Abstract:
The present invention relates to a tile, which is to be used for covering surfaces such as a sloping roof or walls, where the tile comprises a central part with a first-end and a second-end. The first-end is adapted to be mounted to a batten through a snap engagement. The second-end is adapted to be secured at an adjacent first-end of a neighboring tile or to be mounted to the adjacent batten through a snap engagement. The present invention also discloses a roof element which is to be used for covering surfaces such as a sloping roof áor walls, wherein the first-end of the roof element is adapted to be mounted to a batten through a snap engagement. The present invention discloses also a system comprising at least one of said tile and said roof element. Further, the present invention relates to a surface such as a sloping roof or wall provided with said tiles, which are mounted to parallel and spaced apart battens wherein the arrangement of the tiles is transverse to said battens.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a tile which is to be used for covering surfaces such as sloping roofs or walls, said tile comprising a central part with a first-end and a second-end. Further, the present invention relates to a roof element which is to be used for covering surfaces such as a sloping roof or walls. Further, the present invention relates to a system comprising at least one tile and at least one roof element, said tile comprising a central part with a first-end and a second-end, and said roof element having a first-end or a second-end or a combination of these. Further, the present invention relates to a surface such as a sloping roof or wall provided with tiles, said tiles comprising a first-end and a second-end and are mounted to parallel and spaced apart battens and wherein the arrangement of the tiles is transverse to said battens.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Tiles are well known for use in a sloping roof for constructing the outmost layer of the roof. There are mainly two issues that have to be fulfilled when using such tiles. Firstly, that rattling and falling of the tiles from the roof are prevented under different weather conditions, and secondly that a sufficient tightening on the roof is provided. In prior art methods this is fulfilled by mounting the tiles securely to the battens and mutually together. The mounting to the battens is typically done by nailing or screwing the tiles to the battens and secure them individually together e.g. by using tile hooks. The disadvantage with the tiles of prior art is how time demanding it is to arrange and mount the tiles together and the complications that follow the nailing of the tiles to the battens and mounting them individually by using said tile hooks.  
         [0003]     This has partly been solved in the utility model DE 29713683 which describes a roof tile comprising a u-shaped engagement means for engaging with a batten and thereby replacing said nailing or screwing when mounting the tile to said batten. However, this reference does not mention how said tile is mounted to the subsequent upper/lower laying tile in order to make the installation of said tile completely free of external tools.  
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide tiles, which are much simpler in use and which do not require nailing and tile hooks or similar means when mounting them to the battens and individually together. Another object of the present invention is to provide a roof element which is to be used for covering surfaces such as a sloping roof or walls. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system comprising at least one of said tile and said roof element. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a surface such as a sloping roof or wall provided with said tiles.  
         [0005]     In one aspect the present invention relates to a tile characterized in that said tile is adapted to be mounted to said surface based on engagement means comprised in said first-end and second-end.  
         [0006]     Thereby, since no external means such as nails, screws or hooks are required when mounting such tiles to a batten, the mounting is much easier, simpler and faster.  
         [0007]     In an embodiment, the engagement means at the first-end of said tile is adapted for mounting said tile through a snap engagement with a batten.  
         [0008]     In that way the installation of the tile is very comfortable and simple and additionally provides a strong mounting between said batten and said tile.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment the engagement means at the second-end is adapted for mounting said tile by engaging with at an adjacent first-end of a neighboring tile.  
         [0010]     Thereby, the neighboring tile provides means for mounting or securing the second-end of the tiles so that nails, screws or hooks or the like are not necessary.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment the first-end comprises a nose part, a grip part being upwardly extending towards said nose part, and a front plate for interconnecting said nose part and said grip part, and which is substantially perpendicular to said central part.  
         [0012]     Thereby, the tile can be mounted to a batten simply through engagement between the first-end and the batten so that the batten is propped between said nose part and said grip part. Therefore, it is preferred that the distance between the nose part is substantially the same as the thickness of the batten.  
         [0013]     In an embodiment, the first-end comprises a back side plate and a top plate that are, respectively, substantially perpendicular and parallel to the central part and a nose part that extends towards the second-end from said top-plate.  
