GB2279977A - Dry ridge tile fitted with resilient sealing strip - Google Patents

Abstract

A dry ridge tile (10) has longitudinal side edges (18a, 18b) with longitudinally extending recesses (20a, 20b) in which are fitted lengths of resilient sealing strips (22a, 22b) which project from the recesses for enabling accommodation of uneveness in the surfaces on which the side edges are to rest in use. Fitting of the sealing strips (22a, 22b) can be achieved, for example, by a suitable adhesive. Preferably the recessses are of arcuate section and said sealing strip is of corresponding circular section. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO RIDGE TILES FOR ROOFS The present invention relates to ridge tiles for use in roofing.

Traditionally, ridge tiles are fixed in position on the apex of a roof by bedding the side edges of the ridge tiles onto the pitched roof tiles with bedding mortar.

Various means are also known for achieving fixture of the ridge tiles in a so-called dry ridge system, i.e. one that does not involve or require the use of mortar. These known dry ridge systems involve the use of elongate plastics units of relatively complex section which are positioned between the longitudinal edges of the ridge tiles and the underlying pitched roof tiles. The plastics units form channels for receiving the latter edges of the ridge tiles and for providing rainwater traps to prevent the entry of rainwater to the apex of the roof. The ridge tiles are fixed in position by the use of nails which are driven through holes in the top of the ridge tiles to engage in wooden ridge battens fixed by metal strips to the apex of the roof.

Ventilated dry ridge systems are also known wherein the elongate plastics units, fitted between the longitudinal edges of the ridge tiles and the pitched roof tiles, are provided with ventilation apertures whereby air can enter/leave the roof space for ventilation purposes. One method of fixing the ridge tiles in position in such ventilated dry ridge systems involves firstly the fixing of the elongate plastics units directly to the roof using nails and the use of curved or bent plastics union strips which overlie the butt joints between adjacent ridge tiles, the longitudinal ends of these union strips engaging under co-operating parts of the ventilated plastics units to fix the ridge tiles in position.

Alternatively, the method of fixing can again involve the use of a wooden ridge batten at the apex of the roof, to which the ridge tiles are nailed.

The join between adjacent ridge tiles needs to be sealed against the ingress of rain water. One known way of achieving this makes use of the curved or bent plastics strip mentioned hereinbefore which is profiled to match the profile of the upper surface of the ridge tile. The plastics strip is lined on its underside with a rubber sealing strip. When the plastics strip is fixed over the join by engaging its ends under the elongate plastics units as described hereinbefore, the join is sealed by the pressure exerted on it by the overlying rubber strip.

A disadvantage of such a seal is its visibility from the outside, as it actually sits over the adjoining region between two adjacent ridge tiles.

Alternatively, it is known to use a "non-visible" seal in the form of a plastics strip which, this time, is profiled to match the underside of the ridge tile.

This known strip is of inverted T section, having a central rib extending perpendicularly from the plane of the strip which, in use, sits in the join between two adjacent ridge tiles. The two sections of the strip on each side of the upstanding rib lie underneath the respective adjoining sides of the ridge tile and carry respective rubber sealing strips which engage the undersides of the ridge tiles to form water channels for guiding and draining away any rainwater that may enter the join.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide an alternative, simpler means of achieving a ventilated dry ridge system and a second object to provide an alternative, simpler dry ridge system.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dry ridge tile of inverted V or U section whose underside surface is formed with a plurality of first recesses which are spaced longitudinally along the length of the tile and extend from the longitudinal side edges of the tile for providing air ventilation paths past the tile when the tile is mounted in its operational position.

Preferebly said recesses are of rectangular cuboidal configuration.

Advantageously said recesses extend over a major portion of the height of the tile.

In a preferred embodiment, the spacing of adjacent ones of said recesses in the longitudinal direction of the tile is substantially equal to the lateral dimension of said recesses, considered in said longitudinal direction of the tile.

Preferebly, the depth of said first receses is of the order at 10-20%, of the thickness of the tile walls.

Advantageously, the longitudinal side edges of the tile have longitudinally extending, second recesses for receiving lengths of resilient sealing strip.

The resilient sealing strip ensures that when the ridge tile is mounted on the apex of a roof, it is able to adopt a level attitude in spite of possible uneveness in the underlying slate/tiles or slate/tile surfaces.

Preferably, the recesses in the side edges of the ridge tiles are of arcuate section for receiving sealing strip of corresponding circular section.

Preferably, the ridge tile is fitted with the lengths of sealing strip during manufacture of the tile, so that the tile is sold with the sealing strips firmly adhered to the recesses.

The length of sealing strip can be fitted to the recesses on site. However, preferably, the lengths of sealing strip are attached to the recesses by a suitable adhesive during manufacture of the tiles.

Although the sealing strip is preferably of circular section, it could be of any other convenient section, in principle.

Preferably the sealing strips are made of rubber.

Advantageously, the first recesses are fitted with mesh for keeping out vermin.

In some embodiments, the ridge tile can be formed with a plurality of coplanar lugs projecting from its underside surface for engagement by a sealing strip used, in use, to bridge the gap between adjacent ridge tiles.

The ridge tile can be formed with a still further recess in its inside surface at each longitudinal end thereof for receiving one or more upstanding lugs on said sealing strip when positioned between two adjacent tiles.

The present invention also provides a dry ridge tile whose longitudinal side edges have longitudinally extending recesses for receiving lengths of resilient sealing strip.

Still further, the present invention provides a dry ridge tile whose longitudinal side edges have longitudinally extending recesses in which are fitted lengths of resilient sealing strip which project from said recesses for enabling accommodation of uneveness in the surfaces on which said side edges are to rest in use.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with refernce to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.l is a diagrammatic plan view of a first embodiment of a ridge tile in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 is a section on the line B-B in Fig.l; Fig.3 is a diagrammatic end view of the ridge tile of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig.4 is a partially perspective view, partly cut-away, of the ridge tile of Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig.5 is a diagrmmatic plan view of a second embodiment of a ridge tile in accordance with the present invention; Fig.6 is a section on the line C-C in Fig.5; Fig.7 is a diagrammatic end view of the ridge tile of Fig.5; Fig.8 is a plan view from above of a sealing piece; Fig.9 is a plan view from below of the sealing piece of Fig.8;; Fig.10 is an end view of the sealing piece of Figs. 8 and 9; Fig.ll is a side view of the sealing piece of Fig.10; Fig.12 is a side view of the sealing piece when bent, for illustrative purposes, without the sealing strip portion; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of one embodiment of a ridge tile in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention; Fig.14 is a section on the line A-A in Fig. 13; and Fig 15 is an end view of the ridge tile of Figs.

13 and 14.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment in the form of a non-ventilated dry ridge tile 51. The ridge tile 51 is of generally V-shaped section, having a pair of elongate rectangular leg portions 50a,50b which are angularly displaced from one another about a mutual axis 53, the latter lying at the ridge apex 52 of the tile 51. Fixing holes 54 extend through the tile at the apex 52. Formed in the inside surfaces of the two legs 50a, 50b are a plurality (four in each leg in this example) of rectangular recesses 56 (typically 50mm long x 3mm deep) which, when the tile 51 is mounted in position on the roof enable air to pass freely out of the roof space.

The free edges 57a, 57b of the legs 50a, 50b are arranged to lie in a common plane and are provided with arcuate recesses 58a, 58b to which are fixed respective lengths of sealing strip 60, for example of rubber or a resilient plastics material. However, in order to prevent the sealing strips 60 from blocking the recesses 56, the strips 60 are discontinued in the portions of the edges of the legs containing the recesses 56, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4. Fixing of the strips 60 can be achieved, for example, by use of a suitable adhesive.

The recesses 56 can be provided, if desired, with mesh, bonded to the inside of the tile so as to prevent the ingress of vermin via the recesses 56.

The sealing strips 60 enable uneveness in the underlying slate/tile surface to be accommodated, whilst the recesses 56 allow free movement of air from the underside of the ridge.

The tile 51 of Figs. 1 to 4 is adapted to be engaged with an adjacent tile in an overlapping arrangement. For this purpose, one end of the tile (left-hand end in Figs. 1 and 2) is of increased dimensions so as to be capable of engaging over the opposite end of an adjacently fitted tile. An 0-ring seal 62 is then sufficient to achieve the required rainwater trap.

Disposed at the apex of the tile 51, there are formed through holes 54 by which the ridge tile can be fixed in position on the roof. For example, nails can be driven through the holes 54 to engage in a wooden batten fixed to the apex of the roof by suitable metal clips (not shown).

When the ridge tile 51 is fixed in position over the roof apex, the sealing strips 60 resiliently engage the underlying pitched roof tiles or slates and enable any uneveness between adjacent tiles or slates, or uneven tile/slate surfaces to be accommodated so that the ridge tile sits in its required level position.

The ridge tile 70 of Figs. 5 to 7 is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 4 in that it includes recesses 56 for forming the air vents. However, instead of the overlapping arrangement between adjacent tiles provided in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, the ridge tile 70 of Figs. 5 to 7 is adapted to use a sealing strip of the type shown in Figs. 8 to 12, as described hereinafter.

Thus, sealing between adjacent ridge tiles 70 in the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7 is achieved by respective plastics strips 30 (see Figs. 8 to 12) which engage under the abutting end edges of the ridge tiles 70. Disposed at positions spaced from each longitudinal end thereof, the ridge tile 70 has a plurality (four in this example) of inwardly directed lugs 28 against which the sealing strip 30 can abut.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 12, the sealing strips 30 each comprise a length 32 of flexible plastics strip which carries on its one (upper) surface 34 two pairs of elongate, laterally spaced seals 36, of rubber or resilient plastics, extending on the two sides of its longitudinal centre line 36 (Fig.8). In addition, the strip 30 may carry a laterally extending lug 38, midway along its length, and having a hole 40. Finally, the strip 30 can have a plurality (four in this instance) of upwardly projecting lugs 42 positioned on said centre line 36.

When two adjacent ridge tiles 70 of the type shown in Figs. 5 to 7 have been positioned together, the associated sealing strip is disposed beneath the abutting edges with its lateral sides in engagement with the respective sets of lugs 28 on the two tiles.

The upwardly directed lugs 42 on the sealing strip are accommodated in mating recesses 42 formed on the undersides of the ridge tiles 70. The sealing strips are thereby positively located in their operational positions. Further location of the strips 30 is achieved in that the respective lug 38 on each of these strips 30 is positioned so that the hole 40 therein lines up with a fixing hole 24 in the associated tile 70 and receives the nail which is passed through the hole 24 to fix the tile 70 to the roof.

The upwardly directed seals 36 form rainwater channels when engaged with the undersides of the tiles 70.

The above described arrangement has the advantage that the sealing strips 30 are completely invisible from the outside since they lie wholly beneath the adjacent ridge tiles 70.

Figs. 13 to 15 show an embodiment in the form of a non-ventilated dry ridge tile 10. The ridge tile 10 is of generally V-shaped section, having a pair of elongate rectangular leg portions 12a, 12b which are angularly displaced from one another about a mutual axis 14, the latter lying at the ridge apex 16 of the tile 10. The free edge surfaces 18a, 18b of the two leg portions are arranged to lie in a common plane and contain respective recesses 20a, 20b of arcuate section which extend along the whole length of the edge surfaces 18a, 18b. Into each of these two recesses there is fixed a respective length of sealing strip 22a, 22b, for example of rubber or a resilient plastics material. Fixing of the sealing strips 22a, 22b can be achieved, for example, by a suitable adhesive.

Disposed at the apex of the tile 10, there are formed through holes 24 by which the ridge tile can be fixed in position on the roof. For example, nails can be driven through the holes 24 to engage in a wooden batten fixed to the apex of the roof by suitable clips (not shown).

When the ridge tile 10 is fixed in position over the roof apex, the sealing strips 22a, 22b resiliently engage the underlying pitched roof tiles or slates and enable any uneveness between adjacent tiles or slates, or uneven tile/slate surfaces to be accommodated so that the ridge tile sits in its required level position.

Sealing between adjacent ridge tiles 10 in the embodiment of Figs. 13 to 15 is achieved, in the same manner as in the case of the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7, by respective plastics strips 30 of the type shown in Figs. 8 to 12 which engage under the abutting end edges of the ridge tiles 10. Disposed at positions spaced from each longitudinal end thereof, the ridge tile has a plurality (four in this example) of inwardly directed lugs 28 against which the sealing strip 30 can abut.

Claims (5)

1. A dry ridge tile whose longitudinal side edges have longitudinally extending recesses for receiving lengths of resilient sealing strip.

2. A dry ridge tile whose longitudinal side edges have longitudinally extending recesses in which are fitted lengths of resilient sealing strip which project from said recesses for enabling accommodation of uneveness in the surfaces on which said side edges are to rest in use.

3. A dry ridge tile as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealing strips are permantly adhered within said recesses.

4. A dry ridge tile as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which said recesses are of arcuate section and said sealing strip is of corresponding circular section.

5. A dry ridge tile substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 13 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.