GB2400579A

GB2400579A - Saw for removing modular roof coverings

Info

Publication number: GB2400579A
Application number: GB0308583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard George Osborne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-14
Filing date: 2003-04-14
Publication date: 2004-10-20
Also published as: GB0308583D0

Abstract

A saw for roofing applications, the saw comprising an elongate flexible blade member 1 having a proximal end 3, a distal end 4, opposed planar faces 5, 6 and opposed elongate cutting edges 2. A handle 7 is mounted on the proximal end 3 of the blade member 1, the handle 7 including a grip portion 9 that projects only from one face 5 of the blade member 1 and not from the other. The positioning of the grip portion 9 allows the saw to be used for removal of roof coverings without fouling or otherwise damaging the roof coverings.

Description

IMPROVED SAW FOR REMOVING MODULAR ROOF COVERINGS AND

THE LIKE

The present invention relates to a saw for removing modular roof coverings and the like, such as slates, tiles etc., hereinafter referred to generally as coverings.

Traditionally, modular roof coverings are fixed to underlying battens of a roof structure by way of wooden pegs, metal pins or, more commonly, nails, hereinafter referred to generally as fixings.

- During roof repair work, it is often necessary to remove a partial area of roof coverings or a single roof covering. To achieve this, it is necessary to extract or cut the fixings, thus allowing the covering or coverings to be removed. Furthermore, it is often desirable, when repairing or replacing roof coverings, to remove existing coverings without damage thereto. This is because there is a high demand for traditional roof coverings, such as slates and the like, which are not cheap to replace.

Even when traditional roof coverings, such as slates, are replaced by concrete tiles or the like, there is a good second-hand market in traditional slates, and it is therefore undesirable for these to be damaged.

Traditional handsaws are not well suited for cutting roof fixings, since they tend to be relatively large and inflexible, and their handles are inconveniently positioned and/or designed for this purpose. In particular, wood saws and the like which tend to have relatively flexible blades, are not well suited for cutting nails and other fixings not made of wood, since their teeth tend to be of a large pitch or large size and are easily blunted. Hacksaws and the like, which do have blades that are suited for cutting nails and metal fixings, are not suited for use in the cutting of roof fixings, since the blades are generally held rigid in a metal frame that, in turn, is not convenient for insertion between roof coverings.

te' :e ee. Be: t 4 4 À 4 According to the present invention, there is provided a saw for roofing applications, the saw comprising an elongate flexible blade member having a proximal end, a distal end, opposed planar faces and opposed elongate edges, a cutting edge provided on each elongate edge of the blade member, and a handle mounted on the proximal end of the blade member, the handle including a grip portion that projects only from one face of the blade member and not from the other.

The handle may be removably attached to the blade member, for example by way of bolts or the like.

The key feature is that the grip portion of the handle extends in a resolved direction perpendicular to the faces of the blade member to one side only, and not to the other.

This means that the blade member can be inserted between roof coverings in order to access and cut the fixings, and can easily be operated by gripping the handle on one side of the blade member only without the handle fouling the roof coverings on the other side of the blade member.

The grip portion may comprise a generally U-shaped member, or may comprise a pair of grip portions extending generally from one side of the blade member, for example in a "cow horn" configuration. In some embodiments, three or more grip portions may extend generally from the one face of the blade member. : :' I]

In some embodiments, the handle may incorporate motor means for reciprocating or otherwise moving the blade member in a powered manner.

The cutting edges of the blade member may be provided with traditional saw teeth or with abrasive grit or the like. One cutting edge may be provided with a different pitch of teeth that the other. Alternatively, one cutting edge may be provided with abrasive grit and the other with saw teeth. It is, however, preferred that both cutting edges are provided with similar cutting means. The cutting edges may be substantially parallel to each other, or may be convergent or divergent as required.

À. te. :-. .e es: . . . À .. À À À À À À À The cutting edges are preferably configured so as to be suitable for cutting through metal nails and other roof fixings. In particular, it is preferred that the cutting edges have teeth or cutting means similar to or with the same cutting characteristics as hacksaw blades. However, other cutting means may be provided as appropriate.

The blade member needs to be sufficiently flexible to allow it to be inserted under or between roof coverings. The blade member also needs to be long enough to allow fixings to be accessed and cut when inserted under or between roof coverings. In a preferred embodiment, the blade member has a thickness not greater than 2mm, preferably not greater than lmrn. It is to be appreciated that the blade member is not i:, , held rigid in an external frame or the like, but is free to flex and bend.

In this way, it is possible to cut the fixings holding roof coverings in position, without damaging the roof coverings or underlying structures such as battens, Barking felt, rafters etc. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference shall now be made to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIGURE 1 shows an exploded view of a saw embodying the present invention. "':63

Figure 1 shows an elongate, flexible blade member 1 with opposed cutting edges 2.

The cutting edges 2 are provided with saw teeth or abrasive grit as required, and in this embodiment extend substantially parallel to each other.

The blade member 1 has a proximal end 3 (not provided with cutting edges) and a distal end 4. The blade member also has first and second opposed planar faces 5, 6.

A handle 7 is releasably mounted on the proximal end 3 of the blade member by way of bolts (not shown) and communicating holes 8. The handle 7 includes a grip À $ À À portion 9 in the form of a U-shaped grip that projects only from the first face 5 of the blade member and not from the second face 6. By way of the provision of such a grip portion 9, the saw can be moved in the plane of the blade member 1 with relative ease in all directions and without fouling roof coverings or the like on the side of the second face 6 of the blade member 1.

The preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any possible combination.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" -I:: and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers, moieties, additives or steps. K':) À #

Claims

À À CLAIMS: 1. A saw for roofing applications, the saw comprising an

elongate flexible blade member having a proximal end, a distal end, opposed planar faces and opposed elongate edges, a cutting edge provided on each elongate edge of the blade member, and a handle mounted on the proximal end of the blade member, the handle including a grip portion that projects only from one face of the blade member and not from the other.
2. A saw as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is removably attached to the :- A blade member.
3. A saw as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle does not protrude from the other face of the blade member.
4. A saw as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the grip portion comprises a U-shaped member.
5. A saw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grip portion comprises at least a pair of grip handles extending from the one face of the blade member. I,) :
6. A saw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle includes motor means for reciprocating or otherwise moving the blade member.
7. A saw as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cutting edges are provided with saw teeth.
8. A saw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting edges are provided with abrasive grit. À . .

À . À À À À À À À À À .
9. A saw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one cutting edge is provided with saw teeth and the other cutting edge is provided with abrasive grit.
10. A saw as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cutting edges are substantially parallel to each other.
11. A saw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cutting edges diverge from each other with respect to the proximal end.
12. A saw as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cutting edges - converge towards each other wit-in respect to the proximal end. I>
13. A saw as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the blade member has a thickness not greater than 2mm.
14. A saw as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the blade member has a thickness not greater than lmm.
15. A saw substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawing.

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