This invention relates to a device for assisting the installation of roof battens and particularly but not exclusively to a device for calculating a position at which to affix a roof batten and supporting the roof batten at said position. When constructing a roof, a series of inclined rafters are fixed at their upper ends to a horizontal ridge beam, the ridge beam marking the apex of the roof. The rafters are generally fixed at their lower ends to an upstanding wall plate. Roof battens are subsequently fixed to the rafters such that the longitudinal axes of the roof battens lies in the horizontal plane, substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the rafters. Ideally, the battens are evenly spaced between the lowermost point of the roof, namely the eaves, and the uppermost point of the roof, namely the ridge. The purpose of the battens is to support roof tiles and thus the spacing of the battens must be appropriate to the roof tiles that will be fixed thereto. In particular, the batten spacing must be such that the degree of overlap of the roof tiles is sufficient to prevent ingress of water and minimise the risk of the wind passing underneath the tiles and forcing the tiles from the battens. The tile manufacturer will generally specify the minimum overlap and/or the maximum gauge, the latter being defined as the length of tile that is left exposed upon fixing of subsequent layers of tiles. In general, the minimum overlap and/or maximum gauge will be dependent on the pitch of the roof and/or the degree of exposure of the roof. The manufacturer may therefore specify multiple overlaps and/or gauges, which each overlap and/or gauge being appropriate to a given pitch and/or degree of exposure. The user must then select the appropriate minimum overlap and/or maximum gauge and calculate a batten spacing accordingly.

Currently, when installing roof battens, it is standard practice for a user to initially measure the pitch of the roof, or refer to the architectural drawings in order to ascertain the pitch of the roof. The user will then identify the appropriate minimum overlap and/or maximum gauge according to the pitch of the roof and other potential factors such as the degree of exposure. If the manufacturer's guidelines specify only the minimum overlap and not the maximum gauge, the user must calculate the appropriate maximum gauge by subtracting the minimum overlap from the height of the tiles. The next step is to affix a lowermost roof batten to the rafters. The position of the lowermost roof batten is selected according to the desired tile overhang. The user will then measure the distance between the lowermost roof batten and the ridge of the roof, usually by means of a tape measure or the like. The user calculates the minimum number of layers of tiles required between the lowermost roof batten and the ridge by dividing this measured distance by the appropriate maximum gauge. In general, this will not be a whole number and must therefore be rounded upward to the nearest whole number. The measured distance between the lowermost roof batten and the ridge of the roof is then divided by the rounded number to give the batten spacing. Upon calculating this batten spacing, the user measures upwardly from the lowermost batten using a tape measure or the like, marks the position to affix the next batten on the rafters and subsequently affixes the batten to the rafters at this position. One problem with this arrangement is that there is a substantial scope for errors, for example errors in measuring and errors in calculation. Another problem is that it is difficult for the user to support the battens at the required positions whilst securing the battens to the rafters. We have now devised a device for locating tiling battens at spaced apart positions.

In accordance with the present invention, as seen from the first aspect, there is provided a device for assisting installation of roof battens for subsequent fixture of roof tiles thereto, the device comprising:

measurement means for measuring a distance in the plane of the roof between a lower reference point and an upper reference point;

processing means for calculating an advised batten spacing in accordance with said distance and one or more parameters of said roof tiles;

output means for outputting said advised batten spacing;

a formation for engaging a first batten;

a support member for supporting a second batten, the position of said support member relative to said formation being adjustable. In use, it is envisaged that a user will adjust the position of the support member relative to the formation such that the first batten and the second batten are spaced apart by said advised batten spacing. The lower reference point may be the lowermost edge of the roof. Alternatively, the lower reference point may be the lowermost roof batten, this embodiment being particularly preferably if a tile overhang relative to the lowermost edge of the roof is desired. The upper reference point may be the ridge of the roof. Alternatively, the upper reference point may be an uppermost roof batten. In the latter embodiment, it is envisaged that the uppermost roof batten and the lowermost roof batten will be fixed to the roof prior to fixing intermediate roof battens therebetween. Preferably the formation is arranged for engaging a lower batten and the moveable support member is arranged for engaging an upper batten.

Preferably the formation is arranged for engaging the lower batten at an upper edge thereof.

Preferably the moveable support member is arranged for supporting the upper batten at a lower edge thereof.

The measurement means may comprise a wave emitter and receiver such as a laser diode and laser detector or an ultrasonic transceiver. In this embodiment, a wave reflector may be provided for positioning at an opposite edge of the roof to wave emitter and receiver.

The output means may comprise a display screen arranged for displaying a numerical value indicative of said advised batten spacing. Said numerical value may be equal to said advised batten spacing. Alternatively, said numerical value may equate to a position of the support member relative to a reference point, said position being such that the first and second battens and spaced apart by said advised batten spacing. The device preferably comprises spacing indication means for indicating the spacing between the first batten and the second batten. The spacing indication means may comprise ruler demarcations provided on the support member. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the spacing indication means may comprise a digital display screen for displaying the spacing between the first batten and the second batten. The digital display screen may be the digital display screen arranged for displaying the numerical value indicative of said advised batten spacing. The digital display screen may be arranged to receive an input from a spacing measurement means, which may comprise a wave emitter and receiver. The wave emitter and receiver may be the wave emitter and receiver arranged for measuring the distance in the plane of the roof between a lowermost edge of the roof and an uppermost edge of the roof. Accordingly, in use, a user is able to adjust the position of the support member relative to the formation such that the spacing between the first and second batten, as indicated by the spacing indication means, is equal to said advised batten spacing.

Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the output means may comprise drive means for automatically adjusting the position of the support member relative to the formation in accordance with said advised batten spacing. In this embodiment, the user is not required to manually adjust the position of the support member such that the first and second battens are spaced apart by said advised batten spacing; instead, this position adjustment is provided automatically by the device.

The device preferably further comprises input means for inputting said one or more parameters of said roof tiles. The input means preferably comprises a numeric keypad or an alphanumeric keypad. Preferably the input means is configured for receiving a height of said roof tiles, the height of a roof tile being defined as the dimension in the plane of the roof perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the battens when the roof tile is fixed thereto. The input means is preferably further configured for receiving a manufacturers' recommended maximum gauge of said roof tiles.

The input means may be arranged for enabling a user to input one or more parameters of said battens. Preferably the input means is configured for receiving a height of said battens, the height of a batten being defined as the dimension in the plane of the roof perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the batten.

The input means may be arranged for enabling a user to input one or more properties of the roof, such as the pitch and/or the degree of exposure.

The processing means may be arranged for calculated an advised batten spacing in accordance with said distance in the plane of the roof between a lowermost edge of the roof and an uppermost edge of the roof and in accordance with the height of said roof tiles. The advised batten spacing may also be calculated in accordance with said manufacturers' recommended maximum gauge, the advised batten spacing being no more than said manufacturers' recommended gauge.

In the embodiment in which the output means comprises a display screen arranged for displaying a numerical value indicative of said advised batten spacing, said numerical value may be equal to said advised batten spacing less the height of said battens. It will be appreciated that this value is the distance between a lower edge of the formation and an upper edge of the support member necessary to provide said advised batten spacing in the embodiment in which the formation is arranged for engaging the upper edge of a lower batten and the support member is arranged for supporting a lower edge of an upper batten.

The device may comprise pitch measurement means for measuring the pitch of the roof. The pitch measurement means may comprise an inclinometer. The measured pitch may constitute an input for the processing means, thereby enabling the processing means to calculate an advised batten spacing in accordance with the pitch of the roof.

The device preferably comprises a body. The formation preferably comprises a substantially planar member arranged to extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to a rear face of the body such that when the device is in use the planar member abuts an upper face of the first batten and the rear face of the body abuts a front face of the first batten. The support member preferably comprises an extendable arm having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first and second battens when the device is in use. A formation is preferably provided on the extendable arm, the formation being arranged to contact the second batten when the device is in use. The spacing indication means may comprise ruler demarcations provided on the extendable arm.

In accordance with the present invention, as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a method of positioning roof battens for subsequent fixture of roof tiles thereto, the method comprising:

providing a device as hereinbefore described;

installing a lowermost roof batten;

engaging the formation with the lowermost roof batten;

measuring, via the measurement means, a distance in the plane of the roof between the lowermost roof batten and an upper reference point;

supporting a second roof batten on the support member;

adjusting the position of the support member according to the advised batten spacing output by the output means. The method preferably further comprises securing the second batten to the rafters of the roof whilst the batten is supported on the support member.

The method may further comprise inputting one or more properties of the roof into the device. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the method may comprise measuring, via the device, one or more properties of the roof. Said one or more properties of the roof may comprise the pitch of the roof and/or the degree of exposure of the roof.

The method may further comprise inputting one or more parameters of the roof tiles into the device. The one or more parameters of the roof tiles may comprise the maximum recommended gauge or maximum recommended gauges and corresponding roof pitches. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the one or more parameters of the roof tiles may comprise the minimum recommended overlap or minimum recommended overlaps and corresponding roof pitches. The method may further comprise inputting one or more parameters of the battens into the device. The one or more parameters of the battens may comprise the height of the battens. The device is preferably arranged to calculate the advised batten spacing in accordance with one more of the properties or parameters input into the device and/or measured by the device.

Preferably the method further comprises disengaging the formation from the lowermost batten and disengaging the support member from the second batten. The method may further comprise subsequently engaging the formation with the second batten and supporting a third batten on the support member. The position of the support member may be retained at the position appropriate for the advised batten spacing, or the support member may be lowered and subsequently re-adjusted to the position appropriate for the advised batten spacing.

The method may further comprise securing the third batten to the rafters whilst the former is supported by the support member, disengaging the formation from the second batten, disengaging the support member from the third batten, subsequently moving the device, engaging the formation with the third batten, supporting a fourth batten on the support member and so on until the battens span the space intermediate the lowermost batten and the upper reference point.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for assisting installation of roof battens in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device being shown in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in figure 1 in use on a roof; and,

Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a device 10 for assisting installation of roof battens for subsequent fixture of roof tiles thereto. The device 10 comprises a body 1 1 having a formation for engaging a lower batten 20. In illustrated embodiment, the formation 12 takes the form of a substantially planar lip that extends perpendicularly outwardly from a rear face of the body 1 1. In use, as illustrated in figure 1 , the formation 12 abuts the upper face of the lower batten 20 and the rear face of the body 11 abuts the front face of the lower batten 20.

The device 10 further comprises a support member 13 for supporting an upper batten 30. The support member 13 comprises an extendable arm 14 having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the battens 20, 30 when the device 10 is in use. The arm 14 is arranged to extend upwardly from the body 1 1 when the device 10 is in use. A substantially planar shelf 15 is provided on the extendible arm 14, the shelf being arranged to lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the upper face of the lower batten 20 when the device 10 is in use.

Measurements means in the form of a laser diode and photodetector (not shown) is provided on the upper face of the body 1 1. A reflector plate 16 is provided for positioning on the ridge 40 of the roof to enhance reflection of the laser beam at the ridge 40. However, the skilled person will appreciate that the reflector plate 16 may be omitted if the properties of the laser and the ridge 40 are such that the laser beam is adequately reflected by the ridge 40 alone. In use, the measurement means provides a measurement of the distance between the laser diode and photodetector and the ridge 40 of the roof. The measurement means is also configured to provide a measurement of the distance from the laser diode and photodetector to the shelf 15 of the support member 13. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the position of the shelf 15 of the support member relative to the body 11 may be indicated by means of ruler demarcations on the arm 14.

The device 10 comprises input means in the form of a keypad 17 located on the front face of the body 1 1. The keypad 17 enables a user to input properties or parameters of the roof, tiles and/or battens. Example properties of parameters that may be input include one or more of: the pitch of the roof

the degree of exposure of the roof

the tile manufacturer's recommended minimum tile overlap

the tile manufacturer's recommended maximum gauge

- the height of the roof tiles

the height of the battens

The body 11 houses a processor (not shown) arranged to receive inputs from the laser diode and photodetector and the keypad 17. An output in the form of a display screen 18 is provided on the front face of the body 11 for displaying processor outputs.

