Patent ID: 8991129
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: E04D,H02S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A tile assembly for installation on a roof comprising: a plurality of tiles each having a matching, laterally repeating pattern; wherein each pattern has one main surface with upper and lower vertical apices and left and right lateral apices; wherein the main surface of each pattern is flat throughout; wherein each pattern has two upper flanges extending peripherally directly from the main surface between the upper apex and lateral apices; wherein each pattern the two upper flanges extend directly from the main surface at an obtuse angle in a first direction; wherein each pattern the two upper flanges meet at an upper flange apex; wherein each pattern has two lower flanges extending peripherally directly from the main surface between the lower apex and lateral apices; wherein each pattern the two lower flanges extend directly from the main surface at an obtuse angle in a second direction; wherein each pattern the two lower flanges meet at a lower flange apex; and wherein at least two inflection edges at the lateral apices of each tile extending perpendicularly to a lateral axis of the tile, and the main surface of each pattern on the tile; at least two inflection planes positioned along the lateral apices of each pattern, extending perpendicularly to a lateral axis of the pattern and the main surface of the pattern; wherein at least one inflection plane from each pattern transitions along the inflection plane to another matching inflection plane of another laterally positioned pattern; wherein the plurality of tiles includes a left and right center tile positioned so as to abut at the adjacent outer inflection edges of each tile; wherein the plurality of tiles includes an upper tile positioned with two lower flanges from one of its patterns directly overlapping the two adjacent upper flanges of the left and right center tiles; and wherein the plurality of tiles includes a lower tile positioned with two upper flanges from one of its patterns directly underlying the two adjacent lower flanges of abutting left and right center tiles; characterized in that each flange includes an outer edge parallel to the pattern main surface and a radial contour; and each inflection plane is defined by, transition planes of the upper and lower flanges and an adjacent portion of the lateral extent of the main surface, wherein said transition planes extend between the outer edges of the upper and lower flanges and the main surface at the lateral extent of the pattern and wherein said transition planes bend via radiused regions from the main surface to extend in opposite, generally parallel directions, to provide an inflected configuration, and where at each lateral extent of the tile, the inflection plane is also an inflection edge and comprises the transition planes of the upper and lower flanges which extend between the flanges outer edges and the main surface and includes the adjacent main surface edge.