Attaching mutually transverse elements, especially for roofing

Abstract

A batten support (5) is provided for supporting a batten (2a, 2b) in a roof structure. The batten support (5) has a base portion (51) shaped to lie on or against a roof support member (1). The base portion (51) is configured to be secured to the roof support member (1) by a fastener (3) passing through the base portion (51) into the roof support member (1). The batten support (5) also has a ledge portion (52) projecting at an angle relative to the base portion (51), to lie against a lateral surface of the batten (2a, 2b), thereby supporting the batten (2a, 2b). A method of forming the roof structure is also provided, the roof structure when formed comprising the batten (2a, 2b), the roof support member (1) and the batten support (5). The method comprises: arranging the base portion (51) of the batten support (5) on, or against, a surface of the roof support member (1); arranging a surface of the batten (2a, 2b) on, or against, a ledge portion (52) of the batten support (5), the ledge portion (52) projecting at an angle to the base portion (51); and passing the fastener (3) through at least one of the base portion (51) and the ledge portion (52) into the roof support member (1).

1 . A batten support for arranging at the end of a roof support member of a roof structure, wherein the roof structure when constructed comprises at least one batten, at least one roof support member and a batten support, wherein the batten support comprises:
 a base portion configured to be secured to the roof support member by a fastener passing through the base portion into the roof support member; and   wherein the batten support comprises a ledge portion configured to project at an angle relative to the base portion, to lie against a lateral surface of the at least one batten to provide support thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the ledge portion is configured to project at an angle which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the ledge portion is configured to support the lateral surface of the at least one batten over a length of at least 25 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the batten support is configured to project in a substantially horizontal direction out beyond the edge of the upper surface of the roof support member. 
     
     
         5 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the batten support comprises a fastener-penetrable region comprising a plurality of openings, wherein the openings are spaced apart in a regular array. 
     
     
         6 . A batten support according to  claim 5 , wherein the fastener-penetrable region defines at least 20%, of the plate portion. 
     
     
         7 . A batten support according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of openings has a longitudinal and transverse dimension, wherein one of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions is not more than twice the other dimension, and/or wherein the spacing between the plurality of openings is not more than three times the maximum longitudinal and/or transverse dimension of the openings. 
     
     
         8 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises one or more elongate clearance openings having a longitudinal dimension parallel to the ledge portion. 
     
     
         9 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , comprising one or more indentations formed at the angle between the base portion and the ledge portion, the one or more indentations projecting between the base portion and the ledge portion. 
     
     
         10 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the base and/or ledge portions are dimensioned to receive the end of only a single batten. 
     
     
         11 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the roof support member defines a hip blade roof arranged between two adjacently angled roof planes of the roof structure, wherein a roof batten of one of the roof planes is arranged to co-terminate with a roof batten of the other roof plane substantially half-way across the hip blade, wherein the batten support is configured with mutually angled ledge and base portions to support the ends of two batten ends. 
     
     
         12 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the batten support comprises a plurality of support portions defining a multi-unit length, wherein the support portions are connected end-to-end through integral links which are separable to obtain the plurality of support portions for separate use. 
     
     
         13 . A batten support according to  claim 12 , wherein the integral links are provided by pre-cutting along part of the boundary between adjacent support portions leaving one or more support portions uncut, optionally the, or each, integral link is arranged adjacent to an edge of the batten support, further optionally, wherein first and second integral link are arranged at opposite exposed edges of the batten support. 
     
     
         14 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein the batten support comprises an L-section plate, with a flat base plate and a substantially perpendicular side plate constituting the ledge portion. 
     
     
         15 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , comprising a second ledge portion configured to project at an angle relative to the base portion and arranged at a side of the base portion opposite to the ledge portion. 
     
     
         16 . A batten support according to  claim 15 , wherein the batten support comprises a U-section defined by the ledge portions and the base portion, optionally wherein a spacing between the ledge portions is about 40 mm or about 50 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A batten support according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the ledge portions is outwardly inclined relative to the perpendicular from a plane parallel to the base portion of the batten support. 
     
     
         18 . A batten support according to  claim 15 , wherein the batten support has a Z-section defined by the ledge portions and the base portion, wherein the second ledge portion projects from the base portion in the opposite direction to the ledge portion, optionally, wherein the ledge portions extend in opposite but substantially parallel directions. 
     
     
         19 . A batten support according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base portion and the ledge portion comprises a pre-formed opening for receiving a preliminary fastener for fixing the batten support to the roof support member before the at least one batten is positioned on the batten support. 
     
     
         20 . A roof structure comprising at least one batten, at least one roof support member and a batten support according to  claim 1 .