Extruded convex plastic panel with standing seams for roof structures

Abstract

An extruded convex plastic panel (100) for use in a metal roof system (118) including a light transmitting member (101) having top and bottom layers (101A, 101B) and a rib structure (102) disposed between the top and bottom layers (101A, 101B). The extruded convex plastic panel (100) further includes a pair of standing seams (103, 106) provided along two opposite side edges of the light transmitting member (101). A pair of connector assemblies (105, 115) provided as a separate unit, which connects the extruded convex plastic panel (100) to the metal roofing system (118) and allows the light transmitting member (101) to expand and contract freely without the use of any fasting devices for connecting the extruded convex plastic panel (100) to the metal roofing system (118).

1 . An extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) for use in a metal roof system ( 118 ), said extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) comprising:
 a light transmitting member ( 101 ) having a top layer ( 101 A) and a bottom layers ( 101 B) and a rib structure ( 102 ) disposed between said top and bottom layers ( 101 A,  101 B);   a pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) provided along two opposite side edges of the light transmitting member ( 101 ) and projecting downward from the bottom layer ( 101 B), wherein each of the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) is located offset at an offset distance from the two opposite side edges of the light transmitting member ( 101 );   a single or a multi-tooth lock ( 104 B) provided either on inside face or outside face of each of the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 );   a pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ), wherein each of the pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ) having a vertical base portion ( 107 ) and a U-shaped protruding portion provided on an upper end of said vertical base portion ( 107 ) integrally with and extending away from said vertical base portion ( 107 );   a single or multi-tooth flange ( 111 ), corresponding to the single or multi-tooth lock ( 104 ), provided on the U-shaped protruding portion of each of the pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ),   wherein the single or a multi-tooth locks ( 104 B) of each of the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) engage with the single or multi-tooth flanges ( 111 ) of each of the pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ) and the vertical base portion ( 107 ) is fixed to support structures ( 112 ,  114 ) of the metal roof system ( 118 ) for connecting the extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) to the metal roof system ( 118 ).   
     
     
         2 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the offset distance is based on the position of the support structures ( 112 ,  114 ) in the metal roof system ( 118 ). 
     
     
         3 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rib structure ( 102 ) is selected from the group comprising X shaped structure, honey comb shaped structure, twin cell shaped structure, multi cell shaped structure, parallel shaped structure, diagonal shaped structure, triangular shaped structure, trapezoidal shaped structure, diamond shaped structure or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) is projecting downward from the outer surface of the bottom layer ( 101 B) at an angle other than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement region of each pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) further includes a plurality of horizontal ribs ( 104 A) dividing a space delimited by the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) into a plurality of subspaces. 
     
     
         6 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) have a size and geometry to mate with the U-shaped protruding portions of the pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ). 
     
     
         7 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said U-shaped protruding portion comprises a left leg ( 108 ), a right leg ( 109 ) and an inclined central portion ( 110 ) connecting said left and right legs ( 108 ,  109 ), and wherein the single or multi-tooth flange ( 111 ) is provided on either left or right legs ( 108 ,  109 ) corresponding to the single or multi-tooth lock ( 104 ) provided either on the inside face or the outside face of the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ). 
     
     
         8 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pair of standing seams ( 103 ,  106 ) is pushed into the U-shaped protruding portions of the pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ) to connect the extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) to the metal roof system ( 118 ). 
     
     
         9 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of connector assemblies ( 105 ,  115 ) are made of an extruded aluminum and the vertical base portion ( 107 ) thereof is fixed to support structures ( 112 ,  114 ) of the metal roof system ( 118 ) with at least one fastener or screw or rivet ( 113 ,  116 ). 
     
     
         10 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising protruding portions ( 117 A,  117 B) provided along two opposite side edges of the light transmitting member ( 101 ) and projecting downward from the bottom layer ( 101 B) of the light transmitting member ( 101 ). 
     
     
         11 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support structures ( 112 ,  114 ) are made of metal and are adapted to support mounting of the extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) to the metal roof system ( 118 ). 
     
     
         12 . The extruded convex plastic panel ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting member ( 101 ) is made of polycarbonate or any other light transmitting transparent or translucent plastic material.