Abstract: In one embodiment, a shingle includes a first layer having at least one full tab and at least one full cut-out. A second layer is positioned under the first layer. The full tab width to first layer length ratio is greater than 8.5/36. The full cut-out width to first layer length ratio is greater than 8.5/36. A method that includes applying such shingles to a roof.

Abstract: A system operating in an environment under a vacuum draw in which liquid accumulates utilizes the weight of the liquid to discharge the liquid from the system. The system includes a first holding tank and a second holding tank interconnected by a liquid passageway and a pressure equalization passageway. A number of valves are provided for controlling flow into and out of the second holding tank. The valves are operated in a sequence to use gravity to bring accumulating liquid from the first holding tank to the second holding tank in the vacuum environment, and then to discharge the liquid from the second holding tank to the environment outside of the system.

Abstract: A system for sealing a packaging wrapper around an object directs a flow of heated air to end flaps of the wrapper to move the end flaps into sealing contact with a body section of the wrapper to substantially enclose the object. The system includes an oven, a conveyor, a source of heated air and a means for deflecting the flow of heated air to the conveyor to seal end flaps of the wrapper with a body section of the wrapper. In use, an object surrounded by the wrapper body section is moved through the oven on a conveying surface of the conveyor, and heated air is moved through the oven bypassing the conveying surface to a region below the conveying surface. The heated air flow then encounters the means for deflecting the heated air flow, which directs the air flow upward and through the conveying surface to impact and move the end flaps into sealing contact with the wrapper body section.

Abstract: A roofing member is implemented as a part of a roof covering system to provide the look of an individual shingle roof covering in a panel-like system with improved ease of installation. The roofing member includes a panel having a top surface, a bottom surface a butt portion, a upslope portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. Formed onto the top surface of the panel are a set of elongated shadow channels extending from the butt portion to the upslope portion on the top surface of the panel to divide the top surface into a set of raised profile sections having regions that are lighter in coloration than the elongated shadow channels. This configuration provides the visual effect of individual shingles in the areas of the raised profile sections with gaps between laterally adjacent shingles provided by the shadow channels.

Abstract: A system operating in an environment under a vacuum draw in which liquid accumulates utilizes the weight of the liquid to discharge the liquid from the system. The system includes a first holding tank and a second holding tank interconnected by a liquid passageway and an equalization passageway. First, second, third and fourth valves are provided for controlling flow into and out of the second holding tank. The valves are operated in a sequence to bring accumulating liquid from the first holding tank to the second holding tank in the vacuum environment, and then to discharge the liquid from the second holding tank to the environment outside of the system having a greater air pressure than the air pressure within the vacuum environment.

Abstract: A three-layer asphalt composition shingle where the top layer is of a full width, a middle layer is less than the full width, and a bottom layer has a width shorter than the middle layer. The middle and top layers of the shingle have tabs and cutouts. The tabs of each such layer generally differ in some feature. Moreover, the corresponding tabs between the middle layer and top layer also differ with respect to some feature, such as a lengthwise size, a widthwise size, shape or in color. Each of the three layers includes color zones, and often plural color zones. The different tab features and the different color features of the various layers provide a high degree of randomness to enhance a visual appearance to a roof shingled with such type of shingles.

Abstract: A combined waterproofing sheet and protection course membrane has a water resistant film and a protective layer. The protective layer protects the film from being punctured and otherwise compromised. An adhesive layer, with a free adhesive side for adhesion to a foundation, is adhered to the film, so that the membrane can be applied to a subterranean foundation in a single step. While the foundation is being back filled, the protective layer keeps the water resistant film intact thereby maintaining the water resistant capabilities of the membrane.

Abstract: A waterproofing membrane is provided which includes a waterproof synthetic resin film presenting opposed first and second surfaces, and an inner bitumen adhesive supported on the first surface of the film. The membrane is manufactured by heating the bitumen adhesive and applying it to a web of the waterproof synthetic resin film. As such, the resulting membrane includes an adhesive possessing a coating temperature at which the adhesive can be applied to the film as a viscous liquid, and a film possessing a still higher transition temperature that permits the film to function as a substrate for the bitumen adhesive during manufacture.

