Patent Application
20090193726
This invention relates in general to construction of buildings. More specifically, the invention relates to construction of endwall overhangs for buildings.
Endwall overhangs are common on many types of buildings, and extend the length of the roof of a building some distance beyond the walls of the underlying building. Like eaves, endwall overhangs may provide both aesthetic appeal and keep water run-off at least a nominal distance from the building's walls. Water that falls near the walls may, over time, damage the walls and/or base of the building.
Endwall overhangs may be constructed by making a roof longer than the underlying building so it overhangs the endwalls, and then reinforcing the overhang by adding structure underneath. This type of construction may be problematic. For example, adding the reinforcing structure may force builders to work in uncomfortable or inefficient positions such as from elevated positions underneath the overhang. Further, it may be more difficult to use standard-size building materials for both the roof and the walls if one must be wider than the other. Such construction methods may therefore be expensive and time consuming.
Embodiments of the present invention may provide solutions to these and other issues.
In one embodiment, a building with an endwall overhang is provided. The building may include a wall and a roof frame. The wall may have an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, each of the inside and the outside comprising an upper region, and the roof frame may have a plurality of roof members. The building may further include at least one support member coupled with the upper region of the outside of the wall, where the support member protrudes outward from the structure and has a top support surface. The building may also have an overhang assembly, which includes a roof piece, a first trim piece, and a lengthwise member. Each of the roof piece and the trim piece has a first edge and a second edge, and the lengthwise member has a first surface and a second surface which are substantially orthogonal to one another. The roof piece may be coupled with the first surface, and the first trim piece may be coupled with the second surface. In some embodiments, the overhang assembly also includes a second trim piece, which may be coupled to a third surface of the lengthwise member. Further, the overhang assembly may be coupled with the structure by coupling the roof piece with the top support surface of the support member such that the roof piece is substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece may substantially overlaps the top support surface. In some embodiments, the building further includes an eave and the overhang assembly is shaped to match the silhouette of the eave.
In another embodiment, a method of making an endwall overhang for a building is provided. The method may include providing a roof piece, a first trim piece, and a lengthwise member; and forming an overhang assembly. Each of the roof piece and the trim piece may have a first edge and a second edge, and the lengthwise member may have a first surface and a second surface, which are substantially orthogonal to one another. Forming the overhang assembly may include coupling the roof piece with the first surface, and coupling the first trim piece with the second surface. In some embodiments, the method further includes providing a structure and coupling the overhang assembly with the structure. The structure may include a wall and a roof frame. The wall may have an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, each of the inside and the outside comprising an upper region, and the roof frame may have a plurality of roof members. The building may further include at least one support member coupled with the upper region of the outside of the wall, where the support member protrudes outward from the structure and has a top support surface. In these embodiments, the roof piece may be coupled with the top support surface such that the roof piece is substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece substantially overlaps the top support surface. In certain embodiments, the support member is a portion of the roof frame that extends outward from the structure past the wall.
In yet another embodiment, a kit for making a building with an endwall overhang is provided. The kit may include a number of frame and siding members which may be assembled to form a structure with a wall and a roof frame. The wall may include an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, each of the inside and the outside comprises an upper region; and the roof frame may include roof members, each roof member including at least one of the plurality of frame members. The kit may further have an overhang assembly including a roof piece, a first trim piece, and a lengthwise member. The lengthwise member may have a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being substantially orthogonal. In the kit, the roof piece may be coupled with the first surface and the first trim piece may be coupled with the second surface. Further, the overhang assembly may be coupled with the structure by coupling the roof piece with a top support surface of at least one support member such that the roof piece is substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece substantially overlaps the top support surface. In some embodiments, the overhang assembly further includes a second trim piece which may be coupled with a third surface of the lengthwise member. In certain embodiments, the overhang assembly may be preassembled.
The present invention is described in conjunction with the appended figures:
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same numerical reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a hyphen and a second numeral that distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If only the first numerical reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components and/or features having the same first numerical reference label irrespective of the hyphenated suffix numeral.
The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It will be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, methods, processes, and other components may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known processes, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.
Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged, or some operations may not be present in all embodiments. A process may be complete when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a procedure, etc.
For the purposes of this description, an “endwall overhang” may be defined as a part of a structure that extends outward from substantially the top of a side of a building or structure. The endwall overhang may not be an eave, but may be similarly ornamental or functional (for example, for protection from rain).
