A LEAD-IN FOR A MOUNTING IN A MEMBRANE

Abstract: A lead-in for mounting in a membrane (3), e.g. an underoof, and comprising a tubular member (1) connected with a flange member (2), the tubular member (1) being adapted to fit into a cut-out in the membrane (3) in such a manner that the flange member (2) overlaps the membrane (3) around the cut-out. The tubular member (1) further comprises a first circumferential groove (4) for the positioning of an annular sealing (3), such that the sealing, when the tubular member (1) is positioned in the cut-out of the membrane, in the vicinity of its exterior periphery (6) may be brought into abutment with the membrane (5) and press the membrane against the flange member (2).

Description: A LEAD-IN FOR MOUNTING IN A MEMBRANE The present invention relates to a lead-in for mounting in a membrane, e.g. an underroof, and compris- ing a tubular member connected with a flange member, the tubular member being adapted to fit into a cut-out in the membrane in such a manner that the flange member overlaps the membrane around the cut-out. For lead-ins, e.g. ventilation openings or tube lead-ins in membranes, a lead-in is known from EP-A- 629257, said lead-in comprising a tubular member and a flange member comprising two flanges, between which the membrane is positioned when the lead-in is mounted in a membrane. One flange member is provided with a tangential slit which makes it possible to twist the lead-in into position in a suitable cut-out in the membrane . This device, however, suffers from the drawback that the flanges do not establish a watertight connec- tion with the membrane. It is thus for instance possible for penetrating rainwater or melt water from blown in snow to penetrate between the flange and the membrane, pass to the other side of the membrane through the cut-out and penetrate between the membrane and the second flange. As it is generally the object of the membrane to prevent water from penetrating, the lack of tightness is undesirable. It is thus the object of the invention to provide a lead-in of the kind mentioned by way of introduction, which prevents water from penetrating. In a lead-in of the kind mentioned by way of introduction this object is met in that the tubular member further comprises a first circumferential groove for the positioning of an annular sealing, such that the sealing, when the tubular member is positioned in the cut-out of the membrane, may in the vicinity of its exterior periphery be brought into abutment with the membrane and press the membrane against the flange member . Preferably, the sealing is a conical sealing, as this design makes it possible to obtain a comparatively high force, when the sealing through its abutment on the membrane presses the membrane against the flange member. Furthermore, it is thereby achieved that the sealing, when placed in the circumferential groove, may switch in a snap- like way between two different stable conical positions, viz. a position, in which it presses the membrane into abutment with the flange member, and a position, in which it does not press the membrane against the flange member. In an embodiment of the invention, the flange member is provided with slits in such a manner that a tongue is formed. Hereby is obtained that the flange member during the mounting may be twisted in behind the membrane, such that the mounting may take place from one and the same side of the membrane . It is in particular advantageous if the tongue is resiliently bendable or hinged at its one end. Hereby is obtained that the tongue, after the twisting in of the flange member behind the membrane, is pressed down into the plane of the flange member and in this manner provides a smooth and fixed abutment for the membrane, in particular when the sealing presses the membrane towards the flange member. This abutment becomes particularly stable, when at least one of the slits is cut at an angle differing from perpendicular to the plane of the flange member, such that an overlap is created between the tongue and the remainder of the flange member. The twisting-in is most advantageously effected if the tongue extends substantially tangentially to or substantially concentrically with the periphery of the tubular member. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first circumferential groove is designed such that the sealing may tilt in this groove. In this way it becomes possible to have the sealing mounted prior to delivery of the lead-in, and, when the flange member during the mounting has been twisted in behind the membrane, the sealing may simply be tilted into abutment with the membrane. This tilting movement is facilitated when the cross section of the first circumferential groove has the shape of a circular arc. To get the best possible sealing, the annular sealing may comprise two lips in the vicinity of its exterior periphery, which, when the tubular member is placed in the cut-out of the membrane, abuts on the membrane and presses it against the flange member. The lips are in that case comparatively flexible compared to the sealing in general and may thus overcome unevennesses in the membrane originating e.g. from embedded reinforcing threads. In yet an embodiment of the invention, the lead-in is provided with means for temporary retainment of the relative position of the lead-in in relation to the membrane . This makes it possible to use the lead-in itself for marking and cutting out of a lead-in opening in the membrane . In an advantageous embodiment the means for temporary retainment of the relative position of the lead-in in relation to the membrane comprises a number of protruding points. To ensure the best possible sealing, the tubular member has in a further embodiment of the invention a second circumferential groove for receiving the edge of the membrane facing the cut-out. The invention will now be described in detail by means of an embodiment and the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a lead-in according to the invention with mounted vent cap, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the lead-in according to Fig. 1 with mounted vent cap and mounted in a membrane , Fig. 3 an enlarged segmental view of an annular sealing, and Fig. 4 solely the flange member and the tubular member of the lead-in. Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a lead-in according to the invention. The lead-in consists in principle of two parts, viz. a collar member and a sealing member 5, the collar member being in one piece and comprising a tubular member 1 and a flange member 2. The collar member is made from a comparatively hard plastics material. Moreover, the drawing shows an optional vent cap, the top 13 of which is closed and the periphery of which is provided with ventilation slits 15. The vent cap protects against undesired intrusion by insects, birds as well as various objects like leaves, seeds and branches to the insulation or to the loft under the roof. The dimensioning of the slits and the periphery is such that the active ventilation cross section for the air flow is not reduced relative to the cross-section of the tubular member itself, viz. the ventilation cross section of the tubular member without mounted vent cap. The tubular member is adapted to be placed in a cut-out in a membrane 3, e.g. an underroof . When the tubular member has been placed correctly, the edge of the membrane cut-out is located in a circumferential groove 11 in the tubular member 1. To ensure that the diameters of the cut-out in the membrane 3 and the circumferential groove 11 correspond to each other, such that the best possible securing and sealing of the membrane 3 is obtained, the collar member is designed in such a way that it can be used for marking and cutting out of the necessary cut-out in the membrane 3. In view of this marking and cutting out, the mouth 12 of the tubular member facing away from the flange member 2 is provided with a number of points 10, and the mouth 12 has an interior diameter corresponding to the exterior diameter of the circumferential groove 11. The marking is performed in the following way. The mouth 12 of the tubular member is turned to face the membrane 3 and the points 10 are pressed through the membrane 3, such that a fixing in respect of position takes place. Then marking or cutting out is performed in the interior of the tubular member 2. The collar may after the cutting out be removed and turned around compared to its position during the marking and cutting out, following which it may be mounted by twisting-in in the cut-out made. For this mounting by twisting-in the flange member 2 is provided with a cut-out in the form of a tongue 7. In the embodiment shown, the tongue 7 is resiliently bendable or hinged at one end 14, such that from the position shown in Fig. 4 it may be tilted down into alignment with the remainder of the flange member 2. The other sides of the tongue are, in the example shown, limited by an interior slit which is concentric with and extends along the tubular member 1, a radial slit 16 and the exterior periphery of the flange member. However, the invention is not restricted to this, and the tongue may be designed differently, e.g. the interior slit may have a course tangentially to the periphery of the tubular member. This makes it possible to twist the flange member 2 in behind the membrane 3 , when the tongue 7 is in the position shown, such that the edges of the membrane cut-out lie in the circumferential grove 11. It should be noted that 'behind' is here defined in relation to the side of the membrane 3, from which the work is performed. Following this, the sealing 5 may now be mounted. The sealing 5 is a conical, annular sealing 5 of a resilient rubber material. It is designed such that the upper portion, which has the smallest diameter, fits into a circumferential groove in the tubular member 1, and, when correctly positioned in this groove, with its exterior periphery presses the membrane 3 towards the flange member 2. Hereby, the tongue 7 is further pressed down in alignment with the flange member 2 and forms a plane abutment for the membrane 3 , maximum sealing being thus achieved. It is in this connection advantageous to cut the slit 16 in an angle which is not perpendicular to the plane of the flange member, as an overlap is thereby created between the tongue 7 and the remainder of the flange member 2, such that the tongue 7, when the sealing 3 is in place, is pressed into abutment on the remainder of the flange member 2, whereby the abutment for the membrane 3 becomes particularly stable. To facilitate the twisting-in of the flange member 2 itself may at the slit defining the non-hinged end of the tongue 7, be provided with a protrusion 17. The protrusion 17 makes it easier to bring the membrane 3 into the slit 16 at the beginning of the twisting-in, when the collar member is mounted. In the mounted condition, the protrusion 17 faces away from the membrane 32 and does therefore not influence the plane abutment thereof on the flange member 2. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the cross section of the groove has the shape of a circular arc, which corresponds to a rounding of the interior periphery of the sealing 5. This makes it possible to tilt the sealing between two positions, viz. the position shown, in which the exterior periphery of the sealing faces the flange member 2, and a position not shown, in which the exterior periphery 6 of the sealing faces away from the flange member 2. This makes it possible to deliver the lead-in with pre-mounted sealing, the sealing then being in the position not shown. Irrespective of the already mounted sealing 5, it is still possible to perform marking, cutting out and twisting-in in the manner described above, following which the sealing 5 only has to be tilted into place. This is in particular advantageous if the membrane 3 has a large area, which is not supported and which may therefore yield to a considerable degree. As the cut-out in the membrane 3 thus fits snugly in the groove 11 and is further pressed against the flange member 2 by the resilient sealing 5, the lead-in is mounted sealingly. It should be noted that the entire mounting work may be carried out from one and the same side of the membrane 3. This lead-in may be used both as sealing lead-in for tubes, wires or ducts through the membrane 3, and as a ventilation opening. To obtain optimum sealing, the exterior periphery 6 of the conical, annular sealing 5, viz. the periphery 6 abutting the membrane 3 in the position of use, may be designed such that in said position of use it approximates a cylinder shape, the walls of which are closer to perpendicular to the membrane 3 than the walls of the cone generally. Furthermore, the exterior periphery 6 may end in a pair of lips 8, 9, which on account of their resiliency improves the sealing. This is in particular advantageous, if the surface of the membrane is not quite smooth, e.g. on account of embedded reinforcing threads.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. A lead-in for mounting in a membrane (3) , e.g. an underroof, and comprising a tubular member (1) connected with a flange member (2) , the tubular member (1) being adapted to fit into a cut-out in the membrane (3) in such a manner that the flange member (2) overlaps the membrane (3) around the cut-out, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tubular member (1) further comprises a first circumferential groove (4) for the positioning of an annular sealing (3), such that the sealing, when the tubular member (1) is positioned in the cut-out of the membrane, in the vicinity of its exterior periphery (6) may be brought into abutment with the membrane (5) and press the membrane against the flange member (2) . 2. A lead-in according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the annular sealing (3) is a conical, annular sealing. 3. A lead-in according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a r- a c t e r i z e d in that the flange member (2) is provided with slits (16) in such a manner that a tongue (7) is formed. 4. A lead-in according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tongue (7) at one end (14) is resiliently bendable or hinged. 5. A lead-in according to claim 3 or 4 , c h a ra c t e r i z e d in that at least one slit (16) is cut at an angle differing from perpendicular to the plane of the flange member, such that an overlap occurs between the tongue (7) and the remainder of the flange member (2) . 6. A lead-in according to one of the claims 3, 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tongue (7) extends substantially tangentially to the periphery of the tubular member (1) . 7. A lead-in according to any of the claims 3, 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tongue (7) extends substantially concentrically with the periphery of the tubular member (1) . 8. A lead-in according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first circumferential groove (4) is designed such that the sealing (3) may tilt in said groove. 9. A lead-in according to claim 8, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the cross section of the first circumferential groove (4) has the shape of a circular arc . 10. A lead-in according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the annular sealing (5) comprises two lips (8, 9) in the vicinity of its exterior periphery (6) , which, when the tubular member (1) is placed in the cut-out of the membrane, abuts on the membrane and presses it against the flange member (2) . 11. A lead-in according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lead-in is provided with means (10) for temporary retainment of the relative position of the lead-in in relation to the membrane (3) . 12. A lead-in according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means for temporary retainment of the relative position of the lead-in in relation to the membrane (3) comprises a number of protruding points (10) . 13. A lead-in according to claim 12, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the protruding points (10) are provided at the mouth (12) of the tubular member facing away from the flange member (2) . 14. A lead-in according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tubular member has a second circumferential grove (11) for receiving the edge of the membrane facing the cut-out.

Inventors: MIKKELSEN KELD, MIKKELSEN, KELD
Applicants: MIKKELSEN KELD, MONARFLEX A S, MIKKELSEN, KELD, MONARFLEX A/S
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E04D13
IPC codes: E04D13