Patent ID: 7155870

Claim:
A shingle system for mounting to a support surface comprising: first, upper and second, lower shingle assemblies, each of the first and second shingle assemblies comprising: a support bracket; a shingle body comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and upper and lower edges connected by first and second side edges, the shingle body secured to the support bracket; the support bracket comprising: upper and lower ends; the upper end having an upper support portion extending away from the lower surface, the upper support portion having an upper support-surface-engaging part engageable with a support surface so that the upper edge of the shingle body is positionable at a first distance from the support surface to create a first gap therebetween; and the lower end having a lower support portion extending away from the lower surface; a portion of the shingle body along the lower edge of the first shingle assembly overlying a portion of the shingle body along the upper edge of the second shingle assembly so that the first and second shingle assemblies overlap one another; the lower support portion of the support bracket of the first shingle assembly engageable with the second shingle assembly so to position the lower edge of the shingle body of the first shingle assembly spaced apart from the upper surface of the shingle body of the second shingle assembly to create: (1) a second gap between the lower surface of the shingle body of the first shingle assembly and the upper surface of the shingle body of the second shingle assembly, and (2) an open region beneath the first shingle assembly fluidly coupling the first and second gaps; a chosen one of (1) the lower end of the support bracket of the first shingle assembly and (2) the upper end of the support bracket of the second shingle assembly, comprising a tab extending downwardly away from the shingle body of the first shingle assembly to a position below the upper surface of the shingle body of the second shingle assembly, the tab having an opening formed therein; and the upper end of the support bracket of the other of the (1) the lower end of the support bracket of the first shingle assembly and (2) the upper end of the support bracket of the second shingle assembly, comprising an engagement element engaged within said opening to be completely encircled by said opening.