Patent Description:
When installing windows in a roof structure of a building it is necessary to make an opening in the roof structure and subsequently to re-establish the weather proofing of the building otherwise provided by the roof structure. For this purpose, the joint between the roof window and the roof structure is covered by a covering assembly including flashing and cladding members and devices. To achieve the best possible weather proofing it is essential that the covering assembly is mounted correctly and that it subsequently stays in place, even during heavy winds and when affect by big temperature variations. Moreover, it is important that the components of the covering assembly themselves remain water proof.

A flashing device of the type mentioned above comprising a sealing member is known from the applicant's prior patent application <CIT> and has been in successful use for many years, but new types of roof windows and an increase in the use of roof window in roof with low pitches has prompted a desire for further development.

With this background, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved flashing device and a method for mounting a flashing device at a roof window.

This and further objects are achieved with a roof window of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which is furthermore characterised in that the sealing member comprises at least one frame attachment portion configured for attachment of the sealing member to the frame of the roof window. By the provision of the frame attachment portion, the sealing member not only contributes to weather-proofing the flashing device itself, as was the case in <CIT>, but also contributes to establishing a connection between the flashing device and frame of the roof window. Thereby the number of parts needed for the installation of the roof window and consequently the number of joints can potentially be reduced. Furthermore, as the connection has a built-in sealing function due to being incorporated in the sealing member, the need for subsequently sealing joints using for example a silicone-based joint filler, as is commonly seen with many prior art roof windows, may be reduced.

A flashing device of this type is particularly well suited for use at the bottom of a roof window mounted in an inclined roof structure, where the sliding engagement between the flashing members allows an adaptation to different angles of inclination of the roof structure. In the following reference will therefore be made to the flashing device being mounted at a bottom frame member of the frame of the roof window. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to this use.

Since the first sealing portion is positioned substantially in parallel with the inward portion and the second sealing portion is positioned substantially in parallel with the downward portion, the sealing member is substantially L-shaped.

The sealing member is preferably made from a resilient material, preferably an elastomer, such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EDPM).

The at least one frame attachment portion comprises a flange extending from the first sealing portion and being configured for sliding engagement with a groove in the frame. When the flashing device is mounted at the roof window, said flange is brought into a groove in the frame as the flashing device is displaced relative to the frame. The displacement may be substantially perpendicular to the frame plane defined by the frame members of the frame, but it is presently considered advantageous to bring the flashing device into contact with the frame by displacing it in a direction parallel to the frame plane, i.e. in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upwards and downwards portions and to the length direction of the flashing device. This may for example allow the flashing device to be arranged underneath another part of the roof window or to be slid into engagement with a flashing member or a cover member. If the flashing device is mounted at a bottom frame member with the length direction of the flashing device extending in parallel to the length direction of the bottom frame member, the displacement is preferably perpendicular to the length direction of the bottom frame member.

According to the invention, the flange comprises a first flange leg extending from the first sealing portion away from the second sealing portion and a second flange leg extending substantially perpendicular to the first flange leg and substantially in parallel with the first sealing portion, the flange thus having an L-shape. This will for example allow the second flange leg to be arranged in a groove extending substantially parallel to the first sealing portion at a distance from it, and/or a fixation of the sealing member in two directions.

It is presently considered advantageous that the flange has a length direction extending substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the flashing device and that the flashing device is mounted by displacement in a direction substantially parallel to the inward portion and perpendicular to the length direction.

The flange may be brought into engagement with a groove in an interface unit of/on the frame, said interface unit for example including an extruded profile made from a metal, such as aluminium, or a dimensionally stable polymer, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, for example polyvinylchloride or polypropylene, possibly reinforced by fibres, such as glass fibres.

Alternatively, or in addition, the at least one frame attachment portion may comprise a fastener guiding section configured for guiding a fastener used for securing the sealing member to the frame. During mounting of the flashing device, a fastener can be inserted in the fastener guiding section and driven into the frame, the fastener guiding section ensuring that the fastener penetrates into the frame or an interface unit thereon at the correct position and at the same time sealing the joint between the fastener and the frame. In one embodiment, the fastener guiding section extends substantially in parallel with the first sealing portion and substantially perpendicular to the second sealing portion, thus guiding the fastener in a direction, which is substantially parallel to the frame plane and perpendicular to the frame member at which the flashing device is mounted. Specifically, it is presently considered advantageous that the fastener guiding section extends from an opening in the second sealing portion and through the first sealing portion. As the sealing members are located at the ends of the flashing device in the length direction thereof, the fastener may be driven into the ends of the frame members extending perpendicular to frame member along which the flashing device extends in the mounted state, i.e. the side frame members when the flashing device is used at the bottom frame member of a roof window. The fasteners need not be driven into the actual frame members. As mentioned above, it is also possible for the frame to include an interface unit for engagement with other parts of the roof window and such an interface unit may be used for receiving the fasteners.

To further facilitate the joining of the different parts of the roof window, the second flashing member may comprise a hole positioned in continuation of the fastener guiding section, such that a fastener guided by the fastener guiding section projects through said hole.

