Roofing system

A roofing system for protecting a building comprises a plurality of side-interlocking and front-to-back interlocking roof panels. A top side includes a front flange projecting forward at a front end. One or more gutter panels may be included, each having a top side open to a U-shaped gutter. An interior of each roof panel and gutter panel includes an insulating foam material, and an outer surface includes a rigid shell. The gutter panel is adapted for fixing along an edge of the roof at least partially under the flange of any of the roof panels that are disposed along an edge of the roof. Preferably the roofing system further includes gable cap panels, soffit fascia panels, valley cap panels, and wind breakers for holding the roof panels down to the roof in wind.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to construction, and more particularly to building roofing systems.

BACKGROUND

Insulating an attic of a building is time consuming and costly since it involves insulating an underside of the roof with suspended insulation material. Further, roofing materials like cement or clay roof tiles and be expensive, difficult to work with due to their weight, and dangerous if inadvertently dropped on someone below.

Therefore, there is a need for a roofing system that insulated the attic space while simultaneously providing a light-weight roofing panel system. Such a needed invention would provide a variety of different types of roof panels and gutters, and would be easily installed with screws. Such a needed invention would include light-weight panels that are safer than cement or clay tiles, and that are easier to lift to the roof and manipulate during installation. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a roofing system for protecting a building of the type having a plurality of walls terminating at top ends thereof at a roof. The roofing system comprises three or more roof panels each having a front end, a back end, a left side with a left-side interlocking structure, a right side with a right-side interlocking structure, a top, and a bottom. The top includes a front flange projecting forward at the front end. An interior of the roof panel includes an insulating foam material. An outer surface of each roof panel includes a rigid shell, such as a stucco, plaster, cement, or other type of rigid shell. In some embodiments the roof panels and the flange each include a wavy top surface. Preferably the top of each roof panel is sloped from the front end to the back end with respect to the bottom, such that the bottom of each roof panel substantially contacts the roof and so that the flange can overlap the back end of the roof panel abutting its front end.

In use, with the first roof panel covering a portion of the roof, and with the front end of a second roof panel abutting the back end of the first roof panel, the front flange of the second roof panel overlaps the top of the first roof panel proximate the back end thereof. With the left side of a third roof panel abutting the right side of the first roof panel, the left-side interlocking structure of the third roof panel interlocks with and overlaps the right-side interlocking structure of the first roof panel.

Preferably the roofing system further includes one or more gutter panels each having an inner side, an outer side, two opposing ends, a top side open to a U-shaped gutter, and a bottom side. An interior of each gutter panel includes the insulating foam material. An outer surface of each gutter panel includes a rigid shell. The gutter panel is adapted for fixing along an edge of the roof at the inner side thereof and at least partially under the flange of any of the roof panels that are disposed along the edge of the roof. In this way water running down the roof panels is captured in the U-shaped gutter.

Preferably each gutter panel further includes a mounting slot traversing the inner side and adapted to receive a gutter support board therein. The gutter support board is fixed with the roof, providing a stable mounting surface and support for the gutter panel. Also, preferably the U-shaped gutter of each gutter panel is lined with a water-impervious roofing membrane that protrudes from at least one of the opposing ends of the gutter panel so that the roofing membranes of two adjacent gutter panels overlap and can be mutually adhered to inhibit water leakage from either of the two gutter panels.

In such embodiments preferably the roofing system further includes at least one inside corner gutter panel adapted to connect two of the gutter panels oriented-degrees apart on an inside corner of the roof, and at least one outside corner gutter panel adapted to connect two of the gutter panels oriented-degrees apart on an inside corner of the roof.

At least one of the gutter panels includes a downspout aperture traversing the water-impervious roofing membrane of the gutter through to the bottom side. The downspout aperture is adapted for connecting with a downspout conduit for conveying water collected in the gutter panels away from the building.

Preferably the roofing system further includes one or more gable cap panels adapted for fixing over either the left side or right side of roof panels that are disposed along a sloping edge of the roof. A cable cap trim panel may also be included to cover the edge of the roof. Further, a soffit fascia panel may be fixed under and along the sloping edge of the roof. Wind breakers may be further included for holding the roof panels down to the roof when the roof experiences a strong wind, for example. And still further, a wall flashing shoe may be included in the roofing system for water proofing the roof adjacent a building wall projecting upwardly from the roof.

Preferably the roofing system further includes one or more valley cap panels adapted for fixing over either the left side, right side, for front end of roof panels that are disposed along an edge of a valley of the roof. A cable cap trim panel may also be included to cover the edge of the roof. Each valley cap panel is adapted for allowing water to pass thereunder into the valley of the roof. Preferably a water-impervious membrane is fixed between adjacent valley caps at a valley of the roof.

