U.S. patent application number 10/347663 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for single tile having two piece appearance.
Invention is credited to Simmons, Troy.
Application Number | 20040237442 10/347663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33449530 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237442 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simmons, Troy |
December 2, 2004 |
Single tile having two piece appearance
Abstract
A method and apparatus which includes the use of an S-Tile mold,
combined with a scoring/knifing process for providing a channel,
which allows for an S-Tile to be produced which appears to be two
separate but cooperating tile sections having a general C-shaped
cross section. The longitudinal channel 9 may also be painted,
colored, or otherwise darkened in order to accent a "shadow" effect
which causes the eye to better perceive separation of the two
portions 6 and 7 of the tile 5.
Inventors: |
Simmons, Troy; (Laguna
Niguel, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Family ID: |
33449530 |
Appl. No.: |
10/347663 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 1/2916 20190801;
E04D 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/518 |
International
Class: |
E04D 001/00 |
Claims
That which is claimed:
1. A method of providing a tile shape, simulating two tile shapes,
from one tile mold, comprising the steps of: providing a first tile
shape by use of said tile mold; providing the simulation of two
separate second tile shapes by a single tile shape by providing a
simulation interface channel at a location between two portions of
said first tile.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein two similar shapes are simulated
for said second tile shapes.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first tile shape is an S-tile
shape and said second tile shapes are two-Piece Mission tile
shapes.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said simulation interface channel
is darkened to provide a shadow effect.
5. A method of providing a single tile simulating multiple tile
shapes from one tile mold, comprising the steps of: providing a
first tile shape by use of said tile mold and a first slipper; and
providing a second tile shape by use of said tile mold and a second
slipper, said second slipper providing a simulation interface
channel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Various methods have been employed for making concrete
tiles, such as concrete roof tiles. The particular methods used
depend on such things as the shape of the tiles being formed.
Typically, wet concrete is dispensed onto a moving pallet (a.k.a.
"mold"), following which the pallet is passed under a roller and
slipper to form and then shape the tile. A knife assembly chops and
shapes the opposite edges of the tile. The wet concrete is cured
and then removed from the pallet to provide the completed tile.
[0002] In a particular known method of making concrete roof tiles,
a conveyor is used to transport the wet concrete from either a
continuous mixer or a batch mixer to a making head assembly
disposed above a conveyor containing a succession of moving
pallets, arranged end-to-end. The pallets define the general shape
of the tiles to be formed. As each pallet passes within the making
head assembly, wet concrete is dispensed onto the pallet, with the
help of a rotating roller which meters the concrete onto the pallet
and compresses the wet concrete to a desired thickness. The pallet
is then passed beneath a slipper which engages the wet concrete and
has a profile selected to provide the concrete with a desired
cross-sectional configuration. A knife assembly chops the
continuous ribbon of concrete formed on the end-to-end succession
of pallets to define the individual tiles and to shape the edges
thereof. The pallets with the wet concrete extruded, compressed,
shaped and chopped thereon are then separated and advanced to a
racker, where the pallets are loaded onto racks for transport to a
curing facility. The curing facility typically comprises an oven in
which the tiles are heated at a desired temperature and for a
desired period of time to cure the concrete. Following that, each
concrete tile is removed from its supporting pallet to thereby
provide the completed concrete tiles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Generally described, the invention includes the use of an
S-Tile mold, combined with a scoring/knifing process, which allows
for an S-Tile to be produced which appears to be two separate tile
sections having a general C-shaped cross section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0004] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0005] FIGS. 1-15 are prints of digital photographs of a tile 5
according to the present invention. As may be seen these prints
also include additional notes or comments added by hand.
[0006] FIG. 16 is a line drawing of the tile 5 according to the
present invention.
[0007] FIG. 17 is a side cross-section of the tile of FIG. 16.
[0008] FIG. 18 is a line pictorial view of a modified slipper
design 30, which includes a scoring blade 39, which is configured
to form the channel 9 during the forming process. Various alternate
blade shapes are also shown.
[0009] FIG. 19 is an illustrative drawing of the channel shown in
FIG. 17. Partial cross hatching is shown.
[0010] FIG. 20 is an illustrative drawing of alternate channels
9ALT. Partial cross hatching is shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present inventions now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,
these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0012] General Description
[0013] Generally described, the invention includes the use of an
S-Tile mold, combined with a scoring/knifing process, which allows
for an S-Tile to appear as two separate tile sections having a
general C-shaped cross section.
[0014] More Detailed Discussion
[0015] Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which is a pictorial view
of a "modified" S-tile 5, which includes portions 6 and 7, and
defines a head end HE and a tail end TE. Also provided is a channel
9. It should be understood that this tile shape is intended for
installation as a whole on a roofing structure, simulating two
cooperating mission tile shapes.
[0016] Referring now also to FIG. 16, the channel can be {fraction
(3/16)} inch wide, and {fraction (5/32)} deep, although other
configurations are contemplated without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention, especially if such other
configurations are found more structurally and/or aesthetically
effective or desirable. This channel 9 simulates the interface of
two separate tiles corresponding to portions 6 and 7. It should be
understood that this channel may also be painted, colored, or
otherwise darkened in order to accent a "shadow" effect which
causes the eye to better perceive separation of the two portions 6
and 7.
[0017] Manufacturing Considerations
[0018] The overall manufacturing process can be as follows.
Conventional S-type tiles can be made as needed in a conventional
S-tile mold (not shown), with occasionally the modified S-tiles 5
being made. In one example, out of 40,000 tiles being made, the
last 10-15% could be modified S-tiles. However, other manufacturing
ratios may also be provided without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention, and may be easily varied as needed
to accommodate demand.
[0019] The conventional S-tiles will be manually or automatically
de-palleted from the mold as is presently done in the art.
[0020] In order to "switch over" to Simulated Two-Piece Mission
type tiles, under one version of the invention, the line is stopped
and the slipper configuration is changed. Reference is now made to
FIG. 18, which is a pictorial view of a modified slipper design 30,
which includes a scoring blade 39, which is configured to form the
channel 9 during the forming process. In one configuration the
scoring blade is {fraction (5/32)} inches high, {fraction (3/16)}
inches wide, and 1.5 inches in length, although other
configurations are contemplated without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention.
[0021] As noted above, under the first embodiment of the invention,
in order to use the slipper configuration in FIG. 3, the line has
to be stopped and the slippers exchanged. However, an alternative
invention includes the concept of configuring the slipper to allow
the blade 39 to be moved up and down such that it scores as desired
in one position, but presents a flat surface flush with the slipper
in a second position. Another alternative configuration includes
not modifying the slipper at all but simply lowering a tool into
place downstream of the slipper; this could be done while the line
is going.
[0022] Curing and Installation
[0023] The tile 5 will be allowed to cure as all other tiles, and
can be installed in the same manner as a conventional S-tile.
However, should the need arise, the channel could be used as a
break line should the installer need a half tile width at the end
of a course of tiles.
[0024] Alternatives
[0025] There are many alternative channel configurations which may
be used. The rectangular channel may be used as shown in FIGS. 17
and 19, or alternative channel shapes such as shown in FIG. 20 may
be used.
[0026] Conclusion
[0027] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions
set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to
which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings
presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated
drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are
not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms
are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
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