The sealing member may further comprise a support projection supporting the inward portion of the second flashing member and forming a sealing connection therewith.

Still further the sealing member may comprise one or more of the following:.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of mounting a flashing device at a roof window comprising a frame and mounted in a roof structure, comprising the following steps:.

It is noted that the reference to the flashing device does not have to be in direct engagement with an outer side of the frame of the roof window. It may also be in engagement with insulating material, such as an insulating frame arrange around the frame, or with other items related to the installation or operation of the roof window, such as a motor enclosure.

Embodiments and advantages described with reference to one aspect of the invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention and vice versa.

Referring initially to <FIG>, a roof window <NUM> is shown with a covering assembly <NUM>, where the right-hand side of the top flashing member <NUM> is shown in a state of delivery, before adaptation to the shape of a roofing material used alongside the roof window. The roof window <NUM> is shown in an inclined position as it is intended for being mounted in an inclined roof structure.

In addition to the top flashing member <NUM>, the covering assembly comprises a plurality of side flashing members <NUM>, <NUM>, a bottom flashing device <NUM> and a plurality of cladding members <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> each covering a part of the sash carrying the pane element <NUM>.

The roof window <NUM> comprises a frame (not visible in <FIG>), and the top flashing member <NUM>, the side flashing members <NUM>, <NUM>, and the bottom flashing device <NUM> extend in a respective length direction L along top, side and frame members, respectively. Together the frame members define a frame opening covered by the pane element <NUM> and a frame plane F.

The bottom flashing device <NUM> is shown in more detail in <FIG> corresponding to the lower left-hand side of <FIG>, but showing only the flashing members and the flashing device. The bottom flashing device comprises a first flashing member <NUM> and a second flashing member <NUM> both extending in a length direction L of the flashing device and being interconnected in sliding engagement allowing the relative position between the first and second flashing members to be adjusted in a height direction perpendicular to the frame plane F during mounting of the flashing device.

End sections of the first and second flashing members <NUM>, <NUM> are shown in <FIG>.

The first flashing member <NUM> comprises an outward portion 1015o being configured for extending over the roof structure away from the roof window and an upwards portion 1015u extending at an angle in relation to the outward portion and being configured for extending up along and outer side of the frame of the roof window. In the bottom flashing device the upwards portion 1015u is connected to a downwards portion 1016d of the second flashing members <NUM> configured for extending down along the outer side of the frame of the roof window, and the second flashing member further comprises an inward portion 1016i extending at an angle in relation to the downward portion and being configured for engagement with an exterior side of the frame of the roof window. In this embodiment the upwards portion 1015u and the downwards portion 1016d both have bent edges 1015e, 1016e embracing each other in the mounted state as shown in <FIG> and allowing a telescopic mutual movement both in the length direction L and in a height direction perpendicular to the frame plane F.

<FIG> also show that a sealing member <NUM> is arranged at the end of the flashing device and it is to be understood that a similar sealing member is found at the opposition end of the flashing device <NUM>.

Each sealing member <NUM> includes at least one first sealing portion <NUM> positioned substantially in parallel with the inward portion 1016i and a second sealing portion <NUM> positioned substantially in parallel with the downward portion 1016d, giving the sealing member an L-shape.

Turning now also to <FIG>, showing the sealing member <NUM> from different angles, the sealing member further comprises two frame attachment portions <NUM>, <NUM> configured for attachment of the sealing member to the frame of the roof window.

A first frame attachment portion in the form of a flange <NUM> extends from the first sealing portion <NUM> and comprises a first flange leg <NUM> extending from the first sealing portion away from the second sealing portion <NUM> and a second flange leg <NUM> extending substantially perpendicular to the first flange leg and substantially in parallel with the first sealing portion. As may be seen in <FIG>, the flange <NUM> extends perpendicular to the length direction L of the flashing device <NUM> in the mounted state and engages with a flange <NUM> of lowermost side flashing member 1013a.

As shown in <FIG>, where the roof window <NUM> is shown mounted in a roof structure <NUM> with a roofing material <NUM>, the mounting of the covering assembly starts with the mounting of the bottom flashing device <NUM> and it is displaced in a direction parallel to the frame plane F and perpendicular to the length direction L of the bottom frame member <NUM>. As a result of this displacement, the first frame attachment portion <NUM> comes into engagement with a side element <NUM> of an interface unit <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, by the first flange leg <NUM> sliding into a groove <NUM> in the side element <NUM>.

While <FIG> shown the left-hand side of the roof window as seen in <FIG>, the <FIG> show the right-hand side. It is to be understood that the two sides are identical, except for being mirror inverted and that the sealing member used at the right-hand side is also mirror inverted in relation to that shown in <FIG>.

The second frame attachment portion in the form of a fastener guiding section <NUM> is configured for guiding a fastener <NUM> used for securing the sealing member to the frame as shown in <FIG>. The fastener guiding section extends from an opening <NUM> in the second sealing portion <NUM> and through the first sealing portion <NUM> in a direction substantially in parallel with the first sealing portion and substantially perpendicular to the second sealing portion. In the embodiment shown, the fastener <NUM> is a screw, which is driven into a bottom element <NUM> of the interface unit <NUM>, said bottom element being seen in <FIG>, where the bottom flashing device is not yet in its mounted position.

