GB2259533A

GB2259533A - Roof ridge capping

Info

Publication number: GB2259533A
Application number: GB9219145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Anthony Cobb
Original assignee: Red Bank Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hanson RBMC Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-10
Filing date: 1992-09-10
Publication date: 1993-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-10
Also published as: GB2259533B; GB9219145D0

Abstract

Ridge tiles 24 are anchored to the rafters 20 of a roof and hold in alignment by a clamping element 28 nailed to the rafters 20 and between adjacent tiles engaging a rod 27 which is inserted in aligned bores 25 formed in the tiles. In an alternative embodiment (Figs 1-5) a unitary clamping element (12) replaces the separate rod 27 and element 28, its rolled upper portion (18) being inserted in the aligned bores of adjacent tiles. <IMAGE>

Description

"ROOF-RIDGE CAPPING" This invention relates to the capping of roof ridges.

The ridge of a peaked roof is traditionally capped with angled or half-round (i.e. arcuate-section) ridge tiles laid end to end. On opposite sides of the roof these overlap the top rows of ordinary tiles, normally latched by their nibs onto top battens.

The security and weatherproofing of a roof-ridge capping system presents problems for which various solutions have been proposed. Ridge tiles can be bedded on mortar, but this is a skilled operation and can require a considerable volume of mortar which is liable to deterioration over long periods through the action of wind and frost. Moreover the ridge tiles are not firmly anchored. British Patent Specifications Nos. 1 603 195 and 2 123 050 and European Patent Specification Ser. No. 0 056 021 propose downwardlyopening channels on opposite sides of the roof ridge in which the upper tiles are received and to which the ridge tiles can be anchored, but these are relatively complex arrangements and manufacture and assembly are both relatively costly.

An object of the present invention is to improve upon prior art proposals for the capping of roof ridges.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided the assembly of a ridge-tile which is formed generally centrally of its concave side with a longitudinal opening, a junction member adapted to be longitudinally inserted in the corresponding opening of another, similar tile whereby said ridge-tiles are joined end-to-end by a male and female interconnection, and a clamping element having one end which engages or is integral with the junction member and another end adapted to extend downwardly between said two tiles from the junction member and to be secured to a roof on which said ridge-tiles are laid.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a roof ridge capping system comprising a plurality of ridge-tiles laid end to end along the ridge of a roof where rafters thereof meet, each said ridge-tile being formed generally centrally of its concave side with a longitudinal opening, an elongated junction member associated with one said ridge tile inserted in the opening of an adjacent ridge-tile to interconnect the same and a clamping member having a first portion comprising or engaging the junction member between said two ridge-tiles and a second portion secured to the roof on which the ridge-tiles are laid.

All of said ridge-tiles may be formed with openings in the form of blind bores at both ends. Alternatively said openings may be through bores of said tiles.

The junction member may take the form of a rod which interconnects two adjacent ridge-tiles by extending between the openings in their adjacent ends. The clamping element may have an annular formation at one end adapted to surround the rod between said adjacent ridge-tiles and a formation at its other end adapted to be nailed to a roof structure below said tiles.

Alternatively the junction member may be a first portion of a clamping element adapted to be inserted into the openings at adjacent ends of two adjacent ridge tiles, the clamping element having a second portion adapted to be secured to a roof on which said ridge-tiles are laid to hold the latter in position. In this arrangmenet said first portion of the clamping element may be an enlargement at one end thereof which may be inserted in said openings at right-angles to said first portion thereby to restrain movement of the tiles in a plane to which their openings are perpendicular. The arrangement is preferably such that the said ends of the tiles will abut opposite sides of the second portion of the clamping element without any substantial interval between the tiles.

The clamping element may be made from flat strip material bent substantially to L-shape so as to have a second portion in the form of a flat base which may be nailed or otherwise secured to a ridge batten of a roof and upstanding from one end of the base a first portion which is twisted through 90 degrees along its height and at its upper end is rolled to form a generally tubular or part-tubular enlargement the axis of which is generally parallel with that of the base.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing the assembly or system of the present invention, the method comprising locating on a male element associated with a first ridge-tile an annular portion of a clamping member, inserting the male element in an opening of a second ridgetile such that the ridge-tiles are interconnected in end-toend relation with the annular portion of the clamping element between them and a fixing portion of the clamping member extending downwardly and securing the fixing portion of the clamping member to a roof on which said ridge-tiles are laid.

In the method of the previous paragraph the male element may be a rod which is inserted into corresponding openings in the adjacent ends of said two ridge tiles and the annular portion of the clamping member may be caused to surround the rod between said tiles.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of contructing the assembly or system of the present invention, the method comprising locating a first part of a male element integral with one extremity of a clamping element in said longitudinal opening of a first said tile, locating a second part of said male element in the corresponding opening of an adjacent tile and securing the other extremity of the clamping element to a roof.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a ridge tile adapted for use in the assembly or system of or in the method of the present invention, the ridge tile being characterised by the provision generally centrally of the concave side of the tile of a longitudinal bore opening to both axial ends of the tile.

