Abstract: A coating composition is provided for obtaining a hydrophobic, antimicrobial product, particularly fiberglass products, wherein the coating composition contains a compound having at least one hydrophobic group and at least one group capable of interacting with a group on the surface of the product substrate, particularly with Si or OH groups on the glass fibers of the fiberglass product, and the coated products obtained thereby.

Abstract: A laminated shingle is provided, having lighter and darker granule portions visible from the front, at different planes; the front-most or anterior plane generally having granules of lighter shading and the more rearward or posterior plane generally having darker granules. The darker granules in the more posterior plane are visible from the front of the shingle to provide visually sharp, precise delineation between zones of lighter and darker shading. The shingles may be of multi-layer construction with suitable adhesives securing the layers together. The darker granules may be visible from beneath the lower edge(s) of the anterior shingle, to provide a shadow line effect. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the darker shingle zones from the more posterior plane may be visible through tab-separating slots of the lighter shaded anterior shingle portion.

Abstract: Methods and devices for joining two or more panels together are provided. The methods allow joining of panels of material such as glass fiber board, and are particularly useful for forming ducts or tubes. Fasteners provided have two planar members, joined together, and the planar members have protrusions that are integral to the planar members and are intended to at least partially protrude the panels joined by the devices.

Abstract: A laminated shingle is provided, having lighter and darker granule portions visible from the front, at different planes; the front-most or anterior plane generally having granules of lighter shading and the more rearward or posterior plane generally having darker granules. The darker granules in the more posterior plane are visible from the front of the shingle to provide visually sharp, precise delineation between zones of lighter and darker shading. The shingles may be of multi-layer construction with suitable adhesives securing the layers together. The darker granules may be visible from beneath the lower edge(s) of the anterior shingle, to provide a shadow line effect. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the darker shingle zones from the more posterior plane may be visible through tab-separating slots of the lighter shaded anterior shingle portion.

Abstract: A composition roofing shingle is described which has release material affixed thereto for the purpose of identifying the compositional shingle with process parameters for the time frame of manufacture. The identification is achieved by marking the release material with planographic idicia by means such as printing, stamping and ink-jet spray application.

Abstract: A laminated shingle is provided, having lighter and darker granule portions visible from the front, at different planes; the front-most or anterior lane generally having granules of lighter shading and the more rearward or posterior plane generally having darker granules. The darker granules in the more posterior plane are visible from the front of the shingle to provide visually sharp, precise delineation between zones of lighter and darker shading. The shingles may be of multi-layer construction with suitable adhesives securing the layers together. The darker granules may be visible from beneath the lower edge(s) of the anterior shingle, to provide a shadow line effect. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the darker shingle zones from the more posterior plane may be visible through tab-separating slots of the lighter shaded anterior shingle portion.

Abstract: A lightweight, preferably clay roofing tile, preferably having surface configurations to simulate the thick heavyweight of natural slate, or to simulate natural wood shakes, or other natural materials, is provided, constructed so as to be molded from materials with weight-reducing zones, and strengthening webs, integral with the tile, such that each tile is of unitary, molded, one-piece construction. The placement, type and number of webs enable the cutting of the tiles to form tile accessory pieces, at ends of laid-up courses, hips, ridges and the like, to minimize or eliminate the necessity of inventorying large numbers of special accessory pieces. The webs provide strengthening while the hollow zones reduce weight, with at least some of the webs being located to provide strength to the tiles along newly cut edges. An interlock design at tile edges facilitates reduction in weight by eliminating the need for a double coverage overlap.

