IE55300B1 - Jointing members for ridge tiles - Google Patents

Description

-1- -1- 55300 1 The present invention relates to ridge coverings for tiled rcofs and is more particularly concerned with fixing or jointing members for fixing or jointing the ridge caps or tiles in position without the using of 5 mortar. Such fixing or jointing members will hereinafter be referred to genetically as "jointing members".

The published specification (No. 2105384A) of U.K. Patent Application No. 8126622 discloses a jointing 10 member for facilitating the laying of ridge tiles in-end to end relationship without mortar, the jointing member having a curved or angular shape and an H-shaped cross-section parallel to the line of the ridge so that the opposing ends of adjacent ridge tiles can 15 be fitted between the parallel arms of the H on opposite sides of the central web which is provided with .a through a hole to accept a fixing nail.

Such jointing members do, however, have a number of disadvantages. The ridge is difficult for the 20 roof layer to fit whilst standing on the roof since two hands are required one to lift up one of the opposing ridge tile's and the other to fit the jointing member on the other adjacent ridge tile. The jointing member can be difficult to fit on the ends of adjacent 25 tiles due to variations which can occur in the thickness of the ridge tiles at their ends and to distortions which can occur in ridge tiles.* Moreover, even if these known jointing members were fitted to the ridge tiles ends at the factory the roofing layer would 30 still have to use both hands for laying the ridges. -2 1 The main object of the present invention is to provide a jointing member for use in the laying of ridge tiles in end to end relationship which avoids or substantially reduces the aforementioned disadvan-5 tages, a ridge tile having such a jointing member fitted thereto and a roof capping or ridge including a plurality of such jointing members.

To this end, the. present invention consists in a jointing member for use in the laying of ridge 10 tiles in end to end relationship, said jointing member being of curved or angled shape when considered in end view and, when considered in cross-section parallel to the line of a ridge, having a portion which is generally U-shaped for receiving an end of a ridge 15 tile, and a single projection extending from that side of the base of the U which is opposite the arms of the U, said projection being engageable with the undersurface of an adjacent ridge tile. Alternatively, the said projection is engageable in a complementary 20 recess in another similar jointing member to be fitted on an adjacent ridge tile.

By means of the invention, a ridge can be laid with the roof layer'using only one hand. Moreover, jointing members constructed in accordance with the 25 present invention can be fitted to ends of the ridge tiles in the factory thereby further facilitating laying of the ridge.

In the case where the projection engages with the undersurface of an adjacent ridge tile, only 30 one jointing member is required for each two adjacent -3- 1 ridge tiles. Preferably, in such a case, the projection is in alignment with the lower arm cf the U.

In order to provide at least one channel 5 for the run-off of any rain water which may penetrate the gap filled by the base of the U between the opposing ends of adjacent ridge tiles, the projection may be provided with at least one ridge or upstand of which the free end engages with the undersurface 10 of the adjacent ridge tile. Similarly, the lower --rm of the U may be provided with a ridge, nib or upstand to engage with the undersurface of the other adjacent ridge tile to provide a rain water channel.

Preferably, the undersurface of the ridge tile is provided with at least one arcuate or angled depression or recess for receiving and locating the ridge or upstand of the engagement means.

In the alternative case where the projection 20 is engageable in a complementary recess in another similar jointing member, the projection may engage in the recess with a snap fit, or alternatively, the projection is a hobk-like element and the recess is formed by another hook-like element of said another 25 jointing member, with said hook-like elements extending in upward and downward directions respectively.

Whatever type of jointing member is used, it is essential to firmly fix the ridge tiles to the ridge to which end the ridge tiles may be provided with 30 through holes for nails near one of their ends.

The base of the U jointing member may be thickened and provided with through holes for nails which are alignable with the through holes in the ridge tiles or, _ -4- 1 alternatively, are used instead of through holes in the ridge tiles.

The present invention also consists in a ridge tile having any of the jointing members defined above fitted 5 on one of its ends and in a roof capping, ridge or tiled roof having a-plurality of ridge tiles laid in end to end relationship with any of the jointing members defined above fitted between the ends to assist in fixing or jointing the ridge tiles to the roof without the 10 aid of mortar.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 15 Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a part of a ridge of a-roof parallel to the ridge showing a jointing member between the opposing ends of ridge tiles.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1 and through a roof structure at 20 the roof ridge, Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections like that of Fig. 1 of other embodiments, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section through a roof structure at the roof ridge taken along the line V-V of 25 Fig. 3 or 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a ridge covering comprising ridge tiles 1 which are arranged in end to end relationship and of which two only are partly shown in Fig. 1. A jointing member 30 2 which is preferably of a plastics material having a degree of resilience such as uPVC or -5- 1 polyethylene is interposed between the opposed ends 3 of the ridge tiles 1.

