EP0375802B1 - Roof shingle - Google Patents

Abstract

A shingle system for covering sloping roofs and also capable of being used as wall cladding. The shingles are made from a thermally insulating material and each main shingle (10) comprises, on its lower face (14), a network of intersecting channels (24, 26) communicating with the channels of adjacent shingles for ventilation of the space between the support surface and the shingles, in order to prevent water condensing. The shingles are spread out in intersecting rows and in longitudinal rows and comprise keys (58, 60) for blocking, between them, adjacent shingles along the two types of rows. The shingles have water-repellent barriers (46, 48) at their upper faces (12) for preventing rainwater swept by the wind from penetrating the junctions between the adjacent shingles and from emerging on the support surface. Concealed passages (62, 64) are provided in order to facilitate the flow of this water therein. Ridge shingles, as well as shingles for side edges, are also proposed for preventing water reaching the support surface, while allowing free circulation of air between the shingles and the support surface. A fascia board is also provided for the same purpose. <IMAGE>

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to thermally insulating shingles for use as a roofing system and also as a wall covering.

STATE OF THE ART

Known roofing systems for pitched roofs, such as shingles made of asphalt, terracotta and the like, do not allow ventilation under the shingles and it often happens that at cold temperatures, the humidity of the house gets condenses under the shingles, leading to the formation of ice at the edge of the roof, which blocks water flow and causes water infiltration. Heating wires to thaw ice must then be installed on the shingles. Visual appeal suffers, and it is difficult to maintain.

The joints between the known shingles constituting a roof covering are not waterproof, particularly under the action of windswept rain, and therefore, there is often water infiltration under strong wind conditions.

Known thermally insulating shingles have the same disadvantages.

Terracotta shingles, which improve the aesthetics of a roof, are fragile and therefore, their handling is made difficult; they are heavy and therefore require roofing reinforcements and are also afflicted with ice formation and water infiltration by wind-blown rain.

Furthermore, from document GB-A-2 039 562, a shingle consisting of a unitary quadrangular body already made of an insulating material is already known, having a bottom face, a top face, a front edge face and a rear edge face substantially parallel to each other, a right side edge face and a left side edge face generally parallel to each other, a rear peripheral rim and a right edge peripheral rim projecting upward from said upper face and adjacent to said rear edge face and said right side edge face, respectively, and connected at a right rear corner defined by the junction of said rear edge face with said right side edge face; each peripheral rim having a top face and an inner face joining with said upper face; said top face of said rear edge defining attachment regions for attaching said shingle to an underlying support surface; said upper face extending by a marginal front extension of said body which overhangs said front edge face and which has an underside; said upper face extending by a left side marginal extension of said body which overhangs said left side edge face, said left side marginal extension forming a ridge projecting upward from said upper face and extending at from the front edge of said front marginal extension to said rear edge face, said crest having a bottom face which is generally in the plane of the top face, the rim on the right side and the part of the top face from the rear edge which is adjacent to the edge on the right side, said front and left marginal extensions having a dependent front edge and a dependent left edge projecting downward from the underside of said marginal extensions respectively, said dependent front edges and left each having an inner face, joining with the face from below said front marginal extension and with the bottom face of said left marginal extension, respectively, the spacing in a plane parallel to said upper face between the inner face of said front dependent flange and said front edge face being greater than the spacing, in a plane parallel to said upper face, between the inner face of said rear edge and said rear edge face, the spacing in a plane parallel to said upper face, between the inner face of said dependent left edge and said edge face on the left side being greater than the spacing, in the plane parallel to said upper face, between the inner face of said right rim projecting upward and said right side face.

It will be noted that, in such a known shingle, the water which can flow downwards appears outside at the front end of said shingle. As a result, if ice has formed there, the water is forced back and overflows.

