Patent ID: 8261505

Claim:
A synthetic roofing element of a shingle or tile type comprising: (a) top and bottom surfaces; (b) a headlap portion and a tab portion between the top and bottom surfaces; (c) the headlap portion being adapted to have its top surface generally covered in the installed condition of the element on a roof, and the tab portion being adapted to have its top surface generally uncovered and weather-exposed in the installed condition of the element on a roof; (d) the element having a periphery defined by upper, lower, right and left edges; (e) the element being essentially principally comprised of a relatively rigid construction; (f) at least one element fastening zone in the headlap portion; (g) the at least one element fastening zone being disposed inside the element periphery and indented in at least one of said top and bottom surfaces, completely surrounded by unindented portions of said element, for receiving a fastener therethrough for fastening the element to a roof; (h) said fastening zone having fastening zone top and bottom surfaces, with at least a portion of the element fastening zone being comprised of a relatively flexible construction, relative to said relatively rigid construction and having a plurality of ridges on at least one of said fastening zone top and bottom surfaces; (i) whereby said relatively flexible construction of the fastening zone of clause (h) relative to the relatively rigid construction of the element outside the fastening zone comprises means for facilitating thermal expansion and contraction of said element without shingle breakage or disrupting a fastener disposed therethrough when the element is disposed on a roof in fastened engagement therewith, with a fastener through said zone.