Roof mounting assembly

A roof mounting assembly includes rows of pans mounted to the understructure of a roof by hooking the pans around support tracks. Rows of roofing panels are mounted over the respective rows of pans with adjacent roofing panels generally abutting each other to create a joint located above the central area of an underlying pan so that the pan acts as a barrier to prevent rain water and the like from flowing through the joint and directly to the understructure. By using underlying pans to prevent leakage, it is possible to minimize the amount of panel overlapping. The panels are preferably mounted to the tracks by separate hook members. The upper end of each panel is between and against an overlying panel and an underlying track.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present conventional roofing techniques involve an overlapping of the 
roofing panels. For example, in order to minimize leakage through the 
joints of abutting panels in a row, a further row of panels is mounted 
over the underlying row in a staggered manner to cover the joints. Added 
overall panel thickness results by overlapping the rows of panels from the 
base edge of the roof upwards. The multiple thickness results in excessive 
weight and cost. Where sufficient measures are not taken to seal the 
joints, there is the tendency to permit water, such as rain, to flow 
through the joint of adjacent panels and directly contact the 
understructure. Where a wooden deck is used as the understructure, the 
water can cause the wooden deck to rot. Where a metal deck is used the 
water can cause corrosion. 
A known system marketed under the name roof lock systems by GREAT SLATE PTY 
LTD. of Adelaide, Australia is described in Australian patent application 
no. 60521/94. The Australian application discloses essentially two 
embodiments. In one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 the joining strips 
13 are mechanically interlocked with battens of generally Z-shape by 
having marginal flanges 15 extend below the main portion of the strip. The 
flanges includes slots 16 which engage an upper edge of the batten near 
the lower end of the strip. The strip includes a pair of tabs 20 at its 
lower end, each of which would be crimped over a respective shingle to 
hold the shingle in place. The strip is of a length so that its upper end 
rests against the vertical portion of the Z-shaped batten rather than on 
the upper surface. In a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-6 the upper 
end of the strip 13 has, in additional to marginal flanges 15, an L-shaped 
bracket which extends upwardly from its main surface and is mounted over 
the upper surface of the batten. Instead of having tabs to hold the 
shingles a bent locking finger is located at the upper portion of the 
strip to hold a single shingle. 
It would be desirable to provide a roofing assembly which adopts some of 
the advantages of the embodiments described in the Australian patent while 
having its own advantages such as in ease of installation, improved 
appearance and compliance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of this invention is to provide a roofing assembly which mounts 
the panels with reduced weight and cost benefit. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a roofing assembly which 
minimizes the possibility of water leaking through the joint between 
adjacent panels to thereby prevent direct access to the understructure. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a roofing assembly 
which facilitates installation while providing a compliant attachment. 
A yet further object of this invention is to provide a roofing assembly 
which provides ventilation around the roofing panels. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a roofing assembly which 
includes some of the advantages of the embodiments described in the above 
noted Australian application with added advantages of its own regarding 
the ease of assembly. 
Another object of this invention is to eliminate some of the problems 
associated with conventional applications and with the Australian 
application, for example: gapping, inflexibility, weakness of tabs, 
quantity of metal, and difficulty of pan repair and replacement. 
In accordance with a preferred practice of this invention a row of pans is 
mounted under each row of roofing panels by hooking the pans around 
support tracks or battens. The pans are located so as to be staggered with 
respect to the roofing panels whereby the joint between adjacent roofing 
panels is located between the edges and preferably in the central portion 
of each pan. Hooks may be used to mount the panels to the tracks or 
battens with the pans therebetween. The pan is preferably of a length 
corresponding to the length of the roofing panels so that at the location 
of the joints there is an imperforate barrier between the roofing panels 
and the understructure. 
The pan may include some form of indicia to facilitate the roofer knowing 
where the longitudinal edge of each panel should be located. 
Each pan preferably terminates at its upper end in a hook structure which 
bends downwardly and inwardly from the pan surface and under the pan 
surface so that the pans can be mounted to, for example, tracks on the 
roofing deck by being hooked over the tracks or by being hooked over 
battens of the understructure. The hook structure of the panels may 
include a portion where the hook structure begins which extends upwardly 
away from the main plane of the panel to act as a windstop. In other 
variations, hooks are provided at the base or undersurface of the pan. 
The pans may contain water traps at the location of the panel joints. Such 
water traps could be in the form of depressions in the pans, which may 
decrease in depth from the top to the bottom portion of the pan to prevent 
lateral or vertical penetration of water underneath the panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The present invention involves a roofing or siding assembly wherein the 
roofing or siding panels may be mounted in an overlapping manner so that a 
minimal overall thickness of the panels results. This arrangement is 
particularly advantageous where slate material is used as the panels. The 
term "slate" is intended to mean natural or synthetic slate, as well as 
other rigid panel material. The invention, however, may be practiced with 
any form of shingles or panels. The invention is practiced by the 
utilization of a pan beneath the panels to create a barrier at the joint 
of adjacent panels so as to minimize the possibility of water having 
direct access to the understructure through the joint. 
It is to be understood that although the following description refers to 
the invention in terms of being a roofing assembly wherein the roof 
structure is horizontal or at a generally horizontal angle, the invention 
may also be practiced with more vertical type arrangements such as in the 
siding of walls. Thus, the reference to "roofing" assemblies is not 
intended to exclude siding assemblies. 
