GB2092632A - Roof tile supports - Google Patents

Abstract

In a roof structure, a plurality of roof tile supports (1) replace the normal battens and are attached to a series of rafters (2) and spaced in parallel relationship for affixing roof tiles thereto. Each roof tile support (1) may be of galvanised wire and consist of a raised part (3) extending substantially across the width between each respective rafter (2), a recessed portion (4) being provided for fixing each of the supports (1) to the rafters (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roof tile support system This invention relates to a method of fixing roof tiles to rafters forming part of a roof structure.

In the construction of a tiled roof it is usual to secure a large number of wooden battens to the rafters along the length of the roof and spaced apart in parallel relationship a distance of approximately half the length of the tile, so as to provide an overlap of tiles in order to ensure that the tiled roof does not leak. In practice, a large number or sometimes all of the tiles are nailed individually to the wooden battens by nails extending through holes previously formed in the tile. In another method of construction each of the tiles is hooked onto the batten member by a projecting lip on the tile and the weight of one tile lying half on top of a lower tile is sufficient to securely maintain a locking formation.

The battens used at present to provide a support structure for roof tiles are made out of wood of typical dimensions 40 mm by 20 mm, since the batten itself must be capable of receiving nails along its length for securing to the rafters without the nails causing undue weaknesses along the length of the batten. Therefore, because of the size requirements of these battens a substantial amount of wood is used in a typical roof structure to provide adequate support for roofing tiles. In addition, as stated above, many roofing tiles are fixed to battens by means of further nails extending through pre-formed apertures in the tiles. This again requires that each batten must be of substantial size so as to receive these nails without splitting.Furthermore, the lipped portion of each respective tile which hooks over part of the batten necessitates the use of a batten member of width equal to or greater than the lipped portion of the tile.

The obove considerations make it necessary to use a substantial amount of wood in providing a support structure for roofing tiles and this has the disadvantage in that the cost of such wood is relatively high. It is an object of the present invention to provide a roof tile support system of relatively low cost compared to that of wood, which provides the necessary strength required to support the tiles, provides adequate spacing to accommodate the lipped portion of each respective tile, is simple to install and does not require elaborate manufacturing techniques.

According to the invention we provide a roof tile support system comprising a plurality of roof tile supports for fixing to the rafters of a roof comprising a plurality of supports of rigid material having raised parts extending substantially along the width between each of said rafters to provide support for mounting roof tiles thereon.

The rigid material may be of galvanised wire having equally spaced recessed flattened portions for engagement with the rafters of a roof, being fixed to said rafters by fixing elements extending through apertures in each of said flattened portions, the flattened portions preventing arcuate movement of the raised parts of each roof tile support when roof tiles are attached thereto.

Alternatively, each roof tile support may comprise fixing elements for fixing to the rafters, in which said fixing elements are integral with the roof tile support. The fixing elements may be in the form of spikes, welded to the roof tile support in spaced relationship for fixing to the roof rafters.

Alternatively, the fixing elements may comprise pre-formed double-headed nails which are welded to the support, in spaced relationship, the doubleheaded nails providing a spacing for the lipped portion of a roof tile, the distance between each of the heads of the double-headed nail corresponding substantially to the spacing required to accommodate the lipped portion of the roof tile.

In a still further embodiment of the invention each roof tile support may be formed of galvanised wire, having semi-circular portions for engagement with roof rafters and secured thereto by means of staples or such like. The semi-circular portions acting against any arcuate movement caused by the weight of the tiles.

In a still further embodiment of the invention the raised parts are of suitably shaped steel strip.

Alternatively, a plastics material may be substituted in place of the galvanised wire.

