IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLATE ROOFS AND OTHER ROOF COVERINGS
Year: 1877

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Kershaw, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Timber Merchant, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SLATE ROOFS AND OTHER ROOF COVERINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Kershaw at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY KERSHAW, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Timber
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLATE ROOFS AND OTHER
ROOF COVERINGS."
In slate roofs as ordinarily constructed it is almost impossible to take the slates
off without breaking large numbers. It is also very difficult to make repairs with-
out their showing. It is to remedy these defects that this my Invention is designed.
It consists chiefly in fastening the slates to the laths indirectly instead of directly
and in using a plate of some other material together with pegs easily removed from
below instead of driving the nails through holes in the slates themselves.
There are various ways of doing this; the following are perhaps the best plans
1st. Cut with a circular saw a nick, say an inch deep, on each side of the slate.
Then take a thin metal clip and cause it to clip the lath and the two slates, clipping
them through the nicks. The clip can be nailed to the lath or not as desired.
2nd Plan. Place a plate of thin metal over the two slates where they joint
immediately over the lath, drive a nail into the plate between the slates into the
lath below, drill a hole in each slate corresponding to two holes in the plate, taking
care that these two holes shall just clear the upper edge of the lath; by driving two
pins into these holes the slate is firmly held, but can be easily released by with-
drawing these pins from below. It is obvious however that after explaining the
principle and illustrating it with these two examples, anyone with a little ingenuity
could almost indefinetely vary the details without departing materially from the
Din 31

page_text: principles of this Invention; it is needless therefore to enlarge further in regard to
wooden roofs.
With regard to iron roofs, I sometimes fasten a spring clip to the under side of
the plate above described; this clip clips the lath and thus does without nailing.
These clips can also be used in wooden roofs.
Another plan is to have a hole drilled in the lath between each slate and the
next, and nail the plate on by clenching.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Henry Kershaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd July
1877.
WILLIAM HENRY KERSHAW, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Timber
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLATE ROOFS AND OTHER
ROOF COVERINGS."
In slate roofs as ordinarily constructed it is almost impossible to take the slates
off without breaking large numbers. It is also very difficult to make repairs with-
out their showing. It is to remedy these defects that this my Invention is designed.
It consists chiefly in fastening the slates to the laths indirectly instead of directly
and in using a plate of some suitable material, such as sheet lead or iron, together
with pegs easily removed instead of putting the nails through holes in the slates
themselves.
There are various ways of doing this; the following are perhaps the best plans :-
1st. (Shown in Figures 5 to 8.) Cut with a circular saw or otherwise a nick A,
say an inch deep, on each side of each slate B. Then take a thin metal clip C and
cause it to clip the lath D and the two slates, clipping them through the nicks A.
The clip can be either nailed to the lath, as in Figure 7, or bent round over it, as
shown in Figure 8, or otherwise attached.
2nd Plan. (Figures 1 to 4.) Place a plate C of thin metal over the two slates B
where they join and immediately over the lath, drive a nail into the plate between
the slates into the lath D bélow, or in the case of metal laths put a split pin or
clinchable nail through and clench the end. Next drill a hole A¹ in each slate
corresponding to two holes in the plate, taking care that these two hölés shall just
clear the upper edge of the lath D; by driving two pins into these holes the plate
is firmly held but can be easily released by withdrawing these pins. It is obvious
however that after explaining the principle and illustrating it with these two
examples, anyone with a little ingenuity could almost indefinitely vary the details
without departing materially from the principles of this Invention; it is needless
therefore to enlarge further in regard to wooden roofs.
With regard to iron roofs, I sometimes fasten a spring or other clip to the under
side of the plate above described and put a cotter in. This clip clips the laths and
thus does without nailing, as shown in Figure 8; these clips can also be used in
wooden roofs.
Another plan is to have a hole drilled in the lath between each slate and the next
and nail the plate on by clenching. The plate or clip C can be made of wood if
desirable to withstand chemical fumes.
Having now described my Invention and the best modes known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
1st. The mode herein described of fastening slates or tiles to the laths or their
equivalents by means of plates fastened or clipped to the laths so that the slates

page_text: can easily be removed when required instead of nailing or tying the slates direct to
the laths as is usually done.
2nd. The plate or clip C for the purposes described.
In. witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Kershaw, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM HENRY KERSHAW. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. P. THOMPSON,
British & Foreign Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.