GB2261230A

GB2261230A - Roof tile

Info

Publication number: GB2261230A
Application number: GB9123456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Francis Hawkins
Original assignee: HEMPSTED GROUP HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: HEMPSTED GROUP HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 1991-11-05
Filing date: 1991-11-05
Publication date: 1993-05-12
Also published as: GB9123456D0

Abstract

A roof tile 12 has at least one hook-shaped formation 14, 15 which can be hooked over a part 13 of a roof lath 10 or a part 16 of a like tile or a pan connected to a like tile, and first and second complementary formations 17 and 18 co-operable with second and first formations, respectively, of the like tile and a further like tile, respectively. The tiles 12 overlap and the formations 17 and 18 prevent separation of the tiles in a direction parallel to the direction in which they overlap. In further embodiments the formations 17, 18 can be at the upper and lower ends of the tile, with a further, upwardly directed hook formation (19) also being provided at the upper edge, to co-operate with a restraining strap (20) (Fig. 2, not shown), or the formations 17, 18, again provided at the tile ends, can have interlocking barbs (24, 25) for snap-fitting engagement. <IMAGE>

Description

ROOF TILE This invention relates to a roof tile and more particularly, but not exclusively, to such a tile which can be made as an extrusion and which can interlock with like tiles.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a roof tile having a hook-shaped formation for hooking over a part of a like tile or a part of a roof lath or a part connected to a like tile so that in use the tile is supported in overlapping relationship with the like tile, and first and second complementary formations co-operable with second and first formations, respectively, of the like tile and a further like tile, respectively, to prevent separation of the tiles in a direction parallel to the direction in which the tiles overlap.

Preferably, the first complementary formation is in the form of a rib projecting away from an in use upper surface of the tile and the second complementary formation is in the form of a flange projecting in a substantially opposite direction from the in use lower edge of the tile.

Preferably, the tile has a further hook shaped formation spaced from the first mentioned hookshaped formation for hooking over a part of a roof lath.

In this case, one of the hook-shaped formations may be disposed at or adjacent to the in use upper edge of the tile and the other hook-shaped formation may be on the lower surface of the tile substantially midway between the in use upper and lower edges of the tile.

Alternatively, the tile may have a further formation whereby the tile can be connected to a roof lath spaced from the tile by one or more connecting members In this case, the further formation may be a further hook-shaped formation which projects downwards from a position at or adjacent to the in use upper edge of the tile.

Alternatively or additionally, the first and second complementary formations are shaped so as to be snap-fittable with second and first formations, respectively, of the like tile and the further like tile.

Advantageously, the formations are elongate formations extending parallel to one another in an in use horizontal direction over at least substantially the entire width of the tile.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a roof fitted with tiles according to the first aspect of the invention.

Conveniently, one or more solar panels are provided below the roof tiles.

Conveniently, the roof further comprises hollow laths to which the tiles are attached. In this case, means may be provided for passing water through the laths.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a roof fitted with tiles according to one embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a roof tile according to the invention, together with an associated connecting member and Figure 3 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a roof tile according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a part of a pitched roof comprising a plurality of laths 10 secured in spaced parallel relationship to rafters 11 of the roof and a plurality of tiles 12 attached to the laths 10.

The laths 10 extend horizontally and are of generally hollow, rectangular section with one side extended to define an attachment flange 13. The laths 10 are extrusions, typically of aluminium or plastics material.

The tiles 12 are rectangular when viewed in plan and each tile has two hook-shaped formations 14 and 15 on its lower surface. These formations 14 and 15 extend over the entire length of the tile and are arranged in spaced parallel relationship. The formation 14 is disposed adjacent to the in use upper edge of the tile but is spaced slightly from that in use upper edge to leave a flat edge portion 16 which can co-operate with a second formation 15 on an adjacent, partly overlying tile. The formation 15 is disposed substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the tile.

Each tile 12 also has first and second complementary formations 17 and 18, respectively. These formations 17 and 18 also extend over the entire length of the tile and are arranged in spaced parallel relationship. The formation 17 is in the form of a rib projecting away from the upper surface of the tile substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the tile and the formation 18 is in the form of a flange projecting from the lower edge of the tile in an opposite direction.

In order to tile a roof, the laths 10 are secured to the structural members 11 with appropriate spacings therebetween, the lower two laths 10 being closer together than the other laths. The lowermost tile 12 is then attached to the lower two laths by hooking the formations 14 and 15 over the attachment flanges 13 of the two lower laths, respectively. A second tile is then attached to the lowermost tile 12 and an adjacent lath 10 by hooking the formations 14 and 15 of the second tile over the attachment flange 13 of the adjacent lath and over the flat edge portion 16 of the lowermost tile 12. In attaching this second tile 12 to the lowermost tile and the adjacent lath, the flange 18 of the second tile must be brought over the rib 17 of the lowermost tile and, ideally, this is made possible by providing the tiles 12 with some degree of flexibility.To some extent the degree of flexibility is dependent on the material from which the tiles 12 are made and, typically, the tiles are made of plastics material or aluminum, preferably by extrusion.

