GB2419629A

GB2419629A - Roofing rivet positioning device

Info

Publication number: GB2419629A
Application number: GB0521706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Cain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-26
Filing date: 2005-10-25
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-25
Also published as: GB2419629B; GB0521706D0

Abstract

A roof rivet positioning device allows accurate positioning of a roofing rivet so as to meet with an aperture on a leading edge of a roofing tile to be fixed on a roof structure. The device comprises a first element 1 having a guide means 6 arranged to abut with a fixed roof structure and permitting sliding movement of the device in a plane parallel to the fixed roof structure. A second element 2 is slidably engaged with the first element 1 for movement perpendicular to that of the first element 1. The second element 2 has rivet retaining means 3 for releasably retaining a roofing rivet. The first 1 and second 2 elements may each comprise substantially rectangular plates having a long axis and a short axis. The long axes of the first and second elements may be aligned. The guide means 6 may be an angle bar having an elongate axis perpendicular to that of the first element 1. The first element 1 may have at least one slotted aperture 7 which is engaged by a threaded insert on the second element, a fastening device 4 may engage the threaded insert to releasably fix the first 1 and second 2 elements relative to each other. The rivet retaining means may comprise a notch 3 on each long side of the second element 2 corresponding to a recess 5 on each long side of the first element 1.

Description

ROOFING RIVET POSITIONING DEVICE

This invention relates to a tool for the laying of slate roofing tiles that require copper tail rivets. In particular, this invention relates to a roofing rivet positioning device which is capable of accurately positioning and retaining a tail rivet. The tail rivet being subsequently folded to secure the leading edge of the slate roofing tile.

Figs. I and 2 illustrate how courses of slate roofing tiles are generally secured to a roof structure comprising of structural timber battens 11. In the United Kingdom, the laying of slate roofing tiles requires that fixing is in accordance with BS 5534: 2003 Code of practice for slating and tiling (including shingles)' and BS 800 6. As shown in Figs. I and 2, the slate roofing tiles have been denoted A, B, C and D to help illustrate the installation procedure. Fiber cement slates A, B, C or D are supplied with three holes, all having the same approximate dimension. Two of these holes 13a are positioned on each side, midway down the slate A, B, C or D to receive a copper nail 12 for securing to the timber batten 11. Slate A, B, C or D also includes a rivet hole 13 in the leading edge of the slate, around 50mm up, which coincides with the joint between lower slates, when installed. The rivet hole 13 receives a copper disc tail rivet 9, which is subsequently folded to hold the leading edge of the upper slate down, when installed.

Fig. 1 shows slate A firmly nailed to batten 11 on the first course, as is slate B for the second course. The copper disc rivet 9 is then pushed and placed firmly between slate A and B leaving part of the copper disc rivet 9 exposed for the time being. Slate C follows this, and is laid next to slate B which is also nailed firmly in place covering the exposed half of the copper disc rivet 9, which is now sandwiched between slates A, B and C and is left unbent at this stage. Fig. 2 shows slate D of the third course being lowered over the exposed and unbent copper disc rivet 9, and then slate D is firmly nailed in place. It is now that the copper disc rivet 9 is bent upwards for securing purposes. The installation procedure for entire roof structure is then repeated using the same sequence.

Presently, roofers have no means of assessing accurate rivet 9 location to ensure the correct placement and alignment of slate roofing tiles of this type. For every single roof slate laid of this type, the rivet 9 is required to link up with hole 13 that is located within the slate in order to commence laying the next course of slate. Currently, laying slate of this type lies with each individual roofer to produce the best finished product in an acceptable timescale, and with the least amount of material waste.

Existing methods mean a rivet is haphazardly and repeatedly held between finger and thumb for manual interpretation to guess, support, place and push a rivet 9 into an acceptable position, gripped between two fixed roof slates to enable the next course of roof slate to be placed and aligned appropriately. Experience alone does not always provide for correct rivet 9 placement.

Because of its manual process, a finger and thumb exercise is consistently used under pressure to guess, place and push a rivet 9 into position, and applying the same steps several hundred times per roof installation with no true level of accuracy or reassurance for acceptable slate alignment. In practical terms, rivets 9 require much handling and many frustrating, uncomfortable and costly attempts, increasing the likelihood of finger injuries before achieving what appears to be a satisfactory result.

Every roofer laying slate will produce a different effect time after time.