Abstract: A wheeled system and a method for installing insulation from bound insulation bales. At least one movable wall that continually moves unbound insulation bales by a drive means toward a dispensing end of the base where shredding of the insulation from the unbound insulation bales occurs. The shredding is accomplished by a plurality of picker drums. Each of the picker drums has positioned on the circumference a plurality of abraders in the form of scoops that abrade and remove clumps of insulation from the unbound bales permitting the clumps to fall into a blender wherein the insulation material is formed into particulate material and then cast into an air blower formed with the hose and nozzle for dispensing the blowing material. A force measurer including a strain gauge is operatively connected to the shredder to determine continuously changes in the horizontally directed force exerted by the insulation bales against the drums of the shredder in order to adjust the force.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a multi-layer laminated shingle, wherein each shingle layer has granule and bituminous coated web, with the layers laminated together and with the butt zone of the base layer disposed against a bottom surface of the tab zone of the secondary layer and with the tab zone of the base layer disposed against the bottom surface of the butt zone of the secondary layer. The shingle lends itself to having tabs spaced by voids. Because the tabs in the base layer are inverted, the base layer's butt zone is visible through voids in the tabs of the secondary layer. The method of making the shingle lends itself to complementally cutting out the tabs of two side-by-side shingles from a given line. Enhanced nailing area is provided, and stacking of shingles for packaging is facilitated.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a multi-layer laminated shingle, wherein each shingle layer comprises granule and bituminous coated web, with the layers laminated together and with the butt zone of the base layer disposed against a bottom surface of the tab zone of the secondary layer and with the tab zone of the base layer disposed against the bottom surface of the butt zone of the secondary layer. The shingle lends itself to having tabs spaced by voids. Because the tabs in the base layer are inverted, the base layer's butt zone is visible through voids in the tabs of the secondary layer. The method of making the shingle lends itself to complementally cutting out the tabs of two side-by-side shingles from a given line. Enhanced nailing area is provided, and stacking of shingles for packaging is facilitated.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a multi-layer laminated shingle, wherein each shingle layer comprises granule and bituminous coated web, with the layers laminated together and with the butt zone of the base layer disposed against a bottom surface of the tab zone of the secondary layer and with the tab zone of the base layer disposed against the bottom surface of the butt zone of the secondary layer. The shingle lends itself to having tabs spaced by voids. Because the tabs in the base layer are inverted, the base layer's butt zone is visible through voids in the tabs of the secondary layer. The method of making the shingle lends itself to complementally cutting out the tabs of two side-by-side shingles from a given line. Enhanced nailing area is provided, and stacking of shingles for packaging is facilitated.

Abstract: A composition roofing shingle is described which has release material affixed thereto for the purpose of identifying the compositional shingle with process parameters for the time frame of manufacture. The identification is achieved by marking the release material with planographic idicia by means such as printing, stamping and ink-jet spray application.

Abstract: A laminated shingle is provided, having lighter and darker granule portions visible from the front, at different planes; the front-most or anterior plane generally having granules of lighter shading and the more rearward or posterior plane generally having darker granules. The darker granules in the more posterior plane are visible from the front of the shingle to provide visually sharp, precise delineation between zones of lighter and darker shading. The shingles may be of multi-layer construction with suitable adhesives securing the layers together. The darker granules may be visible from beneath the lower edge(s) of the anterior shingle, to provide a shadow line effect. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the darker shingle zones from the more posterior plane may be visible through tab-separating slots of the lighter shaded anterior shingle portion.

Abstract: A laminated shingle is provided, having lighter and darker granule portions visible from the front, at different planes; the front-most or anterior plane generally having granules of lighter shading and the more rearward or posterior plane generally having darker granules. The darker granules in the more posterior plane are visible from the front of the shingle to provide visually sharp, precise delineation between zones of lighter and darker shading. The shingles may be of multi-layer construction with suitable adhesives securing the layers together. The darker granules may be visible from beneath the lower edge(s) of the anterior shingle, to provide a shadow line effect. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the darker shingle zones from the more posterior plane may be visible through tab-separating slots of the lighter shaded anterior shingle portion.

Abstract: A shingle is provided that is especially adapted for application to hips or ridges of a roof. In a preferred embodiment, the shingle is a laminated multi-layer shingle, bent or curled into a preformed shape that is reasonably close to the shape that it will have in the installed condition. The shingle layers are connected together in more than one zone, or in one large zone after sliding relative to one another as the shingle is bent or curled. Preferably, such connection is by means of an adhesive.

Abstract: A roofing shingle is provided for shingling a roof with overlapped shingles, wherein the exposed portion of the shingle is selected to be of a height in the installed condition relative to the overall height of the shingle that enhances material utilization, to be at least approximately 44.4% efficient. This is accomplished by using an exposure height of 8 inches relative to an overall shingle height of 18 inches. The shingles are preferably constructed to have either 3 or 4 tabs, thereby having a ratio of exposure height to tab width of either 0.667 or 0.889, respectively. A larger exposure allows one to obtain 200 shingles for each 300 lineal feet of sheet shingle material, when the shingles have 18 inch overall height, and further allows an overall saving in the number of nails required to install a roof. The invention also contemplates variations in tab width within a given shingle and variations in number of tabs from about one to nine tabs in a given shingle.