Attaching mutually transverse elements, especially for roofing

Abstract

A batten support 5 is provided for supporting a batten 2a, 2b in a roof structure. The batten support has a base portion 51 shaped to lie on or against a roof support member. The base portion is confi

Description

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to methods and devices for improving or facilitating the attachment of elongate elements extending transversely to one another, preferably the attachment of a smaller element across a larger fixed element, and especially but not exclusively the attachment of roofing battens onto roof support members such as rafters. It has particular application when the elements are wooden elements secured using nails. Another suitable use is in fencing, such as in securing cross-members to upright posts. BACKGROUND A conventional pitched roof has a set of longitudinally-spaced rafters, typically extending at an angle from eaves to ridge. The flat top support surfaces of the rafters all lie in a plane defining the support plane for the roof. Usually, the support surface of each rafter is 50mm (2 inch) wide although some are 75mm (3 inch) or even wider. A flexible layer (felt, underlay, membrane, sarking) lies on top of the rafters in most modern roofs, usually being fixed to the rafters by nails. An array of overlapping tiles or slates is supported on the rafters, held in position by multiple parallel horizontallyextending battens. The battens are secured to the rafters beneath by nailing at the intersections, nailing through the intervening flexible layer where this is present. Conventional battens are rectangular-section wooden lengths, usually 25mm (1 inch) deep and either 38 or 50mm (1½ inch or 2 inch) wide, i.e., in the direction of the length of the rafters. Each batten is usually long enough to span across several rafters, but depending on the size and shape of the roof surface it is inevitably necessary to combine battens end-to-end to span the correct distances. The battens are not supported between the rafters and freely projecting cantilevered ends would seriously lack strength. So, batten joints are made by adjusting the lengths of adjacent battens so that their ends meet part-way across the top of a rafter. A nail is driven through the end of each batten and down into the rafter, usually at an angle towards the centre of the rafter. Where there is no batten joint and a batten simply crosses a rafter, only a single central nail is used. The usual fasteners used are 60mm or 76mm (2½ inch or 3 inch) round wire nails, but of course in principle other kinds of fasteners, such as screws, or other types or sizes of nails, can be used. Apart from purlins, which are widely spaced and beneath the flexible layer, the battens are the only horizontally-extending elements of the structure and it is normal that people working on the roof use them to support their weight when moving around the working site. When a worker - who may be carrying a heavy load - puts their foot on a batten end at a joint, the single-nail attachment of the batten end onto half the width of the rafter is liable to come adrift because the batten has no portion extending on the other side of the rafter to help support it. If the nail comes adrift the batten end usually bends and breaks and the batten must be replaced. The breaking of a batten on which someone is standing presents a significant danger, and if the broken batten end drops far enough, either it or the worker’s foot may go through the flexible underlayer if one is present. A related situation may arise in a roof valley, where two roof planes meet at an angle less than 180°. A rafter (valley blade) extending up the valley line - or more usually, a valley board above a valley blade - is a termination boundary for the battens of each roof plane. The end of each batten is cut at an angle to lie close up against the side of the valley board, and a fastener is driven sideways through the end of the batten, (e.g., substantially diagonally or approximately perpendicularly) into the side face of the valley board. Here again workers may carelessly tread on the battens, and since there is very little vertical support for a projecting batten end it is likely to break and puncture any flexible layer e.g., felt beneath. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The present disclosure is directed towards a batten support (e.g., a plate) which is provided at the end of a batten, to help transfer or distribute load on the batten to an adjacent roof member and / or other batten, thereby reducing the demand on a nail or other fastener holding the batten in place and helping to avoid or reduce the problems described above. According to a first aspect there is provided a batten support which has a base portion shaped to lie on or against a batten support member (e.g., a timber, rafter, or valley board). The base portion is configured to be secured to the batten support member by a fastener (e.g., a nail) passing through the base portion into the batten support member. The batten support also has a ledge portion projecting at an angle (e.g., substantially perpendicular, or perpendicular, and / or substantially upwardly) relative to the base portion, to lie against a lateral surface (as distinct from an end surface) of the batten, thereby supporting it. According to a second aspect there is provided a method of forming (e.g., constructing) a roof structure, the roof structure when formed comprises at least one batten, at least one batten support member and a batten support (e.g., a batten support plate) as described above in relation to the first aspect. The method comprises: arranging a base portion of the batten support on, or against, a surface (e.g., an upper surface or a side surface) of the batten support member; arranging a surface (e.g., a lower surface or side surface) of the batten on, or against, a ledge portion of the batten support, the ledge portion projecting at an angle to the base portion; and passing a fastener through at least one of the base portion and the ledge portion into the batten support member. Advantageously the batten support comprises the ledge portion and base portion as mutually angled portions of a single plate. Since the support member surfaces and batten surfaces are substantially flat, the base portion and ledge portion of the batten support are also desirably flat, or present a flat support locus even if interrupted. An exemplary arrangement of the batten support for use on a rafter may comprise or consist of an L-section plate (or plate comprising an L-section portion), with a flat base plate and a substantially perpendicular (e.g., substantially upright when in use) side plate constituting the support ledge. These elements may have substantially the same length (i.e., in the length direction of the batten in use). In a preferred method the batten support plate is positioned with its base portion lying on the rafter top surface, the ledge portion running substantially horizontally (e.g., in a lateral direction of the rafter) and to either side of the rafter centre line so as to support the ends of one or both battens at the joint. The batten support ledge portion may be configured to support at the lateral surface of least one, or each, of the battens over a length of at least 25mm, more preferably at least 35mm or at least 40 or 45mm. The ledge portion may be configured (e.g., dimensioned) to support the ends of both battens at the joint. The batten support may be configured (e.g., dimensioned and / or arranged) to project (e.g., in a substantially horizontal direction) out beyond the edge of the top of the rafter; this may depend on the width of the rafter. The batten support plate may comprise a channel form, or U-section, with parallel upper and lower support ledges, or ledge portions, (e.g. substantially perpendicular plate flanges) between which the batten ends fit closely. This enables load on a batten end, e.g., if a person treads on it, to be transferred more effectively not only to the rafter through surfaces other than the securing fastener but also to the end of an adjacent batten, thereby taking advantage of the strength of that batten and also of any additional fastener which may be securing the other batten end to the rafter. Such a batten support plate in channel form may be simple and symmetrical for convenience of use. The height of the ledge portion may not be more than the thickness of the batten used, which may be 25mm. Thus, the height of the ledge portion may be 20mm or less, more preferably 15mm or less: higher ledge flanges confer little additional strength because the strength will arise primarily from the plate strength at the angle (e.g., the angle formed between the ledge portion and the base portion) unless some discrete bracing formation is provided. Such bracing formations are not preferred because of the additional expense and complexity associated with them. The batten support may be formed of a material which is stiff enough to provide useful support. For example, the batten support may define a metal plate (e.g., steel plate or aluminium plate). Alternatively tough polymeric materials may be used. The thickness can be minimised to reduce weight and cost and so that the batten ends are not supported higher off the rafters than at other rafters (i.e., where batten supports are not present). In practice plate thickness of 1.5mm or less, preferably 1.0mm or less, usually 0.5 mm or more, is satisfactory. At these thicknesses, especially at 1mm or less, fasteners such as nails - which are preferred - can usually be driven directly through the plate without pre-formed openings being needed, at least not at full size. Considering the attachment of the plate to the rafter, a preliminary fastener such as a nail or screw may be used to fix the support plate in position in the rafter before the batten ends are positioned. A pre-formed opening - preferably not an elongate slot -may be provided in the plate for this, preferably centrally. The plate may be patterned or marked to indicate the centre for this purpose. The batten ends are laid on the support plate. Preferably a respective fastener (e.g., a nail) is driven through each batten end. With a channel-section plate and / or a preliminary plate attachment fastener, each batten end can derive support from the plate even if a fastener for that batten end does not itself directly engage the plate. It is acceptable to provide openings or clearances in the plate base portion to ease passage of fasteners. The exact position of openings is not usually visible to the worker (e.g., since it may be obscured by the batten). So, a substantial opening may be provided, such as one or more longitudinally elongate slots (i.e., at least as wide as, and longer than, the fastener thickness). In an exemplary arrangement (such as described above) the fasteners can be driven through the plate material and this direct engagement with the plate provides additional support. If a fastener is driven through the batten ends and through into the rafter directly through the plate material, substantial support is achieved even if no preliminary plate fastener is put in place. Alternatively, one or more open window regions may be provided in the batten support so that batten fasteners do not engage the