AU673582B2 - Roofing system - Google Patents

Description

Background of the Invention This invention relates to a system for roofing, particularly, though not exclusively, to a system of affixing roof battens and tiles to buildings.

In present roofing systems, timber battens are fixed to roof trusses after sheet insulation, commonly known as "sarking", has been rolled out between the trusses and the battens. Roof tiles are then clipped to the battens using hold down clips which fit underneath the battens, When the clips are pushed under the batten, they frequently puncture and tear the sarking, reducing its effectiveness.

Object of the Invention It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a roofing system which overcomes, or at least reduces, the disadvantages of the prior art.

There is disclosed herein in combination a roof batten and a tile clip to aid in securing a roof tile to the batten, said batten comprising: a first longitudinal portion for supporting at least part of the tile, and a second 1is longitudinal portion providing a longitudinal recess which opens away fr,- a surface of the batten which, in use, is positioned against sarking, said second portion including a pair of downwardly facing, longitudinally extending, generally parallel, co-extensive abutment surfaces spaced by a longitudinally extending opening leading to said recess; said tile clip comprising: a lower part to be received in said recess so as to cooperate with said second portion e 'to be attached thereto; and an upper part to engage the tile to secure the tile to the batten.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of a roofing system acccrding to the invention will now be more i2 fully described, by way of example, with refererce to the drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a known method of fixing roof tiles to a roof batten; Figure 2 shows, schematically, a p .rt cross-sectional rear view of part of a roof tiled using a system according to one embodiment of the present invent-.n; Figure 3 shows, schematically, a side view of part of the roof of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows, in perspective, two parts of a batten shown in Figures 2 and 3 and a batten joining element; Figure 5 is an enlarged end view of a roof tile clip retained within a flange of a roof batten as shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 6 is a plan view of the roof tile clip retained within a flange of a roof batten of Figure Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the roof batten of Figure 4; Figure 8 shows an enlarged perspective view of the roof batten joining element of Figure 4; IN 't mirIrOO)27 1'C 2 Figure 9 is a perspective view of a roof batten fixing element as shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 10 is a top plan view of the roof batten fixing element of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a front view of the roof batten fixing element of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the roof batten fixing element of Figure 9; Figure 13 is a left side view of the roof batten fixing element of Figure 9; Figure 14 is a right side view of the roof batten fixing element of Figure 9; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a roof tile clip as shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 16 is a top plan view of the roof tile clip of Figure Figure 17 is a front view of the roof tile clip of Figure Figure 18 is a bottom view of the roof tile clip of Figure Figure 19 is a left side view of the roof tile clip of Figure Figure 20 is a right side view of the roof tile clip of Figure Figure 21 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a roof tile clip as shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 22 is a top plan view of the roof tile clip of Figure 21; Figure 23 is a front view of the roof tile clip of Figure 21; Figure 24 is a bottom view of the roof tile clip of Figure 21; Figure 25 is a left side view of the roof tile clip of Figure 21; and I* 9 9 0 9c N 02 3 Figure 26 is a right side view of the roof tile clip of Figure 21.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Thus, as shown schematically in Figure 1, a known way of fixing tiles to roofs involves the roof tiler measuring the length of the roof truss and then calculating where to put his layout nails. These nails position the timber tile batten 1 at the correct spacing to match the length of the roof tiles 2. The timber roof batten is then cut to appropriate lengths to ensure that separate portions of the timber batten are joined at the centre of the roof truss and the batten is then placed against the layout nails.

Starting from the bottom of the roof, the tiler rolls out the sarking material 3 and lo pins it to the roof trusses (not shown). As he moves up the roof, he lifts up the batten 1 and roles the sarking material 3 underneath and then rests the batten against the set out nail. This procedure is done until the roof is covered with the sarking material. The timber roof batten is then nailed to each roof truss.

Roof tiles 2 are then loaded onto the roof and fixed into position using roof tile hold 15 down clips 4 which have a first portion fitting under the roof batten 1 and a second portion which fits over the edge of the roof tile 2. When the clips 4 are pushed under the batten 1 it is quite common for the sarking material 3 to be torn or punctured. This then S reduces the effect of the sarking material, As shown in Figure 2 and 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a roof batten 5 made of steel. As before, sarking material 3 is rolled out over the roof trusses 6 and is held in place between the roof batten 5 and the roof truss 6. The roof batten 5 Is fixed to the roof truss 6 either by means of nails 7 (as shown by dashed lines in Figure 2) or by a batten fixing element 8 to be described in more detail below. In either case, the sxking material 3 is only punctured in the middle of the roof truss 6 and S 25 the puncture is then covered by the roof batten 5 so that no substantial deterioration of the sarking materials performance occurs. Roof tiles 2a and 2b are then clipped in place using a roof tile top pan clip 9 and a roof tile nose clip 10 which are shaped to clip into the sides of t.e roof batten 5 so that they do not need to be pushed underneath the roof batten and therefore reduce the possibility of damage to the sarking material 3.

The presently known timber roof battens are generally made of hardwood, since seasoned pine roof battens are not generally available. Timber battens are subject to twist or bow and have weak spots where knots occur. Because they have to be joined in the middle of the truss, quite a lot of wastage occurs in cutting the batten to length. This has been calculated by industry experts at around 12%. In contrast, the steel roof batten 5, as shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 7 can be supplied in longer lengths, is strVi.tht and true and can be joined at any point using a batten joining element 11, shown in Figure 4 and, in more deail, in Figure 8. Thus, a large degree of the wastage of timber battens is eliminated.

(NALITT1O0127.1MM 4 The roof batten 5 is provided with two elongate, generally parallel, side walls 12 and 13 coupled together between the upper edges of the side walls 12 and 13 by a central support portion 14. The support portion 14 supports the roof tiles 2. To increase rigidity, the support portion 14 has a longitudinal groove 15 at its central portion. The lower edge of each of the side walls 12 and 13 is first bent inwardly under the support portion 14 and then outwardly to form a respective base 16 and 17 extending beyond the respective side wall 12 and 13. The outer edge portions 18 and 19 of the respective bases 16 and 17 are then bent upwardly and inwardly so as to leave an opening 51 between the outer edge and the respective side wall and forming respective upwardly extending flanges 20 and 21. The space between the outer edge and the respective side wall leads into a respective recess 22 and 23 defined by the lower portion of the respective side wall, the respective base and the respective flange and overturned outer edge. The recesses 22 and so 23 are each defined between the edge portions 22 and 23 and the longitudinally concave portions 35 and 36. The edge portions 22 and 23 and the concave portions 35 and 36 1s provide spaced longitudinally extending downwardly facing abutment surfaces 49 and The surfaces 49 and 50 being spaced by the longitudinally extending opening 51. The surfaces 49 and 50 abut the surfaces of the portion 43 of the clip 9.

In order to adjust the roof batten 5 to the desired length, the batten can, of course, be cut in any known manner, for example using an appropriate saw, However, utilising 20 this roof batten, separate pieces of the batten 5 can be jointed together using the batten joining element 11 shown in details in Figure 8. The element 11 includes two parallel channels 24 and 25 for receiving bases 16 and 17 of the batten 5. The channels 24 and are provided with overturned outer edges 26 and 27, respectively under which flanges and 21 of batten 5 are clipped and thereby retained. The channels 24 and 25 are connected by a central portion 28. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, an end of one batten 5 is clipped into the batten joining element 11 such that bases 16 and 17 fit into channels 24 anu 25, respectively, and overturned edges 26 and 27 clip over flanges 20 and 21 and outer edges 18 and 19, respectively so that the end of batten 5 is firmly retained by element 11. In the same way, an end of a second batten 5 is clipped into the elementll thereby joining the two batten pieces 5 together.

As explained above, the batten 5 can be fixed to the roof truss 6 either by means of a nail 7 passing through batten 5 at the lowermost portion of the groove 15, puncturing the sarking material 3 and passing into the roof truss 6, or, alternatively, a batten fixing element 8 could be used. The batten fixing element 8 is shown in more detail in Figures 9 to 14. The element 8 is formed of a generally planar base 29 having a plurality of holes Each of the holes 30 is preferably punched out of the base. The nails pass through the holes 30, which nails are used to puncture through the sarking material 3 and enter the roof truss 6. Extending upwardly from the planar base 29 are two p' .ections 31 and 32.

The projections 31 and 32 extend toward each other and include a downwardly turned lip NAULIBTiO'127 LMM 37 and 38, respectively. A recess 33, 34 is thereby defined between the planar base 29 and each of the upstanding projections 31 and 32, Each of the respective recesses 33, 34 is shaped so as to receive the base 16 and 17 and flange 20 and 21, respectively of the batten 5, The batten in thus clipped into the batten fixing element 8 and then lips 37 and 38 serve to retain the outer edge portions 18 and 19 of the batten within the respective recesses.

Thus, to fix the batten in position, the batten fixing element 8 is first fixed to the roof truss 6 by nails passing through the holes 30 and sarking material 3, and into the roof truss 6, The batten 5 is then simply clipped into position. Thus, the set out nail used lo previously is not longer required. The batten fixing clip is simply fixed directly to the roof truss, after the sarking material has been rolled out, and the roof batten is clipped ;;;ointo position. This, therefore, eliminates the need for the roof tiler to go back over the roof and nail the batten into position, Once the batten is in position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, roof tiles are placed over the roof batten in the usual way. As shown, two roof tile clips are provided. Top pan clip 9 is used to clip over the end of a roof tile 2a and nose clip 10 is used to clip over the side of a roof tile 2b, As shown in Figures 15 to 20, top pan clip 9 has a first generally vertical portion 39, from a top end of which extends a tile clip portion 40 at an angle slightly downwardly of horizontal. This tile clip portion 40 extends over the top S 20 face of the roof tile 2a, From the bottom of vertical portion 39 there extends a first base portion 41 extending slightly upwardly of horizontal and a second base portion 42, contiguous with the first base portion 41, extending slightly downwardly of horizontal.