FIGS. 1-2 show a portion of a roof utilizing the roofing assembly 10 in 
accordance with this invention. As shown therein the roof would include 
some form of understructure such as a deck 12 which could be made of wood 
or metal. A plurality of tracks 14 is mounted at spaced locations on deck 
12. In a broad sense the tracks might also be considered as part of the 
understructure. Tracks 14 may take the form of tracks described in 
co-pending applications Ser. No. 4,962, filed Jan. 15, 1993, now U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,617,670 and Ser. No. 301,789, filed Sep. 7, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 
5,577,360. All of the details of those applications are incorporated 
herein by reference thereto. Thus, the invention may be practiced by using 
any of the techniques of those applications for mounting the panels to the 
tracks or roofing understructure where appropriate. The present invention 
also involves the provision of rows of pans 16 mounted to the respective 
tracks in manners later described. Roofing panels 18, such as slates are 
mounted in rows on top of pans 16. The panels 18 are staggered with 
respect to the pans 16 so that the joint 20 between abutting panels is 
located intermediate the side edges of an underlying pan. Each pan is 
preferably imperforate, particularly, at the location of the joint. Each 
pan thus functions as a flashing or barrier to minimize the possibility of 
water, such as rain water, flowing through the joint and directly 
contacting the understructure. Although it is preferred that the entire 
pan is imperforate, the broad practice of the invention permits some 
perforations in the pan at locations other than the location below the 
joints 20 of the overlying panels. 
FIG. 2 shows three courses or rows of pans and panels mounted to the 
understructure. As shown therein at the overlap of upper and lower rows, 
there is only a double thickness of the panels, as opposed to the usual 
triple thickness. 
It is to be understood that although the invention preferably involves 
detachably mounting the pans to the understructure and particularly to the 
tracks on the understructure, the invention may be practiced in other 
manners such as using mounting means which does not require tracks as 
later described, for example, with respect to FIGS. 11-13. For example, 
the invention could be practiced using a fastener or pan mounted directly 
to a deck. Additionally, it is within the broad practice of this invention 
to non-detachably mount the pans to the understructure. 
FIG. 3 shows a pan 16 having the basic design in the practice of this 
invention. As shown therein, the pan 16 includes side edges 22 
interconnected by a lower edge 24 and an upper edge 26. Upper edge 26 is 
bent to form a hook 28 which would be hooked over a track 14. The form of 
track shown in FIG. 2 is a Z-shaped track which has a base portion 30 
mounted directly to the deck 12 and a fastener accommodating portion or 
wall 32 spaced from the base by an intermediate portion 34. A plurality of 
drain holes 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 17) may be located in the intermediate 
portion 34. The track, however, may take other forms such as being 
U-shaped or J-shaped. Hook 28 would slide over wall 32 of the track 14 to 
mount the panel 16 in place. In the basic form shown in FIG. 3 pan 16 is 
rectangularly shaped and completely imperforate. 
This manner of mounting differs from the embodiments of the Australian 
patent in that all that is necessary is to provide a simple hooking action 
at the upper end of the pan 16. This hooking action is achieved by forming 
a hook structure which begins at the planar main surface of the pan 16 and 
then includes the downward bend 26 and inward bend 28 which extends below 
and directly under the main surface of the pan 16 and generally parallel 
to the pan so that the pan may be hooked over the track 14 as shown in 
FIG. 2. This avoids the necessity of having to position slots in side 
margins around a lower track as in the embodiments described in the 
Australian patent. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of pan 16 which includes an optional 
guideline 38 generally at the longitudinal center line of pan 16. 
Guideline 38 would be a visual guide to the roofer in knowing where to 
locate the side edge of a panel. The pan 16 of FIG. 4 may also include a 
notch or cut-out 40 which could further function as a visual guide. In 
addition, notch 40 accommodates the fastening hook 42 shown in FIG. 5 used 
for mounting the next upper row of panels 18. 
FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 show the use of hook 42 which is a fastener of generally 
S-shape having a straight main portion and two hook ends 44,46. Hook end 
44 would be mounted over wall 32 of track 14, while the lower hook 46 
would act as a channel for receiving the lower edge of panel 18 disposed 
at the same track. The panels of one row are mounted staggered with 
respect to the panels in adjacent upper and lower rows so that the hook 42 
of one row would be located at the joint 20 of its next upper and next 
lower row as illustrated in FIG. 1. 
Fasteners in the form of S-hooks are known in the art in triple thickness, 
but not for use in a two thickness pan system and not as part of the pan. 
The invention, however, uses such fasteners which are also hooked over 
pans. This provides a particularly effective manner of mounting wherein 
the fasteners could be pre-mounted on the pans, such as each hook being in 
a notch 40. The pan/fastener unit would then be mounted over a track 14. 
Preferably hook or fastener 42 is about one-third the length of the length 
of pan 16. 
The use of hooks such as hook 42 represents another significant difference 
from the embodiments described in the Australian patent. By using 
preformed hooks it is not necessary to perform any manipulative actions in 
situ such as the bending of tabs in the one embodiment of the Australian 
patent or the provision of upstanding locking fingers as in the other 
embodiment. Moreover, by avoiding the locking fingers, a plurality of the 
pans may be nested together during storage and transportation as later 
described with respect to FIG. 25. 
