Lightweight tile with tapered support

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a lighweight the with a tapered support angle reverse, to the angle of the roof, a tile having uniform contact with the roof surface that does not require battens and can be walked on without the fear of breaking. This the can be fabricated in several materials including concrete, ceramic, porcelain or clay. By increasing the surface area of the underside of this tile with numerous cavities and ribs, the capability for dissipating heat is greatly increased. The lightweight tile has the option of incorporating a breathable, underlying cushioning/insulating With this system of interlocking and overlapping tiles, when the top tile overlaps the tile below the top tile cantilevers and lays flat on the tile below it, greatly reducing the vulnerability to stress fracture because of the reverse angle and supporting ribs structure of the tile.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This application provides a lightweight tile with tapered support predominately, but not restricted, to be used in the process of roofing of structures, particularly involving removing material on the underside of the tile to reduce weight and increase surface area along with the addition of tapered supporting ribs.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls or showers. The word is derived from the French word tuile, which is, in turn, from the Latin word tegula, meaning a roof tile composed of baked clay. Tiles are most often made from ceramic, with a hard glaze finish, but other materials are also commonly used, such as glass, marble, granite, slate, and reformed ceramic slurry, which is cast in a mould and fired. Recently some roofing tiles have been made of concrete, but they remain very heavy and have a tendency of cracking when stepped on improperly. The earliest kinds of roof tiles in archaic Greece a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0049]A second alternate embodiment of the lightweight tile with flat support ribs will be constructed of ceramic or porcelain in a slightly different configuration where the upper surface will have a variety of conventional decorative textures with the underside similar to the preferred embodiment by having a plurality of ribs with intermittent recesses but the ribs are not tapered. All the recesses have been created with similar elements used on bridge structures where the corners have concave radius's, creating a thinner ceramic or porcelain tile roof that is very strong. Another outstanding feature is the trough on the side that creates interlocking mating edges on the tiles. A notch removed on the upper corner of the second alternate embodiment also works as a locater and stop for the next course of tiles while also creates a step in the trough for any water that might enter between the tiles.

[0050]A third alternate will be a conventional double barrel style of roofing tile with the addition of the unique tapered rib supports with intermittent recesses where instead of having a gap under each tile between each course, there is a uniform support throughout the full length of the tile. The main purpose of the reverse taper rib supports is to keep the tiles from breaking when they are stepped on during installation or maintenance of the roof.

Problems solved by technology

Recently some roofing tiles have been made of concrete, but they remain very heavy and have a tendency of cracking when stepped on improperly.

It does not offer the unique breathable, underlying cushioning / insulating member of the lightweight tile with tapered support of this application and does not offer the optional ceramic or porcelain applications.

It does not have the reverse taper of the supporting members to make full contact with the roof's surface so that it will be more subject to cracking when stepped on.

It does not have the reverse taper contact with the roofs surface and does not offer the unique breathable, underlying cushioning / insulating member of the lightweight tile with tapered support of this application.

None of these previous efforts, however, provides the benefits attendant with the lightweight tile with tapered support.

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