GB2249565A - Tongue-and-groove roof tiles - Google Patents

Abstract

A roofing tile has a projecting tongue from one long edge, and a corresponding groove 12 formed in the opposed long edge, whereby each tile interlocks with its next adjacent tiles in the same row, when constructing a roof. Clips are nailed to the battens, each clip having a hook portion 30 adapted to fit into the groove 12 of an adjacent tile, and an arm 31 connecting the hook portion 30 to a boss through which extends a nail 41. Each tile has an elongate peg 18 at its upper end by means of which the tile is hooked on to a batten 36: two nail holes are formed through the peg which holes are angled so that nails 37 passing therethrough are driven into a side face of the batten. <IMAGE>

Description

ROOF TILES This invention relates to rooves, and in particular to roof tiles and to roof tiling systems arranged to allow the construction of a roof which is adapted to be able to withstand relatively severe weather conditions.

There are in general two types of tiles employed in the construction of a roof. In the case of socalled plain tiles, these are laid side-by-sie in overlapping courses, with each tile having at least one downwardly-projecting "peg" along its upper edge and which hooks over a batten nailed to the roof structure.

Depending upon the pitch of the roof, it is the practice to nail every third or every fifth course of tiles, as well as all verge tiles, and two courses at the ridge and eaves, though in the case of a nearvertical tiled surface, then every tile in each course must be nailed to its batten. Most plain tiles have two pre-formed nail holes extending through the thickness of the tile where the tile overlies its batten, and if a tile is being nailed, two nails are normally used, one in each hole.

In the case of interlocking tiles, one edge of each tile in the same course overlies the opposite edge of the next adjacent tile in the same course, to a greater or lesser extent, depending upon the design of the tile. The tiles in each course are aligned with the tiles of the next adjacent courses, and the degree of overlap is, in the case of interlocking tiles, much reduced as compared to plain tiles but apart from these differences, the tiles are affixed to battens provided as a part of the roof structure in much the same way as has been described above for plain tiles.

A disadvantage of a roof constructed from plain or interlocking tiles as described above is that wflen the roof is subjected to strong winds, there is a marked tendency for at least some of the tiles to lift and be dislodged from their proper positions, or to break and fall away altogether. Though this problem can to some extent be reduced by nailing every tile of every course, the end of the tile remote from its nailed end (that is to say, the exposed free end of the tile on the outside of the roof) remains unfixed and so is susceptible to being lifted by strong winds. This is particuiarly true for plain tiles as described above, though interlocking tiles also may suffer in this way because the amount of overlap between courses is relatively small as compared to that employed with plain tiles.With lesser overlap, the weight of tiles resting on the next lower tile is reduced, and also the exposed length of tile relative to the total tile length is increased; this makes the tile less secure when in position.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a roof tile which is better able to withstand the effects of strong winds when a roof has been assembled from a plurality of such tiles, though it is a further object of the invention to provide a roofing system which is configured and arranged to have an enhanced tolerance to strong winds.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a roof tile having a tongue projecting generally in the plane of the tile from one side edge of the tile and having a groove formed in the opposed side edge of the tile which groove is configured to receive the tongue of the next adjacent tile in a course of such tiles, whereby lifting of any one tile in a course will also lift the next adjacent tiles to either side of said one tile.

Tiles of the present invention are fitted to a roof in much the same way as conventional plain tiles, though with one important difference: each tile is interlocked with its next adjacent tile and so cannot individually lift from its exposed end. Thus, if that tile is to lift, so too must the next adjacent tiles, on both sides of that tile. As a consequence, each row of tiles will exhibit very great resistance to lifting and so the integrity of the roof may be assured, even when subjected to very high winds.

The projecting tongue from the edge of the tile preferably is of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, though that tongue may have a profile which tapers slightly from its connection to the main body of the tile, towards its free edge. This will facilitate the insertion of the tongue into the groove of the next adjacent tile, during the construction of a roof.

Equally, the groove along the opposed edge of the tile may have a cross-sectional shape substantially corresponding to that of the projecting tongue on the opposed edge of the tile. However, it is preferred for the wall of the groove on the lower side of the tile to extend in a plane at an angle to the plane of the tile as a whole, whereby the groove has a re-entrant shape and is narrower at the mouth of the groove, than at the base thereof. Such a groove shape will define a passageway for water to run down the length of the groove in the event that moisture should enter the groove, when the tile is in service on a roof.