GOALS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide shingles which circumvent the above-mentioned disadvantages and which improve the shingle of the type mentioned above.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a shingle that insulates against the cold; which prevents water condensation under the shingle; which prevents the infiltration of windswept rain; and which is light while being strong enough to be walked on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set of shingles in which all the joints are invisible; in which the shingles can be constructed in such a way as to look like terracotta shingles of various designs which can be very quickly spread over a roof and even on time-worn and already existing roof coverings without having to remove them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, according to the invention, the shingle of the type mentioned above is characterized in that:
(a) it is of decreasing thickness from said front edge face to said rear edge face; (b) said bottom face has intersecting channels opening at all of said edge faces; (c) said front and rear edge faces are tilted forward and downward at about the same angle with respect to said bottom face; (d) said rear edge protrudes upward from the rear end of said ridge; (e) said crest tapering from front to back of said body; (f) said crest has a cavity made in its adjacent free side face and in front of said rear edge, the latter projecting upwards from the underside of said cavity; (g) said right-hand peripheral rim ends at its front end below the front edge of said front marginal extension; and (h) the right part of the front marginal extension and the front part of the front edge face form an offset;
said shingle being intended to abut, overlap above and below identical shingles when all of said shingles are in use, their undersides of which rest flat on a sloping or vertical support surface with said front edge face of each shingle having a substantially constant lower level and its rear edge face at a substantially constant upper level, with all said shingles arranged in longitudinal rows in the direction of slope and in crossed rows transverse to said direction of slope , said shingles being thus arranged only when in service, for any given network of four adjacent shingles, namely: a first lower shingle and a second upper shingle in the same left longitudinal row, a third lower shingle and a fourth upper shingle in the same right longitudinal row with said first and third lower shingles in the same lower cross row and with said second and fourth shingles in the same upper cross row, the face of front edge of said second and fourth shingles mating and mating with the rear edge face of said first and third shingles, respectively, and the marginal front extension of said second and fourth shingles overlaps said rear edge of said first and third shingles, respectively , the left edge face of said third and fourth shingles abutting against the right edge face of said first and second shingles, respectively, said left marginal extension of said third and fourth shingles overlapping said right projecting rim of said first and second shingles, respectively, the front depending rim of said second and fourth shingles coming into contact with the upper face of said first and third shingles, respectively, the left dependent rim of said third and fourth shingles coming into contact with the upper face of said first and second shingles respectively, with the faces interior of each pair of front and rear edges and each pair of protruding right edge and left dependent edge spaced from each other to define a hidden rear passage at the rear of said first and third shingles, and a hidden side passage the along the left side of said first and second shingles, said rear and side passages communicating with the right rear corner of said first shingle and with the cavity of said third shingle, the side passage along said second shingle being closed at its front end by the front edge depending on said fourth shingle and e entering into communication with said cavity of said third shingle around the front end of the right projecting rim of said second shingle, said offset of said second shingle receiving the rear end portion of the outer side face of the crest of said third shingle.

Ridge shingles, roof siding shingles and fascia planks are also included in this roofing system.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

• Figure 1 shows a partial perspective view of a left side of a double pitched roof, partially covered with a shingle system according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial front end view of a fascia board and main shingles overlapping that one;
• Figure 3 is a partial section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a partial section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4;
• Figure 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 1;
• Figure 8 is a partial section taken along 8-8 of Figure 7;
• Figure 9 and Figure 10 are perspective views respectively from above and below from a main shingle;
• Figure 11 is a perspective perspective view of a second embodiment of the main shingle;
• Figure 12 is a top plan view of a main shingle;
• Figure 13 and Figure 14 are elevational views of the left and right sides of the same shingle, respectively, and also taken along lines 13-13 and 14-14 of Figure 17;
• Figure 15 and Figure 16 are front elevation and rear end views respectively of a main shingle;
• Figure 17 is a bottom plan view of a main shingle;
• Figures 18 to 24 are sections taken respectively along lines 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, 23-23 and 24-24 of Figure 17;
• Figure 25 is a top plan view of several main shingles arranged in longitudinal and crossed rows, with one missing shingle;
• Figure 26 is a top plan view of a network of four main shingles, each being partially shown and about to be connected to the others;
• Figure 27 is a view similar to that of Figure 26, but the two upper shingles are connected and, similarly, the two lower shingles are also connected;
• Figure 28 is a section taken along line 28-28 of Figure 27;
• Figures 29 and 30 are partial front elevation views taken along lines 29-29 and 30-30 of Figure 26;
• Figure 31 is a partial section taken along line 31-31 of Figure 27;
• Figure 32 is a partial elevation rear end view taken along lines 32-32 of Figure 26;
• Figure 33 is a rear partial elevation view taken along line 33-33 of Figure 27;
• Figure 34 is a view similar to that of Figure 26 but showing three connected shingles and the shingle which remains not yet connected to the others;
• Figure 35 is an elevational view of the underside of a series of interconnected shingles;
  and
• Figures 36, 37 and 38 are partial plan views of the underside of a network of four shingles, shown just before being joined together in Figure 36, paired together in Figure 37, and three shingles joined together and one shingle about to be joined to the others in Figure 38.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

