FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a sheet metal roofing system for installation on a pitched roof beginning at the ridge and ending at the eave, and in particular, it is directed to a sheet metal roofing system that includes a) metal shingles with self-sealing, non-visible interlock joints that provide watertight connections between adjacent shingles without the application of sealant materials, b) universal flashing that includes non-visible interlocking joints adapted to couple with the metal shingles when the universal flashing member is installed as either a ridge cap, hip flashing, or valley flashing, and c) shingle shaping tools that reshape edges of the metal shingles; the combination non-visible interlocking joints, reshaped shingle edges, and an applied paint system providing a sheet metal roofing system having the appearance of slate shingles, terracotta tiles, or like roofing materials.
Water penetration between adjacent metal shingles is a well known problem in the art. Such water problems are most severe in roofs having a moderate pitch, for example between about a 2 in 12 and 4 in 12 roof pitch. The shallower the pitch, the greater the potential for a roof leak. Roof leaks can occur by capillary action, among other reasons, and such water penetration is both difficult to detect and difficult to prevent. There have been various attempts in the past to overcome roof leak problems associated with metal roofing shingles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,519,350 discloses a sheet metal shingle installed from the roof ridge to the eve. The metal shingle includes interlocking joints along the top or weather surface that couple adjacent shingles together. Such exposed joints between shingles are pelted with rain, sleet, and snow and are prone to water penetration. The patent also discloses a ridge cap section that is distinctively different from the valley flashing used with the metal shingles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,515 shows a deformable gasket in a channel along a side edge of a roofing panel. The gasket forms a seal with an interlocking edge of an adjacent panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,801 discloses metal shingles where it is necessary to apply a sealant material, at the job sight, along the joints that interlock adjacent shingles, and the patent specifically teaches that it is important to form a good bond between the applied sealant and the shingle surface. This creates the possibility of having a poor quality seal and potential roof leakage that the present invention overcomes.
Accordingly, there is a long felt need in the art for a metal roofing shingle system with universal flashing and unexposed interlocking joints that resist water penetration without a need for on site applied caulks, sealants, adhesives, or the like, as well as providing a roofing system that is especially suited for application on a shallow pitched roof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a watertight metal roofing shingle system having metal roofing shingles installed starting at the roof ridge cap and ending at the roof eave edge.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a watertight metal roofing shingle system having no exposed connection joints between adjacent the metal roofing shingles so that the finished metal roofing system has an uninterrupted slate like appearance.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a metal roofing shingle system that includes universal flashing with interlock joints that couple to the metal roofing shingles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a metal roofing shingle system whereby, in one embodiment, the universal flashing member is installed as a ridge cap and the interlock joints extend along the underside surface of the ridge cap so that the coupled shingle connection is not visible and is unexposed to weather conditions.
In another embodiment, the universal flashing member is installed as hip flashing along the external angle formed by two different sloping roof sections and the interlock joints extend along the underside surface of the ridge cap so that the coupled shingle connection is not visible and is unexposed to weather conditions.
In still another embodiment, the universal flashing member is installed inverted as valley flashing along the angle where two different roof sections intersect, the inverted interlock joints coupling with intersecting metal roofing shingles to prevent both water and wind damage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a metal roofing shingle with unexposed, interlocking compression joints that provide a watertight connection between adjacent shingles.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a metal roofing shingle with unexposed, interlocking compression joints that provide a watertight connection between adjacent shingles without the application of gaskets, or applied beads of caulk, or like materials.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a metal roofing shingle system having unexposed interlocking joints, in combination with modified gable end and eve edge treatments, and in combination with selected paint systems, that furnish a faux slate or a faux terracotta tile roof system.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lightweight sheet metal roofing system that suitable for installation over existing asphalt roofing shingles.
In satisfaction of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a metal roofing shingle system comprising universal flashing installed as either a ridge cap, hip flashing, or valley flashing and including non-visible double-flanged interlock joints and interlock compression joints that extend along the underside of the flashing, the interlock joints adapted to couple with metal shingles; metal shingles having a planar segment, a first longitudinal edge segment opposite a second longitudinal edge segment that includes a double-flanged interlock joint extending beneath the bottom surface of the planar segment, and a first transverse edge segment opposite a second transverse edge segment, that includes a double-flanged compression joint that extends beneath the bottom surface of the planar segment; and shingle shaping tools to modified metal roofing shingles positioned adjacent the roof gable ends and eve edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a plan view showing the top surface of a shingle blank used to manufacture metal shingles in the present metal roofing shingle system.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the bottom surface of the shingle blank inFIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is plan view showing the top surface of a shingle manufactured from the blank inFIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken through the lines4-4 ofFIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken through the lines5-5 ofFIG. 3 and showing a conjoined adjacent shingle.
