Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to roof edging and water proofing systems, and more specifically to a roof edging system having an opening-free fascia member snap fittingly engaged to an underlying rail member. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many types of buildings have flat roofs with exposed roof edges that must be sealed in order to prevent water from leaking into the interior of the building. The roofs on buildings of this type generally include fully adhered or mechanically attached single ply roofs or built up or modified roof systems, among others. In order to effectively seal the roofs of these buildings, many different roof edging systems, such as fascias and copings, have been developed which cooperate with a roofing membrane placed over the roof to prevent water from entering a building between the membrane and the remainder of the building. 
   Known roof edging systems generally include a rail constructed to be attached to the building structure, a counter-flashing constructed to sealingly connect the roofing membrane and the rail, and a fascia member constructed to be positioned over the rail. Frequently, the rail and fascia includes hook and tab members so that the fascia can be snap-fit connected to the rail. Fasteners and splice plates secure the ends of adjacent sections of fascia to the rail. Understandably, such multi-component roof edging systems are relatively complex and require installation by skilled technicians in order to ensure an aesthetic and properly functioning roof edge. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a simplified and less labor intensive roof edging system. 
   Another consideration to such roof edging systems is the engagement of the fascia with the adjoining roof edging system structure. That is, due in part to the roof edging systems&#39; exposure to the elements, it is necessary to ensure that the fascia is securely and sealingly attached to the underlying roof edging system. Failure to securely connect the fascia to the roof edging system could result in unexpected removal of the fascia from the roof edging system during windy conditions. Furthermore, as the roof edging system seals a perimeter of the building to which it is attached, it is also desirable to provide a non-perforated fascia member to prevent the passage of moisture therethrough. 
   An additional consideration to roof edging system construction is the operability of the roof edging system with a variety of roof deck membrane configurations. That is, there are a variety of widely accepted roof membrane configurations. The roof membrane is commonly a single or multiple plies of a rubber-type and/or tar-type material that is laid across the roof of the structure. Joints in the roof membrane are sealed and the perimeter of the roof membrane is sealed about the perimeter of the structure by the roof edging system. Rather than providing a roof edging system tailored to a specific roof membrane, it is also desirable to provide a multifunctional roof edging system that is operable with a plurality of roof membrane configurations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a roof edging system that solves the aforementioned problems. A roof edging system for providing a functional and aesthetically pleasing appearance of a periphery of a building roof is provided. The system includes a rail positioned about an upper perimeter of a building. The rail is also constructed to sealingly engage a roofing membrane placed about the roof. A cover or fascia member snap fittingly engages the rail and is secured to the rail without fasteners. Such a construction provides a roof edging system that can be quickly secured to a building and provides an exterior surface that is free of perforations. 
   Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a roof edging system having a rail, a spring clip, and a cover is disclosed. The rail has a first section constructed to extend along a wall and a second section constructed to extend over a roof. A first tab is formed on the first section of the rail and a second tab is formed on the second section of the rail. The first tab and the second tab are orientated in generally crossing directions. The cover has a first hook structured to engage the first tab of the rail and a second hook constructed to engage the second tab of the rail so that the cover snap fittingly engages the rail. The spring clip is engaged with the second section of the rail between the first tab and the second tab such that the spring clip tensions the second hook against the second tab such that a tension direction is generally parallel with the roof. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a roof edging assembly including a rail, a cover, a spring clip and a cant is disclosed. The cant may be included with the roof edging system or preinstalled on the edge of a roof as in the first embodiment. The cant is structured to engage a roof surface and a wall surface. 
   Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roof edging system according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a rail of the roof edging system shown if  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the roof edging system with an additional rail section connected thereto; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the roof edging system shown in  FIG. 1  with a fascia member exploded therefrom; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the roof edging system similar to that shown in  FIG. 4  with another fascia member exploded therefrom; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the roof edging system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the roof edging system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a roof edging system  10  according to the present invention positioned about a perimeter  12  of a roof  14  of a building  16 . The roof edging system  10  includes a plurality of side sections  18  which are oriented to generally encircle the perimeter  12  of building  16 . Each side section  18  includes a wall portion  20  and a roof portion  22 . The wall portions  20  are generally orientated such that they extend in a direction generally parallel to a respective wall  24  of building  16 . Comparatively, roof portions  22  extend in a direction generally parallel to roof  14 . A roof seal or membrane  26  generally extends about the roof  14  within the area generally circumscribed by the roof edging system  10 . Membrane  26  is sealingly connected to the roof edging system  10  such that precipitation collected within perimeter  12  of roof  14  can be directed to a scupper (not shown) or other drain system. Such construction ensures that the roof system of building  16  is weather tight. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a corner of the underlying components of the roof edging system  10 . The roof edging system  10  shown in  FIG. 2  is not commonly visible from a ground position when a fascia member is positioned thereabout. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a membrane  26  engages a water dam, cant dam, or cant  28 . The cant  28  is contoured to extend upward above the roof  14 . The cant  28  may be preinstalled on the edge of a roof, before the roof edging system is installed or the roof edging system further includes the cant  28 . The rail  30  engages the cant  28  with the membrane  26  snugly and sealingly disposed therebetween. The sealing engagement of the membrane  26  between rail  30  and cant  28 , in addition to the inclined configuration of the cant  28 , ensures that water collected across the membrane  26  can be directed to a desired discharge location. A plurality of fasteners  32  engage wall  24  and secure rail  30  to the building  16 . A first section or wall section  34  of rail  30  is oriented along wall  24  and includes a first edge or tab  36  constructed to engage a fascia member. A roof section or second section  38  of rail  30  extends over the roof  14  and includes another edge or second tab  40  formed thereon. Tabs  36 ,  40  are constructed and orientated to snap fittingly engage a fascia member or cover  48  and secure the cover  48  to the rail  30 . A faceplate, joint plate, plate, or splice plate  42  as described further below with respect to  FIG. 3  is disposed adjacent to at least one end  44  of the rail  30 . Understandably, the corner construction of rail  30  could be provided in a unitary component or alternatively formed on-site. 
     FIG. 3  shows the attachment of an adjacent rail  30  at abutting ends  44 . Splice plate  42  is enclosed behind abutting ends  44  thereby sealing joint  46  formed between adjacent rails  30 . Such a construction ensures that anything penetrating the cover  48  of roof edging system  10 , cannot pass beyond the substantially continuous orientation of rails  30 . As such, in the event of minor damage to the cover of the roof edging system, roof edging system  10  may still provide some degree of water-tightness to the building to which it is installed. 
     FIG. 4  shows the cover  48 , which is non-perforated and a plurality of spring clips  50  of the roof edging system  10 . With respect to  FIG. 6 , the spring clips  50  are slidably engaged to the rail  30  and constructed to be disposed between the rail  30  and the cover  48 . The cover  48  includes a wall section (first section)  52 , a roof section (second section)  54 , and a corner  56  therebetween. A wall end  58  of the cover  48  is constructed to engage the first tab  36  of the rail  30 . A roof end  60  of the fascia member  48  is constructed to snap fittingly engage the second tab  40  of the rail  30 . Spring clip  50  is constructed to bias the roof end  60  of the cover  48  against the second tab  40  of the rail  30 , thereby securing the cover  48  to the roof edging system  10 . Similar to rail  30 , the cover  48  could be pre-configured to provide the corner formation of the roof edging system  10  or field assembled in such an orientation. A cover splice  62  extends from at least one end  64  of the cover  48  and is structured to receive additional covers. 
