Abstract: Roof shingles and methods of production thereof are provided. The roofing tiles or shingles may feature a unique surface texture and relief, obtained through the use of granules of varying sizes and a preferably multi-tiered substrate. The disclosure further encompasses methods of manufacturing such tiles, preferably including the use of molding techniques to combine different materials for enhanced performance and aesthetic effects. The disclosure also defines parameters for fixing surface texture, granule size, and material selection, and describes various manufacturing processes for creating a desired surface geometry and texture.

Abstract: A roofing tile is described featuring a digitally defined three-dimensional surface profile with controlled minimum and maximum heights and a specified average surface roughness (Ra). The topographical map, generated by computer algorithms—potentially using grey-level speckle maps—enables precise assignment of surface elevations and independent control of roughness parameters. This digital map is material-agnostic and applicable to tiles made from materials such as thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), or polymer-modified asphalt. The surface may include granule-like protrusions or other features, with their size and distribution tailored for functional or aesthetic purposes. The digital topographical map may guide manufacturing equipment to form the surface, and compliance may be verified by three-dimensional profiling.

Abstract: Roof shingles and methods of production thereof are provided. The roof shingles may include ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (“EPDM”). The EPDM may include an outward-facing surface and a substrate-facing surface. The outward-facing surface may include a reveal and a conceal. The reveal may be visible when the roof shingle is installed and the conceal may be covered by an upslope adjacent roof shingle when the roof shingle is installed. The roof shingle may include a reinforcement core. The reinforcement core may include galvanized steel. The reinforcement core may be embedded within the EPDM. The roof shingles may include adhesive sealant. The adhesive sealant may be applied to the substrate-facing surface for binding the roof shingle to a downslope adjacent roof shingle or a substrate. The roof shingles may include a plurality of EPDM granules being located on at least a portion of the surface of the reveal.

Abstract: Roof shingles and methods of production thereof are provided. The roof shingles may include ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (“EPDM”). The EPDM may include an outward-facing surface and a substrate-facing surface. The outward-facing surface may include a reveal and a conceal. The reveal may be visible when the roof shingle is installed and the conceal may be covered by an upslope adjacent roof shingle when the roof shingle is installed. The roof shingle may include a reinforcement core. The reinforcement core may include galvanized steel. The reinforcement core may be embedded within the EPDM. The roof shingles may include adhesive sealant. The adhesive sealant may be applied to the substrate-facing surface for binding the roof shingle to a downslope adjacent roof shingle or a substrate. The roof shingles may include a plurality of EPDM granules being located on at least a portion of the surface of the reveal.

Abstract: Roof shingles and methods of production thereof are provided. The roof shingles may include ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (“EPDM”). The EPDM may include an outward-facing surface and a substrate-facing surface. The outward-facing surface may include a reveal and a conceal. The reveal may be visible when the roof shingle is installed and the conceal may be covered by an upslope adjacent roof shingle when the roof shingle is installed. The roof shingle may include a reinforcement core. The reinforcement core may include galvanized steel. The reinforcement core may be embedded within the EPDM. The roof shingles may include adhesive sealant. The adhesive sealant may be applied to the substrate-facing surface for binding the roof shingle to a downslope adjacent roof shingle or a substrate. The roof shingles may include a plurality of EPDM granules being located on at least a portion of the surface of the reveal.

Abstract: A low cost eccentric mass motor vibrotactile transducer provides a point-like vibrational stimulus to the body of a user in response to an electrical input. Preferably the eccentric mass and motor form part of the transducer actuator moving mass. The actuator moving mass is constrained into vertical motion by a spring between the actuator housing and moving mass. The actuator moving mass is in contact with a skin (body) load. The actuator housing is in simultaneous contact with the body load. The mass of the motor/contactor assembly, mass and area of the housing, and the compliance of the spring are chosen so that the electromechanical resonance of the motional masses, when loaded by the typical mechanical impedance of the skin (body), are in a frequency band where the human body is most sensitive to vibrational stimuli 150-300 Hz.