The present invention relates to a support and anchoring member structured so as to support the tiles in a ventilated roof, to a ventilated roof, and to a method for manufacturing a ventilated roof .

In particular, the present invention relates to a support and anchoring member which is designed to be arranged to rest/abut on a resting surface of a ventilated roof without being firmly fixed thereto, that is so as to be easily removed therefrom, and is structured so as to be selectively coupled/anchored to a single tile and simultaneously support the single tile itself while keeping it i a lifted/raised position from the resting surface at a predetermined ventilation distance therefrom so as to allow the free circulation of a determined amount/flow rate of air under the tile.

BACKGROUND ART

As known, tiles called "Portuguese- tiles" and certain types of similar tiles have an asymmetric structure and generally comprise a flat portion corresponding to a "traditional plain roofing tile", and an adjacent convex portion, corresponding to a "traditional bent tile", which is connected to the flat portion so as ^' to form a single piece .

In particular, the convex portion has the shape of a truncated-cone sector, while the flat portion is trapezoidal in shape and, on an outer longitudinal side, has a protruding straight edge which delimits, on the flat portion, a channel for the water outflow, and is designed in use to be coupled to the free longitudinal edge for anchoring the convex portion of an adjacent tile.

Employing the above-described tiles is also known for manufacturing a roofing of a ventilated roof which is structured to allow the air to pass between the roofing and the inclined surface below of the building on which the roofing rests.

Therefore, due to their structure, the above-mentioned ventilated roofs ensure a constant ventilation of the space between the tile roofing and the resting surface below, thereby reducing the formation/stagnation of humidity on the resting surface and/or excessive heating of the building at the roof .

In addition to the above-mentioned roofing, certain types of ventilated roof of the latest generation also comprise a plurality of tile anchoring members generally comprising a series of rectangular,' straight support and hooking section bars or battens, which have gaps or through apertures and are adapted to support, in use, a plurality of tiles which form the roofing, so as to keep the latter spaced apart from the resting surface and hence ensure an adequate ventilation through the through apertures.

Unfortunately, if on the one hand the above-described support and hooking battens ensure good compactness of the ventilated roof, on the other hand they need to necessarily be firmly fixed to the resting surface, typically through screws/plugs, this latter operation significantly affecting the overall times for placing the ventilated roof.

Certain known solutions also provide using anchoring clips, typically made of metal, so as to anchor a tile edge to the batten.

For example, Patent US 5 885 024 describes a method comprising the steps of: positioning battens on the resting surface of the roof, firmly fixing the battens on the resting surface by means of fastening screws, arranging the tiles to rest on the battens in a position which is orthogonal thereto, locking fastening clips on an edge of the tiles, fastening the anchoring clips on the resting surface by means of the fastening screws, so as to firmly anchor the tiles to the resting surface. This solution is not suited for use in a ventilated roof. The arrangement of the battens in positions which are transversal to the tiles significantly obstructs the air passing between the tile roofing and the resting surface, and hence does not allow a "ventilated roof" to be obtained because the air flow rate that can be obtained ^' would be well below the minimum thresholds established by the rules which regulates the functioning . of ventilated roofs. For example, UNI 9460 standard (year 2008) establishes that the ventilation gap between the roofing and the resting surface must have a cross section of at least 550 square centimetres per each linear metre.

The solution proposed in Patent US 5 885 024 would also be particularly inconvenient if used to manufacture a ventilated .roof because the application of screws to fasten ' the anchoring clips determines the puncturing/perforation and hence the damaging of insulating/protective sheaths, e.g. waterproofing membranes, which are typically present on the resting surface, thus compromising the insulation/protection of the roof and causing water infiltrations. The use of screws to fasten battens and clips in the method described in Patent US 5 885 024 is also obviously inconvenient because it affects the times/costs for assembling/maintaining the roof itself.

