Roofing structure

Abstract

A roof structure and its components comprises a series of metal panels having flanges that interlock when the panels are laid side by side and which are subsequently tightly seamed together to convert the individual panels into an integrated roof forming membrane. The roof structure may be insulated through the use of a blanket vapor barrier and insulation under the panels preferably along with thermal blocks located over the purlins. The roof structure includes unique flexible panel mounting clips that attach the panels to the purlins in such a way as to permit the panels to expand or contract in response to temperature and pressure changes, thereby minimizing roof stressing. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/000,345, filed 03/18/83, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

I claim: .[.1. In a paneling construction adapted to be installed by attachment to spaced parallel structural supporting elements such as the roof purlins of buildings, said construction comprising a plurality of elongated panels laid over and transversely to such supporting elements with the side edges of the panels abutting, said panels having generally planar mid-portions lying close to the supporting elements and having upstanding seaming flanges on said side edges folded over and crimped together to provide a mechanical interlock, each of said panels having supporting portions for said seaming flanges, said supporting portions extending angularly upwardly away from each other and from the mid-portion of the panel whereby the supporting portions of adjacent panels define a tunnel-like area and clip means securing the panels to the structural supporting elements, each clip means including a base member, attaching means rigidly securing said base members and clip means to a structural supporting element in the tunnel-like area defined by the supporting portions of adjacent panels, said construction being characterized by: 
     
        holding portion against movement toward the base member..]. 2. .[.2. A paneling construction as defined in claim 1.]. .Iadd. In a paneling construction adapted to be installed by attachment to spaced parallel structural supporting elements such as the roof purlins of buildings, said construction comprising a plurality of elongated panels laid over and transversely to such supporting elements with the side edges of the panels abutting, said panels having generally planar mid-portions lying close to the supporting elements and having upstanding seaming flanges on said side edges folded over and crimped together to provide a mechanical interlock, each of said panels having supporting portions for said seaming flanges, said supporting portions extending angularly upwardly away from each other and from the mid-portion of the panel whereby the supporting portions of adjacent panels define a tunnel-like area and clip means securing the panels to the structural supporting elements, each clip means including a base member, attaching means rigidly securing said base members and clip means to a structural supporting element in the tunnel-like area defined by the supporting portions of adjacent panels, said construction being characterized by: A. A rim portion incorporated in an intermediate part of each of the supporting portions of each panel, said rim portions lying substantially in a common plane and extending inwardly toward one another from and substantially perpendicularly to the seaming flanges,   B. The base member of each of said clip means having an upstanding column with a top portion closely underlying and supporting said rim portions of the adjacent panels,   C. A holding portion secured to the base member of each clip means and preventing outward movement of the holding portion, said holding portions projecting upwardly from the base member between, and being folded over and crimped together with, the seaming flanges of the adjacent panels to prevent relative movement therebetween, whereby said holding portion and the top portion of the base member co-act with the seaming flanges and with said attaching means to prevent movement of the seaming flanges and of the supporting portions of the panels toward and away from the structural supporting elements and also to hold the holding portion against movement toward the base member, and .Iaddend.wherein the column of the base member comprises a flat upstanding column web having a slot therein extending lengthwise thereof, the holding portion comprising a sheet metal member having a holding web lying beside and projecting upwardly above said column web, a part of said holding web at its lower end being slidably interengaged with the upper edge of said slot to prevent upward movement of said holding web, and a resiliently deflectable portion carried by said holding web yieldably slidably engaging the lower   
     
     
        edge of said slot. .[.3.  A paneling construction as defined in claim 2, wherein said base member comprises a sheet metal member having a bottom flange for securance to the structural supporting element, a flat upstanding web defining said column web, and top flange extending from 
     
     
        both sides of said column web and defining said top portion..]. 4. A paneling construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said holding web lies flat against one side of the column web and extends above and below the slot, a portion of the holding web extending through the slot and being formed on the other side of the column web as a loop extending above and below the slot and having the general cross section of the capital letter omega and defining a hook constituting said part which prevents upward movement, and defining a second hook which constitutes said deflectable 
     
     
        portion. 5. A paneling construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said loop is of flattened configuration and the loop and said holding web bear frictionally against opposite sides of said column web.