Coupling in any of the steps and/or embodiments of the invention may, merely by way of example, include fastening with nails, fastening with screws, fastening with nuts and bolts, fastening with rivets, fastening with glue, fastening with staples and/or fastening with woodworking joints (for example, dowel, dovetail, and/or finger joints). The various structural components of the invention may, merely by way of example, be made from oriented strand board, particle board, fibreboard, plywood, structurally insulated panels, siding material, vented soffit material, wood, cement board, composite, plastic, polymer, metal, or any other suitable material.
In some embodiments, the support members, lengthwise members and other components may, merely by way of example, be cut from, or otherwise include, 2-by-4 softwood lumber. As known in the art, a 2×4 piece of softwood lumber has a cross section with actual dimensions of about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters) by about 3½ inches (8.9 centimeters). In other embodiments, the support members, lengthwise members and other components may, merely by way of example, be cut from, or otherwise include softwood lumber having dimensions of: about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters) by about 2½ inches (6.4 centimeters); about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters) by about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters); about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) by about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters); and/or about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters) by about 5½ inches (14.0 centimeters). Trim pieces may, merely by way of example, be cut from lumber with a width of about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters) to about 24 inches (61.0 centimeters), and in some cases, either about 3½ inches (8.9 centimeters) or about 5½ inches (14.0 centimeters). Roof pieces may, merely by way of example, be cut from lumber with a width of about 1½ inches (3.8 centimeters) to about 48 inches (121.9 centimeters), and in some cases, either about 3½ inches (8.9 centimeters) or about 5½ inches (14.0 centimeters). The thickness of roof and/or trim pieces may be about ¼ of an inch (0.64 centimeters) to about 1½ of an inch (3.8 centimeters), and in some cases may be about ½ of an inch (1.3 centimeters). In embodiments where the roof and/or trim pieces are fabricated from vinyl and/or metal, the thickness of the pieces may be about ⅛ inches (0.32 centimeters) or less.
In a set of embodiments, a building with an endwall overhang is provided. The building may include a structure with a wall and a roof frame. The wall may have an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, with each of the inside and the outside possibly having an upper region. The roof frame may have a plurality of roof members. The building may also include at least one support member coupled with the upper region of the outside of the wall, where the support member may protrude outward from the structure and may have a top support surface. The building may further have an overhang assembly, possibly including a roof piece, a first trim piece, and a lengthwise member. Each of the roof piece and the trim piece may have a first edge and a second edge; and the lengthwise member may have a first surface and a second surface, which may be substantially orthogonal. The roof piece may be coupled with the first surface, and the first trim piece may be coupled with the second surface. The overhang assembly may be coupled with the structure by coupling the roof piece with the top support surface of the support member such that the roof piece is substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece substantially overlaps the top support surface.
In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first edge of the first trim piece may overlap at least a portion of the first edge of the roof piece. In other embodiments, the outside of the wall may have siding. In these embodiments, the support member may be coupled with the upper region of the outside of the wall by coupling the support member with the siding. In certain of these embodiments, at least a portion of the second edge of the roof piece may overlap at least a portion of the siding and/or the wall frame. In yet other embodiments, at least one of the roof members may include a length which extends outward from the structure past the wall, and the support member may include at least a portion of the length.
In some embodiments, the at least one support member may include a first support block and a second support block, each support block possibly having a top support block surface. In these embodiments, the top support block surface of the first support block may be substantially coplanar with the top support block surface of the second support block, and the top support surface may include at least a portion of the top support block surfaces. In other embodiments, the lengthwise member may include a first lengthwise block and a second lengthwise block, each lengthwise block having a lengthwise block surface. In these embodiments, the lengthwise block surface of the first lengthwise block may be substantially coplanar with the lengthwise block surface of the second lengthwise block, and the first surface of the lengthwise member may include at least a portion of the lengthwise block surfaces.
In some embodiments, the overhang assembly may further include a second trim piece having a first edge and a second edge. In these embodiments, the lengthwise member may further include a third surface, where the third surface of the lengthwise member and the second surface of the lengthwise member may be in planes which form a dihedral angle. Further, in these embodiments, the second trim piece may be coupled with the third surface of the lengthwise member. In certain of these embodiments, the dihedral angle between the third surface and the second surface may be substantially a right angle. In certain other of these embodiments, the second edge of the second trim piece may be substantially flush with the outside of the wall.
In some embodiments, the roof frame may define a roof plane and the top support surface may be substantially parallel to the roof plane. In other embodiments, the roof frame includes an eave, a cross section of the eave possibly defining an eave silhouette. In these embodiments, the overhang assembly may have an eave cap region, where at least a portion of the eave cap region may be coupled with a side of the eave. Further, in these embodiments, the first trim piece may include an eave cap trim region, with at least a portion of the eave cap trim region possibly being shaped substantially to match the eave silhouette.
In another set of embodiments, a method of making an endwall overhang for a building is provided. The method may include providing a roof piece, a first trim piece, and a lengthwise member; and forming an overhang assembly. Each of the roof piece and the trim piece may have a first edge and a second edge, and the lengthwise member may have a first surface and a second surface that are orthogonal. The overhang assembly may be formed by coupling the roof piece with the first surface, and coupling the first trim piece with the second surface.
In some embodiments, the method may further include providing a structure. The structure may include a wall and a roof frame. The wall may have an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, with each of the inside and the outside possibly having an upper region. In these embodiments, the method may further include coupling at least one support member with the upper region of the outside of the wall, where the at least one support member may protrude outward from the structure and may have a top support surface. In these embodiments, the method may even further include coupling the roof piece with the top support surface such that the roof piece may be substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece may substantially overlap the top support surface. In certain of these embodiments, the roof frame may define a roof plane and the top support surface may be substantially parallel to the roof plane. In some embodiments, the roof piece may extend substantially past the support block such that it may be coupled with any one or more of any of the roof support members or trusses.
In some embodiments, the method may further include providing a structure. The structure may include a wall and a roof frame. The wall may have an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, each of the inside and the outside possibly having an upper region. The roof frame may include at least one support member, where the at least one support member may be a portion of the roof frame that extends outward from the structure past the wall, and may have a top support surface. In these embodiments, the method may further include coupling the roof piece with the top support surface such that the roof piece may be substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece may substantially overlap the top support surface.
In some embodiments, the method may further include providing a second trim piece that has a first edge and a second edge. In these embodiments, the lengthwise member further may include a third surface, the third surface and the second surface possibly being in planes which form a dihedral angle. The second trim piece may be coupled with the third surface. In certain of these embodiments, the dihedral angle between the third surface and the second surface may be substantially a right angle.
In yet another set of embodiments, a kit for making a building with an endwall overhang is provided. The kit includes a plurality of frame and siding members which may be assembled to form a structure with a wall and a roof frame. The assembled wall includes an inside facing inward to the structure and an outside facing outward from the structure, and each of the inside and the outside has an upper region. The assembled roof frame includes a plurality of roof members, each roof member including at least one of the plurality of frame members. The kit further includes an overhang assembly. The overhang assembly includes a roof piece, a first trim piece, and a lengthwise member. The lengthwise member has a first surface and a second surface, which are substantially orthogonal. The roof piece may be coupled with the first surface, and the first trim piece may be coupled with the second surface. The overhang assembly may be coupled with the structure by coupling the roof piece with a top support surface of at least one support member such that the roof piece may be substantially parallel to the top support surface and the second edge of the roof piece may substantially overlap the top support surface.
In some embodiments, the overhang assembly may further include a second trim piece including a first edge and a second edge. In these embodiments, the lengthwise member further may have a third surface, the third surface and the second surface possibly being in planes which form a dihedral angle. The second trim piece may be coupled with the third surface. In some other embodiments, the overhang assembly may be preassembled.
In some embodiments, the kit may further include instructions. The instructions may instruct a user to preassemble the overhang assembly prior to coupling the overhang assembly with the support member on the endwall of the structure. Various other possible instructions are also possible, including those instructing a user to couple any of the aforementioned components with each other prior to coupling with other aforementioned components.
Turning now to
A number of support members 130 are coupled with the upper region 108 of the wall 102-1. Each of the support members 130 has a top support surface 132. A number of overhang assemblies 140 have been coupled with the support blocks 130 on the upper region 108 of the wall 102-1.
