Abstract:
An eaves beam with framing which includes an eaves beam with an upper member and a lower member. The framing is comprised of an upper beam and a lower beam. The eaves beam can be pre-attached to the framing, allowing for a more efficient installation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically glazed roofs are assembled on-site. The walls, supporting posts, rafters and beams are assembled to form a complete conservatory roof and enclosed structure. The beam rafters and panels of the glazed roof are then assembled at the job site. 
     On-site construction is problematic simply because it is very labor intensive and requires a great deal of time to ensure that everything is properly installed to prevent leakage and other like problems. Even with relative small roofs, such as a bay window roof, on-site fabrication is required and can be expensive due to the labor costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an eaves beam for a glazed roof system which is easier to install and allows for pre-assembly of a glazed roof prior to being attached to a support structure. It is further an object of the present invention to provide for an eaves beam system that can be adapted to accommodate a wide range of exterior sidings such as wood, vinyl, aluminum, masonry, and the like. 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention are provided by an eaves beam with framing. The eaves beam is adapted to rest on a support frame which in a preferred embodiment is comprised of an upper beam and a lower beam the upper beam being wider than the lower beam. The frame runs the length of the eaves beam and allows the eaves beam to be pre-attached to the frame. The framing provides either an area for siding or an area for brick. With this construction, the conservatory roof can be pre-assembled at the factory, transported to the installation site, and installed on top of its support structure. The present invention thus minimizes the on-site fabrication and assembly time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a glazed roof with an eaves beam, supporting posts, and siding according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken at lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 2 , of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides for an eaves beam  10  for use in a glazed roof system  12 . As exemplarily shown, the glazed roof  12  incorporates a series of panels  14  which are supported by a plurality of rafters  16 . The panels  14  constitute the majority of the surface area of the conservatory roof  12 . The panels can be glass, plastic, or foil covered foam panels. 
     The rafters  16  are generally attached at an upper end  18  to a ridge beam  20 , which as shown, typically extends outward from a wall  22  of a house or other building. The ridge beam  20  may be adorned with a decorative crest  24  which may be bolted or otherwise fastened to ridge beam  20 . The lower ends  26  of the rafters  16  are supported on the eaves beam  10 . 
     The eaves beam  10  is supported by a support structure, exemplarily shown in  FIG. 1  as a stud wall  28 , typically of 2×4 construction. The support structure  28  rests upon the ground, floor, or similar foundational surface  30 . 
     Although most of the surface area will be taken up by windows  32 , siding  34  which could be comprised of wood, vinyl, aluminum, brick veneer, or the like, covers a portion of the wall  36  not taken up by window. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the eaves beam  10  rests on frame  38 . The frame  38  is comprised of an upper beam  40 , with an upper surface  41  and a lower or header beam  42 , with a lower surface  43 . In other embodiments, a single or composite beam could be used, or more than two beams could be utilized. As shown, the lower beam  42  is comprised of a standard 2×4 inch board, which typically will have an actual dimension of 38×89 mm (1½″×3½″). The upper beam  40  will be wider and typically be a standard 2×6 inch board, which typically will have actual dimensions of 38×140 mm (1½″×5½″). The frame  38  is generally horizontally orientated and runs longitudinally the length of the eaves beam  10 . 
     A J-channel  46  is attached by a plurality of screws or fasteners  44  to the top edge of stud wall  28 . This trim piece  46  which is typically sandwiched between the lower beam  42  and the siding  34  and positioned on the outside surface  48  of the support structure  28  immediately below the extended edge  52  of beam  40 . The siding  34  is secured to the stud wall  28  with its uppermost edge resting in the J-channel  46 . 
     The eaves beam  10 , which is positioned on top of the frame  38 , is exemplarily shown as a two-piece unit having a base member  56  and an upper member  58 . The upper member  58  is attached to the base member  56  with a plurality of screws, nails, staples, or other like fasteners  60 . The base member  56 , as shown, rests on the upper beam  40  of frame  38 . The base member  56  includes a plurality of feet  62  extended from a base surface plate  64 . The base plate  64  is secured to the upper beam  40  of the frame  38  with a plurality of screws, nails, staples, or other like fasteners  66 . The base member  56  also includes an outer groove  68  which is designed to accept a flashing  69 . The base member  56 , as shown, also includes an inner groove  70 . 
     The flashing or trim member  69  includes a mounting barb  72  which is designed to mate with groove  68 . The flashing  69  also includes a horizontal arm  74  which is designed to sandwich the outside foot  76  of the upper member  58  of the eaves beam  10  between it and the base plate  64  of the base member  56  of the eaves beam  10 . The flashing  69  may be decorative, may serve as a guide for positioning the eaves beam  10  on the frame  38 , and may also protect the outside surface  78  of the upper beam  40  from weather and exposure. The flashing  69  will typically run the entire length of the upper beam  40 . Typically the flashing  69  will be comprised of plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum, but any like suitable material may be used. 