Installation of the rivet 9 may or may not be wholly satisfactory or correctly placed, nor apparent until the next course of slate is placed over the rivet 9 that is already fixed firmly in place sandwiched between the slates. If the exposed rivet 9 was guessed correctly in the early stage, the slate should line up correctly in preparation for the next sequence of slate placement and alignment. However, this action is always left to chance, and, on occasions where a rivet 9 is found to be incorrectly positioned, action must be taken to remedy this hampering the slating process creating substantial time loss.

This leads to a multi-task discipline for the roofer to alter and/or manipulate slate and/or rivet 9 to achieve satisfactory alignment. In this instance, it is necessary to further judge and correct alignment by carefully tapping the slate or rivet up and down a number of times with a hammer to resolve the alignment problem. In the course of this additional adjustment, occasional damage can result to slate or rivet 9 presenting the possible task of slate or rivet 9 removal and the introduction of extra new materials.

Despite the best endeavors of tradesmen to complete the roof installation, the result may have created uneven slate, chipped, broken, scratched or damaged slate and/or rivets 9 to remove or replace. The time lost through trying to rectify these problems, may result in excess labour, productivity and material losses and hence increased costs.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a roofing rivet positioning device which is capable of accurately positioning and retaining a tail rivet. The present invention overcomes waste problems by ensuring accurate rivet positioning at the very beginning of the installation procedure for precise slate alignment with each course of slate laid, ensuing continuity of work. By saving time not moving and/or removing unnecessary damaged slate and/or rivets repeatedly, and preventing stop checks for slate alignment, produces a natural pace to the slate laying process which improves end product results, labour performance and productivity.

According to the present invention there is provided a roofing rivet positioning device, comprising: a lirst element having guide means arranged to abut with a fixed roof structure, said guide means permitting slidable movement of said device in a plane parallel to said fixed roof structure; and a second element slidably engaged with said first element so as to allow substantially perpendicular movement relative to said first element, said second element comprising rivet retaining means for releasably retaining a roofing rivet, wherein, in use: said device positions said roofing rivet so as to meet with an aperture on a leading edge of a roofing tile to be secured on said fixed roof structure.

Preferably, said first and second elements further comprise two coplanar substantially rectangular plates, each having a long axis and a short axis. In use, said guide means permitting slidable movement of said device in a plane parallel to said fixed roof structure may comprise an angle bar or other elongate member positioned substantially perpendicular to the long axis of said first element.

Further preferably, said angle bar extends beyond said first and second elements. In use, said fixed roof structure may comprise at least one timber batten.

Further, in use, said first element may comprise at least one slotted aperture and said second element may comprise at least one threaded insert which corresponds to said at least one slotted aperture in said first element.

Preferably, said roofing rivet positioning device further comprises at least one fastening device for releasably securing said first and second elements through said at least one slotted aperture and at least one threaded insert.

Further, in use, said at least one fastening device further comprises at least one thumbscrew, wing nut, threaded screw or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, said rivet retaining means for releasably retaining said roofing rivet further comprises at least one notch located on each side of said second element. Preferably, said at least one notch located on each side of said second element corresponds to appropriate elongate recesses on each side of said first element.

Further preferably, said first and second elements are formed from a suitable metallic or plastics material. In use, said second element may be ergonomically shaped to minimise user fatigue. In an alternative embodiment, said first element retains said second element using angletype retaining edges.

Preferably, said roofing tile comprises fiber cement slate.

It is believed that a roofing rivet positioning device which is capable of accurately positioning and retaining a tail rivet in accordance with the present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above. In particular, the advantages of the present invention are that a roofing rivet positioning device is provided which overcomes waste problems by ensuring accurate rivet positioning at the very beginning of the installation procedure for precise slate alignment with each course of slate laid, ensuing continuity of work.

Advantageously, by saving time not moving and/or removing unnecessary damaged slate and/or rivets repeatedly, and preventing stop checks for slate alignment produces a natural pace to the slate laying process which improves end product results, labour performance and productivity.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specifically described herein.

A specific non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. I and 2 illustrate a prior art method of how courses of slate roofing tiles that require copper tail rivets are generally secured to a roof structure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates an end view of a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of an upper plate of the roofing rivet positioning device depicted in Figs. 3 to 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates a plan view of a lower plate of the roofing rivet positioning device depicted in Figs. 3 to 5.