         [0014]     Thereby, a space is created to enable an engagement between the first-end and a batten. Also the nose part provides an engagement means for the neighboring tiles.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment the second-end comprises a tail extending partly in an upward and outward direction in relation to said central part and is adapted to be secured at said adjacent first-end of said neighboring tile by means of clamping the tail between a batten and the neighboring nose part.  
         [0016]     Thereby, an angle x is formed between said tail and said central part so that when said tail is clamped between said batten and said neighboring nose part, the subsequent part of the tile will extend in a similar partly upward direction in relation to the neighboring plate. This is important for the snap-engagement feature since the elastic force that is created when pushing the tile towards the neighboring batten provides an upwardly extending force between the grip part and the lower plane of the batten. The tail may be formed by bending at least a part of one end of an initial plate in said upward direction, or the tail and the central part can be two separated units which are interconnected by a spring system, such as a spring coil or the like. In the former case the elastic force can be varied by varying the angle x, the thickness of the plate, the material type of the tile or a combination of these. In this case it is important that the material property of the tile is such that it has an elastic character and high strength. In the latter case, the elastic force can by varied by varying the angle x or the spring constant, or a combination of both. An example of material that could be used in the tile is any kind of metal such as aluminum, copper, metal alloys or composite materials. Also, different types of plastic materials or the like are possible.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment the second-end comprises an engagement crook adapted to be secured at said adjacent first-end of said neighboring tile by means of engaging with the neighboring nose part of said neighboring tile.  
         [0018]     It is thereby ensured that said second end is strongly secured to said adjacent first-end of said neighboring tile. Further, the engagement between neighboring tiles becomes very simple and fast.  
         [0019]     In an embodiment, the material of said tile has high elasticity. Such high elasticity is preferred for the present invention for obtaining said snap engagement feature. An example of material having such property is aluminum, copper, metal alloys, composite materials and different types of plastic materials and plastic alloys.  
         [0020]     In an embodiment the central part comprises a substantially flat plate.  
         [0021]     Therefore, when arranging a plurality of tiles together,, a substantially flat roof construction is obtained which prevents or reduces the generation of e.g. snow and ice on the roof. Of course, the central part can have different shapes, such as a wave like shape.  
         [0022]     In another aspect the present invention relates to a roof element characterized in that said roof element is adapted to be mounted to said surface based on engagement means comprised in a first end.  
         [0023]     Thereby, the construction of roofs using such roof elements is simplified, easier and much faster. The roof element can as an example comprise a roof top or a gutter. In the former case, the roof element may have two such first-ends on each side of the roofs, which are mounted to two battens and which are simultaneously adapted to secure the tail part of the upmost row of said tiles. In this case the roof element could comprise a nose part having substantially the same shape as the nose part of said tile, and which would be adapted to clamp the tail part of said upmost row of tiles between said nose part and said battens. The roof element could also as an example comprise a frame work surrounding a window that is to be built into the roof. For such a roof element, the upper and the lower part of the framework would preferably comprise a second-end or a first-end to engage with the tiles arranged above and below the framework. Thereby, a roof element is provided for interconnecting with said tiles.  
         [0024]     In an embodiment said roof element further comprises engagement means at a second-end of said roof element for mounting said roof element, where said engagement means is adapted to be secured at an adjacent first-end of a neighboring roof element or a neighboring tile.  
         [0025]     Thereby, means for mounting or securing the second-end of the roof element is provided, and e.g. nails, screws or hooks or the like are not necessary.  
         [0026]     In an embodiment a second-end of said roof element is adapted to be mounted to a neighboring batten through a snap engagement.  
         [0027]     This provides a strong engagement between said second-end and said batten. Also, no external tools such as nails, screws or hooks or the like are necessary which makes the mounting very comfortable.  
         [0028]     In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a system characterized by that said tile and said roof element is adapted to be mounted to said surface based on engagement means comprised in said first-ends.  
         [0029]     Thereby, when constructing the top layer of a sloping roof, different areas can be interconnected with the tiles. An example is a roof top and the subsequent part of the roof, a frame work surrounding a window and the surrounding part of the roof and a gutter and the subsequent part of the roof.  
         [0030]     In an embodiment said first-ends are adapted to be mounted to battens through a snap engagement.  
