GB1591627A - Roof ventilation - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOF VENTILATION (71) We, BERARD S.A. TUILERIE NOR MANDE DU MAIZERET, residing at 14940 Sannerville, France, a body corporate organised and existing under the laws of France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to the ventilation of the interior of a roof constituted by roofing elements which are disposed in courses and columns and which comprise partly overlapping covering parts.

Fittings for ventilation are known, for example ventilation tiles or the like, which are distributed over the roof and which are difficult to group and multiply for aesthetic reasons. This results in considerable difficulty in ensuring a sufficiently effective ventilation with these fittings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide elements for ventilation which enable an extremely effective ventilation of the interior of the roof to be obtained.

According to the present invention there is provided a ventilation tile for roofing and adapted to be substituted for a tile of a roofing made of flat tiles hooked on battens and disposed in partly overlapping horizontal courses with the tiles of successive courses having staggered joints, the ventilation tile having a covering part which is wholly flat and of which the rear zone is provided with means for hooking the tile on the battens, and at least one downwardly directed appendage beneath the flat part and integral therewith to cause the front edge of said flat part to be raised with respect to front edge of the substituted tile.

The fact that the covering part of the ventilation tiles of the present invention is similar to the covering part of the other tiles of the roofing presents the considerable advantage that it is possible to ensure both a highly effective ventilation of the interior of the roof and the required weather-tightness.

The invention respects the regulations on flat tiles in that there is a triple overlap, which is considered as the requirement to render the roof weather-tight, in view of the staggered joints between successive tiles of successive courses.

As the ventilation elements are substantially identical in appearance to the other roofing elements, at least certain of the ventilation elements may easily be disposed in at least one continuous course or along the major part of at least one course.

It is particularly recommended to dispose at least certain of the ventilation elements in a continuous or virtually continuous course as a gutter overhang. This course may itself be concealed by the gutter.

The course may be disposed other than as a gutter overhang, particularly in the case of the gutter being a built-in gutter. In this case, this course is disposed just above the built-in gutter.

Said ventilation elements are preferably disposed in courses disposed on the perimeter of the roof.

Normally, ventilation elements are also disposed in the top of the roofing, for example in the second or third course from the top of the roof.

The invention thus allows an air inlet between each rafter or truss of the timbers and, if desired, an air outlet at the top.

Another advantage of the invention is that it enables the eaves board to be eliminated.

The invention is applicable to all flat roofing elements to be fastened on battens such for example as flat tiles, interlocking tiles, shingles, slate, which are made of clay or artificial matter (e.g. concrete, fibro-cement, ...

In the case of interlocking tiles, the ventilation elements according to the invention can only be used at the bottom of the roof, the air outlet at the top being ensured by conventional fittings.

The ventilation tile has at least one appendage disposed beneath the covering part sufficient to cause the front edge of the covering part to be raised by at least 2 cm.

In an advantageous embodiment, said element comprises at least one appendage constituted by a downwardly directed longitudinal rib.

A ventilation element made of clay, according to the present invention, will be described hereinafter by way of example, adapted to be incorporated in a flat-tile roofing, said element being characterised in that its covering part constitutes a flat tile of which the rear zone is provided with the conventional means for hooking a flat tile on a batten of the roof, the tile comprising, in front of this zone and beneath the covering part, at least one and preferably two appendages constituted by downwardly directed longitudinal, triangular, ribs.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a perspective view of the element according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an outside view of a roofing comprising two courses of such elements, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the roofing of Fig. 2; Referring now to the drawings, the ventilation element is constituted by a flat tile 1 which comprises a rear zone provided with means for hooking the tile on the battens 9 and which comprises, in front of this rear zone, two downwardly directed side ribs 2, 3.

The hooking means may be of any type, for example, in manner known per se, lugs 4 integral with the tile and/or holes 4' for receiving nails.

The ribs are for example triangular in form; the front edges 5, 6 of the ribs and the front edge 7 of the flat part 1 of the tile give the tile a frontal cross section in the form of an upturned U.

The triangular form is not limiting, nor are the dimensions of the ribs.

This tile is adapted to be incorporated in a flat-tile roofing. Its width is identical to that of the conventional flat tile 10 of the roofing or is a multiple of the width of the conventional tile 10.

If the ventilation tile is to be disposed at the gutter overkv . g, its length is that of a short tile and if it is to be disposed at the top of the roof or as an intermediate course on the slope of the roof, its length is that of a normal tile.

The thickness of the first part 1 of the ventilation element is for example equal to the thickness of the conventional tile 10. The ribs are chosen so that the height of the air passages beneath the flat part I of the tile is at least 2 cm. The thickness of these ribs is for example similar to the thickness of part 1 of the tile.

To ensure ventilation with elements according to the present invention, these elements are disposed in courses and one or more of these courses are incorporated in the roofing.

For example, one course is disposed as gutter overhang, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 where the elements of this course have been designated by reference 7.

The gutter overhang course allows the introduction of air to the interior of the roofing and it is recommended to dispose another course of elements 8 in the top part of the roofing to constitute air outlet openings (Figs. 2 and 3). The elements of the present invention and conventional ventilation fittings may be used jointly.

