Abstract:
A method is taught of making a multiple-layer, three-layer shingle, in which a base shingle layer is formed by separating a first shingle layer longitudinally into halves, with adhesive applied longitudinally to the halves of the base shingle layer, and with a second shingle layer then being separated into halves to function as secondary shingle layers that are applied over the adhesive on the base shingle layers, to secure them together, and with a third shingle layer being separated longitudinally into halves and then transversely into segments, with adhesive being applied transversely over granules on the top surface of the secondary shingle layer, with the segments of the third shingle layer forming a top shingle layer, with such segments being selectively applied to yield predetermined design effects. The result is to produce a three-layer laminated shingle, with the layers adhered together with granules on the top surfaces of the layers sandwiched therebetween. The secondary shingle layer may have a lower edge of its tabs foreshortened to reveal granules on the top surface of the base layer, which granules are preferably darker for contrasting effect.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This is a division of application Ser. No. 515,601 filed Apr. 27, 1990, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of design application Ser. No. 110,801 filed Oct. 20, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. D314,628 and of design application Ser. No. 174,023 filed Mar. 28, 1988. 
    
    
     The present invention is directed to a multi-layer shingle, preferably one constructed of asphaltic roofing material, and most particularly one having an asphaltic material provided over a base mat, which then has granules applied to surfaces thereof. 
     The art of shingle manufacture is highly developed, and improvements in shingle manufacturing have been subtle, often being devoted to the simulation of wood or other natural appearing shingles, having natural appearing textures. 
     In the course of shingle development, some approaches have been toward applying granules of various color configurations. Other developments have applied shadow bands to give the appearance of depth at various locations along the shingles. Still other techniques have involved irregular cuts in tab portions of the shingles, to give scalloped or random appearances. Some of the above improvements are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,837, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     The present invention is directed toward a method of providing a multi-layer shingle, of three shingle layers, with spatial and arrangement configurations that are efficiently made possible to give a large number of optional variations in random appearance, while providing a high quality shingle. 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel method of making a multi-layer shingle. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel method of making a multi-layer shingle having unique variation possibilities in aesthetic presentation. 
     It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above objects, wherein a top shingle layer may be provided over at least tab portions of shingles, with selective applicability. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel method of making and stacking multi-layer shingles that lends itself to readily palletized stacking. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel method of making a multi-layer shingle wherein the several layers are securely adhered together. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following brief description of the drawing figures, detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A method of making a multi-layer shingle is provided having a base layer, a secondary layer and a top shingle layer, with the secondary layer having spaced-apart slots forming tab portions, and with the top layer covering at least a portion of tab portions of the secondary shingle layer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic collective illustration of the steps involved in the assembly of shingle components, wherein there are illustrated in sub-figures 1a through 1i, shingle components in various stages of manufacture and combination. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a shingle assembled in accordance with the method of this invention, in set-up adjacent relation to another shingle that is fragmentally illustrated, to show the relationship of adjacent shingles made according to the method of this invention, to each other. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the juncture of the two shingles illustrated in FIG. 2, generally along the line III--III of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the juncture of the two shingles illustrated in FIG. 2, generally along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 1a illustrates a pair of shingle bottom pieces 20 and 20&#39;, which are generally constructed together from a piece of shingle stock. Typically, the shingle stock is constructed in substantially endless fashion (not shown), in the form of a 36 inch wide web. This web may be cut in half along line 21, with appropriate notches 22, yielding two shingles each of a height that is half the dimension of the original 36 inch web. Each of the shingles 20 and 20&#39; will preferably be identically constructed to have top and bottom edges 23, 24, and left and right sides having protruding and notched portions 25, 26 and 27, 28, respectively. An imaginary line 30 defines a zone or surface portion above the bottom edge 24 that will preferably be provided with granules of a selected coloration, such as a dark slag-type granule, because, as will hereinafter be understood, portions of the tab zone 31 below the butt zone 32 will be visible after the shingle is completely constructed. By the use of such dark or slag-type granules, the rich appearance of depth will be enhanced. Accordingly, the darker granules will preferably be provided in the zone &#34;s&#34; in the double shingle construction illustrated in FIG. 1a. The zone 32 can use granules the same as or different than zone 31, but will most efficiently use waste granules because such will not generally be visible after the shingle is completely constructed. 
