IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING TILES, AND IN THE METHOD OF UNITING OR KEYING THE SAME TOGETHER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Waters, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, and Francis
Smith Linton, Tobacconist, both of Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING TILES, AND IN THE METHOD
OF UNITING OR KEYING THE SAME TOGETHER."
Sealed the 11th August 1876, and dated the 3rd June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Waters and Francis
Smith Linton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June
1876.
FRANK WATERS, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, and FRANCIS SMITH LINTON,
"IMPROVEMENTS
Tobacconist, both of Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge.
IN ROOFING TILES, AND IN THE METHOD OF UNITING OR KEYING THE SAME
TOGETHER."
The object of this Invention is so to improve the roll and fillet roofing tile as to
reduce the height of such roll and fillet above the plain surface of the tile, and thus
to give the tile a neater and lighter appearance, which object we attain by the
following means-Instead of forming the roll and fillet entirely upon or above the
upper face of the tile we make such roll and fillet partly projecting above and
partly below the said upper face, thus making the upward projection much less
than heretofore. These rolls and fillets may be of any suitable form in section, but
by preference we form the fillet circular or thereabouts in section, and make it
smaller than usual. The roll also by preference we make cylindrical and hollow,
with a groove formed through the outer part thereof to receive therein the flat or
plain part of the adjoining tile. The hood and cavity formed at or about the centre
part of the ends of the tile for receiving the said roll needs only therefore to have
about half the projection hitherto given thereto. These improvements render our
improved tile much lighter and neater in appearance than any other roll and fillet
tile hitherto used.
In laying our improved tiles we slide the fillet of one tile into the cylindrical roll
of the adjoining tile, and so on side by side along the whole length of the roof. A
row of tiles so interlocked and truly laid form practically one long tile, and cannot
be displaced by winds or storms. The next row of tiles is laid in the same way,
the end of each roll of this second row of tiles is laid in the same way, the end of
each roll of this second row of tiles being placed in the cavity formed in the tile
below, and its hood overlapping the roll of the tile below, and so on until the entire
side of the roof is covered.

page_text: These tiles may be made of clay or other suitable plastic material; they may also
be cast and be of glass, slag, metal, and the like materials; and be either plain or
ornamental as desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Waters and Francis Smith Linton in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 18th September 1876.
FRANK WATERS, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, and FRANCIS SMITH LINTON,
Tobacconist, both of Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROOFING TILES, AND IN THE METHOD OF UNITING OR KEYING THE SAME
TOGETHER."
The object of this Invention is so to improve the roll and fillet roofing tile as to
reduce the height of such roll and fillet above the plain surface of the tile, and thus
to give the tile a neater and lighter appearance; also to more securely unite together
or interlock such tiles when being laid, which object we attain by the following
means:-
In order that our said Invention may be more clearly and more fully under-
stood and be more readily performed, we will explain the same with the aid of the
accompanying Drawing, which forms part of this Specification, reference being
made thereto by the numerals and letters marked thereon, and which reference
applies to each Figure of the said Drawing, where the same index numerals or
letters appear.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper side of our improved tile.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the under side of such tile.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the same.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the lower or front end of the said tile, and shews the
method of keying the tiles together.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the upper or back end of such tile.
Figure G shews a number of the said tiles as they appear when laid on a roof.
Instead of forming the roll a and fillet b entirely upon or above the upper face c
of the tile, we make such roll a and fillet b partly projecting above and partly
below the said upper face c (sec Figures 3, 4, and 5), which makes the upward
projections of the tiles when laid much less than those heretofore used. The rolls a
and fillets b may be of any suitable or convenient form in cross section, but by
preference we make the fillet b cylindrical or thereabouts, and smaller than usual.
The roll & we also by preference make cylindrical and hollow, with a groove a¹
formed through the outer part thereof to receive therein the flat or plain part of the
adjoining tile, as shewn in Figure 4. The hood d and cavity e formed at or near
the centre part of the ends of the tile for receiving the roll a have only about one-
half the projection hitherto given thereto. These improvements render our improved
tiles much lighter and neater in appearance than any other roll and fillet tile
hitherto used.
In laying our improved tiles on a roof we slide the fillet b of one tile in the
hollow of the cylindrical roll a of the adjoining tile (see Figure 4), and lay them
side by side, and so on with the other tiles along the whole length of the roof. A
row of tiles so interlocked and truly laid form practically one long tile, and cannot
be displaced by any ordinary winds or storms. The next row of tiles is laid in the
same way, the end of each roll a of this second row of tiles being placed in the
cavities e formed in the upper parts of the tiles below, and the hoods of the said
second row of tiles overlapping the upper parts of the rolls a of the said tiles below,
and so on until the entire side of a roof is covered.
For convenience of laying and cutting we make the tiles for the outside up and
down rows right and left without the fillet b, and the bottom row of tiles, or the
caves," we make without the hood d, and form such tiles with a flange underneath
68

page_text: their lower ends of about the same thickness as the plain part of the tile, or flush
with the lower part of the roll a.
These tiles may be made of clay or other suitable plastic material; they may also
be cast and be of glass, slag, metal, and the like materials; and be either plain or
ornamental as desired.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, without restricting ourselves to the precise
dimensions or details, or to the forms of the rolls and fillets now illustrated, which
adinit of variations, we claim as our Invention and desire to secure by the herein-
before mentioned in part recited Letters Patent-
Firstly. Forming the rolls and fillets of rooting tiles partly above and partly
below the plain surfaces or parts of such tiles.
Secondly. Making the fillets smaller and consequently lighter than heretofore,
and by preference cylindrical. Also in forming the rolls cylindrical and hollow with
a side groove therein.
Thirdly.
of the tiles.
Making the centre hoods above and the cavities below the upper surface
And, Fourthly. The method of keying or interlocking the tiles together in laying
them. All substantially as herein described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frank Waters and Francis Smith Linton,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
FRANK WATERS.
(L.S.)
FRANCIS SMITH LINTON. (L.S.)