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the manufactured shingle shown inFIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is an isometric showing the conjoined shingles along the interlock compression joint inFIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is an isometric view similar toFIG. 7 conjoined with an adjacent course of shingles.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exemplary roof showing the universal flashing used in ridge, hip, and valley roofing arrangements.
FIG. 9A is an enlarged section of the roof shown inFIG. 9.
FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a gable roof showing a starter, second, and third course of shingles.
FIG. 11 is a cross-section taken along the lines11-11 ofFIG. 9 showing universal flashing installed as a ridge cap or installed as hip flashing.
FIG. 12 is a cross-section taken along the lines12-12 ofFIG. 9 showing universal flashing inverted and installed as valley flashing.
FIG. 13 is an isometric view taken along the lines13-13 inFIG. 9 showing the preferred gable end treatment of a typical first shingle in a course of shingles installed on a gable roof.
FIG. 14 is an isometric view showing the preferred gable end treatment of a typical last shingle in a course of shingles installed on a gable roof.
FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a typical shingle trimmed for installation along a roof eve.
FIG. 16 is an isometric view showing a typical shingle trimmed to interlock with the valley flashing inFIG. 12.
FIG. 17 is an isometric view showing a typical shingle trimmed to interlock with universal flashing installed as hip flashing.
FIG. 18 is an oblique view showing a shingle-shaping tool used to modify shingles positioned adjacent the gable ends or eve edges of a roof.
FIG. 18A-18B is a cross-section view showing a shingle being shaped using the tool inFIG. 18.
FIG. 19 is an oblique view showing a second shingle-shaping tool used to modify shingles that intersect with valley flashing.
FIG. 19A-19B is a cross-section view showing a shingle being shaped using the tool shown inFIG. 19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThere have been various attempts in the past to provide metal roofing shingles, for example, shingles manufactured from sheet steel, aluminum, copper or other like metallic materials, to improve service life, insulation characteristics, and appearance in metal roof systems. Such past attempts have had marginal success. State of the art metal shingles are prone to water penetration between adjacent shingles. This is because past mechanical connections between adjacent metal shingles extend along the top or external surface of the shingles where they are exposed to weather conditions. Such exposed joints or connections require the on-sight application of caulks or gaskets along the connection joints to provide watertight integrity. Moreover, the need to apply caulks, adhesives, or like sealants at the job sight is problematic in that, unreliable workers may forget to apply the required sealant, may apply an ineffective amount of sealant material, or apply a poor quality caulk bead. Furthermore, environmental conditions at the job sight, for example rain drizzle or fog that causes shingle dampness, or surface deposits from falling and/or wind blown pollens, or debris from atmospheric conditions, and the like, prevent proper adhesion between the on sight applied sealants and the shingle surfaces. In time, such poor quality mechanical connections result in water leaks that are difficult to locate and repair. Finally, the exposed connection joints associated with metal roofing systems of the past detract from shingle appearance, and the exposed seams fail to provide a slate like appearance along the finished roof.
Referring to the preferred embodiment of the present metal roofing shingle system,FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the manufacture of a metal shingle used in the present invention from a sheet metal blank1A to the finished metal roofing shingle1B. Referring in particular toFIGS. 1 and 2, the metal blank1A includes aplanar segment2 with atop surface3, and a bottom orbottom surface4, the top and bottom surfaces respectively exposed to and shielded from environmental conditions after the finished shingle is installed on a roof. Theplaner surface2 is defined by a boundary that includes a first longitudinal edge segment5aopposite abend line6, and a first transverse edge segment7aopposite asecond bend line8. Alongitudinal fold tab9, located between thesecond bend line8 and a location within the first transverse edge segment7a, extends outward from thefirst bend line6. In a similar manner, atransverse fold tab10 extends outward, along the length ofbend line8.Optional insulation material11 is applied to thebottom surface4 of the blank within the boundary that defines theplanar segment2.
