Patent Description:
Roof lights are well known in the building industry. Roof lights are provided in flat or pitched roofs in order to provide light and / or ventilation to the interior of the building. Many roof lights exist- some simply provide light(i.e. do not open) and some are openable. Most roof lights are provided with a transparent (e.g., glass) panel to allow light to enter the building.

The present invention is primarily concerned with openable roof lights. In particular it is concerned with roof lights that have a frame or base attached to the roof and a pivotably mounted leaf, typically having a transparent glass panel (although roof lights having translucent or opaque panels are also envisaged). Although such devices may be opened manually, the present invention is concerned with electrically powered roof lights. This is advantageous due to the position of these products, which are in roofs which are hard to reach to manually open the rooflight.

<CIT> discloses a light dome unit, as is used for skylight and/or smoke extraction purposes, in particular on a flat roof. The unit has a frame with an apron.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a roof light according to claim <NUM>.

Advantageously the use of swivel brackets makes the rooflight very fast and easy to install and / or replace.

Preferably the plurality of swivel brackets is rotatably attached to the frame.

In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of swivel brackets is rotatably attached to the part of the building (e.g. the curb).

Preferably, the swivel brackets are only accessible from the interior side of the rooflight. This enhances the security of the rooflight as they cannot be tampered with from the exterior.

Preferably, the attachment assembly comprises a swivel bracket frame for attachment to a building, wherein each of the plurality of swivel brackets is rotatably attached to the swivel bracket frame.

Preferably the frame comprises a swivel bracket recess having an inwardly depending retention feature; and, each swivel bracket comprises a fixing tab; wherein the retention feature is retained by the fixing tab in the second position of the swivel bracket.

Preferably the swivel bracket recess has two opposed inwardly depending retention features; and, each swivel bracket comprises a pair of fixing tabs; wherein the retention features are retained by the fixing tabs in the second position of the swivel bracket.

Preferably each swivel bracket comprises a hub rotatably attached to the swivel bracket frame and an arm extending therefrom.

Preferably the arm of each respective swivel bracket extends inwardly from the frame when the respective arms are in the first position.

Preferably application of a force to the arm rotates the swivel bracket from the first position to the second position.

Preferably the arm comprises an upstanding tab configured to bear against the frame in the second position.

Preferably the frame and the swivel bracket frame are defined as endless loops and swivel brackets are provided around the periphery thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figure in which:.

In the following description, terms such as "vertical" and "horizontal" refer to the orientation of the embodiment in-use in a flat, horizontal roof. It will therefore be understood that e.g. "vertical" portions thereof are not always vertical in a global sense in use, but only in the frame of reference of the roof light itself. The terms "distal" and "proximal" refer to positions relative to the roof in which the roof light is installed (unless otherwise stated). The terms "interior" and "exterior" refer to the interior and exterior of the building in which the roof light is installed. The terms "internal" and "external" refer to the local position of the features (e.g. within an enclosed section or outside an enclosed section).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a roof light <NUM> is shown according to the present invention. The roof light <NUM> is shown in an open condition in <FIG> and a closed condition in <FIG>.

The roof light <NUM> is installed within a roof structure <NUM>, shown in <FIG>. The roof structure comprises a roof panel <NUM> on the external surface, and a ceiling <NUM> on an internal surface. The panel and ceiling <NUM>, <NUM> sandwich a layer of insulation <NUM> therebetween. The layers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> form a roof assembly through which a quadrilateral aperture <NUM> is formed.

Around the periphery of the aperture <NUM> and extending normal to the roof panel <NUM> there is provided a timber curb <NUM>. A finish layer <NUM> is provided on the quadrilateral inner surface of the aperture formed through the roof structure <NUM>.

It will be noted that although the present embodiment is described installed in the roof structure <NUM>, other roof types are available, and the present invention is not limited to installation in the structure described above.

The roof light comprises four subassemblies: a frame <NUM> (<FIG> & <FIG>), a leaf <NUM> (<FIG> & <FIG>), a hinge assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) and an actuation assembly <NUM> (<FIG>).

The frame <NUM> is shown in more detail in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The frame <NUM> comprises an outer profile <NUM>, and an inner profile <NUM>. The profiles <NUM>, <NUM> are constructed from extruded aluminium section and define endless loops in quadrilateral forms.

Referring to <FIG>, a section through the profiles <NUM>, <NUM> on plane VI in <FIG> is shown.

