IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL ROOFING TILES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METAL ROOFING TILES" to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object novel methods of making and arranging metal
tiles for roofing by cutting them in a single piece from sheet metal, in such manner
that light, strong, tight, and economical roofs and coverings are obtained, the metal
tiles being so simple in their method of arrangement and connection that a roof can
be effectively and soundly made without the aid of special workmen or tools.
Each tile is cut or stamped out of a sheet of suitable metal, the piece being
formed either with ears or feet folded back. The edges for the full height are
finished with channels, cylindrical beadings, or other convenient form, and the tiles
present above and below two unequal folds arranged to engage into each other in
such manner as to avoid all tendency to the entrance of water by capillary
attraction. The upper fold is bent over above the tile and rises along the beadings,
whilst the lower fold is bent round underneath.
In order to fit and join the tiles together a novel system is made use of, consisting
of hooks or catch pieces of suitable form engaging with the headings, grooves,
projections, and lateral connections of tiles, slates, plates and metal or other sheets,"
which are used for roofing, in such manner that the parts when put together are
rigidly and firmly fixed so that they cannot get loose.
The lower part of the beadings has a notch formed on the outside edge and a
corresponding tongue cut out of the inside edge.
In order to connect the tiles together it is only necessary to pass the tongue of
one into the notch in the next one and to bend it down into the groove, in order to
ensure the safe connection of the entire series.
Where tiles with feet are used the folds are superposed and fitted into each
other and the tongues fit over the grooves, and tiles having ears are also fitted
together in a similar manner,

page_text: The flat surfaces of the tiles may be stamped with figures, ribs, or other suitable
ornaments, or they may be left plain.
In the horizontal jointing together, the part cut out allows the edge of the groove
-to-be-introduced-into-the-fold-and-the-whole-to-be firmly held together..
In the eared tiles described, the ears are nailed flat upon the timbers. Those having
feet are nailed by the latter.
The shape, dimensions, and position of the tongues, hooks, and locking pieces
described, may be varied to suit varying circumstances, and they may be cut, put
together, and soldered at any point; they may be made symetrical or otherwise;
and instead of making upon each of the two projecting parts a notch and a tongue,
a single tongue may be made upon.one and a corresponding notch on the other."
The fastenings are formed and made upon the tile either by turning over the
whole or a portion of the front hooked part for tiles provided with feet, or by first
removing a portion of the front hooked part of which the grooves form a part for
tiles provided with ears.
The improved tiles may be made in zinc, sheet iron, or any other metal, either
plain, nickel plated, galvanized, or covered with any suitable coating or varnish..
It will be seen that by this invention metallic tiles are made of single piece
cut from a metal sheet, and cut away and folded upon itself where necessary, the
fastening being effected by turning back the whole or part of the front hooked part
of tiles fixed by feet, or by removing some of such front-hooked part which forms
part of the grooves in tiles fixed by ears.
The entire series of tiles is hooked and interlocked together by means of folds,
grooves, notches, and tongues forming part of or being fixed upon the tiles; and one
or more such grooves, tongues, notches, or lateral folds may be used and the shape
modified as desired to suit different circumstances.

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex
do hereby declare the nature of the invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL
ROOFING TILES" (a communication to me from abroad by Albert Aimé Jules
Menant and Paul Henri Jules Menant, both of Paris in the Republic of France) and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawing —–—
This invention has for its object novel methods of making and arranging metal
tiles for roofing, by cutting each tile in a single piece from sheet metal, in such
manner that, light, strong, tight, and economical roofs and coverings are obtained,
such metal tiles being so simple in their method of arrangement and connection
together that a roof can be effectively and soundly made without the aid of skilled
workmen or special tools.
Each tile made according to this invention is cut or stamped out of a sheet of
suitable metal, the piece being formed with either lateral ears or vertical feet for
the purpose of attachment, and being folded back and curved for the purposes
hereinafter explained.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, figure 1 representing.
a piece stamped out as described with ears for the purpose of attachment, and
figure 2 a similar piece with feet, the cut or stamped-out pieces being afterwards
raised and folded over as shewn in figures 3 and 4.
When the tiles are finished, it will be seen, as shewn in figures 3 and 4, that they
are bordered for their full depth at each vertical edge with channels, or beadings b,
cylindrical or of other. desired form, and that they also have two opposite folds for
hooking the adjoining tiles together without the risk of intrusion of water by
capillary attraction.
The upper fold at a is bent over in front of the tile against the lateral beadings,
whilst the lower fold a is bent back behind the tile. In order to fit and join the
several tiles together a novel system is made use of consisting of hooks, or catch-
pieces, claws, or stops of suitable form upon the beadings, channels, and lateral
connections of tiles, slates, plates, and metal or other sheets used for roofing, in such
manner that the parts when put together are rigidly and firmly fixed so that they
cannot get loose.
The lower end of the side beadings has a notch made in its outer edge, and a
corresponding tongue c cut out from its inner edge. To fit the tiles together,
therefore, it is only necessary to pass the tongue of one through the notch in the
next, and to bend it up against the beading in order to ensure their safe and
permanent connection.
Figure 5 represents the arrangement of tiles provided with feet, their folds being
superposed and hooked together, and the tongues fixed as described. The sections
show this method of arrangement in detail.
Figure 6 represents the corresponding arrangement of tiles provided with ears,
their connection together being effected in a similar manner.
The flat surfaces of the tiles may have ornamental figures or designs stamped
upon them as shewn, or they may be left plain.

