Safety reinforced light transmitting panel assembly

1. A method of creating a skylight in a roof, said method comprising:

attaching a plurality of edges of a discontinuous metal reinforcing panel onto a supporting roof structure;

securing a first continuous light transmitting panel above said discontinuous metal reinforcing panel with at least one of an adhesive strip, fastener, and adhesive;

installing a second continuous light transmitting panel a distance above said first continuous light panel to define space between said first and second light transmitting panels;

inserting a material which is both diffusive and insulative into said space;

substantially sealing said space from an outside environment to trap therein a pocket of dead air along with said material; and

orienting said first, second, and said reinforcing panels such that at least some light is able to pass through said panels into said building.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

picking a translucent glass fiber substance to comprise said material.

3. A skylight installation method comprising:

attaching a plurality of edges of a discontinuous metal reinforcing panel onto a supporting roof structure, said reinforcing panel having a length and a width, a substantially flat middle portion, a lateral pair of edges running the length of said reinforcing panel, and an end pair of edges on each end of said reinforcing panel;

forming a pair of longitudinally-extending knife-guiding ridges which extend upward along each lateral edge of said reinforcing panel;

providing a sheet of insulation for installation around said skylight; and

presenting said knife guiding ridges to a user as a means to cut edges for a profile of said skylight out of said sheet of insulation when the insulation is being installed around the skylight on a building.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising:

installing a first continuous light transmitting panel above said discontinuous metal reinforcing panel.

5. The method of claim 3 comprising:

installing a second continuous light transmitting panel a distance above said first continuous light panel to define a fillable air pocket between said first and second light transmitting panels; and

orienting said first, second, and said reinforcing panels such that at least some light is able to pass into said building.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising:

inserting a material which is one of diffusive and insulative into said fillable air pocket.

7. A roof panel system for creating a skylight on a building, said system comprising:

a rigid discontinuous metal reinforcing panel, a plurality of edges of said reinforcing panel being adapted to be secured to a supporting roof structure;

a first continuous light transmitting panel secured to and atop said discontinuous metal reinforcing panel;

a second continuous light transmitting panel located a distance above said first continuous light transmitting panel, said distance creating a space between said first and second light transmitting panels;

said first, second, and said reinforcing panels together being oriented in a way in which at least some light is able to pass through said panels into said building; and

an intermediate material disposed in said space, said intermediate material being both (i) a diffuser and, (ii) an insulator;

wherein said space is substantially sealed off from an outside environment after disposal of said intermediate material into said space to trap in said space a pocket of air along with the intermediate material;

wherein the first and second continuous light transmitting panels are constructed to provide impact resistance.

8. The roof panel system of claim 1 , wherein system forms a vapor retarding seal against said outside environment.

9. The roof panel system of claim 1 wherein said intermediate material is constructed of translucent glass fibers; and

wherein the first continuous light transmitting panel is secured to said metal reinforcing panel with at least one of an adhesive, adhesive strip, and fastener.