The jointing member 2 is of generally arcuate configuration when considered in end view or in the 5 section illustrated in Fig. 2, to conform generally to the shape of the ridge tiles 1. It will be seen from the section extending parallel to the line of the ridge, in Fig. 1, that the jointing member 2 comprises a portion - t 4 which is generally of ϋ-shaped form and which defines 10 a channel 3 for receiving the end 3 of the right hand (as illustrated in Fig. 1) fridge tile 1. The upper and lower arms 6 and 7 of the U-shaped portion 4 have a degree of resilience and inwardly directed ends 8 to facilitate fitting of the ridge tile end 3 into the 15 channel and to obtain a secure fit. As will be seen from Fig. 1 the free ends 8 of the arms 6 and 7 engage with the top and undersurf aces of the right-hand tile 1 to guard. against the entry of rain water into the roof space. This facility is further enhanced by the 20 provision of an arcuate ridge 9 on the lower arm 7, which engages with the undersurface of the tile 1 to define with the base 10 of the U and the free end 8 of arm .7 two rain water channels 11 and 12. The lower arm 7 is longer than the upper arm 6 so that the end 3 25 of a ridge tile 1 can be placed on the lower arm and pressed downwards to increase the gap between the arm ends 8 and thereby facilitate fitting of the jointing member 2 on the ridge tile. It will be seen that the base 10 of the jointing member fills the gap between 30 the ends 3 of the tiles 1. -6- 1 On the opposite side of the base 10 to the arms 6 and 7, the jointing member is provided with a single arcuate projection 13 which is in alignment with the arm 7 and which engages with the under-5 surface 14 of the left hand as illustrated tile 1. The projection 13 has two arcuate upstands 15 which are located, and engage, in two arcuate recesses or depressions 16 in the tile undersurface 14 to provide two rain water channels 17. The Recesses 10 16 are outwardly flared to facilitate entry of the upstands-15 and are of a sufficient width to allow for size variations in the lengths of the ridge tiles which is a common occurrence.

In the embodiment illustrated, the projection 15 13 has a through hole 18 for a nail (not shown in Fig. 1), which aligns with a through hole 19 for a nail in the ridge tile. The hole 18 is elongated as illustrated so that the holes 18 and 19 will be aligned despite any differ-20 ences occurring in the lengths of the ridge tiles.

In an alternative mode of fixing, the holes 18 and 19 may be omitted and a through hole 20a for a nail be provided in the ridge tile as indicated in dashed lines in Fig. 1.

The ridge portion of a tiled roof structure shown in Fig. 2 comprises spaced apart pairs of wooden rafters 20 to which are secured battens 21, and the upper courses of concrete roof tiles 22 are laid on the battens. At the apex 23 of the rafters 70 are secured at 'spaced apart intervals 30 -7- 1 supporting brackets such as 24 for a ridge batten 25 to which the ridge tiles 1 are nailed as by nails 26 passing through the through holes 18 and 19 (not visible) of the jointing members 2 and ridge tiles 5 1 or through the nail holes 20a in the ridge tiles.

In the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, the jointing member 2a, 2c fitted on the end 3 of the right-hand (as illustrated) ridge tile 1 ha,s a U-shaped portion 4 but differs from that of Fig. 1 in 10 that the single projection extending from the bast 10 of the 0 engages in a complementary recess in a separate similarly shaped fixing member 2b, 2d, fitted on the end 3 of the left-hand (as illustrated) tile.

In the case of Fig. 3 the projection is in the form of an arcuate hook-like element 15a which engages in a complementary recess’formed by a hook-like element 15b, with the elements 15a and 15b projecting downwardly and upwardly respectively from the base 20 lo of the members 2a and 2b. Accordingly, when the jointing members are fitted on the tile ends 2 it is a simple matter to lift up the right-hand tile and.drop the hook-like element 15a into the adjacent recess in the fixing member 2b with the hook-like 25 element 15b entering the adjacent recess in the jointing member 2a.

