Patent Description:
More specifically, the invention relates to a positioning element to be mounted between a roof penetration and an upper roof element, a ventilation chimney.

There are solutions known from the state of the art that connect a ventilation opening in a roof slope with elements crowning a duct vent stack.

Utility model application W. <NUM> discloses a roof flange intended to guide to the outside, through a sloping roof, an installation pipe, in particular a vertical exhaust pipe of a sanitary installation. The roof flange comprises a hollow, through-base connected therein to a fastening apron and a cap covering the base with a sleeve clasp of an exhaust pipe, wherein the base and cap have mutually fitted flat side walls and cross-sectionally arched front walls. Moreover, the base front walls have different lengths and different inclinations with respect to the lower base plane, and the cap front walls also have different lengths. According to the disclosed solution, the roof flange has base front walls which are rectilinear along their length in cooperation with the cap, and the cap front walls are arched along their length.

A roof sealing flange in the form of a monolithic moulder is known from the description of the utility model RWU. It comprises round bellows tapering towards the top with offsets, with a fastening apron closing the bellows from the top and curled outwards at the bottom, with a sheet metal cap placed thereon, fitted to the apron with its outside shape. The fastening apron has an oblong shape, determined by the longer, straight and parallel side edges and by the shorter, outwardly arched, front edges.

Moreover, as the patent description PAT. <NUM> shows, a roof ventilator is known, provided with at least one exhaust pipe, with an anchor plate and a connecting pipe. The exhaust pipe is articulated to the anchor plate and the anchor plate is provided on its upper surface with the connecting pipe which, in the direction of its upper opening, turns into a bowl. The exhaust pipe, at its lower end, turns into a spherical bearing mounted on the bowl and pivoting around the joint axis. At least on the outer side of the bowl and on the inner side of the bearing, latch elements with saw-shaped profile are provided, while other latch elements are arranged coaxially with respect to the joint axis of the exhaust pipe. The latch elements have elastic structure, and the longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe is perpendicular to the surface of the anchor plate.

A solution of utility model RWU. <NUM> is also known from the state of the art, and discloses a roof ventilation device, especially for a chimney, having a body with a ventilation duct ended at the top with a canopy fixed to the roof with its base. The ventilation device has a levelling device attached to determine the vertical positioning of the device.

<CIT> discloses an accessory element for an exhaust ventilation pipe, which exhaust ventilation pipe comprises an exhaust pipe of the ventilation channel provided with a hat and extending through the outer part of the roof of the building, wherein the upper part of the hat is provided with a conical cup to prevent rainwater from entering the ventilation channel. It is characteristic for the solution that it includes a circular spirit level built into the upper part of the conical cup in the hat. The level enables easy and quick determination of the vertical by the assembler.

<CIT> relates to a ventilation pipe with a pipe section that reaches through a roofing panel, on which sits a cap that reaches over a frustoconical ring section of an apron (S), which by means of latching members of the apron engaging over latching projections is clip-connected to the apron (S), wherein the inwardly pointing latching projections slide onto the ring section, enter the openings of the same, and engage under the edge.

<CIT> relates to a roof ventilation pipe with a lattice structure (G) on the outlet side, at least partially formed by rungs running in the form of a ring, and a covering cap located above it, which is latched to the upper end of the pipe via downward-pointing projections, and allows to achieve optimum covering cap assignment provides that a central projection of the cover cap engages in a form-fitting manner in the interior of a circular ring rung and supporting fingers protrude from the underside of the cover cap, which are arranged on at least one concentrically located further outside a support circular rung.

<CIT> relates to the field of construction, namely to the structures of supports mounted on the roofs of buildings intended for the installation of various types of equipment and communications. Support includes a base having a support platform with a conical hole of circular cross-section, intended for mounting a vertical post with an insert insertion at its end. Long holes are formed on the conical surface of the hole, and grooves or slots are made on the surface of the insertion, each of which can be inserted into the rib.

<CIT> discloses a roof ventilator adapted to be disposed, in use, in the plane of roof covering elements such as tiles or slates in a roof structure. The ventilator comprises an upper member with an external surface defining a ventilation opening extending longitudinally of the ventilator, and a moisture collection channel disposed beneath the ventilation opening. The moisture collection channel has upstanding lateral walls with upper edges spaced from the underside of the upper member and is at its lower end open to the exterior of the ventilator. Water entering the ventilator via the ventilation opening is collected in the moisture collection channel and discharged therefrom, while air can flow into and out of the roof space through the space between the walls of the moisture collection channel and the underside of the upper member.

