AU709435B3 - Securing and weatherproofing roof tiles - Google Patents

Description

50430PP AWT:PFB P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

PETTY PATENT SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION

ENTITLED

Invention Title: SECURING AND WEATHERPROOFING ROOF TILES Name of Applicant: NU-LOK ROOFING SYSTEMS PTY LTD Name of Inventor: ROBERT MAINLAND HICK Address for Service: COLLISON CO. 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 The following is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the securing and weatherproofing of tiles, more preferably flat shingles or tiles, to a roof structure. The invention will in part be described in relation to flat type tiles but it should be appreciated that the invention is not so limited. The term tile used herein shall be taken to mean a roof tile or a slate or timber or other material shingle or any similar roofing material.

Background Art Various roofing systems for fixing flat shingles or tiles to a roof are known in 1 0 the prior art.

For example, Australian Patent No. 672286 discloses a tile roofing system in which spaced apart parallel joining strips extend between a pair of adjacent battens and wherein each shingle or tile is supported along its opposite margins by a pair of adjacent said strips. In this Patent specification locking 1 5 means are provided integrally with a strip for securing the lower end portion of a respective tile against lifting. These strips are known in the art as "weather strips and prevent moisture, dust etc. from passing between tiles and into the roof space. In Patent No. 672286 two forms of the integral locking means are disclosed. In one embodiment, integral tabs are provided at the lower end of each weather strip and are bent over a lower edge of a respective tile or shingle. In a second embodiment, each weather strip has an upstanding hook generally centrally positioned therein, and this hook projects upwardly to engage the lower end of a shingle or tile in the next uppermost row from the weather strip to prevent lifting of that shingle or tile.

GB Patent Application No. 2160559 analogously defines a weather strip having an upstanding hook like member which engages the lower end of a shingle or tile in the next uppermost shingle or tile row from the weather strip.

The arrangement in GB 2160559 is virtually identical to the arrangement disclosed in the Australian Patent No. 672286.

3 0 Analogously, DE 800784 discloses a weather strip which extends between upper and lower battens, and a lower end of the weather strip is provided with tabs which engage with a lower end portion of the respective tile.

In the arrangements shown in the above documents, the various tab and hook type arrangements are always provided to restrain the lower end of a respective tile to prevent its upward lift eg, from strong wind conditions etc.

Also in practice installations which have used the system disclosed in, for instance, Australian Patent No. 672286 have exhibited poor weather proofing.

While the reasons for this are not entirely clear it appears that the weather strip has not provided a good enough seal with the underneath of the tile so that wind blown water can penetrate below the tile beyond the weather strip.

1 0 DE 151738 discloses an arrangement where a type of fastening hook is nailed to an upper batten, and prongs or arms thereof are bent over the top part of a respective pair of adjacent tiles. The arrangements described in DE 151738, however, are peculiar to the curved type tiles employed therein.

It would be advantageous if an alternative retention system for securing tiles, 1 5 especially flat type tiles or shingles, could be provided.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a retention means for securing a tile to a roof structure in which the tile extends at least between an upper and a lower batten, the retention means including; a first portion adapted to enable the mounting of the retention means to the lower batten of the roof structure, and a second portion for engaging the tile and being adapted for at least preventing downward movement of the tile under gravity and for securing the tile against lifting, characterised by the first portion including a clip portion adapted to be received in an aperture in the lower batten.

2 5 Preferably the second portion is provided with a substantially U shaped clip including a free end adapted so that in use the lower edge of a tile is received in the U shape and the free end of the U shape of the clip bears down on the upper surface of the tile in a resilient manner whereby the clip is adapted for receiving and retaining tiles of different thicknesses.

Preferably the first portion is a hook that defines a recess between opposing parts of the hook, so that when the hook portion is being mounted onto a lower batten the hook portion is passed entirely through the aperture in the batten and then the hook portion is positioned so that the recess engages at least a portion of the batten to mount the retention means to the batten.

A distinction of the present invention over the prior art is that the retention means is mounted to the lower batten of the roof structure by means of the clip portion being received in the aperture in the batten which will act to significantly prevent movement of the retention means once installed.

1 0 The batten used with the present invention may have the apertures spaced along it at suitable intervals to receive the retention means for adjacent tiles or there may be a larger number of apertures spaced at intervals so that more than one retention means can be used so that a more stable roof structure can be provided to allow for high wind or cyclonic conditions. A larger number of 1 5 apertures will also allow for easier positioning of battens on a roof structure for subsequent placement of tiles.

In one preferred arrangement, at least the lower batten is generally Z shaped in end cross section, with the first portion being mounted into the aperture in a top part of the Z shaped section. A lower part of the Z shaped section can then be attached (eg, nailed or screwed) to a respective roof rafter in a similar way that a conventional batten would be attached to a roof rafter. In this regard, it is also preferred that the first portion is a hook that defines a recess between opposing parts of the hook, with the hook portion being passed through the aperture in the top portion of the Z shaped section and then the 2 5 hook portion being positioned so that the top part of the Z shaped section is received in the recess to mount the retention means to the Z shaped section.

The Z shaped section batten may have the apertures spaced along its top part or on a bend between a top part and a upright web of the Z shaped section at suitable intervals to receive retention means for adjacent tiles or 3 0 there may be a larger number of apertures spaced at intervals so that more than one retention means can be used so that a more stable roof structure can be provided to allow for high wind or cyclonic conditions. A larger number of apertures will also allow for easier positioning of battens on a roof structure for subsequent placement of tiles.

Positioning the apertures spaced along the top part of the Z shaped section or on the bend between a top part and an upright web of the Z shaped section may enable a much closer fit between the tile and the batten hence reducing the area between the tile and the batten through which wind can pass and hence wind driven water can pass.

A sealing strip of a resilient or foamed material can be placed along the top of the batten to enable sealing between the tile and the batten. Such a sealing strip may be placed in a longitudinal recess in the batten.

In the case of a Z shaped section batten the sealing strip of a resilient or 1 0 foamed material can be placed along the top flange of the batten to enable sealing between the tile and the batten. Such a sealing strip may be placed in a longitudinal recess in the top flange of the batten.

The retention means according to this invention may be constructed from any convenient material. The material may be sheet steel such as galvanised 1 5 steel or pre-painted steel or it may be stainless steel, aluminium or copper.

In a second form of the invention there is provided a tile roof structure incorporating one or more retention means as per the first form of the invention wherein at least one retention means is associated with each respective tile. Thus, an entire roof structure can be provided with the simple retention means according to the invention.

Preferably, every tile in the roof structure has one or more respective retention means. In addition, it is preferred that for adjacent tiles extending between the same upper and lower battens, a separate weather strip is provided under adjacent tile side edges for the length thereof. Thus, in distinction to the prior 2 5 art, only a simple weather strip needs to be provided under the abutment of adjacent tiles in the same row and the complexities involved with the assembly of prior art roof structures can be avoided.

Typically, the upper and lower battens are spaced apart such that each tile overhangs the lower batten and therefore overhangs tiles in a lower row. It is 3 0 typical that the tiles in adjacent rows are offset as this means that weather strips in adjacent rows are not aligned further enhancing water proofing etc, of the roof structure.

In an alternative for the invention is said to reside in an improved fixing system for securing roof tiles to a roof structure comprising: a plurality of elongate support battens arranged to be secured to the roof structure in spaced apart parallel relationship for supporting rows of tiles with each said tile having an upper end portion supported by or adjacent one support batten and a lower end portion supported by an adjacent lower batten, said lower end portion overlapping the upper end portion of an adjacent lower tile, a plurality of spaced apart parallel weather strips each extending between a pair of adjacent said battens and supported thereby, 1 0 each said strip having a length such that its lower end portion projects beyond the lower one of the adjacent battens, wherein each tile is supported along its opposite margins by adjacent weather strips with the upper surface of each weather strip being in contact with and supporting adjacent marginal edge portions of adjacent tiles positioned in edge-to-edge relationship, wherein the 1 5 weather strip includes at least two longitudinal strips of sealant means in use adapted to seal one under the side edge of each edge of adjacent tiles, retention means for securing the lower end portion of a respective said tile to a batten, and a securing means for securing the weather strips to at least one of the upper or the lower of the battens.

Preferably the retention means includes a first portion adapted to be mounted to the lower batten of the roof structure, and a second portion for engaging the tile and being adapted for at least preventing downward movement of the tile under gravity characterised by the first portion including a clip portion adapted to be received in an aperture in the lower batten.

Preferably each of said tile support battens has an upstanding web, an upper flange extending to one side of said web, and a lower flange extending to the other side of said web, the flanges being approximately parallel, wherein each of the weather strips has its upper end resting on the upper surface of the lower flange of one batten and a lower end portion thereof supported on the 3 0 upper surface of the upper flange of an adjacent lower batten. Such a batten is referred to herein as a Z shaped batten.

Preferably each weather strip is provided with an upper flange locating slot adjacent its underside surface near to and facing in the direction of its lower end, the upper flange of each lower batten being snugly engaged within a 3 5 respective slot, to thereby mechanically interlock the strip to a respective one of the tile support battens.

Preferably each weather strip includes longitudinally extending grooves formed in its upper surface to assist the shedding of water therefrom. The longitudinal sealing strips may be received in these longitudinally extending grooves.

Alternatively each weather strip has its upper end secured to the lower flange of a respective said batten by one or more fasteners such as screws, rivets or the like.