batten support at all. Additionally or alternatively the batten support may have one or more fastener-penetrable regions or zones which are not open but have an array of multiple small openings, e.g. in the nature of a gauze or mesh. In use, these openings are desirably smaller than the fastener thickness, i.e., so that there is necessary deformation of the plate material when a fastener - preferably a nail - is driven through. This gives reliable grip and positioning. The openings may be formed integrally in the material of the plate e.g., by pressing or stamping, laser cutting or water cutting. Less conveniently they may be provided by a mesh or gauze element fixed to occupy a corresponding window opening in the plate. The array option - typically plural or multiple rows and columns in a regular array - is preferable to slots or fastener-sized holes in that the array can be essentially non-selective as to position of the fastener. This is a decisive advantage when the plate region is obscured by the workpiece (typically the batten), and also even at visible regions for fast work, especially with a nail gun. It is also much better when a fastener such as a nail may not be driven perpendicular to the plate, such as through a batten end lying against a valley board or valley plate. The array is easy to drive a fastener through at any position in the region but still gives strength of mechanical engagement with the fastener to locate the plate relative to the underlying support member (e.g., rafter) . An array of openings (perforations) formed directly through the plate, e.g., stamped openings, is preferred. The array (its outline) may occupy at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40% or at least 50% of the overall area of that plate portion, being a portion in one plane, in which it is formed. In such an array the openings preferably have any one or more or all selected from the following preferable features. Maximum longitudinal and / or transverse dimensions: at least 0.5 or 1 mm, not more than 4 or 3 mm. One of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions is not more than twice the other, more preferably is about the same, e.g., round, square or other polygonal holes. Longitudinal and / or transverse spacing between openings, corresponding to width of plate material there: not more than 3 times, 2 times or 1.5 times the maximum longitudinal and / or transverse dimension of the openings, e.g., about the same. The total number of openings in an array forming a fastener-penetrable region (the plate may have 2 or more of these regions at separate places): at least 10, 20, 30 or 40. Openings regularly arranged, e.g., in plural (2, 3 or more) rows. Openings all the same shape and size. It will be appreciated that when a channel-section support plate is used, it is preferably dimensioned to fit closely around the chosen batten(s), e.g., with a clearance of not more than 2mm and preferably not more than 1mm. Spacing between the upper and lower support ledges of about 40mm or about 50mm is therefore preferable in aspects of the present disclosure. At least one or each of the ledge portions may take a simple rectangular form. The corners of the ledge portion are desirably rounded or chamfered for safe handling. The length of the support ledge portion is desirably at least 50mm, preferably at least 60mm or at least 80mm, to provide substantial engagement with both batten ends. In practice it is convenient to make the support ledge and the base portion substantially the same length, and in the case of a channel-section device - which in any case is preferably symmetrical - the same applies to the support ledge or flange on the other side. The ledge portion may be an integral portion of a sheet metal piece constituting the batten support plate. The shaped plate may readily be formed in one piece by a pressing operation. At the desired (e.g., small) thicknesses of the plate, some reinforcement of the support ledge(s) may be desirable. This may conveniently be provided by forming slight indentations in the sheet metal at the angle between base and ledge, indented from the outside towards the inside of the angle so as to project slightly on the inside and reinforce against outward bending there. Preferably two or more such reinforcing indentations are provided along each angle of the plate base with a support ledge flange. As mentioned, the support ledges (e.g., the at least one ledge portion) are preferably simple continuous flanges, but it will be appreciated that any number of alternatively configured (e.g., shaped and sized) discontinuous projections may be regarded as falling within the scope of the term ledge or flange, since they will serve the same function albeit with less strength. A further exemplary arrangement of the batten support comprising a pair of opposed support ledge portions (e.g., flanges) relates to the tolerance associated with the gap between them. A reasonably close fit of the batten between the flanges is desired, to maximise support for the batten. However, battens are not precision items, and the exact dimensions vary. Also, the battens may expand if they are damp. It is important that the user can be confident that the batten will fit between the flanges of the batten support. In this respect, an exemplary arrangement of the batten support provides that one or both of the flanges is outwardly inclined (i.e., inclined outwardly relative to the perpendicular from the batten support plane (e.g., a plane parallel to the base portion of the batten support). The one or more flanges may be configured to incline outwardly at least adjacent to its distal edge (i.e., at the part