The present invention is a roofing system that insulated the attic space while simultaneously providing a light-weight roofing panel system. The present invention provides a variety of different types of roof panels and gutters, each of which is easily installed with screws. The present system includes light-weight panels that are safer than cement or clay tiles, and that are easier to lift to the roof and manipulate during installation. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS.1-5illustrate a roofing system10for protecting a building20of the type having a plurality of walls25terminating at top ends28thereof at a roof30.

The roofing system comprises three or more roof panels40each having a front end42, a back end48, a left side44with a left-side interlocking structure43, a right side46with a right-side interlocking structure478, a top49, and a bottom41. The top49includes a front flange50projecting forward at the front end42. An interior55of the roof panel40includes an insulating foam material54. An outer surface58of each roof panel40includes a rigid shell59, such as a stucco, plaster, cement, or other type of rigid shell59. In some embodiments the roof panels40and the flange50each include a wavy top surface57. Preferably the top49of each roof panel40is sloped from the front end42to the back end48with respect to the bottom41, such that the bottom41of each roof panel40substantially contacts the roof30(FIG.4) and so that the flange50can overlap the back end48of the roof panel abutting its front end42.

In use, with the first roof panel51covering a portion of the roof30, and with the front end42of a second roof panel52abutting the back end48of the first roof panel51, the front flange50of the second roof panel52overlaps the top49of the first roof panel51proximate the back end48thereof. With the left side44of a third roof panel53abutting the right side46of the first roof panel51, the left-side interlocking structure43of the third roof panel53interlocks with and overlaps the right-side interlocking structure47of the first roof panel51(FIG.3).

Preferably the roofing system10further includes one ore more gutter panels70(FIGS.4and5) each having an inner side74, an outer side76, two opposing ends75, a top side78open to a U-shaped gutter80, and a bottom side72. An interior85of each gutter panel70includes the insulating foam material54. An outer surface88of each gutter panel70includes a rigid shell89. The gutter panel70is adapted for fixing along an edge32of the roof30at the inner side74thereof and at least partially under the flange50of any of the roof panels40that are disposed along the edge32of the roof30. In this way water running down the roof panels40is captured in the U-shaped gutter80. Preferably each gutter panel70further includes a mounting slot90traversing the inner side74and adapted to receive a gutter support board95therein. The gutter support board95is fixed with the roof30, providing a stable mounting surface and support for the gutter panel70. Also, preferably the U-shaped gutter80of each gutter panel70is lined with a water-impervious roofing membrane82, such as single-ply thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), that protrudes from at least one of the opposing ends75of the gutter panel70so that the roofing membranes82of two adjacent gutter panels70overlap and can be mutually adhered to inhibit water leakage from either of the two gutter panels70.

In such embodiments preferably the roofing system10further includes at least one inside corner gutter panel84(FIG.9A) adapted to connect two of the gutter panels70oriented 90-degrees apart on an inside corner33of the roof30. Each inside corner gutter panel84includes two ends85facing 90-degrees apart from each other. Such an inside corner gutter panel84has inner sides81that have a longer perimeter than the outer sides83thereof.

Similarly, the roofing system10further includes at least one outside corner gutter panel86(FIG.9B) adapted to connect two of the gutter panels70oriented 90-degrees apart on an outside corner34of the roof30. Each outside corner gutter panel86includes two ends85facing 90-degrees apart from each other. Such an outside corner gutter panel86has outer sides87that have a longer perimeter than inner sides89thereof.

At least one of the gutter panels70includes a downspout aperture100traversing the water-impervious roofing membrane82of the gutter80through to the bottom side72. The downspout aperture100is adapted for connecting with a downspout conduit35for conveying water collected in the gutter panels70away from the building20.

Preferably the roofing system10further includes one or more gable cap panels110adapted for fixing over either the left side44or right side46of roof panels40that are disposed along a sloping edge36of the roof30(FIG.5). A cable cap trim panel115may also be included to cover the edge36of the roof30. Further, a soffit fascia panel140may be fixed under and along the sloping edge36of the roof30. Wind breakers150(FIG.7) may be further included for holding the roof panels40down to the roof30when the roof30experiences a strong wind, for example. And still further, a wall flashing shoe160may be included in the roofing system10for water proofing the roof30adjacent a building wall25projecting upwardly from the roof30.

Preferably the roofing system10further includes one or more valley cap panels120adapted for fixing over either the left side44, right side46, for front end42of roof panels40that are disposed along an edge38of a valley37of the roof30(FIGS.5and6). A cable cap trim panel115may also be included to cover the edge36of the roof30. Each valley cap panel120is adapted for allowing water to pass thereunder into the valley37of the roof30. Preferably a water-impervious membrane130is fixed between adjacent valley caps120at a valley37of the roof30.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, different styles of roofing panels40may be utilized, including S-type roof tiles, slate roof tiles, cedar shake, steel roofs, and the like. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.