GB2451458A

GB2451458A - A ridge cover assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2451458A
Application number: GB0714813A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Cameron Challinor
Original assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Manthorpe Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2007-07-31
Publication date: 2009-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-31
Also published as: GB2451458B; GB0714813D0

Abstract

A ridge cover assembly comprises a ridge cover member and a barrier member. The barrier member includes a body and finger members and is arranged to provide a barrier to rain, snow and/or insects. Each finger member may have a free end which is arranged to be moveable with respect to the free ends of other finger members, the finger members may be resiliently deformable or flexible. The finger members may be arranged in one or a plurality of rows. If there are a plurality of rows of fingers, adjacent rows may be offset. The ridge cover member may include barrier member mountings. More than one ridge cover member may be provided and adjacent members may be overlapped. The overlapping ends may have interlocking formations with ventilation slots.

Description

BARRIER MEMBERS

The present invention relates to barrier members, particularly but not exclusively barrier members for roof covering members, and to roof covering member assemblies including barrier members.

Conventionally, two sloping sides of a roof meet at a ridge. Each of the sides is covered by roof covering members, for example in the form of tiles, and at the ridge a ridge tile overlaps each of the two sides. Conventionally, ridge tiles have been held in position by mortar. However, increasingly builders are wishing to use dry fix techniques, since mortar can only be used in dry weather, and has a limited life. One of the advantages, however with mortar is that it con conform to a wide variety of shapes of tiles, whereas dry fix ridge tiles have typically required the use of relatively expensive expandable sealing materials or have been installed with gaps which can permit weather ingress in the form of rain or snow and/or wildlife ingress in the form of insects.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier member for a roof covering member assembly, the barrier member including a body and a plurality of finger members, the finger members extending from the body and being arranged to provide a barrier in use to the passage of rain or snow and/or insects.

Possibly, each finger member has a free end, which may be arranged to be moveable relative to the free ends of the other finger members.

Possibly each finger member is resiliently deformable, and may be formed of a resiliently flexible material, and may be formed of a plastics material.

Possibly the finger members are arranged in a row. Possibly the finger members are arranged in a plurality of rows, and may be arranged in two rows.

Possibly each finger member is rectangular in cross section, having a width and a thickness, the width being greater than the thickness. Adjacent rows of finger members may be offset.

Possibly the barrier member includes a mounting for mounting the barrier member in a mounted condition in use to a roof covering member to form a roof covering member assembly. Possibly in use the finger members are arranged to extend across a gap defined between the roof covering member and an adjacent roof covering member. Possibly the finger members extend underneath the roof covering member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a roof covering member, the roof covering member including a mounting for mounting a barrier member.

Possibly the roof covering member is for use along the ridge of a roof.

The barrier member may be as described in any of the preceding

statements.

The roof covering member mounting may be co-operable with the barrier member mounting and may be arranged to be co-operable to provide retaining means to retain the barrier member in the mounted condition to the roof covering member.

Possibly, one of the co-operating barrier member mountings and roof covering member mountings defines a slot and the other is in the form of a projection which is receivable in the slot.

Possibly the roof covering member includes a pair of similar mountings to permit the mounting of two barrier members. The mountings may be spaced apart, and may be located along opposite edges of the roof covering member. Possibly the or each mounting extends longitudinally along the roof covering member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roof covering member assembly, the roof covering member assembly including a roof covering member and a barrier member, the roof covering member and the barrier member being as described in any of the preceding

statements.

Possibly, the barrier member is formed integrally with the roof covering member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roof covering member for use along the ridge of a roof, the roof covering member including interlocking formations.

Possibly, the roof covering member includes a first interlocking formation and a second interlocking formation, which may be located at opposite ends of the roof covering member. Possibly, in use, the first interlocking formation of one roof covering member engages the second interlocking formation of an adjacent roof covering member. Possibly the engagement of the first and second interlocking formation is arranged to substantially prevent or at least reduce the ingress of rain or snow and/or insects. Possibly the engagement of the first and second interlocking formations is arranged to permit ventilation.

