The invention relates to a device for supporting packs of roof tiles on a pitched roof. Such a roof will normally be provided with spaced-apart roof battens.

In order to spare the backs of roofers and to be able to tile a pitched roof more efficiently, there is a need for a roof-mounted device adapted for use in supporting packs of roof tiles which are unloaded straight onto the roof from a delivery truck or the like using a truck- mounted crane..

The invention provides a way of meeting this need.

The invention thus provides a device for supporting packs of roof tiles on a pitched roof, the device conveniently having two hingedly connected sectional frames, each hingedly connected sectional frame having an angle section adapted in use to be placed on an associated one of successive roof battens for support.

Because the sectional frames are hinged together, the device is suitable for use with different batten spacings. The forces generated are normally divided between two successive roof battens.

In order to prevent the batten, at the point on the sectional frame where a number of packs of roof tiles are placed, from being subjected to tensile stress, and to prevent the nails used to join the batten to a number of counter-battens from being pulled out of the timber, it is highly preferable for the angle section of one of the two sectional frames to be given one or more supporting elements projecting outwards, on which the tile packs can in part rest.

These supporting elements may conveniently be V-shaped configuration with one leg thereof fixedly secured to an associated angle section.

The device, when not weighted down by roof tiles, can be prevented from blowing off the roof if the angle section of at least one of the sectional frames is provided with spaced fixed barbs which define a horizontal U with the said angle section.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using the figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of part of the upper surface of a pitched roof on which the device as per the invention is placed;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the device as per the invention; and,

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device as per the invention.

The structure shown consists of two fabricated sectional frames 1 and 2 which are hingedly connected together. Each frame 1,2 consists of a longitudinal tubular section 3 and 4 respectively, an angle section 6 and 7 respectively, placed parallel to that longitudinal tubular section 3 and 4 respectively and opposite that tubular section, and two tubular-shaped transverse sections 8, 9 and 10, 11 respectively, which form the connections between the respective tubular-shaped longitudinal section 3,4 and the respective angle sections 6,7.

Between the tubular sections 3 and 4 are located hinges 5 by which the sectional frames 1 and 2 are hingedly connected as aforesaid.

The tubular-shaped transverse sections 8, 9 of frame 1 are located at an angle of about 90°, preferably 94°, to the angle section 6 and the tubular-shaped transverse sections 10, 11 of the frame 2 are located at an angle of about 45° to the angle section 7.

On the angle section 6 of the frame 1 are located V-shaped elements 12 spaced apart i.e. about 33 cm apart. The elements project to the right in Figure 2, i.e. upwardly of a roof in use, and have a first upper leg thereof welded to the angle section 6, with a lower leg 12a of each element extending past the angle section 6, and defining a horizontal U with the angle section, which U forms a barb.

On the angle section 7 of the frame 2 there are located spaced (e.g. spacing of about 33 cm) barbs 13 one of whose legs is welded to a leg of the angle section 7 and with the other leg defining with the angle section 7 a horizontal U, which forms a barb, see Figure 2.

The lower legs of the barbs 12,13 slant downwards in order to facilitate hooking onto the battens of the roof.

In use, the two frames will be hinged together at an angle such that the angle section 6 of the frame 1 grips an upper batten of a pair of successive battens and the angle section 7 of the frame 2 grips the lower batten of the pair. The device is therefore suitable for various batten spacings and the load is divided between two successive roof battens.

The tile packs to be supported, each with for example 35 tiles, are placed on the elements 12 and rest on frame 1. The elements 12 prevent the batten in question being subjected to tensile stress, so that the nails used to fix the batten to a number of counter- battens are not pulled out of the timber. The elements 12 should preferably be roughly in the centre under the packs although another position is possible.

The barbs prevent the device from being blown off the roof in strong winds when it is not subject to loading by a pack of roof tiles.

The two frames 1 and 2 may consist of any type of material, such as aluminium, plastic or even steel. The device can be used for advertising purposes by placing a sheet or strip on frame 2.

In a modified device, not shown, rubber pads, or the like, may be securely mounted on the tubular section 3 to prevent damage to tiles of a pack of tiles resting thereagainst.