defining the ‘mouth’ of the channel). The one or more flanges may be configured to incline outwardly over most or all of its projection from the base portion (e.g., along its entire upstanding height, when in use). Accordingly, the one or more flanges may define a substantially planar flange which is inclined (e.g., at from 3° to 10°) to the perpendicular relative to the base portion. This divergence provides a maximum lateral dimension at the mouth of the batten support, so that even slightly oversize battens can be easily inserted, while the convergence lower down provides closeness of fit for correctly-sized or slightly undersized battens. If a batten is slightly oversized, it can be pushed down into the batten support with slight deformation of the support flanges thereof, because these are formed of a deformable material (e.g., thin metal). A useful support effect is still achieved. The opposed support flanges may be symmetrically and / or identically configured relative to each other. An alternative arrangement of the batten support (e.g., a batten support plate) may be configured for use where the end of a batten meets the side surface of a roof member (e.g., such as a valley board) end-on. As in the other exemplary arrangements, the batten support has a base portion (e.g., a substantially flat plate portion). The base portion may be configured to be fixed against the side surface of the support member, facing onto the end of the batten in use. The base portion further comprises a ledge portion (e.g., an angled flange), which may be configured to project out from the base portion (e.g., in a substantially horizontal direction) such that in use the ledge portion is arranged underneath the end of the batten to support it. A fastener (such as a fastener passing also through the batten) can hold the batten support onto the support member. The end of the batten is then supported by the ledge portion of the batten support as well as by the fastener. An exemplary arrangement of the batten support has a Z-section (e.g., a square Z-section) comprising a second ledge portion on the base portion, at the side opposite to the first ledge portion. The second ledge portion may project form the base portion (e.g., may be bent relative to the base portion) in the opposite direction to the first ledge portion (e.g., the first and second ledge portions may extend in opposite but substantially parallel directions). Accordingly, the batten support may be configured such that when the base portion is arranged against the lateral surface of the support member, the second ledge portion may lie on top of the support member (e.g., valley board). Accordingly, the method may comprise arranging the base portion against the side surface of the support member such that the ledge portion contacts the upper surface of the support member. The method may further comprise passing the fastener through the ledge portion before arranging the batten in place. Location and retention of the batten support on the support member may then be improved, or facilitated - in particular, if done before the batten is put in place - by one or more fasteners, passing through this top flange (or ledge portion) into the top of the support member, as well as, or instead of, a fastener through the base portion. As with the first aspect above, in the Z-section structure it is desired that it is formed by pressing from a single sheet. Again, the angles between the base portion and the flanges may be reinforced by the formation of one or more indents along the angles as discussed above. Preferably a fastener-penetrable region having any of the above-listed structural options is provided in the base portion. Preferably a fastener-penetrable region having any of the above-listed options is provided on the top flange. The top flange and support ledge may have similar or identical form, e.g., both having a fastener-penetrable region, so that the plate can be used either way up (although generally no nailing is needed through the support flange) A further exemplary arrangement - -may be dimensioned to receive the end of only a single batten e.g. on top of a rafter which is at a verge (next to a gable) or is a hip blade where roof planes meet convexly. This may be of a shorter length. On a hip blade the corresponding batten may terminate half-way across e.g., with an sloping end cut to allow for another batten from the adjacent roof plane. A single batten support plate with mutually angled ledge / channel portions to support both batten ends is an option for this. A yet further exemplary arrangement, applicable with batten support plates of any of the aspects described herein, is that plural or multiple (2, 3 or more) plates are provided as respective portions of a multi-unit length, connected end-to-end through integral links or unions which can be broken, cut, or otherwise separated to obtain support plates for separate use. The connected support unit plates have their functional portions (base plate, support ledge etc.) aligned in the multi-unit length so that it is also possible to use two or more of the connected unit plates together, as a plate of greater length. Such a multi-unit length may comprise e.g., five or more or ten or more separable unit plates. The integral links or unions can be provided by pre-cutting along part of the boundary between adjacent unit plates, leaving one or more portions uncut. Preferably the, or each, union is adjacent an edge of the plate so as to be accessible to a cutter such as snips. First and second unions at opposite exposed edges provide a strong and stable connection that is also easily cut apart. Such a multi-unit length may be