GB2385613A

GB2385613A - Spacer apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2385613A
Application number: GB0204284A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Cameron Challinor; Robert Peter White
Original assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-23
Filing date: 2002-02-23
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-23
Also published as: GB0204284D0; GB2385613B

Abstract

A spacer apparatus 20 for location between roof tiles 44 and sheet flashing material comprises a flexible member 22 capable of conforming to the roof tile 44 profile and a plurality of spacer members 36 projecting from the flexible member. When the apparatus is positioned between roof tiles 44 and flashing material the flashing material is at least partially spaced from the roof tiles 44 and a passage for airflow is provided between the roof tiles 44 and the flashing material. The spacer members 36 may be provided over the whole of an upper or lower face of the flexible member 22 or they may be provided over both upper and lower faces of the flexible member 22. The spacer members 36 may take the form of pins or elongate ribs. The flexible member 22 may have ventilation holes passing through it. More than one spacer apparatus 20 may be used and adjacent spacer apparatuses 20 may be connected by means on a side edge of the flexible member 22 of each spacer apparatus.

Description

Spacer Apparatus for use in Roofing The present invention relates to a spacer apparatus for location between

roof tiles and sheet flashing material. The apparatus is particularly useful at " the junction between a mono-pitch roof and a vertical wall of a building.

Where a mono-pitch roof meets a vertical wall, it is necessary to provide lead flashing to seal the gap between the roof and the wall. However, in order to allow adequate ventilation of the roof void, it is desirable to allow for some airflow between the roof void and the exterior.

According to the invention there is provided a spacer apparatus for location between roof tiles and sheet flashing material, the spacer apparatus including a flexible member capable of conforming generally to the roof tile profile and a plurality of spacer members projecting from the flexible member such that when the apparatus is positioned between the roof tiles and the flashing material, the flashing material is at least partially spaced from the roof tiles and a passage for airflow is provided between the roof tiles and the flashing material.

Preferably the flexible member comprises a sheet of flexible material which maybe between 0. 2mm and 2mm in thickness. The sheet may be substantially continuous.

Preferably the spacer members are provided over substantially the whole of an upper or lower face of the flexible member. Preferably the spacer members are provided on both upper and lower faces of the flexible member. Preferably the spacer members are generally evenly spaced out over the upper and/or lower faces of the flexible member. The spacer members may be arranged in rows, and adjacent rows may be offset from one another. Spacer members within a row may be between 15mm and 25mm apart. The rows may be between 5mm and 10mm apart.

Preferably the spacer members are arranged such that they provide a

tortuous path for airflow between the roof tiles and the flashing material.

Preferably the spacer members project between Imm and 10mm from the face or faces of the flexible member. The spacer members may project generally perpendicularly from the face or faces of the flexible member.

The spacer members may comprise projections or nodules. These may comprise pins, which may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

The spacer members may include elongate ribs, instead of or additionally to pins. Preferably the ribs extend generally perpendicularly to the front and back edges of the flexible member.

The flexible member may be generally rectangular in plan view, and may include front and back edges and side edges extending generally perpendicularly thereto. If the spacer members are arranged in rows, the rows may be generally parallel to the front and back edges.

A row of extended spacer members may be provided on a lower face of the flexible member in use, near to its back edge, the extended spacer members projecting further from the lower face of the flexible member than the remaining spacer members. The extended spacer members may be adapted to hook over a top edge of tile, to hook the spacer apparatus in place.

The flexible member may be provided with a plurality of ventilation holes passing therethrough. Preferably the holes are near to the back edge of the flexible member.

The spacer apparatus may include one or more rows of screening spacer members which are smaller than the remaining spacer members and located closer together. The screening spacer members may be spaced less than 6mm apart and preferably less than 4mm apart. The diameters of the screening spacer members may be about 2mm. A row of screening spacer members may be provided near a front edge of the flexible member or generally in a mid

region thereof. Preferably each row extends generally parallel to the front and back edges of the flexible member.

One or more side edges of the flexible member may include means for attaching the side edge to a side edge of a flexible member of an adjacent spacer apparatus. These means may include a plurality of connecting pins for engaging complementary orifices in the flexible member of the adjacent spacer apparatus. An opposite side edge of the flexible member may be provided with orifices for engaging connecting pins of a flexible member of a further spacer apparatus.

Preferably the flexible member is made from a plastics material such as polyethylene. The spacer members may also be made from a plastics material such as polyethylene and may be moulded integrally with the flexible member.