In order to enhance the performance of the tile described above, a further aspect of the present invention provides a roofing system comprising in combination a tile of this invention as defined above together with a clip having a first portion adapted to fit into the groove of a tile adjacent the end thereof remote from the end of the tile which is hooked on to a batten, the clip having an arm portion connecting said first portion to a second portion which is adapted to receive a nail for securing the clip to a roof batten.

By constructing a roof using this roofing system, a lower corner of every tile may be secured to a batten by means of a clip engaged in the groove of the tile, adjacent the grooved lower corner of the tile. Since the next adjacent tile has its tongue fitting into the groove of a tile having its lower corner secured by means of the clip, the tongued lower corner of the next adjacent tile also is held down by the same clip; the consequence is that both lower corners of each tile are held down, either directly or indirectly by a clip secured to a batten. This roofing system thus gives rise to a roof having very great resistance to lifting, since both the upper and lower ends of each tile are held down to battens, so enabling the furnishing of a roof able to withstand strong winds.

Preferably, each clip is made from a stainlesssteel material and has an arm formed at one end into a hook engageable with a tile, and at the other end with a boss having a bore to receive a nail.

This invention extends to a clip for use in a roofing system as described above.

As mentioned above, known forms of plain tile have at least one - but usually two - nail holes formed through the thickness of the tile adjacent its upper edge, whereby the tile, when hooked to a batten, may be secured in place by means of nails passing through the nail holes and hammered into the batten over which the tile has been hooked. Since such nail holes are formed through the thickness of the tile, it is important that the tiles of one course sufficiently overlie the tiles of the next course below, in order adequately to cover the nail holes, especially when not every row of tiles is being nailed. This it is to ensure adequate watertightness for the roof, by shielding the nail-holes of one course by the next course above.

Yet another aspect of the present invention aims at providing a roof tile which overcomes this problem, and so allows the amount of overlap between adjacent rows of tiles to be reduced.

According to this further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roof tile having a downwardly projecting peg disposed at or adjacent one edge of the tile, for hooking over a batten provided as a part of a roof structure, there being at least one nail hole extending through the peg in such a direction that a nail driven through the hole will enter a side face of a batten over which the tile is hooked.

Most preferably, the peg extends along the length of the upper edge of the tile, for the greater part of the length thereof, and there are two spaced-apart nail holes in that peg. It would however be possible for the tile to have two spaced apart pegs disposed at the upper edge of the tile, with one (or possibly more) hole through each peg.

In the case of a roof tile as described above, since no nails or nail holes are exposed on the upper surface of the tile, it is possible to reduce the amount of overlap between tiles of adjacent courses, whilst still maintaining adequate water-tightness.

Also, a tile nailed by means of nails extending through holes formed in the manner described may exhibit a greater resistance to lifting, in view of the angle at which the securing nails extend with respect to the major area of the tile.

A particularly preferred form of tile of this invention incorporates both aspects of this invention as described above: that is to say, a tile having a peg formed with nail holes as just described above may also have a tongue projecting generally in the plane of the tile from one side edge of the tile and a groove formed in the opposed side edge which groove may receive the tongue of a next adjacent tile.

By way of example only, certain specific embodiments of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut-away plan view of a plain tile arranged in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a view on the lower end of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view on the upper end of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side edge view on the tile of Figure 1, taken from the left hand side of that tile as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, but from the right hand side of the tile shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but of a left hand verge tile; Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but of a right hand verge tile; Figure 8 is a cut-away drawing showing part of a roofing system utilising tiles of this invention;; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a roofing system of this invention, utilising tiles as illustrated for example in Figures 1 to 5; Figure 10 is a side and front view of a clip used in the roofing system of Figures 8 and 9; and Figure 11 is a view on a verge clip for use with the tiles of Figures 6 and 7.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a plain roof tile of this invention cast for example from concrete or clay. The tile has a main area 10, and is formed with a tongue 11 which projects from the right hand side edge (in Figure 1) of the main area 10. Along the opposed long edge of the tile, a groove 12 is formed, the mouth 13 of which is of a width at least as great as the thickness of the tongue 11. As may be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the lower wall 14 of the groove lies at an angle to the general plane o the main area 10, whereby the width of the groove at its base 14 is greater than at the mouth to the groove.

