IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROOFING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROOFING." A communication from abroad by
Peter Pierce, of Brooklyn, New York, and Chester Comstock, of New Canaan,
Connecticut, both in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROOFING." [A
communication from abroad by Peter Pierce, of Brooklyn, New York, and Chester
Comstock, of New Canaan, Connecticut, both in the United States of America.]
This Invention has for its object to furnish a durable and slightly flexible sub-
stitute for the ordinary wooden shingles and slates hitherto used for roofing
purposes.
The said Invention consists in the production of sheet-metal pieces which I term
shingles. Each of these shingles is provided with a hollow central rib, and with
half ribs along its vertical edges, the central rib of one shingle being adapted to
overlap the two adjoining half ribs of two shingles placed underneath; to cause the
shingles to interlock laterally and yet rest flush one upon the other. The sheet
metal may be plain, or galvanized, or otherwise prepared to resist the effects of
weather, and may be painted before or after application to the roof. Each of these
sheet-metal shingles has or receives when applied one or more perforations at its
upper part for admitting the fastening nails, pins, or staples. When staples are used
two adjoining shingles may be secured with one staple. The longitudinal central
rib forms a groove along its under side. The vertical edges of the shingle are in
Din 671

page_text: this case turned up, so that where two such edges are placed side by side they will
form nearly or entirely a hollow rib, similar in form to the central hollow rib. These
shingles are so placed on the roof as to break joint, so as to cause the hollow rib of
every upper shingle to fit over and embrace the turned-up edges of the two con-
tiguous shingles next below the said upper shingle,
This construction gives strength to the shingles, locks them together laterally,
and provides guides for rain water, and yet allows the upper shingles to lie flush on
the lower shingles.
The edges of all the shingles excepting the upper and outer series are covered by
the ribs of the shingles next above them. In the uppermost course these edges may
be covered by hollow caps of semi-cylindrical form. On the sides of the roof the
edges coming in contact with copings, chimneys, or walls will aid in forming close
joints.
Additional hollow ribs or beads may be provided if desired.
Each shingle is preferably made with V shaped upper and lower ends. This
form economizes material in the production of the shingles, and makes a proper lap
without waste. It also gives to the finished roof a symmetrical appearance.
The upper end may either have a single V shaped projection or a double V shaped
projection.
I sometimes use a double shingle formed in one piece.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
April 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC ROOFING." A
communication from abroad by Peter Pierce, of Brooklyn, New York, and Chester
Comstock, of New Canaan, Connecticut, both in the United States of America.
This Invention has for its object to furnish a durable and slightly flexible
substitute for the ordinary wooden shingles and slates hitherto used for roofing
purposes.
The said Invention consists in the production of sheet metal pieces, which I term
shingles, each of which is provided with a hollow central rib, and with half ribs
along its vertical edges, the central rib of one shingle being adapted to overlap the
two adjoining half ribs of two shingles placed underneath, to cause the shingles to
interlock laterally and yet rest flush one upon another.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figures 1 and 2 are face views of parts of roofs covered with my improved
shingles.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of a series of such superposed shingles, drawn to
an enlarged scale.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are face views of different kinds of such shingles.
Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views of two of the said shingles, drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents my improved flexible shingle, made of sheet metal, of equal thickness
throughout, and of any suitable form, though the form shown is preferred. The
sheet metal may be plain, or galvanized, or otherwise prepared to resist the effects of
weather, and may be painted before or after application to the roof. Each of these
sheet-metal shingles has or receives when applied one or more perforations a at its
upper part for admitting the fastening nails, pins, or staples. When staples are
used two adjoining shingles may be fastened with one staple. Each of the said
sheet-metal shingles is provided with a longitudinal central rib b, forming a groove
along its under side, as indicated in Figures 3, 8, and 9. By "central" I mean
equidistant from both vertical edges. The vertical edges d, d, of the shingle are in
this case turned up, so that where two such edges d, d, are placed side by side they
will form nearly or entirely a hollow rib, similar in form to the hollow rib b. These
shingles are so placed on the roof as to break joints, thereby causing the hollow
rib b of every upper shingle to fit over and embrace the turned-up edges d, d, of
the two contiguous shingles next below, as clearly shewn in Figure 3.
This construction gives strength to the shingles, locks them together laterally,
furnishes guides for rain water, and yet allows the upper shingles to lie flush on the
lower shingles.
The edges d, d, of all of the shingles excepting the upper and outer series are
covered by the ribs b of the shingles next above them. In the uppermost course
these edges d may be covered by hollow caps of semi-cylindrical form. On the
sides of the roof the edges d coming in contact with copings, chimneys, or walls
will aid in forming close joints.
Additional hollow ribs or beads may be provided if desired.
Each shingle is preferably made with V shaped upper and lower ends. This form
economizes material in the production of the shingles, and makes a proper lap
without waste. It also gives to the finished roof a symmetrical appearance.
The upper end may either have a single V shaped projection, as in Figures 1 and
6, or a double projection, as in Figures 2 and 7.
In Figures 4, 5, and 8 I have shewn a modification, wherein a double shingle is

page_text: formed in one piece. And I may still further modify the form of these metallic
shingles by making them of any desired width.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, a metallic roofing piece or shingle made with a central hollow rib and
with raised edges, so arranged that the central rib of every shingle is adapted
to embrace the two adjoining raised edges of two shingles placed next below,
and that the upper shingle rests flush upon the two lower shingles, as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.