Patent Description:
Many different roof covering and protecting materials and styles have conventionally been used for a number of years, such as slates, tiles, roofing felt and sheet metal panels. Sheet metal panels have conventionally been used mostly on larger buildings such as apartment buildings, industrial building and such, mainly due to the traditionally relatively high manufacturing cost as well as attachment cost, where the latter has been due to the rather labour-intensive work of manually folding the panels together with special tools, such as lock seam closers.

In recent years, developments have been made regarding attaching sheet metal panels without the use of tools. Some conventional solutions comprise folds that interlock with each other when the panels are joined to each other. The folds are also arranged with holes for fastening elements like screws that are hidden once the panels are interlocked with each other.

Other conventional developments comprise arranging the panels with photovoltaic properties where solar panels are integrated in the panel structure. For both these conventional developments, the idea is to make this type of roofs less expensive and easier to attach and thus expand the market also to smaller buildings, like villas and semi-detached houses.

Examples of known roof covering systems are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> or <CIT>.

The inventor of the present invention has found that the mounting of roof safety and access equipment, such as roof ladders, walkways and snow fences pose some difficulties with folded roofs. In general, the conventionally folded roofs provide possibilities for attaching such roof equipment to the folds, since the folds have enough strength due to being folded several times, wherein a fold can contain three or four layers of sheet metal pressed together. However, the inventor of the present invention has found that conventional solutions tend not to be sturdy enough. Also, when the panels comprise solar panels, it is important that the roof equipment does not negatively affect or damage the solar panels.

The inventor of the present invention has found that there is room for improvements in the attachment of roof safety and access equipment of such roofs.

An object of the invention is to provide a solution which mitigates or solves drawbacks and problems of conventional solutions.

The above and further objects are solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objects are achieved with a system for covering a roof comprising a fixed roof structure, wherein the system comprises.

An advantage of the system according to the first aspect is that an improved solution for attaching access and safety equipment of roofs covered with folded sheet metal panels is provided. An advantage of the system according to the first aspect is that attachment plates placed on the folds of the panels may be used both for anchoring the panels as well as for attaching roof equipment in a way that ensures that the roof is not affected negatively by the roof equipment. An advantage of the system according to the first aspect is that there is thus no need for extra attachment measures for the roof equipment, since no drilling or other mechanical work is needed on the panels as such, which also is an advantage if the panels are provided with photovoltaic properties.

According to one variant of the invention, there is provided an attachment arrangement for a roof with elongated sheet metal panels, which panels are arranged with upwards directed folds, comprising.

wherein said first and second attachment points comprise through-going holes.

Expressed alternatively, according to one variant of the invention, an attachment arrangement for a roof with elongated sheet metal panels is provided, which panels are arranged with upwards directed folds. The attachment arrangement may comprise attachment plates arranged on top of folds of adjacent placed panels. First attachment points are arranged on the attachment plates, that are to cooperate with first fastening elements for attachment of the attachment plates to the roof via the first attachment points. Further, second attachment points are arranged on the attachment plates, that are to cooperate with second fastening elements for attachment of roof equipment to the roof via said second attachment points, wherein said first and second attachment points comprise through-going holes.

According to one variant of the invention, the first and second attachment points may be the same and the first and second fastening elements may be the same. Thus, with this solution, the same anchoring points and the same fastening elements are used for both anchoring the panels to the roof as well as for attaching the roof equipment.

Further, in order to facilitate alignment of the roof equipment in relation to the attachment plates, the through-hole may comprise an elongated hole, especially for the one or more second attachment points.

According to a further variant, the second attachment points and second fastening elements for attachment of roof equipment may comprise bolts and nuts. With this variant, the first fastening elements may comprise screws to be screwed into fixed structures of roof via the first attachment points, such as through-holes mentioned above. For the previous variants, the first and second fastening elements comprise screws to be screwed into fixed structures of said roof.