Referring toFIGS. 3-7, during the manufacture of the metal shingle1B, beginning with blank1A shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, thetransverse fold tab10 is folded to form a transverse double-flanged compression joint16 (FIGS. 3 and 5) by bendingfold tab10 alongbend line8 to provide afirst flange17 that extends beneath and parallel to thebottom surface4 ofplanar segment2. Foldedtab10 is then doubled back to provide a second orcompression flange18 that extends outward from below the now folded secondtransverse edge segment7b, the compression flange extending at an upward angle with respect to theplanar segment2.
In a similar manner, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, thelongitudinal fold tab9 is folded into the longitudinal double-flanged interlock joint12 shown inFIG. 4 after thecompression joint16 is formed so that the compression joint overlaps the foldedtab9. Interlock joint12 is formed by bendingfold tab9 alongbend line6 to provide afirst flange13 that extends beneath and parallel to thebottom surface4 ofplanar segment2, and thentab9 is doubled back to provide asecond flange14 parallel to thefirst flange13, the second flange extending outward from belowplanar segment2. The exposed portion of thesecond flange14 provides a nailinghem15 for fixing the finished shingle to a roof. As mentioned above, the double-flanged compression joint16 is formed first so that it overlaps interlock joint12 and nailinghem15 as shown at reference number16ainFIGS. 3,6,7, and8. This overlapping construction enables proper insertion of adjacent shingles into interlock joint12 and provides unrestricted water shedding along the exterior surfaces of interlocked shingles, and from one course of shingle to the next lower course of shingle.
Referring toFIGS. 5 and 7, during roof installation, the upward angle of thecompression flange18 causes the flange to compress against thebottom surface4 of a conjoined adjacent shingle when the first transverse edge segment7aof a shingle is inserted betweenflanges17 and18 of a secondtransverse edge segment7b. The compressedsecond flange18 forces thetop surface3 of the inserted shingle against thefirst flange17 of compression joint16 and provides a watertight seal there between. In instances whereoptional insulation material11 is applied to thebottom surface4, as shown inFIG. 5, thecompression flange18, compresses the insulation material as shown at19, to provide an improved watertight seal along the length of the double-flanged compression joint16. Accordingly,compression joint16 eliminates any need for applying an on sight sealant such as a bead of caulk, it eliminates a potential for a poor quality sealed joint as heretofore mentioned above, and because thecompression joint16 extends along thebottom surface4 of the planar segment, it is not visible along the finished roof, and it is not directly exposed to weather conditions. Accordingly, the compression joint, in combination with modified gable and eve edge treatments herein described and shown below inFIGS. 13-15, and in combination with selected colored paint systems, provide a faux slate, including Vermont slate, roof, or a faux terracotta tile roof, or other like material faux roof. In addition, the modified gable end and eve edge treatments provide additional watertight integrity along their respective edges, and the modified edge treatments also prevent or reduce wind damage along the installed shingles because their rounded or angled edges prevent the wind from lifting and penetrating underneath the shingles.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the present metal roofing shingle system installed on various roof configurations including a main orgable roof21, adormer22, and ahip roof23. In the main orgable roof section21 theuniversal flashing20 is installed as aridge cap20athat extends along the roof peak or purlin between thegable end24 and thehip roof23. Likewise, universal flashing is installed as aridge cap20athat extends fromgable end25 ofdormer22 and intersects theridge cap20ainstalled along themain roof21. In addition, the dormer construction includes inverted universal flashing installed as valley flashing20balong the change in direction where the planes of the main roof and dormer roof form an angle between the two different roof sections. Finally,FIG. 9 also shows the universal flashing installed as hip flashing20calong the external angle formed along the two sloping sides of thehip roof23 that intersect themain roof21.
