GB2129734A

GB2129734A - Tile fork

Info

Publication number: GB2129734A
Application number: GB08306358A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Claude Terrington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-26
Filing date: 1983-03-08
Publication date: 1984-05-23
Also published as: GB8306358D0; GB2129734B

Abstract

A fork suitable for removing and replacing roof tiles of the type held by nibs on battens and also for handling roof slates can be fitted with a long handle to provide a reach of up to 41 DIVIDED 2 metres (15 feet), making it possible to remove and replace tiles without climbing the roof. The fork is also useful as a tool for handling tile and slates when fitted with a short handle of not less than 0.3m (12 inches) and preferably not more than about 0.6m (24 inches) in length. A short handle of about 0.45m (18 inches) is convenient for many purposes. The fork has two lateral tines FeD which are no longer than the tile or slate to be carried and are adapted to slide lengthwise under that tile or slate, and it has a central tine E which is longer than the tile or slate to be carried and is adapted to pass over that tile or slate and under the lower edge of an overlapping tile or slate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tile fork This invention relates to a fork suitable for removing and replacing roof tiles of the type held by nibs on battens and also for handling roof slates. The fork can be fitted with a long handle to provide a reach of up to 41/2 metres (15 feet), making it possible to remove and replace tiles without climbing the roof. The fork is also useful as a tool for handling tiles and slates when fitted with a short handle of not less than 0.3m (12 inches) and preferably not more than about 0.6m (24 inches) in length. A short handle of about 0.45m (18 inches) is convenient for many purposes.The fork has two lateral tines which are no longer than the tile or slate to be carried and are adapted to slide lengthwise under that tile or slate and it is a central tine which is longer than the tile or slate to be carried and is adapted to pass over that tile or slate and under the lower edge of an overlapping tile or slate.

The central tine is preferably springy relative to the lateral tines so as to hold a carried tile or slate against them. The base of the central tine preferably lies above the plane of the lateral tines by at least the thickness of the tile or slate to be carried, and the central tine is preferably curved or bent so that its tip lies below the plane of the lateral tines.

If desired, the length of the central tine may be adjustable, and so may be the distance between the base of the central tine and the plane of the lateral tines.

The fork may have a collar at the neck of the fork to serve as a levering fulcrum. The collar may be mounted eccentrically and be adjustable to create a stand rest of varying heights for levering difficult tiles.

Advantageously the fork is adapted to accommodate a handle at an angle of 10-25 degrees, preferably at least 15 degrees and preferably not more than 20 degrees, to the plane of the lateral tines. The neck or tine bar of the fork or the base of the handle can then serve as a levering fulcrum in the absence of a collar.

The fork of the invention may be supplied without a handle, in which case a rigid light-weight handle preferably of tubular metal such as aluminium or galvanised steel is fitted before use.

Various embodiments of forks according to the invention are described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings where analogous parts are given the same designations: Figure 1 shows a view from above of a fork according to the invention having an adjustable central tine; Figure 2 shows the fork of Figure 1 viewed from the left side; Figure 3 shows a section along the line I - I of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view in perspective of a handle and collar to be fitted to the fork of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a section along the line il - II of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a view in perspective of a fork according to the invention designed specially for pantiles of the type commonly used for example in North Norfolk; Figure 7 shows the fork of Figure 6 and a handle to be fitted to it, viewed from above and partially in perspective; Figure 8 shows the fork of Figure 7 viewed from the left side;; Figure 9 is a diagram showing the lateral tines of the fork of Figure 7 in section along lines Ill - Ill and IV - IV; Figure 10 shows a fork with a reversible central tine, the tip at one end being pointed and at the other flattened (spade-shaped); Figure 11 shows a reversible tine similar to that of Figure 10 removed from the fork; Figure 12 shows a fork with a short central tine carrying a replaceable attachment; Figure 13 shows a replaceable attachment of different shape for the central tine of the fork of Figure 12; Figure 14 shows diagrammatically the fork of Figure 12, fitted with a short handle with no attachment on the central tine, being used for replacing a slate on a roof.

Afork with a central tine of adjustable length is shown in Figures 1 to 5. It is fitted with a handle X (see Figure 4) of 12mum (1/2 i inch) light-weight galvanised steel or aluminium tube approximately 4.6m (15 feet) long. At one end of the handle a 102mm (4 inch) circular disc (see Figure 5) drilled off centre is fitted at Z between two tightening nuts on a long thread Y. The disc can be turned to create a stand rest of various heights as a fulcrum for levering, particularly when removing difficult tiles.

The fork head screws onto the handle by means of a 12mm (1/2 inch) internally threaded screw socket C (see Figures 1 and 2) and the thread Y (see Figure 4). The central tine E is of springy steel 1 3mm (1/2 inch) wide and 3mm (1/8th inch) thick and has a total length of 724mm (281/2 inches). The length of the tine is adjustable for different sizes of tile or slate and the excess length up to a maximum of 432mm (17 inches) passes through the socket C and down the handle X. The stops K prevent it from slipping further, leaving a minimum length of 292mm (111/2 inches) for the smallest tile. The tine E is held tight by butterfly bolt H and adjusted for tiles thickness by butterfly nut H2 on rise and fall chamber (see Figure 3).For larger tiles the bolt H is released and the tine E is pulled out to a length approximately 50mm (2 inches) longer than the tile. The bolt H2 adjusts the position of the tine E for tiles thickness.

The central tine E is curved (see Figure 2) and has a knife like point to offer a positive lead-in under an overlapping tile in all positions and is also sprung to grip the carried tile securely.

The lateral tines D and F (see Figure 1) are of relatively rigid steel 25mm (1 inch) wide and 3mm (1/8th inch) thick and have a total outside length of 279mm (11 inches) from the base of the tine bar G which is 1 52mm (6 inches) across. The point and inside edge of each of the lateral tines is ground down (as shown by the shaded areas in Figure 1) for 83mm (31/4 inches) on tine D and 51 mm (2 inches) on tine F to give a knife-like edge to slip under the tile or slate to be carried.

A rigid tile fork is shown in Figure 6 to 9. The tile fork has lateral tines D and F each of steel 25mm (1 inch) wide and 6mm (1/4 inch) thick and a total outside length of 267mm (101/2 inches), which are mounted on a tine bar G (see Figure 7) which is 178mm (7 inches) across. The tine bar G curves up 19mm (3/4 inch) at both outside ends A and B making the angle of the face at the base of each of the lateral tines 12 degrees from the plane in which they lie (see Figure 9). At the leading ends of the lateral tines D and F, the angle of the face is greater (see Figure 9) in order to give a lead in under the round of a pantile. The end of tine D has an angle of 40 degrees and the end of tine F has an angle of 25 degrees. The points and inside edges of the tines D and F are ground down to give a knife like edge (as shown by the shaded areas in Figure 7).

The central tine E is of relatively springy steel 25mm (1 inch) wide and 3mm (1/8th inch) thick and has a total length of 432mm (17 inches) it is curved (see Figure 8) with a sharp point to give a positive lead-in and is also sprung to hold the tile against the lateral tines.

The tine bar G is fitted with a 12 mm (1/2 inch) internally threaded screw socket C to take a thread Y on the end of a lightweight galvanised tube handle X (see Figure 7) which is 4.6m (15 feet) long.

A fork with a removable and reversible central tine is shown in Figure 10. In this fork the lateral tines are generally similarto those of the fork of Figure 1. A channel J is mounted centrally on the tine bar G and carries an internally threaded socket C at an angle of 18 degrees to the plane of the lateral tines to accommodate a handle X at that angle to that plane. The central tine E is held in the channel J by means of a clip Sand a block 0 integral with the tine. The tine is reversible and is shown with the pointed tip N in the operative position and other tip M which is spade-shaped, out of use.

Figure 11 shows an almost identical tine E (differing only in having the block 0 on the opposite surface) removed from the fork.

In the block 0 is a series of five lateral holes T. The tine can be held in a desired predetermined position by the lower limb of the clip S passing through one of the holes T (within which it is a close fit) as well as through one pair of the three pairs of holes U in the sides of the channel J.

The block 0 is 180mm (7 inches) long and a 6mm (1/4 inch) mild steel welded to the middle of tine E, the ends of the block being 300mm (113/4 inches) from the free ends M, N of the tine. The five holes Tare spaced from the tine tips M (spade-shaped) and N (pointed) as follows.