Fig. 8 shows a side view of a roofing rivet positioning device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of a roofing rivet positioning device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 illustrates an end view of a roofing rivet positioning device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of an upper plate of the roofing rivet positioning device depicted in Figs. 8 to 10.

Fig. 12 illustrates a plan view of a lower plate of the roofing rivet positioning device depicted in Figures 8 to 10.

Fig. 13 shows a side view of a copper tail rivet that can be used in conjunction with a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the use of a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention for laying courses of slate roofing tiles that require copper tail rivets.

Referring now to the drawings, the implementation of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7. As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the roofing rivet positioning device consists of two substantially rectangular plates I and 2. The upper plate 2 is provided with elongated apertures 7, and lower plate I includes threaded inserts 8 for fastening upper plate 2 to lower plate 1, using a screw device 4, such as a thumbscrew, wing nut, threaded screw or the like, for variable adjustment and movement purposes. The upper plate 2 includes left and right side notches 3 for receiving a copper tail rivet (not shown). The lower plate I includes left and right side recesses 5 through which the copper tail rivet (not shown) is located. The lower plate 1 also includes an angle bar 6 located substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower plate I and 2 for locating the roofing rivet positioning device at the correct resting position on batten and slate (not shown). As shown in Fig. 4, the angle bar 6 extends on either side of plates I and 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 show further detail of the upper 2 and lower plates 1, respectively. As depicted in Fig. 6, the upper plate 2 has two elongate apertures 7 which align with the threaded inserts 8 on lower plate 1, as shown in Fig. 7. Screw device 4 combines and fastens upper plate 2 together with lower plate 1. Left side and right side notches 3 supports a disc rivet (not shown) and the angle bar 6 lies underneath lower plate 1 and extends beyond plates I and 2 for abutment with the timber batten (not shown). As can be clearly appreciated by the skilled person, adjustment of the upper plate 2 relative to the lower plate I is achieved using screw devices 4 and slotted apertures 7.

The implementation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 8 to 12. With this alternative embodiment of the present invention, the roofing rivet positioning device consists of an upper plate 2 provided with a single elongate aperture 7. The upper plate 2 is retained within the lower plate I using angle-type retaining edges 14, which permits slidable movement of the upper plate 2 over the lower plate 1. The lower plate I includes a threaded insert 8 for releasably securing upper plate 2 to lower plate 1, using screw device 4, such as a thumbscrew, wing nut, threaded screw or the like. The upper plate 2 also includes left and right side notches 3 for receiving a copper tail rivet (not shown). The lower plate I includes left and right side recesses 5 through which the copper tail rivet (not shown) is located. The lower plate I also includes an angle bar 6 located substantially perpendicular to the upper 2 and lower plates I for locating the roofing rivet positioning device at the correct resting position on the batten and slate (not shown). As is shown in Fig. 9, the angle bar 6 extends on either side of plates I and 2.

Figs. 11 and 12 show further detail of the upper 2 and lower plates 1, respectively. As depicted in Fig. 11, the upper plate 2 has a single elongate aperture 7, which aligns with the threaded insert 8 on lower plate 1, as shown in Fig. 12. Screw device 4 then combines and fastens upper plate 2 together with lower plate 1.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the upper 2 and lower plates I of the embodiments depicted in Figs. 3 to 7 and Figs. 8 to 12 can be formed from any suitable metal or plastics material, or from a combination of these or other suitable materials. In order to increase portability, the angle bar 6 can be a fixed or detachable type. Likewise, the upper plate 2 can be ergonomically shaped to minimise user fatigue and can be of concave or convex shape and/or include protruding elements for finger adjustment on or around the upper plate 2.

Fig. 13 shows a side view of a copper tail rivet 9 that can be used in conjunction with a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the use of a roofing rivet positioning device according to the present invention for laying courses of slate roofing tiles that require copper tail rivets 9. Fig. 14 shows the roofing rivet positioning device with disc rivet 9 supported in notch 3 positioned for right side use, with the angle bar 6 resting on timber batten 11 and plates I and 2 of the roofing rivet positioning device resting on the surface of slate A. Fig. 14 shows the use of the roofing rivet positioning device prior to placement of the rivet 9 located in notch 3. Both the slate roofing tiles A and B shown in Figs. 14 and 15 have been previously secured to the battens 11 using copper nails 12 through holes I 3a positioned roughly midway down each side of the slate 10.

