DEVICE FOR LAYING SLATES ON A ROOF STRUCTURE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for laying slates, tiles or the like on a roof structure.

Background to the Invention

A known method of forming a roof involves the laying of slates. Trusses are mounted on the walls of the building and battens are fastened across the trusses to form the roof structure. Typically, the roof structure has inclined portions and the battens are arranged substantially horizontally across the full width of the roof structure. The slates are positioned on the roof structure and subsequently attached to the battens. The slates are usually lined up by eye on the roof structure, held in position and then attached to the batten. These steps are repeated across the entire roof structure.

The slates are typically laid in an overlapping configuration, with each successively laid row overlapping an adjacent row. To help prevent detachment of the slates from the roof in high winds, and also to help prevent sliding of the slates if the roof is to have a particularly steep pitch, the slates may be attached to the battens by nails.

A problem with these known methods is that it can be difficult for a slate layer to accurately position the slates. If the slates are not

accurately laid, the roofing structure may not be aesthetically pleasing and may not be waterproof.

The present invention seeks to provide a means to reduce or eliminate these problems.

Summary of the Invention

Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a device for laying slates on a roof structure, the device comprising a support for supporting a slate on the roof structure and a hanger for hanging the device from a roof batten of the roof structure to set the distance of the slate from the roof batten. In use, the device supports the slate in the desired position allowing it to be secured in position using conventional fasteners. At least in preferred embodiments, the device may allow a row of slates to be positioned accurately along the roof structure.

At least in preferred embodiments, the device is suitable for supporting a slate on an inclined roof structure.

The distance between the support and the hanger is preferably adjustable to enable the height of the slates relative to the roof batten to be adjusted. This is desirable since the spacing between roof battens may differ. Preferably, the support is movable relative to the hanger. The support is preferably movable axially.

The support and the hanger may be connected by one or more pivotable arms. Alternatively, the support and/or hanger may be slidably mounted on an elongate member. Preferably, however, the support or the hanger is provided with a sleeve for slidably receiving a guide member provided on the other of said support or hanger.

The device is preferably provided with a first locking device for locking the position of the support relative to the hanger. The first locking device may comprise a locking arm for engaging the support and/or hanger. The locking arm may, for example, be provided with a cam for engaging the support and/or hanger. Preferably, however, the first locking device comprises a rotatable member, such as a wing bolt, which may be tightened against the support and/or hanger. The wing bolt may be located in a slot provided in the hanger or support.

The support preferably comprises a support member or bracket for supporting an edge of the slate. In use the lower edge of the slate preferably rests against the support member. To ensure that the slate is supported across its width, the support member preferably has a substantially planar surface.

A lower edge of the support member typically rests on a layer of slates which have already been laid. The lower edge of the support member is preferably substantially rectilinear.

The hanger may comprise an assembly having one or more projections for engaging the batten. Preferably, the hanger comprises a plate member or a hook for engaging the batten. The plate member may be provided with at least one projection for engaging the batten. The at least one projection may be a flange or bracket locatable on top of the roof batten.

The device is preferably provided with a marker for marking a slate. The marker may, for example, be a scriber. Alternatively, the marker may be a piece of chalk, a pencil or a pen. The marker may be mounted on the hanger or the support.

The marker is preferably suitable for marking a slate placed on top of the hanger and/or support. In use, the marker preferably projects upwardly.

The marker is preferably movably mounted to allow its position to be adjusted. The marker may be mounted on a movable carriage. The carriage is preferably movable axially. For example, the carriage may be movably mounted on a guide member or sleeve provided on the support or hanger.

A second locking mechanism is preferably provided for locking the marker in position. The second locking mechanism may comprise a wing bolt or another suitable mechanical locking device.

To support the slate while it is marked, the device may be provided with a crosspiece. The crosspiece preferably extends in a transverse direction and may be movably mounted.

A lip or flange for engaging an edge of the slate to be marked may also be provided. An edge of the slate may be brought into contact with the lip or flange to locate the slate in a desired position.

In arrangements utilising wing bolts to provide first and second locking mechanisms, the wing bolts may both be received in a single slot provided in the hanger or support. The device may be provided with a movable slate support member. The movable member is preferably movable in a transverse direction. At least in preferred embodiments, the movable support member enables the support to be extended, for example to support a slate offset to a side of the device. A measurement index or scale may be provided to show the position of the marker.

