Abstract:
Antigrowth roofing strips made of a metal which release antigrowth ions into rainwater runoff from the roof which are formed with nailing hole sets insuring covering of nail heads with shingles. The strips also are formed with variously bent up or down tabs enabling securement to roofing tiles.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/188,847 filed on Jul. 6, 2015, and also is a continuation in part of design application Ser. No. 29/541,709 filed on Oct. 7, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates to metal strips used to inhibit growths on roofs such as moss, algae, lichens, mold, mildew, etc. which have a tendency to occur on roofs. These growths are unsightly and also have a tendency to reduce the life of a roof. 
         [0003]    This because water is retained by such growths delaying complete dry out of the roof after a rain, the resulting prolonged contact with moisture contributing to wear out of the roof covering. 
         [0004]    It has long been known that strips of metals such as copper or zinc installed on the roof will deter such growths. 
         [0005]    A metal strip (preferably of copper) shown and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,124 is designed primarily for use on asphalt shingled roofs. 
         [0006]    The roof growth problems are also encountered to an extent on tile roofs but heretofore such metal strips have not been adapted for use on tile roofs, since not being able to be attached securely. 
         [0007]    Another problem is encountered with asphalt shingles in which the heads of nails used to secure the strips on asphalt shingled roofs are sometimes exposed when predrilled holes are provided for such nails. This is because such predrilled holes will line up with slots occurring along said shingles. 
         [0008]    That is, since the strips have predrilled holes for receiving nails, exposure of the nail heads sometimes will occur since the holes randomly align with one of those slots formed along the length of a shingle. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide such a metal strip which is configured for universal use, i.e., for asphalt shingle roofs or with tile or slate roofs. 
         [0010]    It is another object to provide such a metal strip with predrilled nails holes for installation on a shingled roof in which the possibility of an exposed nail head is avoided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The above recited objects and other objects which will be understood by one skilled in the art are achieved by providing a series of tabs along the upper side of the strip, each tab formed by pairs of spaced apart slots. 
         [0012]    The tabs are bent up or down when the strip is being used on a tile roof as by use of so called “duckbill” pliers, the tabs having a crease to be easily folded straight along the width. 
         [0013]    The tabs can be bent partially or completely up or down or at any angle (such as at a 45° angle) or bent over past 90° in either direction to be oriented to be engaged when a tile is installed so as to effectively engage the undersurface of a ridge tile to retain the strip beneath the ridge tile. 
         [0014]    That is, the bent up tabs are sure to engage the undersurface of tiles installed along the ridge line and thereby be retained beneath the tiles. 
         [0015]    In addition, sets of three predrilled nail holes are provided to eliminate the possibility of a nail head from being exposed by lining up with a shingle slot when installed using a predrilled nail hole. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a growth inhibiting metal strip installed on pitched roofs. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary pictorial view of a segment of the strip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the segment of the strip shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the strip shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the strip shown in  FIG. 4  showing varying bent over positions of a retention tab included in the roofing strip according to the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a metal strip installed on a shingled roof shown in fragmentary form. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a pictorial view of a shingled roof section with a corner of a section of a shingle pulled open to show an installed nail. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the crest of a tiled roof with a strip according to the invention installed thereon. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the crest of another type of tile roof with a strip according to the invention installed thereon. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9A  is an enlarged sectional view of alternative engagement of a tab tile undersurface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    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. 
         [0027]    Referring to the drawings and particularly  FIGS. 1-4 , the present invention comprises elongated roofing strips of sheet metal  10 , preferably constructed of copper, but alternatively able to constructed of other active metals such as zinc. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,124 incorporated herein by reference, such strips inhibit growths on roofs due to the release of ions into the rainwater running down the roof, the presence of such ions in the rainwater runoff inhibiting the development of growths such as moss, mildew, algae, mold lichens, etc. 
         [0028]    The strip  10  may be about 36 inches long and for ease in handling and installing on a roof are made thick enough to be self supporting when stiffened by a lengthwise raised feature stiffening the strip  10 . 