Document <CIT> discloses a positioning element for installation between a roof penetration and an upper device with a levelling device provided at the level of the upper edge of a cylindrical upper part.

The prior art solutions provide ready-made stack crowning devices, which are equipped with a fixed levelling device. However, in accordance with the safety requirements, vent stacks are subjected to regular inspections and periodic maintenance, therefore, it is extremely important that an inspector of the stacks be able to easily look deeper into the ventilation duct. It is of utmost importance to keep the vent stacks fully unobstructed, without any litter accumulating inside them.

Taking into consideration the need to facilitate the work of roofers on the roof slope and to speed up construction works, it is advisable to use levelling devices which will facilitate their work.

Roof accessories currently available on the market, such as adjustable ventilation chimneys, are known to have permanent assembly based on screws. In the case of the need to check if the vent stack is unobstructed and to get into the stack, the upper element should be disassembled with the use of tools, involving the risk of damaging the product and the necessity to re-level the cap placed thereon. The indicated solutions in the state of the art made it impossible to quickly disassemble the stack crowning device, whereas multiple control of the stacks forced the crowning device to be unscrewed and screwed on repeatedly. Due to the fact that such devices are usually made of plastic which deteriorates when screwed repeatedly, there is a need to overcome this disadvantage from the prior art.

The Applicants have responded to the difficulties from the prior art, with the objective to develop a device that enables easy assembly and disassembly at the same time without risking of making any damage to particular components. Additional object of the invention was to provide such a solution that would have features that facilitate levelling while reducing the problems with accessing the inside of the vent stack. Another problem to be solved by the Applicants was to retrieve a fully operational levelling device after mounting the positioning element on a roof slope. Moreover, another technical problem of the prior art was to provide complete, ready-made stack crowning devices. The objective of the invention was to provide a universal solution on which any stack crowning device can be mounted, and its possible replacement does not require any intervention into the continuity of the roof slope or its structure.

The above-presented problems to be solved have been overcome by developing the novel solution disclosed in the claims.

Further aspect and preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

In the subject solution, it is advantageous if the convex lower part is shaped to cover the heads of the fastening screws under the surface of the upper system device crowning a given stack, overlapping the positioning element and forming with it a compatible unit.

The solution of the invention has several innovative features that contribute to the accurate and quick positioning of the planes in the vertical or horizontal direction of the levelling element(s). Consequently, the proper functioning of the ventilation is achieved thanks to the perfectly vertical position of the ventilation device provided on the positioning element. The use of the novel solution speeds up the work of roofers related to the installation of the ventilation system on the roof slope and the quick disassembly of the ventilation device from the positioning element by the service technician of the ventilation duct, thanks to the release/latch elements. The positioning element is intended for installation between the roof penetration and upper devices, e.g. a ventilation chimney, sanitary chimney, ventilation fan, etc..

The subject of the invention is shown in the drawing in which <FIG> is a side view of a positioning element, <FIG> is a side view of the positioning element and a rack, <FIG> shows a perspective view of the positioning element with the rack mounted inside a cylindrical upper part, <FIG> is a perspective view of the positioning element and the removable rack removed from the cylindrical upper part, <FIG> is a top view of the positioning element with the removable rack mounted inside the cylindrical upper part, <FIG> is a top view of the rack, <FIG> is a perspective view of the rack, <FIG> shows a rear view of the positioning element, <FIG> shows the positioning element with two levelling devices on the inner wall of the cylindrical upper part in a solution not covered by the present invention.

According to the invention, a positioning element for levelling is provided, wherein the element enables independent, not requiring the involvement of third parties and additional tools, determining of the vertical axis of the positioning element, thus making it possible to place a ventilation cap or other roof device thereon without any additional adjustment. Thus, a solution is provided that is easily mounted on a roof slope in the vertical position, and the reassembly of the stack crowning device does not require re-levelling the installation. The positioning element according to the invention has an integrated positioning device or devices for planes or straight lines positioning in the vertical or horizontal direction. The invention comprises the levelling device, which is mounted on a removable rack. In a solution not covered by the present invention, the levelling device is provided on the inner wall of the cylindrical upper part, or on the outer wall of the cylindrical upper part,.