formed in a process in which the pre-cuts are formed at the same stage as multiple openings are formed in a blank to constitute one or more fastener-penetrable regions for each of the unit plates, e.g., by pressing or stamping. The plate blanks can be bent to form the base portion and the one or more flanges (support ledge, top flange etc.) angled generally perpendicularly (e.g., substantially perpendicularly) to one another, with the angles running along the length of the multi-unit article. The disclosure includes the batten support themselves, methods of assembling a roof structure in which one or more such batten supports are used to support batten ends as described, and roof structures comprising such support plates supporting the batten ends in relation to support members as described. The exemplary arrangements above and herein are made with reference to a batten support, a batten and batten support member because that is a particularly preferred application, but it should be understood that the above described exemplary arrangements have wider application so that the disclosure is applicable also to an element support, a transverse element, and a support member in general terms. Preferably these are wooden elements, preferably secured by nails. The transverse element may be secured to the support member which is already a fixed structure. The transverse element may be cross-sectionally smaller than the support member at the connection location, e.g. less than 50% or less than 25% the cross-sectional area thereof. Another application of the present disclosure is in the field of fencing where the support elements may be posts and the transverse elements cross-pieces, bars, or rails. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Examples are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional batten joint above a rafter; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a similar batten joint using a batten support of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 (a) to (d) are top, end, side, and perspective views of a batten support of the present disclosure; Fig. 4 (a) and (b) are top and perspective views of a slightly different arrangement of the batten support; Fig. 5 (a) to (d) are top, end, side, and perspective views of a batten support for use adjacent a valley board; Fig. 6 is a view from above showing use of the Fig. 5 batten support; Figs. 7(a) to (d) are respectively top, side, end and enlarged fragmentary end views of a further arrangement of batten support for use above a rafter; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a valley board batten support and two arrangements of rafter batten support with other structures for facilitating the passage of batten fasteners; Figs. 11 and 12 show a batten support plate of the Fig 7 pattern with an array of stamped openings and a part-processed blank for it; Fig. 13 shows a single-batten; Fig. 14 shows a stamped blank for a further valley board batten support; and Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of a valley board batten support in the form of a multi-unit length of multiple connected sub-units. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig. 1 shows a conventional batten joint for the ends of two battens 2a,2b resting on the top surface 11 of a rafter 1. Arrow A shows the vertical direction, arrow B is a horizontal in the length direction of the battens. As is well known a roof structure will include many such batten joints: perhaps from 20 to 50. The batten ends are cut square and so as to meet closely, roughly half-way across the rafter top surface 11. Typical rafters 1 are 51mm (2 inch) across, but they may be wider: this is not critical. In normal practice a nail 3 is driven through the end of each batten 2a,2b and down into the rafter to hold the batten ends in place. In usual practice a flexible layer such as a felt lies on top of the rafters and under the battens, held in position by independent nails into the rafters and also by the battens and by the nails that fasten the battens. This layer is not shown in the drawings so that the rafter can be seen. Fig. 2 shows a batten joint using according to the present disclosure. The rafter 1 and battens end 2a, 2b are as before. A metal support plate 5 in channel form, with upstanding side flanges 52 between which the batten ends are a close fit, lies across the top surface 11 of the rafter projecting out symmetrically to either side. A central retaining nail 9 has been hammered through the centre of the base plate of the support 5, down flush with the plate, to hold it in place. Then, with the batten ends in place, a batten-retaining nail 3 (only one is shown, to avoid obscuring the figure) is hammered through the end of each batten and through the plate into the rafter 1. The batten-retaining nails 3 may be driven obliquely in the conventional way. Figs. 3 and 4 show details and structural variants of batten support plates according to our ideas. Some dimensions are shown by way of example. The dimensions are optional, and distinct from the conformation concepts shown, but they are significant because they correspond to standard batten sizes. They are all in mm. Fig. 3 shows the batten support plate 5 formed as a single bent piece of 0.8mm galvanised mild steel plate. Dimensions are as shown. A 12mm rise on the support ledges 52 corresponds to half the depth of a conventional batten. For simplicity, economy, and symmetry each of the base plate 51 and support ledges 52 is generally rectangular in form. The support ledges have radiused safety corners 56. The base plate 51 has a central hole 54 to facilitate positioning and driving in the retaining