The roof equipment may comprise a bracket, an attachment element and/or a console configured for the attachment of walkways, snow fences, ridge and roof foot rails, guardrails. As an alternative, the roof equipment may comprise a bracket, an attachment element and/or a console configured for the attachment of ladders. When a bracket, or a console, is placed on top of the folds, it would be an advantage if the attachment plates have a length at least as long as the contact surface of the bracket, or console, to the roof, in order to distribute loads from the roof equipment and personnel using it along the folds as much as possible.

According to a further variant, the system could further comprise elongated covers to be placed on the folds between the attachment plates and the roof equipment. This will ensure that moist or debris cannot enter into the gap between the folds of adjacent panels.

In order to secure the roof equipment on the covers, the covers may be arranged with holes for the second fastening elements.

In order to further prevent moist of debris into the gap, a sealing element may be placed between the folds of adjacent roof panels.

These and other aspects of, embodiments of the invention and advantages with the present invention and embodiments thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and from the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, where similar references are used for similar parts, in which:.

With reference to <FIG>, embodiments of the attachment arrangement for a roof comprising elongated sheet metal panels <NUM>, the sheet metal panels being arranged with upward directed folds, according to the first aspect are schematically illustrated.

Further, embodiments of the system according to the second aspect are schematically illustrated. The system and the attachment arrangement may be used with sheet metal roof panels <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Each roof panel of the roof panels <NUM> may comprise a flat elongated cover surface having folds <NUM> along two parallel edges of the panel, extending in the longitudinal direction of the panels. The panel may be covered with layers of protective material to prevent corrosion and to enhance the appearance of the roof. As an alternative, or in combination, the panel may be covered with material that have photovoltaic properties in order to obtain energy harvesting from sunlight. The folds <NUM> may have a first generally upwards extending section <NUM>, in relation to the plane of the roof, followed by a second section <NUM> folded towards surface of the panel and with an inclination towards the roof surface, as seen in <FIG>. When the panels are placed on a roof, for instance provided with transversally extending battens, they may be placed with a gap <NUM> between the upwards extending sections <NUM> of the folds. This will allow a certain freedom of movement between the panels, which for instance may be due to temperature fluctuations on the roof.

With reference to <FIG>, the attachment arrangement includes one or more attachment plates <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" arranged on top of folds of adjacent sheet metal panels <NUM>. The attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" includes one or more first attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>', wherein the one or more first attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises/comprise one or more through-holes <NUM>, <NUM>' formed by the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>". The attachment arrangement includes one or more first fastening elements <NUM> for the attachment of the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" to the roof via the one or more first attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>', such as through the one or more through-holes <NUM>, <NUM>' of the one or more first attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>'. The attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" includes one or more second attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>', wherein the one or more second attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises/comprise one or more through-holes <NUM>, <NUM>' formed by the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>". The attachment arrangement includes one or more second fastening elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The attachment arrangement comprises roof equipment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The one or more second fastening elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is/are configured to attach the roof equipment to the roof via the one or more second attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>', such as through the one or more through-holes <NUM>, <NUM>'of the one or more second attachment points <NUM>, <NUM>'.

With reference to <FIG>, for some embodiments, the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" may be configured to attach one or more sheet metal panels <NUM> to the roof by way of the attachment of the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" to the roof. For some embodiments, the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" may be U-shaped, for example when viewed in the longitudinal direction of a fold of the sheet metal panel <NUM>. The attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" may be configured to embrace folds of adjacent sheet metal panels <NUM>. For some embodiments, the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" may comprise a central section <NUM> and two side sections <NUM>. The central section <NUM> may be described to be positioned between the two side sections <NUM>. The attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" may be configured to position folds of adjacent sheet metal panels <NUM> between the two side sections <NUM>. The attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", for example the U-shaped attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", may be configured to open toward the roof. The two side sections <NUM> may be inclined toward the roof and/or toward the surface of the panels <NUM>. An advantage of the attachment arrangement according to one or more of the embodiments disclosed above or below is that a further improved attachment of roof equipment to a roof is provided.