     With reference now to FIG. 1b, it will be seen that the bottom shingle layer 20 has been separated from shingle layer 20&#39;, and has had a release tape of conventional type applied across the upper portion, on the underneath of the shingle layer 23, and is identified by the numeral 33. Also on the bottom surface of the shingle, a line of sealant 34, preferably in the form of a broken line is provided. The release tape 33 is provided to overlie the sealant 34 of another shingle, when adjacent shingles are disposed against one another, in stacked relation. 
     The shingle layer 23 is next shown in FIG. 1d, wherein a plurality of stripes 35 of adhesive is provided to securely adhere the shingle layer 23 to a secondary shingle layer 36, that is to be applied thereover. The application of the sealant stripes 35, when applied in the long dimension to the shingle layer 23, as illustrated, preferably with ample stripes at the upper and lower ends of the shingle layer 23, along with intermediate stripes arranged for example as shown, will prevent the secondary shingle layer 36 from being separated from the base shingle layer 23, by means of wind or the like when the shingles are installed on a roof. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 1c, a pair of secondary shingle layers 36, 36&#39; is constructed generally similar to the manner in which the shingle layers 20, 20&#39; are constructed, although of a preferably slightly smaller dimension, for reasons that will be understood hereinafter. 
     The shingle layer 36 likewise has a butt portion or zone 37 and a tab portion or zone 38, the latter of which is divided into four tab portions 40, 41, 42, 43, separated by slots 44, 45 and 46, defining separate tabs therebetween wherein the tabs of the secondary layer have lower terminal edges defining shorter tab heights than the height of tab portions 31 of shingle base layer 20, as measured from the corresponding butt portions, leaving exposed lower portions 50-53 of tabs of said base layer 20. 
     It will be noted that tabs 40 and 42 are of a shorter height dimension than the tabs 41, 43, to facilitate a random appearance as will be seen hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1h, in the completed shingle. Also, notches 47 are provided in the cut line that separates the shingle layers 36, 36&#39;, in the same manner as the notches 22 that separate the base shingle layers 20, 20&#39;. 
     For aesthetic purposes, a preferably colored granule zone &#34;m&#34; is provided, in the tab portions of the shingle layers 36, 36&#39;. Outside the zone &#34;m&#34;, there is a shadow line zone &#34;n&#34;, optionally provided at 48, which may, if desired receive darker granules, to provide a shadow line effect in the finished shingle (not shown in FIG. 1h). 
     The zone 37 of shingle layer 36 may use either colored granules, darker granules, or waste granules, as are desired. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 1e, it will be seen that the lower shingle layer 23 is disposed beneath, and has secondary shingle layer 36 disposed thereover, adhered thereto by the adhesive stripes 35 discussed above. It will also be seen that in this arrangement, thicker zones 50, 51 and thinner zones 52, 53 are provided beneath the tabs 40-43 of shingle layer 36, again for the random aesthetic effect achieved thereby. 
     It will also be apparent, with reference to FIG. 1e, that vertical adhesive stripes 54, 55 are provided in desired, selected butt and tab portions of the shingle layer 36. In this regard, it will be apparent that, in the four-tab illustration for the secondary shingle layer 36 of FIG. 1e, any one or more, or even all, if desired, of the zones 56, 57, 58 and 60 may have the adhesive stripes 54, 55 applied thereto, as may be desired. Moreover, it will be apparent that, while the illustration of FIG. 1e shows the shingle layers 23, 36, in the form of a two-ply four-tab shingle, such could be a three-tab shingle, a two-tab shingle, a five-tab shingle, etc., as may be desired, depending upon the desired appearance for the completed shingle of FIG. 1h. In application of the adhesive stripes, it is particularly important that the adhesive at 55 be provided as close to the bottom edge of the zone 56, 58, as possible, in order to assure adherence thereto of portions of a third shingle layer, as will hereinafter be described. 
