U.S. patent number 3,921,358 [Application Number 05/524,158] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-25 for composite shingle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GAF Corporation. Invention is credited to Phillip S. Bettoli.
United States Patent |
3,921,358 |
Bettoli |
November 25, 1975 |
Composite shingle
Abstract
A composite roofing shingle includes a rectangular sheet having
a butt portion which is divided into spacedapart tabs and an
elongated strip which is secured to the butt portion underlying at
least one of the tabs. In a first embodiment, the elongated strip
is interwoven with successive tabs; in a second embodiment, the
tabs are spaced apart from each other at a distance approximating
their widths and the strip is secured to the sheet in a position
underlying the tabs and filling the spaces therebetween.
Inventors: |
Bettoli; Phillip S.
(Martinville, NJ) |
Assignee: |
GAF Corporation (New York,
NY)
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Family
ID: |
27061401 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/524,158 |
Filed: |
November 15, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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882654 |
Dec 5, 1969 |
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644296 |
Jun 7, 1967 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/314; 52/419;
52/557; 52/555 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D
1/26 (20130101); E04D 2001/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04D
1/26 (20060101); E04D 1/00 (20060101); E04D
001/26 (); E04D 001/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/311,314,419,420,454-459 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sutherland; Henry C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pennie & Edmonds
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation, Ser. No. 882,654, filed Dec. 5, 1969, now
abandoned which is continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 644,296, filed
Jun. 7, 1967, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A composite asphalt-impregnated felt roofing shingle comprising
a rectangular sheet having a headlap portion and a butt portion,
the butt portion comprising a series of tabs separated by spaces
extending continuously from the headlap portion to the exposed edge
of the butt portion; and an elongated rectangular strip of
substantial thickness having substantially the same length as the
sheet and a width substantially equal to the height of the butt
portion, the strip being interwoven with successive tabs, a
longitudinal marginal edge of the strip coinciding with the exposed
longitudinal marginal edge of the butt portion.
2. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 1 wherein the
strip and the sheet are substantially equal in thickness.
3. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 1 wherein the
tabs are of varying widths.
4. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 1 wherein the
sheet and the strip are coated with mineral granules.
5. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 4 wherein the
granules of the sheet differ in color from the granules of the
strip.
6. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 4 wherein the
granules of the sheet differ in size from the granules of the
strip.
7. A roof covering comprising a plurality of successive courses of
asphalt impregnated felt roofing shingles, the shingles of each
course being laid side-by-side, each course being offset from the
adjacent courses by approximately one-half the length of a shingle,
and each shingle comprising a rectangular sheet having a headlap
portion and a butt portion, the butt portion comprising a series of
tabs separated by spaces extending continuously from the headlap
portion to exposed edge of the butt portion; and an elongated
rectangular strip having substantially the same length and
approximately the same thickness as the sheet and a width
substantially equal to the height of the butt portion, the strip
being interwoven with successive tabs, a longitudinal marginal edge
of the strip coinciding with the exposed longitudinal marginal edge
of the butt portion; the exposed edges of the butt portions of
successive courses having a thickness substantially twice that of
the headlap portions.
8. A roof covering according to claim 7 wherein a tab of each
shingle in a given course underlies the interstices between
abutting shingles of the adjacent overlying course, the tab being
of sufficient width to prevent penetration through to the
underlying shingles of moisture which may seep through the
interstices.
9. A composite asphalt-impregnated felt roofing shingle comprising
a sheet of substantial thickness having a rectangular headlap
portion and a butt portion which includes a series of tabs integral
with and extending from the headlap portion, the tabs being spaced
apart from each other at varying substantial distances, at least
some of the tabs and some of the spaces between the tabs differing
from each other in width and the aggregate width of the tabs being
approximately equal to the aggregate width of the spaces which
separate the tabs, and both the tabs and the spaces which separate
the tabs extending continuously from the headlap portion to the
exposed longitudinal marginal edge of the butt portion; and an
elongated rectangular strip of substantial thickness having about
the same length as the sheet and a width about equal to the height
of the butt portion, the strip being secured to the sheet in a
position underlying at least a lower marginal edge of the headlap
portion and a substantial portion of the tabs and the spaces
therebetween; a plurality of the shingles being capable of
constituting a roof covering wherein courses of shingles are laid
side-by-side and the shingles of immediately adjacent courses are
capable of being variably offset from each other at random
distances less then the length of an individual shingle.
10. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 9 wherein one
transverse marginal edge of the butt portion is of single thickness
as defined by a transverse marginal edge of the underlying strip
and the opposite transverse marginal edge of the butt portion is of
double thickness as defined by the coincidence of a transverse edge
of a tab and the other transverse marginal edge of the strip.
11. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 9 wherein a
marginal edge of the strip underlies a marginal edge of the headlap
portion, the underlying portion of the strip being secured in a
watertight manner to the headlap portion.
12. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 9 wherein the
strip and the sheet are substantially equal in thickness.
13. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 9 wherein the
tabs are of varying widths.
14. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 9 wherein the
sheet and the strip are coated with mineral granules.
15. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 14 wherein the
granules of the sheet differ in color from the granules of the
strip.
16. A composite roofing shingle according to claim 10 wherein the
granules of the sheet differ in size from the granules of the
strip.
17. A roof covering comprising a plurality of successive courses of
asphalt-impregnated felt roofing shingles of substantial thickness,
the shingles of each course being laid side-by-side and capable of
being variably offset from the shingles of immediately adjacent
courses at random distances less than the length of an individual
shingle; each shingle having a rectangular headlap portion and a
butt portion which includes a series of tabs integral with and
extending from the headlap portion, the tabs of each shingle being
spaced apart from each other at varying substantial distances, at
least some of the tabs and some of the spaces between the tabs
differing from each other in width and the aggregate width of the
tabs being approximately equal to the aggregate width of the spaces
which separate the tabs, and both the tabs and the spaces which
separate the tabs extending continuously from the headlap portion
to the exposed longitudinal marginal edge of the butt portion; and
an elongated rectangular strip of substantial thickness having
about the same length as the sheet and a width about equal to the
height of the butt portion, the strip being secured to the sheet in
a position underlying at least a lower marginal edge of the headlap
portion and a substantial portion of the tabs and the spaces
therebetween; the exposed edge of the butt portion of successive
courses of shingles being of single thickness in some random
substantial areas of the roof, of double thickness in other random
substantial areas of the roof and of triple thickness in still
other random substantial areas of the roof.
18. A roof covering according to claim 17 wherein the shingles of a
given course are offset from the shingles of an immediately
subjacent course by a first longitudinal distance and the shingles
of another given course are offset from the shingles of an
immediately subjacent course by a second longitudinal distance, the
first and second longitudinal distances being unequal to each other
and less than the length of a shingle.
19. A roof covering according to claim 17 wherein the underlying
strip portions of the shingles of a first course are in flush
contact with and adhesively bonded to the headlap portions of the
shingles of an immediately subjacent second course.
20. Paired, individual appliable, composite asphalt-impregnated
felt roofing shingles, each shingle comprising a sheet of
substantial thickness having a rectangular headlap portion and a
butt portion which includes a series of spaced-apart tabs integral
with and extending from the headlap portion, each tab and each
space between the tabs of each shingle of the pair being
quadrilateral and extending continuously from the headlap portion
to the exposed longitudinal marginal edge of the butt portion, at
least some of the tabs and some of the spaces being dissimilar from
each other in width, and the tabs of the first shingle of each pair
conforming in size and shape to the spaces between the tabs of the
second shingle of the pair and the tabs of the second shingle
conforming in size and shape to the spaces between the tabs of the
first shingle; and an elongated rectangular strip of substantial
thickness having about the same length as the sheet and a width
about equal to the height of the butt portion, the strip being
secured to the sheet in a position underlying at least a lower
marginal edge of the headlap portion and a substantial portion of
the tabs and the spaces therebetween; a plurality of the shingles
being capable of constituting a roof covering wherein courses of
shingles are laid side-by-side and the shingles of immediately
adjacent courses are capable of being variably offset from each
other at random distances less than the length of an individual
shingle and each shingle of each pair capable of being randomly
arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the
shingles of each other pair of shingles applied to the roof.
21. Paired individually applicable composite roofing shingles
according to claim 20 wherein at least one transverse marginal edge
of at least one tab is skewed with respect to a transverse marginal
edge of the rectangular sheet.