An additional advantage of developing a novel positioning element, with additional elements on the outer surface, is the extension of the path for condensate discharge from the duct.

The positioning element according to the invention is equipped with a safety-securing button or buttons providing easy access into the duct. Thanks to these elements, the solution provides quick, easy and non-invasive disassembly of the roof device that crowns a given vent stack without damaging it, and enabling free access to the stack. By pressing the buttons on the sides of the positioning element, the catches are unlocked and the stabilization of the upper element is released, as a result of which it is easily removed, exposing the access to the ventilation duct. Reassembling does not require any further levelling of the product, as the fixed positioning element maintains its original position. After the upper system element is placed thereon, the element latches onto it.

The positioning element according to the invention has a convex lower part of the positioning element with elongated sides, thanks to which it perfectly adheres to the analogically profiled base of the roof penetration, enabling the element to be adjusted in order to find the horizontal position, and the one-sided arc undercutting of the hemispherical lower part increases the range of angle adjustment. The levelling element is shaped so that it enables to place a ventilation cap or other roof device, e.g. a Wirplast system, thereon.

The levelling devices (<NUM>) of the positioning element, in a solution not covered by the present invention, in the form of tubular level vials, are provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>) at the upper edge. The level vials are positioned at an angle of <NUM> degrees to each other so they define the horizontal plane of the element, thus placing it in the vertical position. However, the embodiment does not exclude the levelling device (<NUM>) of the positioning element provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical wall at a different location or different height.

In a solution not covered by the present invention, the levelling device (<NUM>) of the positioning element is also be provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>).

In embodiment of the invention, the levelling device (<NUM>) is mounted in the vertical axis of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>), in the area of the upper edge of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>), on a removable rack (<NUM>). In this embodiment, the removable rack (<NUM>) consists of a concentric seating (<NUM>) and rings (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected by radially extending ribs (<NUM>) of the rack from the seating (<NUM>) to mount the levelling device (<NUM>) to the outer the ring (<NUM>). The outer ring (<NUM>) has a circumferential flange (<NUM>) along the lower inner edge and a retaining flange (<NUM>) along the upper edge towards the outside. In an advantageous embodiment, the ribs of the rack (<NUM>) have additional stiffening beads (<NUM>). Due to the perfect alignment of the base dimensions, the circular level vial is not glued to the base of the levelling device (<NUM>), but only fitted into the opening of the seating (<NUM>).

In another embodiment, the levelling device (<NUM>) includes devices such as tubular level vials. The levelling device (<NUM>) enables accurate levelling of the positioning element on the roof penetration and vertical guidance of the ventilation duct through a roof slope. After the positioning element is placed in the horizontal position, it is permanently attached to the installed roof penetration using self-drilling screws, and then the levelling device (<NUM>) with its removable rack (<NUM>) are removed from its interior in order to remove the obstacle to look deeper into the ventilation duct.

On the convex lower part (<NUM>) of the positioning element there are radially extending ribs (<NUM>) of the convex lower part (<NUM>). From the upper edge of the convex lower part (<NUM>), the positioning element turns into a cylindrical upper part (<NUM>) on which the ribs (<NUM>) of the cylindrical upper part are arranged, being a connecting and stabilizing element for a ventilation cap or other roof device mounted thereon. The ribs (<NUM>) of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>) extends radially on the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>).

In one embodiment, the positioning element has two safety-securing buttons (<NUM>) seated inside the support elements (<NUM>), which are provided on opposite sides, and connected to an overlapping ventilation cap or other roof device. In one embodiment shown in the figures, the support elements (<NUM>) are arranged at the level of the contact edge of the convex lower part (<NUM>) and the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>) on the outer surfaces of the positioning element. In other embodiments, the support elements (<NUM>) is provided elsewhere, e.g. on the outer surface of the cylindrical upper part.

Claim 1:
A positioning element for installation between a roof penetration and an upper device, said positioning element having a cylindrical upper part, a convex lower part for mounting on a roof penetration and a levelling device, wherein said at least one levelling device (<NUM>) is provided on the wall of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>), wherein the levelling device (<NUM>) is provided in the vertical axis of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>), at the level of the upper edge of the cylindrical upper part (<NUM>) characterized in that the levelling device (<NUM>) is mounted on a removable rack (<NUM>).