         [0031]     In an embodiment the second-ends are adapted to be secured at adjacent first-ends of neighboring tiles or neighboring roof elements.  
         [0032]     In an embodiment, the second-ends are adapted to be mounted to neighboring battens through a snap engagement.  
         [0033]     In a fourth aspect the present invention relates to a surface such as a sloping roof or walls provided with tiles characterized in tiles are mounted by engagement means comprised in said first-end and second-end.  
         [0034]     Thereby, when constructing the outmost layer of e.g. a roof, no fastening means are needed to mount the tiles to the battens. It follows that the construction of the outmost layer of the roof is much faster and simpler. Preferably, the tiles are of the type as discussed here above.  
         [0035]     In an embodiment, said tiles are mounted by a snap engagement between the first-end and the battens.  
         [0036]     In an embodiment the second-end is secured at the adjacent first-end of the neighboring tile.  
         [0037]     Thereby, means for mounting or securing the second-end of the roof element is provided, and e.g. nails, screws or hooks or the like are not necessary.  
         [0038]     In an embodiment the second-end is mounted to neighboring battens through a snap engagement.  
         [0039]     Thereby, besides the absence of said nails, screws or hooks or the like the mounting is very comfortable.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0040]     In the following, the present invention, and in particular preferred embodiments thereof, will be described in more detail in connection with accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0041]      FIGS. 1-3  show a perspective view, a side view and a front view of one embodiment of a tile,  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows two neighboring tiles mounted together between two parallel battens,  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows where a neighboring tile has engaged with a batten,  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows a closer view of an engagement between two neighboring tiles,  
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a tile extending between two parallel battens on a roof,  
         [0046]      FIG. 8  shows a part of a sloping roof with a plurality of tiles mounted between parallel arranged battens,  
         [0047]      FIG. 9  shows where two flaps of a tile have been bended upwards to enable a tile to engage with a batten,  
         [0048]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a tile, which is to be used for a sloping roof,  
         [0049]      FIG. 11  shows where the first-end of the tile shown in  FIG. 10  has engaged with the batten through a snap engagement,  
         [0050]      FIG. 12  shows a part of a sloping roof with a plurality of tiles as shown in  FIG. 10  mounted between parallel arranged battens,  
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of a tile, comprising a central part and a first-end and a second-end, and  
         [0052]      FIG. 14  shows where two parallel battens have engaged with the tile shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0053]      FIGS. 1-3  show a perspective view, a side view and a front view of one embodiment of a tile  1 , which is to be used for covering surfaces such as a sloping roof or walls. The tile  1  comprises a central part  7 , which comprises a substantially flat plate of length l  13  and width w  12  with a first-end  14  and a second-end  15  extending along the width  12  of the plate  7 . As shown, the second-end  15  comprises a tail  2  extending partly in an upward direction in relation to the plate  7  and forms an angel x  33  in relation to the plate  7 . The first-end  14  is adapted to engage with a batten (not shown) and comprises a nose part  5 , an upwardly extending grip part  4  and a front plate  3  which is substantially perpendicular to the plate  7  for interconnecting said nose part  5  and said grip part  4 .  
         [0054]     Any other kind of shape of the second-end is of course possible. In one embodiment the first-end and the central part form a substantially flat plate (not shown) so that the first-end may be considered as an extension of the central part.  
         [0055]     The tile  1  may be formed from a single rectangular plate by using an appropriate forming machine. However, any kind of plate form would also be possible. When forming the second-end  15 , i.e. the tail  2 , at least a part of one end of the plate is bended upwards until said angle x  33  is formed. When the first-end  14  is formed, it is initially bended downwards (compared to the tail  2 ) and towards the second-end  15  to form the nose part  5 , thereafter downwards and substantially perpendicular to the plate  7  to form the front plate  3 , and finally in an upward direction and towards the nose part  5  to form the grip part  4 . It is, however, also possible to form said tile  1  through separated parts comprising the first-end, the second-end and the central part. These parts could be interconnected together through e.g. a spring system such as a coil spring.  
