Roofing shingle system and shingles for use therein

A roofing system comprising at least four adjacent shingles, each of first, second, third, and fourth adjacent shingles comprising:

• (a) a posterior layer having a posterior headlap portion and a posterior buttlap portion including four posterior simulated tabs extending from said posterior headlap portion, said posterior simulated tabs spaced apart by a plurality of posterior partial slots, and each of said posterior simulated tabs is connected to at least one adjacent posterior simulated tab by a connecting segment;
• (b) an anterior layer having an anterior headlap potion and an anterior buttlap portion including four anterior tabs extending from said anterior headlap portion, said anterior tabs spaced apart to define a plurality of anterior openings between said anterior tabs;
• wherein the anterior layer is positioned on the posterior layer in a manner such that each anterior tab is positioned over a corresponding posterior simulated tab such that each of the posterior simulated tabs is at least partially covered by one of the anterior tabs;
• wherein the posterior simulated tabs have a given breadth that is about equal for each posterior simulated tab;
• wherein at least one anterior tab has a first anterior tab breadth that is less than 50% the breadth of each posterior simulated tab;
• wherein at least another anterior tab has a second anterior tab breadth that is 50% or more, but less than 100% the breadth of each posterior simulated tab;
• wherein each of the first, second, and third adjacent shingles differ from each other based on the positions of the at least one anterior tab having the first anterior tab breadth and the at least another anterior tab having the second anterior tab breadth;
• and wherein the first adjacent shingle and the fourth adjacent shingle are identical based on the positions of the at least one anterior tab having the first anterior tab breadth and the at least another anterior tab having the second anterior tab breadth, so that when installed, a pattern of varying anterior tab breadths is created based on the respective positions of the anterior tabs having the first anterior tab breadth and the anterior tabs having the second anterior tab breadth.

A laminated roofing shingle comprising:

• (a) a posterior layer having a posterior headlap portion and a posterior buttlap portion including a plurality of posterior simulated tabs extending from said posterior headlap portion, said posterior simulated tabs spaced apart by a plurality of posterior partial slots, and each of said posterior simulated tabs is connected to at least one adjacent posterior simulated tab by a connecting segment;
• (b) an anterior layer having an anterior headlap portion and an anterior buttlap portion including a plurality of anterior tabs extending from said anterior headlap portion, said anterior tabs spaced apart to define a plurality of anterior openings between said anterior tabs;
• and
• wherein the anterior layer is positioned on the posterior layer in a manner such that each anterior tab is positioned over a corresponding posterior simulated tab such that each of the posterior simulated tabs is at least partially covered by one of the anterior tabs;
• wherein each anterior tab extends over no posterior partial slot;
• wherein the number of posterior simulated tabs is equal to the number of anterior tabs;
• wherein said roofing shingle has a length;
• wherein the posterior layer is formed from a cutting cylinder having a circumference that is equal to the length of said roofing shingle;
• and wherein the anterior layer is formed from a cutting cylinder having a circumference that is a fraction of the length of said roofing shingle.