Abstract:
A coping assembly for a parapet wall, cant dam or gravel stop resiliently maintains the coping assembly in a tight-fitting interlocking installation and has a locator member beneath the coping cap or cover for maintaining at least a portion of the outer coping cap in a predetermined cross-sectional shape and in an accurate alignment between adjacent sections of the coping cap. The preferred locator member is generally symmetrical with respect to a line normal to the face of the wall, dam stop or other raised roof protrusion. The coping assembly is quicker, easier, and less costly to install than prior such structures and provides enhanced protection for interior or underlying components or structures.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to coping, cover or cap assemblies for covering a parapet wall, cant dam, gravel stop, or other raised upward protrusion extending along the edge or other area of a building roof, as well as to free-standing or other types of walls. More specifically, the present invention relates to such coping assemblies having arrangements for resiliently maintaining the coping assembly in a tight-fitting installation and having a locator member for maintaining at least a portion of the outer coping cap in a predetermined cross-sectional shape and accurately aligned between adjacent sections of the coping cap. 
     Various coping, cap or cover assemblies for free-standing walls, parapet walls, cant dams, gravel stops, or other such raised protrusions from a building roof have long been provided in the prior art. However, most of such prior coping assemblies have suffered from the same disadvantages of being relatively time-consuming, difficult and costly to install, as well as often being unacceptably misaligned at joints between adjacent end-to-end coping or cover sections. Such misalignment is not only unattractive aesthetically, but it can also result in unacceptable amounts of wind or water being admitted to the interior of the coping assembly structures, thus exposing the structures as well as the walls, cants or stops to potential damage. In addition, many of such prior coping arrangements have lacked a sufficiently tight-fitting installation such that sagging or rattling can occur. 
     Accordingly, the present invention seeks to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art coping or cover systems by providing a coping, cap or cover, and its underlying structure, that is quicker, easier, and less costly to install. In addition, the present invention provides a tight-fitting assembly with greatly improved alignment between adjacent coping cap or cover sections resulting in a smoother and more pleasing aesthetic appearance, as well as enhanced protection for interior or underlying components or structures. 
     A coping assembly according to the present invention preferably includes a coping cleat for fixed securement to a raised protrusion, either free-standing or protruding from the building roof, having an upper protrusion surface, an outer protrusion face extending generally downwardly from one side of the upper protrusion surface and an inner protrusion face extending generally downwardly from an opposite, inner side of the upper protrusion face. The coping cleat preferably includes an upper cleat portion extending along or adjacent to the protrusion&#39;s upper surface, an outer cleat portion extending downwardly at or adjacent the outer protrusion face from an outer side of the upper cleat portion, and an inner cleat portion extending generally downwardly along or adjacent to the inner protrusion face from an opposite, inner side of the upper cleat portion. A coping cover or cap has an upper cap portion, an outer cap portion extending generally downwardly from an outer side of the upper cap portion and an inner cap portion extending generally downwardly from an opposite, inner side of the upper cap portion. The outer and inner cap portions are secured to the respective outer and inner cleat portions, preferably by way of generally hook-shaped cap portion edges that allow for snap-on installation onto the outer and inner cleat portions. 
     A spring clip is secured to the coping cleat and is disposed between the coping cleat and at least a portion of the coping cap, with the spring clip having at least one resilient spring clip protrusion resiliently engaging a portion of the underside of the coping cap for maintaining a resiliently-biased tight-fitting assembly. A coping locator is also provided and is preferably secured to the coping cleat between the coping cleat and the coping cap. The coping locator protrudes from the coping cleat to engage a portion of the underside of the coping cap in order to space such portion of the coping cap a predetermined, generally fixed distance from the coping cleat. The locator also maintains at least a portion of the coping cap in a predetermined cross-sectional shape. 
     Such coping cleats and coping caps according to the present invention are typically in longitudinally-extending sections of the predetermined length. In installations where more than one section is required, the coping cap sections serially and abuttingly engage one another along the raised protrusion on the building roof. In such installations, the present invention provides a joint cover disposed between the underside of adjacent coping cap sections and the coping locator at the abutting engagement of adjacent coping cap sections. The joint cover is preferably of substantially the same lateral cross-sectional configuration as the coping cap. Thus the coping locator, which is preferably of a configuration that is symmetrical with respect to a line normal to the adjacent surface of the raised roof protrusion, provides additional strength for the joint as well as working in conjunction with the joint cover to maintain the abutting ends of the adjacent coping cap sections in proper alignment with one another and to minimize entrainment of wind or water. 
     Although the various components of the embodiments described below are preferably fabricated of sheet metal, such as galvanized steel, for example, other sheet or even molded materials can also be used. Also, the tab-locking arrangements discussed below are generally interchangeable with driven or threaded fasteners or various welding attachments. 
     Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial, detailed perspective view of a portion of a coping assembly according to the present invention installed upon an exemplary parapet wall. 
     FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view, taken generally along line  2 - 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the coping cap locator member of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spring clip member of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIGS. 5 through 10 are illustrative diagrammatic lateral cross-sectional views of various alternative embodiments of a coping assembly according to the present invention, all of which can to be used in conjunction with a coping cap of the same or similar general configuration as that of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of a coping assembly according to the present invention, shown in a partial, detailed perspective view similar to that of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 12 is a lateral cross-sectional view, taken generally along line  12 - 12  of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the combination spring clip and cap locator member of FIGS. 11 and 12. 
     FIGS. 14 through 17 are lateral cross-sectional views, somewhat similar to that of FIG. 12, but illustrating still further alternate embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 through 17 illustrate various embodiments of a coping assembly according to the present invention, shown merely for purposes of illustration as installed on various configurations of parapet walls, cant dams, or gravel stops. One skilled in the art will readily recognize, however, that the principles of the present invention are equally applicable to other coping assemblies having lateral cross-sections varying from those shown for purposes of illustration in the drawings, as well as for installation on other configurations of raised protrusions extending generally upwardly from any portion of the roof of a building. 
     FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate one preferred embodiment of a coping assembly  10 , shown merely for purposes of illustration as installed upon a parapet wall  12  such as that frequently found running along or adjacent to the edge of a building roof, as well as on other inboard roof areas. The parapet wall  12  includes a parapet upper surface  14 , a parapet outer face  16 , and a parapet inner face  18 . It should be noted that the designations “outer” and “inner” are used herein are for convenience of reference to the drawing figures and do not necessarily refer to the side of a structure or component oriented toward the outer or inner portions, respectively, of the building roof. 
     A coping cleat  20  is adapted for being fixedly secured to the parapet wall  12 , or other such raised protrusion, extending longitudinally along the roof of a building. The coping cleat  20  includes an upper cleat portion  22  extending generally horizontally in this embodiment across the generally horizontal illustrative parapet upper surface  14 . An outer cleat portion  24  extends generally downwardly along or adjacent to the parapet outer face  16  on one side of the upper cleat portion  22 , and an inner cleat portion  26  extends generally downwardly from an opposite side of the upper cleat portion  22  along or adjacent to the parapet inner face  18 . 
     A coping cap  30  is interlockingly installed upon the coping cleat  20 , preferably in a snap-on engagement therewith by way of its generally hook-shaped outer and inner cap edges  35  and  37  in snap-on engagement with respective outer and inner cleat edges  27  and  28 . The coping cap  30  includes an upper cap portion  32 , an outer cap portion  34  extending generally downwardly from one side of the upper cap portion  32 , and an inner cap portion  36  extending generally downwardly from an opposite or inner side of the upper cap portion  32 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the outer cap portion  34  is fabricated in a generally semi-circular or “bullnose” configuration. It should be noted that other shapes can be used in the present invention and that such bullnose or other cross-sectional shapes can be used on either or both of the outer and inner sides of the assembly. 
     A spring clip  40  is secured to the coping cleat  20  and includes one or more of the resilient spring clip protrusions  42  and  44  resiliently engaging respective portions of the underside of the coping cap  30 . The spring clip  40  is preferably secured to the coping cleat  20  by way of a number of cleat tabs  23  spaced longitudinally along the upper cleat portion  22  with each of the cleat tabs  23  extending through corresponding longitudinally spaced-apart spring clip openings  46  in order to tightly engage and secure the spring clip  40 . It should be noted though that other fastening arrangements can alternatively be used to secure the spring clip  40  to the coping cleat  20 . The arrangement depicted in FIGS. 1 through 4, however, is believed to be highly advantageous in terms of speed, ease, and economy of installation. 
     A coping locator member  50 , which is preferably symmetrical with respect to a line  51  normal to the face of the parapet wall  12 , is of a generally triangular lateral cross-sectional shape in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, with a locator apex  52  between two equal-length locator sides  54 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, the coping locator  50  is preferably secured to the face of the coping cleat  20  by way of spaced-apart, oppositely-facing outer cleat tabs  25 . In this configuration, which is believed to result in quick, easy, and economical installation, the locator sides  54  are merely squeezed toward one another until respective locator flanges  56  can clear the cleat tabs  25 , whereupon the locator sides  54  are released such that the locator flanges are captured and secured by the cleat tabs  25 , providing a tight, rattle-free securement. The preferred generally symmetrical configuration of the coping locator  50  also maintains the illustrative bullnose outer cap portion  34  in a uniform predetermined lateral cross-sectional shape and at a predetermined spacing from the face of the parapet wall  12 . 
     As mentioned above, the coping assembly  10  is typically fabricated in longitudinal sections of a predetermined length. In order to provide the above-mentioned advantages of the invention in installations requiring more than one coping cap sections, a joint cover  60 , illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided to bridge the longitudinal abutment of adjacent coping cap sections. The joint cover  60  preferably includes an upperjoint cover portion  62 , an outer joint cover portion  64 , and an inner joint cover portion  66 . In its preferred form, the joint cover  60  has substantially the same lateral cross-sectional shape as the coping cap  30 , but sized slightly smaller so it can be disposed between the coping cap  30  and the coping cleat  20 , as well as between the coping cap  30  and the spring clip  40 . Perhaps even more importantly, though, such complementary cross-sectional shape of the joint cover  60  and the coping cap  30  allows the joint cover  60  to also be disposed between the coping cap  30  and the coping locator  50 , thus substantially assuring proper alignment between adjacent coping cap sections, as well as providing structural support for the abutting joint and maintenance of the desired lateral cross-sectional shape. In all of the embodiments discussed herein, tab-type securements, driven or threaded fastener securements, and welding securements are interchangeable with one another. 
     As mentioned above, FIGS. 5 through 10 illustrate a number of alternative embodiments of the present invention, wherein identical, similar or corresponding components are indicated by reference numerals corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 through 4 but having respective reference numeral prefixes ranging from one-hundred to six-hundred in FIGS. 5 through 10. In most if not all respects, however, such correspondingly-numbered elements perform substantially the same, or at least similar, functions as those of FIGS. 1 through 4. 
     FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates only the coping cleat  120  and the coping locator  150 , and is adapted for use in conjunction with coping caps and coping covers similar or identical to those of FIGS. 1 through 4. In FIG. 5, the generally triangular-shaped coping locator  50  is replaced by a generally cylindrical, but still symmetrical, coping locator  150  secured to the outer cleat portion  124 . 
     In FIG. 6, an alternative coping locator  250  is shown installed on a coping cleat  220  by way of a nail or threaded fastener extending through the locator flange  256  and through the outer cleat portion  224 . It should be noted that the outer end of the coping locator  250  is folded over merely for purposes of keeping its outer end from abrading or otherwise damaging the coping cap  230 . In terms of its structural support and its capabilities of maintaining the coping cap in a predetermined cross-sectional shape, the outwardly-protruding portion of the coping cap locator  250  is considered to be substantially symmetrical with respect to a line normal to the outer face of the outer cleat portion  224 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates yet another embodiment, similar to that of FIG. 6, except that the coping locator  350  is secured to the coping cleat  320  by way of a locator flange  356  which can be captured and secured by an upper cleat tab  323  and/or a driven or threaded fastener or even by welding methods, such as TIG, MIG, or spot welding. It should further be noted that in any of the alternate embodiments of FIGS. 5 through 10, such a cleat tab securing arrangement can be provided and/or a driven or threaded fastener can be used. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement similar to that of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7, except that the outwardly-protruding portion of the coping locator  450  extends generally outwardly and downwardly with respect to the outer cleat portion  424  of the coping cleat  420 . This arrangement is especially well-suited for installations where greater coping locator lateral flexibility may be deemed to be advantageous or desired. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a coping locator  550  similar to that of FIG. 8, but with its outwardly-protruding portion extending generally outwardly and upwardly from the outer cleat portion  524  of the coping cleat  520 . 
