Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy and provides inside corner flashings useful for flashing photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic roofing elements are disposed in a staggered configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic systems. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are disposed upon roofing elements such as shingles, tiles, shakes or slates.

Abstract: Synthetic polymer based roofing elements of the shingle or tile type are provided whereby adjacent roofing elements have projecting tabs or nibs that are adapted to engage against side edges of adjacent shingles or tiles when laid up in courses on a roof, and wherein there are relatively flexible stress relief zones in the shingle or tile adjacent the tab or nib projections, adapted to be deformed within their elastic limit when the shingles or tiles are subjected to stresses due to thermal expansion and contraction, with the stress relief zones also being adapted to return to their original non-deformed condition when such thermal expansion and contraction forces are relieved.

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 roofing shingle has a shingle body with at least a top layer having a buttlap portion with a butt edge and a headlap portion. An exposure zone extends from the butt edge toward the headlap portion is configured to be exposed to the environment when the roofing shingle is installed on a roof. A shadow formation may be located in the exposure zone of the top layer. The shadow formation and the exposure zone differ from each other in at least one aspect, such as color. The top layer may be substantially rectangular and have no tabs formed along the butt edge. A thickness of the exposure zone and a thickness of the shadow formation may be substantially identical. The shadow formation may be a simulated cut out, slit or slot.

Abstract: A roofing product can include a substrate and a heater. The roofing product may be placed along portions of a roof where heat can help to reduce the likelihood of water freezing into ice while along a roof. In an embodiment, a hinge can be used in a roofing product to aid in folding of the roofing product or to retain a non-planar shape of the roofing product. The roofing product may or may not include a self-adhesive backing. A roofing product can include plurality of heaters that can provide sufficient heating should a particular heater fail. Method of fabricating the roofing product can be adapted for a fabrication line that can operate continuously.

Abstract: A roofing product can include a heater. In an embodiment, the heater can have different areas that have different heat flux capacities, different portions having heater elements of different lengths or a combination thereof. The roofing product can be installed so that an area of the roof that has a higher heat load, such as near an eave and a valley of the roof, can receive more heat. In another embodiment, the roofing product includes an overhang section that includes at least a portion of the heater. The roofing product can be installed, and the overhang section can be coupled to an object that extends beyond an edge of the roof or over a plane defined by a roof. Many different manufacturing techniques can be used to form the heaters.

Abstract: A roofing product can include a substrate and a heater. The roofing product may be placed along portions of a roof where heat can help to reduce the likelihood of water freezing into ice while along a roof. In an embodiment, the heater can be located in a headlap portion of the roofing product. A roofing product can include plurality of heaters that can provide sufficient heating should a particular heater fail. Method of fabricating the roofing product can be adapted for a fabrication line that can operate continuously.

Abstract: A synthetic starter tile for an angled roof interface can include a non-planar body defining a longitudinal axis. The body can include an overlap edge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an exposed edge opposite the overlap edge, an overlap portion extending from the overlap edge, and an exposed portion extending from the overlap portion to the exposed edge. The exposed edge can form at least one acute compound angle, ACA, with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: 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: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are integrated on a roof deck with conventional roofing materials. In one aspect, a photovoltaic roofing system includes a two-part tee element disposed on a roof deck, the two-part tee element comprising a base piece including a central portion; two opposed horizontally-extending first and second flanges extending from the central portion, and a top piece attachment feature formed in the central portion, and a top piece including a base piece attachment feature mated with the top piece attachment feature of the base piece; and a vertically extending portion extending from the base piece attachment feature. A first photovoltaic element can be disposed on the roof adjacent the base piece with its edge disposed on the horizontally-extending first flange of the base piece of the two-part tee element.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: a flexible roofing substrate; a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate; and an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element, wherein the flexible roofing substrate has formed therein a recess shaped to at least partially receive the electrical connector.

Abstract: A method of producing laminated roofing shingles is provided, wherein the shingles are of a dragon's tooth type, and shingles made in accordance with the method, and packages of such 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: A roofing shingle may include a shingle body having a buttlap portion with a butt edge and a headlap portion. An exposure zone may extend from the butt edge toward the headlap portion and may be configured to be exposed to the environment when the roofing shingle is installed on a roof. The butt edge may be variegated and may include at least one tab. A first shadowline may be on at least a portion of the at least one tab. A second shadowline may be in the exposure zone. The first and second shadowlines may differ from each other in at least one aspect.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing element including a roofing substrate; a photovoltaic element disposed on the roofing substrate; an electrical connector operatively connected to the photovoltaic element, the electrical connector having a top side, a down-roof side and an electrical terminus; and a shield disposed adjacent the electrical terminus of the electrical connector on its down-roof side, its top side, or both.

Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic systems for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck, including a plurality of photovoltaic elements contiguously disposed on the roof deck arranged in at least two horizontal rows, defining a photovoltaic area; a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, along their side edges; side flashing disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the side flashing having a flange facing away from the photovoltaic area at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck, and a structure at least partially disposed on the surface of the photovoltaic element or at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck.

Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic systems for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: a flexible roofing substrate; a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate; and an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element, wherein the flexible roofing substrate has formed therein a recess shaped to at least partially receive the electrical connector.

Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic systems for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing system including a plurality of photovoltaic elements contiguously disposed on a roof deck arranged in at least two horizontal rows, defining a photovoltaic area; a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, along their side edges; side flashing disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the side flashing having a flange facing away from the photovoltaic area at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck, and a structure at least partially disposed on the surface of the photovoltaic element or at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck.