File clip, apparatus and installation method

A clip for attaching a roof tile or the like to a batten or similar member, said clip comprising:

• (i) a rigid body;
• (ii) a single securing member depending from said rigid body in a first direction and being adapted to engage a side edge of said tile or the like;
• and
• (iii) a fastening member depending from said rigid body in a second direction opposite to said first direction and being adapted to secure said clip to said batten or similar member;
• said securing member comprising a shank terminating in a hook, said shank having a portion thereof bent at an obtuse angle to form a linear web before terminating in said hook.

A method of installing roof tiles or the like using a plurality of clips each comprising a rigid body;

• first and second securing members, each said securing member depending from said rigid body in a first direction and adapted to engage respective side edges of said roof tiles;
• and a fastening member depending from said rigid body in a second direction opposite to said first direction and being adapted to secure said clip to a batten;
• each said securing member comprising a shank terminating in a hook, each said shank having a portion thereof bent at an obtuse angle to form a linear web before terminating in said hook, and the shank of said second securing member being shorter than the shank of said first securing member, said method comprising the steps of:
• attaching a plurality of said clips to a first tiling batten at spaced intervals thereof along the length of the batten;
• subsequently laying a first row of tiles which are each supported by said first batten and wherein each tile is retained in a position by one of said securing members;
• attaching a plurality of said clips to a second tiling batten at spaced intervals thereof along the length of the batten, said second tiling batten being oriented substantially parallel to said first tiling batten;
• subsequently laying a second row of tiles which are each supported at one end by said second batten and at the other end by said first row of tiles, and wherein each tile of said second row is secured by the second of said securing members of said clip attached to said first tiling batten;
• and
• repeating the foregoing steps as necessary to affix all required rows of tiles.

A method of installing roof tiles or the like using a plurality of clips each comprising a rigid body;

• a single securing member depending from said rigid body in a first direction and being adapted to engage a side edge of a roof;
• and a fastening member depending from said rigid body in a second direction opposite to said first direction and being adapted to secure said clip to a tiling batten;
• said securing member comprising a shank terminating in a hook, said shank having a portion thereof bent at an obtuse angle to form a linear web before terminating in said hook, said method comprising:
• attaching a plurality of clips to a tiling batten at spaced intervals thereof along the length of the batten;
• subsequently laying a row of tiles which are each supported by said batten and wherein each tile is retained in position by said securing member;
• and
• repeating the foregoing steps as necessary to affix all required rows of tiles.

An apparatus for use in the installation of a roof tile clip or the like to a batten or similar member, said apparatus comprising:

• a first section comprising a channel section adapted to straddle but being supported by a first batten;
• and
• a second section attached at one end to said first section and adapted at the other end to engage and be supported by a second batten adjacent and substantially parallel to said first batten, said second section being further adapted to support a clip-driving machine in a location enabling said clip to be driven into first batten;
• said second section comprising an outrigger arranged to extend from said channel section to overlie said second batten, said channel section having at least one of its flanges cut away between its ends on the side from which the outrigger extends to form a recess, said outrigger being adapted to support said clip-driving machine in a location enabling clips to be driven into said first batten through said recess;
• said outrigger comprising a substantially flat plate formed integrally with the top surface of said channel section of substantially overall rectangular configuration with strengthening ribs to prevent buckling under the weight of the clip-driving machine, said strengthening ribs comprising edge portions which extend downwards at right angles to the plane of said plate, the length of the outrigger being such that it is adequately supported by the second or adjacent roofing batten and is readily slidably thereover;
• and
• the outrigger including, at the junction of the outrigger and channel sections, a recessed portion which is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above, with the driving mechanism of said machine being located on one arm or side of the U and the batten to which the clip is to be attached being located directly beneath the other arm of the U.