With reference to <FIG>, for some embodiments, the one or more first fastening elements comprises/comprise one or more screws <NUM> to be screwed into fixed structures of the roof.

The panels are attached to fixed structures of the roof, such as roof battens <NUM>, by attachment plates <NUM> placed over two adjacent folds. In this regard the attachment plates <NUM> may have a central flat section <NUM> and two side sections <NUM> inclined towards the surface of the panels. The central section <NUM> is provided with a number of attachment points in the form of through-holes <NUM>, through which fastening elements <NUM>, such as screws, may be introduced through the gap <NUM> between the folds and screwed into the battens below. The through-hole <NUM> may also be referred to as a though-going hole, or simply a hole. Also, the screws will ensure the gap <NUM> between adjacent panels. With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, in order to cover the folds and to ensure that moisture or debris cannot enter in the gap <NUM> between the panels, a sealing element <NUM>, such as a strip of sealing material <NUM>, may be placed in the gap <NUM>, for example an expanding sealing foam tape. Then an elongated cover <NUM> is placed on top of the folds, <FIG>. The cover <NUM> has a central flat section <NUM> and side sections <NUM>.

The side sections <NUM> are inclined towards the surface of the panels. The outer areas of the side sections <NUM> are provided with end sections <NUM> that are inclined toward the folds. The bending line of the end section <NUM> coincides with the edges of the side sections <NUM> of the attachment plates <NUM> in order to hold the cover in place as seen in <FIG>. The cover <NUM> is in this regard intended to be snap-fitted onto the attachment plates <NUM>.

If roof equipment <NUM> is to be installed on the roof, such as snow guards, ladders, walkways, etc. as seen in <FIG>, they need to be firmly attached to fixed structures of the roof, but they should not affect the folds of the panels or the panels themselves, in particular if they have photovoltaic properties. One solution is then to utilize the attachment plates <NUM> that hold the roof panels in place. For this purpose, the attachment plates <NUM> are provided with further through-holes <NUM>. Attachment elements or brackets comprised in the roof equipment are used that are arranged to be placed on top of the covers. One type of attachment element <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. It is arranged with an elongated plate-shaped section <NUM> that can distribute loads along a length of the cover. The section <NUM> is provided with a number of through-holes <NUM> with a through-hole pattern that matches the pattern of the further through-holes <NUM> on the attachment plates <NUM>. The through-holes <NUM> of the section <NUM> should be aligned with the further through-holes <NUM> of the attachment plate <NUM>. In this regard, the attachment plate <NUM> may be moved along the folds in order to obtain the correct position of the attachment elements <NUM> and thus the right position for roof equipment to be placed on the roof. With reference to <FIG>, for some embodiments, the cover <NUM> may form one or more through-holes <NUM> for the one or more second fastening elements <NUM>, <NUM>. Through-holes <NUM> may be drilled in the central section <NUM> of the cover <NUM> with the through-hole pattern of the attachment element section <NUM> as template. The attachment element <NUM> is then placed on top of the cover <NUM> and fastened with appropriate fastening elements such as screws <NUM> through the attachment element section <NUM>, the cover <NUM> and the attachment plate <NUM> and into the underlying battens <NUM> as seen in <FIG>. The attachment element <NUM> may also be referred to as a console.

In <FIG> the attachment plates <NUM> are of a shorter length and it requires for instance at least two attachment plates if the attachment element is elongated. For instance, as seen in <FIG>, with the cover removed for clarity, a bracket <NUM>, such as an elongated bracket <NUM>, with apertures and attachment points for walkways, snow fences or railings is shown with four attachment plates <NUM>. Thus, all attachment plates may then need to be adjusted and aligned in order to match the through-hole pattern of the bracket <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> may also be referred to as a console.

