Shingle Insert Strips And Method For Eliminating and Prevent Growth of Algae, Moss, or Lichens on a Roof

Abstract

A shingle insert strip and method for eliminating and preventing growths on a shingled roof in which porous copper strips are installed with upper edges beneath the bottom edges course of shingles with the remaining portions exposed. A confined space is defined beneath a lengthwise hump in the exposed portions which is filled with a material, preferably in granular form which releases a substance toxic to the growths when rainwater runoff passes into the confined space and material and thereafter flows out.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/424,892 filed on Dec. 20, 2010, incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns treating shingled roofs for deterring the growth of algae, moss, lichens or fungus. Such growths can be unsightly and also damage asphalt shingles by loosening the granules embedded therein.

Also water is retained by such growths delaying complete dry out of the roof after a rain and such, the prolonged contact with moisture also contributing to wear out of the roof covering.

It has long been known that copper strips installed on the roof will deter such growths.

Spraying algaecides on the roof shingles can quickly kill those growths which have built up over a period of years.

Copper or zinc strips have long been used to inhibit such growths on roof coverings. These strips act slowly and cannot quickly eliminate are existing buildup of such growths if the strips are installed later after the roof itself has been installed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a more effective shingle insert strip configuration for such applications which can eliminate preexisting buildup of growths as well as inhibit the start of such growths on roofs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above recited object as well as other objects which will be understood by one skilled in the art upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a shingle insert strip, preferably of copper, which is formed with a lengthwise extending raised area or hump intermediate its depth forming a space adapted to enclose a mass of a chemical algaecide such as a copper complex which will relatively quickly kill the other growths described when rainwater descending the roof passes through and over the chemical and releases a substance powerful enough to quickly kill existing growths. The copper strip will continue to inhibit the reestablishment of growths for long periods

The shingle insert strips are perforated or otherwise configured to have slots or holes to allow free penetration through the strip by rainwater runoff. The shingle insert strips may be constructed of a copper mesh to maximize penetration of rainwater and to provide increased contact area with the rainwater runoff.

The lengthwise hump feature slightly impounds the rainwater runoff to create substantial contact with the algaecide chemical material.

A bottom layer of copper mesh is attached to underlie and close off the space defined by hump, creating a confined space to retain granules or algaecide during handling and installation while allowing through flow of rainwater and easing the installation of the strips, as well as adding to the extent and duration of rainwater contact with the copper metal and the algaecide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a section of a shingled roof having shingle insert strips according to the present invention installed thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away pictorial view of one embodiment of shingle insert strip of the invention installed over a roof section.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary pictorial view partially broken away of another embodiment of a shingle insert strip according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially broken away pictorial view of a shingle insert strip installed on a roof section containing a solid mass of algaecide chemical material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the Drawings, FIG. 1 shows a series of shingle insert strips 10 according to the invention, installed on a roof with an upper projecting edge portion nailed beneath a course of shingles 12 near the top of the roof 14, with a main portion overlying the next lower course of shingles 12A.

One or more additional courses of shingle insert strips 10 may be installed in shingle courses at locations down the roof as necessary.

FIG. 2 shows additional details of the shingle insert strips 10, each of which is comprised of a doubled outer layer 16 of copper mesh.

The lower edge thereof has a series of gentle scallops provided for allowing a substantial area exposed to rainwater runoff to enhance the long term effects thereof in keeping the roof clear of growths while maintaining an acceptable appearance.

A raised area or lengthwise hump 18 is formed into box layers 16 for the full length of each of the shingle insert strips 10. A bottom undercover layer 20 of mesh extends beneath the double layers 16 protruding beyond the upper edge 22 of the double layers, and covering the bottom of the space A formed by the lengthwise hump 18 to allow retention of chemical material in the space described below.

The undercover layer 20 is preferably attached to the upper layers 16 as with adhesive caulk, soldering or spot welding.

The protruding upper edge 24 of the bottom layer 20 is inserted beneath the lower edge of the course of shingles 12, which can be raised up to enable nailing the strip 24 through the upper part of the next down course of shingles 12A and into the roof deck 26 as shown.

The confined space A is initially filled with granules of an algaecide material which will dispense an algaecide substance down the roof by rainwater percolating through the shingle insert strip openings and also through the granules themselves.

A preferred algaecide is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,834, incorporated herein by reference, which is commercially available under the trademark CUTRINE-PLUS (™) available from Applied Biochemists of Germantown Wis. This material is described as a “copper complex” which releases elemental copper.

This material dispenses copper into rainwater runoff which results in a rapid die off of the various growths, i.e. moss, algae, lichens, which can grow on roofs.

Long term growth control is provided by the copper metal which forms the shingle insert strips 10.

Another form of shingle insert strip is shown in FIG. 3, in which a copper sheet 28 is used which has a series of slots 29 stamped therein to allow rainwater to penetrate through the sheet and into a lengthwise hump 18A and into space A which is packed with algaecide granules as described above.

A copper mesh bottom strip 24A is attached to close off the space A and hold the granules therein.

The strip 24A has a protruding edge for nailing as in the above described embodiment.

The ends 30 of the strip 24A are wrapped over the ends (only one end shown) to close off the ends of the space A and prevent escape of the algaecide granules.

The sheet 28 is also formed with scallops to provide a large exposed area while maintaining a good appearance.

As shown in FIG. 4, the algaecide could be formed into a solid bar 32.

The hump 18 tends to have slight tendency to briefly impound the rainwater runoff so as to increase the time of contact with the copper metal and enhance the effect on any growths on the roof.

Claims

1. A shingle insert strip for reducing the growths of algae, moss, lichens, or fungus on roofs comprising:

an elongated generally planar strip of copper having a lengthwise hump formed therein defining an underspace, said underspace filled with a material which kills releases a substance into rain runoff which is toxic to such growths;

said copper strip having openings allowing penetration of rainwater runoff from above into said underspace and to thereafter flow out onto a roof surface below said strip;

said copper strip having one upper edge adapted to be inserted beneath shingle courses above said strip to position remaining portions thereof exposed to receive rainwater runoff.

2. The shingle insert strip according to claim 1 wherein said copper strip is comprised of one or more layers of copper mesh.

3. The shingle insert strip according to claim 1 wherein said copper strip is a slotted sheet.

4. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein copper cover strip is attached to an undersurface of said first mentioned copper cover strip to cover said underspace and confine said material therein.

5. The shingle insert according to claim 4 wherein said cover strip is comprised of copper mesh.

6. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said material is in granular form.

7. The shingle insert according to claim 6 wherein said material is a copper complex.

8. The shingle insert according to claim 1 wherein said copper strip has a scalloped lower edge exposed when installed on a shingled roof.

9. The shingle insert according to claim 2 wherein said copper strip is formed with a double layer of copper mesh.

10. A method of eliminating growths on shingled roofs comprising:

installing a series of copper strips each having an upper edge disposed beneath the lower edge of shingles in a course of shingles so as to leave exposed a lengthwise porous hump formed in said copper strips;

loading a material into a space defined beneath said hump which releases a substance toxic to said growths when rainwater runoff flow passes into and out of said humps after passing over or through said material; and

covering said space from below to confine said material in said space.