Referring to the enlarged cross-section inFIG. 11, theuniversal flashing20 is a structural shape comprising a first leg26aattached to a second leg26b. Each leg26aand26bincludes a double-flanged interlock joint27 similar to the above interlock joints described for the metal shingles. Accordingly, each interlock joint27 includes afirst flange28 that extends beneath its respective leg26aor26b, i.e. the bottom surface4aof flashing20, andflange28 is doubled back to provide asecond flange29 that extends outward from beneath the bottom surface4ato provide a nailinghem30 for fixing the universal flashing to the roof deck withfasteners31. When installed as aridge cap20a, as shown inFIGS. 9,10 and11, the universal flashing is placed along the peak of the roof where two sloped roof decks25aand25bintersect. Proper ridge cap placement is critical to insure that the last course of shingles32x(FIG. 9) is parallel with theeve33 when the last course of shingles is installed, andfasteners31 are driven through the nailinghem30 to fix theridge cap20ato the roof.
The first course of metal shingles32a(FIGS. 9-11), along one side of the roof, is installed by placing a full shingle1B along the rake or pitched edge of thegable end24 with the nailinghem15 aligned alongdrip line34 of the roof so that a portion of the first transverse edge segment7aextends beyond or outboard of the gable end, and with its first longitudinal edge segment5ainserted between the first andsecond flanges28 and29 respectively of interlock joint27 provided inridge cap20a. The overhanging portion of segment7ais either a straight or a planar surface, or it is formed into an angular shape or into a preferred curvilinear shape to provide the appearance of thickness as shown inFIG. 13. After the first shingle is properly aligned along the rake of the roof and positioned parallel to theridge cap20aandeve33,fasteners31 are driven through nailinghem30 to fix the shingle to the roof. Additional full shingles are installed along the length of the first course to the opposite gable end with each first longitudinal edge segment5aconjoined with interlock joint27 ofridge cap20aas shown inFIGS. 9-11, and with each first transverse edge segment7ainserted into the compression joint16 that extends along the secondtransverse edge segment7bof an adjacent shingle as shown inFIG. 7. It should be understood that, although the preferred embodiment teaches installing a full shingle1B as the first shingle in the first course of shingles32a, the first shingle can be a half shingle1B/2 (FIG. 8) without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Referring again toFIGS. 8,9, and13, the first shingle in each course of shingles beginning at the second course32b, through32xcomprise either a full shingle1B or a half shingle1B/2, as required, whereby the half shingles are trimmed to provide a shortened nailing hem30aand the trimmed portion is folded to provide a modified transverse edge segment7csimilar to the trimmed-offtransverse edge segment7b. The modified segment7cis trimmed to a length so that aligns segment7cwith a centerline X-X extending through the prior installed full first shingles. For example, referring in particular toFIG. 8, in course32b, segment7cof half shingle1B/2 aligns with the centerline X-X extending through the first full shingle1B in course32a. The alternating pattern of full and half shingles is repeated in following courses downward to theeve33 of the roof, and each shingle is fixed to the roof with fasteners driven through nailinghem30 as described above.
As mentioned above, in the preferred embodiment of the present metal roofing shingle system, the first transverse edge segment7athat extends outboard of the gable end of the roof, in each course of shingles, is shaped using the tool shown inFIG. 18. The tool forms a curvilinear shaped edge35a(FIG. 13) that simulates a thick shingle so that the installed shingles, in combination with an appropriate factory applied paint system, provides the appearance of slate shingles, terracotta tiles, or other desirable roof shingle material. In addition, the shaped overhanging shingle edge provides an additional weather tight seal along thedrip edge36 of the roof and prevents or reduces the likelihood of wind damage (FIGS. 9 and 10).
The last shingle in each course of shingles, along the opposite gable end, is trimmed, as shown inFIG. 14 to provide a modified transverse edge segment7d, as similar to modified segment7c, and the trimmed-offportion7bis discarded. The last shingle is trimmed so that the nailing hem30bis aligned along the drip line of the gable end, and so that the modified second transverse edge segment7dextends beyond the gable end at a distance about equal to the overhang at the opposite gable end as shown inFIGS. 9-10.
Referring once again toFIG. 14, the last shingle in each course32athrough32xthat extends to an opposite gable end is trimmed to provide a shortened nailing hem30band the edge treatment of modified longitudinal edge segments7dcorresponds with the edge treatment along first transverse edge segments7a. The modified longitudinal edge segment7dextends beyond the gable end rake so that the preferredcurvilinear edge35bsimulates a thick shingle and provides an additional weather seal along the gable end drip edge.