The present invention further relates to a method of laying a slate on a roof structure using the device described herein.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a slate roof assembled using the device described herein.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of laying a slate on an inclined roof structure using a support frame, the method comprising the steps of: (a) locating the support

frame on a roof batten; (b) supporting a slate on the support frame; and (c) fixing the slate to said roof structure. The support frame may be adjustable and method may comprise the further step of adjusting the support frame to support the slate at the desired position relative to the roof batten.

Steps (b) and (c) may be repeated to lay a row of slates. The support frame may be moved and located on a roof batten as required. The support frame is preferably a device as described herein.

Although the present invention has been described primarily with reference to laying slates, it will be appreciated that the device may also be used to lay tiles and the like.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for laying slates according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2A is a plan view of the support according to the present invention;

Figure 2B is a side view of the support shown in Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is an end view of the support shown in Figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 3A is a plan view of the hanger according to the present invention;

Figure 3B is a perspective view of the hanger shown in Figure 3A; and Figure 4 is a side view of a device for laying slates according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A slate laying device 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The device 1 comprises a hanger 3 for hanging the device 1 from a roof batten 4; and a support 5 for supporting a slate 7 while it is being fixed in position.

As shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 2C, the hanger 3 comprises a tubular sleeve 9, a first end plate 11 , and a first crosspiece 12. A first wing bolt 13 is located in a first elongate slot 14 provided in the sleeve 9. The sleeve 9 and the first end plate 11 are made of aluminium and are welded together to form a first T-shaped assembly. The first crosspiece 12 is welded to the sleeve 9 and the first end plate 11. The sleeve 9 has a square cross section and is 25mm wide, 25mm deep and 390mm long.

As shown in Figure 2C, a lower edge 15 of the first end plate 11 is substantially rectilinear and, in use, may rest on the roof structure. A projection 17, extending substantially parallel to the lower edge 15 of

the first end plate 11 , is provided on the first end plate 11. The projection 17, in use, preferably rests on top of a roof batten 4 and the first end plate 11 hangs from the roof batten 4 to retain the device 1 in position. The projection 17 is located approximately 10 mm from the lower edge 15 of the first end plate 11.

The support 5 comprises a guide member 19, a second end plate 21 and a second crosspiece 22, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. The guide member 19 and the second end plate 21 are made of aluminium and are welded together to form a second T-shaped assembly. The second crosspiece 22 is welded to the guide member 19 and the second end plate 21. The guide member 19 has a square cross-section and locates in the sleeve 9 of the hanger 3. The guide member 19 is 21mm wide, 21mm deep and 370mm long.

A lower edge 24 of the second end plate 21 is substantially rectilinear and, in use, rests on the roof structure.

A first threaded aperture 20 is provided in the guide member 19 for receiving the first wing bolt 13. A nut (not shown) may be provided for securing the first wing bolt 13 in position rather than providing a first threaded aperture 20. As shown in Figure 3B, an extendible member 23 is mountable on the support 5 adjacent the second end piece 21. The extendible member 23 is movable in a transverse direction to allow the second end plate 21 to be extended. A second elongate slot 25 is provided in

the second end plate 21 for accommodating a second wing bolt 27. The extendible member 23 has a second threaded aperture 29 for receiving the second wing bolt 27.

In use, the extendible member 23 is movable to an extended position on either side of the second end plate 21 and may be fixed in position by tightening the second wing bolt 27. The extendible member 23 may support a slate 7 to the side of the guide member 19. This is particularly useful when the hanger 3 cannot be located directly above the position where the slate 7 is to be laid, for example due to the pitch of an adjoining roof.

