soffit board) may be generally C-shaped in a cross section of the first trim piece, e.g. in a cross section through the thickness of the first trim piece and / or in a direction perpendicular to the long direction of the first trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may form at least three sides of a box section in the cross section of the first trim piece and may form a part of a fourth side of the box section in the cross section of the first trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may comprise an opening or slot, which may extend in the long direction of the first trim piece, e.g. along a majority or all of the long direction of the first trim piece, and may be comprised in the fourth side of the box section of the connecting portion. The opening or slot may extend in parallel with an edge or opposing edges of the first trim piece. The connecting portion of the first trim piece may curl or extend back on itself, e.g. round and back on itself. That is, the connecting portion may comprise a first part of the first trim piece that extends generally in a width direction of the first trim piece in the cross section of the first trim piece. The connecting portion may comprise a second part that extends in a thickness direction of the first trim piece in the cross section of the first trim piece and / or forms an edge of the first trim piece, which may be a part that extends away from and / or perpendicularly to the first part and / or a third part of the connecting portion. The connecting portion may comprise a third part that may extend generally in a width direction of the first trim piece in the cross section of the first trim piece, e.g. in parallel to the first section and / or perpendicularly to the second section. The third part of the connecting portion may correspond to the fourth side of the box section. The first, second and third parts of the connecting portion may define at least part of a recess that is opened by the opening or slot. At least part of the second trim piece may be receivable in the recess via the slot or opening in the first trim piece, e.g. to selectively interlock the first and second trim pieces together. The third part may terminate in a protrusion, which may be sloped on at least one side. The protrusion may protrude in a direction way from the second section. The third part may comprise a free end, e.g. free at a distal end thereof. The protrusion may be at the distal end, i.e. the free end, of the third part. The protrusion may be provided adjacent the opening or slot. The connecting portion of the soffit board may be or comprise a locking portion for interlocking the first and second trim pieces. The locking portion may be or comprise the protrusion and / or the third part of the connecting portion. The connecting portion may comprise a resiliently deformable member. At least part of the connecting portion, e.g. at least the third part, may be flexible or resiliently bendable, and may be or be comprised in the resiliently deformable member. The third part may be flexible or resiliently bendable in a direction perpendicular or laterally to the third part, but may be rigid in a direction axial along the third part. The connecting portion may be configured to be insertable into the slot in the second trim piece (e.g. in the fascia board). The part of the connecting portion, e.g. the third part, that may be flexible or resiliently bendable may be or comprise the locking portion. The part of the connecting portion, e.g. the third part or locking portion, that may be flexible or resiliently bendable is configured to be engaged by the slot part in order to resiliently bend whilst the connecting portion is being inserted into the slot in the second trim piece. The part of the connecting portion, e.g. the third part or locking portion, that may be flexible or resiliently bendable is configured to resiliently spring back towards or into its original or pre-bending state behind the slot part, e.g. upon further insertion of the connection portion through the slot, in order to interlock the first and second trim pieces together. The locking portion, e.g. protrusion, may be configured to resiliently spring back in behind part of the slot part when the connecting portion of the first trim piece is inserted by more than a threshold amount into the slot or recess in the second trim piece. The slot may be defined between the free end of the third part and the part of the slot part that the locking portion resiliently springs behind. The first and second trim pieces may be configured such that, when interlocked together, they are held substantially perpendicularly or obliquely to each other. That is, the connecting portion may be provided on or proximate an edge and / or that forms an edge of the first and / or second trim piece. The third part of the connecting portion may be sized such that when it is locked behind the slot part and / or when the connecting portion of the first trim piece is inserted by more than a threshold amount into the slot or recess in the second trim piece, part of the connecting portion, e.g. the second part, abuts a part of the second trim piece that defines the slot or recess. The second trim piece may comprise a connecting portion, which may correspond or be the same as the connecting portion of the first trim piece. The slot part may be comprised in the connecting portion. The slot part may be at least partly defined by the free end of the third part and the part of the slot part that the locking portion resiliently springs behind. The slot part and / or recess may be at least partly defined by the first, second and third parts of the connecting portion. The connecting portion and the slot part may be complementary and / or may comprise the same cross sectional profile. In this way, either the connecting portion of the first trim piece may be insertable through the slot and into the recess in the second trim piece to interlock the first and second trim pieces together; or a connecting portion (that may also act as the slot part) of the second trim piece may be insertable through a slot and into a recess in a connecting portion (that also acts as a slot part) of the first trim piece to interlock the first