Clip assembly for standing seam roof panels

Abstract

A continuous clip for connecting standing seam roof panels to roof support members has a first Z-shaped clip member and a second C-shaped clip member nested against the first clip member. Each clip member has an upright portion, an upper flange and a lower flange. The upper flanges of the clip members extend in opposite directions and are configured to fit within the channels formed by folded upper edges of the adjacent roof panels. The lower flanges are attached to the roof support under the roof panels.

1 . A clip assembly for connecting a standing seam roof panel to a roof support member in which a roof panel has upwardly turned opposing edges, each edge formed a generally U-shaped channel, the clip assembly comprising:
 a first clip member having a first clip upright portion, a first clip upper flange secured to an upper end of the first clip upright portion and extending transversely outwardly from the first clip upper portion in a first direction, and a first clip lower flange secured to a lower end of the first clip upright portion and extending in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction; and   a second clip member having a second clip upright portion secured in parallel to the first clip upright portion, a second clip lower flange secured to a lower end of the second clip upright portion and extending transversely outwardly from the second clip upright portion in a direction substantially parallel to the second direction of the first clip lower flange, and a second clip upper flange secured to an upper end of the second clip upright portion and extending in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction of extension of the first clip upright portion.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip upper flange is configured to fit within the U-shaped channel of a roof panel and the second clip upper flange is configured to fit within the U-shaped channel of an adjoining roof panel. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange comprises a first proximate part secured to a respective upright portion and extending at a generally right angle thereto, a second middle part unitary connected to the first proximate part and extending at a generally obtuse angle to the first proximate part, and a third distant part unitary connected to the middle part and extending at a generally obtuse angle to the middle part. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the distant parts of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange are oriented at a vertical level above the proximate parts of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the distant part of the second clip lower flange contacts an underside of the roof panel when installed. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip lower flange has a longitudinal dimension at least slightly greater than a longitudinal dimension of the second clip lower flange. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip upright portion contacts the second clip upright portion along substantially entire length thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip assembly forms a continuous body extending along lengths of adjoining roof panels. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange is each configured to extend in a generally parallel relationship to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange is each configured for attachment to the roof support member below the roof panel. 
     
     
         11 . A clip assembly for connecting a roof panel to a roof support member in which a roof panel has upwardly turned opposing edges, each edge formed a generally U-shaped channel, the clip assembly comprising:
 a generally Z-shaped first clip member having a first clip upright portion, a first clip upper flange secured to an upper end of the first clip upright portion and extending transversely outwardly from the first clip upper portion in a first direction, and a first clip lower flange secured to a lower end of the first clip upright portion and extending in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction; and   a generally C-shaped second clip member having a second clip upright portion secured in parallel to the first clip upright portion in a gapless relationship, a second clip lower flange secured to a lower end of the second clip upright portion and extending transversely outwardly from the second clip upright portion in a direction substantially parallel to the second direction of the first clip lower flange, and a second clip upper flange secured to an upper end of the second clip upright portion and extending in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction of extension of the first clip upright portion.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first clip upper flange is configured to fit within the U-shaped channel of a roof panel and the second clip upper flange is configured to fit within the U-shaped channel of an adjoining roof panel. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange comprises a first proximate part secured to a respective upright portion and extending at a generally right angle thereto, a second middle part unitary connected to the first proximate part and extending at a generally obtuse angle to the first proximate part, and a third distant part unitary connected to the middle part and extending at a generally obtuse angle to the middle part. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the distant parts of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange are oriented at a vertical level above the proximate parts of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the distant part of the second clip lower flange contacts an underside of the roof panel when installed. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first clip lower flange has a longitudinal dimension at least slightly greater than a longitudinal dimension of the second clip lower flange. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first clip upright portion contacts the second clip upright portion along substantially entire length thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the clip assembly forms a continuous body extending along lengths of adjoining roof panels. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange is each configured to extend in a generally parallel relationship to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange is each configured for attachment to the roof support member below the roof panel. 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing standing seam roof panels to a roof support member in which each roof panel has upwardly turned opposing edges, each edge formed a generally U-shaped channel, the method comprising the steps:
 (a) providing a continuous clip assembly having a first generally Z-shaped clip member and a second generally C-shaped clip member secured together to form a clip unit, said first clip member having a first clip upright portion and an upper flange oriented in a first direction, said second clip member having a second clip upright portion fixedly attached to the first clip upright portion and a second clip upper flange oriented in a direction opposite to the first direction of the first clip upper flange;   (b) installing said continuous clip assembly on the roof support member;   (c) engaging a first roof panel with the continuous clip assembly by locking the first clip upper flange within the U-shaped channel of the first roof member;   (d) positioning a second roof panel in a parallel adjacent relationship to the first roof panel;   (e) engaging the second roof panel with the continuous clip assembly by locking the second clip upper flange within the U-shaped channel of the second roof member; and   (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until installation of all required roof panels is complete.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said first clip member is provided with a first clip lower flange, said second clip member is provided with a second clip lower flange, and wherein said first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange extend in a generally parallel direction to each other. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step of installing the continuous clip assembly on the roof member comprises a step of fastening the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange to the roof support member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein each of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange comprises a first proximate part secured to a respective upright portion and extending at a generally right angle thereto, a second middle part unitary connected to the first proximate part and extending at a generally obtuse angle to the first proximate part, and a third distant part unitary connected to the middle part and extending at a generally obtuse angle to the middle part. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the distant parts of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange are oriented at a vertical level above the proximate parts of the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange is each configured to extend in a generally parallel relationship to each other. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first clip lower flange and the second clip lower flange is each configured for attachment to the roof support member below the roof panel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first clip upright portion and the second clip upright portion are secured together in a parallel gapless relationship. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first clip upright portion and the second clip upright portion are secured together by button punching. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the clip assembly forms a continuous body extending along lengths of adjoining roof panels.