The bore may open to the concave side of the tile over a slot of less width than the diameter of the bore.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a ridge tile in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an end view thereof, Figure 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a clamping member for use in connection with the tile of Figures 1 and 2, Figures 4 and 5 are respectively front and side views of the clamping member of Figure 3, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I-I of Figure 7 of a roof equipped with a capping system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a side view with parts cut away of the roof of Figure 6, and, Figure 8 is an exploded view of the assembly.

The ridge tile 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is of the angled type, i.e. having flat sides meeting at an apex, but it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to ridge-tiles of other types such as rounded ridge-tiles of inverted channel shape. Where the ridge-tile 10 illustrated differs from a conventional one is in the provision of a longitudinal bore 11 extending from end to end of the tile at a mid position between its sides. The tile 10 is also formed with a slot 12 coextensive with and opening at one end to the bore 11, the other end of the slot opening to the middle of the concave side of the tile.

The clamping member 12 of Figures 3-5 is for use in association with the ridge-tile 10 although shown on a larger scale for clarity. The clamping member is made from flat strip material bent generally to L-shape so as to have a flat base 13, formed as shown with nail holes 14 whereby it may be fixed to the ridge batten of a roof, and an upstanding part 15 which is twisted along its length so that its upper or distal extremity 16 is at right angles to its lower edge 17. An upper portion of the upstanding part 15 is rolled to provide a tubular formation 18 the axis of which is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the base 13.

The dimensions of the tubular formation 18 are such that either end may enter one end of the opening 11 in tile 10.

When this occurs the remainder of upstanding part 15 will extend out of the tile through slot 12.

The assembly illustrated in Figures 1-5 is used as follows: The ridge-tile 10 is laid longitudinally of the apex of a roof so that the axis of its bore 11 is generally parallel with the ridge batten of the roof (not shown), The leading half 18A of the formation 18 of a clamping member 12 is now inserted in one end of the bore 11, leaving the other half 18B projecting out of the bore 11, and with the remainder of the upstanding part 15 of the clamping member extending downward through slot 12 the base 13 of the clamping member is laid on and nailed to the ridge batten. A second, similar tile 10 is then laid in alignment with the first tile and moved up to it until the other half 18B of the formation 18 enters the end of bore 11 of the second tile nearer the first tile.Again, the remainder of upstanding part 15 of the clamping member 12 will pass through the slot 12 of the second tile and in this way the tiles can be brought into or almost into end-abutting relation.

As shown the rolled part 18 of the upstanding part of the clamping member 12 is split at 19 to provide greater resilience, but this is an optional feature.

The roof llustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is of conventional structure, comprising spaced apart wooden rafters 20 meeting at the ridge of the roof, with horizontal battens 21 secured to the outer sides of the rafters in vertically spaced relation. As is also known Per se rows of roof tiles 22 are latched onto the battens 21 by means of nibs 23 along their upper edges to form an overlapping structure down both sides of the peaked roof.

In accordance with the present invention the roof is capped by a row of ridge-tiles 24 each of which is formed in the junction between its angularly-related sides with a longitudinal opening at each end of the ridge-tile, Individual blind bores 25 may be provided at opposite ends of each ridge-tile 24 or the opening 25 may be a through-bore opening to both ends of the ridge-tile. For convenience of manufacture the or each opening 25 may also open inwardly of the junction between the sides of the ridge-tile through a relatively narrow slot 26.

A male element 27, in this embodiment in the form of a length of pipe of a flexible or semi-rigid plastics material extends from the opening 25 of a first ridge-tile so as to project therefrom as shown in Figure 8. A clamping element 28 has a ring-shaped upper end 29 and a flat end 30 formed with a row of nail holes.

In use of the assembly one end of pipe 27 is inserted in bore 25 at one end of a first ridge-tile so as to project therefrom and the ring-shaped end 29 of a clamping element is threaded onto it. The opposite end 30 of the clamping element is nailed to the rafters immediately below the first ridge-tile and a second ridge-tile (not shown) is moved into position,so that the projecting end of pipe 27 enters its bore 25 presented to the first ridge-tile. Both ridge-tiles are thus anchored to the roof. It will be appreciated that if the ridge-tiles have through bores 25 the same length of pipe or rod may join together any number of the ridge-tiles.

Clamping elements 28 may be positioned between each pair of facing ridge-tile ends, or only between some of them.