In some embodiments, the roof members 112 run parallel to the slope of the roof 110, as shown in
The lengthwise member 320 has a first surface 322-1, a second surface 322-2, and a third surface 322-3. While the first surface 322-1 and the third surface 322-3 are illustrated as orthogonal to the second surface 322-2, this is not necessarily the case. In various embodiments, the surfaces may form angles to one another which are greater or less than ninety degrees. For example, the third surface 322-3 and the second surface 322-2 may form a dihedral angle 324 (see
In some embodiments, the overhang assembly 140 is assembled by coupling the roof piece 310-1 to the first surface 322-1 of the lengthwise member 320, coupling the first trim piece 310-2 to the second surface 322-2 of the lengthwise member 320, and coupling the second trim piece 310-3 to the third surface 322-3 of the lengthwise member 320.
In various embodiments, the overhang assembly 140 may include different numbers of trim pieces 310, with different lengths and assembled in different ways.
The building 100 includes a wall 102-1 and a roof 110. The roof includes a roof covering 114 coupled with a plurality of roof members 112. The wall 102-1 includes siding 103. A plurality of support members 130 are coupled with the siding 103 of the wall 102-1.
The overhang assembly 140 includes a roof piece 310-1, a first trim piece 310-2, a second trim piece 310-3, and a lengthwise member 320. The roof piece 310-1 is coupled with the first surface 322-1, the first trim piece 310-2 is coupled with the second surface 322-2, and the second trim piece 310-3 is coupled with the third surface 322-3. Each of the trim pieces 310 has a first edge 312 and a second edge 314. The first edge 312-1 of the roof piece 310-1 is substantially flush with the corner where the first surface 322-1 and the second surface 322-2 meet. The second edge 314-1 of the roof piece 310-1 extends far enough past the other side of the first surface 322-1 to provide room to couple the overhang assembly 140 with one of the support members 130 on the building 100 when installed. The second edge 314-2 of the first trim piece 310-2 extends past the corner where the second surface 322-2 and the third surface 322-3 meet, forming a gable. The first edge 312-2 of the first trim piece 310-2 extends far enough past the other side of the second surface 322-2 to overlap the first edge 312-1 of the roof piece 310-1. The first edge 312-3 of the second trim piece 310-3 is substantially flush with the corner where the second surface 322-2 and the third surface 322-3 meet. The second edge 314-3 of the second trim piece 310-3 extends past the other side of the third surface 322-3 far enough to be flush with a wall 102-1 of the building 100 when installed. Further trim pieces 310 may be included by coupling the trim pieces to one or more of the other components of the overhang assembly 140. For example, a third trim piece 310-4 may be coupled with the second trim piece 310-3 for added aesthetic or functional appeal.
The overhang assembly 140 may be coupled with the building 100 by installing the overhang assembly 140, for example in the direction of arrow 510. As shown in
Installation may be performed in any useful way and using any effective coupling hardware. For example, various chemical (e.g., glue) and/or mechanical fasteners (e.g., nails, screws, or staples) may be used to couple the roof piece 310-1 with any of the support members 130. Further hardware may be used to increase the efficacy of the installation. For example, a plurality of metal L-brackets 542 may be coupled with the second or third trim piece 310-4 and the siding 103 to increase the strength of the installation. Even further, other elements may be added to the installation for added functionality or aesthetics. For example, a rubberized strip 540 may be coupled to both the roof covering 114 and the roof piece 310-1 at region 520 to shield the seam from exposure to water. Of course, the roof covering 114 may also be extended to cover at least a portion of the overhang assembly 104.
It will be appreciated that an overhang assembly with a rectangular silhouette (like the one in
The overhang assembly 140 includes roof piece 310-1, first trim piece 310-2, lengthwise members 320-1, and eave pieces 310-3, 320-3. The roof piece 310-1 is coupled with a first surface 322-1 of the lengthwise members 320 and the first trim piece 310-2 is coupled with a second surface 322-2 of the lengthwise members 320 (see also
At block 740, roof and trim pieces are provided, and at block 750, a lengthwise member is provided. The elements provided at blocks 740 and 750 are then used to form an overhang assembly at block 760. In other embodiments, the overhang assembly may be preassembled. One embodiment for forming the overhang assembly in block 760 is expanded in
The overhang assembly may then be coupled with a support member at block 770. The coupling in block 770 may be performed in any useful way. For example a roof piece may be coupled with a top support surface of a support member as in block 772; a second trim piece may be coupled with a bottom surface of a support member in block 774; and/or the overhang assembly may be coupled with the eaves in block 776. In some embodiments, at block 778 the first trim piece may be coupled with the overhang assembly when it was not already coupled thereto prior to coupling of the overhang assembly with the building.
The invention has now been described in detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
