SLATE RETAINER AND METHOD OF REPLACING BROKEN SLATES
A method of replacing a slate, without affecting surrounding slates is disclosed. The method includes removing a broken slate. Once removed a respective fixing baton of two underlying slates is visible. The method includes securing a first portion of a slate retainer to the baton visible between the two underlying slates. Once the replacement slate is in position, the second portion can flex back in order to retain the replacement slate in position relative to the baton.
The present invention relates to a slate retainer and in particular, although not exclusively, to a slate retainer for replacing broken slates and a method thereof.
It is extremely common for pitched roofs to be covered in slates or tiles to provide weather proofing. It should be noted that the term slate is used herein to refer to any natural or synthetic slates or tiles used as roof coverings. Conventionally, when covering a new roof or completely replacing an existing roof covering, each slate is drilled with two holes and held in place by driving nails through the holes into target areas of a roof.
One known technique is to use batons as target areas. Consequently, as illustrated in
As an alternative to conventional batoned roofs, it is also known to cover the roof with boards of wooden sheets. On so called boarded roofs, the boards form much larger target areas than the batons. Moreover, the head of a slate rests on an area of the board spaced from the target area rather than a respective head baton.
In use, the slates are prone to damage and require replacement. Where only a small number require replacement, it is not practical to remove all higher levels. In this case it is known to use a tool referred to as a “ripper”. The ripper is a flat tool that is slightly thinner than the slates and includes a hooked portion. Thus the ripper can be used to remove the broken slate from the roof and the hooked portion can be used to rip the nails that previously held the broken slates in place from the roof. This can be done without affecting the surrounding slates. It is known to then slide a replacement slate upwardly into position and secure it in place using a strip of lead. For example, the strip of lead is nailed to a fixing baton of the underlying slates before a replacement slate is slid upwardly into position and the strip of lead subsequently bent to form a hook around the replacement slate. However, lead strips are prone to failing over time. Consequently, it is also know to secure the replacement slate in place using a slate retainer.
For instance, GB 2 228 502 discloses a two-part slate retainer comprising a fixing member that is secured to the respective fixing baton of the row of underlying slates, and a slate retaining member. The fixing member and slate retaining member are separate and arranged to slidably engage. Here the replacement slate is slid into position when the fixing means is secured. The slate retaining member is then slid into position, at which point the fixing member locks the slate retaining member relative thereto.
Know slate retainers can be unsightly. Furthermore, two part slate retainers can be fiddly to assemble, particularly given that roofers often wear gloves for protection from the cold.
It is an aim of the present invention to attempt to solve the above or other disadvantages. It is a further aim to provide a slate retainer for replacing broken slates that are less visible during use. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a slate retainer and method of replacing broken slates that is easy and quick.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of replacing a slate and a single-piece slate retainer as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.
According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of replacing a slate, without affecting the surrounding slates. The method comprises removing the slate. Once removed generally tops of two underlying slates are uncovered. Thus, a target area for a slate fixing of the underlying slates is visible between the abutment of the sides of the two underlying slates. The method comprises securing a first portion of a slate retainer to the target area visible between two underlying slates. Once attached, a replacement slate can be slid upwardly along the underlying slates into position. This is made possible by causing a second portion of the slate retainer to resiliently flex between the two underlying slates when the replacement slate is slid into position. Once the replacement slate is in position, the second portion can flex back in order to retain the replacement slate in position relative to the target area using a second portion of the slate retainer.
According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a single-piece slate retainer for use in the method of replacing a slate as previously described. Here the slate retainer includes a first portion that is securable to a target area of a roof. Suitably, the target area is a respective fixing baton of underlying slates. Here the baton is visible between the abutment of the sides of two underlying slates. Alternatively, the target area is a board of a boarded roof. The slate retainer also includes a second portion for holding a slate in position on a roof relative to the first portion. The first portion and second portion are separated by an integral middle portion. The middle portion is resilient so that the second portion is resiliently flexible relative to the first portion so that, in use, the second portion is flexible between two underlying slates.
Advantageously, because the second portion flexes downwardly between the two underlying slates, the second portion does not interfere with the replacement slate. Consequently, a head of the replacement slate is able to correctly locate on its respective head baton or part of the board of a boarded roof.
Preferably, at least a portion of the slate retainer comprises an anchor portion. Here, the anchor portion is arranged above the two underlying slates. The anchor portion is sized so as to extend, relative to an elongate axis of said batons, a greater extent than the gap between the underlying slates so that the anchor portion can not flex between the two underlying slates. Advantageously, the anchor portion improves the resilience of the second part and enables the middle and second portions to be offered at an improved orientation. Suitably, the anchor portion is spaced from the first portion. Suitably, the anchor portion is spaced from the second portion. For instance, the anchor portion may form part of the middle portion.
In one exemplary embodiment, the integral middle portion is also able to resiliently extend to locate the second portion further from the first portion. Thus, the method comprises causing the second portion to resiliently move away from the first portion. Here the middle portion may comprise one or more loops. The middle portion may be arranged to locate the second portion above the desired location of a foot of the replacement slate. Advantageously, this allows the slate retainer, to retain the replacement slate in a pre-tensioned state. For example, the slate retainer, in the pretensioned state acts to urge the replacement slate upwardly with respect to the roof. Here, the second portion may comprise a hook. Advantageously, a hook provides better support to the replacement slate.
In an exemplary embodiment the first portion includes at least one fixing location for receiving a fixing, such as a nail, in order for the first portion to be secured to the respective fixing baton of the underlying slates or secured to the board of a boarded roof. Suitably, the fixing location is an aperture. Preferably however, it is advantageous to provide at least two fixing locations, particularly when fixing to batoned roofs. Here, each fixing location is arranged so as to be spaced from the second portion a desired distance to accommodate two or more standard baton spacing distances. Thus, one slate retainer can be used to repair roofs having different baton spacings. Alternatively, a number of slate retainers can be designed, each suitable for a specific baton spacing. It will be appreciated that the location of the fixing location is not as critical for boarded roofs as the target area is larger.
In an exemplary embodiment, the slate retainer includes a locating portion. The locating portion is arranged, in use, to locate between the two underlying slates when the first part is secured to the target area. Thus, advantageously, the locating portion enables the slate retainer to be quickly and repeatedly positioned and aligned in place. Suitably, the locating portion is arranged on the opposite side of the first portion with respect to the second portion.
Preferably, the slate retainer is formed, at least partially, from a sprung wire such as sprung steel wire. More preferably, the slate retainer is formed entirely from sprung wire. Here the fixing locations may be formed by a loop of wire. Furthermore, the second portion may be formed by bending the wire to create at least one elbow. A hook may be formed by creating at least two elbows. Furthermore, the locating portion may be formed by bending the wire. Moreover, the middle portion may be formed by creating a looped section of wire. The loop may be a full loop or a portion thereof.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Consequently, the locating portion 240 enables the slate retainer 200 to be quickly and correctly located. As will be herein described, the locating portion is aligned with fixing locations 212a and 212b and the second portion 220 along the same axis (axis y of
The first portion 210 of the slate retainer 200 is shown in
In contrast to the first embodiment, the middle portion 230 of the second embodiment is not only able to flex up and down in the z-direction (indicated by arrow A), but is also resiliently extendable in the y-direction. Suitably, the middle portion is formed from a partial loop of wire. For instance, as shown in
The second portion 200 of the slate retainer 200 is shown in
In use, as the replacement slate is slid into position, the hook is able to flex downwardly between the underlying slates. When the slate is in position, the hook 226 remains in contact with the replacement slate as the hook does not move clear of the replacement slate. Thus, a tool can be used to cause the hook 226 to move in the y-direction due to the expansion of the middle portion. Once the hook 226 is clear of the relevant slate, the resilient nature of the middle portion 230 causes the hook 226 to flex upwardly, out of the gap between the two underlying slates and also contract to its original distance from the fixing locations 212. Thus the hook is arranged about the replacement slate.
It may be desirable to cause the hook to hold the replacement slate in a tensioned state. In this case the distance between the second portion 220 and the fixing location 212, in the unstressed state is arranged to be less than the desired distance between the respective fixing batons and foot of the replacement slate. Thus, when hooked on a replacement slate, the middle portion remains in an extended state along the y-direction and therefore applies a force on the replacement slate acting to urge the replacement slate upwardly. It will be appreciated that this upwardly force would be resisted either by the replacement slate abutting nails in higher rows or it would be insufficient to overcome the gravitational force of the replacement slate so that the replacement slate remains in the correct alignment on the roof.
Referring to
Referring to
A method of using the slate retainer 300 will now be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
As an alternative to causing the hook 326 to move downwardly, clear of the replacement slate using the ripper, a tool may be used. A suitable tool 600 is shown in
Advantageously, the slate retainer and method herein described allows replacement slates to be quickly and easily installed. Moreover, the slate retainers provide improved aesthetics as only a minimal portion of the hook is visible. Furthermore, the slate retainers provide improved securing as the replacement slates are less likely to be dislodged.
Claims
1. A method of replacing a slate, the method comprising:
- removing the slate;
- attaching a first portion of a slate retainer to a target area of a roof that is visible between two underlying slates;
- arranging a replacement slate into position;
- retaining the replacement slate in position relative to the target area using a second portion of the slate retainer; and
- causing the second portion of the slate retainer to resiliently flex between the two underlying slates when the replacement slate is arranged in position.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of causing the second portion to resiliently move away from the first portion in order to retain the replacement slate.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of causing the second portion to resiliently move away from the first portion comprises using a tool to catch the second portion, and using the tool to extend the second portion away from the first portion.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method includes the step of locating a locating portion between the two underlying slates.
5. A single-piece slate retainer comprising:
- a first portion that is attachable to a target area of a roof;
- a second portion for holding a slate in position on a roof relative to the first portion; and
- a middle portion, arranged between the first portion and the second portion, the middle portion being resilient so that the second portion is resiliently flexible relative to the first portion so that, in use, the second portion is flexible between two underlying slates.
6. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 5, wherein a portion of the slate retainer comprises an anchor.
7. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 6, wherein the anchor portion comprises the middle portion.
8. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 5, wherein the middle portion is resiliently extendable to move the second portion away from the first portion.
9. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 8, wherein the second portion comprises a hook.
10. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 8, wherein the second portion is arranged to be spaced from the first portion a distance less than the desired distance between the first portion and that of the replacement slate, so that, in use, the slate retainer retains the replacement slate in a tensioned state that biases the foot of the slate to move toward the first portion.
11. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 5, wherein the first portion includes at least a first fixing location for receiving a fixing.
12. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 11, wherein the first portion includes a second fixing location.
13. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 5 wherein the slate retainer includes a locating portion.
14. The single-piece slate retainer of claim 5 wherein the single-piece slate retainer is fabricated from a continuous length of sprung wire.
15. A method of manufacturing a single-piece slate retainer that is as claimed in claim 5, wherein the method of manufacture comprises forming the single-piece slate retainer by bending a continuous length of sprung wire.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 16, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2011
Applicant: HALL CLIP LIMITED (Chorley)
Inventor: James Hall (Chorley)
Application Number: 12/883,471
International Classification: E04D 1/34 (20060101); E04B 7/00 (20060101);