If we refer to Figures 1 and 9 to 11, we see a main shingle 10 comprising a structure with two crests in Figures 1, 9 and 10, and a main shingle 10 ′ with a structure with a single crest in Figure 11. These two types of shingles are basically the same, the shingle of Figure 11, however, covering a smaller area.

The description will be made in relation to the shingles in Figures 9 and 10.

The shingle generally identified by the reference number 10 is made from a thermally insulating material, for example a plastic foam, preferably a high density polystyrene foam of 0.048 to 0.064 gram per cubic centimeter (g \ cm³). Each shingle 10 comprises an upper face 12, a lower surface 14, a front edge face 16, a rear edge face 18 (see FIG. 13), a left side edge face 20 (see FIG. 10), and a right-hand edge face 22 (see FIG. 15).

The shingle has four sides with the side faces 16 and 18 parallel to each other and the edge faces 20, 22 also parallel to each other. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the shingles 10 are intended to be extended and locked to one another in crossed rows parallel to the fascia board of the roof and in longitudinal rows towards the ridge of the roof. In the example shown, the shingles can be successively extended both in crossed rows and in longitudinal rows, starting with the lower left corner of the roof. When the shingles are extended in crossed rows, the left side face 20 of a tail shingle is intended to abut against the right side edge 22 of a head shingle. Likewise, the shingles of a longitudinal row abut each other with the rear side face 18 of a head shingle in contact with the front edge face 16 of a tail shingle.

Examination of FIGS. 10 and 17 reveals that the lower face 14 comprises a network of channels elongated in the longitudinal direction, 24, and at least one crossing channel 26 intersecting the channels 24, all these channels opening to the front edge faces. and rear 16, 18 and to the left and right side edge faces 20 and 22 of the shingle 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 35, when the shingles are arranged so that their edge faces are in respective shoulder, all the channels 24 and 26 come opposite one another, which allows a free air circulation between the underside of the shingle assembly and the flat support surface 28 (see FIG. 1) on which the shingles 10 are extended. Consequently, the air is free to circulate from the lower edge to the upper edge of the roof, both longitudinally towards the ridge and transversely through the roof. The shingles insulate against the cold, this air which is in contact with the support surface 28 will not be sufficiently cooled to create water condensation in this space and therefore, no formation of ice will appear between the shingles and the support surface.

Each shingle 10 is molded into an integral unit and therefore, the pyramidal structures 30 and 32, shown on the underside of a shingle (see FIGS. 10, 17 and 35) are intended to facilitate the ejection of the shingle from its mold at the end of the cycle vulcanization.

Each shingle 10 has a front marginal extension 34, which forms a continuity of the upper face 22 and which overlaps the front edge face 16. Each shingle 10 has a left marginal extension 36, which also forms a left extension of the upper face 12 and which overlaps the left side edge face 20 (see Figure 10).

Crests 38, 40, extending in the longitudinal direction are formed respectively at the upper face 22 and at the left marginal extension 36, each being generally trapezoidal in shape when viewed in section, and becoming longitudinally bevelled from front to rear of the shingle 10. The lower faces 42 and 44 of the front marginal extension 34 and of the left marginal extension 36 conform to the shapes of the ridges 38 and 40 respectively.

As clearly shown, for example in FIGS. 18 to 21, the thickness of each shingle 10 decreases progressively from front to rear, that is to say the top or top face 12 and the bottom face or lower 14 converge towards the rear edge of the shingle. Each shingle 10 comprises on the rear edge a flange 46, projecting upwards, and on its right side a flange 48, projecting upwards forming a continuity of the flange 46. The flange 46 follows the outline of the ridges 38, 40 .

