Easily erectable dormer for a roof structure

Abstract

A dormer assembly is provided for a roof structure of a dwelling. More particularly, the dormer assembly is easily erectable by having a structure that is collapsible for transportation to an installation site and erectable into a completed dormer assembly at the same time the adjoining fold-up roof system is raised during final home construction.

1 . A dormer for attachment to a roof portion of a structure comprising: 
 a girder frame having a pair of elongated rails, wherein the girder frame is configured to be in register with an opening in an angled roof portion of the structure when the girder frame is mounted to the roof portion of a structure;    a front frame mounted to the girder frame, wherein the front frame is configured to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when the girder frame is mounted to the roof portion; and    a top frame mounted to the front frame, wherein the top wall is configured to form a roof for the dormer;    wherein at least two of the girder frame, the front frame, and the top frame are pivotally mounted to one another between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.    
     
     
         2 . The dormer of  claim 1  wherein the front frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         3 . The dormer of  claim 2  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         4 . The dormer of  claim 3  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the front frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         5 . The dormer of  claim 4  wherein the top frame comprises a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         6 . The dormer of  claim 5  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         7 . The dormer of  claim 6  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, wherein the first and second truss members are fixedly mounted to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         8 . The dormer of  claim 7  and further comprising a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         9 . The dormer of  claim 8  and further comprising at least one side frame adapted to be mounted between an upper surface of the girder frame and a lower portion of at least one of the front frame and the top frame, wherein the at least one side frame forms a vertical side wall of the dormer.  
     
     
         10 . The dormer of  claim 9  wherein the at least one side frame is mounted to the dormer after all components have been raised to the second, finished position.  
     
     
         11 . The dormer of  claim 10  and further comprising at least one knee wall chord for holding the dormer assembly in the second, finished position.  
     
     
         12 . The dormer of  claim 11  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame at a central area thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The dormer of  claim 12  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame.  
     
     
         14 . The dormer of  claim 1  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         15 . The dormer of  claim 1  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the front frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         16 . The dormer of  claim 1  wherein the top frame comprises a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         17 . The dormer of  claim 16  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         18 . The dormer of  claim 17  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, wherein the first and second truss members are fixedly mounted to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         19 . The dormer of  claim 1  and further comprising a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         20 . The dormer of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one side frame adapted to be mounted between an upper surface of the girder frame and a lower portion of at least one of the front frame and the top frame, wherein the at least one side frame forms a vertical side wall of the dormer.  
     
     
         21 . The dormer of  claim 20  wherein the at least one side frame is mounted to the dormer after all components have been raised to the second, finished position.  
     
     
         22 . The dormer of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one knee wall chord for holding the dormer assembly in the second, finished position.  
     
     
         23 . The dormer of  claim 22  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame at a central area thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The dormer of  claim 23  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame.  
     
     
         25 . A dormer assembly for attachment to a roof portion of a structure comprising: 
 a dormer; and    a hinge attached to the dormer adapted to pivotally mount the dormer to the roof portion of a structure between a collapsed position and a finished, erected position.    
     
     
         26 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the dormer comprises a girder frame adapted to be interconnected with the hinge and to be located in register with an opening in the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         27 . The dormer assembly of  claim 26  wherein the dormer comprises a front frame adapted to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         28 . The dormer assembly of  claim 27  wherein the dormer comprises a top frame adapted to form a roof portion of the dormer assembly when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         29 . The dormer assembly of  claim 28  wherein the front frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         30 . The dormer assembly of  claim 29  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         31 . The dormer assembly of  claim 30  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the front frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         32 . The dormer assembly of  claim 31  wherein the top frame comprises a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         33 . The dormer assembly of  claim 32  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         34 . The dormer assembly of  claim 33  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, wherein the first and second truss members are fixedly mounted to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         35 . The dormer assembly of  claim 34  and further comprising a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         36 . The dormer assembly of  claim 35  and further comprising at least one side frame adapted to be mounted between an upper surface of the girder frame and a lower portion of at least one of the front frame and the top frame, wherein the at least one side frame forms a vertical side wall of the dormer assembly.  
     