It is to be understood that the type of guide structure shown in FIG. 4 is 
merely exemplary. Other forms of guide structure may also be used such as 
crinkles or raised or lowered portions on the upper surface of the pan and 
would limit lateral or vertical water movement including capillary action. 
FIGS. 6-10 illustrate a further possible feature of this invention 
involving the provision of a water trap in a pan 16 at the location of a 
joint for the overlying panels. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-7 the 
water trap is a tear-shaped depression 48 which is narrow and deep at the 
upper end of the depression and then generally widens and becomes shallow 
as the depression extends downwardly. Although depressions are 
illustrated, other forms of surface deviations such as elevations may also 
be used. 
FIGS. 8-9 show modified forms of water traps wherein a series of 
depressions 50 is provided in pan 16. Where straight parallel depressions 
50 are used, the depressions (or elevations) could also function as guides 
for locating the edges of the overlying panels. 
FIG. 10 illustrates yet another form of water trap or capillary break 
wherein the depressions 52 are a series of symmetrical parallel U-shaped 
depressions. The depressions 52 may also function as guidelines for the 
positioning of the edges of the panels. In addition or alternatively, 
indicia 54 in the form, for example, of numbers may be provided on the 
upper surface of pan 16, preferably at each depression to function as a 
guideline. 
The arrangement of FIG. 10 has the advantages of providing a pan with 
reference markings for the positioning of the edges of the overlying 
panels. In addition, the U-shaped or smile-shaped indentations provide 
rigidity and inhibit water infiltration by restricting capillary action 
and wind driven rain and by directing the water to the centerline of the 
pan. 
It is to be understood that while three different forms of depressions have 
been illustrated as water traps, the invention may be practiced with other 
forms of water traps. For example, the depressions may radiate upwardly 
and outwardly from the base of the pan toward the upper end of the pan. 
The water trap may be in the form of one or more surface deviations, such 
as troughs, pleats, grooves or other types of indentations or elevations. 
As noted, while various figures illustrate the pan 16 to be hooked to the 
understructure by preferably being hooked to the offset or spaced wall of 
a track, the pans may be readily detachably mounted in other manners 
within the practice of this invention. Alternatively, the pans may be 
permanently secured to the tracks, deck or understructure. 
FIGS. 11-13 show the detachable mounting of the pans 16 without the use of 
tracks. As shown therein the understructure does not include a deck, 
instead the pans are mounted by being hooked over battens or lathe strip 
58 which are secured across the rafters 56. In the embodiment of FIGS. 
11-13, a hook structure 60 is used at the end of pan 16. Hook structure 60 
is optionally in the form of a plurality of spring fingers created by 
slotting the hook structure. The purpose of the spring fingers is to 
permit one or more of the fingers to be bent upwardly in line with the 
plane of the pan so as to allow certain pans to be slid over the rafter 
without interference from the hook 60. 
The arrangement of FIGS. 11-13 would be particularly useful to conform to 
the conventional manner of attachment used in European style batten on 
rafter construction. 
FIGS. 14-15A illustrate a further variation of this invention wherein each 
lower corner of a pan is provided with triangularly shaped channels or 
ears 62 for receiving a panel 18. This provides an alternative manner of 
mounting the panels without requiring fasteners, such as fasteners 42 
shown in FIGS. 1-2. An advantage of this arrangement is to crop the corner 
of each panel in the sense that the ear 62 is visible on the roof. This 
gives the panels the decorative effect shown in FIG. 15A. If desired, 
fasteners 42 may be utilized in addition to the ears 62 as shown in FIG. 
15 or in place of one or more ears. Alternatively, as later described, 
there can be a fixture under the pan which would also provide the security 
of a two track installation. 
FIG. 16 shows a modified form of pan wherein the upper end is bent to 
create an upstanding wall 64 which is then bent around to form a hook 66. 
Wall 64 functions as a windstop which is particularly desirable to 
minimize any tendency of the wind to cause the panels to lift and blow 
moisture through the joints into the roof interior. 
The invention may be practiced wherein the panels 18 are provided with 
kerfs or slots as in my aforesaid patent applications. In such practice of 
the invention the kerfs are utilized as a means of mounting the panels. 
The kerfs also offer the possibility of hidden attachments, as later 
discussed. FIGS. 17-18, for example, illustrate a panel 18 provided with a 
pair of kerfs or slots 68 extending inwardly from each of the side edges 
70 of the panel 18. The kerfs or slots 68 are located near the top edge 
72. As illustrated in FIGS. 17-18 a spring clip type fastener 74 is 
provided for detachable engagement in each slot 68 and for resilient 
detachable engagement over the pan 16 and over the wall 32 of track 14. 
Fastener 74 may be of any suitable shape such as being generally R-shaped 
as disclosed in the above noted applications. 
FIG. 19 shows a variation of a pan 16 having a pair of resilient hook 
members 76 which can be permanently mounted to the outer face of pan 16. 
