IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR ARRANGEMENT OF METALLIC TILES OR SLABS FOR ROOFINGS OF BUILDINGS GENERALLY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of No. 40, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of " IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR
ARRANGEMENT OF METALLIC TILES OR SLABS FOR ROOFINGS OF BUILDINGS
GENERALLY." A communication from abroad by Luc Guillett-Brossette (Motal
Merchant), of Lyon, Rhone. France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1878.
HENRY GARDNER, of No. 40, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR ARRANGEMENT OF METALLIC TILES OR SLABS FOR
ROOFINGS OF BUILDINGS GENERALLY." A communication from abroad by Luc
Guillet-Brossette (Metal Merchant), of Lyon, Rhone, France.
This Invention relates to improved construction or arrangement of metallic tiles
or slabs for roofings of buildings generally, and consists in constructing metal slabs
or sheets firstly with a raised edge which forms the top portion of a roofing tile, the
lower portion being turned downwards.
The slab is laid upon a backing of wood to preserve its shape, the two being
fastened to the rafter of a roof by nails or other like fasteners; the lower end of
each slab is bent downwards and projects byond the wood backing to overlap
a portion of the next tile below it, whose upper bent end serves for the upper
tile to rest upon and act in conjunction to form a water-tight joint.
According to another construction, the metal sheets have their side edges turned
up to rest against side ribs of the wood backing, so that other sheets which have
their side edges turned downwards against one face of each side piece of wood, then
Price Bd1

page_text: round the lower face and up against the inner face of the same piece of wood, may
rest upon the flat portion of the first-named sheet as an overlap, where the two
bent portions act in conjunction to form a water-tight joint; each of the plates or
sheets of metal of this kind has a raised central rib to permit of contraction and
expansion of the metal under changes of temperature.
The wood backing may in some cases be dispensed with, and then the sheets of
metal, shaped as above described, can be nailed direct on to the roofing rafters.
According to another arrangement, the side edges of the sheets of metal are curled,
one edge upwards and the other downwards, the curls being somewhat open to
permit the curl of one plate being slipped into the other in fitting them in position,
the curls forming the ribs or fillets of the exterior, the interlaced curls of two
adjoining plates serving as a water-tight joint. These plates or sheets of metal
have the central raised rib, the other parts of the plates being flat.
The plate
may however be of corrugated metal with bent or with curled side edges, as
desired.
All kinds of metal are suitable for these roofing tiles, especially galvanized iron,
tinned plates, copper, lead, and zinc, and they can be made in suitable sizes for
transport purposes as to fit one over or into the other with little labour, when
desired, whereby these plates or tiles are particularly applicable for sheds, out-
buildings, huts, and the like..

page_text: Figure 8 is a section taken on the line of juncture of the two rows of superposed
tiles.
The sheet iron, instead of being flat, may be corrugated, as seen in Figure 9.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the distinctive characters of this
Invention,―
First. The employment of overlapping tiles of wood and metal combined, as
described and shown, the edges of the metal being slightly bevilled so that the
metal sheets do not touch each other, and so that water cannot enter the capillary
attraction.
Secondly. The entirely metallic tiles with their longitudinal edges rolled up in
spirals or curls so as to hook and engage together without retaining hooks, as
described, and as shown in the annexed Drawings.
The sizes of these tiles are optional, and they may be flat, with ribs, or corrugated,
and with or without bevilled edges.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
HENRY GARDNER. (L.S.)