Patent DE 4 244 131 describes a method for anchoring tiles of a traditional roof, i.e. not ventilated, in which the tiles are arranged to rest on common rafters arranged perpendicular to the tiles, and the clips are fastened to the rafters to anchor the tiles to the rafters themselves . The solution described in DE 4 244 131 is unsuitable for being used to manufacture a ventilated roof because similarly to the solution described in US 5 885 024, it provides the use of rafters which, as they are perpendicular to the tiles, prevent a sufficient amount of air from passing under the roofing. Furthermore, the solution described in DE 4 244 131 requires the firm fastening of the clips on the rafters, by means of screws, which condition significantly affects the roof assembly times and costs .

The solution described in US 1 975 304 is also not at all suitable for being used in a ventilated roof because it describes clips which are structured to reciprocally connect two adjacent tiles belonging to rows of tiles placed side by side but which do not allow the tiles to be kept raised with respect to the resting plane so as to obtain adequate ventilation of the roof . In addition to disadvantageously being subject to deterioration over time, the battens also have the drawback of obstructing the natural ascending motion of the air under the roofing.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a support and anchoring member which:

- allows the reduction of the time placing the tiles, which are preferably but not necessarily Portuguese tiles, forming the roofing of a ventilated roof;

- allows the tiles of a ventilated roof to be assembled without requiring the mechanical fastening of the anchoring member ^; such as to -prevent puncturing on waterproofing membranes;

- allows the resting surfaces of the roofing on the surface below to be decreased, so as to reduce the formation of condensation at the resting surface;

does not obstruct the air passing between the roofing and the resting surface,, and does not prevent the free ascending motion thereof .

This object is achieved by the present invention as it relates, to a support and anchoring member structured to support the tiles, preferably Portuguese tiles or the like, forming a ventilated roof structure, as defined in the appended claims.

The present invention also relates to a ventilated roof as defined in claim 10 and to a method for manufacturing a ventilated roof as defined in claim 14.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which shown a non- limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a ventilated roof pitch provided according to the dictates of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pair of partly overlapping tiles of the ventilated roof shown in Figure 1, which are supported by means of corresponding support and anchoring ^' members provided according to the dictates of the present invention;

- Figures 3 and 4 are just as many perspective views of the support and anchoring member according to two different angles;

- Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the support and anchoring member shown in Figure 3 ;

- Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the support and anchoring member shown in Figure 3 ; whereas

- Figure 7 is a top view of the support and anchoring member shown in Figure 3;

- Figures 8, 9 10 and 11 show just as many operating steps of the method for manufacturing a ventilated roof according to the dictates of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figure 1, numeral 100 indicates as a whole a pitch of a ventilated roof of a building (not illustrated) , which comprises an upper outer resting surface 200 which is coplanar to a reference plane A which is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical of the building, and a roofing 300 (only partly shown in Figure 1 for clarity) , which is arranged on a lying plane substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the reference plane A.

The ventilated roof 100 also comprises a plurality of support and anchoring members 1, which are arranged to rest on the upper outer resting surface 200, ^' and are structured to support and keep roofing 300 lifted on the corresponding lying plane at a predetermined ventilation distance from the upper surface of the upper outer resting surface 200, so that the air. can flow through the free space between roofing 300 and the upper outer resting surface 200, ^' thus causing an aeration/ventilation of the roof 100 without any obstructions to the air.

. It should be understood that the support and anchoring members 1 according to the present invention are conveniently, arranged in. an almost "point- like" manner (with respect to the battens) to rest/abut on the resting surface without mechanically fastening them, for example by means of fastening screws, to the resting surface 200 so as to be easily assembled thereon/removed therefrom, without causing any damage to any waterproofing membranes.

Roofing 300 comprises a series of rows, of overlapping tiles 2, which extend parallel to each other and placed side by side along a . direction parallel., to the ridge line C of the pitch of the ventilated roof 100, thus remaining on the lying plane of the roofing.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, tile 2 may preferably but not necessarily correspond to a Portuguese tile or to any tile having a similar structure, preferably but not necessarily made of clay filler or any other type of similar known material, which comprises a convex portion 3 and a flat portion 4 connected to each other side by side so as to form a single piece.