or locating nail 9. Independently, this arrangement shows longitudinally- elongate fastener clearance slots 55 distributed in a symmetrical array towards each end. These may facilitate passage of the nails 3. The slot form is because a worker can easily judge a position half way across a batten, but the longitudinal position of the nail’s passage through the plate may vary. The slot form may also allow for additional batten support: see below. In fact, a conventional (e.g. 3 inch) nail can readily be driven through 0.8mm steel plate so that clearances such as slots 55 are optional. See Fig. 4, which shows a variant providing only the central hole 154 for the locating nail 9. In case of using thicker plate or smaller nails, so that a hole is necessary, it would also be possible to form the support plate with larger clearances or holes towards either end so that the batten-retaining nails 3 could pass without hindrance. Note that the support ledges 152 of the Fig. 4 arrangement have the same height as in the Fig. 3 arrangement, and the plate 151 is of the same length but narrower, corresponding to a snug fit with a narrower standard batten width. Look again at Figs. 1 and 2. If a worker treads on the batten 2b near the joint, bending, and consequent damage to the batten (and felt) are resisted only by engagement of the nail 3 resisting sliding of the batten end down the rafter, and the frictional support of the batten end on half the width of the rafter surface 11. By contrast, in Fig. 2 (with both fasteners 3 in place) the end of the batten 2b is supported by its respective fastener nail 3 relative to the rafter as before. Additionally, the lower support ledge 52 of the support plate 5 supports the batten end against slipping / bending downwards. The support plate is held in place additionally by its locating nail 9, by engagement with the other batten end 2a via engagement with the upper and lower support ledges 52 and thereby by the fastener 3 of the other batten end. Additionally, in the case that the batten fasteners 3 pass through the support plate base 51 in close engagement with it, e.g., through narrow slots or by direct penetration of the plate, the fasteners 3 also hold the support plate 5 in place on the rafter 1 and increase the mutual support. Thus, by a simple means the end of a batten can be substantially reinforced against damage. Little or no extra work and few fasteners are required. It will be appreciated for example that the locating fastener 9 is optional, since the batten fasteners 3 will hold the arrangement in place and one batten end will support the other via the support plate. If one or both batten fasteners 3 engage the plate base 51 directly, there will be further support. Indeed, there is support even if one batten fastener is entirely forgotten or comes out. Figs. 5 and 6 show a different form of batten support plate 7 for a valley board. Fig. 6 shows how the end of the batten 2, extending horizontally in line with one plane of the roof valley, terminates against the side surface 82 of the obliquely-rising timber valley board 8. In a conventional way, the batten end is sawn obliquely to lie close against the side surface 82. Conventionally a fastener such as a nail 3 is driven sideways through the batten end and into the valley board 8 to hold it in place. The illustrated support plate 7 - see Fig. 5 - is a symmetrical (reversible) structure made from simple bent 0.8mm steel plate like the arrangements shown above. It has a cross-sectional shape which is generally a right-angled Z-shape, with a pair of generally identical rectangular ledge plates 72 offset from one another by a central riser plate or side base plate 71. Some suggested dimensions are given: the most significant is the height of the central plate 71 because this should be at least the depth of the batten used e.g., 25mm (1 inch). The support plates 72 are provided with pre-formed holes 74 for retaining fasteners. The riser portion 71 may have one or more pre-formed fastener clearance openings 75 e.g., elongate slots as shown. In use the batten end is cut to conform to the timber side surface 82 as before. The support plate 7 is positioned with a lower one of the support flanges 72 lying under the batten end to support it, and the upper one lying on top of the roof timber, e.g., valley board 8, as shown in Fig. 6. In this position a retaining fastener 3 e.g., a nail can be driven through the batten end and support plate, and / or one or more plateretaining fasteners 3’ (nails or screws) driven through corresponding openings 74 in the upper support flange 72 to secure the support plate 7 against pulling away from the valley board 8. In this position the lower flange 72 gives substantial additional support against displacement of the batten end 2 in the event that someone stands on it. Fig. 7 shows a further arrangement which in general nature and dimensions is similar to that of Fig. 3, with a base plate 251 having a central hole 254 for preliminary location and an array of fastener clearance slots 255. As before, a pair of upstanding side support flanges 252 is provided, projecting up along the top and bottom edges of the base plate 251 and opposing one another. As before, they are about 12mm high in this arrangement. As a first refinement, at the angle 257 where each support flange 252 meets the base plate 251 small inward indentations (sometimes called ‘cleats’) are pressed integrally into the plate. As previously, the plate is preferably galvanised steel e.g., 0.8mm thick. In the arrangement shown, each angle has two of these indentations 259. Because they project inwardly of the angle - perhaps as best seen in Figs 