         [0056]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the grip part  4  and the front plate  4  are cut into parallel strips to form a plurality of bendable flaps  6 . This is necessary when mounting the tile  1  to a batten (not shown) where another batten crosses said batten. The width of the flaps as well as the distance between neighboring flaps and the number of flaps can of course be varied, depending on the type of the surface to be covered. This will be discussed in more detail under  FIG. 9 .  
         [0057]      FIG. 4  shows two neighboring tiles  1 ,  8  mounted together between two parallel battens  32 ,  18 . As shown, the tail  17  of the neighboring tile  8  is clamped between the batten  32  and the nose part  5 . Since the tail  17  extends partly in an upward direction and forms said angle x  33  in relation to the plate  7 , the subsequent part of the tile  8  will, due to the clamping, extend in an upward direction under substantially the same angle x  33  in relation to the upper plane of the batten  32 . The mounting of the tile  8  with the batten  18  is performed by pushing the tile  8  downwards and towards the batten  18  as indicated by the arrow  30 , until the grip part  34  reaches the lower plane of the batten  18 . The elastic force that follows the pushing in the opposite direction of the arrow  30  ensures a strong engagement between the grip part  34  and the batten  18 . This is illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 5  showing where the neighboring tile  8  has engaged with said batten  18 . Clearly, in order to reach the lower plane of the batten  18 , the grip part  34  must be bended upwardly as it crosses the side of the batten  18 . After crossing the side the grip part  34  is flipped back into it original position and crooked to the bottom of the batten  18  as shown. It is therefore very important that the material of the tile  8  (or at least the grip part  34 ) has a good elasticity. Accordingly, the distance between the outwardly standing end of the grip part  34  and the nose part  37  is preferably substantially the same or somewhat more than the height of the batten  18 . By releasing said pushing as the elastic force is released so that the grip part  34  of the tile  8  is pressed in with a force corresponding to the elastic force having an upward direction as indicated by the arrow  16 . Therefore, a snap engagement is obtained.  
         [0058]     This elastic force, and therefore the strength of the snap engagement, may be controlled by varying following parameters: the angle x  33  between the tail  17  and the plate  35 , the thickness of the material, the material type of the tile or a combination of these. It is important that the material property of the tiles is such that it has an elastic character and high strength. An example of material that could be used is any kind of metal such as aluminum, copper, metal alloys or composite materials. Also, different types of plastic materials or the like are possible.  
         [0059]     In an embodiment where the tail  17  is in the same plane as the central part  7  and forms an extension of the central part, a rubber list (not shown) or similar means could be provided between the tail  17  and the nose part  37  so that a sufficient tightening there between is obtained.  
         [0060]      FIG. 6  shows a closer view of the engagement between said neighboring tile  8  and the tile  1  shown in  FIG. 4 . Here the tail  17  of the neighboring tile  8  has been clamped between the batten  7  and the nose part  5 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the tile  1  extending between two parallel battens  19 ,  20  on a roof, where the open-end of the tile  1  is clamped between the roof top  11  and the upper batten  20 , and the first-end  14  has been mounted to the lower batten  19  adjacent to the gutter  18 . To enable such an engagement between the roof top  11  and the gutter  18  it is preferred that the roof top  11  comprises a system or a unit having an end part being similar as said first-end so that the second-end  15  of the tile  1  can engage with the roof top  11 . The gutter  18  could just as well comprise a system or a unit adapted to receive the first-end of the tile  1 .  
         [0062]     In general a roof element adapted to engage with a tile  1  having either a first-end or a second-end or even a combination of these can be used for interconnecting with tiles. This roof element can as an example comprise said roof top  11  and gutter  18 , a frame work surrounding a window that is to be built into a roof, a ridge, etc. In such a system the upper part of the framework would preferably comprise a second-end to engage with the tiles arranged above said upper part, and a first-end to engage with the tiles arranged below said lower part.  