Hook members 76 are upwardly facing for engagement of each hook member in 
a respective kerf or slot of one of a pair of side by side panels. If 
desired, the hook 76 may be of extended length to comprise a single hook 
member for engagement in two slots of the side by side panels. 
FIG. 20 shows a pan 16 similar to that shown in FIG. 19 except that the 
resilient hook members 78 are downwardly facing for engagement in the 
slots of a panel. 
FIG. 21 illustrates a further variation wherein the panel 16 has sidewardly 
disposed hook members 80 engaged in the slots 68 of side by side panels 
18. 
FIGS. 22-23 show a variation of this invention wherein the pan 16 not only 
includes a hook 28 at its upper edge for upper track 14, but also includes 
a hook structure 82 at its lower edge for engagement with the wall 32 of 
lower track 14. In this variation of the invention the pan 16 is thus 
firmly mounted at both its upper and lower edges to provide a particularly 
stable mounting which is resistant, for example, to wind forces. 
A variation to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 22-23 would be to mount the 
pan only at the lower edge by, for example providing only the hook 
structure 82. 
Although the various pans previously illustrated and described are of 
generally rectangular shape the invention may also be practiced wherein 
other shapes are utilized. FIG. 24, for example, shows a pan 16 of 
generally trapezoidal shape. What is important is that the pan is 
imperforate at the location of the joint 20 of adjacent sets of overlying 
panels so as to provide a barrier at the joint. The remaining structure of 
the pan is of less importance. 
FIG. 25 illustrates an advantageous practice of the invention wherein a 
plurality of pans 16 are in a nested condition prior to the mounting of 
the panels. Where the pans are of a structure similar to that in FIG. 3 
the pans could completely overlap each other which minimizes space 
requirements during storage and shipping. Where the pans are in the form 
shown in FIG. 4, which is the form illustrated in FIG. 25, the invention 
may be practiced by mounting each hook 42 in its notch and nesting the 
pan/hook combinations in the partially overlapped manner shown in FIG. 25. 
The group of nested pans/hooks could then be mounted as a unit on a track 
14 and the roofer would simply slide the pans apart using the track as a 
guide until the pans are properly spaced with respect to each other. The 
spaced pans are then in a condition to receive the panels in the hooks 42. 
This arrangement would greatly shorten the time necessary for mounting the 
components during the roofing installation. A similar procedure would be 
used where the hooks are not pre-mounted in that a nested set of pans 
could be mounted on a unit on a track and then spread apart. 
The nested feature of this invention could also be utilized by having hook 
structure permanently secured to the pan through the use of integral hooks 
or separate hooks then permanently attached to the pan. 
FIGS. 26-27 illustrate a practice of the invention wherein the panel 18 
itself is provided with a permanently secured hook structure 84 for 
engagement directly on the track 14. The hook structure could be an 
integral clip where a synthetically made panel is used. Where a natural 
slate panel is used, the clip could be permanently adhered to the 
undersurface of the panel by any suitable adhesive or adhering means. 
FIGS. 22-23 illustrate a practice of the invention wherein the pan 16 is 
attached to a pair of tracks by the upper hook structure 28 and by a lower 
hook structure 82 formed by bending the lower end of the pan into the hook 
structure. FIG. 28 illustrates a variation where a second hook structure 
86 is provided spaced upwardly from the lower edge of the panel 16 rather 
than being formed by the lower edge itself. 
The invention may be practiced by incorporating stiffeners such as 
elongated ribs on the pans which would not only strengthen the pan but 
would also permit the use of thinner panels. Such stiffeners could also 
function as guides for alignment purpose and for water breaks as well as 
being hooked shaped to provide for track attachment. 
The hook structure 86 of FIG. 28 may be in the form of a stiffener. By 
locating the stiffener or hook 86 at generally the longitudinal center of 
the panel the stiffener may also act as a guide similar to guide line 38 
in FIG. 4. 
FIG. 29 shows an alternative stiffener in the form of a rib 88 extending 
longitudinally the entire length of the pan 16. Alternatively, rib 88 may 
extend only over a portion of the length of pan 16. Preferably, rib 88 is 
centrally located to function as an alignment guide. The invention, 
however, may be practiced in any suitable manner by one or more such 
stiffeners of any suitable length arranged in locations other than or as 
well as the longitudinal center line of pan 16. 
FIG. 30 shows a variation of pan 16 which incorporates some of the features 
of FIG. 14 in that ears 90 preformed at the bottom of the pan 16 remote 
from the hook end 28. The ears 90 may be part of a separate structure 
which has its lower surface bent to form a hook end 92 with the pan 16 
being disposed between the ears 90 and hook end 92. Alternatively, the 
ears 90 could be integral with pan 16 and the hook 92 also permanently 
secured to pan 16 by being integral or being an initially separate member 
permanently secured to the pan. 
FIGS. 31-32 show a further practice of the invention wherein the panel 18 
is secured to the pan 16 by means of a fastener assembly which includes a 
male member 94 and a female receptacle member 96. Male member 94 would be 
permanently secured to pan 16 and would be located in alignment with a 
hole or kerf in panel 18. The female receptacle member 96 would comprise a 
separate clip member which would be inserted through the hole for 
engagement by the male member 94. Female receptacle member 96 includes an 
enlarged head 98 extending outwardly from the hole in the panel 18 so as 
to clamp the panel to the pan by engagement of the male and female 
members. An advantage of the arrangement in FIGS. 31-32 is that it permits 
the components to be extruded for mass production purposes and thereby 
reduce costs. Where the male and female members are of extended length it 
would be preferable to form through holes for permitting the passage of 
water so as to prevent water accumulation at the fastener. The same type 
of fastening arrangement could be used for mounting the pan to the track. 
