US 4,691,492 AGranted

Interlocking roof tile

AssigneeCreative Metal Designs Ltd.

InventorPatrick J. Kane

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Abstract

The present tile is adapted to cooperate with similar tiles to form a tiled surface, and is formed from a relatively thin sheet having a periphery disposed symmetrically about a central axis. When the tile is installed the central axis coincides with a line defining free water flow down the tile between upper and lower tile portions. The tile has first and second raised ribs extending symmetrically as mirror images of each other on each side of the central axis. Each rib has upper and lower rib portions which are interconnected so as to extend continuously between the upper and lower tile portions to increase stiffness of the tile. The stiffened tile is better able to resist weight of a person walking on the roof, and also resists a tendency for the lower portion of the tile to lift when wind blows onto the roof. The upper rib portions are smaller than, and complementary to, the lower rib portions so that the lower rib portions of an upper tile can fit over upper rib portions of a lower tile. When so fitted, the edges of the tiles are interlocked and this increases accuracy of installation of the tiles, as well as reducing a tendency of water seepage past edges of the tiles.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A tile adapted to cooperate with similar tiles to form a tiled surface, the tile being a relatively thin sheet and having:

(a) a periphery having first and second side edges intersecting at upper and lower corners and being disposed symmetrically about a central axis extending between the corners so that, when the tile is installed, the central axis coincides essentially with a line defining free water flow down the tile between upper and lower tile portions, the side edges being mirror images of each other about the central axis,
(b) first and second raised ribs extending symmetrically as mirror images of each other on each side of central axis, each rib having upper and lower rib portions which are substantially similar in cross-section to each other and are interconnected so as to extend smoothly and continuously between the upper and lower tile portions to increase stiffness of the tile, the upper and lower rib portions having rib axes which are also mirror images of each other about a lateral axis disposed normally to the central axis, the ribs intersecting the respective side edges generally adjacent to the upper and lower corners to provide first and second intermediate edge portions extending between the intersections of the first and second ribs with the first and second side edges respectively,
(c) a generally flat first side margin of the tile extending between the first intermediate edge portion and the first rib, and a generally flat second side margin of the tile extending between the second intermediate edge portion and the second rib,
(d) the upper rib portions being generally complementary to the lower rib portions so that the lower rib portions of an upper tile can fit over the upper rib portions of a lower tile.

1 more element

A tile adapted to cooperate with similar tiles to form a tiled surface, the tile being a relatively thin sheet and having:

(a) a periphery having first and second side edges intersecting at upper and lower corners and being disposed symmetrically about a central axis extending between the corners so that, when the tile is installed, the central axis coincides essentially with a line defining free water flow down the tile between upper and lower tile portions,
(b) first and second raised ribs extending symmetrically as mirror images of each other on each side of the central axis, each rib having upper and lower rib portions which are interconnected so as to extend continuously between the upper and lower tile portions to increase stiffness of the tile, the upper and lower rib portions having rib axes which are also mirror images of each other about a lateral axis disposed normally to the central axis,
(c) intermediate lengths of the first and second ribs remote from the upper and lower corners being spaced inwardly from the adjacent first and second side edges of the tile to provide generally flat first and second side margins of the tile,
(d) the upper rib portions being generally complementary to the lower rib portions so that the lower rib portions of an upper tile can fit over the upper rib portions of a lower tile,
(e) each side edge has generally straight upper side edge and lower side edge portions which are inclined at equal angles to the lateral axis disposed perpendicularly to the central axis of the tile to define a generally diamond shaped tile,
(f) each upper rib portion has a generally shallow S-shape with a generally straight mid portion disposed between upwardly and downwardly curved upper and lower terminal portions, the mid portion being generally parallel to an adjacent upper side edge portion,
(g) each lower rib portion has a generally shallow S-shape with a generally straight mid portion disposed between upwardly and downwardly curved upper and lower terminal portions, the mid portion being generally parallel to an adjaceant lower side edge portion.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.