The outer profile <NUM> is generally constructed from a hollow section, having a first vertical portion <NUM> distal to the roof <NUM>, a second, angled portion <NUM>, a lower horizontal flange portion <NUM> and a lower vertical flange <NUM>. The first vertical portion <NUM> comprises a rectangular box section divided in two by an internal wall <NUM>. At the distal end of the first vertical portion <NUM>, on the interior side there is provided a seal-receiving formation <NUM>. Two bosses <NUM> are provided on the internal side of the first vertical portion <NUM>. Screw-tip receiving grooves <NUM> are provided on the external side. The second, angled portion <NUM> comprises a rectangular box section. The lower horizontal flange portion <NUM> extends to the interior of the profile <NUM> (i.e. horizontally) at the proximal end of the second, angled portion <NUM>. The lower horizontal flange portion <NUM> comprises a rectangular box section having an interior-facing seal-receiving formation <NUM> defined at the interior end thereof. The lower vertical flange <NUM> extends vertically downwards from the second, angled portion <NUM> and is single-thickness having a screw-tip receiving groove <NUM>. The outer profile has at least one drainage hole <NUM> defined in the lower horizontal flange portion <NUM>.

The inner profile <NUM> is generally "U" shaped having a vertical base portion <NUM>, a distal horizontal portion <NUM> and a proximal horizontal portion <NUM>. The distal horizontal portion <NUM> and the vertical base portion <NUM> meet at a first corner <NUM>, and the proximal horizontal portion <NUM> and the vertical base portion <NUM> meet at a second corner <NUM>. Each portion <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is constructed as a box-section. The vertical base portion <NUM> comprises an internal wall <NUM> and two end walls <NUM>, <NUM>. The distal horizontal portion <NUM> is constructed from a box section having internal ribs <NUM> and an external, interior facing seal receiving formation <NUM>. The distal horizontal portion <NUM> defines an elongate opening <NUM> on one side of the frame <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>). The proximal horizontal portion <NUM> is constructed from an L-shaped section having an internal rib <NUM> and an external, interior facing seal receiving formation <NUM>. At the first corner <NUM> there is provided a distally facing slot opening <NUM>. At the second corner <NUM> there is provided a proximally facing slot opening <NUM>. Between the interior end of the proximal horizontal portion <NUM> (which extends proximally) and the second corner <NUM> there is provided a fastener receiving formation <NUM> having inwardly angled (at <NUM> degree) retention legs <NUM>, <NUM> each having a distally extending foot <NUM>, <NUM>.

In addition to the profiles <NUM>, <NUM> the frame <NUM> comprises a leaf seal <NUM>, a distal thermal break <NUM>, a proximal thermal break <NUM>, four distal corner cleats <NUM>, four proximal corner cleats <NUM>, a swivel bracket frame <NUM> and a plurality of swivel brackets <NUM>.

The leaf seal <NUM> is constructed from an polymeric material in an endless loop. A section through the seal <NUM> is shown in more detail in <FIG>. The seal <NUM> has a main body <NUM>, a leaf engaging portion <NUM> at a distal end thereof and a foot <NUM> at a proximal end thereof.

The thermal breaks <NUM>, <NUM> are shown in more detail in <FIG> and <FIG>. They are constructed from a stiff polymeric material such as polyamide. In cross-section the breaks <NUM>, <NUM> are generally flat having flared ends <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. The thermal break <NUM> is in the shape of a quadrilateral in plan with a gap <NUM> coincident with the opening <NUM>. The thermal break <NUM> is in the shape of a quadrilateral endless loop.

The corner cleats <NUM>, <NUM> are constructed from aluminium sheet and are L-shaped in plan.

The swivel bracket frame <NUM> is constructed from flat aluminium section in the shape of a quadrilateral endless loop and defines a plurality of openings <NUM>.

The swivel brackets <NUM> are shown in detail in <FIG>. The bracket <NUM> comprises a rivet <NUM>, a washer <NUM> and a body <NUM>. The body <NUM> comprises a hub <NUM> having a pair of upstanding inverted L-shaped fixing tabs <NUM> and a generally L-shaped arm <NUM> having an upstanding abutment <NUM> at a free end thereof. The abutment <NUM> is parallel to the upstanding parts of the tabs <NUM>.

The leaf <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. It comprises a quadrilateral frame <NUM> constructed from extruded aluminium with a glazing assembly <NUM>.