As shown in Figures 10 and 20, the front marginal extension 34 has a flange 50, which projects downward from the bottom face 42. Similarly, the left marginal extension 36 includes a flange 52 on its edge which rim projects downwards from its underside 44 (see Figures 10 and 15).

As shown in Figure 12, the rim protruding 46 forms a nailing surface behind the shingle 10, as shown by the spaced circles 54, for the insertion of a screw for fixing the shingle to a support surface 28. Preferably, sealing washers are used with the screws, and the compression of the foam material generated by the screws is compensated for by the rear cavities 56, so that the rear edge face 15 of the shingle in the regions of the screws will not move in order to prevent a incorrect coupling of the key means described below.

Key means are provided to prevent the front of each shingle from being lifted out of the head shingle of the same longitudinal row. To this end, as shown in Figures 18 to 24, the front edge face 16 forms at its lower portion a surface portion inclined forward and downward, 58, intended to engage the beveled portion and inclined towards the top and rear of the rear edge face 60, of the shingle of the same longitudinal row. Consequently, the front male key 58 engages the key 60. These figures also show that the male key 58 has a flattened tip 61 so that, when two adjacent shingles of a longitudinal row are put together, a cavity is formed to receive any accumulated granules that could be dislodged when the shingles are spread over existing asphalt tiles. FIGS. 18 to 24 also show that a crossing passage 62 is formed on the top face 12 of a head shingle between the projecting rim 46 of a head shingle and a downward-directed rim 50 of a shingle tail.

In the same way, as shown in FIG. 28, when two adjacent shingles 10, 10 of the same intersecting row are leaned at their side edge faces, a longitudinal passage 64 is formed between the protruding straight edge 48 of the left lead shingle and the lower edge 52 of a straight tail shingle. Obviously, the crossing passage 62 communicates with the longitudinal passage 64. It is already understood that any rain carried by the wind in the direction of the roof ridge (arrow A in FIG. 25) or in a direction to the right, and which can penetrate the joint between the lower edge 50 of a tail shingle and the upper face 12 of a head shingle of the same longitudinal row, or the joint between the lower edge 52 of a tail shingle and the upper face 12 of a head shingle of the same crossing row, will be effectively prevented by the edges 46, 48 which act as screens or water-repellent barriers, which will prevent the overflow of water from these edges and penetrate the joints between the edge faces of the adjacent shingles. These passages are also effective in preventing water infiltration into the joints by capillary action between the contact faces.

In addition, the passages 62 and 64 allow the water in these passages to flow from the shingles as indicated by the arrows B. To this end, each shingle (see FIGS. 9 and 26) comprises an inclined cavity 66 at its rear left corner made in the left marginal extension 36 immediately in front of the projecting rim 46. In addition, the front portion of the projecting rim 48 is cut, as shown at 70 in FIG. 9 and also in FIG. 26 , so that this rim ends below the front edge of the front marginal extension 34.

It can be seen in FIGS. 25 to 27 and 34 that the rainwater flowing in the longitudinal passage 64 along the shingle 10A, as indicated by the arrows B and which can be stopped by the lower overlapping rim 50 of the shingle 10B of the same crossing row, is free to move laterally through the cutouts or openings 70, then down through the inclined cavity 66 of the shingle 10C placed diagonally; then directly back into the longitudinal passage 64 of the shingle 10D, which is the head shingle of the longitudinal row containing the shingle 10. Consequently, the flow of water can be carried out downwards from the hidden or hidden passages 62, 64 of the shingles of the same longitudinal row to the lower edge of the roof.

In order to allow easier automatic alignment of the first crossing row of shingles 10 along the front edge of the roof, each shingle comprises at its rear left corner, as shown in FIG. 10, a stop member 72 projecting towards the bottom, while each shingle has a recess 74 (see FIG. 9) at its rear right corner, this recess 74 being made in the rear edge face 18 and in the right side edge face 22. Thus, a plurality of shingles of the leading row are successively placed on the support surface 22, so that the stop 72 of a tail shingle abuts the rib 74 of a head shingle. After aligning three shingles arranged with the edge of the roof, the shingles are then screwed in place.

