Double-lug fastener for securing a ridge or hip strap
The invention falls within the field of the attachment
of protective strips that cover the ridge or hip
5regions of a standing seam metal roof.
The traditional solutions are effective but very
elaborate. They require specialist and expensive know
how. Mention may, by way of example, be made of the
lOproduction of pinched seams which require a cutting
template associated with the use of top clips, or
alternatively the method that involves laying the
standing seams over and then turning them up against a
batten that then has to be covered by a protective
15strip known as a "cap".
Simplified solutions based on the use of Z sections,
usually metal, which serve to hold the protective strip
in place also exist, but their main disadvantage stems
20from the need for a fastening that passes through the
roofing. This fastening generally consists of a self-
tapping screw with a sealed washer to which an
additional sealing gasket is added. Installation is
therefore permanent and cannot be adjusted. The Z
25sections have to be orientated precisely and this
orientation is defined at the time of placement,
generally using a mason's line. This is done in order
to ensure that the Z section is properly seated to
engage with the edge of the protective strip for a
30clenching effect.
The subject of the present invention is a retaining
system that ran be used on ridges and hips, that is
easy to affix and which avoids the use of a through-
35fastening. Fig. 1 illustrates the invention.
More specifically, the invention relates to a double-

lug metal fastener for securing a ridge or hip strap to
a metal roof covering of the standing seam type,
comprising:
- a first lug (1) which at one of its ends forms a hook
5(2) intended to be secured to the standing seam;
- a second lug (3) which at one of its ends forms a
hook (4) intended to accept one edge of the ridge or
hip strap; the two lugs being articulated about an axis
(5) that allows their respective rotation in a plane
lOintended to lie substantially parallel with the plane
of the roofing.
The fastener is preferably provided, on its hook (2)
that is intended to be secured to the standing seam,
15with embossings (6). This device enhances the
immobility of the lug in the standing seam. The
embossings, the depths of which may vary, allow the lug
both to be inserted in the standing seam and to be
immobilized through a progressive clamping effect.
20Thus, the fitting of the lug is easier and its
immobilization is optimized.
The fastener may advantageously be provided, on its
hook (4) that is intended to accommodate one edge of
25the ridge or hip strap, with retaining means (7) for
clipping onto a fold of said edge.
The pivoting connection between the two lugs of the
fastening may advantageously be achieved by dimpling,
30that is to say with no added mechanical fastener.
Stainless steel appears to be an ideal choice from
which to manufacture the fastening lug because this
material offers good compatibility with the zinc-based
35alloy typically used for roof coverings, and guarantees
an adequate durability.
The subject of the invention also extends to metal roof

coverings of the standing seam type, equipped with a
ridge or hip strap fastened using lugs like those
defined hereinabove, when these are secured to the
standing seams using non-piercing means.
In one particularly advantageous embodiment, the hooks
(2) are secured to the standing seams by insertion into
the vertical fall, that is to say the one perpendicular
to the plane of the roofing, of the fold via which said
standing seams are crimped together. This insertion,
from the bottom up, is preferably performed forcibly,
that is by slightly deforming the standing seam that
has already been formed.
Finally, the invention relates to the use of the lugs
as defined hereinabove for fastening a ridge or hip
strap to a metal roof covering of the standing seam
type using non-piercing means.
It is beneficial to provide the hooks (2) with a width
of 50 to 100 mm, this dimension providing sufficient
immobilization. Immobilization can be further enhanced
by the embossings like those defined hereinabove. The
depth of these embossings may range between 0.1 and 3
mm. When producing the double lug from stainless steel
sheet, thicknesses ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 mm will
preferably be chosen.
The system offers sufficient mechanical strength
against the loadings transmitted by the structure.
Immobilization is effective in the case of forces
normal to the roofing and forces of sliding along the
axis of the standing seam.
Note that the orientation of the standing seam defines
that of said first lug, this lug being inserted in the
vertical fold of the standing seam. Now, the angle
between, on the one hand, the edges of the protective