     In FIG. 10, still another alternate arrangement includes a symmetrical coping locator assembly  650 , having a two-piece configuration. In FIG. 10, the outwardly-protruding portion of the coping locator assembly  650  is composed of wood or other suitable building material and is grippingly secured in place by a pair of spaced-apart coping locator sides  654  that extend horizontally outwardly from a coping locator flange portion  656 . 
     FIGS. 11 through 13 illustrate a somewhat more diverse alternate embodiment of the resent invention, having a coping assembly  720  that includes a coping cap  730  that straddles and overlies the outer and inner sides  724  and  726 , respectively, of the coping cleat  720 . The upper coping cap portion  732  is generally “peaked” or “humped” in lateral cross-sectional shape. In this embodiment, a pair of oppositely-facing sloped resilient spring protrusions  742  and  744  are incorporated into the coping locator  750  and resiliently engage the undersides of the coping cap  730  and the joint cover  760  at the abutment of longitudinally adjacent coping cap sections. The coping locator  750  is secured to the coping cleat  720  and is symmetrical with respect to a line  751  extending in a normal direction with respect to the upper parapet surface  714  of the parapet wall  712 . Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 through 13, the coping locator  750  also has a locator apex  752  that engages the undersides of both the coping cap  730  and the joint cover  760  in order to maintain the above-discussed predetermined cross-sectional shape, vertical spacing from the parapet wall  712 , as well as the proper alignment between longitudinally-adjacent coping cap sections. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention, generally similar to that of FIGS. 11 through 13, except that three coping locators  850   a ,  850   b , and  850   c , are provided for engagement with the undersides of the coping cap  830  and its complementary and associated joint cover (not shown). 
     In FIG. 15, still another alternate embodiment is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 14, except that the peaked upper portion of the coping cap  830  is eliminated and replaced by a generally horizontal and generally flat upper cap portion  932 . Thus, only the two coping locators  950   a  and  950   b  are typically required. It should be noted, however, that a third coping locator could alternatively be provided on the upper cleat portion  922  for engagement with the underside of the upper cap portion  932  and the complementary joint cover (not shown). 
     In FIG. 16, another somewhat diverse alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated with the coping cap  1030  being formed in a two-piece assembly separated generally between the outer cap portion  1034  and the upper cap portion  1032 . In addition, the coping cleat  1020  is formed of a configuration having a gravel stop or cant dam configuration with the upper cleat portion  1022  having an upwardly and outwardly sloped portion extending toward the outer cleat portion  1024 . In this embodiment, a somewhat different spring clip  1040  is secured to such upwardly and outwardly sloping portion of the coping cleat  1020  as well as to a similarly upwardly and outwardly sloping portion of the upper cap portion  1032  of the coping cap assembly  1030 . Such securement of the spring clip  1040  can be accomplished by way of threaded fasteners, as illustrated in FIG. 16, or by way of gripping tabs on the coping cap  1030  and/or on the coping cleat  1020 , with the tabs extending through spaced-apart openings in the spring clip  1040 , similar to those discussed above in connection with previously-described embodiments. 
     Finally, FIG. 17 illustrates still another alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outer cap portion  1134  of the coping cap  1130  has a generally vertically-extending flat portion. In such an embodiment, the symmetrical coping locator has a correspondingly generally flat outer locator “apex-like” portion  1152  between the locator sides  1154 . In other respects, the elements of this and the previously-discussed alternate embodiments are generally similar in configuration and/or function to the elements depicted in the first-discussed embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. 
     As mentioned above, in all embodiments the tab-type securements and the driven or threaded fastener securements described herein are generally interchangeable with each other, or with various welding securements (e.g., TIG, MIG, or spot welding), as well as with other fastening means known to those skilled in the art. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. The various illustrative alternate embodiments depicted and described herein demonstrate the flexibility of the applicability of the present invention to widely diverse installations. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications, and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.