CA1284716C - Tile fixing system - Google Patents

Abstract

- -ABSTRACT

"Tile Fixing System"

A tile fixing system is disclosed wherein the upper 6 of two overlappping tiles is provided with a locking channel in the form of a channel member 7 partly embedded in the under side of the upper tile 6. The locking channel is adapted to engage the head of a tile fastening element, such as a nail 9, which secures the lower tile 6 to a tiling batten 8. By means of this system the tiles may be secured both to the tiling battens and each other.

Description

~47~r, 1 2020~-1306 This di-sclosure relates to the fixing of tiles or similar cladding elements, in particular roof tiles.
Tiles fixed in place by nailing are not particularly secure, and are especially vulnerable to wind uplift when the wind acts on the surface of the tiles to cause nega-tive pressure which lifts them off the roof, often causing serious damage which can be - expensive to repair. Many arrangements are known in the prior art for more securely fixing tiles to overcome these disadvantages.
These arrangements often involve fixing the tiles by using purpose-made clips. However while these arrangements are fairly successful in providing secure tile fixing systems they have not proved popular with the tiling trade. This is largely because the use of such tile fixing clips is a rather more complicated and awkward job than the traditional method of simply nailing the tiles to the tiling batterns.
Accordingly it would clearly be desirable to provide a method of securely fixing the tiles that involved -the use of simple fastening elements, such as nails, rather than any more complicated fixing device.
According to the present invention there is provided a tile system comprising a plurality of downwardly longitudinally extending tilesl in which the upper of any two adjacent -tiles overlaps the lower of said two adjacent tiles with a lower surface of the upper tile facing an upper surface of the lower tile, the lower tile being fastened to a support by means of a fastening element passing through an aperture in the lower tile, which aperture is located in a region of the lower tile which is overlapped by the upper tile, the fastening element having an 347~

enlarged head spaced from the upper surface of the lower tile, and the upper tile having at least partly embedded in its lower surfaces, and integral therewith, a longitudinally extending locking member having a channel in which is slideably received the enlarged head of the fastening element, the channel having laterally inwardly projecting portions engageable with the enlarged head to restrict movement of the upper tile away from the lower tile.
In a preferred feature the fastening element has a second head which engages the upper surface of the lower tile.
According to a preferred feature the locking member has a portion defining the channel and at least one projection embedded in the lower surface of the upper tile.
According to a further preferred feature the projection extends longitudinally of the locking member and is of generally T-shaped cross section.
An embodiment of the broad aspects of this disclosure will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a locking channel member, Fig. 2 illustrates a double-headed nail, Fig. 3 is a section looking up the roof illustrating a locking channel member partly embedded in an upper roof tile, and ... ..

., . '~: ' ` , r, Fig. 4 is a sectional view from one side illus~rating the overlap of two tiles fixed by the system of this disclosure.
In the embodiment described the tiles secured are roof tiles, which are particularly vulnerable to wind uplift, but it will be appreciated that the method of fixing tiles herein disclosed may be applied to other forms o tiles and similar overlapping cladding elemen~s which need to be secured to each other as well as to a base member such as a batten.
The locking channel member 7 shown in Figure 1 comprises two oppositely facing elongate members 1, 2 each having an ~-shaped cross-section. These L-shaped members are connected along their length by means of a transverse web member 3. The oppositely facing members 1,2 are spaced apart so as to define a slot 4 in the channel member which extends along the length of the channel member. About the outer side of the channel member are provided attached keying projections 5 which secure the channel member to the roof tile in a manner to be described below.
The keying projections may be o any suitable form but preferably extend along the length of the channel member and have a T-shaped cross-section.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the fixing system in use with a single-headed nail, though a double-headed nail 10, as shown in Fig. 2 for example, may also be used, as may any suitable fas~ening element.
When tiling a roof each tile 6 is hung from a tiling batten 8 at its upper end with the lower end of the tile overlying the upper end of another tile, as is shown in Fig. 4. Each roof-tile 6 is formed with a channel member 7 keyed into the region o~ the tile which, in use, overlies a lower tile To secure the tiles to the roof the lower tile is fixed to the tiling batten by a nail 9 extending through the tile 6. If a double-headed nail is used the nail may be hammered into the batten to the fullest extent possible, but if a standard single-headed clout head nail is used the head of the nail must be left slightly proud of the tile surface. The next overlying tile is then laid so that the locking channel engages the nail head, that is either the proud head of a standard nail or the upper head of a double-headed nail, with the shaft of the nail passing through the slot 4 in the locking channel member. The upper end of the overlying tile is then nailed to its own tiling batten and the process is repeated until the roof is covered.
The locking channel member needs only to be of sufficient length to allow the tile qauge to be adjusted without any detriment to the secure fixing of the t7les to the roof. The channel member may be made of any suitable material, such as non-ferrous metal or plastics material, but must be sufficiently strong to withstand the expected wind forces. The nails used are preferably of stainless steel for extra strength around the clout head, and may also be of the annular ring type so that the resistance to withdrawal from the batten is increased.
~he tiles may be formed with the locking channels in a simple manner. The tile pallet is provided with a suitable depression in which is placed a locking channel member having attached keying projections, so that the projections extend into the space to be filled with tile mixture.
The pallet then enters the tile-making machine so that after the tile is made and cured the channel member is proud of the tile ~ut securely fixed ,: .

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to the tile by means of the keying projec~ions which are embedded within the tile, as is shown in Fig. 3. In this manner a tile is produced having a locking channel member securely attached to the tile. ~rhe locking channel member should be securely embedded within the tile so that there is no tendancy for the channel member and the tile to break apart under the action of strong wind uplift.
Modifications to the specific embodiment and to any broad aspects thereof referred to or suggested herein may be apparaent to those skilled in the art and the disclosure hereof is intended to encompass any such modifications.

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Claims (4)

1. A tile system comprising a plurality of downwardly longitudinally extending tiles, in which the upper of any two adjacent tiles overlaps the lower of said two adjacent tiles with a lower surface of the upper tile facing an upper surface of the lower tile, the lower tile being fastened to a support by means of a fastening element passing through an aperture in the lower tile, which aperture is located in a region of the lower tile which is overlapped by the upper tile, the fastening element having an enlarged head spaced from the upper surface of the lower tile, and the upper tile having at least partly embedded in its lower surfaces, and integral therewith, a longitudinally extending locking member having a channel in which is slideably received the enlarged head of the fastening element, the channel having laterally inwardly projecting portions engageable with the enlarged head to restrict movement of the upper tile away from the lower tile.

2. A tile system according to claim 1, in which the fastening element has a second head which engages the upper surface of the lower tile.

3. A tile system according to claim 1, in which the locking member has a portion defining the channel and at least one projection embedded in the lower surface of the upper tile.

4. A tile system according to claim 1, in which the projection extends longitudinally of the locking member and is of generally T-shaped cross-section.