     FIG. 5  shows additional spring clips  50  secured to the rail  30  about the perimeter  12  of the roof  14 . The covers  48  snap fittingly engage rail  30  and are secured thereto by spring clips  50 . The cover splice  62  provides a sealed engagement between the ends  64  of adjacent covers  48 . Such a construction provides a roof edging system, wherein the external component thereof is free of perforations or openings and is attached to the underlying assembly without fasteners or the like. Such a construction provides a roof edging system that is quickly and easily connected to a building and sealingly engaged therewith. 
     FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of roof edging system  10 . Roof  14  includes a ledger  66  positioned about the perimeter  12  of the roof  14 . The cant  28  is secured to the ledger  66  via a fastener  68 . The cant  28  includes a first portion  70  that extends upwardly from the wall  24  and a second portion  72  extending between an end  74  of the first portion  70  and the roof  14 . The membrane  26  traverses roof  14  and inclines along the second portion  72  of the cant  28 . The rail  30  has a contour that generally matches a portion of the contour of the cant  28 . The membrane  26  is sealingly disposed between an underside portion  76  of the rail  30  and the cant  28 . A topside portion  78  is formed parallel with and adjacent to the underside portion  76 , along the length of the rail  30  and is structured to snugly receive a leg  80  of the spring clip  50  therein. The underside portion  76  is normally in contact with the topside portion  78 . The tab  36  is positioned at the lower end of the rail  30  and is constructed to slideably engage a first hook (first member)  82  of the cover  48 . The first hook  82  snugly engages the tab  36  such that the wall section  52  of the cover  48  is engaged with the rail  30 . First tab  36  is offset by some measurable distance  84 , from the wall  24 , thereby allowing a portion of the first hook  82  to pass between first tab  36  and wall  24 . Once the first hook  82  is engaged with first tab  36 , roof section  54  of the cover  48  is translated in the direction indicated by an arrow  86  such that wall section  52  of the cover  48  deflects a moveable arm  88  of the spring clip  50 . 
   Deflection of moveable arm  88  allows a second hook (second member)  90  of the cover  48  to engage the second tab  40  of rail  30 . Once the second hook  90  is positioned over second tab  40  of the rail  30 , moveable arm  88  presses against the corner  56  of the fascia member  48 , thereby tensioning the roof section  54  of the fascia member  48  between the corner  56  and the second hook  90 . Such a construction adheres the cover  48  to the rail  30  with securing forces associated with tabs  36 ,  40  and hooks  82 ,  90  orientated in generally crossing or transverse directions. Such a construction ensures that, even without fasteners, fascia members  48  are securely attached to the underlying rail  30 . Furthermore, eliminating the requirement of connecting the fascia members  48  with fasteners allows the fascia members  48  to be constructed without perforations, penetrations, or openings. Accordingly, once the covers  48  are positioned about a perimeter of a roof structure, the elimination of perforations reduces the possibility of penetration of precipitation beyond the covers  48 . 
     FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of the roof edging system  10 . The cant  28  is positioned about the perimeter  12  of the building  16 . Membrane  26  sealingly engages an upper surface  92  of the cant  28 . A plurality of fasteners  68  secure the cant  28  to the building  16 . The second section  38  of the rail  30  is structured to operatively engage the cant  28  such that the membrane  26  is sealingly disposed therebetween. The leg  80  of the spring clip  50  is inserted between the topside portion  78  and the underside portion  76  of the rail  30 . The moveable arm  88  of spring clip  50  translates in a direction indicated by the arrow  96 . The translation of the moveable arm  88  ensures that the second hook  90  of the cover  48  engages the tab  40  of the rail  30 . After the second hook  90  has traversed second tab  40  of the rail  30 , the association of the second hook  90  and the tab  40  and the biasing of the moveable arm  88  of spring clip  50  secures the cover  48  to rail  30 . Such construction provides a roof edging system that is quickly and efficiently connectible to a building structure, is operable with a plurality of flat roof membrane systems, and reduces the number of weather-exposed perforations of the roof edging system. 
   Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Technology Category: 0