For such a situation, the attachment plate <NUM>' may be longer, at least as long as the attachment element or bracket <NUM>, for example as seen in <FIG>. Further, the attachment plate <NUM>' is arranged with a through-hole pattern corresponding to the through-hole pattern of the bracket <NUM>. This solution will facilitate the adjustment of the attachment plate <NUM>' in relation to the bracket <NUM> when attaching the bracket to the roof via holes in the cover as seen in <FIG>. In that regard, when drilling the through-holes <NUM> in the cover <NUM> corresponding to the through-hole pattern of the bracket <NUM>, the bracket <NUM> may be arranged with a downwardly extending guide section <NUM>, <FIG>, that when placed on the cover, will be in contact with a side surface of the cover, whereby the through-holes of the bracket <NUM> will be centred on the central flat section <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. This ensures that the screws will fit in the gap <NUM> between the folds of the panels. The downwardly extending section <NUM> is preferably bent to follow the inclination of the side sections <NUM> of the cover <NUM> when seen in a cross-section, and as seen in <FIG>. With reference to <FIG>, for some embodiments, the attachment plate <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" may have a length, or a longitudinal extension, which is at least as long as the contact surface of the bracket <NUM> to the roof, or the contact surface between the bracket <NUM> and the roof.

In this regard, with a longer attachment plate <NUM>', it would be possible to have the through-holes <NUM>' that correspond to the through-holes of the attachment element or bracket somewhat elongated as seen in <FIG>, thus not requiring exact alignment between the attachment plate <NUM>' and the attachment element or bracket <NUM>. With this solution, it could be feasible to use self-drilling screws for attaching the bracket <NUM> without the need for pre-drilling the cover since the elongated holes allow a freer positioning of the bracket <NUM> in relation to the attachment plate or plates <NUM>'.

As a further alternative, attachment plates could be used as described above for fastening the roof panels. Then further attachment plates are used in combination with the attachment elements or brackets. These further attachment elements do not need to be fastened to the roof before the cover is attached, but can be placed without fixation and are thus movable on the folds. This also facilitates the alignment between the attachment plates and the attachment elements.

As a further alternative, the attachment plates <NUM>" may be arranged with attachment points in the form of both through-holes <NUM> for attachment to the roof as described earlier and with threaded bolts <NUM> extending upwards, <FIG>. These bolts <NUM> are placed in a pattern that corresponds to the through-hole pattern of the brackets to be attached on the roof. After drilling the corresponding through-hole pattern in the cover, a bracket <NUM> may be attached to the bolts with appropriate nuts <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A system for covering a roof comprising a fixed roof structure, wherein the system comprises
elongated sheet metal roof panels (<NUM>) to be placed adjacent to each other, the elongated sheet metal roof panels being provided with upwardly extending folds (<NUM>), and
an attachment arrangement for a roof provided with elongated sheet metal roof panels (<NUM>) and for the attachment of the elongated sheet metal roof panels (<NUM>) to the fixed roof structure of the roof,
wherein the attachment arrangement comprises one or more attachment plates (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") arranged on top of folds of adjacent elongated sheet metal roof panels (<NUM>),
wherein each attachment plate (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") comprises one or more first attachment points (<NUM>, <NUM>') comprising one or more through-holes (<NUM>, <NUM>') formed by the attachment plate (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>"),
wherein the attachment arrangement comprises one or more first fastening elements (<NUM>) for the attachment of the attachment plate (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") to the fixed roof structure via the one or more first attachment points (<NUM>, <NUM>'),
wherein each attachment plate (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") comprises one or more second attachment points (<NUM>, <NUM>') comprising one or more through-holes (<NUM>, <NUM>') formed by the attachment plate (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>"),
wherein the attachment arrangement comprises roof equipment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein the attachment arrangement comprises one or more second fastening elements (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for the attachment of the roof equipment to the fixed roof structure via the one or more second attachment points (<NUM>, <NUM>'),
characterized in that
the elongated sheet metal roof panels (<NUM>) are placed adjacent to each other with a gap (<NUM>) through which the first fastening element (<NUM>) extends down and into the fixed roof structure.