GB2228502A

GB2228502A - Slate clip

Info

Publication number: GB2228502A
Application number: GB9000147A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mcphee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-01-06
Filing date: 1990-01-04
Publication date: 1990-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-04
Also published as: GB9000147D0; GB2228502B

Abstract

A clip for securing a slate to a roof member during the creation of a new roof or the repair of an existing roof comprising a strip member 1 incorporating a slate retaining member 5, a spacer 3 for either spacing the slate above the strip or spacing the strip above the underlying slate and moans (e.g. a hook or nail holes 11, 7, 16 for securing the strip to a roof batten. The clip can include relatively slidable parts with a detent/slot (8, 10 or 8, 13) arrangement to permit adjustment. An L-shaped clip has engagement means 5, 15 at each end to engage two edges of a valley slate. <IMAGE>

Description

Slate Securing Clip.

This invention relates to a clip for securing a roof slate to a roof.

Conventional methods of securing slates to a roof entail drilling each slate with a pair of holes and then nailing the slate to slate battens which are roof members consisting of wood strips. This method has disadvantages in that not only is the drilling of the holes inconvenient to carry out but in addition the process can result in the slate becoming broken. The present invention is directed to a clip for securing a slate to a slate batten which avoids these disadavantages as well as providing other benefits.

Accordingly this invention provides a clip for securing a slate to a roof member comprising a strip member incorporating a slate retaining member secured to one face of the strip member and a slate spacing member secured to the other face of the strip member and means to secure the strip member to the roof member.

This invention is illustrated but not restricted by the following drawings: Figure l(a) is a perspective view of one form of invention clip.

Figure l(b) is a side view taken in vertical section of the clip shown in Fig (la).

Figure l(c) is an end view of the clip shown in Fig (la) taken along line X.

Figures 2, 3 & 4 are perspective views oE further embodiments of clips according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a form of clip for use in securing a slate to a roof having a valley.

The clip illustrated in Figs. 1 a, b & c comprises a body portion in the form of strip 1 made conveniently of metal or some form of plastics material eg. nylon. One end of the strip is shaped to form hook 2 for securing the clip to a roof batten. Preferably the hook should fit the batten snugly. Since the dimensions of battens can vary the hook can if desired be constructed to include adjustable jaws so as to accommodate battens of different sizes. At the other end of the strip 1 there is an inverted T shaped member 3 which acts as a slate spacer. Arm 4 of the spacing member supports a slate retaining member 5 having a return portion 6 for retaining a slate in position. The clip can be made with the return portion in the position shown.

Alternatively the retaining member 5 can be made of flexible material incorporating an extension piece which can be bent to form the return member.

This form of clip is especially useful in the creation of a new roof or complete reslating of an existing roof. In use hook 2 is applied to a roof batten and adjacent slates of a lower layer of slates are lodged in between retaining member 5 and spacing member 3 and separated by member 4 and a top slate is placed on retaining member 5 with its edge secured between the member and return member 6. In certain situations the hook 2 can be omitted and the strip can be nailed to the battens.

The repair of existing roofs by the replacement of a broken slate necessitates accurate location of the new slate. This can be achieved by employing a clip construction in which when the slate and the retaining member 5 have been brought into engagement the combination can be moved backwards or forwards within the assembly until the slate has been brought into its required position. At this stage a locking means within the clip can be used to prevent further movement of the slate. This feature is illustrated in Figs 2 to 4.

In Fig.2 one end of strip 1 terminates in a retaining member 5 having a return portion 6 and a slate spacing member 3. The strip 1 is provided with a number of fairly widely spaced holes 7 ie. the spaces vary from 1 mm to 10 mm although these dimensions are not in any way critical.

The holes enable the strip to be fixed to a roof batten.

Towards the other end of the strip there a number of more closely spaced slots 8 ie from 1 to 5 mm apart. The part of the strip bearing the slots is located slidably in housing 9 provided with a locking member 10 and a hole 11 which enables the housing to be secured by a nail to a roof batten.

In use the slate is inserted into the retaining member 5 after which the latter is pushed towards casing 9 until the slate has been positioned correctly. At this stage the slot which is nearest the locking pin 10 is brought into register with the pin which then enters the slot and fixes the position of strip 1 together with the slate.

In Fig.3 strip 1 is provided with an extension provided with slots 8 and retaining member 5 is hollow and is dimensioned to allow the slotted extension to slide through it. Return member 6 is movable hingedly with respect to the retaining member 5 and is provided with a tooth 13 . The retaining member and the return member 6 are made of resilient material and when the device is in a rest position the return member 6 is biased away from the retaining member 5 with the result that the tooth 13 tends to be directed towards the slotted extension. The retaining member is connected integrally with the slate spacing member 3 and the combination of the two together form a traveller which can move along the slotted extension of the strip 1. In use strip 1 is secured to a roof batten by a nail driven through hole 7 .The retaining member 5 is then moved to a rearward position whilst the tooth 13 is maintained in a raised position by depressing the return member 6. The slate is then placed on the retaining member which is then moved forward to the desired position where pressure on the return member 6 is released causing the tooth to enter the nearest slot and to lock the slate into position.

The clip illustrated in Fig.4 is similar to that shown in Fig.3 except that the slate spacing member 3 is combined with the slotted strip extension rather than with the retaining member 5.

The shapes of roofs can vary considerably. Consequently different forms of clips are desireable for special situations. When for example a roof having a valley has either to be constructed or repaired. A clip which has been found very satisfactory for this purpose is illustrated in Fig.5. This clip is generally shaped L, one arm 1 of which is provided with a slate retaining member 5 and a slate spacing member 3. The other arm 14 terminates in a hook 15 for securing another edge of the slate. This arm is provided also with a hole 16 to enable the clip to be nailed to a roof batten. If desired arm 1 can be slotted and a slideable retaining member can be employed.

Claims

Claims.

1. A clip for securing a slate to a roof member comprising a strip member incorporating a slate retaining member secured to one face of the strip member and a slate spacing member secured to the other face of the strip member and means to secure the strip member to a roof member.

2. A clip according to Claim 1 wherein the means to secure the strip member to the roof member is a hook extending from the strip member.

3. A clip according to Claim 1 wherein the means to secure the strip member to a roof member is a an arrangement of holes formed into the strip member.

4. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the slate retaining member and the slate spacing member are of integral construction.

5. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the strip and the slate retaining member are capable of relative sliding movement axially of the strip member.

6. A clip according to Claim 5 wherein the slate retaining member incorporates locking means co-operating with an arrangement of apertures in the strip member to control the sliding movement.

7. A clip according to Claim 6 wherein the locking means comprises a slate return member incorporating a projection and connected hingedly to the slate retaining member the projection being adapted to engage with any one oE the apertures.

8. Clips as herein before described with particular reference to the drawings.