At the end of the second base portion 42 there is provided a U-shaped portion 43 extending generally horizontally, It will be appreciated that the terms "vertically" and "horizontally" are used simply when referring to the Figures and are not intended to limit S any particular orientation of the clips, It will be clear from the Figures that the top pan clip 9 is preferably made a piece of metal wire of appropriate diameter and bent to the appropriate shape, In order to clip the roof tile 2a in position, the U-shaped portion 43 of roof tile clip 9 is clipped into the recess formed between the side wall, base, flange and outer edge on one side of the batten 5, then the tile clip portion 40 of roof tile clip 9 is positioned over the top face of the roof tile 2a, Accordingly the clip 9 is resiliently deformable particularly the portion 43, The way the U-shaped clips into the batten 5 is shown in more detail in Figures 5 and 6. In these Figures, the lower portion of the top pan clip 9 of Figure 17, shown the second base portion 42 and the U-shaped portiGn 43 is shown in position in the left hand side of batten 5 shown in Figure 7. As can be seen, the downward inclination of second base portion 42 allows the U-shaped portion 43 to fit into the recess 22, It will be appreciated that the roof tile clip 9 can easily be clipped into position by first positioning the end of the U-shaped portion 43 under outer edge 18 and then forcing IN\LIBTT10O0127 LMM the base of the under the inward bend in side wall 12 so that it is retained thereby, In this way, the roof tile 2a is held in position by a clip which does not need to be positioned under the roof batten and therefore reduces the possibility of the sarking material 3 being punctured or damaged.

Figures 21 to 26 show the nose clip 10. This clip also includes a generally vertical portion 44 and has, extending from the top of the vertical portion 44 a generally vertical, downward facing, U-shaped tile clip portion 45 which, as best shown in Figure 2, clips over the end of roof tile 2b. The end of roof tile 2b is generally provided with a lip 46 over which the tile clip portion 45 extends. From the lower end of vertical portion 44, io extends a downwardly inclined base portion 47, at the end of which is a generally horizontal U-shaped portion 48. Downwardly inclined base portion 47 and U-shaped portion 48 correspond to second base portion 42 and U-shaped portion 43 of top pan clip 9. Thus, U-shaped portion 48 clips into one of the recesses 22 or 23 of batten 5, as described above with reference to Figures 5 and 6. It will be appreciated that, since nose 1s clip 10 clips over the side of roof tile 2b, the downwardly inclined base portion 47 S extends from vertical portion 44 at an obtuse angle, as compared to U-shaped tile clip portion 45 so that the U-shaped portion 48 will fit into the side of the batten 5. However, as mentioned above, the terms "vertical" and "horizontal" are used only for convenience in describing the Figures and are not intended to limit the precise orientations of the 20 various portions of the clips, Both clips 9 and 10 can be designed of any shap e to fit around a roof tile and clip into the recess of batten Although only one particular embodiment of a roofing system according to the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent that P, number of variations and improvements can be made by a person skilled in the art without departing S 25 from the scope of the present invention, IN:\LIBrTlOOI27LMM

Claims (7)

1. In combination a roof batten and a tile clip to aid in securing a roof tile to the batten, said batten comprising: a first longitudinal portion for supporting at least part of the tile, and a second longitudinal portion providing a longitudinal recess which opens away from a surface of the batten which, in use, is positioned against sarking, said second portion including a pair of downwardly facing, longitudinally extending, generally parallel, co-extensive abutment surfaces spaced by a longitudinally extending opening leading to said recess; said tile clip comprising: a lower part to be received in said recess so as to cooperate with said second portion to be attached thereto; and an upper part to engage the tile to secure the tile to the batten.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said batten includes a pair of generally parallel coextensive side walls joined by a central portion, said central portion providing said first portion and one of said side walls providing said second portion.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said opening is upwardly facing.

4. The combination of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said lower ptieR, is resiliently deformable, and said second portion causes resilient deformation of said lower part during insertion of said lower pertite in said recess. S 20

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tile clip further comprises: a generally longitudinal central portion having first and second ends, a first generally longitudinal end portion contiguous with the first end of the central portion and extending away from the central portion to extend over a roof tile, when in position, and a second generally longitudinal end portion contiguous with the second end of the central 26 portion and extending to a generally U-shaped end for clipping into a recess in a roof batten, the generally U-shaped end of the second end portion lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the central portion.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said clip is formed of metal wire so that said U-shaped end is resiliently deformable.

7. A combination of a roof batten and a tile clip, the combination being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 to 26 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 13 September, 1996 Rondo Building Services Pty Limited as Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 4%L B 1111 r13TV100121A Roofing System Abstract A roofing system including a batten formed of strip metal so as to be of a generally U-shaped configuration having a first longitudinal portion (14) upon which the tiles rest. The batten further includes a pair of parallel side walls (12, 13) which terminate with longitudinally extending bases (16, 17) each provided with a recess (22, 23). The batten is secured to a supporting structure by means of a fixing element The fixing element is formed of sheet metal, A tile clip has a U-shaped lower end (43) engaged within the recess and an upper portion (40) which engages the tile to secure the tile to the batten Figure 2. 6 Figure 2. *40e 6664e [(NLIOTTICOO27.LMM