Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: A molded hip, ridge or rake shingle is provided that is shaped to fit over angled intersecting planar surface of a roof hip, ridge or rake, by making a shingle precursor and draping it in heated condition over a rack having surfaces that have an included angle therebetween to cool and take form, such that portions of the shingle precursor conform to the surfaces of the rack, at a desired predetermined included angle between the shingle precursor portions, to form a hip, ridge or rake shingle with shingle portions having the desired included angle between the shingle portions. The shingle is formed according to the process, and on an apparatus, to produce the shingles that can be applied to a roof, in an array of shingles.

Abstract: A shingle, an array of shingles, and a process for producing the shingles, either of the field shingle type, or of the hip, ridge or rake type, wherein the shingles have a shortened headlap portion for purposes of reducing the amount of material necessary to make the shingle, wherein each of the shingles has a fastening zone for receiving fasteners therethrough, which fastening zone is an overlay of granule covered adhesive, and is in the headlap portion, and wherein a contact zone layer of adhesive is provided on the rear of the tab portion of the shingle, for contact against the overlay of granule covered adhesive when a next-overlying shingle is arranged in an array above a next-underlying shingle.

Abstract: A weather resistant shingle system is provided, wherein a starter strip course of shingles is applied to a roof, and with successive courses of field shingles applied thereover, with adjacent underlying and overlying shingles adhesively secured together to provide wind resistance to tabs of next overlying shingles from being upwardly lifted under wind conditions, and to prevent moisture, such as rain, from entering beneath tabs of shingles.

Abstract: A laminated roofing shingle is provided, having an anterior shingle layer and a posterior shingle layer. Openings exist in tab portions of the anterior shingle layer, allowing for visible front surface portions of the posterior shingle layer to be visible through the openings. Such visible portions can be of varying vertical contrast from at least some of the top edges of the openings to at least some of the bottom edges of the posterior shingle layer that are exposed through the openings, and are generally of consistent horizontal contrast between right and left edges of the openings. Front surface portions of the posterior shingle layer that are exposed through one or more openings have a different contrast that is in interrupting contrast to at least a portion of any of the varying or consistent contrast that are visible through the openings between tabs of the anterior shingle layer.

Abstract: Solar-reflective roofing granules having improved solar heat-resistance are formed by coating colored mineral particles with a coating composition including titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of forming a roofing-grade asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-asphalt including a partially oxidized bio-source material, a bitumen source material different from the bio-asphalt, and particles to form the roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 102° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 20 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 177° C., or any combination thereof. The roofing-grade asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product.

Abstract: A roofing product having at least two separate zones, with one of the zones having one or more certain functional characteristics such as flame retardancy, solar reflectivity, weather resistance, selected coloring, heat stabilization, algae resistance, and/or solar collection for electrical generation, and another of the zones not having such functional feature(s). The different zones can be present in core or capstock material. The product can be made by any of various processes, such as co-extrusion, forming, molding, coinjection, shot injection moldings, multiple step injection moldings and/lamination.

Abstract: An asphalt-based sheet roofing material includes capsules on its upper surface. When struck, as by hailstones, the capsules break to release a film forming fluid that spreads over the surface to heal the damage created by the hailstones.

Abstract: A shingle layer of shingle is provided having an increased thickness adhesive coating on at least a portion of its rear surface, with granules embedded therein, with the granules being of a size range that is larger than the fine particles normally applied to the rear surface of a shingle layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a shingle, together with the shingle made thereby, is provided, in which one or more thermoplastic materials are extruded or co-extruded to form an extrudate, with the extrudate being cut into a preliminary shingle shape, which is allowed to dissipate heat, and then is delivered to a compression mold, wherein the preliminary shingle shape is compression molded to substantially its final dimensions and is then discharged from the mold and allowed to cool.

Abstract: Disclosed are solar-reflective roofing and other building materials having high reflectance of near-infrared radiation and high transmission of radiation in the visible light range and a substantial emissivity so as to reduce the heat island effects experienced by the articles while also maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also disclosed are related methods for fabrication of such materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate; one or more photovoltaic cells disposed on the roofing substrate; and a colored or patterned layer disposed on the roofing substrate and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells; and an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned colored layer.

Abstract: A cladding assembly comprises first and second cladding panels, each having top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, and a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels together. The corner connection element includes top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with the female connectors, or wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with the male connectors of the corner connection element.

Abstract: A process for making a plurality of hip, ridge or rake shingles, and the shingles produced thereby and stacks and packages of such shingles are provided. An adhesive impregnated mat is moved longitudinally, and granules are provided onto adhesive, in predetermined bands. An overlay band of adhesive, continuous or discontinuous is provided, with granules thereon, increasing the thickness of the shingle material being made, in predetermined bands, relative to the remainder of the shingle material. The shingle material is slit longitudinally, and one portion can be laminated to another portion, preferably creating a multiple-ply laminated shingle material with thickened overlay portions and optionally with shadow line portions. The material is then slit longitudinally, and cut transversely into a plurality of hip, ridge or rake shingles, which may be individually separated from each other, or which may comprise a plurality of connected together shingles. The shingles are then stacked and wrapped.

Abstract: A roof covering of shingles or tiles is provided, with each shingle or tile being relatively rigid, having relatively flexible stress relief nail zones, that may comprise variations in thickness relative to the remainder of the shingle or tile, or variations in materials, such as will allow for relative movement of the shingles or tiles due to temperature variations resulting in expansion or contraction, or due to other forces, such that the movement will be between the shingles or the tiles and the nails or other fasteners that are used to secure the shingles or tiles to a roof or other surface, and is preferably within the elastic limits of the fastening zones of the shingles or tiles.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.

Abstract: A molded synthetic polymer based shingle is provided as is a roof made up of underlying and overlying of courses of such shingles. The shingles are generally rigid and are provided with upwardly protruding moisture guards on the upper surfaces of their headlap portions, for guarding against wind-blown moisture entering fastener locations at which fasteners are used to attach shingles to a roof. The moisture guards may be of various configurations and by either completely or incompletely surround the fastener locations. Shields having recesses for receiving moisture guards therein, or other downward projections, may be provided at under surface locations of the shingles in cooperative engagement for further protection against moisture penetration and for facilitating alignment of shingles relative to other shingles.