Possibly the first interlocking formation defines a channel. Possibly the second interlocking formation includes a projection, which may be receivable in the channel in use.

Possibly the second interlocking formation defines one or more passages. The passage or passages may be in the form of the slot or slots, and may form a filter in use.

Possibly the roof covering member includes any of the features

described in the preceding statements.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure is a perspective view from one side, one end and above of a roof covering member assembly; Figure 2 is a perspective view from another side, the other end and above of the roof covering member assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the roof covering member assembly of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an end view of finger members; Figure 5 is a view of the underside of a roof covering member and barrier members in a demounted condition; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the roof covering member assemblies in use; Figure 7is a side view of parts of two roof covering member assemblies in use; Figure 8 is an end view of a roof covering member assembly, Figure 8A showing the assembly in an initial condition and Figure 8B showing the assembly in an installed condition; Figure 9 is an end view of another roof covering member assembly; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the roof covering member assembly of Figure 9.

Figures 1 to 3 show a roof covering member assembly 10 including a roof covering member 12 and a barrier member 30. The roof covering member 12 is in the form of a ridge tile, for use along the ridge of a roof.

The roof covering member 12 includes a body 14, a first interlocking formation in the form of a channel 16 defined by the body 14 and a second interlocking formation in the form of an end wall 18. the channel 16 and end wall 18 being located at opposite ends of the body 14. The end wall 18 defines a plurality of ventilation passages in the form of slots 20. The body 14 defines a fixing hole 22 which is located towards the end of the body 14 having the end wall 18. The underneath in use of the roof covering member 12 is concave, defining an inferior 72.

Referring to Figure 5, the roof covering member body 14 includes a pair of mountings 23, each including a mounting channel 24 defined by the body 14, the mountings 23 each including an inner wall 26 which defines a plurality of mounting slots 28. The mountings 23 extend along opposed longitudinal edges of the roof covering member body 14.

Each of the barrier members 30, as shown in Figure 5, includes a body 32, which includes a crease 74 extending longitudinally befween a first body part 76 and a second body part 78. Each of the barrier members 30 includes a plurality of finger members 34 extending from the first body part 76 and a mounting in the form of a plurality of I shaped projections 44 which project from the second body part 78. Each of the I shaped projections 44 includes o stem 62 and an enlarged head 64. The I shaped projections 44 are elongate, having a length extending substantially perpendicularly to the crease 76. and having a substantially constant cross section size and shape along the length.

By virtue of the crease 74. the first body part 76 forms an angle 48 with the second body part 78. The angle 48 is in one example less than 1350, and could be approximately 120°. Thus the finger members 34 are orientated at the angle 48 to the length of the T shaped projections 44.

Each of the finger members 34 is in the form of a strip, having a rectangular cross sectional shape, in which the width of the finger member 34 is greater than its thickness. The finger members 34 are arranged in a row so that one finger member abuts adjacent finger members 34.

The finger members 34 are arranged in two rows, a first row 36 and a second row 38 as shown in Figure 4, and are arranged so that the edges 40 of the finger members 34 of one row are offset from the edges 40 of the finger members 34 of the other row.

Referring to Figure 8. and more particularly Figure 8A which shows the assembly 10 in an initial condition, each finger member 34 includes a stem 35, a tip 46 extending from the stem 35. the tip 46 being angled relative to the stem 35, the angle being less than 180°, and in one example being approximately 1550.

The finger members 34 could, in one example, be formed of a flexible, resilient material such as a plastics material. Each barrier member 30 could be formed integrally by moulding. such as by injection moulding.

The roof covering member assembly 10 is assembled as follows. The positions of the I shaped projections 44 of the barrier member 30 are arranged to correspond in number and position with the mounting slots 28.