7(c) and (d) - they provide a tensile reinforcement against outward bending, i.e., they effectively strengthen the support effect of the flange 252 without requiring additional components or additional manufacturing steps. A second refinement is that the side flanges 251 diverge outwardly relative to the perpendicular, as seen most clearly in Figs 7(c) and (d). A single divergence angle, indicated as a, in this arrangement is about 8°, and functionally speaking means that each flange 252 has about 1mm more clearance at the top than at the bottom adjacent the angle 257. The two flanges 252 being identical and symmetrical, overall the mouth is about 2mm wider than at the base. This enables the support plate to accept insertion of battens which are damp or which have been cut slightly oversize, while preserving an adequately close fit with slightly smaller battens. Figs. 8 to 10 show the use of a batten fastener-penetrable region 9 in various forms, representing alternatives to the previously described slots and to driving fasteners directly through the plate. The issue is to deal with the inevitably inexact positioning of the batten fasteners (because they are usually driven at an angle, and with the batten obscuring the plate beneath), without having to drive the fastener through the full strength of the plate and yet still achieving some mechanical connection between the two. Fig. 8 - a valley board support plate 107 - shows a fastener-penetrable region 9 having an array of small openings 91 formed integrally in the riser portion 171 of the plate e.g. by pressing or stamping. Fig. 9 - a rafter-type support plate 305 - provides the fastener-penetrable region by means of a piece of metal mesh or gauze 92 fixed into a central window opening 355 in the metal plate, e.g., by adhesive, riveting, soldering, or welding according to the material. Fig. 10 shows a support plate 405 of the rafter type which preserves the locating hole 354 for locating the plate 405 relative to the rafter before the battens are positioned, with a pair 9a,9b of fastener-penetrable regions with meshes 93 towards either end for passage of the respective batten fasteners. The manner of providing the fastener-penetrable region 9 with an array of small openings is not particularly limited, and any of the above proposals may be used with any of the types of batten support plate described herein, e.g., in combination with the specific features described in the earlier arrangements. Also, as mentioned above, the fastener-penetrable region 9 may be replaced by actual window openings, e.g., in the Fig. 10 arrangement the plate may rely on the locating opening 354 to locate the plate, the window regions 93 to either end - for passage of the batten fasteners - being left entirely open. Figs. 11 and 12 show a plate similar to that of Fig. 7, here in 0.8mm steel, with an array of holes stamped in the base portion of the blank (Fig 12) before bending into shape (Fig 11). Dimensions are shown, and the holes are to scale: 2mm squares at 2mm spacing longitudinally and transversely. The hole pattern has a central narrowing feature to show the half-way length point, e.g., for taking an initial positioning nail. This arrangement has a good combination of strength and ease of nailing. The holes are sufficiently small that the plate material will be deformed and grip when a typical nail, e.g., a 2 % inch nail, is driven through. Fig. 13 shows a shorter single-batten support e.g., 40 to 60 mm long, to support a batten end on top of a gable verge or hip blade. Fig. 14 shows a blank, before folding, whereby a stamped hole array is used to provide each of the central, top, and bottom nailing zones on a Z-bracket which is otherwise as seen in Figs. 5 and 8. Fig. 15 shows a set of support plates 207, for use on valley boards, and of the same general type as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 14, manufactured as a multi-unit length 200 which may include e.g. 10 or more individual plate units 207 so that the overall length L might be 0.5 m or greater, or 1 m or greater. Fig. 15 shows it fragmentarily, i.e., only the end units, with most of the intermediate units omitted to fit the drawing on the page. Here each of the riser portion 271 and the top and bottom perpendicular flanges 272 of each unit plate 207 has a respective fastener-penetrable region 9 formed of a regular array of circular through-holes. The array 9 on the riser 271 facilitates possibly angled insertion of a nail through the batten end, in the Fig. 6 situation. Having penetrable arrays 9 on the top and bottom flanges means that the bracket can be used either way round (only the top flange needs to be nailed), and a nail gun can be used for fast work because the exact position of the nail need not be controlled. In this arrangement, the openings of the array are circular, but they may be square as shown in Fig. 14. Pre-cut openings 201 in the form of elongate slots are formed along the boundaries between adjacent unit plates 207, in the same operation that forms the openings of the fastener arrays 9, and extend continuously from part-way across one flange 272, across the riser 271 and to part-way across the other flange 272, leaving link regions or unions 202 holding the plates together at the edges. In use, these unions can easily be cut with tinsnips to separate the unit plates for use. The option also exists to use the plates in combinations of two or more in special situations. Indeed, it is possible to lay a complete multi-unit length up along a rafter or valley board, e.g., in situations where the exact positions of the battens are not yet known or might vary, or simply for convenience.