As shown in FIG. 32 pan 16 has a depressed portion 100 at which male 
member 94 is located to permit a surface to surface contact of the panel 
18 against pan 16 in areas other than where the fastener is located. 
Where fastening arrangements are used in conjunction with panels having 
kerfs it is possible to dispose substantially all of the fastening 
structure at the undersurface of the panel by utilizing the kerfs for 
access to the undersurface and thereby result in a hidden clip or 
fastening system. 
FIG. 33 illustrates a pan 16 having a fastener 102 which extends outwardly 
beyond the upper edge of pan 16. Fastener 102 is preferably a spring 
fastener with a curved head 104 as shown in FIG. 34. Fastener 102 also 
includes an offset spring clamping section 106 at its free end. FIG. 34 
illustrates how a panel 18 would be mounted by inserting the hook end 106 
over the panel at a kerf located in the panel so that the remaining 
portion of fastener 102 is hidden by the panel. The curved end 104 would 
engage against the understructure or deck to resist any lifting at the 
lower or butt end of the panel while the fastener 102 still provides the 
desired springiness. 
In the embodiments of FIGS. 33-34 fastener 102 could be made sufficiently 
wide so as to accommodate two side by side panels. Alternatively, a 
narrower fastener would be used for only a single panel. 
In the embodiment of FIGS. 33-34 the pan 16 would also include some form of 
hook structure 108 in any of the forms previously described for engagement 
with the track 14. 
In the embodiment of FIGS. 33-34 the fastener 102 could be a member 
separate from the pan 16 or could be integral with the pan itself. The 
spring end 104 functions as a pivot member for driving the panel's lower 
edge toward the roof deck. 
FIG. 35 shows an arrangement which utilizes a substantially hidden clip for 
securing the panel to the track while avoiding accumulation of water. As 
shown therein clip 110 would be inserted through the kerf 112 in panel 18 
so that only a small portion 114 of the Z-shaped clip is visible. The 
opposite end of clip 110 includes a ramp 116 which terminates in a stop 
wall 118 for engagement with similar structure 120 formed on pan 16. Pan 
16 could also include an integral pivot end 122 similar to head 104 of 
fastener 102. FIG. 35 shows how the clip 110 and panel 18 are 
pre-assembled and then mounted to pan 16 by a sliding action wherein the 
ramp 116 passes under locking structure 120 of pan 16 until the stop wall 
118 is moved beyond the locking structure. Due to the springy nature of 
one or both of the locking end 120 and ramp 116 of clip 110 it is possible 
to engage the clip and pan by using a springy cam action until the 
engagement is made. 
The arrangement of FIG. 35 includes incorporating an indented portion 124 
in pan 16 for accommodating the clip 110 while still permitting a surface 
to surface contact between the panel and pan. By avoiding locking elements 
similar to male member 94 and female receptacle 96 of FIGS. 31-32 there is 
no structure in the arrangement of FIG. 35 which might collect water. A 
further advantage of the arrangement shown in FIG. 35 is that the 
components such as the locking structure on pan 16 lends itself to being 
extruded in the formation of the pan. 
As can be appreciated the various embodiments of this invention provide 
numerous alternatives for a roofing or siding assembly which may be easily 
installed while being highly effective upon installation. Various 
components in the assembly serve multiple functions. For example, FIG. 1 
shows the location of the hooks 42 in such a manner as to receive a panel 
18 in each hook. The location, however, also results in a hook associated 
with the upper tracks being on each side of a panel 18. These abutting 
hooks act as stops to prevent any rotation of the panels. Accordingly, as 
is apparent from FIG. 1 a panel is in effect engaged by or against a 
series of three hooks at three spaced locations to not only initially 
securely mount the panel in place but also to assure that the panel 
remains mounted in place without any rotation or sliding movement of the 
panel. 
Given the suggestions in the various practices of the invention other 
practices should also be apparent. For example, the invention might be 
practiced by utilizing an enlarged combined pan and track assembly on 
which a plurality of panels would be mounted. Although various practices 
of the invention refer to the use of spring clips, where, for example, 
simply a hooking function is necessary the clips need not be made of a 
resilient or springy material. 
Structure similar to pans (apart from the Australian application) have 
previously been used wherein such structure has been rigidly fixed to the 
roof deck or understructure by fasteners such as nails. In the preferred 
practice of this invention, however, the pans are readily attached and 
detachable by being hooked to the understructure. It is to be understood 
that the invention could be practiced by incorporating previously 
described features such as guide structure, water traps, etc., on prior 
art type rigid, permanently (i.e. not readily detachable) pans. 
Among the distinctive features of the invention are the provision of pans 
hooked on tracks and the provision of pans having fasteners, particularly 
detachable fasteners for the mounting of panels. Various embodiments of 
the invention also provide the desired ventilation and compliance while 
providing a secure mounting of the butt end of the panel during the 
roofing or siding installation. 
As previously noted the various embodiments of the present invention differ 
from the embodiments of the Australian patent in a number of respects such 
as the manner in which the pan is secured to the tracks and the manner in 
which the panels are mounted. A further difference is that in the 
embodiments in the Australian patent the strip rests on the lower flange 
of the track against the intermediate flange. This could create a gap 
between the upper edge of the strip and the intermediate edge of the track 
where the tracks are not properly positioned with respect to each other. 
With the present invention the pan is mounted over and against the upper 
edge of the track between the panel and the track. With the Australian 
embodiments if thin shingles are used there may be a gap between the 
overlying shingle and the strip because of the manner of placement of the 
strip on the track which could result in water problems or in problems 
relating to the wind causing an uplift. The possibility of gaps is 
minimized with the present invention. 
The embodiments in the Australian patent application are also likely to be 
more expensive than the present invention because of the requirement for 
the use of more metal in that the strip must also have the bent side 
margins and tabs, for example, for mounting purposes. The bent side 
margins in the Australian embodiments also result in a thicker strip which 
is more rigid and thus lacks the degree of flexibility of the pans in the 
present invention. This could be important in inhibiting lateral air flow 
where the strips or pans are mounted on a deck. 
The use of tabs or locking fingers as in the Australian embodiments would 
result in fasteners which are more noticeable than the manner of panel 
mounting as in the present invention. Moreover, in the Australian 
embodiment which uses tabs at its lower end it is necessary that the tabs 
be made of the same material as the strips and also that the tabs be 
sufficiently thin to permit the tabs to be crimped over the panels in 
situ. By definition, the tabs must be readily bent by hand, and thus could 
present inadequate strength under load from, for example, sliding snow or 
ice. The present invention, however, which may utilize separate fasteners 
or hooks, such as hook 42, is not restricted to thin materials for the 
fasteners. It is also expected that the use of a single hook which is 
centered would be more preferable in appearance than a tab at the end or 
corner of a panel as in the first Australian embodiment. Further, the 
first Australian embodiment which requires the tabs to be formed in situ 
would be more time consuming and would run the risk of possible fatigue 
which would limit the number of times that the strip could be used since 
multiple uses might result in the tabs breaking off the strip. In 
contrast, the use of detachable fasteners such as hooks 42 with the 
present invention better lends itself for repair and replacement and does 
not inhibit further multiple uses of the pan. The ability to nest or stack 
the pans during storage is achieved in part because the side edges of the 
pan and the bottom edge of the pan are coplanar with the central portion 
of the pan. In contrast with both embodiments of the Australian patent 
application it is necessary to have downturned side edges in order to 
provide the slots 16. This is true even in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6 
because the L-shaped bracket alone would be insufficient to securely mount 
the strip in that there is not adequate contact with the batten. In 
contrast, the hook structure with the present invention utilizes three 
different surfaces which in effect wrap around the upper edge of the 
track. 
FIGS. 36-37, for example, show an assembly wherein the hook structure at 
the upper end of pan 16 is achieved by means of a separate hook member 126 
which resiliently clamps the upper end of the pan 16 against the wall 32 
of the track 14. In this regard, a hook formation 128 is resiliently 
formed at one end of the hook structure 126 while the other end which is 
disposed against the outer surface of pan 16 has an outward extension 130 
which may be perpendicular to the pan as shown in FIG. 37. The outward 
extension would be inserted in a kerf 68 of the panel 18, but ends within 
kerf 68 as clearly shown in FIG. 37, thus, the hook structure 126 does not 
extend beyond the outer surface of panel 18. The overriding pan from one 
row would keep the panel or slate in the lower row from being plucked off 
by the wind, particularly where there is engagement of the overriding pan 
with the track for the lower row, such as provided for by clips 136 later 
described with respect to FIGS. 40-41. Such arrangement is effective in 
securely mounting the panels. 
FIGS. 38-39 show an arrangement generally similar to that of FIGS. 36-37, 
except that the hook member 132 includes a hook shaped lower end 134 for 
mounting the lower edge of a panel 18 where the panels do not have side 
kerfs or slots. 
FIG. 40 shows a variation of pan structure which is utilized in the 
embodiments of FIGS. 36-37 and FIGS. 38-39. In this variation the pan 
includes a punched out area bent to form a hook structure 136 which may be 
of generally R shape and which would mount around the wall 32 of the lower 
track. Thus, the pan 16 would be secured to a pair of tracks by the hook 
structure 28 and the hook structure 136. 
FIG. 41 shows a pan similar to that of FIG. 40 except that the upper hook 
structure 138 is formed on the rear side of pan 16 below its upper edge 
rather than being the upper edge itself. 
As noted above the utilization of securing means, such as the resilient 
clip 136 at the lower portion of the pan 16 provides the advantage of 
securely mounting the pan to an upper and a lower track which in turn adds 
to the secure mounting of the panel or slate and is particularly effective 
under wind conditions. Although the Australian patent application no. 
60521/94 illustrates in its FIG. 6 a pan type structure which would be 
located at two tracks, the present invention differs by providing a 
resilient and thus compliant manner of mounting the pan. 