As shown inFIGS. 9 and 15, each shingle in the last course of shingles32x, whether the last course is started with a full shingle or started with a half shingle, is trimmed to provide a modifiedlongitudinal edge segment5cthat is shaped to correspond with the gable edge treatment provided along the first and last shingles in previous courses, and the trimmed-off section5bis discarded. Each shingle is trimmed so that the modifiedlongitudinal edge segments5cextends over thedrip edge36 to prevent water damage or seepage behind the soffit, and the overhanging shaped edge simulates faux slate or faux terracotta shingles as mentioned above.
In a similar manner, as shown inFIGS. 9,12, and16, when shingle courses intersect valley flashing20b, the first transverse edge segment7aor the secondtransverse edge segment7b, depending on which side a particular shingle intersects the valley, is trimmed-off to provideangled edge segments37aand37bthat correspond with the angle between two sloping roof sections, for example the angle between themain roof section21 and thedormer roof22 inFIG. 9. The trimmed edges are bent using the shaping tool shown inFIG. 19 to form a hooked edge38aor38bthat fixedly couples with its respective double-flanged interlock joint27 extending along the length of the inverted universal flashing installed as valley flashing20b. The fixed connection between the hooked edges38aand/or38bof the shingle and the inverted valley flashing interlock joints27 prevents or reduces wind damage along shingles that intersect the valley flashing and improves watertight integrity without a need for applying a sealant. Each course of shingles that intersects valley flashing is fixed to the roof with fasteners as described above.
Referring now toFIGS. 9,11 and17,universal flashing20 is installed as hip flashing20calong the external angle formed by the two sloping sides of thehip roof23 and themain roof21. When shingles intersect the hip flashing20cthe first transverse edge segment7aand/or the secondtransverse edge segment7b, depending on which side the shingle intersects the flashing, is trimmed-off to provide angled edge segments39aand/or39bthat correspond with the external angle formed between the hip roof and main roof. Referring specifically toFIG. 9, the trimmed edge segments39aand/or39bare conjoined with the interlock joints27 of the hip flashing20cby inserting the angled shingle segments between the first andsecond flanges28 and29 respectively of interlock joint similar to the ridge cap installation shown inFIG. 11. However, in this instance the trimmed transverse segments39aand/or39bare inserted into interlock joint27 rather than the longitudinal segment5ashown inFIG. 11.
Referring toFIGS. 18 through 19B, the metal shingle roof system includes shingle-shapingtools40 and50. Shapingtool40 is adapted to provide the curvilinear transverse segment edges35aor35b(FIGS. 13 and 14) as well as the curvilinearlongitudinal edge segment5cthat overhangs the roof eve (FIG. 15). Shingle-shapingtool40 comprises anelongated shaping jaw41 having afirst leg42 and asecond leg43, and an elongated round bar or tube44 fixed to thesecond leg43 at a location that provides a space orgap45 between bar44 andleg42. A handle46 is attached to theangle member41.Gap45 is sized to releasably fix the above mentionedmetal shingle segments35a,35b, or5cbetween bar44 andleg42 as shown inFIG. 18A. Referring toFIG. 18B, either thetool40 or the metal shingle1B is manipulated to press or roll the inserted segment along the circumference of bar44 to form a curved or rounded edge segment that corresponds with the shape of bar44.
Shingle-shapingtool50 is adapted to provide the hooked interlock edge38aor38balong the trimmedangled edge segments37aand37b(FIG. 16) that correspond with the angle of the valley flashing20binstalled between two sloping roof sections (FIG. 9). Shingle-shapingtool50 comprises an elongated shaping jaw51 with afirst leg52 and asecond leg53, and a bar54 fixed perpendicular to thefirst leg52 at a location that provides a space orgap55 between bar54 andleg53. A handle56 is attached to the angle member51.Gap55 sized to enable the above mentionedmetal shingle segments37aor37bto rotate withingap55, as shown inFIG. 18B, when either thetool50 or the metal shingle1B is manipulated to bend the shingle segments about bar54 and form the hooked interlock edge38aor38bthat couples with the double-flanged interlock joints27 along the inverted valley flashing20b(FIG. 12).
As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments and alternate embodiments thereof, which fulfills each one of the objects of the present invention as set forth above and provides a new metal shingle roof system, an improved metal shingle, and a method of installation. Of course, various changes, modifications, and alterations from the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.