22. A roof covering comprising a plurality of successive courses of
paired, individually appliable, rectangular asphaltimpregnated felt
roofing shingles of substantial thickness, the shingles of each
course being laid side-by-side and capable of being variably offset
from the shingles of immediately adjacent courses at random
distances less than the length of an individual shingle and each
shingle of each pair capable of being randomly arranged with
respect to each other and with respect to the shingles of each
other pair of shingles applied to the roof; each shingle having a
rectangular headlap portion and a butt portion which includes a
series of spaced-apart tabs integral with and extending from the
headlap portion, each tab and each space between the tabs of each
shingle of each pair being quadrilateral and extending continuously
from the headlap portion to the exposed longitudinal marginal edge
of the butt portion, at least some of the tabs and some of the
spaces being dissimilar from each other in width, and the tabs of
each shingle of each pair conforming in size and shape to the
spaces between the tabs of the other shingle of each pair; and an
elongated rectangular strip of substantial thickness having about
the same length as the sheet and a width about equal to the height
of the butt portion, the strip being secured to the sheet in a
position underlying at least a lower marginal edge of the headlap
portion and a substantial portion of the tabs and the spaces
therebetween; the exposed edge of the butt portion of successive
courses of shingles being of single thickness in some random
substantial areas of the roof, of double thickness in other random
substantial areas of the roof and of triple thickness in still
other random substantial areas of the roof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a roofing shingle and, more particularly,
to a weather-resistant composite asphaltimpregnated roofing shingle
and a method for manufacturing the shingle.
Roofing shingles comprising felt or fabric stock impregnated with
asphalt and covered with colored mineral granules are well known.
Heretofore they have served as relatively inexpensive alternatives
to tile, slate and wood roofing shingles. Although asphalt shingles
are fire-resistant, give good protection and are durable, their
substantially planar appearance has made them less pleasing to the
eye and less imposing than their more expensive counterparts.
Asphalt shingles having areas of different colors have not been
successfully made heretofore with a sharp vertical line of
demarcation between the colors because the normal method of
distributing the colored granules results in a transitional area
between colors. Thus they do not present the sharply defined
variegation of colors which is possible with abutting wooden
shingles. Further, the application of excess granules and the
subsequent removal and reuse of the unembedded granules often
results in undesirable mixtures of granules sizes and colors. Due
to this uncontrolled variation in surface texture and color,
unsightly "off color" areas which are caused either by color
differences or by differences in the light reflective
characteristics of granules of different sizes imbedded in the
shingle may appear at random on the shingle surface.
Asphalt shingles heretofore available are at a competitive
disadvantage with the more expensive roofing shingles because they
lack the irregular, bulky butt edge profile and surface contour
which is characteristic of roofs of wood shingles. Additionally,
the installation of conventional asphalt shingles is tedious and
time consuming because such shingles are applied in a regular
pattern which requires precise alignment of adjacent courses.
Particular care must be taken in the proper alignment of
conventional shingles when the roof deck includes a dormer or a
chimney because shingles at either side of the dormer must meet at
its vertex and be disposed uniformly upwardly on the deck to the
ridge of the roof; also, such shingles must fit in a manner which
enables the proper alignment of cutouts in the courses above the
dormer. Finally, the shingles at the ends of each course of
shingles must be cut to conform with the edge of the roof deck.
Frequently, the projecting excess portion of a conventional shingle
is not severed at the cut-out space between adjacent tabs with the
result that in most instances such excess portion must be discarded
or trimmed to eliminate the fractional tab. The wastage involved
increases costs and the trimming procedures are unduly
time-consuming.
Many futile attempts have been made in the prior art to provide
asphalt shingles which would achieve the substantial structural and
architectural appearance characteristic of wood roofing shingles.
For example, the prior art suggests that an asphalt shingle may be
endowed with a massive ornamental effect by securing an additional
strip beneath the closely spaced tabs of a conventional shingle.
However, the structure which is obtained, although massive, still
provides only the regular, uniform butt edge profile and surface
contour which denotes the common asphalt shingle. It has also been
proposed that an asphalt shingle be constructed with a plurality of
tongues, the upper ends of which are free and the lower ends of
which are integral with the body of the shingle. A strip is placed
behind the body of the shingle but in front of the tongues which
have been fastened to the deck. Such structure provides only a
single thickness, uniform butt edge profile and regular,
insignificant discontinuities in the surface contour.
