Abstract:
A shingle insert and method for eliminating and preventing growths on a shingled roof in which a porous copper mesh is installed with an upper edge beneath a course of shingles with the remaining portions of the insert exposed. A confined space is defined beneath a lengthwise hump in the exposed copper strip portions which is filled with a growth toxic material, in solid or granular form which releases a substance toxic to the growths when rainwater runoff passes into the confined space and material and thereafter flows out down the roof.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/329,729 filed on Dec. 19, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/424,892 filed on Dec. 20, 2010, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention concerns treating shingled roofs for deterring the growth of algae, moss, lichens or fungus. Such growths can be unsightly and also damage asphalt shingles by loosening the granules embedded therein which loss shortens the service life of a roof. 
         [0003]    Also, water is retained by such growths delaying complete dry out of the roof after a rain and such, the prolonged contact with moisture also contributing to wear out of the roof covering. 
         [0004]    It has long been known that copper strips installed on the roof will deter such growths. 
         [0005]    Spraying algaecides on the roof shingles can quickly kill those growths which have built up over a period of years. 
         [0006]    Copper or zinc strips have long been used to inhibit such growths on roof coverings. These strips often only effective for a few courses of shingles such that multiple rows of strips are required. In addition, these strips act slowly and cannot quickly eliminate an existing buildup of such growths if the strips are installed later after the roof itself has been installed. 
         [0007]    The object of the present invention is to provide a more effective shingle insert strip configuration for such applications which also can provide for elimination of a preexisting buildup of growths as well as inhibit the start of such growths on roofs for a greater distance down the roof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The above recited object as well as other objects which will be understood by one skilled in the art upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a shingle insert, preferably constructed of copper sheet strips combined with an underlayer of a strip of copper mesh. The copper sheet strip portion is formed with a lengthwise extending hump intermediate its width which will temporarily impound a portion of the dew or rainwater moving down the roof to lengthen the time that the water remains in contact with the copper. The copper screen is formed with a tubular pocket along its lower edge which is disposed within the hump. The pocket can have a rod of algaecide implaced therein which will be released by rainwater flowing beneath the copper strip and over the inserted rod. The copper screen strip extends above the upper edge of the copper sheet strip and beneath a course of shingle to provide a nailing tab and is secured as with an adhesive to the copper sheet strip the space beneath the hump is adapted to enclose a mass of a chemical algaecide such as a copper complex that will relatively quickly kill growths described when absorbed by rainwater descending the roof which passes through and over the chemical and releases a substance powerful enough to quickly kill existing roof growths. The copper strips will release copper ions which will continue to inhibit the reestablishment of growths for long periods. 
         [0009]    The shingle insert sheet strip portions are configured to have crosswise oriented elongated depressions which also capture moisture with the sides forming narrow slots which allow penetration of rainwater runoff through the strip. The slots are narrow enough so that surface tension creates a tendency to hold dew or rainwater briefly to increase the time of residence of water in contact with the copper. 
         [0010]    The lengthwise hump feature also slightly impounds the rainwater runoff to create substantial contact of the water with the algaecide chemical material to create a greater absorption. 
         [0011]    The bottom layer of copper mesh underlies the copper sheet strip to close off the space defined by hump, creating a confined space to retain granules or to enclosure a solid rod during handling and installation while allowing through flow of rainwater and easing the installation of the strips. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary pictorial view of a section of a shingled roof having a single course of shingle inserts according to the present invention installed thereon. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged partially broken away pictorial view of one embodiment of shingle insert of the invention installed over a roof section. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary pictorial view partially broken away of another embodiment of a shingle insert according to the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged partially broken away pictorial view of a shingle insert installed on a roof section containing a solid mass of algaecide chemical material. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary pictorial broken away view of another embodiment of a shingle insert according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged plan view of one of the depression formed into the copper sheeting strip portion. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a section  7 - 7  taken though the depression shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0020]    Referring to the Drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a series of shingle inserts  10  according to the invention, installed on a roof with an upper projecting edge portion nailed beneath a course of shingles  12  near the top of the roof  14 , with a main portion overlying the next lower course of shingles  12 A. 
         [0021]    One or more additional courses of shingle inserts  10  may be installed in shingle courses at locations down the roof as necessary, but the improved effectiveness of the strips according to the invention minimizes such need. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows additional details of the shingle inserts  10 , each of which is comprised of a doubled outer layer  16  of copper mesh. 