These and other embodiments of the invention will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a view of a roof structure incorporating the invention and, Figures 2 and 3 show additional views of the roof tile support of Figure 1, Figures 4 to 10 show further embodiments of the roof tile support according to the invention and, Figure 11 shows a method of fixing a roof tile to a support system according to the invention, Figures 12 and 13 show a still further embodiment of the invention and, Figure 14 shows a roof tile support mounted on rigid cross members, Figures 1 5 to 23 show still further embodiments of a roof tile support according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts have common reference numerals, in Figures 1 to 3, a roof tile support shown generally at 1 is mounted on a plurality of rafters 2 forming part of a roof structure. The roof tile support 1 has a raised part 3 extending substantially the whole length between each respective rafter 2 for mounting roof tiles (not shown) thereon. The support 1 has a series of flattened portions 4 at spacings corresponding to each respective rafter and is fixed by means of nails 5 extending through holes 6 in each flattened portion 4, the nails 5 being driven into each respective rafter. The flattened portion 4 ensures that arcuate movement of the support 1 does not occur when tiles are placed along its length.In Figure 3 is shown a roof tile support junction 7 in which the uniformity of the raised parts 3 of the roof tile support 1 is achieved, when adding additional lengths of support 1, by providing an offset section 8 on the end of each respective support 1 to allow one end of a pair of each tile supports 1 to be firmly fixed to a common rafter.

In Figure 4 is shown a roof tile support having fixing elements in the form of spikes 10 formed integrally with the tile support 1. Each spike 10 has an enlarged segment 11 which acts to prevent excess travel of the spike into the rafters (shown in broken line). In this embodiment of the invention the tile support 1 consists of a series of independent links which can be joined sequentially by inter-engagement of a neck 12 on the spike 10 with a suitably formed fixing ring 13 formed at one end of one link 1 a of the roof tile support 1. It is envisaged that a series of links 1 a will be connected sequentially to provide the roof tile support. It will be seen that the link 1 b is formed with two spikes and it is intended that this link 1 b will act as the closure member to a series of links 1 a.A hammer can be used to drive the spikes into each respective rafter by applying a blow to each corner 14 in a direction towards the rafter.

In Figure 5 the roof tile support 1 consists of a raised part 3 supported on spikes 10 welded to the raised part 3 at junction 15; an annular lip 16 formed on each spike 10 ensures that when each spike is driven into a rafter, adequate spacing of the raised part 3 from the rafters is achieved.

In Figure 6 the raised part 3 has attached thereto a double-headed nail 1 7 which is again welded at junction 15, the spacing between each respective head 18 and 19 providing the necessary clearance of the raised part 3 from the rafter when the nail is driven in.

In Figures 7 to 10 the roof tile support 1 consists of a galvanised wire strip having a raised part 3 and an arcuate lower portion 20 for engagement with the roof rafters. The arcuate lower portion 20 is fixed to each respective rafter by means of staples 41 or such like, the arcuate shape ensuring that swiveling movement of the raised part 3 does not occur when tiles are fixed thereon. In the embodiments of Figures 7 and 8, the arcuate lower portions 20 are spaced apart to correspond with the positions of each respective rafter. In Figures 9 and 10 the arcuate portions are formed at shorter spacings than that required for each respective rafter.

In the embodiment of Figure 11 it will be seen that a roof tile 21 is affixed to the raised part 3 of the roof tile support and is provided with a split pin 22 which surrounds the raised part 3 and extends through an aperture (not shown) in the tile 21 before being splayed out for locking engagement, in a known manner.

In Figures 12 and 13 are shown still further embodiments of the invention in which the roof tile support is made of a galvanised strip of substantially rectangular cross-section and is provided with recesses 23 spaced along the length of the strip to correspond to the spacing of the rafters. An aperture 5 is again provided for each of the fixing elements to extend therethrough.

In the embodiment of Figure 14 is shown a plurality of roof tile support strips spaced apart in parallel relationship by virtue of being fixed to spacer strips 24 arranged at right angles to the roof tile supports 1 and spaced apart a distance corresponding substantially to the distance between each respective rafter. In this case the raised part 3 extends along the whole length of each strip 1 and is suitably spaced from each rafter by the spacing afforded by spacing elements 24. The framework shown herein ensures that the correct gap is maintained between each respective roof tile support strip, which gap may correspond substantially to approximately half the length of a roof tile, and may be fixed to the roof rafters by means of staples or the like.

In Figures 1 5 and 16 are shown a method of mounting a roof tile support 3 by means of a clip 25 having an aperture 26 through which a nail 27 may be driven into each respective rafter. The raised portion 3 is in the form of a channel section strip of generally "C" shaped cross-section, the internal dimensions of which correspond substantially to the external dimensions of the upper part of clip 25. In use, the clip 25 is attached to a rafter 2 by means of a nail 27 and the raised portion 3 is then slipped into engagement with the top part of the clip to provide mounting means for mounting roof tiles.

In Figure 1 7 are shown two further roof tile supports consisting of suitably shaped strips of steel. The first of these is an "L" shaped support 28, again having a raised portion 3, and attached to the rafter 2 by means of nails extending through apertures 29 in the support 28 at spaced intervals.

An alternative to this arrangement is the support 30 which consists of a strip of steel of shape corresponding to a pair of "L" shaped strips spaced back to back by a flattened portion 3 upon which roof tiles are mounted. Since this structure is fairly rigid in comparison to the support 28 it will be apparent that relatively thin steel section may be used and it is envisaged that nails 31 may be driven directly into the support 30 without the need for prior drilling of suitably dimensioned apertures.

In Figures 1 8, 19 and 20 there is shown a further method of providing a raised support 3, in which this raised support 3 is of conventional wire supported and spaced from each of the rafters 2 by a spacing pin 32 having a recessed portion 33 which receives the correspondingly shaped wire support element 3. A flattened portion 34 is crimped over the wire support element 3 in the manner shown at 35 in Figure 20 to rigidly fix the wire support element 3 thereto. A shoulder portion 36 is provided to ensure that the spacing pin 32 is driven into the rafter up to a certain level only.

The roof tile support of Figures 21 to 23 consists of a wire roof tile support element 3 extending through the eye 37 of a spacing pin 38 driven into rafters 2. The spacing pin 38 again has a shoulder portion 39 to ensure correct spacing of the element 3 from the rafters. The hole 40 extending through the eye portion 37 is of slightly larger diameter than the raised wire element 3 to facilitate easy location of the wire element 3. It is envisaged that the spacing pin 38 may be driven into a rafter by applying a blow to one end of the spacing pin 38, the pin being strong enough to resist undue deformation of the hole 40.

In the various embodiments illustrated above each has a common feature in providing a raised part 3 for engagement with roof tiles. In principle, this raised part 3 corresponds substantially to the wooden battens conventionally used in roof tile support structures. Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides functional similarities to the use of wooden battens but without having the disadvantages as previously described. It will be apparent that the material chosen for use in a roof tile support system according to the invention must possess adequate strength and rigidity and while this requirement can be successfully met by using a suitable steel wire or strip it is envisaged that other materials, for example certain types of plastics, could also be used within the scope of the invention.

The use of roof tile support system as shown has the additional advantage in being amenable to mass production and therefore provides scope for further cost effectiveness. Furthermore, the use of precision manufacture ensures uniformity of dimensions which can be difficult to achieve when a large number of wooden battens are used.

Claims (10)

1. A roof tile support system for fixing to a plurality of rafters of a roof, comprising a plurality of supports of rigid material having raised parts extending substantially along the width between each of said rafters, to provide support for mounting roof tiles thereon.

2. A roof tile support system according to claim 1 in which the rigid material is galvanised wire.

3. A roof tile support system according to either one of claim 1 or claim 2 in which each of said supports has equally spaced recessed flattened portions for engagement with the rafters, said flattened portions being fixed to the rafters by fixing elements extending through apertures in each of said flattened portions, the flattened portions preventing arcuate movement of the raised part of the roof tile support, when roof tiles are attached thereto.

4. A roof tile support system according to either one of claim 1 or claim 2 in which fixing elements are integral with the roof tile support.

5. A roof tile support system according to claim 4 in which said fixing elements are in the form of spikes, welded to the roof tile support in spaced relationship for fixing to the roof rafters.

6. A roof tile support system according to claim 4 in which said fixing elements comprise preformed double-headed nails, which are welded to the support, in spaced relationship, the doubleheaded nails providing a spacing for a lipped portion of a roof tile, the distance between each of the heads of said double-headed nail corresponding substantially to the spacing required to accommodate the lipped portion of the roof tile.

7. A roof tile support system according to either one of claims 1 or 2 having semi-circular portions for engagement with roof rafters and secured thereto by means of staples or such like, said semi-circular portions acting against any arcuate movement caused by the weight of the roof tiles when affixed thereto.

8. A roof tile support system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the raised parts are of suitably shaped steel strip.

9. A roof tile support system according to claim 1 in which the each roof tile support is made of a plastics material.

10. A roof tile support system constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any one of Figures 1-23.