Distance from M Distance from N (i) 318mm (121/2 inches) 475mm (18 inches) (ii) 337mm (131/4 inches) 438mm (171/4 inches) (iii) 362mm (14 inches) 413mm (16 inches) (iv) 438mm (17 inches) 337mm (13 inches) (v) 457mm (18 inches) 318mm (121/2 inches) (The effective tine lengths are 6mm (1/4 inch) less than the above because the holes U are 6mm (1/4 inch) from the edge of channel J).

The three pairs of holes U in the sides of the channel J are so spaced from the plane of the lateral tines that the height of the central tine above that plane (measured from the top of each respective tine), when the clip S passes through a certain pair of holes and one of the holes Tin the tine, is as follows.

Height above plane of lateral tines.

(a) 9.5mm (3/8th inch) (b) 19mm (3/4 inch) (c) 32mm (11/4 inch) The clip S is of 3mm (1/8th inch) spring steel. Only its straight lower limb passes through the holes T and U.

Its upper limb ends in a short downwardly directed portion fitting over the far side of channel J.

A fork with a short central tine bearing a replaceable attachment is shown in Figure 12. The central tine E is shorter than the lateral tines D and F which are generally similar to those in the fork of Figure 1. The central tine E passes over the tine bar G and ends in stops K which are pivotally inside the base of socket C, which is mounted on the tine bar and ends in an internally threaded portion bent at an angle of 18 degrees to the plane of the lateral tines. This enables a handle (not fitted in Figure 12) to be accommodated at that angle to the plane of the lateral tines. The distance between the central tine and the plane of the lateral tines is adjustable, by means of a bolt H threaded through the tine and secured to the tine bar, to allow the fork to hold tiles and slates of various thicknesses.

The central tine E is of springy steel and of the same cross section as the central tine in the fork of Figure 1, but its length from the tine bar G is only 230mm (9 inches). It carries a replaceable L attachment of a total length 305mm (12 inches), also of springy steel and of the same cross-section, which has a downwardly directed spade-shaped tip M and bears two collars P and Q at its other end adapted to fit closely and slide over the central tine E and to be secured thereto by means of screw R. These collars and the space between them occupy a length of 75mm (3 inches) which is the effective minimum overlap of the members L and E, corresponding to a maximum effective length of the central tine plus attachment of 460mm (18 inches). The central tine plus the attachment is longer than either of the lateral tines.

The spade-shaped tip M of the attachment L shown in Figure 12 has a blunt (70 degrees) point and is approximately 50mm (2 inches) in both length and width. Other forms of attachments may be provided differing in the shape of the tip. In particular, an alternative form of attachment L is shown in Figure 11 in which the tip N is pointed.

The adjustable forks of Figures 1 to 5, Figures 10 to 11 and Figures 12 to 13 cater for most clay tiles which hang on nibs including pintiles, corrugated tiles, pantiles and various flat tiles which are nib held. The central tine E or its attachment can be adjusted to accommodate the length of the tile and also its thickness. The rigid tile fork of Figures 6 to 9 caters only for pantiles.

For removing a porous or damaged tile from a roof, the fork is extended up the roof so that the central tine E lies over the faulty tile. The fork is then pushed up so that the central tine E slides under the tile above, lifting it slightly, while the lateral tines D and F at the same time slip under the faulty tile. When the faulty tile is against the tine bar G it is secure. A slight flick down on the handle X will usually raise the tile nib from the batten, the defective tile can then be safely brought down from the roof and removed from the fork.

A replacement tile is then pushed into the fork. The fork holding the tile is passed up the roof to the position of the missing tile. The long central tine E again goes under the tile above and lifts it. The fork then pushes the replacement tile under the tile above and fits the nib over the batten. The fork is finally pulled down and away leaving the tile correctly laid.

The spacing of the holes T and U in the reversible tile fork of Figure 10, together with the possibility of using either the pointed or the spade-shaped tip of the central tine, permits the fork to hold a wide variety of tiles. The following tables illustrates some of the possibilities.

Central Tine. Types of tile.

Tip Length Height* mm in. mm in.

Pointed 432 17 10 3/8th Pantiles Pointed 432 17 19 3/4 (1) Corrugated tiles (2) Various flat tiles.

(3) Round tiles.

Pointed 451 173/4 32 11/4 (1) Single concrete pantiles.