page_text: In figures 5 and 6 it will be seen that the cutting out of the part d allows the
introduction of the edge of the channel or beading into the fold a and tends to
make the whole arrangement very firm. Figures 7 and 8 are sections of the hollow
beadings-with_their_tongues_and_notches; figure 7 representing the end of a
beading cut out as described, and figure 8 the beadings fitted one in the other-and
fixed together.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the appearance presented by roofs covered with tiles
fixed by feet and ears respectively.
Figure 9 shews the method of arranging the tiles having feet, the feet being bent
down and nailed flat upon the battens or wood of the roof.
Figure 11 shews how in this arrangement the tiles fit into one another, and their
feet are nailed down upon the wood.
Figure 10 shews the tiles provided with ears by which they are nailed, instead of
with feet.
The shape, relative dimensions, position of the tongues and notches, and hooks or
stops, may be varied more or less to suit different circumstances. For instance,
they may be cut, brought together, or soldered at any point of the channels,
projections, and lateral connections; they may be made synettrical or otherwise in
shape; and instead of making upon each of the two projecting parts a notch and a
tongue, a tongue only may be made upon one and a corresponding notch upon the
other..
The novel tiles made as described and shewn are put together in position upon
supports of wood or iron. Upon the first row of rafters, or battens or laths, is
fitted a band or strip of zinc, sheet iron, or lead, of suitable shape and width. The
first row of tiles is hooked over this band or strip and nailed upon the laths or
rafters. They fit one another laterally as described, and into the hollow of the first
row is inserted the edge of the second row, and so on continuously, great cohesion
and stability being thus given to the lateral joints as compared with ordinary
systems of tiling.
When all the tiles of a row are in their place, the tongues in the under beadings
are bent over the outer ones, forming hooks which complete the joints and hold them
immoveably fixed. The horizontal rows are fixed one after the other, (in succession
as shewn in figures 5 and 6). In order to finish the last row it may sometimes be
necessary to shorten the tiles by cutting off their lower edge, taking care however
to leave sufficient to bend back so as to form a fresh hook engaging with the upper
hook of the row last laid, and the work is then completed in the ordinary way.
The tiles are joined to the ridge by means of bent strips hooked into them and
nailed to the ridge, a covering strip being then fitted over them.
The tiles are so nailed that they offer the greatest resistance to the wind, that is
to say, flat upon their supports for tiles with ears, and bent over upon the edge of
the supports for those with feet. These attachments are formed from the tiles them-
selves, either by bending back the whole or part of the front hooked part in the
case of tiles having feet, or by taking a part of the tile which joins the channel or
beading of tiles with ears.
The novel tiles described may be made of zinc, sheet iron, or other metal, either
plain, or galvanized, nickelled, or coated with any suitable varnish.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The methods of attaching and fixing metal tiles, by either turning back the
whole or one or more parts of the hooked part of the tile in order to form fect to
receive the nails, or by leaving a part of the tile joining the channels or beadings on
the latter in order to form ears to receive the nails, substantially as described and
shewn in the drawing.

page_text: 2. The method of attaching, hooking together, and fitting the several tiles into
one another, by means of folds, channels, or beadings, notches, and tongues forming
part of or attached to the tiles, substantially as described and shewn in the
drawing.
3. The general method of construction and arrangement of tiles having one or
more channels, tongues, notches, and lateral folds, substantially as and for the
purposes described.