AU654822B2 - Improvements in skylights - Google Patents

Description

ZL7 P/00/01 1 Regutation 3.2 AUSTRALIA54 PATENTS ACT COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 'I

ORIGINAL

C rt cc Ic C C 0 C C C C C C Nime of Applicant A. B. TOOL AND DIE MANUFACTURERS PTY. LTD.

C. C C Aotual Inventor(s): Geoffrey Anderson and Roland Maider Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 278 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia S' drVention Tide: "IMPROVEMENTS IN SKYLIGHTS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, includ~ing the best method of performing it known to me:- The present invention relates to improvements in so-called skylights.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an improved skylight structure which lends itself to ready installation not only by the illed tradesman but also by the average handyman, using readily available tools.

Nowadays skylights are employed in a variety of contexts for improving the overall illumination of any given area. One common usage for socalled skylights has been in relation to what might be termed "older-type" buildings, which more often than not were designed and constructed in such a way that in effect all internal lighting had to be artificial. These days, with the emphasis being more and more on natural lighting, skylights are being employed on an ever-increasing scale. It has been found that such skylights, with their in t Smost ways minimal disruption to the overall structure, can bring about the desired result, namely improved illumination, without any large-scale reconstruction being tt Snecessary. An alternative would be to enlarge windows, doorways, etc., a procedure which can generally be expected to involve large-scale, and hence accordingly expensive, re-construction of the relevant building. The use of a skylight, though in itself necessitating a certain degree of change to an overall .t 4, building structure, in terms of both cost-effectiveness and time-effectiveness is S eminently more satisfactory.

These days even more modern structures are more and more often S. utilising skylights to bring about a desirable degree of natural internal illumination.

In accordance with the known art skylights have generally entailed a first or top member, basically consisting of a so-called dome, adapted in use to be disposed on the external roof of an overall structure, a second base assembly to be sited on the roof and adapted to receive and retain the top member, a diffuser panel and associated frame adapted to be sited on the internal ceiling, and -2if r*1 a cabinet, light well or the like structure adapted to extend between the external roof and the internal ceiling. The prior art procedures or arrangements generally involved the use of a substantially rigid light well structure extending from the external roof to the internal ceiling, such structure b*T required to be in fact built in situ, this taking into consideration the differences which can be expected to exist in dimensions of any given building. The manufacture of such a rigid light well gave rise to its own problems, firstly in terms of the actual time involved in construction thereof, secondly by reason of the fact that it was sometimes necessary to cut through a roof rafter or the like and thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, in terms of ensuring adequate or appropriate sealing of such a light well. The problems associated with the prior art structures or skylights have generally meant that a substantial amount of time was required for the installation thereof, even by the skilled tradesman. The home handyman, working with basic tools, would invariably experience difficulty in installation of the prior art structures. The need for the use of a skilled tradesman, and/or more sophisticated tools, for installation in turn gave rise to a substantial increase in the overall cost of the prior art skylights.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a form of skylight which lends itself to ready installation, using basic tools, even by the home handyman, without necessitating time-consuming in-situ construction of cabinets or light wells.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention can therefore be seen to be cost effective, in terms of actual time spent and hence overall labour charges.

there is provided an improved .kig iastdomed assembly adapted -3-

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3a In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided a skylight assembly including: a first assembly for securement, in a substantially weatherproof manner, into a substantially complementary-shaped aperture provided in the external roof of a building or the like structure; a second diffuser assembly for securement within a complementary-shaped aperture provided in an internal ceiling of said building or the like structure; and a third member of sufficient length to be extended from said external roof to said internal ceiling and to be releasably connected to each of said first assembly and said diffuser assembly, said first assembly including a transparent member to transmit light incident thereon, said third member being constructed of a flexible material which is both heat and light reflective, thereby constituting a duct or light well, said duct including at least one circumferentially disposed metal strip bonded therewithin i adjacent to a releasable connection of said duct or light well to each of said first assembly and said second diffuser assembly respectively, each connection 5 including a plurality of fasteners spaced around and inside an end of said duct and co-operating with a respective one of said circumferentially disposed metal strip, I to wherein each said fastener includes a substantially flat base releasably engaged with the respective first or second assembly and having projecting or extending substantially normally therefrom a member terminating in a flange-like protrusion, '2"20 said protrusion receiving and being releasably retained with said circumferential metal strip of said duct, and wherein both said first assembly and said second diffuser assembly include a circumferential groove adapted to receive and releasably retain said fasteners, said base of each said fastener being adapted to be disposed within said groove.