At 31 in Figure 8 there is diagrammatically illustrated a sleeve or sealing element of a resilient plastics material which may be interposed between facing ridge-tile ends to provide a weather seal. This may have an opening (not shown) for the passage through it of pipe 27.

As is known per se strips 32 of a brush material or a resilient foamed plastics material may extend downwardly from the inner sides of the ridge-tiles into contact with the uppermost rows of tiles 22 to provide a weather seal under the ridge-tiles. To accommodate these strips 32 grooves 33 (Figure 8) may be provided in the inner sides of the ridgetiles of the invention.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not exclusively applicable to angled ridge-tiles. Where "half-round", (i.e. arcuate-section), ridge-tiles are used openings 11 or 25 may be provided generally in a radial plane bisecting the arc.

In another embodiment of the invention which is not illustrated pipe 27 is replaced by a male member formed integrally with each ridge-tile to extend from one end thereof, while its other end is formed with a corresponding blind bore 25. The ridge-tiles are interconnected by inserting the male member of one in the opening of the next, first passing ring 29 around the male member.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. The assembly of a ridge-tile which is formed generally centrally of its concave side with a longitudinal opening, a junction member adapted to be longitudinally inserted in the corresponding opening of another, similar tile whereby said ridge-tiles are joined end-to-end by a male and female interconnection, and a clamping element having one end which engages or is integral with the junction member and another end adapted to extend downwardly between said two tiles from the junction member and to be secured to a roof on which said ridge-tiles are laid.

2. A roof ridge capping system comprising a plurality of ridge-tiles laid end to end along the ridge of a roof where rafters thereof meet, each said ridge-tile being formed generally centrally of its concave side with a longitudinal opening, an elongated junction member associated with one said ridge-tile inserted in the opening of an adjacent ridge-tile to interconnect the same and a clamping member having a first portion comprising or engaging the junction member between said two ridge-tiles and a second portion secured to the roof on which the ridge-tiles are laid.

3. The assembly or system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein all of said ridge-tiles are formed with openings in the form of blind bores at both ends.

4. The assembly or system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said openings are through bores of said tiles.

5. The assembly or system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the junction member is a rod which interconnects two adjacent ridge-tiles by extending between the openings in their adjacent ends.

6. The assembly or system of claim 5, wherein the clamping element has an annular formation at one end adapted to surround the rod between said adjacent ridge-tiles and a formation at its other end adapted to be nailed to a roof structure below said tiles.

7. The assembly or system of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the junction member is a first portion of a clamping element adapted to be inserted into the openings at adjacent ends of two adjacent ridge-tiles, the clamping element having a second portion adapted to be secured to a roof on which said ridge-tiles are laid to hold the latter in position.

8. The assembly or system of claim 7, wherein said first portion of the clamping element is an enlargement at one end thereof which may be inserted in said openings at right-angles to said first portion thereby to restrain movement of the tiles in a plane to which their openings are perpendicular.

9. The assembly or system of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the arrangement is such that the said ends of the tiles will abut opposite sides of the second portion of the clamping element without any substantial interval between the tiles.

10. The assembly or system of any one of claims 7-9; wherein the clamping element is made from flat strip material bent substantially to L-shape so as to have a second portion in the form of a flat base which may be nailed or otherwise secured to a ridge batten of a roof and upstanding from one end of the base a first portion which is twisted through 90 degrees along its height and at its upper end is rolled to form a generally tubular or part-tubular enlargement the axis of which is generally parallel with that of the base.

11. A method of constructing the assembly or system of any one of the preceding claims, comprising locating on a male element associated with a first ridge-tile an annular portion of a clamping member, inserting the male element in an opening of a second ridge-tile such that the ridge-tiles are interconnected in end-to-end relation with the annular portion of the clamping element between them and a fixing portion of the clamping member extending downwardly and securing the fixing portion of the clamping member to a roof on which said ridge-tiles are laid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the male element is a rod which is inserted into corresponding openings in the adjacent ends of said two ridge-tiles and wherein the annular portion of the clamping member is caused to surround the rod between said tiles.

13. A method of constructing the assembly or system of any one of claims 1-4 or claims 7-10 as appendant to claims 14,comprising locating a first part of a male element integral with one extremity of a clamping element in said longitudinal opening of a first said tile, locating a second part of said male element in the corresponding opening of an adjacent tile and securing the other extremity of the clamping element to a roof.

14. A ridge-tile adapted for use in the assembly or system of any one of claims 1-10 or in the method claimed in any one of claims 11-13, the ridge-tile being characterised by the provision generally centrally of the concave side of the tile of a longitudinal bore opening to both axial ends of the tile.

15. The tile of claim 14, wherein the bore opens to the concave side of the tile over a slot of less width than the diameter of the bore.

16. A roof-ridge capping system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A roof-ridge capping system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 6-8 of the accompanying drawings.