The ridges 38, 40, when coupled, allow automatic alignment of the successive shingles in the same longitudinal row. The longitudinal ridge bevel 38, 40 is equal to the thickness of these ridge walls at the front marginal extension 34, so that the front extension 34 of a tail shingle will mate with the rear marginal surface of the upper face of the head shingle of the same longitudinal row. To this end also, it can be seen in FIGS. 9, 15, 29, 30 and 34 that the right front corner of each shingle 10 has an offset portion 76, bevelled, from the side edge face to receive and mate with the edge face 78 inclined down from the left marginal extension 36 to the rear left corner of the shingle 10C, which is diagonally down from the shingle 10A (see the figure 34).

Figures 10 and 32 show that the rear end of the lower side edge 52 is cut at 79 to receive the rear right corner formed by the edges 46, 48 of the head shingle of the same crossing row.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, it is clear that the arrangement of the main shingles 10 forms a covering in which the joints between the shingles are invisible even if the flow of water between the upper surface of a shingle is definitively made possible and this even in the internal passages 62, 64, from one shingle to another and from the ridge to the lower front edge of the roof.

The internal or masked passages 62, 64 which are connected from shingle to shingle cannot be blocked by the ice even if the ice is present on the top of the shingles. Therefore, if the ice adheres to the exposed surface of the shingle, this ice cannot reach and block the hidden internal passages 62, 64 and their connection from shingle to shingle. Therefore, water can flow freely down the roof, and no reflux of water will be produced by the ice which would cause leaks at the shingle joints.

The coating system of the invention also comprises, for a double-pitched roof, ridge shingles, generally indicated by the reference 80 in FIGS. 1 and 7. Each ridge shingle 80 can also be made of a thermal insulating material, such as polystyrene foam. It has an elongated shape and a V-shaped section to conform to the double roof pitch. Each shingle has at its front edge a downward-facing rim 82. Each shingle 80 is longitudinally bevelled in thickness, as shown in FIG. 8, and comprises at its rear edge a rim 84 projecting upward to cooperate with the edge 82 down from the head shingle 80 of the row. Each shingle 80 further includes a rim 86 from the side edge down.

This downward-facing rim 86 is positioned so as to overlap the rear marginal portions of the highest crossing row of shingles 10, or similar shingles 10E, the rear marginal portion having been cut according to the width of the remaining portion of the roof. to be covered with 10E shingles.

With this arrangement, the air flowing upwards under the shingles 10 from the front of the roof to the peak, and indicated by the arrows C, can escape into the atmosphere by flowing under the tiles. ridge 80 and around the rim 86 oriented downwards.

Also, the air from the attic of the house which escapes through the ridge 90 between the upper edge of the support surface 28, can escape into the atmosphere along the passage defined by the arrows D.

The downward-facing rim 86 of the roof shingles 80 simply rests on the ridges 38.40 of the shingles 10 or 10E, and can conform to follow the contour of the upper surface of the shingles 10 or 10E, while leaving a space for the exhaust of the ventilation air. The shingle 10 shown in FIG. 8 is not drawn in its true sectional shape since this FIG. 8 is only presented to show how the ridge tiles 80 mate with the shingles 10.

The roof system of the invention comprises also side shingles, generally indicated by 92, and illustrated by FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. These shingles can also be made of a thermal insulating material and molded in one piece. They are bevelled longitudinally, so as to overlap each other; they have an L-shaped section, so as to provide a vertical side leg 94 and a horizontal upper leg 96 to overhang the side of the roof and the top of an adjacent shingle 10F, ie a shingle 10 in which the marginal extension left side 36 and ridge 38 have been cut.

The internal surface of the vertical tab 94 is provided with spacers 98 to form a stop for the following head side shingle 92 and to provide an interior space 100 for the ventilation air coming from outside and flowing laterally through the crossing channels 26, made on the undersides of the shingles 10 and 10F. Therefore, ventilation under the shingles is not prevented along the sides of the roof, while the side shingles 92 along the side of the roof have an aesthetic appearance. Also provided are mirror images of the side shingles 92 for the right side of the roof, and the right sides of the shingles in the last longitudinal tail row are cut so that they can be placed under the tab 96.