     Extending up from the base plate  64  are inner and outer side walls  80 ,  82 . Upper portions  84 ,  86  of side walls  80 ,  82  are bent inwardly toward each other. The side walls  80 ,  82  also include a plurality of stiffening ridges  88 . 
     The top member  58  of the eaves beam  10  includes an inner wall  90  and an outer wall  92 . These walls  90 ,  92  include lower leg members  94 ,  96  with feet  74 ,  98  which rest on base plate  64 . The lower leg members  94 ,  96  are spaced slightly outwardly from the walls  80 ,  82 , respectively, of base member  56 . The top member  58  further includes a downwardly sloping wall  100  which slopes down from the inner wall  90  to the outer wall  92 . This downwardly sloping wall  100  can be used to facilitate internal drainage. Inner wall  90  also includes a plurality of barbed members  102  which are adapted to accept a trim piece  104 . Typically the trim piece  104  is comprised of plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum, but any like suitable material may be used. 
     The upper surface  106  of top member  58  includes a trough  108  which can be utilized to facilitate moisture collection and drainage. The top wall  106  further includes a rafter support channel  110  which has a generally C-shaped configuration. Outer wall  92  also includes an upper ledge  112  and a lower channel  114  which are adapted to support either a trim plate or a gutter system (neither of which is shown) if they are desired for a particular application. 
     In operation, the eaves beam  10  can be installed on the upper beam  40  in a factory. This permits the entire glazed roof assembly  12 , including the rafters  16  and panels  14 , to be preassembled in the factory and shipped to the construction site as a module. The entire roof assembly  12  resting on the upper beam  40  can then be placed on top of the lower beam  42  resting on the stud wall  28 . The upper beam  40  and lower beam  42  are attached to one another via a bolt, screw, nail or other like fastener  115 . Preconstructing the roof saves valuable field construction time and improves the overall quality of the system by standardizing preassembly processes in the factory. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the present invention is adapted for use with brick  116 . As shown, the frame  38  utilizes a wider upper beam  118  to accommodate the depth of the bricks  116 . As shown, a standard 2×8 inch board is used, which typically has an actual size of 38×184 mm (1½″×7¼″). A brace  120  is attached to the upper beam  118  and the support structure  28  to provide additional support and displacement of the load that will be placed on the outer section  122  of the upper beam  118 . As shown, a standard angle iron with a thickness of approximately 6.35 mm (0.25″) and a length of approximately 51 mm (2″) is used for the brace  120 . Each of the arms  124 ,  126  of the angle iron will typically have a length of approximately 38-51 mm (1½″-2″). While a metal support bracket is shown, other suitable materials may be used. The support bracket  120  is attached to the upper beam  118  and the support structure  28  with a screw, nail, bolt or other suitable fastener  128 . The brace  120  may in alternative embodiments run the entire length of the upper beam  118  or may be comprised of a plurality of spaced individual braces positioned along the upper beam  118  at structural advantageous positions, such as where a post or mullion  28  is located. Additionally, in alternative embodiments even those utilizing a wider upper beam  118 , the brace  120  could be eliminated depending on the load requirements and characteristics of the upper beam  118  and the frame  38 . For example, in warmer climates where increased load factors are not a concern due to the lack of any rooftop snow accumulation, the brace  120  may not be needed. 
     Similarly, if materials other than wood, such as steel, were used for the frame  38  or the upper beam  118 , the need for an additional brace  120  would likely also be eliminated. Finally, if the frame  38  was comprised of a thicker upper beam  118 , the support bracket  120  may also be eliminated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an additional trim piece or frame cap  130  is used to create a brick pocket  132 . It is advantageous to have a brick pocket  132  to allow room for installing the upper bricks  134  by a bricklayer. The brick pocket  132  provides room for the bricklayer to maneuver the upper bricks  134  in place when the upper beam  118  is installed. The brick edge or frame cap  130 , as shown, is comprised of a typical 1×4 inch board, which typically has an actual dimension of 19×89 mm (¾″×3½″). The frame cap  130  runs longitudinally the length of the upper beam  118  and covers the top edge of the bricks. While the brick edge  130  is shown as a board, other suitable materials, such as plastic or metal, may also be used. 
     The creation of a brick pocket  132  makes it easy to install and finish out the brick wall  116 . Of significance, since the brick wall  116  does not support the upper frame being  118  or the eaves beam  10  or roof structure  12 , the brick wall  116  can be installed before or after the eaves beam  10  and frame  38  is installed on the stud wall  28 . Whether the brick  116  is laid before the roof  12  is installed or after it is secured on the stud wall  28 , the brick edge or frame cap  130  can easily be added and sandwiched between the upper frame beam  118  and the flange  69 . 
     This has been a description of the present invention and the preferred mode of practicing the invention. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the claims, wherein we claim: