Patent Publication Number: US-7216466-B2

Title: Universal ridge clip

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of ridge caps for metal buildings. More particularly, this invention relates to a roof ridge clip for a frame style building having a peaked roof. The invention is generally well adapted to metal buildings which are often used for storage on farms and the like. The invention provides a ridge clip to which a ridge cap can attach with a minimum of penetration of the exposed area of the roof panel (either penetrating the flat area of the roof panel or the major rib of the corrugation). 
   Roof ridge caps are attached to the roof in such a manner that fasteners, usually screws or pop rivets penetrate the roof panel or the major rib corrugation. There is a risk of rust, leakage, etc. This can be alleviated by use of weather proofing materials at additional cost and the requirement for substantial additional field time and labor. 
   Accordingly a primary objective of the present invention is to provide a roof ridge clip, useable to attach ridge caps along the peak of the roof, in a manner that avoids any fasteners penetrating the roof panel in an area that is exposed to weather. 
   Yet another objective is to provide a roof ridge clip that is easy to install, easy to manufacturer and which can be used with a variety of dimensioned ribs of corrugated roof panels while at the same time being installed with substantially minimal field time and cost. 
   The manner of achieving and accomplishing these objectives as well as others will become apparent from the drawings, the detailed description and the claims which follow. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a universal ridge clip for attachment of a ridge cap along the peak of a centrally located roof ridge, usually on metal buildings. The ridge clip is of a construction such that it provides a strong support area for the ridge cap without the need for fasteners that would penetrate the roof panel at exposed areas to the weather. It generally is a Z-shaped clip having a top fastening area, and a bottom anchoring area with these joined by a generally upright panel having a notch therein to allow roof ribs to pass through the notch. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical metal building with a peaked roof and having a ridge cap. 
       FIG. 2  is a view along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1  showing how the ridge clips work to attach the ridge cap. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the roof panel showing a roof rib passing through the notch therein and showing how the ridge clip can be attached. 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of a ridge clip in sheet form before metal pressing to make the Z-shape of the clip. 
       FIG. 5  shows the clip in plan view after press bending and illustrating the width of the notch C. 
       FIG. 6  shows a sectional view using the Z clip and showing it with an attached ridge cap. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In  FIG. 1  a conventional building  10  has a plurality of building sides  12  covered by a roof  14 . The roof  14  has roof sides  16  and  18  with the opposing ends  20  and  22  of sides  16  and  18  angling up to a roof peak  24 . Peak  24  is underneath the centrally located ridge cap  26 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the major components of the ridge clip  28  generally in place to fasten a ridge cap  26  to the fastening are of the ridge clip  28 . The ridge clip is fastened through the roof panel and into trusses  30  and  32  via screws  34  and  36 . The ridge cap  26  is then attached into the fastening area of the ridge clip  28  via screws  38  and  40 . 
   The precise construction of the ridge clip  28  is perhaps best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . There ridge clip  28  can be seen to be comprised of a Z-shaped ridge clip  28  having a top fastening area  42  and a bottom anchoring area  44  joined together by a generally upright panel  46  having a notch  48  therein to allow a roof rib  50  to pass therethrough. The bottom anchoring area  44  may be attached to the roof panel  16  and  18  via screw  36 . Correspondingly ridge cap  26  may be attached via screws  38  and  39  through top fastening area  42  without penetrating the rib  50 . The area between the ribs is filled with a venting material  52  or flexible closure material to prevent infiltration. As can be seen, the bottom anchoring area  44  is attached to the roof panel underneath ridge cap  26  so that the point of fastening  36  is not exposed to the weather. 
   The main feature of the ridge clip  28  is the attachment area of the ridge clip  28  which supports the ridge cap  26  and provides an area for the screw  34 ,  36  or a pop rivet to be installed underneath the ridge cap and in an area that is not exposed to weather. A wide variety of notch heights and shapes can be used to match the corrugation patterns commercially available in roofing ribs  50 . The dimensions of the notch for its height A and its width C ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) may vary depending upon precise configuration and dimensions of the notch needed in order to match the corrugation patterns commercially available. Put another way, the clip  28  is notched specifically for the cross-sectional shape and height of the major ribs of the roof panel. 
   It therefore can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.