and second trim pieces together. The slot part of the second trim piece may comprise, be comprised in or form an edge of the second trim piece. The second trim piece may comprise opposing faces and opposing edges, which may all extend in the longitudinal direction of the second trim piece. The edges of the second trim piece may span the thickness of the second trim piece. The slot part of the second trim piece may be generally C-shaped in a cross section of the second trim piece, e.g. in a cross section through the thickness of the second trim piece and / or in a direction perpendicular to the long direction of the second trim piece. The slot part of the second trim piece may form at least three sides of a box section in the cross section of the second trim piece and may form a part of a fourth side of the box section in the cross section of the second trim piece. The slot part of the second trim piece may define the slot, which may extend in the long direction of the second trim piece, e.g. along a majority or all of the long direction of the second trim piece, and may be comprised in the fourth side of the box section of the slot part. The slot may extend in parallel with an edge or opposing edges of the second trim piece. The slot part of the second trim piece may curl or extend back on itself, e.g. round and back on itself. That is, the slot part may comprise a first part that extends generally in a width direction of the second trim piece in the cross section of the second trim piece. The slot part may comprise a second part that extends in a thickness direction of the second trim piece in the cross section of the second trim piece and / or forms an edge of the second trim piece. The second part of the slot part may be a part that extends away from and / or perpendicularly to the first part and / or a third part of the slot part. The slot part may comprise a third part that may extend generally in a width direction of the second trim piece in the cross section of the second trim piece, e.g. in parallel to the first section and / or perpendicularly to the second section. The third part of the slot part may correspond to the fourth side of the box section. The first, second and third parts of the slot part may define at least part of a recess that is opened by the slot. At least part of the connecting portion of the first trim piece (e.g. the soffit board) may be receivable in the recess via the slot, e.g. to selectively interlock the first and second trim pieces together. The third part of the slot part may terminate in a protrusion, which may be sloped on at least one side. The protrusion may protrude in a direction way from the second section of the slot part. The third part may be a free end, e.g. free at a distal end thereof. The protrusion may be at the distal end, i.e. the free end, of the third part. The protrusion may be provided adjacent the slot. The slot part of the second trim piece (e.g. the fascia board) may have a supporting portion for supporting the first trim piece whilst it is received through the slot and / or in the recess. The supporting portion may also be operable as a locking portion (when the slot part is being used as the connecting portion). The supporting portion may be or comprise the protrusion on the third part of the slot part. At least part of the slot part, e.g. at least the third part, may be flexible or resiliently bendable, e.g. flexible or resiliently bendable in a direction perpendicular or laterally to the third part, but may be rigid in a direction axial along the third part. The first and / or second trim pieces may be formed of aluminium, e.g. as pressed, moulded or otherwise formed aluminium sheets. The s first and / or second trim pieces may be configured to define hollows between the first and / or second trim pieces and the building in use. The first and / or second trim pieces may have a 3D cross sectional profile, e.g. not a flat cross sectional profile, through the thickness of the soffit board and / or the fascia board. The cross sectional profile may comprise a plurality of portions configured to engage the building in use and one or more portions configured to be spaced apart from the building, e.g. to define hollows. The soffit board and / or the fascia board may comprise one or more fixing locations, such as thin points, holes or the like for receiving fixings such as screws or bolts there through. The soffit board and / or the fascia board may comprise or be configured to receive one or more removable covers for covering the one or more fixing locations. The removable covers may be configured with an external appearance of an exterior of the soffit board and / or the fascia board. The one or more removable covers may be clip in covers, e.g. configured with resiliently bendable clip in portions, which may be configured to engage with corresponding clip in sections in, at or adjacent the one or more fixing locations. According to a second example of the present disclosure is a roof trim piece, such as a soffit board or a fascia board, the trim piece being elongate and having a length, a width and a thickness. The length may be the same as or greater than the width, and the thickness may be less than the length and width. The trim piece may comprise a connecting portion that at least partially defines a slot that extends at least a majority or all of the length of the trim piece. The connecting portion may be configured for insertion into a slot of another roof trim piece so as to interlock the roof trim pieces together. The other roof trim piece may be another roof trim piece according to the second example. That is, the two roof trim pieces may be structurally the same or at least both comprise at least one connecting portion. The connecting portion may be comprised in or comprise an edge of the trim piece. The connecting portion may extends through at least part of the thickness of the trim piece and along the length of the trim piece. The connecting portion may define a recess that corresponds to and is opened by the slot. The slot may be provided in a face or surface of the trim piece. The connecting portion may comprise a resiliently bendable or flexible member. The resiliently bendable member may comprise a protrusion. The