What is claimed is:

1.

A surfacing tile for use as a part of a solar energy collection system comprising a tile member which has opposing spaced planar faces that define front and back faces, respectively, at least one side, a top and a bottom, and is adapted to be supported on a support surface so that an open airflow chamber is created directly between the back face and said support surface, a substantial portion of said tile member being constructed of a material that transmits solar radiation, thus permitting the transmitted solar radiation to strike and heat air within said flow space and said support surface which collectively heats air in the flow space, and fasteners fixing said tile member to said support surface, said tile and said support surface cooperating to form at least a portion of a conduit for conveying heated air through said flow space.

2.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said face of the tile member is a rectangular shape.

3.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein the sides are disposed to form nonrectangular shapes.

4.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein the tile member is constructed from a transparent material.

5.	A tile as in claim 4 wherein the transparent material is glass.

6.	A tile as in claim 4 wherein the transparent material is plastic.

7.	A tile as in claim 4 wherein the transparent material is comprised of a combination of glass and plastic.

8.	A tile as in claim 1 further including a seal positioned on selected portions of said back and side surfaces of said tile member for providing sealing against interfitting tile members.

9.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said tile member is comprised of a repeating number of substantially identical members integrally formed together.

10.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said tile member is molded.

11.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said tile member is pressed in a desired shape during forming.

12.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said tile member is comprised of glass.

13.	A tile as in claim 13 wherein said glass is tempered.

14.	A tile as in claim 13 wherein said glass is annealed.

15.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent material.

16.	A tile as in claim 1 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent ceramic.

17.

A surfacing tile comprising a tile member which is flat and has a front face, a back face, a top and a bottom, and which has protruding from the back face, a planar transverse leg surface and which planar leg has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a back edge, and is adapted to be supported at the back edge on a support surface, with said back face spaced from the support surface so that an airflow space is created directly between the back face of the tile, the bottom surface of the protruding planar leg and said support surface.

18.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein the face of said tile member is a rectangular shape.

19.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein the sides of the face are disposed to form non rectangular shapes.

20.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein the tile member is constructed from a transparent material.

21.	A tile as in claim 20 wherein the transparent material is glass.

22.	A tile as in claim 20 wherein the transparent material is plastic.

23.	A tile as in claim 20 wherein the transparent material is comprised of a combination of glass and plastic.

24.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein the tile face and leg are joined in a curvilinear shape.

25.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein the tile face and leg are joined in an angular shape.

26.	A tile as in claim 17 further including gasket means positioned on selected portions of said back face and side surfaces of said tile member for providing sealing against interfitting tile members.

27.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein said tile member is comprised of a repeating number of substantially identical members integrally formed together.

28.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein said tile member is molded.

29.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein said tile member is pressed in a desired shape during forming.

30.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein said tile member is comprised of glass.

31.	A tile as in claim 30 wherein said glass is tempered.

32.	A tile as in claim 30 wherein said glass is annealed.

33.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent material.

34.	A tile as in claim 17 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent ceramic.

35.

A tile as in claim 17 which has protruding a planar foot extending transversely from the back edge of the planar leg and which planar foot has a bottom edge, a back surface, a front surface, and which protrudes in spaced apart relation to the face of the tile and in a direction from the top toward the bottom of the tile, and said foot is adapted to be supported at the back surface thereof on a support surface so that an airflow space is created directly between the front surface of the foot, the bottom surface of the protruding planar leg, the back face of the tile, and the support surface.

36.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein the face of said tile member is a rectangular shape.

37.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein the sides of the face are disposed to form non rectangular shapes.

38.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein the tile member is constructed from a transparent material.

39.	A tile as in claim 38 wherein the transparent material is glass.

40.	A tile as in claim 38 wherein the transparent material is plastic.

41.	A tile as in claim 38 wherein the transparent material is comprised of a combination of glass and plastic.

42.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein the tile face, leg and foot are joined in a curvilinear shape.

43.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein the tile face, leg and foot are joined in an angular shape.

44.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein the tile face, leg and foot are joined in a combination curvilinear and angular shape.

45.	A tile as in claim 35 further including gasket means positioned on selected portions of said back face and side surfaces of said tile member for providing sealing against interfitting tile members.

46.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein said tile member is comprised of a repeating number of substantially identical members integrally formed together.

47.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein said tile member is molded.

48.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein said tile member is pressed in a desired shape during forming.

49.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein said tile member is comprised of glass.

50.	A tile as in claim 38 wherein said glass is tempered.

51.	A tile as in claim 38 wherein said glass is annealed.

52.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent material.

53.	A tile as in claim 35 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent ceramic.

54.

A tile as in claim 17 which has a planar foot extending transversely from the back edge of the planar leg surface and which planar foot has a top edge, a back surface, a front surface, and which protrudes from said planar leg in a direction opposite to that of the said face, and said foot is adapted to be supported at the back surface of a support surface so that an airflow space is created directly between the bottom surface of the protruding planar leg, the back face of the tile and said support surface.