One barrier member 30 is mounted to each of the mountings 23 so that the stems 62 of each of the I shaped projections 44 slidably locate in one mounting slot 28, the enlarged heads 64 being received within the mounting channels 24. The I shaped projections 40 are arranged to be an interference push fit with the mounting slots 28. The I shaped projections 44 and slots 28 are thus co-operable together to provide retaining means to retain the barrier members 30 in a mounted condition on the roof covering member 12.

In the mounted condition, as shown in Figure 8A. the finger members 34 extend inwardly and downwardly from the longitudinal side edges of the roof covering member 12. underneath the roof covering member 12.

Figure 6 shows two roof covering member assemblies 10 being installed on a roof 50. The roof 50 includes a ridge batten 54, which could be of a material such as wood. Roof tiles 52 are laid up to the ridge batten 54, sloping downwardly away from the ridge batten 54. As shown in Figure 8B, the roof covering member assembly 10 is positioned in an installed condition on the ridge batten 50 over the top edges of the files 52 so that the finger members 34 ore deformed by the files 52. the flexible finger members 34 deforming to fit around the contours of the files 52. The angled tips 46 help prevent snagging of the finger members 34 as the assembly 10 is placed on the roof 50. guiding the movement of the finger members 34. In the installed condition, the finger members 34 extend upwardly info the interior 72. The overlapping rows 36. 38 of the finger members 34 substantially prevent large gaps appearing as the finger members 34 deform around the contours of the tiles 52. Thus, in use, the finger members 34 substantially provide a barrier to the ingress of weather such as rain or snow (indicated in Figure 8B by arrow A), which may be blown underneath the roof covering member 12 through the gap 70 defined between the roof covering member 12 and the roof tiles 52. and to wildlife such as insects.

Adjacent roof covering member assemblies 10 are laid so that the interlocking end wall 18 of one roof covering member 12 is received within the interlocking channel 16 of an adjacent roof covering member 12. As shown in Figure 7 it will be noted that the fixing hole 22 is positioned towards one end of the roof covering member 12, the one end being the end having the interlocking end wall 18, and when the roof covering member assemblies are correctly in position, fasteners such as nails or screws 56 are located through the fixing holes 22 to fasten the roof covering member assemblies 10 to the ridge batten 54. The single fixing hole 22 fastens the roof covering member 12 at one end only, permitting expansion and contraction of the roof covering member assembly 10. It will be noted from Figure 7 that the channel 16 permits loose engagement of the adjacent roof covering members 12 so that longitudinal movement of one roof covering member 12 relative to the adjacent roof covering member 1215 permitted.

In the assembled condition, the interlocking end wall 18 and channel 16 substantially prevent ingress of weather such as rain and snow and wildlife such as insects, but the ventilation slots 20 permit movement of air for ventilation purposes.

It will be noted from Figure 3 that the barrier member 30 does not extend fully to one end of the roof covering member 12, but that in the assembled condition as shown in Figure 7, the finger members 34 are substantially continuous over the junction between adjacent roof covering members 12.

Figures 9 and 10 shown on alternative embodiment of the invention.

many features of which are similar to those described above, and which will therefore not be described in detail again f or the sake of brevity. In this embodiment, a roof covering member assembly 110 includes a roof covenng member 112 and a barrier member 130. The barrier member 130 includes a body 132, a plurality of finger members 34 extending from the body 132. the body 132 defining a mounting in the form of a channel 60 in which the longitudinal edges 66 of the roof covering member 112 are receivable. The barrier member 130 could be formed of a resilient, flexible material such as a plastics material, the longitudinal edges 66 being an interference fit within the channel 60, so that the barrier members 130 are retained in position on the roof covering member 112. The roof covering member 112 could be formed of a material such as clay or concrete.

Thus, the barrier member 130 of this embodiment could be mounted to traditional forms of ridge files.

Various modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The roof covering member could be of any suitable size or shape. For example the roof covering members shown have a curved arched shape in profile, but ridged roof covering members having for example a V shape could be used. The finger members could be of any suitable design. For example, in another embodiment, the finger members could be in the form of bristles. The barrier members could be of any suitable design, and the mounting of the barrier members to the roof covering members could be of any suitable form. The finger members could be of any suitable length, and could be arranged to be mounted at any suitable angle to the roof covering member. The interlocking formations of the roof covering members could be of any suitable size and shape.