An embodiment of the invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a building illustrating the location of apparatus according to the invention, in use; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective detail showing apparatus according to the invention in place on a building; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating apparatus according to the invention in place on a building; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus according to the invention located on a contoured tile; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-section of apparatus according to the

invention located on a plurality of contoured tiles; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a plurality of spacer apparatus according to the invention, being connected together.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a building in the form of a house 10 including a mono-pitch roof 12 abutting a vertical wall 14. At the junction between the mono-pitch roof 12 and the wall 14, flashing material 18 is provided to prevent the ingress of water. It is in this area of the building that the apparatus according to the invention is most useful.

Referring to Fig. 2, a spacer apparatus 20 includes a generally planar flexible member 22 made of a sheet of polyethylene material about 0. 5mm thick. The flexible member 22 is rectangular in plan view including back and front edges 24 and 26 and side edges 28 and 30. The flexible member 22 includes a top face 32 and a lower face 34 (not visible in Fig. 2).

Provided over both the top face 32 and the bottom face 34 of the flexible member are a plurality of spacer members in the form of pins 36. The pins 36 are generally cylindrical in shape and project from the top/bottom faces of the flexible member 22, generally perpendicularly thereto. The pins 36 are approximately 5mm in diameter.

The pins 36 are arranged in rows, the rows being generally parallel to the front and back edges 24 and 26 of the flexible member 22. Pins within a row are located approximately 20mm apart and adjacent rows are spaced about 7.5mm apart from one another. Pins 36 in adjacent rows are offset from one another to provide a tortuous path for air flow and thereby minimise any possibility of ingress of driving rain via the spacer apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, near to the back edge 24, a row of extended pins 40 projects from the lower face 34 of the flexible member. The extended pins 40 are elongated with respect to the other pins 36 on the lower face.

Also near the back edge 24, there are provided a plurality of holes 41, which pass through the flexible member 22 (see Fig. 2).

Referring again to Fig. 2, on the top and bottom faces 32 and 34 of the flexible member 22, three fly screens 37 are provided, each consisting of two mutually offset rows of smaller, screening pins 38. The diameter of these pins is about 2mm and the pins 38 are located about 4mm apart.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the spacer apparatus 20 according to the invention is illustrated in use. The elongated pins 40 are hooked over a top edge 42 of an uppermost tile 44, to hold the spacer apparatus 20 generally in place on top of the tile 44. The pins 36 on the bottom face 34 of the flexible member 22 then rest on a top surface 46 of the tile 44. The pins 36 on the top face 32 of the flexible member 22 support the flashing 18 so that it is spaced from the tile 44. A path for air flow is thus provided from the inside of the roof void to the exterior, via the space between the tile 44 and the flashing 18.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, one of the side edges 28 of the flexible member 22 is provided with a plurality of male connecting pins 47. An opposite side edge 30 of the flexible member 22 is provided with a plurality of holes 48 of generally complementary size and shape to the connecting pins 47. Referring to Fig. 7, a plurality of spacer apparatus 20 may be connected together by bringing the connecting pins 47 of one spacer apparatus into engagement with the holes 48 of an adjacent spacer apparatus. In this way an elongate row of spacer apparatus may be formed, to extend along a length of tiles.

Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, it may be seen that the flexible members 22 may bend to accommodate various different shapes of tile 44. The members 22 are sufficiently flexible that essentially any tiles in normal use may be accommodated, the flexible members 22 bending to adapt to their profile.

Referring again to Fig. 3, lead flashing material 18 may be dressed down over the spacer apparatus 20 and any part of the spacer apparatus protruding from the lead flashing 18 may be trimmed off. Once the lead is fully dressed

down to the required length, and any excess spacer apparatus removed, lead clips 50 may be used to clip the lead flashing into place, in the normal way.

This, in conjunction with the elongated pins 40, also holds the spacer apparatus in place. The holes 41 allow ventilation of the roof void even when the spacer apparatus is placed right against the wall 14, and the screening pins 38 prevent flies entering the roof void via the spacer apparatus.

There is thus provided a simple apparatus which allows for the ventilation of the area where a mono-pitch roof meets a vertical wall. The apparatus is able to conform to all available tile profiles without modification and has fewer components than other available products performing a similar function. The apparatus does not require any additional fixings or specialists tools for installation due to its being held in place by the lead dressed over it.

