Roofing System Rain Diverting Device Single Lap Tiling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roofing systems, particularly those using natural stone tiles, are expensive, labor-intensive, and inefficient in material usage, with double or triple overlaps increasing deadload and material costs, and traditional fastening methods are prone to breakage and rigidity issues.

Innovation Solution

A roofing system utilizing a rain diverting feature with hook and loop fasteners and a rain diverting device that allows for single overlap, reducing material usage and weight, and uses a detachable fastening system for easier installation and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If double or triple overlap of natural stone roofing tiles is used to prevent rainwater entry, then water protection is improved, but deadload on the roof structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverainwater entryVSAvoiddeadload
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rainwater diversion function from the tile overlap structure itself and implements it through a separate integrated rain diverting device attached to the tile edge. This allows single overlap to be sufficient, removing the need for double or triple overlap and thereby reducing the deadload on the roof structure while maintaining water protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rain diverting device acts as an intermediary element between the tile and the underlying sheet material, creating a channel that directs rainwater away from the separation between adjacent tiles. This mediator enables effective water diversion with minimal tile overlap, reducing the weight burden on the roof structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If double or triple overlap of roofing tiles is used to prevent rainwater entry, then water protection is improved, but material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverainwater entryVSAvoidmaterial costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water diversion function from the tile overlap requirement and implements it through an integrated rain diverting device, enabling single overlap to provide adequate protection. This reduces the quantity of tile material needed and lowers material costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rain diverting device integrates multiple functions: it diverts rainwater away from tile separations, provides a fastening mechanism for single overlap installation, and protects the underlying sheet material. This multi-functionality achieves water protection with minimal material usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If nailing or screwing slate to the roof is used for fastening, then tile fixation is improved, but the risk of breakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetile fixationVSAvoidbreakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastening system (nails or screws that risk breaking slate) with a hook and loop fastener system. The loop fastener attaches to the back of the tile without penetrating it, eliminating breakage risk while maintaining secure fixation through the rain diverting device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Stability of the object's composition

If hook and rail systems or clamping track systems are used for fastening, then tile fixation is improved, but device complexity and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetile fixationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fastening function into simple components: a hook fastener attached to the rain diverting device and a loop fastener on the underlying sheet material. This segmented approach replaces complex hook and rail systems or clamping track systems, reducing device complexity and labor requirements while maintaining secure tile fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system reduces material costs and weight, enhances installation efficiency, and allows for flexible tile placement, overcoming the limitations of traditional roofing methods by providing a cost-effective and lightweight solution.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the plurality of tiles further includes a rain diverting device having a width extending beyond a side-edge of the tile and releasably adhered to the hook and loop fastener located on the side-edge portion of each tile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHook and loop fastening: Velcro

Implementation Method 2

a rain diverting feature for directing rainwater and snowmelt away from an underlying sheet material and/or roof deck

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRain diversion:

Data Source

PatentEP4045731B1Roofing system and method
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 MILLENNIUM SLATE LLC
  • EP4045731B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4045731B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4045731B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A lighter, more cost-effective roofing system and method, which includes a rain diverting feature for directing rainwater and snowmelt away from an underlying sheet material and roof deck, is provided. The invention includes a sheet material having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface includes one of a hook and loop fastener and the lower surface is configured to be attached to the roof deck. The present invention further includes a plurality of roofing tiles, each tile having hook and loop fasteners adhered to a back face which extend along the width of the file at or near the uppermost and lowermost edges. Each rain diverting feature, which is a strip-like device with one surface made up of a plurality of hook portions and an opposing surface made up of a plurality of portions complementary to the hook portions, is positioned between and releasably attached to the hook and loop fasteners located on a side-edge portion of two adjacent files and the underlying sheet material, thereby releasably attaching the tiles to each other and to the upper surface of the underlying sheet material. The use of rain diverting devices to direct rainwater and snowmelt away from the underlying sheet material and roof deck allows for single lap tiling and thus less weight on the roof deck. It also allows for shorter files to be used, thus saving material cost.