The frame section <NUM> comprises a peripheral outer panel <NUM> and an inwardly extending support flange <NUM>. The glazing assembly <NUM> comprises an inner panel <NUM>, an outer panel <NUM> and a seal arrangement <NUM>. The inner and outer panels are offset to create double glazing.

The hinge assembly <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and comprises a plurality of four hinges <NUM>. A hinge <NUM> is shown in detail in <FIG>.

Each hinge <NUM> comprises a first hinge plate <NUM> and a second hinge plate <NUM> rotationally mounted to the first via a shaft <NUM>. The first hinge plate <NUM> is flat, having three spaced apart first shaft receiving portions 414a, 414b, 414c at a first end. The middle portion 414b has a threaded opening <NUM>.

The second hinge plate <NUM> is L-shaped having a flat portion <NUM> which lies parallel and offset to the first hinge plate in the closed configuration and a flange <NUM> which extends past the first hinge plate in the closed configuration. At the end of the flat portion <NUM> opposite to the flange there are provided second shaft receiving portions 418a, 418b, 418c, 418d.

The shaft <NUM> has an end cap <NUM> and a circumferential groove <NUM>.

The actuation assembly comprises an actuator <NUM> and a distal mounting bracket <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). It also comprises a proximal mounting bracket <NUM>.

The distal mounting bracket <NUM> comprises an elongate L-shaped member <NUM> having a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> normal thereto. At each end of the first portion <NUM> there are provided downwardly depending attachment tabs <NUM>. The second portion defines attachment openings <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> is mounted to the interior, underside of the frame <NUM> via the distal mounting bracket <NUM>. The actuator is positioned between the tabs <NUM> and attached to each for pivotable movement about an actuator pivot axis APA (<FIG>). The actuator <NUM> comprises a chain drive <NUM> extending therefrom and is configured to extend and retract the chain drive upon application of an electrical input.

The frame profile <NUM> is assembled with four individual extrusion sections being attached by respective corner cleats <NUM>, <NUM> (visible end-on in <FIG>). The inner and outer profiles <NUM>, <NUM> are assembled with the flared ends <NUM> of the distal seal <NUM> being inserted into and retained within the facing seal-receiving formations <NUM>, <NUM> of the respective outer and inner profiles. The flared ends <NUM> of the proximal seal <NUM> are inserted into and retained within the facing seal-receiving formations <NUM>, <NUM> of the respective outer and inner profiles. The seals therefore create an enclosed annular void <NUM> (<FIG>).

The leaf seal <NUM> is assembled with the frame <NUM> by inserting the foot <NUM> into the distally facing slot opening <NUM> such that it is retained therein.

The glazing assembly <NUM> is installed in the leaf frame <NUM> and the actuator <NUM> attached to the frame <NUM> with the distal bracket <NUM>. The distal bracket <NUM> is attached to an interior side of the flange <NUM> of the leaf <NUM> via screws (or other mechanical fasteners) passed through the openings <NUM>. The fasteners are attached from the interior side of the leaf and are parallel to the plane of the leaf <NUM>. The proximal bracket <NUM> is attached to the frame <NUM> in line with the gap <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The chain drive <NUM> is attached to the proximal bracket <NUM>.

The hinges <NUM> are provided in their individual parts. The first hinge plate <NUM> is attached to the outer vertical surface of the first vertical portion <NUM> of the outer profile <NUM>. Fasteners are engaged with the screw-tip receiving grooves <NUM> to attach the hinge plate <NUM>.

The second hinge plate <NUM> is attached to the leaf <NUM> with the flat portion <NUM> abutting the internal side of the peripheral outer panel <NUM>, and the flange <NUM> being fastened to the proximal surface of the inwardly extending support flange <NUM>.

In order to mount the leaf <NUM> to the frame <NUM>, the hinges are aligned such that the shaft receiving portions 414a-c, 416a-c are aligned on axis A. In this position, the shaft <NUM> is threaded into position such that the end cap <NUM> abuts the end portion 418d. In this position the groove <NUM> is aligned with the threaded opening <NUM>. The grub screw <NUM> is then used to secure the shaft <NUM> in an axial sense by engaging it into the opening and into the groove <NUM>.

The hinges <NUM> are configured such that the flanges <NUM> overlap the top (distal surface) of the first vertical portion <NUM> of the outer profile <NUM> in the closed condition (see <FIG>). In the closed condition, the grub screw <NUM> is completely inaccessible.