55.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein the face of said tile member is a rectangular shape.

56.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein the sides of the face are disposed to form non rectangular shapes.

57.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein the tile member is constructed from a transparent material.

58.	A tile as in claim 57 wherein the transparent material is glass.

59.	A tile as in claim 57 wherein the transparent material is plastic.

60.	A tile as in claim 57 wherein the transparent material is comprised of a combination of glass and plastic.

61.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein the tile face, leg and foot are joined in a curvilinear shape.

62.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein the tile face, leg and foot are joined in an angular shape.

63.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein the tile face, leg and foot are joined in a combination curvilinear and angular shape.

64.	A tile as in claim 54 further including gasket means positioned on selected portions of said back and side surfaces of said tile member for providing sealing against interfitting tile members.

65.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein said tile member is comprised of a repeating number of substantially identical members integrally formed together.

66.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein said tile member is molded.

67.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein said tile member is pressed in a desired shape during forming.

68.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein said tile member is comprised of glass.

69.	A tile as in claim 68 wherein said glass is tempered.

70.	A tile as in claim 68 wherein said glass is annealed.

71.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent material.

72.	A tile as in claim 54 wherein said tile member is comprised of a translucent ceramic.

73.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 1 which are such that each tile overlaps a portion of longitudinally adjacent tiles which are immediately below and a portion of the one longitudinally adjacent tile which is overlapped by both said immediately adjacent tiles.

74.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 73 such that every portion of the face of the tile is overlapped by, or overlapping, another tile and all spaces between laterally adjacent tiles are overlapped or underlain by another tile.

75.

An arrangement of tiles of claim 73 in which square tiles are arranged diagonally with pointed tops and bottoms arranged longitudinally and pointed sides arranged laterally across the supporting surface and, such that each tile overlaps a portion of the longitudinally adjacent tiles which are immediately below and the one longitudinally adjacent tile which is overlapped by both said immediately adjacent tiles, such that a central portion of the face of each tile is neither overlapped nor underlain by another tile.

76.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 17 disposed in accordance with the arrangement of claim 73.

77.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 35 disposed in accordance with the arrangement of claim 73.

78.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 54 disposed in accordance with the arrangement of claim 73.

79.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 17 disposed in accordance with the arrangement of claim 74.

80.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 35 disposed in accordance with the arrangement of claim 74.

81.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 54 disposed in accordance with the arrangement of claim 74.

82.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 17 which arrange said airflow spaces of claim 17 to laterally traverse the supporting surface.

83.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 35 which arrange said airflow spaces of claim 35 to laterally traverse the supporting surface.

84.	An arrangement of tiles of claim 54 which arrange said airflow spaces of claim 54 to laterally traverse the supporting surface.

85.	The tiles of claim 1, 17, 35, and 54, wherein said support surface comprises a solar energy absorbing material.

86.	A solar energy absorbing surface which incorporates at least one concave corrugation and provides support for the tiles of claim 1 above any supporting surface, said concave surface forming at least one air flow path with said tile.

87.

A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 86 which incorporates at least one concave corrugation and at least one convex corrugation and provides support for the tiles of claim 1 above any supporting surface, said concave surface forming at least one air flow path with said tile and said convex surface forming at least one other air flow path between the convex surface and the supporting surface.

88.	A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 87 which incorporates radiant barrier insulation between the convex surface and the supporting surface.

89.	A solar energy absorbing surface which incorporates one corrugation to engage a tile of claim 17,35, or 54.

90.	A solar energy absorbing surface which incorporates several corrugations arranged to engage several rows of longitudinally adjacent tiles of claim 17,35, and 54.

91.

A solar energy absorbing surface which is substantially flat and incorporates a front face and which incorporates one compound corrugation protruding from, and in front of, the front face of said absorbing material and said compound corrugation having a top surface, a front surface, a bottom edge surface, back surface and a bottom surface protruding above the front face to engage a tile of claim 35 or 54.

92.	A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 91 which incorporates extended surfaces for the top of the corrugation.

93.	A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 91 which incorporates extended surfaces for the bottom of the corrugation.

94.	A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 91 which incorporates extended surfaces for the front of the corrugation.

95.	A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 91 which incorporates extended surfaces for the bottom edge of the corrugation.

96.	A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 91 which incorporates a material to effect rapid heat transfer to an adjacent fluid.

97.

A solar energy absorbing surface of claim 91 which incorporates an additional corrugation which is adjacent to the first corrugation and protruding from, and in front of, the front face of said absorbing material, said second corrugation is comprised of a bottom surface, a top surface, and front edge arranged to engage a tile of claims 35 or 54.

98.	A corrugated absorber of claim 86 of size to support a single tile of claim 1.

99.	A corrugated absorber of claim 89 of size to engage a single tile of claim 17.

100.	A corrugated absorber of claim 97 of size to engage a single tile of claims 35 or 54.

101.	A corrugated absorber of length no less than the length of a single tile and with the portion of the front face above the corrugations of sufficient length to underlie the upper portion of the front face above the corrugations of an immediately adjacent overlying identical absorber.