With reference to figure 3 of the drawings, in order to use the device 10 to assist the installation of roof battens, a user (not shown) initially secures a lowermost roof batten 50 to the rafters 60 at step 101.

At step 102, the user rests the device 10 on the lowermost roof batten 50 such that the formation 12 abuts the upper face of the lowermost batten 50 and the rear face of the body 11 abuts the front face of the lowermost batten 50.

At step 103, which may be performed before steps 101 and/or 102, the user installs the reflector plate 16 on the ridge 40 of the roof.

At step 104, the user measures, via the laser diode and photodetector, the distance in the plane of the roof between the laser diode and photodetector and the reflector plate 16.

The measured distance between the laser diode and photodetector and the reflector plate 16 is passed to the processor at step 105. The processor converts this measured distance into a distance between the lowermost batten 50 and the ridge 40 of the roof by accounting for the distance between the formation 12 and the laser diode and photodetector to the measured distance.

The user inputs, via the keypad 17, parameters of the roof tiles at step 106. It is anticipated that the user will input the tile manufacturer's recommended maximum gauge for the appropriate roof pitch and roof exposure. However, the user could input other parameters such as tile manufacturer's recommended minimum tile overlap, the height of the tiles, the pitch of the roof etc. In the latter case, the processor 16 converts these parameters into the maximum recommended gauge.

At step 107, the processor calculates an advised batten spacing in accordance with the distance between the lowermost batten 50 and the ridge 40 of the roof and the recommended maximum gauge, In detail, the processor divides the distance between the lowermost batten 50 and the ridge 40 of the roof by the recommended maximum gauge, rounds up the result to the nearest integer and then divides the distance between the lowermost batten 50 and the ridge 40 of the roof by this integer.

At step 108, the advised batten spacing calculated by the processor is displayed to the user on the display screen 18. Alternatively, a numerical value indicative of the advised batten spacing may be displayed on the display screen. In one embodiment, the numerical value is equal to the advised batten spacing less the height of the battens, this numerical value indicating the advised spacing between the upper face of the lower batten 20 and the lower face of the upper batten 30. In another embodiment, the numerical value is equal to the advised batten spacing less the height of the battens and less the distance between the formation 12 and the lower end of the extendible arm 14, this numerical value indicating the advised length of the extendible arm 14 from the lower end thereof to the shelf 15. At step 109, the user adjusts the extendible arm 14 in accordance with the value displayed on the display screen 18. To facilitate this process, the laser diode and photodetector measure the distance from the laser diode and photodetector to the shelf 15, the processor processes this measured distance and outputs a numerical value indicative of the position of the shelf 15 to the display screen 18. It is envisaged that the numerical value will be equivalent to the numerical value indicative of the advised batten spacing, for example if the numerical value indicative of the advised batten spacing provides the advised length of the extendible arm 14 from the lower end thereof to the shelf 15 then the numerical value indicative of the position of the shelf 15 will provide the actual length of the extendible arm 14 from the lower end thereof to the shelf 15. Upon adjustment of the extendible arm 14, the user supports a second roof batten on the shelf 15 of the support member 13 at step 110. The second roof batten is thus spaced apart from the lowermost roof batten 50 by the advised batten spacing.

The user then secures the second roof batten to the rafters 60 at step 111 and may subsequently disengage the device 10 from the lowermost rafter 50 and the second rafter. The user may then rest the device 10 on the second roof batten such that the formation 12 abuts the upper face of the second batten and the rear face of the body 1 1 abuts the front face of the second batten and repeat the process for installing the third batten and so on. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the extendible arm 14 may be automatically adjusted to the appropriate position by drive means controlled by the processor. In this embodiment, the user is not required to manually adjust the arm 14 to an appropriate height and thus the display screen 18 is optional.