     
         37 . The dormer assembly of  claim 36  wherein the at least one side frame is mounted to the dormer assembly after all components have been raised to the second, finished position.  
     
     
         38 . The dormer assembly of  claim 37  and further comprising at least one knee wall chord for holding the dormer assembly in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         39 . The dormer assembly of  claim 38  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame at a central area thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The dormer assembly of  claim 39  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame.  
     
     
         41 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the dormer comprises a front frame adapted to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         42 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the dormer comprises a top frame adapted to form a roof portion of the dormer assembly when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         43 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the front frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         44 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         45 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to the front frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         46 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  wherein the top frame comprises a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         47 . The dormer assembly of  claim 46  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         48 . The dormer assembly of  claim 47  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, wherein the first and second truss members are fixedly mounted to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         49 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  and further comprising a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         50 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  and further comprising at least one side frame adapted to be mounted between an upper surface of the girder frame and a lower portion of at least one of the front frame and the top frame, wherein the at least one side frame forms a vertical side wall of the dormer assembly.  
     
     
         51 . The dormer assembly of  claim 50  wherein the at least one side frame is mounted to the dormer assembly after all components have been raised to the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         52 . The dormer assembly of  claim 25  and further comprising at least one knee wall chord for holding the dormer assembly in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         53 . The dormer assembly of  claim 52  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame at a central area thereof.  
     
     
         54 . The dormer assembly of  claim 53  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame.  
     
     
         55 . A method of mounting a dormer to a roof structure comprising the steps of: 
 providing a dormer with a hinge thereon, the hinge being adapted to be mounted to a roof portion of a structure;    whereby the dormer is thereby adapted to be pivotally mounted to the roof portion of the structure.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  and further comprising the step of mounting the hinge on the dormer to the roof structure.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  and further comprising the step of pivoting the dormer from a first, lowered position to a second, finished position about the hinge.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  and further comprising the step of fixedly mounting the dormer to the roof portion in the second, finished position.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  and further comprising the step of providing the dormer with a girder frame adapted to be interconnected with the hinge and to be located in register with an opening in the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  and further comprising the step of providing the dormer with a front frame adapted to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  and further comprising the step of providing the dormer with a top frame adapted to form a roof portion of the dormer assembly when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the front frame to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the top frame to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the top frame to the front frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  and further comprising the step of providing the top frame with a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, and further comprising the step of fixedly mounting the first and second truss members to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  and further comprising the step of providing a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  and further comprising the step of providing at least one side frame adapted to be mounted between an upper surface of the girder frame and a lower portion of at least one of the front frame and the top frame, wherein the at least one side frame forms a vertical side wall of the dormer assembly.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  and further comprising the step of mounting the at least one side frame to the dormer assembly after all components have been raised to the second, finished position.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  and further comprising the step of providing at least one knee wall chord for holding the method assembly in the second, finished position.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the knee wall chord to the girder frame at a central area thereof.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the knee wall chord to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame thereto.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 55  and further comprising the step of providing the dormer with a girder frame adapted to be interconnected with the hinge and to be located in register with an opening in the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74  and further comprising the step of providing the dormer with a front frame adapted to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  and further comprising the step of providing the dormer with a top frame adapted to form a roof portion of the dormer assembly when the girder frame is positioned in the finished, erected position.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the front frame to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the top frame to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 76  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting the top frame to the front frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 76  and further comprising the step of providing the top frame with a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 76  and further comprising the step of providing a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 76  and further comprising the step of providing at least one side frame adapted to be mounted between an upper surface of the girder frame and a lower portion of at least one of the front frame and the top frame, wherein the at least one side frame forms a vertical side wall of the dormer assembly.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82  and further comprising the step of mounting the at least one side frame to the dormer assembly after all components have been raised to the second, finished position.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 55  and further comprising the step of providing at least one knee wall chord for holding the method assembly in a raised, finished position.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 55  and further comprising the step of pivotally mounting a knee wall chord to the dormer.  
     
