Patent Description:
Different fastening arrangement for fastening roof equipment to a roof are provided on the market. Such fastening arrangements may comprise a fastening device for fastening roof equipment to a roof via a roof console. Examples of roof equipment are ladders, snow fences, safety equipment and solar panels. Examples are disclosed for instance in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a more robust roof console which is also easier to mount compared to conventional solutions.

The above and further objectives are solved by the subject matter of the independent claim <NUM>.

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 objectives are achieved with a fastening arrangement according to claim <NUM>.

The roof console herein disclosed may also be denoted a roof bracket or simply a bracket. The roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect provides simplified mounting of the roof console at a fastening device, the latter being configured to anchored to a roof structure of a roof. Furthermore, the design with two or more legs also means a very robust construction with increased strength which e.g., means that the present roof console can be produced from thinner material with equal robustness thus reducing production cost.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the first side surface of the raised section is arranged opposite to the second side surface of the raised section.

Thus, an even more robust roof console is provided with this embodiment.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, an inside surface of the first leg is configured to be attached to the first side surface and an inside surface of the second leg is configured to attached to the second side surface.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the inside surface of the first leg is configured to be at least partially in mechanical contact with the first side surface and the inside surface of the second leg is configured to be at least partially in mechanical contact with the second side surface.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the first leg and the second leg are angled in relation to each other in relation to an extension plane of the raised section of the fastening device in operation.

The expression "in operation" herein may be understood as how the parts of the roof console are arranged and/or located in relation to each other and to the fastening device when mounted in use at the roof.

Thereby, the roof console may be produced from a single piece of sheet metal reducing production complexity and production cost.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the upper section extends ir plane parallel to or along the extension plane of the raised section.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the roof console comprises a horizontal fold delimiting the upper section and the lower section from each other.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the first leg and the second leg extend downwards from the horizontal fold.

In the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the roof console comprises a vertical slit delimiting the first leg and the second leg from each other.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the roof console comprises first guiding means configured to cooperate with second guiding means of the fastening device for guiding the roof console to a mounting position at the fastening device.

Thereby, the mounting of the roof console is even more simplified. Also, the overall robustness is further increased with this embodiment.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the first guiding means is a cut out and the second guiding means is a protrusion.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the first guiding means is/are arranged at the lower section of the roof console.

Thereby, the overall robustness of the roof console is increased with this embodiment.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, each leg comprises first guiding means.

In the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the roof console is formed from a single piece of sheet metal while in an embodiment, the roof console has a substantially flat shape.

Thus, the roof console can be produced at a low cost with this embodiment.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, a common surface area of the first leg and the second leg is larger than half a surface area of the upper section and/or the common surface area of the first leg and the second leg is larger than or equal to a surface area of the raised section.

In an embodiment of a roof console of the fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the second attachment means are through holes.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the fastening section is configured to extend along an inclination of the roof in operation.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the fastening section has an elongated flat shape.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the raised section extends outwards perpendicularly in relation to the extension of the fastening section.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the raised section extends along an inclination of the roof in operation.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the raised section is arranged at an extension side of the fastening section.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the third attachment means are arranged at a first end of the fastening section and the raised section is arranged at a second end of the fastening section, the first end being located vertically above the second end in operation.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the fastening arrangement comprises second guiding means configured to cooperate with first guiding means of the roof console for guiding the roof console to a mounting position at the fastening device.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the second guiding means is/are arranged in an interface section between the fastening section and the raised section.

In an embodiment of a fastening arrangement according to the first aspect, the second guiding means is a protrusion.

The protrusion may also function as a stiffening rib thereby providing increased strength to the fastening arrangement. Thus, the fastening arrangement may be produced from thinner material while maintaining necessary strength.

<FIG> shows different embodiments of a roof console <NUM> for fastening roof equipment <NUM> at a roof <NUM>, where <FIG>, <FIG> shows a roof console <NUM> in a side view, respectively, whilst <FIG> shows a roof console <NUM> in a slight perspective side view.

With reference to <FIG>, the herein disclosed roof console <NUM> has an upper section <NUM> comprising first attachment means <NUM> for attaching roof equipment <NUM> to the roof console <NUM> in operation. The roof console <NUM> further has a lower section <NUM> comprising second attachment means <NUM> for attaching the roof console <NUM> to a fastening device <NUM> in operation. The fastening device <NUM> is configured to be anchored to a roof structure <NUM> of the roof <NUM>, see <FIG>. Thus, the lower section <NUM> of the roof console <NUM> comprises a first leg <NUM> configured to be attached to a first side surface <NUM> of a raised section <NUM> of the fastening device <NUM> and at least one second leg <NUM> configured to be attached to a second side surface <NUM> of the raised section <NUM>. The first side surface <NUM> and the second side surface <NUM> of the raised section <NUM> are different side surfaces.