According to an embodiment shown in Figure 1, the convex portion 3 extends along a longitudinal axis L and substantially has the shape of a bent tile, i.e. a truncated-cone sector preferably, but not necessarily, tapered at one end and not tapered at the opposite -end, and has a greater edge 5 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L so as to overlap, in use, the upper surface of the flat portion 4 of an adjacent tile 2.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the flat portion 4 is shaped so as to substantially have the shape of a plain roofing tile, that is a trapezoidal shape, and along an outer longitudinal side opposite to ^' the greater edge 5 (with respect to the center-plane of tile 2) and parallel to the longitudinal axis L, has a protruding longitudinal edge 6, which protrudes in a cantilevered fashion upwards from the upper surface thus remaining locally orthogonal to the upper surface . The protruding longitudinal edge 6 may preferably be shaped so that, in use, it is placed immediately under the greater edge 5 of an adjacent tile 2 (belonging to the same row of tiles) and extends along the outer longitudinal side so as to delimit a channel 7 on the flat portion 4 for the water collection and outflow, which is designed to prevent the water from flowing towards the upper outer resting surface 200 below. According to an embodiment shown in Figure 2, the protruding longitudinal edge 6 has an end 6a which is tapered so as to promote the coupling of the anchoring member 1.

According to an embodiment, tile 2 may also comprise a series of coupling ribs 8, which extend preferably but not necessarily orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L at the two opposite axial ends of tile 2 and are designed, in use, to be coupled to the corresponding ribs 8 of a contiguous tile 2 arranged in an adjacent row.

Tile 2 is of known type and will not be further described other than to specify that., according to a possible embodiment shown in Figure 2, certain coupling ribs 8 are arranged on the lower surface of a first axial end of tile 2 opposite to the ridge line C, and are designed to be coupled to corresponding coupling ribs 8 on the upper surface of a second axial end of a contiguous tile 2 belonging to an adjacent row below with respect to the ridge line C.

With reference to an embodiment shown in the example in Figure 1, the tiles 2 of each row are aligned with each other, one after the other, and are arranged so that the concavity of the convex portion 3 is facing the eaves line opposite to the ridge line C, and the second axial end of each tile 2 is facing the ridge line C. The tiles 2 of each row are preferably arranged so that the first axial end of a. tile 2 is · overlapping the . second- .axial end of a contiguous tile 2 belonging to an adjacent row to ensure that the coupling ribs 8 of the tiles are coupled together, and the greater edge 5 is overlapping the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion of a contiguous/adjacent tile 2 belonging to the same row of tiles.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the support members 1 are arranged to rest on the upper outer resting surface 200 under the tiles 2 of roofing 300 and are each positioned at the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of tile 2. According to an embodiment shown in Figure 2, each support member 1 is structured so as to selectively support the flat portion 4 of tile 2 while simultaneously holding the protruding longitudinal edge 6 thereof and keeping tile 2 raised from the upper outer resting surface 200 by a distance equal to the ventilation distance. "As previously described, it is convenient to point out that holding the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of tile 2 results in the middle zone of the flat portion 4, corresponding to channel 7 of tile 2, being totally free from obstacles and thus allows an optimal water outflow in the channel consisting of a series of overlapping tiles belonging to different rows .

As previously described, it should be understood that the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of each tile 2 anchors/connects tile 2 to the adjacent tile 2. In other words, the tiles 2 are reciprocally anchored to each other by means of the respective protruding longitudinal edges 6. Therefore, as will be better described below, the tiles 2 are kept anchored to the adjacent tiles 2, while the support and anchoring member 1 supports and holds the individual tile 2 without however firmly anchoring/fixing the same to the resting surface 200.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3-8, the support member 1 may be conveniently made of plastic material, and be obtained for example by means of a process of injection into a mould. It should be understood that according to other possible embodiments, the support member 1 could be conveniently made of any different material other than plastic material, such as for example a metal material or the like.