In short, the appearance of the prior art asphalt shingle indicated
its lower cost. Manufacturers of asphalt shingles have long
recognized these problems and have sought to improve the appearance
of asphalt shingles by producing them in many colors and by varying
the configuration of the tabs. Attempts have also been made to
produce irregular surface contours which would give the shingle a
bulkier appearance but these efforts have failed. The goal of
producing an inexpensive asphalt shingle which had the physical
appearance of the more expensive shingle has until now eluded those
skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a composite asphalt-impregnated felt
roofing shingle comprising a rectangular sheet having a headlap
portion and a butt portion. The butt portion is divided into a
series of spaced apart tabs. An elongated strip which is
substantially the same length and preferably substantially the same
thickness as the sheet (though it may be appreciably thicker or
thinner) and substantially the same width as the height of the butt
portion is secured to the butt portion in a position underlying at
least one of the tabs. One embodiment of the present invention
contemplates interweaving the strip with successive closely-spaced
tabs. A second embodiment contemplates a sheet in which the tabs
are spaced apart from each other at a distance approximating their
width and the strip is secured to the sheet in a position
underlying the tabs and filling the spaces therebetween.
A method for manufacturing the composite shingle of the second
embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of
providing a rectangular sheet of a length at least equal to that of
the finished shingle and a width equal to twice the headlap portion
plus the height of the butt portion of the finished shingle. The
rectangular sheet is then divided along a predetermined path to
obtain two complementary segments. Each segment has a headlap
portion and a butt portion which includes a series of tabs
extending from the headlap portion and being spaced apart from each
other at a distance approximating their widths. Finally, an
elongated rectangular strip of substantial thickness is secured to
the butt portion of each segment in a position underlying the tabs
and filling the spaces therebetween. The underlying strip has about
the same length as the segment and a width about equal to the
height of the butt portion.
The composite shingle of the present invention, and particularly
the shingle of the second embodiment, presents numerous significant
advantages over conventional asphalt shingles. The unique structure
of the shingle of the second embodiment enables the achievement of
a roof covering which presents an irregular, bulky butt edge
profile and surface contour which compares favorably to the
substantial and imposing architectural appearance of more expensive
roofing materials. Of equal importance, the novel underlying
concept of the shingle of the second embodiment enables substantial
savings in time and labor upon installation as well as a
significant decrease in wastage of material. Unlike the
conventional asphalt shingle, the shingle of the second embodiment
is structured for application in an irregular manner. Course after
course may be installed without the necessity of continual
adjustment to obtain proper alignment of cutouts. Dormers and
chimneys likewise no longer present a problem because the tedious
and timeconsuming process of alignment and matching is
unnecessary.
In contrast to the material wastage which necessarily resulted when
conventional shingles were trimmed at the rake edge of a roof deck,
fractional portions of the present shingle are readily usable in
other courses without prior trimming. Finally, the unique method of
making the shingle of the second embodiment enables the achievement
of this novel structure at the lowest possible cost since no scrap
whatever is produced.
The tabs of the shingles of both embodiments may be of varying
widths, and the sheet and strip colors may be selected so as to be
complementary or contrasting with sharp lines of demarcation
between the various colors. Finally, by selection of granules of
differing sizes and shapes for the butt portion and the strip
respectively, controlled changes in surface color and texture may
be obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present
shingle;
FIG. 1A is a plan view of the sheet portion of the shingle of FIG.
1;
FIG. 1B is a plan view of the strip portion of the shingle of FIG.
1;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present
shingle;
FIG. 2A is a plan view of the headlap-butt portion of the shingle
of FIG. 2 prior to assembly;
FIG. 2B is a plan view of the elongated rectangular strip portion
of the shingle of FIG. 2 prior to assembly;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a section of roof laid with FIG. 1
shingles;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a section of roof laid with FIG. 2
shingles;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a sheet from which segments of the
shingle of FIG. 2 are obtained; and
FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the sheet of FIG. 5A which has
been divided into two complementary segments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.
1-1B, is a composite roofing shingle 10 comprising a rectangular
sheet 11 of asphalt-impregnated and coated cellulosic felt or other
suitable material. The rectangular sheet 11 includes a headlap
portion 12 and a butt portion 13 which is divided into a series of
spaced-apart tabs 14. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the tabs 14 are
quite closely spaced and the spaces extend continuously from the
headlap portion 12 to the exposed longitudinal marginal edge 13a of
the butt portion 13. The tabs 14 may be of equal or of varying
widths and of rectangular, trapezoidal or other desired shape. It
is preferred, however, that the central tab be of substantial width
so that it will underlie the abutting side edges of adjoining
shingles in the adjacent overlying course when the shingles are
installed in the usual manner of offsetting successive courses a
distance approximately one-half the length of a shingle as shown in
FIG. 3. The weather surface of sheet 11 is coated with mineral
granules 15 which are available in a large variety of colors and in
different size gradings.
As is the usual practice in the manufacture of asphalt roofing in
shingles, the height of the unexposed portion, when applied, is
about two inches greater than the height of the exposed portion.
This construction provides for proper drainage of moisture that may
enter the cracks between abutting shingles 10. The moisture will
then contact the headlap portion of the subjacent shingle and drain
properly rather than seeping over the marginal edge of the headlap
portion of the subjacent shingle.
An elongated strip 16, also of asphalt impregnated and coated felt
or suitable weather-proofed material, is of substantial thickness,
of substantially the same length as the sheet 11 and of
substantially the same width as the height of the butt portion 13
of the sheet 11. Although in normal practice the sheet 11 and strip
16 will be substantially equal in thickness, it is contemplated
that the sheet 11 may be made thicker than the strip 16 or that the
strip 16 may be thicker than the sheet 11 to achieve a greater
variance in surface and butt edge contour. As shown in FIG. 1, the
strip 16 is interwoven with successive tabs 14 of the butt portion
13 and is secured thereto by an asphalt adhesive or other suitable
means. A longitudinal marginal edge 16a coincides with the exposed
longitudinal marginal edge 13a of the butt portion 13. The strip 16
also is coated on its weather surface with mineral granules 17,
allowing selection of the sheet 11 and the strip 16 colors either
to complement or to contrast.
The shingle of the first embodiment has a butt portion thickness
twice that of its headlap portion, the butt portion being of
irregular surface contour because of the interweaving of the strip
and the tabs. In the FIG. 1 embodiment there are small spaces 18
where the strip 16 abuts the headlap portion 11 between the
successive tabs 14. Therefore, it is important to install each
course of shingles so that the lower edge of the butt portions of
an upper course slightly overlap the upper part of the butt
portions of the subjacent course to prevent direct seepage of rain
water or other moisture through the spaces 18. Furthermore,
arranging a large tab of an underlying shingle directly below the
interstice between abutting shingles of an overlying course assures
that water which enters the interstice between the abutting
shingles will drain over the surface of the underlying tab and not
penetrate the underlying shingle where the strip abuts the headlap
portion.
A composite shingle 20 of the second embodiment of the present
invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-2B, comprises a generally
rectangular sheet 21 of asphalt-impregnated cellulosic felt or
other suitable weather-proofed material which includes a headlap
portion 22 and a butt portion 23. The butt portion 23 is divided
into a series of spaced-apart tabs 24 which are integral with and
extend from the headlap portion 22. The tabs 24 are spaced apart
from each other at a distance approximating their width and the
spaces which separate the tabs 24 extend continuously from the
headlap portion 22 to the exposed longitudinal marginal edge 23a
the butt portion 23. In general, the aggregate width of tabs 24 is
approximately equal to the aggregate width of the spaces
therebetween. The tabs 24 may be of equal or of different widths
and of rectangular, trapezoidal or other desired shape and as in
the case of FIG. 1 embodiment, the weather surface of sheet 21 is
coated with colored mineral granules 25.
An elongated strip 26, also of suitable weather-proofed material,
is usually the same type of material as the sheet 21, and is coated
on its weather surface with colored mineral granules. The strip 26
has about the same length and thickness as the sheet 21 but is
preferably of slightly greater width (say about one inch wider)
than the height of the butt portion 23 of the sheet 21. As shown in
FIG. 2, the strip 26 is secured to the sheet 21 in a position
underlying the tabs 24 and filling the spaces therebetween. At
least a portion of a lower longitudinal marginal edge 28a of the
strip 26 coincides with the exposed longitudinal marginal edge 23a
of the butt portion 23. Preferably, a lower marginal edge 27 of the
headlap portion 22 slightly overlaps an upper marginal edge 28b of
the strip 26 and is secured thereto by asphaltic adhesive or other
suitable means to ensure a watertight seal between the sheet 21 and
the strip 26. Each tab 24 is also secured to the strip 26 by
adhesive or other suitable means.