The first attachment means <NUM> and the second attachment means <NUM> may be any suitable attachment means known in the art for attaching different parts to each other. Thus, non-limiting examples of attachment means are screws, adhesives, bolts and corresponding through holes, welding, and combinations thereof. In examples of the invention, the attachment means <NUM> and the second attachment means <NUM> are through holes combined with bolts and/or screws. The bolts and/or screws are however not shown in the disclosed Figs. For adjustment of the roof console <NUM> in relation to the fastening device <NUM>, and hence also the roof equipment <NUM> in relation to the fastening arrangement <NUM> and the roof <NUM>, the shape of the through holes and the location of the through holes can be varied. For example, in <FIG> the second attachment means <NUM> are circular in shape and arranged vertically and horizontally. Thus, the roof console <NUM> can be adjusted in discrete steps/amounts in the vertical, horizontal and/or diagonal directions. However, in <FIG> the second attachment means <NUM> have elongated shape and thus the roof console <NUM> can be adjusted continuously in the vertical and horizontal directions depending on the layout of the attachment means. Correspondingly, also the shape and location of the first attachment means <NUM>, in the form of through holes, can be varied for achieving the same function. For example, the roof console <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG> comprises three horizontally located attachment means for discrete stepwise adjustment in the horizontal direction while the roof console <NUM> in <FIG> only comprises one first attachment means <NUM>.

In embodiments of the invention, the first leg <NUM> and the second leg <NUM> are folded/bent from the upper section <NUM> and downwards in the direction towards the fastening device <NUM> in operation. A horizontal folding line F is illustrated in <FIG> and may extend substantially horizontal when the roof console <NUM> is installed in operation/use. The horizontal fold F may delimit the upper section <NUM> and the lower section <NUM> from each other. Thus, the first leg <NUM> and the second leg <NUM> extend downwards from the horizontal fold F in such embodiments. For simplifying the folding operation further, a vertical folding split or slit S may be punched before the folding operation for producing the legs. The vertical slit S will delimit the first leg <NUM> and the second leg <NUM> from each other in the fastening arrangement of the invention. The roof console <NUM> is formed from a single piece of sheet metal e.g., by using a folding machine and therefore may also have a substantially flat shape. This design implies a very cost-effective and low complex production method of roof consoles.

The roof console <NUM> may further have first guiding means <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The first guiding means <NUM> is configured to cooperate with corresponding second guiding means <NUM> of the fastening device <NUM> for guiding the roof console <NUM> to a mounting/assembly position at the fastening device <NUM>. The first guiding means <NUM> may be arranged at the lower section <NUM> of the roof console <NUM> and each leg <NUM>, <NUM> comprises first guiding means <NUM> in examples of the invention. The first guiding means <NUM> may be a cut out and the second guiding means <NUM> may be a protrusion configured to fit into the cut out according to embodiments of the invention. The reverse case is also possible, i.e., the first guiding means <NUM> is a protrusion and the second guiding means <NUM> is a cut out in the sheet metal. The cooperation of the first <NUM> and second <NUM> guiding means will be described more in detail in the following disclosure with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a fastening arrangement <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention in perspective view from two different sides, whilst <FIG> shows a fastening arrangement <NUM> in a side view, i.e., <FIG>, and in a perspective view from above, i.e., <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, the fastening arrangement <NUM> for attaching roof equipment <NUM> at a roof <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention comprises at least one roof console <NUM>. The fastening arrangement <NUM> further comprises at least one fastening device <NUM> having a fastening section <NUM> comprising third attachment means <NUM> for anchoring the fastening device <NUM> to a roof structure <NUM> of a roof <NUM>. The fastening device <NUM> further has a raised section <NUM> extending outwards from the fastening section <NUM>, and the raised section <NUM> comprises fourth attachment means <NUM> for attachment of the roof console <NUM> to the fastening device <NUM> by cooperating with the second attachment means <NUM>. Also, the third attachment means <NUM> and the fourth attachment means <NUM> may be any type of suitable attachment means known in the art.

As may be noted from the Figs. , the second side surface <NUM> of the raised section <NUM> may be arranged opposite to the first side surface <NUM> of the raised section <NUM> in embodiments of the invention. The first side surface <NUM> and the second side surface <NUM> extends outwards from the plane of the raised section <NUM>. In this respect an inside surface <NUM>' of the first leg <NUM> is configured to be attached to the first side surface <NUM> while an inside surface <NUM>' of the second leg <NUM> is configured to attached to the second side surface <NUM>. Thus, in an example the inside surface <NUM>' of the first leg <NUM> is configured to be at least partially in mechanical contact with the first side surface <NUM> and the inside surface <NUM>' of the second leg <NUM> is configured to be at least partially in mechanical contact with the second side surface <NUM>. This embodiment results in an even more robust fastening arrangement <NUM> being able to handle higher mechanical loads.

Furthermore, the first leg <NUM> and the second leg <NUM> may be (slightly) angled in relation to each other in relation to an extension plane P of the raised section <NUM> of the fastening device <NUM> in operation. The upper section <NUM> of the roof console <NUM> may however extend in plane parallel to or along the extension plane (P) of the raised section <NUM> as shown in the Figs.