Preferably the lower flange of each said tile support batten is formed with at 1 0 least one upstanding rib in the upper surface thereof and extending along the entire length of the batten and preferably the lower flange terminates at its free longitudinal margin in an upturned lip.

The tile support battens and said weather strips may be formed from sheet metal.

1 5 In a further form the invention is said to reside in a weather strip adapted to support roof tiles and to extend between adjacent roof battens and supported thereby, each weather strip having a length such that in use its lower end portion projects beyond the lower one of the adjacent battens, whereby each tile is supported along its opposite margins by adjacent weather strips with the 2 0 upper surface of each said strip being in contact with and supporting adjacent marginal edge portions of adjacent tiles positioned in edge-to-edge relationship, wherein the weather strip includes at least two longitudinal strips of sealant means in use adapted to seal under the respective side edges of adjacent tiles.

2 5 Preferably each weather strip includes longitudinally extending grooves formed in its upper surface to assist the shedding of water therefrom. The longitudinal sealing strips may be received in these longitudinally extending grooves.

In the case of a weather strip according to this invention when used with a roof 3 0 having timber battens then the weather strip may be fastened by nailing or screwing to the battens as required.

In the case of a weather strip according to this invention when used with a roof having Z section battens the weather strip may be fastened by the use of a upper flange locating slot adjacent its underside surface near to and facing in the direction of its lower end being received onto the upper flange as discussed above.

The weather strip of either of these embodiments may be formed from sheet metal such as pre-painted steel, galvanised steel or aluminium.

In a further form the invention provides a retention means for securing a tile to a roof structure in which the tile extends at least between an upper and a 1 0 lower batten, the retention means including a first portion adapted to be mounted to the lower batten of the roof structure, and a second portion for engaging the tile and being adapted for at least preventing downward movement of the tile under gravity characterised by the first portion including a mounting tab so that it can be mounted to the lower batten and the second 1 5 portion adapted for securing the tile against lifting and including a substantially U shaped clip portion at the second end adapted so that in use the lower edge of the tile is received in the U shape and a portion of the U shape of the clip bears down on the upper surface of the tile in a resilient manner.

Such a clip portion may be adapted to receive tiles of from 3 mm to 12 mm in thickness.

The retention means or retention clip may be fastened by nailing or screwing through the mounting tab to the batten as required.

The retention means or retention clip may be formed from sheet metal such as pre-painted steel, galvanised steel. stainless steel or aluminium.

Brief Description of the Drawings This generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure I shows a roof structure according one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows in more detail the retention clip and weather strip of the present invention; Figure 3 shows various views of one embodiment of the retention clip; Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of the weather strip; Figure 5 shows in some detail the mounting of the retention clip to a Z shaped batten; Figure 6 shows in some detail the positioning of the weather strip onto a Z shaped batten; Figure 7 shows in some detail the assembly of a roof structure more 1 0 specifically a retention clip to a Z batten; Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of weather strip according to this invention; Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of retention clip according to this invention; and 1 5 Figure 10 shows in some detail the assembly of a roof structure using the weather strip and retention clip of Figures 8 and 9.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention Now looking more closely at the drawings it will be seen that the roof structure according to this invention comprises battens 10 mounted to rafters 12 with 2 0 tiles 14 supported by the battens. Between and underneath adjacent tiles in each row of tiles there are weather strips 16 and under each tile 14 there are retention clips 17 which fasten to a batten 10 hold the lower edge of each tile 14.

As can be seen in more detail in Figures 2, 5 and 6 the Z shaped batten 2 5 comprises an upstanding web 20 with an upper flange 22 extending from the upper end of the web 20 and a lower flange 24 extending from the lower end of the web 20. The upper flanges and lower flanges extend in opposite directions but are substantially parallel. The lower flange has longitudinal corrugations and terminates in an upwardly turned lip 28. The upper flange has a longitudinal groove 18 into which is received a longitudinal sealing strip 19.

Each tile 14 overlaps the next tile lower down the roof structure.

As can be seen in Figure 2 the upper end of the weather strip 16 is supported at its upper end 17 on the lower flange 24 of the Z shaped batten. The lower end of the weather strip 16 is supported on the upper flange 22 of the adjacent batten 1 0 The tile retaining clip 17 which can be seen in the various views in Figure 3 comprises an elongate body portion 32 with a lower clip portion 34 and an upper hook portion 36.

The lower clip portion 34 comprises a generally U shaped including a free standing leg 38 which is bent back towards the body 32 and is slightly resilient 1 5 so that tiles of varying thicknesses can be received inside the U shaped portion.

The hook portion 36 comprises a stepped down portion 42 and an extension 41 with a turned back end 40. On the extension 41 there is a transverse groove 43 which in use engages with the underside of the groove 18 in the Z shaped batten when the retention clip is mounted to the batten to assist with locating the clip on the batten.