The leaf <NUM> is therefore rotatable about the aligned axis of the hinges <NUM> (shown as axis A in <FIG>). In the closed condition (<FIG>) the glazing abuts the leaf seal <NUM>.

The swivel brackets <NUM> are pivotably attached to the swivel bracket frame (<FIG>).

In order to install the roof light <NUM>, the swivel bracket frame <NUM> is fastened to the underlying roof, surrounding the aperture <NUM>. The swivel brackets are rotated to a position in which the tabs <NUM> are aligned with the frame <NUM> (i.e. <NUM> degrees clockwise about axis SW in <FIG>).

The roof light <NUM> is then installed by dropping it over the frame <NUM> such that the tabs <NUM> enter the fastener receiving formation <NUM> of the inner profile <NUM>. The swivel brackets <NUM> can then be rotated by applying a force to the arms <NUM> to rotate the individual swivel brackets <NUM> through <NUM> degrees to the position shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The upstanding abutment <NUM> contacts the interior surface of the profile <NUM> when the swivel arm is in position.

In the closed condition the roof light is extremely well secured by the fact that neither the motor nor hinges can be accessed from the exterior. The way in which the hinges are configured, with the grub screw inaccessible means that it is very difficult to attack them to gain entry.

In the closed condition, the actuator <NUM> enters the void <NUM> through the gap <NUM> in the frame profile <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

When the roof light <NUM> is to be opened, an electrical signal is provided to the actuator which pushes out the chain <NUM> to move from the position of <FIG>. The leaf <NUM> rotates about the axis A.

In the event that there is a problem with the motor <NUM>, the present invention provides that removal is facilitated even in the closed condition of the rooflight <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the seal <NUM> can be removed from the inner profile in the closed condition (for example with pliers or a similar tool).

Once removed (turning to <FIG>) the distal bracket <NUM> is exposed with the fastener heads visible. The fasteners can therefore be removed, detaching the bracket <NUM> from the leaf <NUM>. This means that the leaf <NUM> can be opened manually, and the motor extracted for repair or replacement. The ability to detach the motor from the leaf in the closed position of the roof light <NUM>, from the interior side, is therefore highly advantageous.

Variations are possible within the scope of the present invention.

The actuator may be mounted to the frame <NUM> rather than the leaf <NUM>. The advantage of leaf-mounting is that the motor is kept away from any water that may gather in the void <NUM>. If mounted in the void <NUM>, the lower (proximal) and outer void region <NUM> shown in <FIG> acts as a drainage channel to keep water away from the motor which would be mounted on the proximal horizontal portion <NUM> of the inner profile which is positioned distally relative to the proximal horizontal portion <NUM> of the outer profile.

If the actuator is mounted to the frame, access during malfunction in the closed condition is still effected as described above. Instead of the actuator itself being detached from the frame <NUM>, the end of the chain is.

Referring to <FIG>, the rivet <NUM> may be integrated with the swivel bracket <NUM> such that they form a unitary body for pivotable attachment to the frame <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the seal <NUM> is mounted in the inner profile <NUM>. In a further embodiment, a leaf-contacting seal may be mounted at the distal end of the outer profile <NUM> to contact the support flange <NUM> (or equivalent) of the leaf <NUM>. In a still further embodiment, two seals may be provided- one in the inner profile and one in the outer profile to provide additional sealing.

Although the swivel brackets are disclosed as being attached to the building via a frame, it is envisaged that they may be attached directly to the roof light curb. This reduces the number of parts required, but does not provide the guaranteed alignment of a swivel bracket frame.

In the above embodiment, the swivel brackets are attached to the building curb. It will be understood that in an alternative embodiment encompassed by the scope of the present invention, the swivel brackets may be pivotably mounted to the underside of the roof light frame and retained by a recess / formation attached to, or formed part of the building (i.e. the curb).

Claim 1:
A roof light (<NUM>) comprising:
a frame (<NUM>);
a leaf (<NUM>) being pivotably attached to the frame for movement between a closed condition and an open condition;
characterised in that said roof light (<NUM>) further comprises
an attachment assembly comprising a plurality of swivel brackets (<NUM>) for rotatable attachment to at least one of the frame and a part of a building;
wherein, in use, each of the plurality of swivel brackets (<NUM>) is rotatable between a first position in which the frame can be moved relative to the part of the building and a second position in which the frame is retained relative to the part of the building.