Tile for covering roofs

Abstract

Disclosed is a tile for covering roofs, produced in material with a polymer matrix (7) comprising a mineral charge (8) provided in a quantity ranging from 20% and 60% in weight, with respect to the total weight of the tile, the mineral charge being chosen from calcium carbonate, talc, barium sulphate, clay, and the tile having dimensions and thicknesses substantially identical to those of conventional tiles such as, selectively, Portuguese tiles, Marseilles tiles and curved tiles, and preferably being provided joined to similar tiles, in a way suitable to define a multiple tile.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a new tile for covering roofs, of the type in material with a polymer matrix and capable of maintaining substantially unchanged the principal advantages offered by conventional tiles. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART [0002] As known, the use of tiles is a very widespread system for covering the roofs of houses and of buildings in general. [0003] The function of tiles is to protect the building from atmospheric agents and to insulate it from external temperatures and from the sun's rays. [0004] In particular the preferred and most widely used tiles are those made of clay known as the Portuguese or Spanish tile, the French or Marseilles tile and the curved or barrel tile, also named “coppo”. These tiles are conventional and are always produced with the same dimensions and shapes with the exception of a few small adjustments which might be made by the manufacturers. [0005] One reason for their widespread use lies in the prestigious...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] Another important object of the invention is to produce a tile that is tough and strong.

Problems solved by technology

One of the drawbacks of conventional tiles consists in their fragility.

Due to this fragility, tiles must often be discarded due to breakage during processing.

In fact, an average 5% of rejects are forecast during processing and other breakages can occur during transport and laying.

Due to their fragility, conventional tiles are also liable to breakage during storms, especially hailstorms.

A further drawback of conventional tiles consists in their weight, which limits handling and transport, extending processing times: Marseilles and Portuguese tiles weigh approximately 3 kg each, while curved tiles “coppo” weigh about 2 kg each.

This weight also makes it very dangerous for them to be dropped.

This means that a structure provided for a bitumen roof or the like in various cases cannot be used to support conventional tiles.

Currently known tiles in polymer materials have disadvantages of a different type.

In fact, they have a different outer appearance to that of conventional tiles and this drawback has always caused builders to prefer the latter.

Another drawback of polymer tiles is their excessive flexibility and low resistance to deformations, which produces an unpleasant feeling of poor solidity to the touch.

A further drawback of polymer tiles is their very light weight, which can cause them to be removed by atmospheric agents.

In practice, owing to their considerable distinguishing characteristics, tiles made of plastic materials have not met with the favor of those who make buildings and other constructions.

In general, one basic drawback of known tiles lies in the lengthy process required to lay them on roofs.

As a result, covering a roof requires relatively lengthy working times, with considerable laying costs.

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