Patent Publication Number: US-2017356189-A1

Title: Tile flashing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/347,156, filed Jun. 8, 2016, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference for any purpose. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to flashing systems for concrete tile roofs. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a flashing system may comprise a flashing having a uniform top surface having at least one of a flat profile, an S profile, and a W profile. The flashing system may further include a hook capable of being attached to the decking of a roof and disposed beneath the flashing. The flashing may be customizable by a user in the field to adjust a slot in the flashing to install the flashing on the hook. 
     The forgoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
         FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate various views of a flat tile flashing and hook system, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate various views of an “S” tile flashing and hook system, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate various views of a “W” tile flashing and hook system, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3E  is a process flow describing installation of a tile flashing and hook system, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate various views of a retention clip for use with a tile flashing and hook system, in accordance with various embodiments; and 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate various views of a support for used with a flashing and hook system, in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventions, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. 
     Concrete tile shingles used in “tile” roofs generally has a flat profile, an “S” profile or a “W” profile. The tiles can be removed for the installation of roof mounted objects (e.g., solar panels, snow management systems, heating and cooling equipment, water storage equipment, and/or the like). An installer of the roof mounted object may rework the removed tile to accommodate mounting hardware for the roof mounted objects. This has traditionally required rework of the tile. The rework can be time consuming and may require protective equipment and special equipment, processing, and training. As such, there is a need to reduce the need for rework by an installer. 
     In various embodiments, the flashings systems described herein are configured to provide a water tight installation. The flashing systems may be configured to replace portions of a tile roof. The flashing systems may be used to cover a tile hook. The tile hook may be as a mounting point for the roof mounted objects. In this regard, the flashing system is configured to replace roof tiles. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS. 1A-1D , flashing system  100  may be configured to provide a watertight barrier around mounting hardware for a roof mounting hardware. Flashing system  100  may comprise a flashing  110 . Flashing  110  may be installed as part of a tile roof system. For example, flashing  110  may be installed between one or more roof tiles  103 - 1  and  103 - 2 . 
     In various embodiments, flashing system  100  may be mountable to a roof at the roof decking  101  and/or a roof batten  105 . For example, flashing  110  of flashing system  100  may be attached to roof decking  101  and/or roof batten  105  by one or more fasteners. The fastener may be any suitable fastener such as, for example, a screw (e.g., screw  130 - 1 , screw  130 - 2 , and/or the like), an adhesive, tape, staples, nails, and/or the like. Flashing  110  may also be attached, held, or otherwise be mountable to roof decking  101  and/or roof batten  105  by one or more roof tiles  103 - 1  and  103 - 2 . 
     Flashing system  100  may be configured to interface with and cover a tile hook  120 . More specifically, flashing  110  may include a channel or slot  115  that is configured as an interface with tile hook  120 . Slot  115  may be formed in flashing  110  at the time that flashing  110  is manufactured (e.g., the slot  115  may be formed in flashing  110  as part of the stamping operation). Flashing  110  may also be formed onsite by a user of the flashing. For example, flashing  110  may be manipulated by a user with a tool (e.g., pliers, tin snips, and/or the like). A user may also be able to customize and/or adjust slot  115 . In this regard, the user may be able to increase or decrease the depth of slot  115  based on the installation parameters on the roof where the user is installing flashing. For example, the user may be able to define slot  115  along any point in the leading edge (i.e., the down slope edge) of flashing  110  to insure that tile hook  120  can be properly mounted to roof surface  101  (e.g., into a rafter). 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS. 1A-3D , flashing system  100  may be adapted and/or implemented with any style of concrete or ceramic tile roof. For example, flashing system  100  may include flashing  110  with a flat tile style profile. Flashing system  200  may include a flashing  210  with an “S” tile style profile. Flashing system  300  may include a flashing  310  with an “W” tile style profile. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS. 2A-2C , flashing system  200  may work with tile hook  220  that is installed along any portion of the leading edge (e.g., the downslope edge) of flashing  210 . For example, tile hook  220  may be placed or installed at a peak of the “S” flashing  210  at location A, as shown in  FIG. 2A . Tile hook  220  may be placed or installed at a valley of the “S” flashing  210  at location B, as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     In various embodiments, the “S” tile flashing  210  may comprise one or more surface features. For example, the surface of flashing  210  may comprise a raised landing  217 . That landing may be supported and/or otherwise used as a point of attachment as described herein. The surface of flashing  210  may also comprise one or more stiffening ribs  213 . 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3D , flashing system  300  may work with tile hook  320  that is installed along any portion of the leading edge (e.g., the downslope edge) of flashing  310 . For example, tile hook  320  may be placed or installed at a peak of the “W” flashing  310  at location A, as shown in  FIG. 3A . Tile hook  320  may also be placed or installed at a valley of the “W” flashing  310  at location B, as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     In various embodiments and similar to the “S” tile flashing  210 , “W” tile flashing  310  may comprise one or more surface features. For example, the surface of flashing  310  may comprise a raised landing  317 . That landing may be supported and/or otherwise used as a point of attachment as described herein. The surface of flashing  310  may also comprise one or more stiffening ribs  313 . 
