Roofing system and roofing tile

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved roofing tile and roofing tile system that simulates the appearance of wood shake and has an improved strength to weight ratio. One embodiment of the roofing tile system includes two unique tile profiles, an “A” profile and a “B” profile, wherein tiles having an “A” profile are alternately or randomly installed adjacent tiles having a “B” profile to simulate the appearance of wood shakes. In addition, each roofing tile is formed of a clay material and includes ribs that extend normally from a lower face of the tile, which improves the strength to weight ratio of each tile. Furthermore, each tile includes touch points that extend from the a face of the tile to engage receiving portions on a tile positioned vertically adjacent to the tile, which prevents the tiles from moving relative to each other.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from provisional U.S. Application No. 60 / 573,708 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing and Installing Improved Roofing Tiles,” which was filed on May 20, 2004 and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates in general to roofing, and particularly relates to the use of lightweight yet structurally sound clay material roofing tiles that simulate wood shake roofing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In the field of roofing, it is well known to use wood shakes as roofing elements. Typically, the wood shakes are installed in an overlapping manner to divert water. However, wood shakes have disadvantages, including their flammability and their tendency to leak after sufficient weathering. Nevertheless, consumers have shown a preference towards wood shakes due to their desirable appearance. [0004] Roofing elements that simulate wood shakes a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention overcomes deficiencies of the prior art by providing an improved roofing system and roofing tile that simulate the appearance of a wood shake roof and have improved weathering capabilities, an improved strength to weight ratio, and improved packing, or shipping, characteristics. One embodiment of the roofing tile system includes tiles having one or two unique profiles, an “A” profile and a “B” profile, that are alternately or randomly installed adjacent each other to simulate the appearance of wood shakes. Each tile having an “A” profile has a uniform cross-section throughout the body of the tile, and each tile having a “B” profile has a depressed center portion and two raised side portions throughout at least a portion of the body of the tile, wherein the two raised side portions have substantially the same cross-section as the tiles having an “A” profile.

[0008] In addition, each tile includes a plurality of ribs that extend from a lower face of the tile. By positioning the plurality of ribs on the lower face of the tile below portions of the tile that have reduced flexural strength, the weight of each tile is reduced while the strength of each tile is maintained. The width of each rib may also be varied along the length of the rib to provide additional strength to portions of the tile that have reduced flexural strength.

Problems solved by technology

However, wood shakes have disadvantages, including their flammability and their tendency to leak after sufficient weathering.

However, roofing elements made to date with these alternative materials present additional disadvantages.

For example, roofing tiles made of concrete or clay tend to be heavy, weighing between 8 and 11 pounds per square foot, making them unsuitable for remodeling or re-roofing roofs that previously used lighter roofing elements, such as wood shakes or asphalt roofing tiles.

In addition, previous attempts to reduce the weight of the concrete or clay tiles significantly have resulted in a reduction in the flexural strength of the tiles.

Furthermore, known concrete and clay roofing tiles are categorized as a lower grade of building material because of their inability to provide adequate protection for severe climate weathering.

As another example, metal pressed roofing tiles tend to be limited to shapes with identical contours on both the top and bottom surfaces.

Further, tiles made with alternate materials, such as concrete and metal, have a tendency to rub against one another during shipping, causing unwanted scratching and chipping on the surfaces of the tiles.

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