Orthogonal Fin Roofing Shingle for Hail Impact Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roofing systems are susceptible to hail damage despite being designed as 'hail resistant,' leading to high insurance costs, material destruction, and labor-intensive repairs, with ongoing demand for labor at dangerous heights.

Innovation Solution

A roofing shingle design featuring a flat base with orthogonal fins forming valleys and protrusions that disintegrate and redirect hailstones, dispersing their energy and providing interlocking features for enhanced wind resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional flat roofing materials are used, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but hail impact resistance is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehail impact resistanceVSAvoidshingle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shingle is segmented into multiple functional zones: a flat base portion for water shedding, orthogonal fin structures for hail disruption, and interlocking features for wind resistance. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a conventional two-dimensional flat shingle surface to a three-dimensional structure with orthogonal fins extending perpendicular to the base. This dimensional addition creates protrusions and valleys that actively disrupt hailstone trajectories and disintegrate impacting hail, significantly improving hail impact resistance without overly complicating manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If hail-resistant materials are used, then hail damage is reduced, but material destruction and repair costs remain high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehail damage protectionVSAvoidmaterial destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The orthogonal fin structures are designed to actively disintegrate hailstones upon impact, converting the harmful kinetic energy of hail into beneficial fragmentation. The fins catch and disrupt falling hail, causing it to break apart before it can damage the underlying roofing system, thereby reducing both hail damage and subsequent material destruction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The fin structures act as intermediary elements between the hailstorm environment and the vulnerable roofing materials beneath. These fins absorb and redirect hail impact energy, protecting the main roofing material from direct hail contact and reducing the frequency and severity of repairs needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If traditional roofing systems are used, then installation labor is straightforward, but labor demand at dangerous heights remains high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional features are merged into a single integrated shingle design: the flat base for water shedding, orthogonal fins for hail protection, and interlocking mechanisms for wind resistance. This integration reduces the number of separate components and installation steps needed, improving productivity while maintaining safety by reducing time spent at height

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If simple flat shingles are used, then manufacturing is easy, but wind uplift resistance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind uplift resistanceVSAvoidshingle manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shingle incorporates discrete interlocking features such as tabs and slots that engage with adjacent shingles to form a unified roofing system. These segmented locking mechanisms resist wind uplift forces by distributing loads across multiple connection points, enhancing wind resistance without requiring complex manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The orthogonal fin structures create a textured, non-planar surface that interlocks with adjacent shingles, forming a more resistant assembly against wind uplift. The three-dimensional geometry of the fins and valleys creates mechanical interlocking that simple flat surfaces cannot achieve, improving wind resistance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS11608639B1Anti-hail roofing system

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 VAN DE STEEG LEIGH B

AI summary

A section of a roof covering system, such as a shingle, having a flat base with planar top surface; and a plurality of fins disposed on the planar top surface at an essentially orthogonal angle to the planar top surfaces, forming a plurality of valleys between the fins, thereby forming a plurality of protrusions and recesses to damage, disintegrate and redirect hailstones which are incident upon the portion of the roof covering system.