Patent ID: 8499518

Claim:
A molded synthetic individual shingle a plurality of which are adapted to be laid up in a plurality of courses, with a plurality of shingles in each course, with tab portions of shingles in next-overlying courses covering headlap portions of shingles in next-underlying courses and with the tab portions of the shingles being weather-exposed in the installed condition on a roof, with said individual shingle having: (a) a tab portion having right, left and bottom edges and which has an upper surface that is adapted to be weather-exposed in the installed condition on a roof; (b) a headlap portion having right, left and upper edges and which is adapted to be weather-unexposed in the installed condition on a roof; (c) a separation line separating the tab and headlap portions of the shingle; (d) with the right and left edges of the tab portion of the individual shingle being of a narrower dimension and being in cut-back relation to the respective wider right and left edges of the headlap portion of the shingle in the vicinity of the separation line that separates the tab and headlap portions of the individual shingle; (e) the shingle having a top side and a bottom side; with the bottom side being adapted to be applied toward a roof in the installed condition on a roof; (f) with the headlap portion including a top surface on the top side of the shingle; (g) fastener locations on the top surface of the headlap portion of the shingle; and (h) a plurality of molded moisture guards protruding upwardly from the top surface of the headlap portion of the shingle, each one at least partially surrounding an associated fastener location, for deflecting moisture from the associated fastener location, wherein there are at least two fastener locations on the top surface of the headlap portion of the shingle, with each said fastener location having a said moisture guard of clause (h) associated therewith, wherein each moisture guard has an upwardly opening recess therein for receiving the head of a fastener in the recess, and wherein there is a penetrable or at least partially open bottom in the recess through which a fastener may pass, with the penetrable or at least partially open bottom comprising a said fastener location.