Further tiles are then attached in similar manner and it will be appreciated that the tiles 12 will 'be interlocked one with another by co-operation between the ribs 17 and flanges 18 and this will prevent the hook-shaped formations 14 and 15 of each tiles becoming easily detached from an associated lath 10 or from an adjacent tile 12.

The tiles 12 can be of any desired length and indeed each tile could extend over the entire length of the roof. However, if shorter tiles are used it will be necessary to provide seals between horizontally adjacent tiles or it will be necessary to overlap the tiles horizontally as well as along the slope of the roof. In the latter case, at least one end of each formation 14, 15, 17 and 18 will have to terminate short of an adjacent edge of the tile.

It is conceivable that the formation 15 could be omitted from the tiles shown in Figure 1 and in that event the formation 14 could be provided at the upper edge of the tile. Also, the rib 17 could be replaced by a step in the tile with the result that the upper and lower portions of the tile, i.e. those portions above and below the step, would be offset relative to one another.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, the tile 12a shown therein has an elongate hook-shaped formation 15a and a rib 17a at its upper edge and a flange 18a at its lower edge. The tile 12a also has a further elongate hook-shaped formation 19 which projects downwards from its upper edge.

The tile 12a is also associated with at least one and preferably two or more narrow connecting straps 20. Each connecting strap 20 has a hook-shaped formation 21 adjacent to but spaced slightly from one end to leave a flat end portion 22 and also has a flange 23 at its other end.

The flanges 23 of the connecting straps 20 cooperate with the hook-shaped formation 19 of an associated tile and the hook-shaped formations 21 cooperate with an attachment flange 13 of an associated lath.

Apart from the lowermost tile of a roof, each tile is attached to the roof by hooking the formation 15a over the flat end portions 22 of the connecting straps 20 associated with the next lower tile on the roof and the flange 18a co-operates with the rib 17a of said next lower tile. Associated connecting straps 20 then connect the roof tile to the nearest lath above the tile by hooking the hook-shaped formations 21 of the connecting straps 20 over the attachment flange lla of said adjacent lath and locating the flanges 23 of the connecting straps 20 within the hook-shaped formation 19 of the roof tile.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, the roof tile 12k shown therein has an elongate hook-shaped formation 15b for hooking over an attachment flange of a roof lath, and a rib 17b at its upper edge and a flange 'l8b at its lower edge.

This tile has no associated connecting straps, but the rib 17b and flange 18k are provided with projections 24 and 25, respectively, which make the rib l7b snap-fittable with a flange of a like tile and the flange 18b snap-fittable with a rib of another like tile when the hook-shaped formations 15b of the tiles are hooked over attachment flanges of respective roof laths.

The hollow laths 10, which are used to support the roof tiles according to all three embodiments described above, may form part of a solar heating system and in this case means, e.g. a pump, will be provided to pass water through the laths 10.

In addition or alternatively one or more solar panels may be provided below the tiles, which in this case are typically formed as aluminium extrusions coloured black.

Claims

1. A roof tile having a hook-shaped formation for hooking over a part of a like tile or a part of a roof lath or a part connected to a like tile so that in use the tile is supported in overlapping relationship with the like tile, and first and second complementary formations co-operable with second and first formations, respectively, of the like tile and a further like tile, respectively, to prevent separation of the tiles in a direction parallel to the direction in which the tiles overlap.

2. A roof tile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first complementary formation is in the form of a rib projecting away from an in use upper surface of the tile and the second complementary formation is in the form of a flange projecting in a substantially opposite direction from the in use lower edge of the tile.

3. A roof tile as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tile has a further hook-shaped formation spaced from the first mentioned hook-shaped formation for hooking over a part of a roof lath.

4. A roof tile as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the hook-shaped formations is disposed at or adjacent to the in use upper edge of the tile and the other hookshaped formation is on the lower surface of the tile substantially midway between the in use upper and lower 'edges of the tile.

5. A roof tile as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tile has a further formation whereby the tile can be connected to a roof lath spaced from the tile by one or more connecting members.

6. A roof tile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the further formation is a further hook-shaped formation which projects downwards from a position at or adjacent to the in use upper edge of the tile.

7. A roof tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second complementary formations are shaped so as to be snapfittable with second and first formations, respectively, of the like tile and the further like tile.

8. A roof tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the formations are elongate formations extending 'parallel to one another in an in use horizontal direction over at least substantially the entire width of the tile.

9. A roof tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and formed by extrusion.

10. A roof tile substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, or Figure 2, or Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.

11. A roof fitted with tiles according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A roof as claimed in claim 11 and comprising hollow laths to which the tiles are attached.

13. A roof as claimed in claim 12, wherein means are provided to pass water through the laths.

14. A roof as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein one or more solar panels are located below the roof tile.