trim piece may be the first trim piece, e.g. soffit board, described in relation to the first example. The trim piece may be the second trim piece, e.g. the fascia board, described in relation to the first example. The trim piece may be usable as either the first or second trim pieces of the first example. The trim piece may be configured such that the connecting portion (e.g. an edge) of another trim piece is insertable into the recess through the slot. The trim piece may be configured such that inserting the edge of the other trim piece through the slot resiliently bends the resiliently bendable member. The trim piece may be configured such that when the edge of the other trim piece is received at least a threshold distance into the slot, e.g. so that the resiliently bendable member corresponds to the recess of the other trim piece, the resiliently bendable member springs back towards and / or to its original or pre-bending position and / or springs back into the recess of the other trim piece, which may thereby interlock the two trim pieces together. The resiliently bendable or flexible member may be bendable or flexible laterally but rigid axially. When the trim pieces are interlocked together, one of the trim pieces may be supported axially by the resiliently bendable or flexible member the other trim piece. The trim piece may be an aluminium trim piece, and may be entirely formed of aluminium. The trim piece may comprise one or more fixing locations, such as thin points, holes or the like for receiving fixings such as screws or bolts there through. The trim piece may comprise or be configured to receive one or more removable covers for covering the one or more fixing locations. The removable covers may be configured with an external appearance of an exterior of the trim piece. The one or more removable covers may be clip in covers, e.g. configured with resiliently bendable clip in portions, which may be configured to engage with corresponding clip in sections in, at or adjacent the one or more fixing locations. According to a third example of the present disclosure is a method of assembling the roof trim assembly of the first aspect. The method may comprise inserting the connecting portion of the first trim piece into the slot in the second trim piece so as to interlock the first and second trim pierces together. The method may comprise inserting the connecting portion of the first trim piece into the slot in the second trim piece so as to bend or flex the resiliently deformable member. The method may comprise inserting the connecting portion of the first trim piece into the slot in the second trim piece so as to engage the resiliently deformable member with a part of the slot part so as to bend or flex the resiliently deformable member. The method may comprise continuing to insert the connecting portion further into the slot until the resiliently deformable member is no longer engaged by the slot part such that the resiliently deformable member springs back towards and / or to its original or pre-bending position, which may comprise springing back into the slot of the second trim piece, which may thereby interlock the first and second trim pieces together. The method may comprise inserting the connecting portion into the slot such that a part of the first trim piece, such as the connecting portion, is engaged and supported by a part of the slot part (such as being supported axially by the resiliently deformable member of the second trim piece) so as to support the first trim piece on the second trim piece. According to a fourth example of the present disclosure is a method of assembling at least two trim pieces of the second aspect together. One of the trim pieces may be a soffit board. The other trim piece may be a fascia board The method may comprise inserting the connecting portion of one of the trim pieces into a slot of the other trim piece. The method may comprise inserting the connecting portion of one of the trim pieces into a slot of the other trim piece until it is received at least a threshold distance into the slot, e.g. so that the resiliently bendable member corresponds to the slot of the other trim piece. The inserting of the edge of one of the trim pieces into a slot of the other trim piece may comprise bending the resiliently bendable member. The threshold distance may correspond to a distance at which the resiliently bendable member springs back towards and / or to its original or pre-bending position and / or springs back into the slot of the other trim piece, which may thereby interlock the two trim pieces together. According to a fifth example of the present disclosure is an assembly comprising a plurality of trim pieces of the second aspect. According to a sixth example of the present disclosure is a method of manufacturing the fascia board or soffit board of the first aspect or the trim piece of the second aspect. The method may comprise stamping, moulding, casting or otherwise forming the fascia board or the soffit board or the trim piece, e.g. from aluminium, such as from a sheet of aluminium. According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a set of computer readable instructions that are configured such that, when read by a controller of an additive manufacturing machine, cause or otherwise result in the additive manufacturing machine producing the fascia board or soffit board of the first aspect or the trim piece of the second aspect. The additive manufacturing machine may be configured to deposit a metal, such as aluminium. The individual features and / or combinations of features defined above in accordance with any aspect of the present invention or below in relation to any specific embodiment of the invention may be utilised, either separately and individually, alone or in combination with any other defined feature, in any other aspect or embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention is intended to cover apparatus configured to perform any feature described herein in relation to a method and / or a method of using or producing, using or manufacturing any apparatus feature described herein. Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put into effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 a cross sectional view of a trim piece for a roof; Figure 2 a cross section through an assembly of two trim pieces of Figure 1 configured to act as a fascia board and a soffit board; Figure 3 a cross section through a roof with the assembly of Figure 2 mounted thereto, so as to act as a fascia and a soffit; Figure 4 a close up of a section of Figure 3 indicated in dashed lines; and Figure 5 a flowchart of a method of assembling two trim pieces of Figure 1 together in order to form the assembly of Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventive subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matter. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to, individually and / or collectively, herein by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the inventive subject matter is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In the following embodiments, like components are labelled with like reference numerals. Figure 1 shows a cross section through a trim piece 5 for a roof. The trim piece 5 could be a soffit board or a fascia board for finishing a roof. The trim piece is elongate, with a length or long direction of the trim piece 5 extending into and out of the page, a width of the trim piece 5 extending across the page and a thickness of the trim piece 5 extending vertically up and down the page. The trim piece 5 shown in Figure 1 is truncated such that a far end part when extending into the page is not shown (for reasons of clarity and scale), but it will be appreciated that the trim piece 5 extends far further into the plane of the page than is shown. As such, although not explicitly shown in Figure 1, the trim piece 5 is generally much longer (i.e. in the length direction into and out of the page), than it is wide (i.e. left to right in the Figure), and is in turn wider than it is thick (in the vertical direction in the page). The cross section shown in Figure 1 is through a plane in the width and thickness directions of the trim piece 5 and perpendicular to the length or long direction of the trim piece. The trim piece 5 is formed from aluminium. Long edges 10, 15 of the trim piece 5 run in the length direction of the trim piece 5 and form lateral edges of the trim piece 5. Each long edge 10, 15 extends between opposing faces 20, 25, wherein the surface area of the faces 20, 25 is larger than that of the edges 10, 15. The faces 20, 25 are generally in a plane formed by the length and width of the trim piece 5, whereas the edges 10, 15 are generally in a plane formed by the thickness and length of the trim piece 5. Each edge 10, 15 is provided with an engaging portion 30 for engaging another trim piece 5. Although in this example, each opposing long edge 10, 15 of the trim piece comprises an engaging portion 30, this need not be the case and instead only a single longitudinal edge 10 or 15 may be provided with an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 may be formed by a part of the trim piece 5 that extends around and back on itself. That is, the engaging portion 30 comprises a first wall part 35. The first wall part 35 extends through the thickness of the trim piece 5. The first wall part 35 extends substantially perpendicularly or obliquely to, and transitions into and joins, a second wall part 40. The second wall part 40 extends away from the first wall part in a direction in parallel with the width of the trim piece 5. An opposite end of the second wall part 40 in turn transitions into and joins a third wall part 45 that forms the respective lateral edge of the trim piece. The third wall part 45 extends generally in parallel with the first wall part 35 and / or through the thickness of the trim piece 5. The third wall part 45 extends away from the second wall part 40 to a far end that transitions into and joins a fourth wall part 50 that extends perpendicularly or obliquely to the third wall part 45. The fourth wall part 50 extends generally in parallel with the second wall part 40 and perpendicularly or obliquely to the first and third wall parts 35, 45. The fourth wall part 50 extends way from the third wall part to a distal end 55 of the fourth wall part that is a free and unsupported end such that the fourth wall part 50 is in a cantilever arrangement. The distal end 55 of the fourth wall part 50 is provided with a protrusion that is rounded or provided with sloping or ramped surfaces. The protrusion extends from the fourth wall 50 in a direction away from the second wall 40. The first wall part 35, second wall part 40, third wall part 45 and fourth wall parts together define at least part of an elongate recess 60 that runs most or all of the length of the trim piece 5 (i.e. the recess 60 extends into and out of the page in Figure 1). The recess 60 is open at a slot 65 that is defined between the distal end 55 of the fourth wall 50 and a protruding lip 70 that protrudes out from the first wall part 35 towards the distal end 55 of the fourth wall 50. The slot 65 is provided in one of the faces 20 of the trim piece 5 (i.e. one of the faces 20, 25 in the plane of the width and length I two longest dimensions of the trim piece 5) at a location that is proximate but set back slightly from the associated edge 10, 15 of the trim piece 5. In this way, as shown and described in more detail in relation to Figures 2 to 5, a trim piece 5 can be coupled to another trim piece 5’ by inserting at least the part of one of the engaging portions 30 from the edge 10 or 15 to the distal end 55 through the slot 65 and into the cavity 60 of the other trim piece 5’. The trim piece 5 could be usable as a soffit board or a fascia board for a roofline, as shown in Figure 3. The trim piece has a plurality of fixing locations 70, such as thinned portions or holes, in at least one of the faces 20, 25 for receiving a fixing such as a screw, nail, rivet, bolt or the like therethrough. These fixing Icoations 70 are optionally coverable by removable covers 75, which are configured to clip or otherwise fix into place to cover the fixing locations 70 after the fixings have been put in place. The covers 75 are provided with at least an outer finish to match the adjacent area of the face 20, 25, in which they are located. As is apparent from Figure 1, the trim piece 5 has a 3D profile in the cross section shown. That is the faces 20, 25 are spaced apart, such that one of the faces 20, 25 is configured to abut the building (e.g. a rafter, beam or joist) whilst the other face 20, 25 is configured to be held spaced apart from the building, e.g. so that there is an air gap between the faces and / or between at least an outer face and the building, in use. This results in a structurally stronger trim piece 5 and better weather and thermal protection. Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of an assembly 200 of two of the trim pieces 5, 5’ of Figure 1 assembled together. The trim pieces 5, 5’ are arranged perpendicular to each other. In this way, one of the trim pieces 5 can act as a soffit board and the other of the trim pieces can act as a fascia board for a roof line. In order to assemble the trim pieces 5, 5’ together, the engaging portion 30 of one trim piece 5 (in this case, of the trim piece 5 acting as a soffit board) is inserted in through one of the slots 65’ and into the recess 60’ in the other trim piece (e.g. in the trim piece 5’ acting as a fascia board). That is, one edge 10 of the trim piece 5 is inserted into the recess 60’ of the other trim piece 5’ via the longitudinally extending slot 65’ in the other trim piece 5’. As part of this, the protrusion on the distal end 55 of the trim piece 5 engages the protruding lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’. This causes the fourth wall part 50 and the distal end 55 of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 to be resiliently bent back until the distal end 55 has passed the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’ and enters the cavity 60’, whereupon the fourth wall part 50 and the distal end 55 of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 resiliently spring back to lock behind the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’. As such, the two trim pieces 5, 5’are click fittable together. In this way, the two trim pieces 5, 5’ can be interlocked together. In addition, as the engaging portion 30 of one trim piece 5 is inserted in through one of the slots 65’ and into the recess 60’ in the other trim piece 5’, wherein the slot 65’ is a linear slot 65’ that extends longitudinally (in the length direction) on the other trim piece 5’. In this way, the two trim pieces 5, 5’ are easily and securely aligned and held together to allow for quick assembly but with a neat and weather resistant finish. Once the two trim pieces 5, 5’ are clicked together, one trim piece 5 (corresponding to the soffit board) is supported on the distal end 55’ of the other trim piece 5’ (corresponding to the fascia board). This saves the need for an additional fixing on this side of the trim piece 5 (soffit). The trim pieces 5, 5’ can be secured in place using fixings 80, which are then covered by the clip-in covers 75. Figure 3 shows the assembly 200 of Figure 2 in use on a roof line 300. The roof line 300 comprises a roof joist or rafter 305, a fillet piece 310 that forms a soffit support, and a building wall 315. The trim piece 5 acts as a soffit on the underside of the roof line and screws into the soffit support (fillet piece 310) using a fixing 80. The trim piece 5’ acts as the fascia and screws into the roof joist or rafter 305 using fixings 80. In this example, as one end of the trim piece 5 that acts as the soffit is supported on the distal end 55’ and fourth wall portion 50’ and locks behind the lip 70’of the other trim piece 5’ (that acts as the fascia), then it is possible to omit a fixing 80 on the outer side of the rim piece 5 that acts as the fascia, thereby allowing for faster assembly and lower fixture costs. Furthermore the tortuous route between the distal end 55’ of the other trim piece 5, the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 and the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’ resists weather and debris ingress. In some examples, the protrusion at the distal ends 55, 55’ can be elastomeric or otherwise form a seal member for additional weather resistance. Figure 4 shows a detail view of the interlocking arrangement of the two trim pieces 5, 5’. The two trim pieces 5, 5’ can be essentially identical, thereby allowing for easy manufacture and stocking and mitigates against having to take different fascia and soffit boards to a job, or may be of different sizes. On insertion of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 into the slot 65’of the other trim piece 5’, the protrusion on the distal end 55 of the trim piece 5 engages the protruding lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’. This causes the fourth wall part 50 and the distal end 55 of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 to be resiliently bent back by the protruding lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’ until the distal end 55 has passed the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’ and enters the cavity 60’, whereupon the fourth wall part 50 and the distal end 55 of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 resiliently spring back to lock behind the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’. As such, the two trim pieces 5, 5’ are click fittable together. This process 500 is also described in Figure 5. Step 505 comprises inserting the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 into the slot 65’of the other trim piece 5’. Step 510 comprises further inserting the engaging portion 30 into the recess 60’ so that the protrusion on the distal end 55 of the trim piece 5 engages the protruding lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’, so as to cause the fourth wall part 50 and the distal end 55 of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 to be resiliently bent back by the protruding 5 lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’. Step 515 comprises further inserting the engaging portion 30 into the recess 60’ until the distal end 55 has passed the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’ and has entered the cavity 60’so that the fourth wall part 50 and the distal end 55 of the engaging portion 30 of the trim piece 5 resiliently spring back to lock behind the lip 70’ of the other trim piece 5’. 10

Claims

:

1. An elongate roof trim piece, comprising:a connecting portion that at least partially defines a slot that extends at least a majority or all of the length of the trim piece; whereinthe connecting portion is configured for insertion into a slot of an other elongate roof trim piece that is at least partly defined by a connecting portion with the same cross sectional profile as the elongate roof trim piece, so as to interlock the roof trim pieces together.

2. The roof trim piece of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is comprised in, or comprises, an edge of the trim piece.

3. The roof trim piece of claim 1 or 2, comprising a resiliently bendable or flexible member configured so that engagement with a connecting portion of the other roof trim piece on insertion of the connecting portion into the slot of the other trim piece causes the resiliently bendable or flexible member to flex or bend, and wherein the resiliently bendable or flexible member is configured to spring into the slot of the other trim piece in order to interlock the two trim pieces together.

4. The roof trim piece of claim 3, wherein the resiliently bendable member comprises a protrusion.

5. The roof trim piece of claim 3 or claim 4, configured such that when the edge of the other trim piece is received at least a threshold distance into the slot so that the resiliently bendable member corresponds to the slot of the other trim piece, the resiliently bendable member springs back towards and / or to its original or pre-bending position and / or springs back into the slot of the other trim piece toy thereby interlock the two trim pieces together.

6. A roof trim assembly comprising:a first elongate roof trim piece according to any of claims 1 to 5; andan other elongate roof trim piece that has a connecting portion with the same cross sectional profile as the connecting portion of the first elongate roof trim piece, the connecting portion of the other elongate roof trim piece at least partially defining a slot; wherein17 1025in a first arrangement, the connecting portion of the first elongate roof trim piece is insertable into the slot of the other elongate roof trim piece; andin a second arrangement, the connecting portion of the other elongate roof trim piece is insertable into the slot of the first elongate roof trim piece;such that, in the first arrangement and in the second arrangement, the first elongate roof trim piece and other elongate roof trim piece interlock or are interlockable together.