The lead clips are already available in such situations to hold the lead in place.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention may be used not only for mono-pitched roofs but also in other situations where lead flashing is used and ventilation required, such as around dormer windows. The shapes of the pins 36 may be modified, as may the shape and positioning of the holes and the fly screen pins. The spacer members may be provided only on a top face of the flexible member or only on a bottom face. If spacer members are provided on both faces, they need not be the same size. Various materials could be used for the flexible member provided that the materials are sufficiently flexible and moderately tough. The flexible member need not be substantially continuous and could, for example be a net. The spacer members could consist of elongate ribs, instead of generally cylindrical pins or could be essentially any shape provided that airflow is allowed.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A spacer apparatus for location between roof tiles and sheet flashing material, the spacer apparatus including a flexible member capable of conforming generally to the roof tile profile and a plurality of spacer members projecting from the flexible member such that when the apparatus is positioned between the roof tiles and the flashing material, the flashing material is at least partially spaced from the roof tiles and a passage for airflow is provided between the roof tiles and the flashing material.
2. Spacer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member comprises a sheet of flexible material.
3. Spacer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is between 0. 2mm and 2mm in thickness.
4. Spacer apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sheet is substantially continuous.
5. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer members are provided over substantially the whole of an upper or lower face of the flexible member.
6. Spacer apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spacer members are provided on both upper and lower faces of the flexible member.
7. Spacer apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the spacer members are generally evenly spaced out over the upper and/or lower faces of the flexible member.
8. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer members are arranged in rows, and adjacent rows are offset from one another.

<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
9. Spacer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein spacer members within a row are between 15mm and 25mm apart.
10. Spacer apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the rows are between 5mm and 10mm apart.
11. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer members are arranged such that they provide a tortuous path for airflow between the roof tiles and the flashing material.
12. Spacer apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 11, wherein the spacer members project between Imm and 10mm from the face or faces of the flexible member.
13. Spacer apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the spacer members project generally perpendicularly from the face or faces of the flexible member.
14. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer members comprise projections or nodules.
15. Spacer apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the projections or nodules comprise pins.
16. Spacer apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pins are substantially cylindrical in shape.
17. Spacer apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the spacer members include elongate ribs, instead of or additionally to pins.
18. Spacer apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the ribs extend generally perpendicularly to the front and back edges of the flexible member.
19. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the

<Desc/Clms Page number 9>

flexible member is generally rectangular in plan view.
20. Spacer apparatus according to claim 19, where the flexible member includes front and back edges and side edges extending generally perpendicularly thereto.
21. Spacer apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the spacer members are arranged in rows and the rows are generally parallel to the front and back edges.
22. Spacer apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a row of extended spacer members are provided on a lower face of the flexible member in use, near to its back edge, the extended spacer members projecting further from the lower face of the flexible member than the remaining spacer members.
23. Spacer apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the extended spacer members are adapted to hook over a top edge of a tile, to hook the spacer apparatus in place.
24. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible member is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes passing therethrough.
25. Spacer apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the holes are near to a back edge of the flexible member.
26. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, the apparatus including one or more rows of screening spacer members which are smaller than the remaining spacer members and located closer together.
27. Spacer apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the screening spacer members are spaced less than 6mm apart.

<Desc/Clms Page number 10>
28. Spacer apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the screening spacer members are spaced less than 4mm apart.
29. Spacer apparatus according to any of claims 26 to 28, wherein the diameters of the screening spacer members are about 2mm.
30. Spacer apparatus according to any claims 26 to 29, wherein a row of screening spacer members is provided near a front edge of the flexible member
31. Spacer apparatus according to any of claims 26 to 30, wherein a row of screening spacer members is provided in a mid region of the flexible member.
32. Spacer apparatus according to claim 30 or claim 31, wherein each row extends generally parallel to front and back edges of the flexible member.
33. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more side edges of the flexible member includes means for attaching the side edge to a side edge of a flexible member of an adjacent spacer apparatus.
34. Spacer apparatus according to claim 33, wherein these means include a plurality of connecting pins for engaging complementary orifices in the flexible member of the adjacent spacer apparatus.
35. Spacer apparatus according to claim 33 or claim 34, wherein an opposite side edge of the flexible member is provided with orifices for engaging connecting pins of a flexible member of a further spacer apparatus.
36. Spacer apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible member is made from a plastics material such as polyethylene.
37. Spacer apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the spacer members are also made from a plastics material such as polyethylene.

<Desc/Clms Page number 11>
38. Spacer apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the spacer members are moulded integrally with the flexible member.
39. Spacer apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
40. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.