According to an embodiment, the support member 1 comprises a rigid spacer support socket 9, which is substantially shaped like a trapezoidal prism which has a greater base 10 structured to rest on the upper outer resting surface 200, and a smaller base 11, opposite to the greater base 10, shaped so as to support the flat portion 4 of tile 2. In other words , the support socket 9 serves the function of raising tile 2 from the resting surface 200 and is preferably structured so as to be arranged, in use, to rest on the resting surface 200 so as to be easily removed from the resting . surface 200, and is shaped so as to support the flat portion 4 of a single tile 2 by keeping it raised/lifted/spaced apart from the resting surface 200 at a distance equal to said ventilation distance so as to allow a ventilation under roofing 300.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the smaller base 11 is substantially rectangular in shape, and has a flat upper resting surface which is preferably inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the lying plane of the greater base. According to an exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 3, the smaller base 11 has two greater . sides 11a which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis M, and two smaller sides lib which are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis .

According to an embodiment, the smaller base 11 is arranged at a distance from the greater base 10 which is substantially equal to the ventilation distance.

According to an embodiment, the distance between the smaller base 11 and the greater base 10 of socket 9 may be for example from about 4 cm to 5 cm, preferably 4.5 cm.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3-6, the support member 1 also comprises an anchoring portion 12, which protrudes in a cantilevered fashion from the support socket 9 so ^' as to extend above it, and is shaped so as to be coupled to the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4 of tile 2 so as to hold the flat portion 4 of tile 2 in abutment on the smaller base 11 of the support socket 9 below.

According to an embodiment , the anchoring portion 12 is firmly fixed to a smaller side lib of the smaller base 11 of socket 9 (intended to be arranged, in use, under the protruding longitudinal edge 6) so as to be arranged above the smaller base 11 and is shaped so as to be coupled to the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4 of tile 2 so as to hold tile 2.

According to an exemplary embodiment shown in Figures

3-7, the anchoring portion 12 may comprise a rigid tongue 13, which protrudes in a cantilevered fashion upwards from a smaller side lib of the smaller base 11 of socket 9 along a direction substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the smaller base 11, and is folded so as to surround and hold the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4 of tile 2.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the rigid tongue 13 is substantially C- shaped and extends from the smaller side lib of the smaller base 11 thus remaining substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the smaller base 11.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the rigid tongue 13 is dimensioned so as to have a free terminal end 13e thereof which, in use, is arranged in a position locally facing towards and adjacent to the upper face of the flat portion 4 of tile 2.

The _. rigid tongue 13 may ^■ preferably be dimensioned and structured so that the free terminal end 13e thereof is arranged substantially to rest/abut on the upper face of the flat portion 4 of tile 2 so as to hold the flat portion 4 resting on the upper surface of the smaller base 11.

The rigid tongue 13 is preferably conveniently dimensioned so that the distance D between the outer edge of the free end 13 thereof and the upper surface of the smaller base 11 is from about 1.1 cm to 1.5 cm, preferably 1.3 cm .

In the example shown in Figure 5, the rigid tongue 13 essentially comprises a first curved segment 13a, which protrudes in a cantilevered fashion upwards from the smaller side 11a starting from the upper surface of the smaller base 11 and is designed to support a lower portion of the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4, a second segment 13b which is connected to the end of the first segment 13a and extends upwards thus remaining locally orthogonal to the upper surface of the smaller base 11 so that, in use, it is arranged in contact with the outer portion of the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4; and a third segment 13c, which is connected to the end of the second segment 13b and is folded like a hook so as to surround and hold the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4. The third portion 13c is preferably shaped so as to extend towards the upper surface o ^' f the smaller base 11 thus remaining in the terminal part thereof locally substantially parallel to the second segment 13b and is dimensioned so that the free end thereof, corresponding to the terminal free end 13e, is spaced apart from the upper surface of the smaller base 11 by a distance equal to distance D so as to totally surround the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of tile 2 and hold the flat portion 4 resting on the upper surface of the smaller base 11.

The rigid tongue 13 also preferably has, between the first 13a and second 13b segments, a V-shaped rib 20 which extends along an axis H crosswise to axis M and is designed to allow the rigid tongue 13 to elastically bend at least partly about said axis H so as to conveniently hook the protruding longitudinal edge 6 and keep, with the free terminal end 13e thereof, the flat portion 4 resting on the upper surface of the smaller base 11.

The inner surface of the rigid tongue 13 delimits a seat or groove 14 dimensioned so as to accommodate and hold the protruding longitudinal edge 6 of the flat portion 4.