It is an express aim of this invention to provide a compliant attachment, 
both of the pan and the panel. Such compliance reduces strain on rigid 
tiles or panels, reduces breakage and accommodates building settling and 
variable loading from, for example, foot traffic and snow accumulation. 
The compliant attachment could be accomplished by hook structure at both 
the top and bottom of the pan or at either the top or bottom alone. 
The various prior embodiments are particularly adapted for mounting the 
pans to tracks. The invention may also be practiced without the use of 
added tracks particularly where a wooden understructure is used such as 
from a wooden deck or wooden battens spaced from each other in a 
conventional manner. In one sense the battens may function as the tracks. 
Alternatively the pan could be anchored directly to the wooden 
understructure without a hooking action and thus without the need for a 
track. It is to be understood that while reference is made to an 
understructure made of wood, other materials might be used where the pan 
is mounted directly to such other materials. 
FIG. 42 illustrates one version of the invention wherein the pan is 
anchored directly to an understructure without the use of tracks. As shown 
therein a nail hook 140 is utilized for such mounting. Nail hooks are 
known and include a pointed end such as end 142 and an offset end such as 
end 144. In this practice of the invention, the offset end 144 terminates 
in a hook structure 146. Pan 16 would have a hole formed therethrough 
either by being preformed or by the pointed end 142 forming the hole 148. 
Thus, pan 16 would be mounted by inserting pointed end 142 of nail hook 
140 through hole 148 with pointed end 142 then being nailed directly into 
the understructure. A panel 18 would be mounted by being located in the 
hook structure 146. FIG. 42 illustrates the panels that would be mounted 
to lower pans (not shown). 
FIG. 43 illustrates a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 42 wherein 
the pan mounting device 150 is of generally J-shape having an elongated 
intermediate portion 152 terminating at its lower end in a hook structure 
154. The upper end has an enlarged portion or loop 156 through which a 
fastener 158 such as a nail or screw would be inserted. Enlarged portion 
156 may be of circular shape with an annular opening to facilitate the 
insertion of the fastener 158 through pan 16 and then into anchoring 
engagement with the understructure. 
FIGS. 44-45 illustrate a further variation of a pan 16 which is used 
without requiring tracks. As shown therein integral tabs 160 are formed by 
punching or bending out portions of pan 16 so that the tabs 160 are then 
directly nailable into the understructure. In the version shown in FIG. 44 
a separate hook member such as the S-hook 42 shown in FIG. 5 would be 
mounted over the pan 16 for mounting the panels. 
FIG. 46 shows another variation of mounting a pan 16 without tracks. As 
shown therein an L-shaped bracket (or series of brackets) or angle iron 
162 is used instead of a track. Bracket or angle iron 162 would be 
disposed directly against a batten 164. A nail 166 or other fastener would 
be utilized to mount the bracket 162 to the batten 164 by passing the nail 
166 through the bracket and into the batten. The nail 166 may pass through 
a preformed hole in flange 162 or the nail may create the hole. 
As shown in FIG. 46 the bracket 162 would thus have an upwardly extending 
leg 32 which functions in the same manner as the fastener accommodating 
wall 32 of the previously described tracks 14. 
FIG. 47 illustrates a variation to the mounting arrangement of FIG. 46 in 
that the bracket 162 in FIG. 46 is mounted to the top of the batten while 
FIG. 47 shows the mounting to be at the bottom of the batten. A further 
alternative would be to mount the bracket 162 directly to a solid wooden 
understructure by rotating the bracket 90.degree. so that one leg would be 
mounted against the understructure and the other leg would extend 
outwardly in a generally horizontal direction. Preferably, however, a 
vertical wall should be used for receiving the hook structure of the pan. 
Thus, the invention may also be practiced by using U or J-shaped brackets 
mounted directly against a wood deck. 
Instead of having an L-shaped bracket or angle iron 162, as in FIGS. 46-47, 
a sheet or plate may be attached directly to the side of a batton 164 and 
extend partially above the batton and function as leg 32 for having the 
hook 28 mounted around the extended portion. The sheet may also include a 
small offset through which a fastener may mount the sheet to the batton. 
FIG. 48 illustrates a further variation of the invention which may be used 
where separate hook members are utilized in the roof mounting assembly, 
such as the hook member 42 shown in FIG. 5. In particular, the embodiment 
of FIG. 48 is used where such hook member is relatively large. In this 
regard, it is desired to make the hook member of material that will have 
sufficient resiliency to effectively mount the pan such as to a track or 
to a batten, while the other end has sufficient resiliency for snugly 
holding a panel. Under such circumstances where a relatively long hook 
member is used, it would be desirable to provide some means of reinforcing 
the hook member so as to assure an effective mounting. FIG. 48 shows such 
an arrangement. As shown therein a guard 168 is provided which essentially 
is made by starting with a flat generally T-shaped plate member having 
downward extensions at the ends of the T. The plate would then be bent 
into a channel shape. In use the guard 168 bent to its channel shape would 
be mounted over a hook completely covering the hook and leaving only the 
hook structure 174 exposed. The unit comprising the hook and the guard 
would then be mounted over the pan 16 and wall 32 of the track, much the 
same as the hook 42 would be mounted. The end U-shaped structure 172 would 
be disposed around the wall 32 and pan 16. 
FIG. 49 shows a further variation of the invention wherein the hook 
structure at the upper end of a pan 16 is formed from wire members 176. In 
this version two such hook members 176 are provided, one at each side of 
pan 16. The hook members 176 may be of any suitable construction and may 
be mounted to pan 16 in any suitable manner. In the embodiment illustrated 
pan 16 could be made of a plastic material with the wire members 176 
integrally formed therein during the extrusion of the pan. The wires 176 
could be covered by in effect a layer of the plastic pan material with 
only the hook portions exposed. In order to provide greater compliance 
portions of the plastic layer may be stripped or removed so as to expose 
an additional length of each wire. FIG. 49, for example, indicates a score 
line 179 to be provided to facilitate the stripping of the upper surface 
or outer layer of the pan with the exposed portion of wires 176 
terminating at locations 178. This manner of exposing the wires might be 
somewhat analogous to the stripping of insulation from electrical wires so 
that a controlled amount of electrical wire is exposed. 
If desired, the wires 176 could extend the entire length of pan 16 
terminating at its bottom edge 180 as shown in the left side of FIG. 49. 
Alternatively the wires 178 could extend through the back of pan 16 and 
form the hook structure 136 shown in the right side of FIG. 49. Where the 
wires extend the length of the pan, it is preferred to include hook 
structure on the back of the pan. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 49 the 
panel would be secured by mounting a separate hook member such as hook 42 
of FIG. 5. 
FIG. 50 illustrates a variation wherein three wires or hook members 182,182 
and 184 are provided on pan 16. As shown therein each hook member is in 
the form of a wire integrally formed in the pan 16 similar to the version 
shown in FIG. 49. The intermediate hook member 184 could function for 
holding the panels. If desired the auxiliary hook structure 136 may be 
utilized for securement to a lower track. 
In the versions of FIGS. 49 and 50 the wires are used which are of 
sufficient strength to hold their shape and yet have enough resiliency to 
function as spring clips at their hook ends. 
FIG. 51 illustrates a variation of the invention which includes alternative 
structure for mounting a hook on the pan 16 to secure a panel in place. As 
shown therein the pan itself would be mounted to a track or understructure 
in any suitable manner, such as by the hook end 28. A panel holding hook 
186 is formed by having a hook member extend as a complete loop 
longitudinally around pan 16 so as to result, however, in a hook structure 
188 located centrally in generally the upper portion of pan 16 for 
receiving a panel. 
The hook structure 188 may be formed in any suitable manner. FIG. 51 
illustrates hook structure wherein a single wire 190 is used having two 
free ends. The wire is wrapped around pan 16 and the free ends are 
fastened together by forming a hook 192 at one end which fits around the 
hook 188 at the other end to lock the two ends together. FIG. 51A shows an 
alternative wherein a continuous wire 190 is used which has a crimp 
forming the hook 186. FIG. 51B shows yet another version wherein the end 
192 is twisted around the lower portion of hook end 188. 
FIG. 52 shows yet another alternative form of the invention wherein a 
bracket 194 is fastened to the exposed surface of pan 16 into which a 
spring clip 196 would be mounted in a bulged out central portion 198 of 
the bracket 194. The spring clip 196 would be used for mounting the panel. 
In general, the invention is directed to covering systems for roofs wherein 
roofing panels such as slates are utilized. In any roofing assembly the 
panel or slate sheds water and passes the water to the next panel. The 
present invention reduces the quantity of panels or shingles by 
replacement of some of the shingles with substitute components. This is 
particularly cost advantageous where the shingles or panels are relatively 
expensive slate materials. In the practice of the invention the substitute 
shingles are the pans. While the pans or substitute shingles may not be 
visible they, nevertheless, do function as shingles. In a typical practice 
of the invention there are as many concealed shingles as there are visible 
shingles. Thus, the concealed shingles or pans are not an incidental 
component in the assembly but represent a component every bit as important 
as the panel or slate itself. 
While the previously noted Australian system also uses pan type structure, 
the present invention is more advantageous by providing a compliant 
engagement of the panels or shingles to the roof structure and thus avoids 
the non-compliant engagement of the prior art. By offering a compliant fit 
with the invention, whether the fit or engagement is at the top or bottom 
or both, practice of the present invention permits the accommodating of 
the natural inherent differences that exist, for example, in the slate 
thickness thereby assuring a tight fit regardless of these differences. 
With the Australian system a gap results between the lower surface of a 
pan and the upper surface of the underlying panel where the underlying 
panel is thin. Situating the upper end of the underlying panel on the 
lower flange of the track and the lower end of the overlying panel on the 
upper flange of the track makes this gap unavoidable. In contrast, the 
present invention urges the surfaces to contact each thus eliminating gaps 
and unsupported or cantilevered areas for the panel. The invention would 
be practiced with no gaps that admit weather and present no unsupported 
ends which would be prone to breakage. Not only is the attachment of the 
pan to the supporting structure compliant but so too is the hooked 
attachment of the slate or panel to the pan/track/deck. This distinctly 
differs from the Australian system utilizing bent-up tabs which are not 
compliant. 
It is to be understood that various features shown and described with 
particular embodiments may be incorporated in other embodiments of this 
invention within the spirit of the invention.