Roof beams

Abstract

A roof beam ( 14 ) for a conservatory roof ( 10 ) comprises a core profile ( 16 ) of metal, a plastics member ( 18 ) fitted to the core profile and providing at least one ledge for carrying an edge of a sheet of glazing material ( 12 ) and a cap ( 20 ) mountable on the plastics member for retaining the glazing sheet thereon.

1 . A roof beam for a conservatory roof, wherein the roof beam comprises a core profile of metal, a plastics member fitted to the core profile and providing at least one ledge for carrying an edge of a sheet of glazing material and a cap mountable on the plastics member for retaining the glazing sheet thereon.  
   
   
       2 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the core profile is a hollow extrusion and the plastics member is a sheath for the core profile.  
   
   
       3 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plastics member is mountable on top of the core profile.  
   
   
       4 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the plastics member is a sliding fit or a snap fit on the top of the core profile.  
   
   
       5 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein reinforcement is provided internally of the core profile.  
   
   
       6 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement is in the form of steel profiles inserted into the core profile.  
   
   
       7 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein either or both of the core profile and the sheath are shaped to reduce direct contact between them.  
   
   
       8 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the sheath has on its inner spaced surface ribs or the like to provide the only lines of contact with the core profile in certain regions.  
   
   
       9 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein additionally or alternatively, the core profile bar has spaced feet or flanges that make end contact with the sheath.  
   
   
       10 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the core profile has a sectional profile of a trapezium having a narrow base and wider top.  
   
   
       11 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the sheath has a corresponding profile to that of the core profile.  
   
   
       12 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plastics member has a pair of ledges, one each side of a connection formation for attachment of the cap.  
   
   
       13 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein holes for the internal projections of the end cap are provided in the ledges.  
   
   
       14 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the ledges have gasket material thereon for sealing against the underside of glazing material.  
   
   
       15 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gasket material is of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material.  
   
   
       16 . A roof beam as claimed in  14 , wherein the gasket material is fitted in grooves or the like in the ledges or bonded to or co-extruded onto the ledges.  
   
   
       17 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein between the ledges and the connection formation, the sheath has longitudinal channels to provide drainage passages in case of water penetration through the roof beam.  
   
   
       18 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the connection formation of the plastics member is in the form of a slot whose sides extend upwardly from the top of the sheath.  
   
   
       19 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the sides end with internal lips, whose top surfaces are chamfered for ease of entry of a connection formation of the cap.  
   
   
       20 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the cap has an, in use, depending connection formation having at least one pair of ribs thereon that can be pushed into the slot of the plastics member and retained there with glazing material sandwiched between the cap and the ledges of the plastics member.  
   
   
       21 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein two pairs of ribs are provided on the cap connection formation, so as to allow the cap to be fitted at two different heights relative to the plastics member to accommodate glazing materials of different thickness.  
   
   
       22 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the cap has a single pair of ribs and the slot of the plastics member has two pairs of internal barbs or the like to allow the cap to be fitted over two different thicknesses of glazing material.  
   
   
       23 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cap is generally of T-section, the stem of the T providing the connection formation.  
   
   
       24 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the cross bar of the T-section has gasket material at ends thereof for sealing against the topside of glazing material.  
   
   
       25 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the gasket material is of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material.  
   
   
       26 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the gasket material is fitted in grooves or the like in the ends of the cap crossbar or bonded to or co- extruded onto the ends thereof.  
   
   
       27 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross bar of the cap is arcuate and ends thereof depend to meet the glazing material.  
   
   
       28 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , having anti-theft means.  
   
   
       29 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said anti-theft means is a clip or the like that can be positioned on the end of the cap to mask the slot or channel from insertion of a lifting tool.  
   
   
       30 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the clip or the like is generally U-shaped to fit either side of the slot or channel.  
   
   
       31 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein internally of the clip one or more barbs are provided for gripping the outer sides of the slot or channel or for locating in depression or holes provided in the sides of the slot or channel.  
   
   
       32 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the clip has flared ends to facilitate fitting thereof.  
   
   
       33 . A roof beam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clip has a pair of lugs that extend from the closed end of the clip to overlie the top edges of the slot or channel sides, in order to prevent insertion of a lifting tool.  
   
   
       34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)