(2) Some corrugated tiles.

Spade- 311 121/4 10 3/8th (1) Pintiles.

shaped (2) 250x150mm (10x6 inch) ornamental tiles.

(3) 250mm (10 inch) concrete tiles.

Spade- various 19 3/4 (1) Heavy interlocking tiles.

shaped (2) Stone tiles.

Spade- 406- 16- 32 11/4 (1) Somersetflattiles.

shaped 451 173/4 (2) Various stone tiles.

* (above plane of lateral tines).

The spade-shaped tip on the central tine, as shown for example in Figures 11 and 12, is useful for removing and replacing tiles on roofs with "mocked" joints, where the tiles in one row are not vertically aligned with the tiles in the rows above and below but are out of vertical alignment by half a tile's width. Each tile is thus overlapped by two tiles in the row above and both of these must be raised in removing or replacing the one below. Aflattened tip on the central tine, as in the spade-shaped tip illustrated in the drawings, is capable of raising the lower edges of both of the adjacent upper tiles without displacing them sideways.

A tile fork according to the invention may also be used in some cases for making emergency repairs to roofs of slate or asbestos tiles by temporarily slipping a slate or tile into position.

The fork of Figure 12, when fitted with a short handle and without the central tine attachment, is a handy tool for inserting a slate into a slate roof, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 14.

A fork las shown in Figure 1 but with no attachment on the short central tine, fitted with a 460mm (18 inch) handle at an angle of 18 degrees to the plane of the lateral tines is loaded with a 200x400mm (8x 16 inch) slate 2. The fork is used to push this slate up into position in a roof where slates 3 are held by nails 4to battens 5. A securing clip 6 of commonly used type has earlier been fitted to the batten. The handle of the fork 1 kept low until the top 20mm (3/4 inch) of the slate 2 has been lifted over and is resting on the batten. The slate is then held in position while the handle of the fork is raised and the fork is withdrawn. The securing clip is then bent up to hold the slate in position.

The long 4.6m (15 feet) handle of lightweight 12mm (1/2 inch) tube X as shown in Figure 4 can be made up of interlocking sections of various lengths.

Claims

1. Afork suitable for removing and replacing nib-type roof tiles and also for handling roof slates, having two lateral tines no longer than the tile or slate to be carried and adapted to slide lengthwise under that tile or slate, and a central tine longer than the tile to be carried and adapted to pass over that tile or slate and under the lower edge of an overlapping tile or slate.

2. A fork according to claim 1 in which the central tine is springy relative to the lateral tines so as to hold a carried tile or slate against them.

3. A fork according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the base of the central tine lies above the plane of the lateral tines by at least the thickness of the tile or slate to be carried.

4. Afork according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the central tine is curved or bent so that its tip lies below the plane of the lateral tines.

5. Afork according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the tip of the central tine is pointed.

6. Afork according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the tip of the central tine is flattened so as to be capable of raising the lower edges of two adjacent tiles without displacing them sideways.

7. Afork according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the length of the central tine is adjustable.

8. A fork according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the central tine can be removed and reversed and has a tip at each end.

9. A fork according to any one of claims 1 to 7, but which has a short central tine, shorter than the lateral tines, carrying a replacemeable attachment, the effective length of the central tine plus attachment being longer than either of the lateral tines.

10. Afork according to claim 9, but without the replaceable attachment of the central tine.

11. A fork according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the distance between the base of the central tine and the plane of the lateral tines is adjustable.

12. A fork according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which has a collar at the neck of the fork to serve as a levering fulcrum.

13. Afork according to claim 12, in which a collar is mounted off-centre and is adjustable to provide different levering heights.

14. A fork according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is adapted to accommodate a handle at an angle of 10 - 25 degrees to the plane of the lateral tines.

15. Afork according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the faces of the lateral tines are angled for the round of a pantile.

16. A fork according to any one of claims 1 to 15, to which a long handle has been fitted to provide a reach of up to 41/2 metres.

17. Afork according to any one of claims 1 to 15, to which has been fitted a short handle of not less than 0.3m in length.

18. A fork with a central tine of adjustable length, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A rigid tile fork substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6 to 9 of accompanying drawings.

20. A fork with a reversible control tine, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A fork with a short central tine capable of bearing a replaceable attachment, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 12 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.