The device 1 is assembled by sliding the guide member 19 into the sleeve 9 and inserting the first wing bolt 13 through the first slot 14. The first wing bolt 13 is then screwed into the threaded aperture 20 and tightened against the sleeve 9. The guide member 19 is thereby fixed in position. The distance between the first and second end plates 11 , 21 can be adjusted by loosening the first wing bolt 13 and moving the support 5 to the desired position. As a safety precaution, a stop (not shown) may be provided to prevent the hanger 3 and the support 5 coming apart. When the device 1 is assembled, the first and second end plates 11 , 21 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. This arrangement is particularly advantageous since it helps to ensure that the lower edge of the slate 7 supported by the first end plate 11 is

substantially parallel to the roof batten 4. The distance between the first and second end plates 11 , 21 can be adjusted by moving the guide member 19 inside the sleeve 9 to set the position at which the slate 7 is supported relative to the roof batten 4. In use, the device 1 is placed on the roof structure with the first end plate 11 engaging a roof batten 4 to retain the device 1 in position. The hanger 3 hangs from the roof batten 4 while the second end plate 21 rests on the roof structure.

A slate 7 is placed on the second end plate 21 such that the lower edge of the slate 7 is supported. The slate 7 can be fixed in position using suitable fasteners while it is supported by the second end plate 21. Since the first and second end plates 11 , 21 are substantially parallel to each other the lower edge of the slate 7 is maintained substantially parallel to the roof batten 4. Once the slate 7 has been fixed in position, the device 1 is moved along the roof batten 4 and the next slate 7 fixed in position. By repeating this process along the length of the roof, a row of slates 7 may be laid.

At an edge of the roof, the pitch of an adjoining roof may prevent the hanger 3 from being located directly above the position in which a slate 7 is to be laid. In these circumstances, the second wing bolt 27 may be loosened and the extending member 23 extended in the appropriate direction. The slate 7 may then be supported on the

extending member 23 and fixed in position. The extending member 23 may be returned to its central position when it is no longer required.

It may be necessary to locate the hanger 3 on different roof battens to accommodate different sizes of slates 7. The device 1 of the present invention, at least in preferred embodiments, enables the slates 7 to be positioned accurately, avoiding the formation of channels which may cause leaks in the roof. It will be appreciated that if slates are to be attached to the roof structure in overlapping configuration, ¹ the device 1 is positioned with the hanger 3 engaging a roof batten 4 and the support 5 resting against the exposed surface of a row of laid slates 7. However, if slates are to be attached to the roof structure in a non-overlapping configuration, the device 1 and the slate 7 supported by the device 1 rest against the roof structure. It will be appreciated that the device 1 may be used even where a single roof batten 4 does not extend along the length of the roof structure. The device 1 may be moved to a different batten, as required. The distance between the first and second end plates 11 , 21 may need to be adjusted when the device 1 is moved to another batten to ensure that the slates 7 are positioned at the same height along the roof structure.

A device 23 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 4. The device 23 corresponds

generally to the first embodiment and like reference numerals have been used for like components.

The device 23 according to the second embodiment comprises a carriage 31 slidably mounted on the sleeve 9. The carriage 31 is movable in an axial direction and carries a marker 33, such as a scriber, for marking the slate 7. A measurement scale 35 is provided on the sleeve 9 to allow the marker 33 to be set at a desired position. A second locking device 37 is provided to allow the carriage 31 to be locked in position. The second locking device 37 in the present embodiment comprises a third wing bolt 39 which can be tightened against the sleeve 9. The third wing bolt 39 also locates in the first slot

14 provided in the hanger 3.

In use, the slate 7 to be marked is supported on top of the hanger 3, as shown in Figure 4, and brought into contact with the marker 33. The top of the first end plate 11 extends above the sleeve

9 to form a lip 41 for supporting the slate 7 while it is marked. The lip

41 typically extends 10mm above the guide member 19. A crosspiece

(not shown) may be provided on the sleeve 9 and/or the first end plate

11 for supporting the slate 7 while it is marked. The marker 33 may be an aluminium pointer mounted on a bolt received in the first slot 14. In this arrangement the bolt forms the carriage 31 for the marker 27.

The device according to the present invention is suitable for laying slates on a roof or other structure which is inclined or vertical. Although the description describes the use of the device according to the present invention for laying slates, the device may equally be used to lay tiles and the like.

Furthermore, although the preferred embodiments have been described as being made of aluminium, it is envisaged that the hanger 3 and the support 5 could be formed from plastics material. The hanger 3 and the support 5 could, for example, be injection moulded from plastics material.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the device described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.