7. The roof trim assembly of claim 6, wherein the first trim piece is a soffit board and the other trim piece is a fascia board.

8. The roof trim assembly of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the first and other trim pieces are configured to configured to click fit so as to interlock together.

9. The roof trim assembly of claim 8, wherein:the connecting portion of the first trim piece comprises a resiliently deformable member configured to be resiliently deformed by the insertion of the connecting portion of the first trim piece into the slot of the other trim piece; and to resiliently spring back when the first trim piece has been inserted into the slot of the other trim piece by a threshold amount so as to interlock the first and other trim pieces together.

10. The roof trim assembly of claim 9, wherein the other trim piece comprises a support member arranged such that, when the connecting portion of the first trim piece has been inserted into the slot of the other trim piece by the threshold amount, the support member of the other trim piece engages with and supports the first trim piece.

11. The roof trim assembly of any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the resiliently deformable member is provided on a face of the first trim piece and the slot is provided on a face of the other trim piece, the faces being in planes that extend in the length and width directions of the respective trim pieces.

12. The roof trim assembly of any of claims 6 to 11, wherein the slot extends along a majority or all of the length of the other trim piece.

13. The roof trim assembly of claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the slot and support member of the other trim piece and the connecting portion of the first trim17 1025piece are configured to hold the first trim piece longitudinally in line with a long edge of the other trim piece.

14. The roof trim assembly of any of claims 6 to 13, wherein the slot of the other trim piece and the connecting portion of the first trim piece are configured to hold the first trim piece substantially perpendicularly to the other trim piece.

15. The roof trim assembly of any of claims 6 to 14, wherein one or both of the first trim piece and the other trim piece comprise one or more fixing locations, and comprising or configured to receive one or more removable covers for covering the one or more fixing locations.

16. The roof trim assembly of any of claims 6 to 15, wherein one or both of the first trim piece and the other trim piece are Aluminium.

17. A method of assembling at least two trim pieces of any of claims 1 to 5 together, wherein one of the trim pieces is a soffit board and the other trim piece is a fascia board, the method comprising:inserting the connecting portion of one of the trim pieces into a slot of the other trim piece so as to bend the resiliently bendable member;continuing to insert the connecting portion of the one of the trim pieces into the slot of the other trim piece until it is received at least a threshold distance into the slot so that the resiliently bendable member corresponds to the slot of the other trim piece so that the resiliently bendable member springs back towards and / or to its original or pre-bending position and / or springs back into the slot of the other trim piece to thereby interlock the two trim pieces together.

18. A method of manufacturing the trim piece of any of claims 1 to 5, the method may comprise stamping, moulding, casting or otherwise forming the fascia board or the soffit board or the trim piece from Aluminium.

19. A set of computer readable instructions that are configured such that, when read by a controller of an additive manufacturing machine, cause or otherwise result in the additive manufacturing machine producing the trim piece of any of claims 1 to 5.IntellectualPropertyOfficeApplication GB2500455.7Search report under Section 17 of the Patents Act 1977Date search completed: 17 July 2025Claims searched: 1-19International classificationSubclass and subgroup Valid from E04D13 / 15 01 / 01 / 2006Field of searchWorldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC:E04DDatabases used in the preparation of this search report:SEARCH-PATENTDocuments considered to be relevantPatent literatureCategory Relevant claims Document of relevance X 1-19 US 6088971 A (NYSTROM), see figures 14-15, noting soffit 122 having slot 142 for interlocking with fascia 112.X 1-19 EP 0360465 B1 (MARLEY EXTRUSIONS), see figure 3, noting fascia 1 having slot 6 for interlocking with soffit 15. X 1-19 WO 83 / 02636 A1 (MARLEY TILE AG), see figure 1, noting fascia 3 having slot 9 for interlocking with soffit 6.Non-patent literatureCategory Relevant claims Document of relevanceCategoriesLetter or DescriptionsymbolX Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step, if combined with anotherdocument of the same category.& Member of the same patent family. A Document indicating technological background. P Document published on or after the priority date but before the fling date of the present application. E Earlier application published on or after the filing date of the present application.