Claims

1. A batten support for arranging at the end of a roof support member of a roof structure, wherein the roof structure when constructed comprises at least one batten, at least one roof support member and a batten support, wherein the batten support comprises:a base portion configured to be secured to the roof support member by a fastener passing through the base portion into the roof support member;wherein the batten support comprises a ledge portion configured to project at an angle relative to the base portion, to lie against a lateral surface of the at least one batten to provide support thereof.2 A batten support according to claim 1, wherein the ledge portion is configured to project at an angle which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the base portion.

3. A batten support according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ledge portion is configured to support the lateral surface of the at least one batten over a length of at least 25mm.

4. A batten support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the batten support is configured to project in a substantially horizontal direction out beyond the edge of the upper surface of the roof support member.

5. A batten support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the batten support comprises a fastener-penetrable region comprising a plurality of openings, wherein the openings are spaced apart in a regular array.

6. A batten support according to claim 5, wherein the fastener-penetrable region defines at least 20 %, of the plate portion7. A batten support according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of openings has a longitudinal and transverse dimension, wherein one of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions is not more than twice the other dimension, and / or wherein the spacing between the plurality of openings is not more than three times the maximum longitudinal and / or transverse dimension of the openings.

8. A batten support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base and / or ledge portions are dimensioned to receive the end of only a single batten.

9. A batten support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the roof support member defines a hip blade roof arranged between two adjacently angled roof planes of the roof structure, wherein a roof batten of one of the roof planes is arranged to coterminate with a roof batten of the other roof plane substantially half-way across the hip blade, wherein the batten support is configured with mutually angled ledge and base portions to support the ends of two batten ends.

10. A batten support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batten support comprises a plurality of portions defining a multi-unit length, wherein the support portions are connected end-to-end through integral links which are separable to obtain the plurality of support portions for separate use.

11. A batten support according to claim 10, wherein the integral links are provided by pre-cutting along part of the boundary between adjacent support plates leaving one or more portions uncut, optionally the, or each, integral link is arranged adjacent to an edge of the support plate, further optionally, wherein first and second integral link are arranged at opposite exposed edges of the support plate.

12. A batten support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batten support comprises an L-section plate, with a flat base plate and a substantially perpendicular side plate constituting the ledge portion.

13. A batten support according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the batten support plate comprises a U-section defined by parallel upper and lower support ledges portions and the base portion, optionally wherein a spacing between the upper and lower support ledges is about 40mm or about 50mm.

14. A batten support according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the upper and lower support ledges is outwardly inclined relative to the perpendicular from a plane parallel to the base portion of the batten support.

15. A batten support according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the batten support has a Z-section comprising a second ledge portion attached to the base portion and arranged at a side opposite to the first ledge portion, wherein the second ledge portion projects form the base portion in the opposite direction to the first ledge portion, optionally, wherein the first and second ledge portions extend in opposite but substantially parallel directions.

16. A roof structure comprising at least one batten, at least one roof support member and a batten support according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A method of constructing a roof structure, the roof structure when constructed comprises at least one batten, at least one roof support member and a batten support; wherein the method comprises:arranging a base portion of the batten support on, or against, a surface of the roof support member;arranging a surface of the batten on, or against, a ledge portion of the batten support, the ledge portion projecting at an angle to the base portion; andpassing a fastener through at least one of the base portion and the ledge portion into the roof support member.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises arranging the base portion against an upper surface of the roof support member such that the ledge portion contacts a side surface of the at least one batten.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the batten support is configured to support the ends of two battens forming a joint at the roof support member, wherein the method comprises arranging the batten support with the base portion lying on the upper surface of the roof support member, the ledge portion running substantially in a lateral direction of the rafter and extending either side of a centre line of the roof support member to support the ends of two battens at the joint formed therebetween.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises: arranging the base portion against a side surface of the support member so that the ledge portion extends out from the base portion in a substantially horizontal direction; and, arranging the end of the at least one batten at the side surface of the roof support member such that the ledge portion is arranged underneath the end of the batten.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the batten support has a Z-section comprising a second ledge portion attached to the base portion and arranged at a side opposite to the first ledge portion, wherein the second ledge portion projects from the base portion in the opposite direction to the first ledge portion, wherein the method comprises arranging the second ledge portion against the upper surface of the roof support member.

22. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the batten support is configured to receive the end of a single batten; wherein the method comprises arranging the batten support on a roof support member which defines a junction between two angled roof planes; and arranging the end of the single batten on ledge portion of the batten support.

23. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the method comprises driving a fastener through the at least one batten and then through the batten support.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises fixing the batten support to the roof support member before the at least one batten is positioned on the batten support.5 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the method comprises passing apreliminary fastener through at least one of the base portion and ledge portion, before arranging the at least one batten on the batten support.10

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