Preferably, on the inner surface of the rigid tongue 13 there is a straight tooth 15, which extends orthogonal to the longitudinal axis M thus remaining locally parallel to the upper surface of the smaller base 11 of socket 9 and serves the function of being arranged in abutment on the outer face of the protruding longitudinal edge 6 so as to increase the gripping of the anchoring portion on the edge itself.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, socket 9 is structured so as to have aeration channels or through holes 17, which extend orthogonal to the longitudinal axis M, while the greater base 10 comprises a plate, on which a plurality of through holes 18 are made which are adapted to allow the aeration of surface 200 covered by the greater base 10 so as to prevent the formation of condensation at the resting area of socket 9.

The abutting surface of the greater base 10 on the resting surface 200 is also shaped so as to have longitudinal teeth 19 which extend orthogonal to the longitudinal axis M so as to be arranged beside the aeration through holes 18 and are spaced apart from one another so as to allow the air passing between the surface of the greater base 10, the through holes 18, and the resting surface 200 ^' .

The longitudinal teeth 19 also have rectangular cross sections and conveniently define a surface for gripping the support member 1 to the resting surface 200.

The method for manufacturing the ventilated roof 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 8 to 11.

According to an embodiment, the method may comprise the steps of arranging tiles 2, arranging support members 1, coupling each support member 1 to a corresponding tile 2; and preferably arranging each support member 2 with the anchored tile (2) , to rest on the resting surface 200. The step of coupling the support member 1 to tile 2 may preferably be carried out before resting tile ,2 on the resting plane 200, by engaging the anchoring portion 12 on the protruding longitudinal edge 6 while keeping socket 9 uncoupled from tile 2 (Figure 8) , preferably by rotating the support and support member 1 towards tile 2 (Figure 9) until socket 9 under the flat portion 4 is also engaged (Figure 10) , and resting the assembly formed by coupling the support and anchoring member 1 and tile 2 on the resting plane 200 (Figure 11) . The method preferably provides positioning each support member 1 on the resting surface 200, positioning the flat part 4 of tile 2 to reston the smaller base 11 of socket 9, and simultaneously engaging the rigid tongue 13 in the longitudinal edge 6 so as to hold it. During the operation of engaging, the rigid tongue 13 bends about axis H so as to adapt to and surround the longitudinal edge 6, and arranges the free terminal end 13e thereof on the flat portion 4 so as to hold it resting on the upper surface of the smaller base 11 thus ensuring the anchoring of tile 2.

The advantages of the above-described ventilated roof 100 and of the support and anchoring member 1 are evident. The support member ensures an optimal water outflow in the straight channel consisting of the channels of the contiguous tiles. Indeed, the arrangement of the anchor tongue on the protruding longitudinal edge of the flat portion of the tile keeps the flat portion totally free, thus allowing rainwater to flow more easily along the channel. Furthermore, in addition to being easy to be coupled to the tile, the support and anchoring member does not require mechanical fastening to the resting surface using screws or plugs and thus, on the one hand, allows reducing the time for placing the Portuguese tiles forming the roofing of a ventilated roof and, on the other hand, does not require puncturing the waterproofing membranes below.

The support and anchoring members also allow the formation of condensation on the resting surface to be significantly reduced if not totally suppressed. Indeed, in addition to roofing an extremely limited area of the resting surface (an area which is almost "point-like" if compared with the battens used in known roofs) , the greater base perforated by the socket allows a localized ventilation between the plate and the resting surface, due to the longitudinal teeth and holes obtained on the plate .

The support and anchoring member is shaped so as not to obstruct the air passing between the roofing and the resting surface, thus ensuring the free ascending motion of the air towards the roof . Furthermore, the shape and size of the rigid tongue allows the protruding longitudinal edge of the tile to be totally surrounded, regardless of the size of the tile, thus making the anchoring member universal, that is designed for anchoring both Portuguese tiles with standard traditional size, and a different type of tile but having a structure similar to that of the Portuguese tile and/or different size.

Finally, it is apparent that modifications and variants may be made to the above-described ventilated roof, support and anchoring member, and method as set forth in the claims, without departing from the scope of the present invention.