As seen in <FIG>, the second flashing member <NUM> in this embodiment comprises a hole <NUM> in the downwards portion 1016d and in the assembled state of the bottom flashing device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, this hole is positioned in continuation. When the fastener <NUM> is inserted into the fastener guiding section it will project through said hole and the bottom flashing device will thus only be attached indirectly to the frame of the roof window via the connection to the sealing member attached thereto but also directly by the engagement with the fastener.

While the frame attachment portions <NUM>, <NUM> have here been described as being attached to a side element <NUM> and a bottom element <NUM> of an interface unit, it is to be understood that such a unit need not be present and that the frame attachment portions may instead be used for attachment directly to a traditional frame member.

The sealing member <NUM> further comprises a support projection <NUM> forming part of the first sealing portion <NUM> and supporting and sealing against the inward portion 1016i as shown in <FIG>.

The sealing member <NUM> further comprises guiding surfaces <NUM> on the second sealing portion <NUM> for engagement with an extended section <NUM> of the second flashing element <NUM> during assembly, and an opening <NUM> in the second sealing portion accommodating the extended section in the assembled state.

In the embodiment shown, both the first sealing portion <NUM> and the second sealing portion <NUM> comprises ribs for preventing full surface contact with the second flashing member <NUM>.

An alternative embodiment of the sealing member <NUM> and the flashing device is shown in <FIG>, where <FIG> correspond to <FIG> and <FIG> show the sealing member from different angles.

The sealing member <NUM> in <FIG> differs from that described above in that second sealing portion is shorter and does neither extend into contact with second flashing member <NUM> as shown in <FIG> nor comprises the opening <NUM> for accommodating an extended section of the second flashing element. Instead that sealing member rides on the second flashing member <NUM> engaging with a recess <NUM> in the second flashing member.

The sealing member <NUM> comprises a sealing lip <NUM> engaging with a part <NUM> of the second flashing member <NUM> projecting along a side member of the frame of the roof window. Such a lip may also be added to the sealing member in <FIG>.

A further alternative embodiment of the sealing member <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

The attachment of the flashing device and sealing member in <FIG> as well as the sealing member in <FIG> to the frame of the roof window happens in the same way as described above, and the bottom element <NUM> of the interface unit is seen in <FIG> and shown alone in <FIG>. As may be seen in <FIG>, the bottom element <NUM> comprises a fastener guiding section <NUM> with an opening <NUM>. The fastener guiding section <NUM> fits into the recess <NUM> in the bottom of the sealing member seen in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and the opening <NUM> aligns with the opening <NUM> in the sealing member so that a fastener <NUM> inserted into the fastener guiding section <NUM> of the sealing member is received in the fastener guiding section <NUM> of the bottom element <NUM>. In the embodiments in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> the fastener guiding section <NUM> of the sealing member is relatively short, but it is to be understood that it may be longer and that the fastener guiding section <NUM> in the bottom element will then be correspondingly shorter.

As shown in <FIG> the sealing member <NUM> shown in <FIG> may also be used on a one-part bottom flashing member, not only on a two-part flashing device. This allows the use of the same sealing member on several different roof windows, and or in combination with several different covering assemblies <NUM> designed for example for different installation depths of the roof window in the roof structure.

Claim 1:
A flashing device (<NUM>) for a roof window (<NUM>) comprising a frame and mounted in a roof structure, said flashing device comprising a first flashing member (<NUM>) and a second flashing member (<NUM>) both extending in a length direction (L) of the flashing device, and two sealing members (<NUM>) arranged at opposite ends of the flashing device seen in the length direction, where an upwards portion of the first flashing member and a downwards portion of the second flashing members are interconnected in sliding engagement allowing the relative position between the first and second flashing members to be adjusted during mounting of the flashing device, where the first flashing member further comprises a outward portion extending at an angle in relation to the upwards portion and being configured for extending over the roof structure away from the roof window, where the second flashing member (<NUM>) further comprises an inward portion extending at an angle in relation to the downward portion and being configured for engagement with the frame of the roof window, and where each sealing member (<NUM>) includes a first sealing portion (<NUM>) and a second sealing portion (<NUM>), said first sealing portion (<NUM>) being positioned substantially in parallel with the inward portion and said second sealing portion (<NUM>) being positioned substantially in parallel with the downward portion,
characterized in that
each sealing member (<NUM>) further comprises at least one frame attachment portion (<NUM>) configured for attachment of the sealing member to the frame of the roof window, where the at least one frame attachment portion comprises a flange extending from the first sealing portion and being configured for sliding engagement with a groove in the frame, and where the flange comprises a first flange leg (<NUM>) extending from the first sealing portion away from the second sealing portion and a second flange leg (<NUM>) extending substantially perpendicular to the first flange leg and substantially in parallel with the first sealing portion.