Composite roof panels

Abstract

A roofing panel 110 for a pitched roof comprises a rectangular frame 111 having both faces covered in board material 116,117 , the frame 111 comprising top and bottom rails 112,113 joined together by a plurality of composite “I” beams 10 & 41 . The panel 110 is provided with elongate attachment means 101,102 at its upper and lower ends for attachment to, for example, a roof beam 65 and guttering respectively. The attachment means 101,102 have a right angle triangular portion with an apex angle α,β substantially equal to the pitch angle of the roof, a base side 51,61 for securing to the top or bottom of the panel 110 and a hypotenuse 53,63 which in use is substantially vertical.

1 . An attachment means for roof panels of a pitched roof, and which comprise an elongate strut which in cross-section has a portion substantially in the form of a right angle triangle whose apex angle is substantially equal to the pitch angle of the roof and the base side of which is adapted to locate in a recess in the end of a roof panel.  
   
   
       2 . Means as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elongate strut is hollow having an outer shell formed from a suitable material.  
   
   
       3 . Means as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the hollow centre of the strut may be filled with a core of resin cellular material.  
   
   
       4 . Means as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means is a lower attachment means which in use is secured to the lower ends of panels adjacent the eaves, the base side being adapted to engage in the recess in the lower end of the panel such that the two sides of the panel are substantially flush with the respective ends of the base side.  
   
   
       5 . Means as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the hypotenuse side of the lower attachment means in use is substantially vertical providing a fixing surface for guttering and soffits.  
   
   
       6 . Means as claimed in claims  1  wherein the attachment means is an upper attachment means which in use is secured the upper end of the panels, the base side being adapted to engage in a recess in the upper end of a panel, and the hypotenuse side has an undercut slot formed therein for locking onto a ridge beam.  
   
   
       7 . Means as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the undercut slot is in the form of an inverted “T”.  
   
   
       8 . Means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means has a sufficient length to transverse a plurality of side by side roof panels and link them together.  
   
   
       9 . A roofing panel having attachment means according to the  claim 1 , located at one or both ends of said panel.  
   
   
       10 . A roofing panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the panel comprises a rectangular frame having both faces covered in a board material, the frame comprising top and bottom rails joined together by a plurality of composite “I” beams, and the attachment means are located in recesses in the top and bottom rails.  
   
   
       11 . A roofing panel for a pitched roof comprises a rectangular frame having both faces covered in a board material, the frame comprising top and bottom rails joined together by a plurality of composite “I” beams, and attachment means located in recesses in the top and bottom rails, the attachment means comprising an elongate strut which in cross-section has a portion substantially in the form of a right angle triangle whose apex angle is substantially equal to the pitch angle of the roof and the base side of which is adapted for securing to one of the top and bottom of a roof panel.  
   
   
       12 . In a method of securing a roof panel as claimed in  claim 10  to the ridge beam of a roof, wherein the attachment means is an upper attachment means which in use is secured the upper end of the panels, the base side being adapted to engage in a recess in the upper end of a panel, and the hypotenuse side has an undercut slot formed therein for locking onto a ridge beam, the undercut slot is in the form of an inverted “T” and the ridge beam is provided with a “T” section location strip which is loosely engagable in the undercut slot in the attachment means, the location strip being locked in the slot by insertion of a locking device.  
   
   
       13 . In a method as claimed in  claim 12 , the open undercut slot is passed over the head of the location means and the locking strip is pushed lengthwise through the slot the lock the panel to the ridge beam.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the lower end of panel is held to angled ends faces of ceiling cross beams by eaves brackets.  
   
   
       15 . A method of securing a roof panel to a ridge beam wherein the roofing panel is provided with at least one attachment means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means is selected from a plurality of attachment means having different apex angles such that the apex angle of the select attachment means is substantially equal the pitch angle of the roof.