Abstract: A method for making laminated roofing shingles includes providing a substantially continuous sheet of shingle material, cutting the sheet material at a first cutting station to define a first pair of longitudinal strips having interdigitating tabs with a first pattern length, further cutting the sheet to define a second pair of longitudinal strips, further cutting the sheet at a second cutting station to define a third pair of strips having interdigitating tabs with a second pattern length, laminating together one of the first pair of strips, one of the second pair of strips and one of the third pair of strips in overlapping relation to form a substantially continuous three-layer laminated strip in which one of the second pair of strips is the lowermost layer and having the tabs of the remaining two strips oriented in a common lateral direction, and cutting the laminated strip into uniform longitudinal lengths whereby laminated roofing shingles are made.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a self-adhering product with a multi-part release liner system that will not result in unwanted adhesion at the edges is disclosed. The self-adhering product may be a roofing sheet, or waterproofing membrane. The multi-part release liner system includes a strip of material placed on the adhesive surface below and between each abutting edge of the release liner. The material allows each section of the release liner to be removed without the edges of the liner adhering to the underlying sheet. The release liner may also be a single piece liner, with at least one strip of perforations that allows the liner to be removed in individual sections. In this application, the material not only prevents edge adhesion, but also prevents adhesive from the substrate flowing through the perforation holes. The invention may also be applied to release liner systems that combine multi-part release liners and perforated release liners.

Abstract: A protection layer for use in a waterproofing or roofing system and a method for making the protection layer in a rollable form is disclosed. The protection layer includes a core matrix of felt and asphalt saturant typical in many roofing products. The protection layer also includes a unique coating applied to the matrix. The coating comprises a mixture of asphaltic waste, a relatively soft asphalt, and a filler. The addition of the coating to the matrix results in a product that is flexible enough to allow the product to be rolled without cracking, yet is sufficiently puncture and scuff resistant to adequately protect an underlying membrane.

Abstract: A composition of matter, apparatus, and method relating to silicone-aggregate mixtures for pumping and spraying applications. Such mixtures include a solvent, a silicone or mixtures of silicones, a flow enhancing filler and aggregates.

Abstract: A three-layer asphalt composition shingle where the top layer is of a full width, a middle layer is less than the full width, and a bottom layer has a width shorter than the middle layer. The middle and top layers of the shingle have tabs and cutouts. The tabs of each such layer generally differ in some feature. Moreover, the corresponding tabs between the middle layer and top layer also differ with respect to some feature, such as a lengthwise size, a widthwise size, shape or in color. Each of the three layers includes color zones, and often plural color zones. The different tab features and the different color features of the various layers provide a high degree of randomness to enhance a visual appearance to a roof shingled with such type of shingles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping high viscosity mixtures, for example silicone-aggregate mixtures, including a pump and a hose, wherein the hose is impermeable, nonadherent with the mixture, and resistant to swelling, and the pump and the hose are sealable. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus and method can include a metering mechanism for dispensing the mixture to the pump, an agitator for mixing the mixture before it enters the pump, and a spray nozzle for applying the mixture exiting the hose. Even more preferred embodiments can include a metering mechanism in the form of a variable speed auger screw, a hose internally lined with a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene, a hose structurally reinforced, and a pump and hose that are individually sealable.

Abstract: An asphalt-based roofing shingle is disclosed that includes a substrate including at least one composite having a scrim bonded to a mat, coated with filled asphalt and granules. The scrim has woven or non-woven fiberglass or polyester strands arranged in a crossing pattern, such as a 10.times.10 thread crossing pattern per square inch, and the mat has a layer of organic, fiberglass or polyester materials, the scrim and mat being joined together with a rubberized binder or other suitable bonding material. The shingle may be used, for example, in a residential roofing application, in which a portion of a roof deck is covered by providing the shingle including the substrate and a fastening device such as a nail having a head; positioning the shingle on the roof deck portion; and driving the nail through the shingle and into the roof deck to secure the shingle to the roof deck.

Abstract: A silicone rubber binder composition is provided which includes silicone rubber, silicon dioxide and an aggregate such as sand, gravel, cinders and the like. The silicone rubber is preferably an RTV silicone rubber which is solubilized using a solvent and mixed with the silicon dioxide and aggregate. The mixture may be spray applied to form a roofing coating or may be molded to form another building element such as a beam, post, block, shingle, wallboard or the like.