13;994084991.SPB,26 building or th like MstrMctA e=a=Sje"n-" i s se a ted-t'"o icprosd-1 in an internal ceiling of a building or the like structure; and a th' ember adapted to extend from roof to ceiling and to be releasably ected to each of said first domed assembly and said diffuser asse said third member being constructed of a flexible material which is erably both heat and light reflective and constitutes a duct or light In accor ce with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a ns allowing for ready connection of said first and second assemblies to t spctive -fee-nd-ef-said-ight-wel--- In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention. The ensuing description C is given by way a non-limitative example only and with reference to the Saccompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a skylight arrangement in accordance with the invention, as disposed within a building or the like structure; Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; S' Fig. 3 is an exploded view at 3 in Fig. 1, illustrating the means for locating and securing the skylight components in place; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken at 4 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fastening means in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a third member or light well structure of the arrangement in accordance with the invention, adapted to extend between external roof and internal ceiling of a building or the like structure.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, for example, a skylight in accordance with the -4- ,-1 present invention is adapted to be disposed within the roof cavity of a building or the like structure, and to extend between the external roof line, generally designated 1, and the internal ceiling, generally designated 2. In order to allow for correct installation of a first member, the so-called dome assembly 3, an opening will need to be formed in the external roof 1. The means for and method of forming such an opening does not constitute an essential feature of the present invention, and will of course be dependent upon the very nature of the material making up the external roofing itself, be it for example steel decking, tiles or even corrugated iron. Regardless of which material is employed in the roofing, 10 however, an opening will be required which is of a size slightly larger than the overall dimensions of the throat 4 provided within the dome assembly 3. In accordance with standard practices means will be provided for effectively sealing .i any such openings thus formed in the roof, once the skylight assembly is in S position.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention furthermore includes a second, diffuser assembly 11 which is adapted, in use, to S be disposed within an opening of a complementary size provided in or formed in 4%64 the internal ceiling 2 of the building or the like structure. The diffuser assembly S 11 itself will be more or less of a conventional type and functions, in use, to provide more even illumination within the area being serviced by the overall S skylight.

t 4 The present applicant's arrangement also includes a third member, generally designated 21, adapted in use to extend as illustrated between the external roof 1 and the internal ceiling 2. This third member 21 is to constitute a duct or so-called light well. In contrast to the known arrangements, however, rather than being substantially rigid the third member 21 in accordance with the r~i present invention will be flexible. With such an arrangement, then in marked contrast to the prior art a form of duct or light well can be readily provided between the dome and diffuser assemblies 3 and 11 with a minimum amount of effort. The flexible nature of the light well 21 in accordance with the present invention means that, again in contrast to the prior art arrangements, it will not be necessary to undertake substantial reconstruction in order to avoid internal building components such as rafters and the like. Furthermore, the very nature of the flexible material employed for making up this light well 21 means that the arrangement in accordance with the present invention can be readily adapted to cater for of differing dimensioned roof cavities.

"otz In an especially preferred embodiment, a light well 21 of the overall C V C skylight assembly in accordance with the present invention is constructed of what S, is termed aluminised mylar, being a lamination comprising aluminium foil on the SL. outside laminated to a fibreglass scrim. The aluminium foil acts to reflect heat back into the ceiling nd also to reflect light down into the room. It must be realised, however, that a number of different materials could be equally well be employed for purposes of creating the flexible light well 21 of the overall skylight assembly.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the light well 21 further includes a plurality of circumferential metallic strips 22 bonded in any known manner to the aluminised mylar, such strips 22 serving to reinforce the overall 4 structure and furthermore serving to facilitate fixing the light well 21 in relation to e the diffuser and dome assemblies 11 and 3, utilising a clip or the like member as illustrated in Fig. 5, for example. In an alternative arrangement, not illustrated, the aluminised mylar can have a wire spirally wound throughout its length, thereby presenting a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart hoops or loops protruding therefrom.

-6- The clip 50 of Fig. 5 is made up of a substantially flat base member having projecting substantially normally therefrom a member 51 terminating in a flange-like protrusion 52. In the arrangement as illustrated the member 51 is punched out of the base member 50A in any known manner, thereby creating a cavity 53 therein which will be employed for purposes of assisting installation of the overall clip 50, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

In use the clip 50 is adapted to be disposed within a peripheral groove or flange-like protrusion provided in both the diffuser assembly 11 and the dome assembly 3, as illustrated for example in Fig. 2, with the flange-like protrusion 52 extending longitudinally of that groove. By employing any suitable means, as for example a screw driver or the like, adapted to be disposed within o C r the slot or cavity 53 provided in the clip, the clip itself can then be turned through within the groove whereby to have the protrusion 52 come into engagement with one, preferably the lowermost or the uppermost as appropriate, of the circumferential supporting strips 22 provided on the light well 21. The utilisation of a plurality of such clips 50, as illustrated again in Fig. 2, will serve to appropriately locate the light well 21 relative to the respective diffuser and dome S assemblies 11 and 3 in an extremely simple and time-effective manner. Such a t 4,t system is again in marked contrast to the prior art arrangements.

In use portions of skylight ducts as described may be supplied in kit form, including a given length of flexible ducting inaterial, exhibiting an extended or stretched length which -is greater than expected for normal domestic requirements, together with the aforementioned dome assembly 3 and diffuser assembly 11 for installation in a roof and ceiling.

In accordance with the present applicant's arrangement a skylight may be installed, even 'oy the home handyman, using the following steps.

.7- -I 1 An opening is first created in the roof for installation of the dome aslembly 3. Typically such an opening will be made between adjacent rafters.

A substantially square or parallelepipedal aperture is cut in the internal ceiling. Generally speaking such aperture will lie between ceiling joists.

The top edge of the duct or light well is attached to the insides of the aperture in the roof as previously described using the clips 50 (a plurality thereof).

The lower edge of the duct or light well is pulled down and through the ceiling aperture until the flexible duct is fully extended so that its sides are relatively smooth, with any excess duct material being trimmed off t t so as to leave the flexible duct lying flush with the ceiling aperture. The 4 C t bottom edge thereof is attached as previously described using a plurality U. tC 0of the aforementioned dips t ec The dome assembly 3 is affixed to the aperture created in the roof, and appropriate sealing means (such as flashing) then applied in order to U provide a weather seal.

o An architrave can then be affixed to the internal ceiling and a diffuser c panel 11 slid into position so as to cover the ceiling aperture.

In use, once the dome and diffuser assemblies 3 and 11 are in j position, the light well can be disposed within the roof cavity so as to extend from J. 1 roof to ceiling, expanded, bent, extended or flexed so as to adopt the requisite shape, and then cut to size as required. This in itself represents a substantially simplified procedure when compared with the prior art rigid-type light wells.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention is responsible for the following extremely practical advantageous features, when -8av compared with the known art: elimination of the time-consuming and hence costly light well construction; (ii) installation by even the unskilled worker, using basic tools, in a very short time; (iii) exhibits in effect autcnatic adjustability to varying roof pitches and ceiling heights; (iv) ability to flex or bend around existing roofing timbers and/or pipe work; and maximises lighting effect, with the mirror-like interior of the light well Cr e reflecting heat back into the ceiling and light down into the room.

In closing, it is to be understood that the aforegoing description i. t e C r refers merely to preferred embodiments of a skylight in accordance with the C C present invention and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

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Claims (5)

1. A skylight assembly including: a first assembly for securement, in a substantially weatherproof manner, into a substantially complementary-shaped aperture provided in the externi roof of a building or the like structure; a second diffuser assembly for securer:lent within a complementary-shaped aperture provided in an internal ceiling of said building or the like structure; and a third member of sufficient length to be extended from said external roof to said internal ceiling and to be releasably connected to each of said first assembly and said diffuser assembly, said first assembly including a transparent member to transmit light incident thereon, said third member being constructed of a flexible material ot,, which is both heat and light reflective, thereby constituting a duct or light well, said duct including at least one circumferentially disposed metal strip bonded Cc, therewithin adjacent to a releasable connection of said duct or light well to each S of said first assembly and said second diffuser assembly respectively, each V1 5 connection including a plurality of fasteners spaced around and inside an end of said duct and co-operating with a respective one of said circumferentially disposed metal strip, wherein each said fastener includes a substantially flat base releasably c engaged with the respective first or second assembly and having projecting or extending substantially normally therefrom a member terminating in a flange-like protrusion, said protrusion receiving and being releasably retained with said S circumferential metal strip of said duct, and wherein both said first assembly and said second diffuser assembly include a circumferential groove adapted to receive and releasably retain said fasteners, said base of each said fastener being adapted to be disposed within said gro. e.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said duct includes, along its length, a plurality of further spaced-apart, substantially parallel and circumferentially disposed metal strips bonded thereto.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said duct is formed from aluminised mylar.

4. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said base of each said fastener includes an aperture therein adapted for engagement by a screwdriver or the like whereby to facilitate installation thereof. '131/9WOS4991.SPB,10 T I I0 'IN e

11- The skylight assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said duct is sufficiently flexible to permit accordion-like expansion, contraction and/or bending in a substantially longitudinal direction thereof yet prevents transverse collapsing thereof. as c<\a \Ve. c 6. A skylight assembly,substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 13th day of September 1994. I 10 c OL r I I t 1 t f C A. B. TOOL AND DIE MANUFACTURERS PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE ~IS I 4* I I 11* *515* 13/940S4991.SPEI,11 metal strip, wherein each said fastener includes a substantially flat base rileasably ./2 ii" ~i -f ABSTRACT The invention provides a skylight structure made up of a domed assembly adapted to be sited (in any known manner) in the external roof (1) of a building or the like structure, a diffuser assembly (11) to be sited in an internal ceiling of the building or like structure, and a flexible duct (21) adapted to extend between the domed assembly and the diffuser assembly the duct (21) being constructed of a material which is both heat and light reflective and which has a plurality of reinforcing rings or hoops (22) extending therearound. Interconnection of the ducts (21) and assemblies and (11) is achieved by means of fasteners or clips rc t Ct c te t C t Cr C C C l C C tC C' CI 1AA p