         [0063]      FIG. 8  shows a part of a sloping roof  80  with a plurality of tiles  27 - 29  mounted between parallel arranged battens  21 ,  22 . Shown is an engagement  31 ,  32  between two tiles and the battens  21 ,  22 . Preferably, the arrangement of the tiles  27 - 29  is such that they overlap each other in two directions, parallel and perpendicular to the battens  21 ,  22 . This is of course to ensure a sufficient tightening on the roof. The mounting of the tiles  27 - 29  to the battens  21 ,  22  may be done either by starting on the lowest row adjacent to the gutter  24  and subsequently mount the second row of the tiles to the second batten  22  and continue in an upward direction as indicated by the arrow  38 . The other way around is also possible, i.e. by starting on the upmost raw and continue in a downward direction in the opposite direction to the arrow  38 .  
         [0064]     The batten  25  which is perpendicular to said parallel battens  21 ,  22  is of course necessary for the bearing capacity of the roof. When mounting the tiles to the battens  21 - 24  at the crossings of said batten  25  and said battens  21 ,  22  the bendable flaps  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , may either be bended or removed, to form a gap in the engaging groove corresponding to the width of batten  25 . An example of this is depicted in  FIG. 9  showing two flaps  41 ,  42  that have been bended upwards to enable a tile to engage with batten  22  at e.g. the crossing between said batten  22  and the batten  25 .  
         [0065]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a tile  50 , which is to be used for covering surfaces such as a sloping roof or walls. The tile  50  comprises a substantially flat plate  58  of length l  67  and width w  68  with a first-end  52  and a second-end  51 , both which are extending along the width  68  of the plate  58 . As shown the second-end  51  comprises an inwardly bend part along the width of the plate to form an engagement crook  57 . The first-end  52  comprises a back side plate  55  and a top-plate  53  that are, respectively, substantially perpendicular and parallel to the plate  58  and a nose part  56  that extends towards the second-end  51 . Thereby a space is created  70  adapted to engage with a batten. The nose part  56  is adapted to engage with an engagement crook of a neighboring plate. This is illustrated in  FIG. 11  showing an engagement crook  59  of a neighboring plate that is to be engaged with the nose part  56 . Also shown in  FIG. 11  is where the first-end  52  has engaged with the batten  60  through a snap engagement. It is obviously important that in order to allow such engagements the material of the tile  50  has an elastic character and simultaneously high strength. An example of material that could be used is any kind of metal such as aluminum, copper or composite materials. Also, types of plastic materials or the like are possible.  
         [0066]      FIG. 12  shows a part of a sloping roof  90  with a plurality of tiles  63 - 65  as shown in  FIGS. 10-11  mounted between parallel arranged battens  61 ,  62 .  
         [0067]     Shown is an engagement  71 ,  72  between two tiles and the battens  61 ,  62 . Preferably, the arrangement of the tiles e.g.  63 - 65  is such that they overlap each other in two directions, parallel and perpendicular to the battens  61 ,  62 . This is of course to ensure a sufficient tightening on the roof. When mounting the tiles it is possible to start at the upper most end by mounting the tiles to the batten  61  adjacent to the roof top and subsequently mount the second row of the tiles to the neighboring batten  62  and continue in that way in an downward direction as indicated by the arrow  67 . The other way around would also be possible. In order to enable the mounting of the tiles  63 - 65  at the crossings between said tiles and the crossing batten  66  the back side plate  55  first-end is cut into parallel strips (not shown) to form a plurality of bendable flaps (not shown). Thereby by bending or removing one or more such flaps (similar as shown in  FIG. 9 ) an engagement at the crossings is possible.  
         [0068]      FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of a tile  100 , comprising a central part  107  and a first-end  108  and a second-end  109 , which both are adapted to engage with two battens. The fastening elements  101 ,  102  of said ends extend substantially perpendicular upwards from said central part  107 , and along with the central part  17  define a slot (see  FIG. 14 ) for engaging with battens. While engaging the tile  100  with the battens the fastening elements  101 ,  102  are bend towards each other as indicated by the arrows  103 ,  104 , since the battens are forced between the outer sides of the fastening elements  101 ,  102 . Subsequently fastening elements  101 ,  102  are flipped back into their initial position. Therefore, a snap engagement is obtained. The actual engagement between the tile  100  and two parallel battens is shown in  FIG. 14 , showing where two parallel battens  105 ,  106  have engaged with the tile  100 . As shown, the battens are propped between the central part and an outwardly extending part  100  of the fastening elements  101 ,  102 .  
         [0069]     It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in a claim.