A retractable roof panel for selectively permitting light and air to enter through an opening in the roof. The retractable roof panel includes a pair of opposed side rails that are coupled to an upper surface of the roof structure and extend along the side edges adjacent the opening of the roof structure. A panel member has a pair of opposed panel sides, an upper end and a lower end and is slidably disposed between the side rails. The panel member is positionable between a closed position and an open position. The panel member substantially closes the opening of the roof structure when in the closed position. The opening of the roof structure is substantially open when the panel member is in the closed position.
The invention concerns a structural and mechanical means to build a large retractable roof, that can have the shape of a barrel vaulted roof or a pitched vaulted roof or a flat roof. The roof is moved as one monolithic roof on and off a mall walkway or other structure. The roof cover is a glass skylight or other material.
The present invention provides a system of injection molded panels having integrated connectors which combine to form a low profile enclosure having a telescoping roof. The panels are formed of injection molded plastic to interlock with one another without the need for separate I-beam connectors. The ends of the wall panels have cavities to accept both roof and floor outwardly projecting locking posts for interlocking cooperative engagement which serve to rigidly connect the components together. The construction of the wall, roof, floor and door components minimizes component shapes and simplifies enclosure construction.
A movable roof member includes a transport mechanism that is constructed and arranged to permit the roof member to move in a predetermined path with respect to the underlying structure of the supporting edifice. The transport mechanism includes structure for supporting both ends of the roof member, which bridges an otherwise open area of the edifice. In order to permit some flexure and movement of the roof member with respect to the underlying edifice, as will inevitably occur as a result of natural forces such as winds, a lateral release system is provided for maintaining the transport mechanism in a predetermined orientation while simultaneously permitting a limited amount of movement of the roof member in a direction that is nonparallel to the predetermined path of movement. The lateral release system has been found to be most effective when it is provided at but one end of the roof member. The lateral release system preferably includes a linear slide bearing that in the preferred embodiment has a longitudinal axis that is oriented so as to be substantially perpendicular to the predetermined path of travel of the roof member.