This construction provides a shingle having a butt portion of
irregular surface contour, for it has a double thickness where the
strip 26 underlies a tab 24 and only a single thickness in the
portions between tabs 24. Additionally, one transverse marginal
edge 23b of the butt portion 23 is of single thickness as defined
by a transverse marginal edge of the underlying strip 26, and the
opposite transverse marginal edge 23c of the butt portion 23 is of
double thickness as defined by the coincidence of a transverse edge
of a tab 24 and the other transverse marginal edge of the strip
26.
As in the case of the FIG. 1 embodiment, sheet 21 and strip 26
colors may be complementary or contrasting as desired.
A further advantage of the FIG. 2 embodiment is its economy of
manufacture. In practice, two sheets are made from one larger piece
which is equal in length to the sheets but wider by a dimension
equal to the height of a headlap portion. When the larger piece is
divided into two sheets the tabs of one sheet are formed from the
spaces between the tabs of the other sheet. Thus, the amount of
material necessary to obtain the advantages of the present shingle
is not much greater than the amount required to make a prior art
shingle.
Otherwise stated, the shingle 20 of the second embodiment is
manufactured from a rectangular asphalt-impregnated sheet 40 shown
in FIG. 5A. The rectangular sheet 40 is of a length 41 at least
equal to that of a finished shingle 20 and is of a width 42 equal
to twice the height of the headlap portion 22 plus the height of
the butt portion 23 of a finished shingle 20. The rectangular sheet
40 is divided along a predetermined unidimensional path 44 to
obtain two complementary segments 40a, 40b as shown best in FIG.
5B. The aggregate surface area of the complementary segments 40a,
40b is substantially equal to the surface area of the rectangular
sheet 40, there being no unusable scrap material left over. Each
segment 40a, 40b corresponds structurally and functionally to the
sheet 21, previously described and illustrated in FIG. 2A. One
terminus 45 of the predetermined path 44 is a first locus on a
first transverse marginal edge 46 of the rectangular sheet 40 which
is displaced from a first longitudinal marginal edge 47 at a
distance equal to the height of the headlap portion 22 of a
finished shingle 20. The other terminus 48 is a second locus on a
second transverse marginal edge 49 of the rectangular sheet 40,
which is displaced from a second longitudinal marginal edge 51 at a
distance equal to the height of the headlap portion 22 of a
finished shingle 20.
An elongated rectangular strip corresponding structurally and
functionally to strip 26 previously described and illustrated in
FIG. 2B is secured to the butt portion of each segment 40a, 40b in
a position underlying the tabs and filling the spaces therebetween,
a longitudinal marginal edge of the strip coinciding with the
exposed longitudinal marginal edge of the butt portion.
As seen best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shingles of the present
invention, when installed, are substantial and attractive in
appearance. FIG. 3 illustrates a roof of FIG. 1 shingles which,
because of the interweaving of the strip with the tabs, normally
has a butt edge thickness substantially twice that of roofs of
prior art shingles. The interweaving also produces an irregular
roofing surface contour.
Referring particularly to FIG. 4 which illustrates a roof covered
with a plurality of successive offset courses of rectangular
composite shingles according to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the
single thickness transverse marginal edge of the butt portion of
each shingle of a given course abuts the double thickness
transverse marginal edge of the adjacent shingle of that course.
Furthermore, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, the shingles of a
course 52 are offset from the shingles of an immediately subjacent
course 53 by a first longitudinal distance and the shingles of
course 53 are, in turn, offset from the shingles of an immediately
subjacent course 54 by a second longitudinal distance, the first
and second longitudinal distances being unequal to each other. In
fact, the respective courses of shingles of the FIG. 2 embodiment,
unlike conventional shingles, may be offset from each other at any
distance less than the length of a shingle and such distance may be
varied at random without adversely affecting the quality and
appearance of the ultimate roof covering. Variations of surface
contour on a roof of the present shingles are particularly evident
in FIG. 4 wherein the exposed lower edges of the butt portion of
successive courses are of a thickness equal to the single (at 31),
double (at 32) and triple (at 33) thickness of the granule-covered
sheet material of which the shingle is made, each variation in
thickness being evident in substantial areas of the roof.
The shingles of the present invention are particularly well suited
for use with the self-sealing adhesives which are well known in the
art. Groups of adhesive spots may be employed on the headlap
portion of the presen shingle immediately adjacent the butt portion
to adhere the butt portions of the shingles of the adjacent
overlying course thereto. This is possible because the courses of
shingles overlie each other in flush contact even though their
exposed surfaces are irregular.
* * * * *