     With reference now to FIG. 1f, it will be seen that a third two-line arrangement for shingle layers 61, 61&#39; is provided, in generally the same manner as has been described above with respect to FIG. 1a, but wherein the separation line between the shingle layers 61 and 61&#39; is provided in a plurality of staggered cuts 62, 63, intersected at 90 degrees by a slot line 64. The shingle layer 61 has a butt zone 65 and a tab zone 66. Generally, granules of desired coloration will be provided to the surface portions in the zone 66, with, optionally, other granules or waste granules, or even granules of the same coloration, provided in the zone 65. In this regard, with this shingle layer as with other shingle layers, it will be apparent that, because of the overlapping nature in which shingles are normally applied on a roof, with shingles in one course covering a portion of shingles in another course, those shingle portions that have waste or other granules applied thereto in butt portions thereof, will not generally be visible in a completed roof. Also, optionally, a shadow line zone 67 may be provided between the zone defined by phantom line &#34;t&#34; having colored granules and the phantom line &#34;v&#34; that establishes the upper layer for the shadow line zone 67. In the zone 67, generally darker granules will be applied, if there is to be any variation in shingle coloration or shading at this point. 
     Thereafter, the shingle layer 61 is shown in FIG. 1g, in which it is divided into a plurality of strips, each of narrower width than the width of the tab portions to which it is applied, preferably six in number as shown at 68, 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74, by means of appropriate slots such as 75. 
     It will be noted that the third layer shingle strips 72, 73 and 74 are shorter in height than those 68, 70 and 71, because of the placement of the cuts 62, 63 that form the lower edges of the shingle layer 61. 
     Strips 73, 74 are then applied over zones 56 and 58 of shingle layer 36, over the adhesive stripes 54, 55 thereof, to yield the triple layer shingle 80 shown in FIG. 1h. It will be apparent that the shorter strips 73, 74 correspond to the shorter tab portions for the layer 36, and that, if shingle strips were to be applied to tab zones 57 or 60 of secondary shingle layer 36, one would preferably use longer strip portions such as 68, 70 or 71, to correspond in height to the bottom edges of tab portions thereof. 
     It will thus be apparent that the completed shingle 80 shown in FIG. 1h can take on various configurations, in that the third layer strips may be in any combination of one, two, three, or more tab portions, and that while such may preferably extend throughout the complete height of whatever section of the shingle layer 36 to which such strips are applied, in the alternative, it is also possible that the strips 74 could extend a lesser height, but always preferably from the bottom edge of the tab portions of the shingle layer 36, to at least above the level of the slots 78. 
     With reference now to FIG. 1i, it will be seen that completed shingles may be stacked in palletized form, as shown, with two shingles in a given layer, with the next overlying layer of shingles being stacked thereon, being oriented at a right angle or approximately 90 degrees relative thereto, as shown, to yield a stable palletized configuration. 
     With particular reference now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a shingle 80, disposed against a next adjacent shingle 81 (fragmentally illustrated) to the left thereof. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen that shingle layer 36 is disposed in abutting relation to an adjacent secondary layer 36&#34; to the left thereof, while the base shingle layers 23, 23&#34; are disposed slightly spaced apart at 82. This enables ready alignment of the left and top edges of the shingles upon installation. 
     With reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen that in the tab zones of the shingles 80, 81 a space 83 is shown for illustrating the slot line formed between tab portions of adjacent shingles, and wherein the left-most edge 84 of the shingle layer 36, overlies an edge portion 85 of the shingle layer 23&#34;, and that the shingle layer 23&#34; and the shingle layer 23 are likewise spaced apart at 86. This overlap at 84, 85 provides protection from the elements, such as rain, wind, etc., once a roof is installed, but yet permits proper alignment of base portions of the shingles. 
     It will therefore be apparent from the foregoing that various modifications may be made in details of construction, as well as in providing numerous different aesthetic combinations of shingle arrangements, for achieving a desired random appearance of natural shingles, by variations in placements of portions of top shingle layers, by variations in color, shadowing, and/or exposures, such as, but not limited to lengths of tabs, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.