Conventionally, roofing slates are fixed in position on a roof simply by passing a nail through a hole near the centre of each longitudinal edge of the slate into the batten of a roof structure. This method of securing a slate to a batten is known as centre holing. The lower edge of each slate has to overlap a lower row of slates to provide an effective, waterproof cover. Moreover, the side edges of the slates also have to overlap adjacent slates in a similar manner to prevent entry of water.

Roofing slates are typically made of natural slate or fibre cement slate. Artificial slates are also known, for example, bitumen impregnated asbestos slates. Slates are favourable roofing components from an aesthetic view point, however, they are brittle and therefore prone to damage, for example, as the tiler works his way up the roof. Moreover, in strong winds the force of the wind may lift slates from a roof.

For these reasons, roofing slates will need replacing from time to time. Typically, to replace a damaged or lost slate a tiler is required to remove the line of slates above the slate to be replaced. Thus, the process of slate replacement involves the tiler removing the slates (with nails) from each of the above line of slates, introducing the replacement slate, nailing the replacement slate to the roof batten, and reapplying the above line of slates. This process is time consuming, laborious and ' The object of the present invention is to provide a roofing slate which can be used to replace a damaged slate without having to disturb the line of slates above, thereby

avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a roofing slate comprising a roofing slate member and a clip, the clip comprising a base plate which is fixed to a face of the slate member by attachment means and a lip which is resiliently connected to the base plate and projects from the base plate at an angle, whereby the lip is compressible towards the base plate.

Thus, when a roofing slate according to the invention is inserted between the batten and the slate above, the lip is compressed as it slips over the batten, then snaps back into its former orientation, due to the resilience, and so engages with the batten.

The term"roofing slates"is intended to embrace conventional roofing slates which are typically planar, rectangular sheets arranged in an overlapping manner on sloping roofs to provide a weather proof roof covering. The slates may be formed from natural slate or may be fibre cement slates or slates prepared from any suitable artificial slate material. Slates other than natural slates are collectively referred to herein as"alternative man-made slates" Preferably, the base plate is provided with flanges at its terminal lateral portions for fixing the clip to the slate. The base plate may be secured to the slate by any suitable fixings, for example, nails, screws or rivets, which are driven through the flanges into the slate. The material from which the base plate is formed may be of sufficiently light material, for example, light plastics material, that the fixings can be driven directly through it. Alternatively, fixings holes may be provided in the flanges. Preferably, the flanges are provided with openings through which the fixings can be driven into the slate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attachment means comprise rivets, for example pop rivets, which are driven through openings in the flanges and into holes punched in the slate to receive the rivets, thereby fastening the clip to the slate.

It is contemplated that the means for fixing the clip to the slate may require no modification of the slate. The holes provided in a slate for receiving the fixings may introduce areas of weakness in the slate. Thus, the present inventions covers embodiments in which the slate is not modified, for example where the attachment means comprise an adhesive.

Typically, the base plate and lip are continuous along the longitudinal axis of the clip. Preferably, the base plate and lip are continuous along complementary' longitudinal edges to define a substantially V-shaped arrangement; in this arrangement the tapered tip of the V is referred to as the nib. Alternatively, the longitudinal edge of the lip may be secured to the face of the base plate to define a substantially Y-shaped arrangement. However, it is contemplated that the base plate and lips may be separable, or may be secured along complementary longitudinal edges by a hinge or other suitable connection.

Typically, the lip is angled apart from the base plate at an oblique angle, for example, at least 45°, or at least 90°. In a preferred embodiment, the lip extends from the base plate at an angle of 43°. Preferably, the clip is orientated on the face of the slate such that, in use, the lip projects in the direction of the lower edge of the slate.

It is preferred that the lip is compressible transverse to the longitudinal axis of the base plate. The lip is compressed against the base plate so as to define a"closed" V-shaped arrangement. The resilience of the clip is intended to return the clip to its

original"open"V-shaped configuration when the clip is not being compressed. The compressibility of the lip against the base plate allows the slate to be fitted between slates and battens of different separations.

The diameter of the base plate and the lip may be the same although it is contemplated that the diameter of the lip may be greater or lesser than that of the base plate. In a preferred embodiment, the lip is narrower than the base so as to define a substantially V-shaped arrangement in which one arm of the V is shorter than the other. In this instance, the shorter arm of the V corresponds to the lip.

The clip may be formed from any suitable resilient material, for example, light gauge metal such as aluminium. Preferably, the clip is formed in plastics material moulded according to any suitable technique. In a preferred embodiment, the clip is formed from moulded Polypropylene.