     In various embodiments, the tile flashings described herein (e.g., flashing  110 , flashing  210 , flashing  310 , and/or the like) may be configured to interface with any suitable hook structure. In this regard, the hook may be a tile hook having an “L” profile including, for example, tile hook  120  as shown in  FIG. 1A , tile hook  320 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 3D , and/or the like. The hook may be a tile hook having an “C” profile including, for example, tile hook  220  as shown in  FIG. 2A , tile hook  320 - 1  as shown in  FIG. 3A , and/or the like. 
     In various embodiments, the flashing (e.g., flashing  110 , flashing  210 , flashing  310 , and/or the like) described herein may be modified, adjusted, and/or customized by the user. In this regard, the flashing may be adapted to work with any suitably shaped or sized hook that is configured to mount to a roof and support a structure. The flashing may be provided by a manufacturer in various user selectable configurations. The flashing may also be field adjustable by a user. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIG. 3E , a method  350  for installing a tile flashing may be provided. A roof tile may be removed (Step  352 ). In response to the roof tile being removed, a user may locate a rafter on the roof surface (Step  354 ). The rafter may be located with a tool or sensor. In this regard, the rafter may be located in any suitable fashion. A hook may be fastened to the rafter (Step  356 ) with any suitable fastener (e.g., a lag bolt, screw, and/or the like). A flashing may be fit in the space left by removing the roof tile (Step  358 ). An edge of the flashing may be adjusted to allow the hook to pass through the flashing (Step  360 ). In this regard, and as discussed herein, the flashing may be customizable by a user in the field to adjust a slot in the flashing to install the flashing on the hook. Moreover, the fitting or adjusting may include cutting a portion of the flashing to create an adjustable flap. A clip may be installed on the flashing (Step  362 ). The clip may be configured to couple the flashing to an adjacent roof tile. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , flashing  410  of flashing system  400  may be secured to a roof structure by a clip  440 . Clip  440  may be a separate clip that the user installs between flashing  410  and additional roof structure (e.g., the clip may attach to a roof tile that is adjacent flashing  410 ). In this regard, clip  440  may be configured to engage, contact, or otherwise interface with a portion of flashing  410  and a portion of the roof structure (e.g., the underside of a roof tile). Clip  440  may have spring properties. In this regard, clip  440  may be actuatable by a user in the field. Clip  440  may also be deformable and/or customizable to a user in the field. In this regard, clip  440  may be adjusted to mate with both flashing  410  and roof structure. Clip  440  may also be integrally formed in flashing  410 . Clip  440  may be installable on the leading or trailing edge of flashing  410  (e.g., the upslope edge or the downslope edge of flashing  410 ). 
     In various embodiments, flashing system  500  may comprise a support  550 . Support  550  may be installed between flashing  510  and a roof surface  501 . In this regard, support  550  may be attached to roof surface  501  (e.g., roof decking, a roof rafter, a roof batten  505 , and/or the like). Support  550  may also be attached to the underside of flashing  510 . Support  550  may also be a free floating structure that may be placed at any suitable point where the flashing may be subjected to a load (e.g., raised portion  517 ). In various embodiments, support  550  may be any suitable material, including, for example, wood, metal, Styrofoam, plastic, and/or the like. Moreover, support  550  may be placed at a point on the flashing to prevent compressive distortion or crushing of the flashing from environmental, user imposed, and/or structural loads (e.g., snow and ice loads, wind load, user load from maintenance of the roof mounted structure, and/or the like). 
     In various embodiments, the systems described herein may be used with any suitable roof mounted structure including, for example, a solar panel array or system, an environmental conditioning system (e.g., HVAC, swamp cooler, and/or the like), a water system (e.g., a solar water heater, a water storage system, and/or the like). The systems may also be used with any suitable concrete or ceramic tile system. In this regard, the systems described herein provide a universal, watertight flashing system for tile style roofs. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. 
     Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments. 
     Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.