The mounting of the tile retention clip to the Z shaped batten is shown in Figure The entire hook portion 36 is passed through an aperture 50 in the bend 52 2 5 between the upper flange 22 of the Z shaped batten and the web 20. Once the entire hook has been passed through the aperture 50 it is positioned so that the extension 41 lies immediately below the flange 22 and the turned back end 40 fits immediately above the flange. The down turned portion 42 allows the clip to lie as flat as possible on the tile.

3 0 The retention clip may be constructed from very thin stainless steel which will still have the necessary strength and resilience so that one tile may lie very close to the next tile below it.

The positioning of the weather strip onto a Z shaped batten is shown in Figure 6. The weather strip is merely placed onto the lower flange of the Z shaped batten so that it rests on the longitudinal corrugations of the lower flange.

Figure 4 shows one embodiment of a weather strip according to this invention.

In this embodiment the weather strip comprises a substantially U shaped body along most of its length with longitudinal corrugations or ridges 1 0 formed along substantially all of the length. A pair of longitudinal sealing strips 61 and 62 extend down substantially the length of the sealing strip and are joined by an arcuate portion at the upper end 64. At the lower end the weather strip 14 does not have downward depending side flanges 65 so it can pass over and be supported by a lower roof batten and pass over and hold 1 5 down a tile. The notches 66 in the sides of the weather strip at the lower end of the side flanges 65 are adapted to receive the edge of the upper flanges 22 of a Z batten to hold the weather strip in place and to assist with holding the upper end of the tile 14 down by stopping it lifting against the underside of the weather strip.

Figure 8 shows an alternative- embodiment of weather strip according to this invention suitable for use with wooden battens.

In this embodiment the weather strip 70 includes an upper mounting tag 72 so they can be nailed, screwed or otherwise fastened to an upper timber batten and side flanges 74 at the lower end which enable it to be mounted through 2 5 apertures 76 into a lower timber batten. Longitudinal corrugations 78 are provided along the length of the weather strip and a sealing strip 80 is provided up each side of the weather strip and is joined by an arcuate portion 82 at the upper end 84 of the weather strip.

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of retention means suitable for use 3 0 with timber or other battens. The retention means or tile retaining clip which can be seen in Figure 9 comprises an elongate body portion 91 with a lower clip portion 92 and an upper tab portion 93. The lower clip portion 92 comprises a generally U shaped including a free standing leg 94 which is bent back towards the body 91 and is slightly resilient so that tiles of varying thicknesses can be received inside the U shaped portion.

The tab portion 93 has apertures so that it can be nailed, screwed or otherwise fastened to a batten.

Figure 10 shows an assembly of a roof structure which includes the weather strip shown in Figure 8 and the retention clip shown in Figure 9. Timber or other material battens 100 are mounted spaced apart from each other transversely to a rafter 101. Between the battens is fixed a weather strip 102 1 0 by nailing, screwing or other fastening means at both the upper mounting tag 72 and side flanges 74 at the lower end. A tile retention clip 90 is then fastened by nailing, screwing or other fastening means to the batten 100 and then a tile 105 is then mounted so that their adjacent edges are received onto the weather strip and so that its lower end is received into the clip 92 of the 1 5 retention clip. The upper end of the tile sits on the weather strip and is held down by the next weather strip lower end 106. Generally therefore the roof is constructed according to this invention by starting at the bottom and working up the roof.

Throughout this specification various indications have been given as to the scope of this invention but the invention is not limited to any one of these but may reside in two or more of these combined together. The examples are given for illustration only and not for limitation.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (3)

1. A retention means for securing a tile to a roof structure in which the tile extends at least between an upper and a lower batten, the retention means including: a first portion adapted to be received in an aperture in the lower batten to enable the mounting of the retention means to the lower batten of the roof structure, and a second portion for engaging the tile and being adapted for at least 1 0 preventing downward movement of the tile under gravity and for securing the tile against lifting, characterised by the first portion including a hook that defines a recess between opposing parts of the hook, so that when the hook portion is being mounted onto a lower batten the hook portion is passed entirely through the 1 5 aperture in the batten and then the hook portion is positioned so that the recess engages at least a portion of the batten to mount the retention means to the batten.

2. A retention means as in Claim 1 wherein the second portion is provided with a substantially U shaped clip including a free end adapted so that in use the lower edge of a tile is received in the U shape and the free end of the U shape of the clip bears down on the upper surface of the tile in a resilient manner whereby the clip is adapted for receiving and retaining tiles of different thicknesses.

3. A retention means as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the retention means comprises strip metal selected from steel, aluminium, stainless steel or copper. Dated this 29th day of June 1999 NU-LOK ROOFING SYSTEMS PTY LTD 3 0 By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO.