# US 8,769,903 B2 · TPO batten system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,903 B2 - Document ID: US8769903B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/684,468 - Filed: 2012-11-23 - Published: 2013-05-23 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-23 - Assignees: Building Materials Investment Corporation - Applicants: Building Materials Investment Corporation - Inventors: James A. Svec - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769903B2 ## CPC - E04D 1/34: Fastenings for attaching roof-covering elements to the supporting elements - E04C 2/205: {of foamed plastics, or of plastics and foamed plastics, optionally reinforced} - E04D 12/004: {Battens} - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) ## Abstract Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a batten system comprising thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membranes. In an embodiment, a batten may comprise a plurality of TPO membranes heat sealed together. The heat sealed TPO membranes may include a plurality of unsealed areas between the membranes for engaging one or more coupling devices. Slate shingles may be hung from the one or more coupling devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roofing batten system comprising: a first thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane comprising a first TPO scrim layer disposed between a first TPO upper layer and a first TPO lower layer; and a second TPO membrane comprising a second TPO scrim layer disposed between a second TPO upper layer and a second TPO lower layer; wherein the first TPO lower layer is heat sealed with the second TPO upper layer at sealed areas while leaving a plurality of unsealed areas between the first TPO lower layer and the second TPO upper layer at intervals; and wherein one or more coupling devices may be received through adjacent unsealed areas between the first TPO lower layer and the second TPO upper layer such that each coupling device may be fastened to the roofing batten system by mating at a first edge of a sealed area and hooking at a second edge of the sealed area. ### Claim 2 A roofing batten system comprising: a first thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane comprising a first TPO upper layer, a first TPO lower layer, and, optionally, a first TPO scrim layer disposed therebetween; and a second TPO membrane comprising a second TPO upper layer, a second TPO lower layer, and, optionally, a second TPO scrim layer disposed therebetween; wherein the first TPO lower layer is heat sealed with the second TPO upper layer at sealed areas while leaving a plurality of unsealed areas between the first TPO lower layer and the second TPO upper layer at intervals; and wherein adjacent unsealed areas between the first TPO lower layer and the second TPO upper layer are configured to receive a coupling device such that the coupling device contacts a first edge of an interposing sealed area and secures at a second edge of the interposing sealed area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A roofing batten system according to claim 2, wherein a received coupling tool comprises a first portion receivable in a first unsealed area, a second portion contactable with the first edge, a third portion receivable in a second unsealed area, and a fourth portion securable to the second edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A roofing batten system according to claim 3, wherein the fourth portion of the coupling tool comprises a hook, a tail, a latch, a shoulder or combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A roofing batten system according to claim 2, wherein the coupling tool has a generally rectangular shape with one open side or a generally hexagonal shape with one open side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A roofing batten system according to claim 2, wherein a first unsealed area and a second unsealed area are substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A roofing batten system according to claim 2, wherein a first unsealed area, a second unsealed area, or both the first unsealed area and the second unsealed area are substantially parallel to a fall line. ### Claim 8 A roofing batten system comprising: a first thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane comprising a first TPO upper layer, a first TPO lower layer, and, optionally, a first TPO scrim layer disposed therebetween; a second TPO membrane comprising a second TPO upper layer, a second TPO lower layer, and, optionally, a second TPO scrim layer disposed therebetween; a first sealed area comprising a heat seal between a first portion of the first TPO lower layer and a first portion of the second TPO upper layer; a second sealed area comprising a heat seal between a second portion of the first TPO lower layer and a second portion of the second TPO upper layer; and a third sealed area comprising a heat seal between a third portion of the first TPO lower layer and a third portion of the second TPO upper layer, wherein the first sealed area and the second sealed area are separated by a first unsealed area, wherein the second sealed area and the third sealed area are separated by a second unsealed area, and wherein the first unsealed area and the second unsealed area are configured to receive a coupling device between the first TPO lower layer and the second TPO upper layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A roofing batten system according to claim 8, wherein the first TPO membrane and the second TPO membrane together define an upper edge and a lower edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A roofing batten system according to claim 9, wherein the first unsealed area is further configured to permit a received coupling tool to contact the upper edge, and the second unsealed area is further configured to permit the received coupling tool to be secured at the lower edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A roofing batten system according to claim 10, wherein the received coupling tool comprises a first portion receivable in the first unsealed area, a second portion contactable with the upper edge, a third portion receivable in the second unsealed area, and a fourth portion securable to the lower edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A roofing batten system according to claim 11, wherein the fourth portion of the coupling tool comprises a hook, a tail, a latch, a shoulder or combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A roofing batten system according to claim 8, wherein a coupling tool has a generally rectangular shape with one open side or a generally hexagonal shape with one open side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A roofing batten system according to claim 8, wherein the first unsealed area and the second unsealed area are substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A roofing batten system according to claim 8, wherein the first unsealed area, the second unsealed area, or both the first unsealed area and the second unsealed area are substantially parallel to a fall line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) A roofing batten system according to claim 8, wherein the first TPO membrane comprises the first TPO scrim layer and the second TPO membrane comprises the second TPO scrim layer. ### Claim 17 A method of securing a shingle to a roof with a roofing batten system comprising: a first thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane comprising a first TPO upper layer, a first TPO lower layer, and, optionally, a first TPO scrim layer disposed therebetween; a second TPO membrane comprising a second TPO upper layer, a second TPO lower layer, and, optionally, a second TPO scrim layer disposed therebetween; a first sealed area comprising a heat seal between a first portion of the first TPO lower layer and a first portion of the second TPO upper layer; a second sealed area comprising a heat seal between a second portion of the first TPO lower layer and a second portion of the second TPO upper layer; and a third sealed area comprising a heat seal between a third portion of the first TPO lower layer and a third portion of the second TPO upper layer, wherein the first sealed area and the second sealed area are separated by a first unsealed area, and wherein the second sealed area and the third sealed area are separated by a second unsealed area, wherein the first unsealed area and the second unsealed area are configured to receive a coupling device between the first TPO lower layer and the second TPO upper layer, the method comprising: fixing the second TPO lower layer to a roof substrate; inserting a coupling tool comprising a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion into the first unsealed area and the second unsealed area such that the first portion is received in the first unsealed area, the second portion contacts the upper edge of the second sealed area, the third portion is received in the second unsealed area, and the fourth portion secures the coupling tool; and hanging a shingle from the coupling tool. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method of securing a shingle to a roof with a roofing batten system according claim 17, wherein the shingle comprises slate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A method of securing a shingle to a roof with a roofing batten system according to claim 17, wherein the fixing the second TPO lower layer to the roof substrate further comprises mechanically fastening the second TPO lower layer to the roof substrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A method of securing a shingle to a roof with a roofing batten system according to claim 17, wherein the fixing the second TPO lower layer to the roof substrate further comprises coating the deck side of the second TPO lower layer with an adhesive and laminating the roofing batten system to the roof.