Moreover, the fastening section <NUM> of the fastening device <NUM> may be configured to extend along an inclination of the roof <NUM> in operation. The inclination is indicated with the black arrow in the Figs. and is therein denoted I. Further observations are that the fastening section <NUM> may have an elongated flat band shape and that the raised section <NUM> extends outwards perpendicularly in relation to the flat band shape of the fastening section <NUM> in operation. In this configuration, the raised section <NUM> may be arranged at an extension side of the fastening section <NUM> so as e.g., being arranged in a space between two adjacent roof tiles, which however is not shown in the Figs. Therefore, the raised section <NUM> of the fastening device <NUM> in such designs extends along an inclination of a roof <NUM> in operation. For improved strength, the fastening section <NUM> may also have one or more strengthening portions or stiffening ribs <NUM> which also may extend along the extension of the fastening section <NUM>. In examples, the strengthening portion <NUM> may extend in the middle section of the fastening section <NUM> between a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> of the fastening section <NUM>. The first end <NUM> is located vertically above the second end <NUM>, in operation, when the roof <NUM> is inclined and the fastening section <NUM> extends along the inclination.

Regarding the relationship between the first attachment means <NUM> and the raised section <NUM> of the fastening device <NUM> it has been realised that the third attachment means <NUM> may be arranged at the first end <NUM> of the fastening section <NUM> while the raised section <NUM> is arranged at the second end <NUM> of the fastening section <NUM>. The third attachment means <NUM> may have a hook portion extending downwards from the main extension of the fastening section <NUM>. The purpose of the hook portion is to hook around roof ridge side of a batten of a roof structure for more secure anchoring of the fastening device <NUM> at a roof <NUM>. The hook portion may be located at a part of the first end <NUM> which arranged horizontally lower than the second end <NUM> of the fastening section <NUM> and being downwards angled thereof.

<FIG> shows a detail of a fastening device <NUM> of a fastening arrangement according to embodiments of the inventior when the fastening device <NUM> comprises second guiding means <NUM> configured to cooperate with the previously mentioned first guiding means <NUM> of the roof console <NUM>. Thereby, the roof console <NUM> is easily guided to a correct mounting position at the fastening device <NUM>. This will reduce the time for installing the roof console <NUM> substantially hence also reducing the cost of installing roof equipment <NUM> at a roof <NUM>. The detailed view of the fastening device <NUM> in <FIG> shows an interface section <NUM> located between the fastening section <NUM> and the raised section <NUM> in the form of a bent or folded section where the fastening section <NUM> and the raised section <NUM> meet. The second guiding means <NUM> may be arranged in the interface section <NUM> and the second guiding means <NUM> may be a protrusion extending in the interface section <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The protrusion may also act as a strengthening portion, i.e., as a stiffening rib, increasing the strength of the fastening device <NUM> when a load is applied and thus also the general strength of the entire fastening arrangement <NUM>. The protrusion may be formed by punching in the bent or folded section of the fastening device <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a roof <NUM> of a house on which a roof equipment <NUM> is fastened with a fastening arrangement <NUM> according to embodiments of the invention. The roof <NUM> of the house has a roof ridge <NUM> and a roof eve <NUM> and a roof surface having an inclination I directed from the roof ridge <NUM> to the roof eve <NUM>. The roof <NUM> may be formed by a roof structure having battens or being of any other roof design. The roof equipment <NUM> may be any type of roof equipment intended for installation at a roof. Non-limiting examples are ladders, snow fences, safety equipment of safety systems, walkways, walkway sections, and solar panels.

Claim 1:
A fastening arrangement (<NUM>) for attaching roof equipment (<NUM>) at a roof (<NUM>), the fastening arrangement (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one roof console (<NUM>); and
at least one fastening device (<NUM>) comprising a fastening section (<NUM>) comprising third attachment means (<NUM>) for anchoring the fastening device (<NUM>) to a roof structure (<NUM>) of the roof (<NUM>) and a raised section (<NUM>) extending outwards from the fastening section (<NUM>), the raised section (<NUM>) comprising fourth attachment means (<NUM>) for attachment of the roof console (<NUM>) to the fastening device (<NUM>); wherein the roof console (<NUM>) comprises:
an upper section (<NUM>) comprising first attachment means (<NUM>) for attaching a roof equipment (<NUM>) to the roof console (<NUM>) in operation;
a lower section (<NUM>) comprising second attachment means (<NUM>) for attaching the roof console (<NUM>) to the fastening device (<NUM>) in operation, wherein the lower section (<NUM>) comprises a first leg (<NUM>) configured to be attached to a first side surface (<NUM>) of said raised section (<NUM>) of the fastening device (<NUM>) and at least one second leg (<NUM>) configured to be attached to a second side surface (<NUM>) of the raised section (<NUM>), wherein the roof console (<NUM>) is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and, characterized in that the roof console (<NUM>) comprises a vertical slit (S) delimiting the first leg (<NUM>) and the second leg (<NUM>) from each other.