Fig. 15 shows the roofing rivet positioning device with disc rivet 9 supported in notch 3 positioned for right side use in the correct position for meeting with a rivet hole 13 in the leading edge of a slate (not shown) to be placed directly above slate A. Such a slate would be denoted as slate D in Fig. 2. The roofing rivet positioning device is shown with angle bar 6 resting on batten 11 with combined plates 1 and 2 resting on slate A, and showing one side of the angle bar exposed following the placement of disc rivet 9 now firmly sandwiched between the two fixed roofing slates A and B. The roofing rivet positioning device can now be removed by sliding such along the batten 11 away from slate B, leaving the disc rivet 9 firmly in place between slates A and B, and leaving part of the copper disc rivet 9 exposed for the time being.

Although not shown in Fig. 15, a slate (which would be denoted as slate C in Figs. 1 and 2) would then be laid next to slate B which is also nailed firmly in place covering the exposed half of the copper disc rivet 9, which would now be sandwiched between slates A, B and C and as shown for example in Fig. 1.

With the copper disc rivet 9 now firmly and accurately positioned, it can be appreciated that the third course of slate (for example, slate D of Fig. 2) is then lowered over the exposed and unbent copper disc rivet 9 through aperture 13, and then such slate is firmly nailed in place to the batten 11. It is now that the copper disc rivet 9 is bent upwards for securing purposes. The installation procedure for entire roof structure being then repeated using the same sequence.

As can be appreciated, the timber roof battens 11 are set at a certain gauge apart, for the installation of slate. In use, once the roofing rivet positioning device of the present invention has been set by adjustment of the upper plate 2 relative to the lower plate 1, in accordance with the specific batten gauge, the device is then locked using screw devices 4 to provide ongoing use.

In use, the roofing rivet positioning device provides for either left or right side notches 3, depending on the user, for introducing the rivet 9 against the upper 2 and lower plates I before moving such in position, and thus removing slate alignment errors. It will be appreciated that the upper 2 and lower plates I also provide a comfortable handling surface for one or two hand use by means of gliding over the surface of the batten 11 and slate to secure placement of rivet 9 into position. This being the only light action required to handle, support and locate a rivet 9 between two fixed slates A and B accurately and with ease for true alignment and reliable results. With rivets 9 supported and fitted this way, user discomfort is reduced and which improves end product results, labour performance and productivity.

Various alterations and modifications may be made to the present invention wfthout departing from the scope of the Invention.

Claims

1. A roofing rivet positioning device, comprising: a first element having guide means arranged to abut with a fixed roof structure, said guide means permitting slidable movement of said device in a plane parallel to said fixed roof structure; and a second element slidably engaged with said first element so as to allow substantially perpendicular movement relative to said first element, said second element comprising rivet retaining means for releasably retaining a roofing rivet, wherein, in use: said device positions said roofing rivet so as to meet with an aperture on a leading edge of a roofing tile to be secured on said fixed roof structure.

2. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second elements further comprise two coplanar substantially rectangular plates, each having a long axis and a short axis.

3. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guide means permitting slidable movement of said device in a plane parallel to said fixed roof structure further comprises an angle bar or other elongate member positioned substantially perpendicular to the long axis of said first element.

4. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said angle bar extends beyond said first and second elements.

5. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said fixed roof structure comprises at least one timber batten.

6. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first element further comprises at least one slotted aperture and said second element further comprises at least one threaded insert which corresponds to said at least one slotted aperture in said first element.

7. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said device further comprises at least one fastening device for releasably securing said first and second elements through said at least one slotted aperture and at least one threaded insert.

8. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one fastening device further comprises at least one thumbscrew, wing nut, threaded screw or the like.

9. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said rivet retaining means for releasably retaining said roofing rivet further comprises at least one notch located on each side of said second element.

10. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one notch located on each side of said second element corresponds to appropriate elongate recesses on each side of said first element.

11. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second elements are formed from a suitable metallic or plastics material.

12. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second element is ergonomically shaped to minimise user fatigue. I *

13. A roofing rivet posftioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first element retains said second element using angie-type retaining edges.

14. A roofing rivet positioning device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said roofing tile comprises fiber cement Sate.

15. A roofing rivet positioning device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 or Figs. 8 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.