A chamfer 15 is formed on the underside of the tile on the long edge having the tongue 11, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, this chamfer extending for only a part of the length of that edge. This chamfer allows the tile to be used with a clip 16, which will be described in greater detail below.

Along the upper edge 17 of the tile, there is provided a downwardly-projecting peg 18, to allow the tile to be hooked over a roofing batten in the usual way. The peg 18 is formed with two nail holes 19 and 2C, which nail holes extend at an angle of about 20 to the main area of the tile, the holes being inclined downwardly from the outer surface of the peg 18. The peg i8 does not extend under the area of the tile containing the groove 12, and at the opposite end of the peg, it is bevelled at 21, short of the tongue 11, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

When a roof is being constructed from tiles of this invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, special tiles should be used at the roof verges. Such a special tile for a left hand verge is illustrated in Figure 6, and it can be seen that though this tile includes a tongue 11, the opposed edge 25 of the tile is plain and square to the main tile area 10.

Similarly, Figure 7 shows a special tile intended for a right hand verge, and though this tile includes a groove 12, it has a plain right hand edge, square to the main area 10 of the tile. In other respects, these special verge tiles correspond to the tile illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 5, except that the tongue 11 of the tile of Figure 6 has a lightly modified shape, to give improved drainage for any moisture which may enter from above the groove 12 of the next adjacent tile. Of course, the tile of Figures 1 to 5 may have similarly-formed tongues.

A roof may be constructed from the tiles illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, but using the special tiles of Figures 6 and 7 at the roof verges, in much the same way as a conventional roof is constructed using plain tiles. Thus, battens are nailed to the roof timbers at appropriate intervals, and courses of the tiles are then hooked on to those battens using the pegs 18. However, each tile is interlocked with its next adjacent tile, by virtue of the tongue 11 of one tile fitting into the groove 12 of the next adjacent tile. At the verges, the special tiles shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7 are used, as appropriate, these tiles interlocking with their next adjacent tiles in the same course. If any particular tile is to be nailed, this is done by hammering two nails into the underlying batten, through the nail holes 19 and 20 formed in the peg 18 itself.These nails thus enter the side face of the batten, rather than the top face, as with conventional tiles.

Dependent upon the pitch of the roof, not every tile need be nailed; typically, every tile in each fifth course of tiles may be twice nailed, with the two courses at the eves and ridge, as well as all the perimeter tiles, similarly being nailed. As with conventional plain tiles, each course overlaps the next course below, but in view of the fact that the nail holes 19 and 20 are not exposed on the top surface of the tile (unlike conventional plain tiles), the amount of overlap may be significantly reduced, between one course and the next.

On account of the interlock between adjacent tiles in 'a course, resulting from each tongue 11 fitting into the groove 12 of its neighbouring tile, a roof constructed from tiles of this invention is significantly more secure and the tiles exhibit a greater resistance to lifting than in the case of a roof constructed from conventional plain tiles.

However, the security of the roof may be enhanced by employing clips arranged to hold down the lower edges of the tiles, in the manner to be described below.

Figure 10 illustrates a clip specifically adapted for use with a tile as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5; and that clip is shown in part in Figures 1 to 3.

Figures 8 and 9 show how the clip is employed, as a roof is being assembled from the tiles. As can be seen, the clip has a hook portion 30 at the free end of an arm 31 extending tangentially from a boss 32, the boss having a nail-hole 33 extending therethrough generally perpendicularly to the line of the arm 31.

The clip is conveniently made from a stainless steel material, to ensure longevity when in service, but could be made from galvanised spring steel or perhaps from a plastics material.

Figures 8 and 9, illustrate a roof being assembled from tiles of this invention, using clips as illustrated in Figure 10. These Figures show a lower course 35 of tiles hooked on to a batten 36, and already secured by means of nails 37, driven into the batten through the nail holes 19 and 20. Also shown are clips 16 holding the lower edges of the tiles of this course 35, fitted as will be described below with reference to the laying of the next above course 38 of tiles.