         [0023]    The lower edge thereof has a series of gentle scallops is provided for allowing a substantial area exposed dew or to rainwater runoff to enhance the long term effects thereof in keeping the roof clear of growths while maintaining an acceptable appearance. 
         [0024]    A crosswise hump  18  is formed into the top outer layers  16  for the full length of each of the shingle insert strips  10 . A bottom undercover layer  20  of copper mesh extends beneath the double layers  16  and protruding above the upper edge  22  of the double layers  16 , and covering the bottom of the space A formed by the lengthwise hump  18  to allow retention of chemical material in the space as described below. 
         [0025]    The undercover layer  20  is preferably attached to the upper layers  16  as with adhesive caulk, soldering or spot welding. 
         [0026]    The protruding upper edge  24  of the bottom layer  20  is inserted beneath the lower edge of the course of shingles  12 , which can be raised up to enable nailing the strip  24  through the upper part of the next down course of shingles  12 A and into the roof deck  26  as shown. 
         [0027]    The confined space A is initially filled with granules of an algaecide material which will dispense an algaecide substance down the roof by rainwater percolating through the shingle insert strip openings and also through the granules themselves. 
         [0028]    A preferred algaecide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,834, incorporated herein by reference, which is commercially available under the trademark CUTRINE-PLUS™ available from Applied Biochemists of Germantown Wis. This material is described as a “copper complex” which releases elemental copper. 
         [0029]    This material dispenses copper into rainwater runoff which results in a rapid die off of the various growths, i.e. moss, algae, lichens, which can grow on roofs. 
         [0030]    Long term growth control is provided by the ions released into the moisture by the copper metal which forms the shingle insert strips  10 . 
         [0031]    Another embodiment of a shingle insert strip  27  is shown in  FIG. 3 , in which a copper sheet strip  28  is used which has a series of depressions with slots  29  stamped therein to allow rainwater to penetrate through the sheet and into a lengthwise hump  18 A and into space A which is packed with algaecide granules as described above. 
         [0032]    A copper mesh bottom strip  24 A is attached to close off the space A and hold the granules therein. 
         [0033]    The strip  24 A has a protruding edge for nailing as in the above described embodiment. 
         [0034]    The ends  30  of the strip  24 A are wrapped over the ends (only one end shown) to close off the ends of the space A and prevent escape of the algaecide granules. 
         [0035]    The sheet  28  is also formed with a series of scallops  29  along its bottom edge to provide a large area exposed to moisture run off while maintaining a good appearance. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the algaecide could be formed into a solid rod  32  inserted beneath the hump  16 . 
         [0037]    The hump  18  tends to briefly impound the dew and rainwater runoff so as to increase the time of contact of water with the copper metal and enhance the inhibiting effect on any growths on the roof in the manner generally known. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , another embodiment of a shingle insert  34  is shown, which includes a top strip  36  of thin copper sheet (approximately 1/32 of an inch thick) several inches wide. 
         [0039]    Several lengthwise rows of narrow depressions  38  are formed therein. The ends of the depressions  38  are sloped at the ends  40  so that the metal at the ends remains attached to the sheet. 
         [0040]    On each of the sides, the depressions  39  (which are about ½ inches long) are formed with a vertical shape such that the metal tears to form narrow slots  42  on the order of slightly over 1/32 inch high which is the approximate depth of the slots  42 . These narrow slots allow water received in the depressions  38  to seep out after some delay to increase the time the water from dew or rain remains in contact with the copper metal of the sheet strip. 
         [0041]    Thus, a greater concentration of copper ions are released into the water which moves down onto the shingles below enhancing the growth inhibiting effect. 
         [0042]    This growth inhibiting effect has been found to extend for relatively great distances down the roof, often allowing a single course of inserts to protect entire sections of a protected roof. 
         [0043]    A copper mesh underlayer strip  46  is secured as by adhesive caulk patches  44  to an upper portion of the copper sheet strip  36  and protruding above the upper edge, providing a nailing strip  46 , which is inserted beneath the lower edge of a course of shingles. 
         [0044]    A semi tubular hump  48  is formed into the copper sheet strip  36  intermediate its width as measured uproof extending the complete length of the insert thereof. This provides an effect of impounding temporarily runoff water as in the above embodiments. 
         [0045]    The copper mesh underlayer  46  has a lower side rolled into a tube  50  which is disposed within the space  52  defined beneath the hump  48 . 
         [0046]    A rod of solid algaecide  54  can be inserted into the tube  50  as shown in  FIG. 5  if there is an existing heavy growth on the roof when the shingle inserts  34  are being installed.