Figures 1 and 3 show a fascia board 102 to complete the finish of the roof and to anchor the front edge of the lowest crossing row of shingles 10. The fascia board 102 is L-shaped in section and forms an upper tab 104 straddling the top of the roof and a lower tab 106 in front of the gutter panel 108. In the two tabs 104 and 106, there are internal passages 110 for the ventilation air C for its flow through the network of channels 24, 26 of the shingles. Air C can also enter the channels 24 through the eaves slot 111.

The upper surface of the upper tab 104 is of such a longitudinal shape that it conforms to the ridges 38, 40 of the shingles 10, so as to close the openings formed on the underside of said ridges. The rear edge of the tab 104 is bevelled to form a female key 112, to couple with the front male key 58 of the shingles 10 of the crossing head row. This tab 104 is also of such a shape that a passage 114 exists for the evacuation of surface water out of the lower edge of the roof into the gutter, not shown, normally present along the lower edge of the roof.

All the shingles within the framework of the present invention preferably consist of a coating made of a rigid synthetic resin, with which small rock particles are mixed, in order to provide a finish of any desired color, and also to reinforce the shingles. , so you can easily walk on it.

The shingles 10 can be attached to any surface 28, as well in the case of a newly built house consisting of eg plywood panels as illustrated in Figures 1, 4, 7 and 8, or they can be directly attached to, eg, used or "decrepit" asphalt shingles, ie having already reached their useful age limit, but without having to remove them. Therefore, the shingles according to the invention can be fixed directly to any generally flat surface, even if there are irregularities on said surface.

In the description and the drawings, main shingles 10 are described which are extended from left to right in crossed rows. Obviously, the shingles 10 can be modified to be extended from right to left with, among other things, the marginal left extension of the shingle 10 disposed on the right side of the modified shingle. Therefore, the right and left terms used in the claims are reversible so that the claims are also valid for a modified shingle.

Claims (7)

1. A shingle consisting of a one-piece quadrangular body (10), made of insulating material, having a flat under face (14), a body top face (12), a front edge face (16) and a back edge face (18) substantially parallel to each other, a right-hand side edge face (22) and a left-hand side edge face (20) generally parallel to each other, a back peripheral flange (46) and a right-hand peripheral flange (48) upwardly projecting from said body top face (12) and adjacent said back edge face (18) and said right-hand side edge face (22), respectively, and interconnected at a back right-hand corner defined by the junction of said back edge face (18) with said right-hand side edge face (22); each peripheral flange (46, 48) having a top face (46a, 48a) and an inner face (46b, 48b) joining with said body top face (12); said top face (46a) of said back flange defining fastening areas (54) to fasten said shingle to an underlying support surface; said body top face (12) extended by a front marginal extension (34) of said body (10) which overhangs said front edge face (16) and which has an underface (42); said body top face (12) extended by a left-hand side marginal extension (36) of said body (10) which overhangs said left-hand side edge face (20); said left-hand side marginal extension (36) forming a rib (38) upstanding from said body top face (12) and extending from the front edge (50) of said front marginal extension (34) to said back edge face (18), said rib having an under face (44) which is substantially within the plane with the top face (48a) of the right-hand flange (48) and with the part of the top face (46a) of said back flange (46) which is proximate said right-hand flange (48); said front and left-hand marginal extensions (34, 36) having a front dependent flange (50) and a left-hand dependent flange (52) downwardly protruding from the under faces (42, 44) of said marginal extensions (36, 34), respectively, said front- and left-hand dependent flanges (50, 52) each having an inner face (50a, 52a) joining with the underface (44) of said front marginal extension (34) and with the underface (42) of said left-hand marginal extension (36), respectively, the spacing, in a plane parallel to said top face (12), between the inner face (50a) of said front dependent flange (50) and said front edge face (16) being greater than the spacing, in a plane parallel to said top face (12), between the inner face (46a) of said back flange (46) and said back edge face (18), the spacing, in a plane parallel to said top face (12), between the inner face (52a) of said left-hand dependent flange (52) and said left-hand side edge face (20) being greater than the spacing, in the plane parallel to said top face (12), between the inner face (48b) of said right-hand upstanding flange (48) and said right-hand side edge face (22);
   wherein said shingle is characterized as follows:

   (a) it is of decreasing thickness from said front edge face (16) to said back edge face (18);

   (b) said under face (14) has intersecting channels (24, 26) opening at all said edge faces;

   (c) said front and back edge faces (16, 18) are at least partially forwardly and downwardly inclined at substantially the same angle (60, 58) relative to said underface (14);

   (d) said back flange (46) is also upstanding from the rear end of said rib (38);

   (e) said rib (38) tapers from front to back of said body;

   (f) said rib (38) has a notch (66), made in its free edge face adjacent and forwardly of said back flange (46), the latter upwardly projecting from the lower face of said notch (66);

   (g) said right-hand peripheral flange (48) terminating at its front end (70) short of the front edge of said front marginal extension (34); and

   (h) the right-hand part of said front marginal extension (34) and the front portion of the right-hand side edge face (16) form an offset (76);

   whereby said shingle is destined to abut and overlap above and beneath identical shingles when all said shingles are in service, with their under faces flatly resting on a sloping or vertical support surface with said front edge face of each shingle having a substantially constant lower level and said back edge face having a substantially constant upper level, with all said shingles arranged in longitudinal slopewise rows and in cross-rows transverse to said slopewise direction, said shingles being thus assembled so that in service, for any given network of four adjacent shingles, namely: a first lower shingle and a second upper shingle in the same left-hand longitudinal row, a third lower shingle and a fourth upper shingle in the same right-hand longitudinal row with said first and third lower shingles in the same lower cross-row and with said second and fourth shingles in the same upper cross-row, said front edge face of said second and fourth shingles abutting against and interlocking with the back edge face of said first and third shingles, respectively, and with the front marginal extension of said second and fourth shingles overlapping said back flange of said first and third shingles, respectively, the left-hand edge face of said third and fourth shingles abutting against the right-hand edge face of said first and second shingles, respectively, said left-hand marginal extension of said third and fourth shingles overlapping said upstanding right-hand flange of said first and second shingles, respectively, the front dependent flange of said second and fourth shingles contacting the top face of said first and third shingles, respectively, the left-hand dependent flange of said third and fourth shingles contacting the top face of said first and second shingles respectively, with the inner faces of each pair of front and back flanges and of each pair of right-hand upstanding flange and left-hand dependent flange spaced from each other to define a back concealed passage at the back of said first and third shingles, and a side concealed passage along the left-hand side of said first and second shingles, said back and side passages intercommunicating at the back right-hand corner of said first shingle and with the notch of said third shingle, the side passage along said second shingle being closed at its forward end by the front dependent flange of said fourth shingle and communicating with said notch of said third shingle around the front end of the right-hand upstanding flange of said second shingle, said offset of said second shingle receiving the rear end portion of the outer side face of the rib of said third shingle.
2. A shingle as defined in claim 1,
   wherein said top face (12) is flat and said rib (38) upstands from said top flat face.
3. A shingle as defined in claim 2,
   wherein said rib (38) has an external surface which is of cross-sectionally-trapezoidal shape.
4. A shingle as defined in claim 2,
   wherein it comprises at its back left-hand corner with a stop member (72) downwardly protruding from the under face of its left-hand marginal extension (36), said shingle being provided at its back right-hand corner with a notch (74) made in said back edge face (18) and in said right-hand side edge face (22), said notch (74) adapted to receive the stop member (72) of an adjacent right-hand shingle in the same cross row to align the two shingles in said same cross row.
5. A shingle as defined in claim 2,
   wherein the inner face (46b) of said back upstanding flange (46) makes a right angle with said body top face (12) and the inner face (50a) of said front dependent flange (50) is downwardly forwardly inclined.
6. A shingle as defined in claim 5,
   wherein the inner face (48b) of said right-hand upstanding flange (48) makes a right angle with said top face (12).
7. A shingle as defined in claim 4,
   wherein the portion of said front dependent flange (50), which depends from the front end of said rib (38), has a contour for contacting the external surface of the rear end of the rib (38) from a lower shingle in the same longitudinal row.

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