102.	A corrugated absorber of claims 98,99,100, or 101 of material that may be fastened to a supporting surface by roofing nails, screws or other fasteners which penetrate said absorber above the corrugations of the immediately adjacent overlying absorber.

103.

An arrangement of absorbers in claims 98,99,100, or 101 such that the overlying longitudinally adjacent absorbers are laterally centered between the underlying absorbers and the portion above the corrugations of said overlying absorber overlaps one or more fasteners attaching the underlying absorbers to the supporting surface.

104.

Tile restraining hardware which, at one end, hooks under the bottom of a flat tile of claims 1,17,35, or 54 and, at the opposed end, said hardware is fastened to the supporting surface, thereby fastening the tile to the supporting surface and said hardware acts as a solar energy absorbing surface and transfers heat to the fluid contained in the air flow path formed between the fastened tiles, and the supporting surface.

105.

Tile restraining hardware which, at one end, hooks under the bottom of a flat tile of claims 1,17,35, or 54 and which traverses the space between adjacent tiles and, at the opposed end, said hardware is fastened to the supporting surface, thereby fastening the tile to the supporting surface, and said hardware, by traversing the space between adjacent tiles acts to seal said space to prevent infiltration of air from reaching the air flow path formed between the fastened tiles, and the supporting surface.

106.

Tile restraining hardware which, at one end, hooks under the bottom of a flat tile of claims 1,17,35, or 54 and which traverses the air flow path formed between the tile and the supporting surface, and, at the opposed end, said hardware is fastened to the supporting surface, thereby fastening the tile to the supporting surface, and said hardware, by traversing said air flow path creates turbulence within the air flow to enhance heat transfer from the surfaces to the air within the air flow path.

107.

A solar energy collection system comprising: a solar energy absorbing surface; and a plurality of overlapping tiles supported by said energy absorbing surface and formed from a material that transmits solar radiation, thus permitting the transmitted solar radiation to strike said solar energy absorbing surface so that a plurality of ducts, extending across said solar energy absorbing surface, are formed between a back surface of said tiles and said solar energy absorbing surface; said system further including means for fastening said tiles to said supporting surface ; said system further including means defining an inlet into said ducts and an outlet therefrom, so that a fluid can be introduced into said ducts at said inlet and flow through said ducts to the outlet and the solar energy absorbed by said solar energy absorbing surface, the tiles, and the fastening means can heat the fluid during such passage.

108.	A system as in claim 107 wherein the inlet into said ducts is located adjacent one end and said outlet is located at a spaced location from said inlet.

109.	A tile of claim 1,17,35, or 54 which incorporates a thin film photovoltaic material as a laminating layer.

110.	A tile of claim 1,17,35, or 54 which incorporates a thin film photovoltaic material as a surfacing layer.

111.	An absorber material of claim 85 which incorporates photovoltaic material.

112.	A tile of claim 1,17,35, or 54 wherein the face of the tiles are rectangular with corners of the tiles at the top, bottom and sides of the tiles and opposite top and bottom corners are arranged in longitudinal alignment upon the support surface.

113.

An arrangement a plurality of tiles of claim 112 wherein the bottom corner of an overlying tile overlaps the top corner of the immediately longitudinally adjacent tile and the side corners of the tiles which are immediately diagonallv below such that a substantial portion of the longitudinally immediately adjacent tile is neither overlapped nor underlaid by another tile.

114.	A solar energy collection system of claim 107 in which at least one duct is formed between the back surface of said tiles, the top edge of overlapped tiles and the solar energy absorbing surface.

115.

A surfacing tile for use as a part of a solar energy collection system comprising a tile member which as opposing spaced planar faces that define front and back faces, respectively, at least one side, a top and a bottom, the tile being adapted to be supported on a support surface to create an open airflow chamber directly between the back face of a tile, the top edge of an overlapped tile and the support survace, a portion of the tile member being constructed of a material that transmits solar radiation to the support surface and to thereby heat air within the air flow chamber, and at least one fastener fixing the tile member to the support surface.

116.

A surfacing tile comprising a tile member which is flat and has a front face, a back face, a top and a bottom, and through which light and solar energy can pass, a planar transverse leg protruding from the back face, the tile being adapted to be supported adjacent the support surface, so that the back face is spaced from the support surface thereby creating an airflow space between the back face, the protruding planar transverse leg and the support surface.

117.

A solar energy collection system comprising: a solar energy absorbing surface; and a plurality of overlapping tiles directly supported by said energy absorbing surface and formed from a material that transmits solar radiation, thus permitting the transmitted solar radiation to strike said solar energy absorbing surface so that a plurality of ducts, extending across said solar energy absorbing surface, are formed between a back surface of one of said tiles, the top edge of an overlapped tile and said solar energy absorbing surface; said system further including tile fasteners holding said tiles to said supporting surface; said system further including an inlet plenum and an outlet plenum exiting said ducts, so that a fluid can be introduced into said ducts at said inlet and flow through said ducts to the outlet and the solar energy absorbed by said solar energy absorbing surface, the tiles, and the fastening means can heat the fluid during such passage.