An end roof covering member 12 could be provided without the interlocking channel 16 for neatness and having an extra fixing hole.

In another embodiment, the barrier member or members could be formed integrally with the roof covering member, for example by moulding.

There is thus provided a roof covering member assembly which permits dry lix installation. Installation is easy. and can be undertaken by a relatively unskilled user, and is not dependent upon good weather conditions. The roof covering member assemblies of the present invention provide barriers to the ingress of weather such as rain or snow and/or insects while permitting ventilation and expansion.

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 IS placed thereon.

Claims

1. A roof covering member assembly for use along the ridge of a roof, the assembly including a barrier member and a roof covering member, the barrier member including a body and a plurality of finger members, the finger members extending from the body and being arranged to provide a barrier in use to the passage of rain or snow and/or insects.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which each finger member has a free end, which is arranged to be rnoveab!e relative to the free ends of the other finger members.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which each finger member is resiliently deformable.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, in which each finger member is formed of a resiliently flexible material.

5. An assembly according to claim 4. in which each finger member is formed of a plastics material.

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the finger members are arranged in a row. * ** * S S * *S

7. An assembly according to claim 6, in which the finger members are arranged in a plurality of rows. * . *

S.

U. 8. An assembly according to claim 7, in which the finger members are arranged in two rows. * S.

9. An assembly according to claim 8. in which adjacent rows of finger S...

* members are offset. *5S

I

10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which each finger member is rectangular in cross section.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, in which each finger member has a width and a thickness, the width being greater than the thickness.

12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the finger members are arranged to extend across a gap defined between the roof covering member and an adjacent roof covering member.

13. An assembly according to claim 13, in which the finger members extend underneath the roof covering member.

14. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the barrier member includes a mounting for mounting the barrier member in a mounted condition in use to the roof covering member to form the roof covering member assembly.

15. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the roof covering member includes a mounting for mounting the barrier member. * S. * .5. * S * ***

16. An assembly according to claim 15 when dependent on claim 14, in * *S*.

which the roof covering member mounting is co-operable with the barrier ::. member mounting. S... *.*.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, in which one of the co-operating *S. . . . . barrier member mountings and roof covering member mountings defines S...

S **S It

a slot and the other is in the form of a projection which is receivable in the slot.

18. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which the roof covering member includes a pair of spaced similar mountings to permit the mounting of two barrier members.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, in which the roof covering member mountings are located along opposite edges of the roof covering member.

20. An assembly according to claims 18 or 19, in which the or each mounting extends longitudinally along the roof covering member.

21. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 13, in which the barrier member is formed integrally with the roof covering member.

22. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the roof covering member includes interlocking formations.

23. An assembly according to claim 22, in which the roof covering member includes a first interlocking formation and a second interlocking formation, which are located at opposite ends of the roof covering member, so that *:*::* in use, the first interlocking formation of one roof covering member :: engages the second interlocking formation of an adjacent roof covering * member. * *�* * *.

*

24. An assembly according to claim 23, in which the first interlocking **** formation defines a channel, and the second interlocking formation * includes a projection, which is receivable in the channel in use. *S* * *

S S... *SS *

25. An assembly according to claims 23 or 24, in which the second interlocking formation defines one or more passages.

26. An assembly according to claim 25, in which the or each passage is in the form of a slot and forms a filter in use.

27. A barrier member for a roof covering member assembly according to any of claims 1 to 20.

28. A roof covering member for a roof covering member assembly according to any of claims 1 to 20 or 22 to 26.

29. A barrier member substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30. A roof covering member substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. A roof covering member assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the * S. same invention as any of the preceding claims. S.S. * S * * . S * 55 * _. * S.

S I*5 * *5S

S ***. S... **S *5 S.

S * S.S

S S... * *55

S