The projection in the embodiment of Fig. 4 is an interlocking projection 15e on the jointing member 2c which engages in a complementary recess 30 ltf in the jointing member 2d by pushing one tile -8- 1 towards the other. A through hole 18a for a nail is provided in a thickened base 10 of the U of jointing member 2a (Fig. 3) and a through hole 18b extends through a thickened base 10 of jointing member 5 2d and through the projection 15e. Alternatively through holes for nails may be provided in the ridge tile 1 instead of in the jointing members as in the embodiment Of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a roof structure which is the 10 same as that of Fig. 2 except that the jointing members are either those of Fig. 3 or Fig. 4.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the Complementary 15 projections and recesses of the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4 may be of any other suitable configuration.

Claims (17)

1. 2. A jointing member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection is in alignment with the lower arm of the U.

2. 153. A jointing member as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the projection which engages with the tile undersurface is provided with at least one ridge or upstand of which the free end is engageable with the undersurface of an adjacent 20 ridge tile to provide at least one rain water channel.

3. 4. A jointing member as claimed in claim 3, wherein one such ridge or upstand extends from the free end of the projection.

4. 5. A jointing member as claimed in any one 25 of claims 1 to 4, wherein the projection is provided with a nail hole which is elongated in the direction of the ridge.

5. 6. A jointing member for use in the laying of ridge tiles in end to end relationship, said 30 jointing member being of curved or angled shape -ΙΟ Ι when considered in end view and, when considered in cross-section parallel to the line of a ridge, having a portion which is generally U-shaped for receiving and end of a ridge tile, and a 5 single projection extending from that side of the base of the U which is opposite to the arms of the U, said projection being engageable in a complementary recess in another similar jointing member to be fitted on an adjacent ridge tile. 10 7. A jointing member as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projection engages in the recess with a snap fit.

6. 8. A jointing membe'r as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein a nail hole passes through a thickened 15 portion of the jointing member with the recess and through the projection.

7. 9. A jointing member as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projection is a hook-like element and the recess is formed by another hook-like 20 element of said another similar jointing member, with said hook-like elements extending in upward and downward directions respectively. 10 _. A jointing member as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base of the U is thickened and has 25 a nail hole therethrough.

8. 11. A jointing member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the upper and lower arms of the U have a degree of resilience to facilitate fitting on an end of a ridge tile. -11- 1 12. A jointing member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the upper and lower arms o£ the U portion have inwardly directed free ends which are engageable with the top surface and undersurface 5 respectively of a ridge tile.

9. 13. A jointing member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the lower arm of the U is provided with an arcuate ridge which engages with the undersurface of a ridge tile when the jointing member is 10 fitted thereon to provide at least one rain water channel.

10. 14. A jointing member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lower arm of the U is longer than the upper arm thereof. 1-5 15. a jointing member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and made of a plastics material.

11. 16. A jointing member for use in the laying of ridge tiles in end to end relationship substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 20. of the accompanying drawings.

12. 17. A jointing member for use in the laying of ridge tiles in end to end relationship substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. 25 18. A jointing member for use in the laying Of ridge tiles in end to end relationship substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

13. 19. A ridge tile having a jointing member as claimed 30 in any one of the preceding claims fitted thereto. -12- 1 20. A roof capping, ridge or tiled roo£ having a plurality of ridge tiles layed in end to end relationship and including, between the opposed ends of each two adjacent ridge tiles, a jointing member 5 as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 and 11 to 18 as appendant to any one of claims 1 to 5, with the U-shaped portions and the projections of the jointing members respectively receiving a fidge tile end and engaging with the undersurface of 10 an adjacent ridge tile. 21. · A roof capping, ridge, or tiled roof as claimed in claim 20, as appendant to claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the undersurfaces of the ridge tiles are provided with at least one arcuate 15 or angled depression or recess adjacent one of its ends in which depression or recess the or each ridge or upstand on the projection of each jointing member respectively engages.

14. 22. A roof capping, ridge, or tiled roof structure 20 as claimed in claim 21, wherein the or each depression or recess has a greater width than that of the or each ridge or upstand and is outwardly flared. 23. Ά roof capping, ridge or tiled roof substantially 25 as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. 24. A roof capping, ridge or tiled roof having a plurality of ridge tiles layed in end to end relationship and including , between the opposed 30 ends of each two adjacent ridge tiles a jointing -13- 1 member claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 and 11 to 18 as appendant to any one of claims 6 to 10, with the projection of each jointing member engaging in the recess of another similar jointing g member and with the bases of the D's of the interengaging jointing members receiving the ends of adjacent ridge tiles.

16. 25. A roof capping,ridge or tiled roof svfbstant- ially as hereinbefore described with reference 10 to Figs. 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. 26. A roof capping, ridge or tiled root substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 and S of the accompanying drawings. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON Applicants' Agents 47 Merrion Square Dublin 2.