     
         86 . An erectable dormer assembly for attachment to a roof portion of a structure comprising: 
 a girder frame adapted to be interconnected to the roof portion of the structure;    a front frame interconnected to the girder frame and adapted to form a visible vertical wall of the dormer assembly; and    a top frame interconnected to the girder frame adapted to form a roof portion of the dormer assembly;    wherein at least one of the front frame and the top frame are pivotally interconnected to the girder frame between a first, lowered position and a second, finished position to assist in the easy transportation and erection of the dormer assembly.    
     
     
         87 . The dormer of  claim 86  and further comprising a pair of side walls adapted to be interconnected to vertical sidewalls of the dormer.  
     
     
         88 . The dormer of  claim 87  wherein both the front frame and the top frame are pivotally mounted to the girder frame.  
     
     
         89 . The dormer of  claim 88  wherein the front frame is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the girder frame.  
     
     
         90 . The dormer of  claim 89  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to an upper portion of the girder frame.  
     
     
         91 . The dormer of  claim 90  and further comprising a hinge portion mounted to a base portion of the girder frame and adapted to be mounted to the roof portion of the structure between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position.  
     
     
         92 . The dormer of  claim 91  wherein the roof portion comprises a plurality of floor trusses.  
     
     
         93 . The dormer of  claim 92  and further comprising at least one knee wall chord for holding the dormer assembly in the second, raised position.  
     
     
         94 . The dormer of  claim 93  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame at a middle area thereof.  
     
     
         95 . The dormer of  claim 94  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame.  
     
     
         96 . The dormer of  claim 95  wherein the top frame comprises a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         97 . The dormer of  claim 96  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         98 . The dormer of  claim 97  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, wherein the first and second truss members are fixedly mounted to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         99 . The dormer of  claim 98  and further comprising a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.  
     
     
         100 . The dormer of  claim 86  wherein both the front frame and the top frame are pivotally mounted to the girder frame.  
     
     
         101 . The dormer of  claim 86  wherein the front frame is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the girder frame.  
     
     
         102 . The dormer of  claim 86  wherein the top frame is pivotally mounted to an upper portion of the girder frame.  
     
     
         103 . The dormer of  claim 86  and further comprising a hinge portion mounted to a base portion of the girder frame and adapted to be mounted to the roof portion of the structure between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position.  
     
     
         104 . The dormer of  claim 86  wherein the roof portion comprises a plurality of floor trusses.  
     
     
         105 . The dormer of  claim 86  and further comprising at least one knee wall chord for holding the dormer assembly in the second, raised position.  
     
     
         106 . The dormer of  claim 105  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame at a middle area thereof.  
     
     
         107 . The dormer of  claim 105  wherein the knee wall chord is pivotally mounted to the girder frame between the mountings of the top frame and the front frame.  
     
     
         108 . The dormer of  claim 86  wherein the top frame comprises a plurality of first truss members and a plurality of second truss members each pivotally mounted to the top frame.  
     
     
         109 . The dormer of  claim 108  wherein the first and second truss members are pivotally moveable relative to the top frame between a first, lowered position and a second raised position, wherein the top frame can be easily transported in a low volume when the first and second truss members are positioned in the first, lowered position.  
     
     
         110 . The dormer of  claim 108  and further comprising a top frame ridge board, wherein the first and second truss members are fixedly mounted to the top frame ridge board when the first and second truss members are moved to the second, raised position.  
     
     
         111 . The dormer of  claim 86  and further comprising a finishing frame adapted to be mounted between the top frame in the second, finished position and the roof portion of the structure to form a transition between the top frame and the roof portion of the structure.