When the course 35 of tiles has been laid, there are gaps 39 between the pegs 18 of adjacent tiles (as best seen in Figure 9) into which gaps the bosses 32 of the clips may be received, the clips being secured by means of nails 41 driven into the batten. As each tile of the next course 38 is laid, the hook portion 30 of a clip is hooked into the lower portion of the groove 12 of the tile, prior to the tongue 11 of the next adjacent tile being fitted into that groove 12. The boss of that clip is then positioned in the adjacent gap 39, by springing the arm 31, and the clip secured to the batten by a nail 37.

In order to accommodate the hook portion 30 of the clip, the tongued edge of each tile is provided with the chamfer 15 (referred to above), so that as the next tile is fitted to the tile already held down by a clip, the next tile will not interfere with the clip. It will be appreciated that each clip serves to hold down not only the lower corner of a tile having a groove, but also the lower corner of the next adjacent tile interlocked with that tile, by virtue of the tongue 11 of that next adjacent tile being received in the groove 12.

The clips of Figure 10 could be modified to hold â tile even more securely, by providing a further arm (as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 10) so as to embrace the lower part of the tile which defines the groove 12.

In order further to enhance the strength and resistance to lifting of a roof constructed from the roofing system described above, greater security may be imparted to the verge tiles by means of a verge clip arranged as illustrated in Figure 11. This verge clip is nailed to a batten and arms 45, 46 and 47 embrace the outer edges of two overlapping verge tiles, to prevent those tiles lifting. The verge clip is made from a single continuous piece of wire 48 bent to have the profile illustrated in Figure 11, the free ends of the wire being turned round to define nail holes 49 and 50. Part way along arm 45 of the clip, one run of the wire is bent round to define a further nail hole 51, whereby three nails may be passed through the holes 49, 50 and 51, firmly to secure the clip to a batten. As the verge tiles are being fitted into position they are located between the arms 45 and 47, and the clip is then sprung outwardly to allow the tongue (or groove) of the verge tile to engage with the groove (or tongue, as appropriate) of the next adjacent tile. The verge tiles may still be cemented in position, in the usual way, even if a verge clip is used, for greater security.

Claims (15)

1. A roof tile having a tongue projecting generally in the plane of the tile from one side edge of the tile and having a groove formed in the opposed side edge of the tile which groove is configured to receive the tongue of the next adjacent tile in a course of such tiles, whereby lifting of any one tile in a course will also lift the next adjacent tiles to either side of said one tile.

2. A roof tile according to Claim 1, wherein said tongue projecting from the one edge of the tile is of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.

3. A roof tile according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said tongue has a cross-sectional profile which tapers slightly from its connection to the main body of the tile, towards its free edge.

4. A roof tile according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the groove along the opposed edge of the tile has a cross-sectional shape substantially corresponding to that of the projecting tongue on said one edge of the tile.

5. A roof tile according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the groove has a lower wall which extends in a plane at an angle to the general plane of the tile as a whole, whereby the groove has a re-entrant shape which is narrower at the mouth of the groove than at the base thereof.

6. A roof tile substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A roofing system comprising in combination a tile according to any of the preceding Claims together with a clip having a first portion adapted to fit into the groove of a tile adjacent the end thereof remote from the end of the tile which is hooked on to a batten, the clip having an arm portion connecting said first portion to a second portion which is adapted to receive a nail for securing the clip to a roof batten.

8. A roofing system according to Claim 7, wherein said clip is made from a stainless-steel material.

9. A roofing system according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein said second portion is defined by a boss having a bore to receive a nail.

10. A roof when constructed by a roofing system according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein each tile is nailed to a batten and there is a clip associated with each tile which clip is also secured to a batten.

11. A clip for use in a roofing system as described above.

12 A roof tile having a downwardly projecting peg disposed at or adjacent one edge of the tile for hooking over a batten provided as a part of a roof structure, the tile having at least one nail hole extending through said peg in such a direction that a nail driven through the hole will enter a side face of a batten over which the tile is hooked.

13. A roof tile according to Claim 12, wherein said peg extends along at least the greater part of the length of the upper edge of the tile, and there are two similarly-disposed spaced-apart nail holes in that peg.

14. A roof tile according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 and either one of Claims 12 or 13.

15. A roofing system according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the tile is as defined in Claim 14.