         [0029]    In order to intensify the extent that such metallic ions are released into rainwater runoff, offset lengthwise aligned rows of elongated depressions  12  are formed into the metal, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,124. The depressions capture rainwater therein increasing the residence time that rainwater is held in contact with the copper or other metal strip surfaces, and thus creating more ions released into the rainwater runoff. 
         [0030]    The depressions  12  have slits  13  at the bottom allowing some of the captured rainwater to percolate through the strips  10  which then seeps beneath the strips  10  to thereby be brought into contact with the underside thereof to further intensify the release of ions into the rainwater runoff. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,124. 
         [0031]    The raised lengthwise feature  14  also temporarily impounds the water to also contribute to the release of ions by increasing the residence time of the rainwater in contact with the metal as well as stiffens the strip  10  for ease in handling when installing the same. 
         [0032]    According to the present invention, the strip  10  is widened somewhat over the prior version such as to a width on the around 4½ inches, adding a half of an inch or more to the top side of the strip  10 . This creates a nailing and tab flange  16  which has sets of three predrilled holes  18  distributed along the length thereof for a purpose to be described hereinafter. 
         [0033]    The uppermost section  20  of the strip  10  has a series of rectangular tabs  22  each formed by spaced apart pairs of slots  24  connected by a crease  26  to make easier straighter bending of the tabs  22  up or down from the general plane of the strip  10  and either back up or down from the remaining portions of the strips  10  as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    The tabs  22  are used when the strips  10  are installed on tile roofs to be engaged and secured thereto. 
         [0035]    The strips  10  are designed to be used with any type of pitched roof, i.e. with either asphalt shingled roofs or with any of the various types of tile roofs. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows a strip  10  installed on asphalt shingled roof in which asphalt shingles  28  are lapped over each other in an upward projection in the well known manner. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the upper nailing flange  16  is nailed through the upper part of a shingle  28 A which in turn is lapped over the next shingle  28 B. 
         [0038]    The nails  30  should be located so as to be covered by the lower part of the shingle  28 B. However, asphalt shingles a usually slotted which randomly forms recurring slots  30 . 
         [0039]    The strips  10  are formed with the sets of predrilled or punched holes  18  in order to be easier to install as the nails do not have to be forced through the thickness of the strips  10 . However, it may sometimes happen that single nail holes  18 A may be aligned with the slotted opening  30 . 
         [0040]    The provision of three holes  18 A,  18 B,  18 C allows an installer to use another of the three holes  18 B or C to locate the nail head so as to be covered by the shingle  28 B as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows the use on the tabs  22  with a tile roof in which a course of ridge tiles  32  shaped as a partial circle overlay flat field tiles  34 . In this case, the tabs  22  may be reversely bent back over the remaining portions of the strip  10 . This engages in inner surface of the ridge tiles  32  to securely resist being pulled out. Suitable caulk can also be used beneath the strips  10  to further improve retention. 
         [0042]    In a tile roof, the strips  10  are limited to a single course just below the ridge as shown. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  shows installation of the strips with a tile roof in which a flat angled ridge tiles  36  overlie partially circularly shaped field tiles  38 . Such field tiles  38  leave gaps which are often filled with mass of a suitable mortar  40 . 
         [0044]    In this case, the tabs  22  can be bent down into the mortar if wet as shown, to create a very secure retention of the strips  10 . 
         [0045]    In the case where the mortar has set, the tabs  22  can be bent up at an angle ( FIG. 9A ) before the installation of the ridge tiles  36  as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 9A . 
         [0046]    The field tiles  36  are then installed over the strips  10 , tending to bend down the tabs  22  to a flattened state. This accommodates varying sized gaps with the undersurface of the ridge tiles  36  and insuring a tight frictional engagement between the tabs  22  and the undersurface of the ridge tiles  36 . 
         [0047]    Many other generally similar roof tile installations can have strips according to the invention bent at various angles to be sure of engaging with the tiles. 
         [0048]    Accordingly, the strips  10  according to the invention can be installed for most shingled and tile roof installations.