Improvements in Roofing Tiles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roofing Tiles.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The General
Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad
by Carl Friedrich Bellino, of the firm of Bellino & Co. of Göppingen, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to roofing tiles whereby they can be fixed to a roof by
unskilled workmen and can be packed and transported with much greater safety than
hitherto as they can be placed one upon the other without fear of being damaged, the
tiles possessing no hooks or projecting rivets. Moreover the tiles can be placed in
position without the employment of any special appliances or tools.
The said tiles are of a form which presents very considerable technical advantages
amongst which may be especially mentioned that they possess great strength and
lightness as they can be made of comparatively thin sheet metal and the tiles can be
employed so as to expose a large surfare of each tile, or as when roofing in the
ordinary manner the tiles may considerably overlap one another.
Hitherto tiles, for the purpose of fastening them have been provided with hooks
into which fit lugs of a size corresponding to the different thicknesses of the laths;
and even when these lugs were formed on the tiles they had to be made in different
sizes to suit the thickness of the laths.
But whether the pieces for fastening the tiles be made separate and be attached to
the tiles when fixing them or whether they be previously connected, in each case
there are projecting pieces, either hooks or rivets, to receive the lugs, or the lugs
themselves project which prevent the tiles being packed in layers one above another
for transport as the hooks or rivets into which fit the lugs project very considerably
and fracture the tiles during transport, and the lugs when connected with the tiles
become broken off, so that on arrivel at the destination a large number of the
tiles are useless.
These objections are overcome by the present invention according to which a
narrow pliable tongue of metal is rivetted on to the under surface of the tiles.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will proceed to
describe how it can be carried into effect by reference to the accompanying drawing,
in which
Figure 1 is a top view and
Figure 2 an under side view of a metal tile made according to this invention.
Figures 3 & 4 are sections on the lines y, of Figure 1 and 2, 2 of Figure 2
respectively.
Figure 5 is a section on the line x, x of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a similar section of one of the tiles shewn attached to a roof lath.
Figure 7 is a plan of the under side of Figure 6.
Figures 8 and 9 are sections illustrating the method of packing the tiles for
transport.
Figure 10 shews in section and in perspective a portion of a roof covered with the
improved tiles.
Figure 11 is an underneath plan of part of the roof.
Figure 12 is a plan of the top side of Figure 11 the tiles being placed with their
side edges in a continuous line and
Figure 13 is a similar view the tiles being placed with their side edges breaking
joint.
The improved tile consists accentially of a motal whin And 0

page_text: to the under surface of which are rivetted or secured by any suitable means a number
of pliable thin metal-tongues B.
The tile is bent at a and at b in opposite directions so that the bottom of one
tile can overlap the top of the next one whilst ate the tile, is provided, with half round
ribs. The surfaces fare curved or arched upwards whereby the tiles are rendered
capable, of bearing a much greater weight than has hitherto been the case with the
thick metal tiles usually employed.
In Figure 10 h, shows the metal tongue B straight, while g shows it bent over a
lath C. The upper and lower bent portions are shewn at i. They overlap one
another as shewn and by pulling the metal tongue B and bending it over the lath c
the parts are pressed tightly against one another.
As the metal tongue is rivetted on to the back of the tile near its end at k, and
consequently is in contact with the lath C it follows that in making the bend no
direct pressure is exercised on the fastening rivet, but on the upper edge of the lath
so that there is no risk of the rivetted metal tongues B being pulled off while the tiles
are being fixed.
The improved tiles may be laid with their side edges in a line as in Figure 12 or
breaking joint as in Figure 13.
When it is desired to change the tiles, the bent tongue B is straightened,
which operation can be performed as often as is necessary, as the tongues are
made thin and of suitable material so that the tongues or rivets will not be
torn off.
By this method of securing the tiles they can be employed both for lengthwise and
overlap roofing, even where the laths are unequal in thickness and length-which they
frequently are without the weather tightness of the roof being affected in the least.
By means of the overlapping bent edges the operation of roofing is greatly facilitated,
as they allow of the tiles being easily fixed in a straight line.
In roofing with the improved tiles it is immaterial whether the laths be made of
iron or wood or whether they are of the same thickness and width or, as is frequently
the case, differ in this respect.
The sectional shape of the laths is also unimportant as the tiles are fixed securely in
position by bending the metal tongues by pressure which will depend on the thickness
of the lath to which the tile is to be attached.
To prevent the formation of rust between the tiles and their points of support the
metal tongues, when perforated ready for rivetting, and also the perforated tiles may
be coated with a suitable rust resisting varnish or lacquer, and then rivetted with
copper rivets, by which means a weather-tight and rust-proof joint is produced.
It is evident that by means of the roofing tiles hereinbefore described an ornamental
roof can be constructed which will prove both weather proof and fire proof, both the
material and form of the tiles admitting of variation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A roofing tile such as A adapted to be secured in position by applying pressure,
which will depend on the thickness, width or form of the lath, to a straight metal
tongue or tongues such as B of suitable material attached to the under side of the
tile, the said tongues being capable of being subsequently pressed back to enable the
tile to be removed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawing.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved roofing tiles hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 02-1 J
C1900
ย
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant..