GB2290092A

GB2290092A - Ridgetile mounting bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2290092A
Application number: GB9411361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Terence Hetherington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-07
Filing date: 1994-06-07
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-07
Also published as: GB9411361D0; GB2290092B

Abstract

A ridgetile mounting bracket is adapted to engage both a ridgetile 3 and an underlying ridgeboard 2 so as to enable the ridgetile to be fixed securely to the ridgeboard. Typically the bracket is substantially 'S' shaped in that it has a lower limb for engaging the ridgeboard, a upper limb for engaging the ridgetile and an interconnecting web member 6. The 'S' shaped bracket is typically flexibly deformable permitting fixing of different size ridgetiles in series; the upper limb is preferably provided with securing apertures 8 in the form of slots for receiving securing screw 13 which may have butterfly clips 11 and sealing washers 12. <IMAGE>

Description

Ridgetile Mounting Bracket The present invention relates to ridgetile mounting bracket for use with roofing ridgeboards, and methods of tiling a ridgeboard of a roof.

The most vulnerable part of a roof is the apex or ridge because this is exposed to the full rigours of elements such as frost, wind or the like. Typically, tiled roofs have a single line of ridgetiles positioned along a ridgeboard, which runs the length of the apex of the roof. These ridgetiles are normally stabilised using mortar, which is of little challenge to continual exposure to rain and frost, and other such harsh weather conditions.

Ridgetiles are normally curved, so they cannot be easily screwed down, and they frequently work loose when the mortar eventually erodes due to the harsh weather conditions. When this happens, the ridgeboard becomes exposed to the weather, often resulting in catastrophic roofing problems such as rain leakage or the like. Ridgetiles also vary enormously in both size and shape, which poses problems for tilers when selecting ridgetiles for a particular ridgeboard, and therefore any means for securing the ridgetile must take into account that sizes, wear and shape vary enormously.

It is the purpose of the present invention to alleviate such problems and therefore to provide a ridgetile mounting bracket for roofing ridgeboards which can securely fix a ridgetile to a ridgeboard, whilst still being able to accommodate ridgetiles of varying size and shape.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ridgetile mounting bracket for use with a roofing ridgeboard, the mounting bracket adapted to engage both the ridgetile and the ridgeboard so as to enable the ridgetile to be fixed securely relative to the ridgeboard. Thus, advantageously, the ridgetile may be securely fixed to the ridgeboard which therefore avoids exposure to severe weather such as frost, high wind or the like, thus providing the roof with long lasting weather protection.

Preferably, the mounting bracket is a substantially S-shaped member comprising a lower limb for engaging the ridgeboard, an intermediate web member, and an upper limb for engaging the inner surface of the ridgetile, thus enabling a secure fix on the ridgeboard to be achieved. The upper and lower limbs are preferably substantially parallel to one another, with the web member preferably at respective obtuse angles to each limb.

The S-shaped bracket may be flexible, thus permitting fixing of ridgetiles of different size and shape to the ridgeboard. Thus, advantageously, when pressure is applied to the ridgetile, the bracket may adjust in height and shape so as to be more compatible with a particular size of ridgetile to be attached to the ridgeboard. The tiler is therefore not constrained by a fixed bracket structure which limits the choice of ridgetiles on a particular ridgeboard.

The bracket preferably has apertures provided on both the upper and lower limbs for receiving fixing means, for respectively fixing both the ridgetile to and ridgeboard the bracket. Preferably the apertures on the upper limb of the bracket comprise elongate slots dimensioned such that the fixing means can pass therethrough. Thus the potential fixing area for the ridgetile may be maximised, the user not being limited to a certain point on the ridgetile for fixing to the bracket.

The bracket is preferably fixed to both the ridgeboard and ridgetile using a plurality of screws. The screw or screws fixing the upper limb of the bracket to the ridgetile may further comprise a butterfly clip and washer, both of which embrace the screw.

When such a butterfly clip is used, it engages the inner surface of the mounting bracket whilst the washer engages the outer surface of the ridgetile adjacent an end of the screw.

Preferably the washer is positioned on the outer surface of the ridgetile between the head of the screw and the tile, which helps to exclude penetration by rain or frost or the like, through a bore in the ridgetile through which the screw passes for engaging the bracket.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of tiling a ridgeboard of a roof comprising fixing a ridgetile securely to the ridgeboard using a mounting bracket of the type hereinbefore described. Preferably the bracket is initially fixed to the ridgeboard, the ridgetile being subsequently laid onto the bracket where it can then be fixed using suitable fixing means (and optionally, further secured in place with mortar or the like). The fixing means preferably comprise a plurality of screws and corresponding butterfly clips and washers as hereinbefore described. The ridgetiles may be laid along the length of the ridgeboard in series and can be sealed together using a weatherproof filling material. This type of filling material can be used to further insulate the ridgeboard by sealing ends of ridgetiles to the other roof tiles laying adjacent the ridgeboard.

The invention may be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a ridgetile mounting bracket according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a ridgetile for mounting on the bracket; Figure 3 is a cut-away side view of ridgetiles mounted in series on brackets running the length of the ridgeboard.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a ridgetile mounting bracket for use with a roofing ridgeboard, according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral (1). The mounting bracket (1) engages both the ridgeboard (2) and ridgetile (3) therefore securing the ridgetile (3) to the ridgeboard (2).

The bracket (1) is substantially S-shaped comprising an upper flange (4) and a lower flange (5), with an intermediate web (6). The lower flange (5) is secured to the ridgeboard (2) using a plurality of screws (7). The upper flange (4) has slots (8) for receiving screws (9).

The slots (8) are elongate and therefore the position of optimal strength on the ridgetile (3) may be selected to bore a hole (10) through which the screw (9) fixing the ridgetile to the bracket passes thereby preventing splitting of the ridgetile (3).

In addition to the screw (9) which fixes the ridgetile (3) to the upper flange (4) of the bracket (1), a butterfly clip (11) and watertight washer (12), are provided. The butterfly clip (11) embraces the screw (9), as does the washer (12). When the screw is passed through the hole (10) of the ridgetile and slot (8) of the bracket, the butterfly clip (11) opens out. When the screw (9) is tightened, the butterfly clip (11) exerts an upward force on the bracket (1) fixing the ridgetile to it. The watertight washer (12) may be located on the outer curved surface of the ridgetile (3). When the screw (9) is tightened, with the watertight washer (12) between the head (13) of the screw (9) and the ridgetile (3), there is provided a watertight seal, maximising insulation, sealing the external surface of the tile (3).

The bracket (1) is a flexible moulding, so that ridgetiles of different sizes and shapes may be used, thereby maximising the brackets compatibility. When pressure is applied to the ridgetile (3), the bracket (1) will adjust both in height and shape dependent on the ridgetile to be fixed. The ridgetile (3) may be further sealed by means of a weatherproof filling (14) at the ends of the ridgetile securing it to the existing roof tiles, securing the ridgetile further and providing even better weather resistance to the ridgetile.

Figure 3 shows a series of brackets of the type hereinbefore described, connected in series along the length of the ridgeboard (2). The joins between the ridgetiles may be sealed with a weatherproof filling (15) thereby insulating the whole external length of ridgetile at the apex of the roof projecting the ridgeboard from external weather conditions.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A ridgetile mounting bracket for use with a roofing ridgeboard, the mounting bracket adapted to engage both the ridgetile and the ridgeboard so as to enable the ridgetile to be fixed securely relative to the ridgeboard.

2. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to claim 1 comprising a lower limb for engaging the ridgeboard, an intermediate web member, and an upper limb for engaging the inner surface of the ridgetile.

3. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to claim 2, wherein the upper and lower limbs are substantially parallel to one another.

4. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein the web member is arranged at an obtuse angle relative to respective upper and lower limbs.

5. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to any preceding claim which is flexible thereby permitting fixing of ridgetiles of differing size and shape to the ridgeboard.

6. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein respective apertures are provided on both the upper and lower limbs for receiving fixing means, for respectively fixing both the ridgetile to the ridgeboard and the ridgeboard to the bracket.

7. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to claim 6, wherein the apertures on the upper limb of the bracket comprise elongate slots dimensioned such that the fixing means can pass therethrough.

8. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is arranged to be fixed to the ridgeboard and/or the ridgetile using screws.

9. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to claim 8, wherein the screw or screws fixing the upper limb of the bracket to the ridgetile are provided with a butterfly clip and washer, both of which embrace the respective screw.

10. A ridgetile mounting bracket according to claim 9, wherein the butterfly clip engages the inner surface of the mounting bracket whilst the washer engages the outer surface of the ridgetile adjacent an end of the screw.

11. A ridgetile mounting bracket substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of tiling a ridgeboard of a roof comprising fixing a ridgetile securely to the ridgeboard using a mounting bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket is initially fixed to the ridgeboard, the ridgetile being subsequently laid onto the bracket where it can then be fixed using suitable fixing means.

13. A method of tiling a ridgeboard according to claim 12, wherein a series of ridgetiles are laid along the length of the ridgeboard sealed together using a weatherproof filling material.

14. A method of tiling a ridgeboard substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.