Within the scope of the present invention, continuous courses of elements are preferably used, but this does, of course, not exclude the possibility of separating the elements, if so desired.

The triangular form of the ribs is not limiting and the U-section could, as a variant, be a T-section or L-section (in the case of one rib only being placed in the centre or on the side).

In other variants, the ribs are reduced to studs or rods. The ribs may be indented.

In any case, the ventilation tile replaces a short tile or a normal tile, according to where it is used.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A ventilation tile for roofing and adapted to be substituted for a tile of a roofing made of flat tiles hooked on battens and disposed in partly overlapping horizontal courses with the tiles of successive courses having staggered joints, the ventilation tile having a covering part which is wholly flat and of which the rear zone is provided with means for hooking the tile on the battens, and at least one downwardly directed appendage beneath the flat part and integral therewith to cause the front edge of said flat part to be raised with respect to front edge of the substituted tile.

2. A ventilation tile according to claim 1, wherein said appendage is a longitudinal rib.

3. A ventilation tile according to claim 2, wherein said rib is triangular in form.

4. A ventilation tile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tile is provided with two lateral ribs.

5. A ventilation tile according to claim 1 wherein the frontal cross section of the element is inverted-U or L or T shaped.

6. A ventilation tile according to any of claims I to 5 wherein the rear means for hooking the tile on a batten are lugs integral with the tile and/or holes for receiving nails.

7. A ventilation tile according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tile is made of clay.

8. A ventilation tile for roofing, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. A ventilation element made of clay, according to the present invention, will be described hereinafter by way of example, adapted to be incorporated in a flat-tile roofing, said element being characterised in that its covering part constitutes a flat tile of which the rear zone is provided with the conventional means for hooking a flat tile on a batten of the roof, the tile comprising, in front of this zone and beneath the covering part, at least one and preferably two appendages constituted by downwardly directed longitudinal, triangular, ribs. The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a perspective view of the element according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an outside view of a roofing comprising two courses of such elements, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the roofing of Fig. 2; Referring now to the drawings, the ventilation element is constituted by a flat tile 1 which comprises a rear zone provided with means for hooking the tile on the battens 9 and which comprises, in front of this rear zone, two downwardly directed side ribs 2, 3. The hooking means may be of any type, for example, in manner known per se, lugs 4 integral with the tile and/or holes 4' for receiving nails. The ribs are for example triangular in form; the front edges 5, 6 of the ribs and the front edge 7 of the flat part 1 of the tile give the tile a frontal cross section in the form of an upturned U. The triangular form is not limiting, nor are the dimensions of the ribs. This tile is adapted to be incorporated in a flat-tile roofing. Its width is identical to that of the conventional flat tile 10 of the roofing or is a multiple of the width of the conventional tile 10. If the ventilation tile is to be disposed at the gutter overkv . g, its length is that of a short tile and if it is to be disposed at the top of the roof or as an intermediate course on the slope of the roof, its length is that of a normal tile. The thickness of the first part 1 of the ventilation element is for example equal to the thickness of the conventional tile 10. The ribs are chosen so that the height of the air passages beneath the flat part I of the tile is at least 2 cm. The thickness of these ribs is for example similar to the thickness of part 1 of the tile. To ensure ventilation with elements according to the present invention, these elements are disposed in courses and one or more of these courses are incorporated in the roofing. For example, one course is disposed as gutter overhang, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 where the elements of this course have been designated by reference 7. The gutter overhang course allows the introduction of air to the interior of the roofing and it is recommended to dispose another course of elements 8 in the top part of the roofing to constitute air outlet openings (Figs. 2 and 3). The elements of the present invention and conventional ventilation fittings may be used jointly. Within the scope of the present invention, continuous courses of elements are preferably used, but this does, of course, not exclude the possibility of separating the elements, if so desired. The triangular form of the ribs is not limiting and the U-section could, as a variant, be a T-section or L-section (in the case of one rib only being placed in the centre or on the side). In other variants, the ribs are reduced to studs or rods. The ribs may be indented. In any case, the ventilation tile replaces a short tile or a normal tile, according to where it is used. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A ventilation tile for roofing and adapted to be substituted for a tile of a roofing made of flat tiles hooked on battens and disposed in partly overlapping horizontal courses with the tiles of successive courses having staggered joints, the ventilation tile having a covering part which is wholly flat and of which the rear zone is provided with means for hooking the tile on the battens, and at least one downwardly directed appendage beneath the flat part and integral therewith to cause the front edge of said flat part to be raised with respect to front edge of the substituted tile.

2. A ventilation tile according to claim 1, wherein said appendage is a longitudinal rib.

3. A ventilation tile according to claim 2, wherein said rib is triangular in form.

4. A ventilation tile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tile is provided with two lateral ribs.

5. A ventilation tile according to claim 1 wherein the frontal cross section of the element is inverted-U or L or T shaped.

6. A ventilation tile according to any of claims I to 5 wherein the rear means for hooking the tile on a batten are lugs integral with the tile and/or holes for receiving nails.

7. A ventilation tile according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tile is made of clay.

8. A ventilation tile for roofing, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.