Typically the clip is affixed horizontally across of the slate. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the clip is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of the slate.

The clip may be positioned on any part of the slate face. The clip may extend entirely across the width of the slate face. Alternatively, the clip may only extend partly across the width of the slate face. Preferably, the clip is located centrally on the face of the slate.

In a further embodiment, the invention comprises a roofing system deploying the roofing slate of the invention. Preferably, the roofing slates are deployed in the conventional overlapping manner to render the roof waterproof. It is preferred that the roofing slate of the present invention is positioned on a roof such that the overlapping slates cover holes in the slate which receive the mechanical fixings to fix the clip to the slate. Moreover, it is preferred that the roofing slate of the

invention is positioned on a roof such that it partially overlaps a lower row of slates and in so doing covers the holes provided in the lower slate (s) for nailing the slate to a batten In a further embodiment, the invention further comprises a method for deploying a roofing slate according to the invention, the method comprising: locating the roofing slate in the space between the roof batten and the above roofing slate, and urging the slate between the batten and the above slate such that the lip is compressed towards the base plate, whereby movement of the lip beyond the batten removes the compressing force and causes the lip to snap back into its former orientation and engage with the batten.

As used herein, the expression"engage with the batten"includes situations in which the lip hooks, overlaps, abuts, co-operates or communicates with the batten.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a replacement roofing slate which, in use, replaces a damaged or lost slate.

It is preferred that the roofing slate of the present invention is not fixed to a roof batten or to other slates on a roof. Preferably, the roofing slate in use on a roof, simply hangs from a batten. Indeed, the weight of the overlapping slates may secure the replaced roofing slate in place.

In position on a batten, the clip engages the batten thereby hindering subsequent removal of the roofing slate from the batten The clip thereby acts to hold the roofing slate in place sufficiently securely so that further mechanical fixings may be dispensed with. These features of the roofing slate make it useful as a replacement/repair slate.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now by described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a partition of a roof provided with a roof covering of conventional overlapping slates; Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section of the roof shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a traditional slate secured to a roof batten by centre holing; Figure 4 is a plan view of a roofing slate according to the invention showing the clip; Figure 5 is a side view of the roofing slate shown in Figure 4, and showing the clip attached to the roof batten; and Figures 6a to 6d are sequential side views in section showing the roofing slate according to the invention being deployed on a roof batten.

The conventional slate roof covering illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises four rows of slates, 5,6,7,8, the slates in each row lying with their side edges butting together. To ensure that the slate covering is waterproof, each slate must be provided over or under the entire length of each pair of butting edges.

The traditional natural slate I of Figure 3 has apertures near the centre of each

longitudinal-edge through which nails 2 are driven into a batten 3. The slate 1 is secured by the preferred method of central holing. Nailing and overlapping prevents lifting of the slates in strong wind.

A roofing slate 4 according to the invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5. The roofing slate 4 is made of natural slate and is of a size conventional for roofing slates.

Fastened to the slate 4 is a clip 10 which is V-shaped and is formed of an elongate base plate 11 which is continuous with an elongate lip 12 along respective longitudinal edges. The lip 12 is provided at an angle to the base plate 11 to define a V-shaped arrangement having a tapered nib 15. The angle between the base plate 11 and the lip 12 is 43°.

The clip 10 is formed by plastics moulding from a resilient material. Flanges 20 are provided at the terminal lateral portions of the base plate 11. The base plate 11 is secured to the slate 4 by pop rivets 16 which are driven through apertures 19 in the flanges 20.

As can be seen in Figure 5, when in position on a roof, the lip 12 of the slate 4 engages a batten 18 by hooking over the top edge of the batten 18.

The slate 4 is used to replace slates, for example, damaged slates, on a roof as shown in Figures 6a to 6d. The roof in Figure 6a shows slates arranged in overlapping fashion. Nails 17 are used to secure each slate 21 to a batten 22. The replacement roofing slate 4 is urged between the slate 21 and the roof batten 23 along the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 6a. The movement forces the base plate 11 and the lip 12 into intimate contact with the upper slate 21 and the roof

batten 23 which urges the base plate 11 and the lip 12 together thereby compressing the clip 10. Further movement pushes the compressed clip beyond the batten.

Movement of the lip 12 beyond the batten causes the lip 12 to be released and snap back into its former orientation. As the lip snaps back it hooks over the batten 23.