strip and, on the other hand, the standing seams, is
dependent on the geometry of the roof. It is therefore
necessary to allow the two lugs that make up the double
lug to rotate. This is especially relevant when
5protecting a hip. Entirely free rotation, which
therefore means rotation over 360°, would be
particularly advantageous. This rotation guarantees
that the hook that engages with the edge of the
protective strip is firmly seated irrespective of the
lOorientation of the standing seam in relation to this
edge.
The new fastener is anchored to the roofing by being
blocked immobile in position, that is to say using
15simple non-piercing means that guarantee a perfect
seal. Unlike other systems for attachment to standing
seams, there is absolutely no need here to use nuts and
bolts. Once secured to the roofing, the fastener can
simply, by rotation, be adapted to suit all customary
20geometries. Adjustment during affixing operations is
easy. The fastener can be removed without damaging the
roofing.
The following figures illustrate the invention and the
25prior art.
Fig. 1: Double lug according to the invention.
Fig. 2: Use of the retaining system according to the
invention on a ridge (general arrangement 2a;
30 detail 2b).
Fig. 3: Use of the retaining system according to the
invention on a hip (plan view)
Fig. 4: Use of Z sections according to the prior art,
with through-fasteners (perspective view).
35
Example of use on a ridge
Upon fitting, the double lug is positioned at a

distance from the ridge that corresponds to the width
of the protective strip. The double lug is forcibly
inserted under the standing seam profile by striking it
horizontally and laterally using a hammer or a mallet.
It may be beneficial to use a block of wood slipped
under the vertical part of the hook (2) to make it
easier to strike. The same procedure is followed on
each standing seam profile along the ridge. The end of
the protective strip is then clipped into several hooks
10(4) at a time, to provide connection with the roofing.
The double lugs can be shifted slightly by sliding them
along each standing seam so as to make it easier to
insert the protective strip. The edge of the protective
strip, which forms a fold, engages with the hooks (4)
15so as to engage effectively by clip fastening and
improve the subsequent immobilization.
Example of use on a hip
20The double lug is installed as described hereinabove by
forcible insertion under the standing seam profile at a
distance from the axis of the hip that corresponds to
the width of the protective strip. The hook (4)' is
positioned by rotating it about the axis of assembly of
25the two hooks, so as to permit connection with the
protective strip. The same procedure is followed for
each standing seam profile along the hip. The end of
the protective strip is then clipped into several hooks
(4) at a time to connect with the roofing. Like with
30use on a ridge, the double lugs can be shifted slightly
by sliding them along each standing seam to make it
easier to insert the protective strip. Here again, the
edge of the protective strip, which forms a fold,
engages with the hooks (4) so as to engage effectively
35by clip-fastening and improve the subsequent
immobilization.

Claims
1. A double-lug metal fastener for securing a ridge
or hip strap to a metal roof covering of the standing
5seal type, comprising:
- a first lug (1) which at one of its ends forms a hook
(2) intended to be secured to the standing seam by non-
piercing means;
- a second lug (3) which at one of its ends forms a
10hook (4) intended to accept one edge of the ridge or
hip strap; the two lugs being articulated about an axis
(5) that allows their respective rotation in a plane
intended to lie substantially parallel with the plane
of the roofing.
15
2. The fastener as claimed in claim 1, characterized
in that the hook (2) intended to be secured to the
standing seam is provided with retaining means such as
embossings (6).
20
3. The fastener as claimed in claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that the hook (4) intended to accept
one edge of the ridge or hip strap is provided with
retaining means (7) for clipping onto a fold of said
25edge.
4. The fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
3, characterized in that the axis that forms the
pivoting connection between the lugs is produced by
30dimpling without any added mechanical fastener.
5. The fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
4, produced entirely in stainless steel.
356. A metal roof covering of the standing seam type,
equipped with a ridge or hip strap fastened using lugs
as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized
in that the hooks (2) are secured to the standing seams

using non-piercing means.
7. The metal roof covering as claimed in claim 6,
characterized in that the hooks (2) are secured to the
5standing seams by insertion into the vertical fall of
the fold via which said standing seams are crimped
together.
8. The use of the lugs as claimed in any one of
claims 1 to 5 for fastening a ridge or hip strap to a
metal roof covering of the standing seam type using
non-piercing means.
The invention falls within the field of the securing of
protective strips covering the ridge or hip regions of a metal roof with standing
seams. More specifically, the invention relates to a double tab metal fastener
for securing a ridge strap or hip strap on a metal roof covering of the type with
a standing seam, comprising: - a first tab (1) forming at one of its ends a hook
(2) intended to be secured to the standing seam; - a second tab (3) forming at
one of its ends a hook (4) intended to accept an edge of the ridge or hip strap;
the two tabs being articulated about an axis (5) allowing their respective
rotation in a plane intended to lie substantially parallel to the plane of the roof.
This double tab represents a retaining system that can be used for ridging and
hipping, which is easy to fit, without any through-fasteners, thus guaranteeing
perfect sealing.