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DIM360 (Ver 1.5 21 Nov 2005) - 2100000/0
0939178
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION
B1
20060315
EP
98112273.2
19980702
20000221
20030318
it
en
en
LI980002
19980223
IT
20060315
200611
19990901
199935
20060315
200611
20050810
E04D 1/34 20060101AFI19990706BHEP
de
Verfahren zur Befestigung von Dachziegeln und Befestigungsvorrichtung dafür
en
Method for fixing tiles or the like to one another for covering a roof and gripping elements used to carry out this method
fr
Procédé de fixation de tuiles de toiture et élément de fixation relatif
DE-A- 3 941 216
FR-A- 816 645
FR-A- 1 103 725
FR-A- 2 049 464
FR-A- 2 105 470
GB-A- 110 965
GB-A- 2 213 512
5
Santagata, Vincenzo
Via Lussemburgo, 62
57100 Livorno
IT
Santagata, Alessandro
Via Lussemburgo, 62
57100 Livorno
IT
Santagata, Gianluca
Via Lussemburgo, 62
57100 Livorno
IT
Santagata, Vincenzo
02539120
B20/0031
Via Lussemburgo, 62
57100 Livorno
IT
Santagata, Alessandro
02539160
B20/0031
Via Lussemburgo, 62
57100 Livorno
IT
Santagata, Gianluca
02539170
B20/0031
Via Lussemburgo, 62
57100 Livorno
IT
Celestino, Marco
00080802
ABM, Agenzia Brevetti & Marchi, Viale Giovanni Pisano, 31
56123 Pisa
IT
BE
DE
ES
FR
GB
IT
NL
PT

Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a method for fixing tiles to one another, for example plane and curved tiles or bent tiles, etc. used to cover a roof, in order to avoid accidental shifting thereof.
The present invention relates also to gripping elements used to carry out such a method.

Description of the prior art
A tile shifting, in the case of bent tiles or plane tiles, can cause damaging water infiltration in every house roof.
Tile shifting may be caused also by bad weather, such as by wind, rain or hail, and also by traffic vibrations, especially when the roof is sloping.
Two main roof covering systems are at present known: the (so-called) Marseillais tiles (inter-locking tiles), and the (so-called) Tuscan plane tiles along with bent tiles.
In the first system identical modular tiles are used, which, once laid on the roof, overlap one another and hold their position due to their own weight.
In the second system rectangular plane tiles, or plain roofing tiles, are used to cover the roof surface, and bent tiles are used to cover the longitudinal groove between two adjacent plane tiles, without which it would be impossible to avoid water infiltration.
In both systems, usually, only the first tile, which is in contact with the roof gutter, is fixed by cement. In fact the other plane tiles hold their position due to friction on the roof caused by their own weight, whereas the bent tiles are placed overlapping the tile located downstream and are held by the tile located upstream. Therefore the fixing of the roof is based fundamentally on the particular tiles arrangement and to the weight thereof.
Sometimes such fixing method is not sufficient to assure the roofing stability.
In such cases cement is used to fix also other plane and bent tiles but it may cause water infiltration, because cement porosity allows moisture transport.
FR 2049464 shows a gripping element for bent tiles on a sloped surface of a roof which has two C folded ends. The gripping action is unstable.
GB 2213512 teaches a retainer having bifurcated shape but not suited for a sloped surface of a roof with bent tiles which rest on plane tiles.
DE 3941216 and FR 2105470 show gripping elements for tiles directed to block the tiles on a crest of a roof.

Summary of the invention
Therefore, the need of a new method to fix tiles is felt which is easy and cheap to carry out and which assures the durability and safety of the roof.
It is, hence, an object of the present invention to provide a new method to fix tiles, for example bent tiles, plane tiles and the like used to cover a roof, that is easy and cheap to carry out and that assures the durability and safety of the roof covering.
It is another object of the present invention to provide gripping elements used to carry out such a method.
These and other objects are achieved by the method to fix tiles and by the fixing element according respectively to claims 1 and 3.

Brief description of the drawings
Further features and the advantages of the method according to the present invention for fixing tiles to one another, for example plane and curved tiles, or bent tiles, used to cover a roof, will be made clearer with the following exemplifying description, but not limitative, of one of its embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a head element used to carry out the method to fix tiles to one another, according to the present invention;
- figures 2A, 2B and 2C show, respectively, a top plan view, a front and a side view of the head element of figure 1;
- figure 3 shows a perspective view of a gripping element used to carry out the method to fix tiles, according to the present invention;
- figures 4A, 4B and 4C show, respectively, a top plan view, a front and a side view of the gripping element of figure 3;
- figure 5 shows a schematic view of the method to fix tiles, according to the present invention;
- figure 6 shows a perspective view of a first phase of the method to fix tiles, according to the present invention;
- figure 7 shows a perspective view of the use of the head fixing element of the method for fixing tiles, according to the present invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment
With reference to figures 1 and 2A-2C, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, an element for carrying out the method for fixing tiles is a head element 1 comprising a sheet 2 with a C folded end 3. The end 3 can fix and support a tile edge whereas the other end 4 is elongated and holds its position by screws, not shown, which are fastened to the roof.
In the preferred embodiment of figure 1, the C folded end of element 1 is formed by two wings 5 which extend from a connecting portion 6 to the straight portion 2. This way element 1 has a Y shaped top plan view (figure 2A).
With reference to figures 3 and 4A-4C, according to a second embodiment of the invention, a gripping element 7 comprises two C folded ends, 8 and 9, C folded in opposite planes, whereby it has a S shaped cross section (figure 4C). In this embodiment element 7 comprises two parallel S shaped sheets, 8a and 8b, joined by a central crosspiece 10, whereby said element has a H shaped top plan view (figure 4A).
The gripping method, as shown in figure 5, comprises the steps of:
- placing the head elements 1 under the first row of lower tiles 11, such element being glued, screwed or nailed to the roof 12;
- positioning and anchoring the lower edge of a first tile 11, for example a bent tile, by means of said head gripping element 1;
- engaging the gripping element 7 with the upper edge of said lower tile 11 so that it is possible to fix, in sequence, other tiles using identical elements 7.
Considering, for example, a roof with plane and bent tiles, figure 6 shows a perspective view of a first phase of the method for fixing tiles, according to the present invention. In this first phase the steps are provided of placing plane tiles 11 on the roof surface and positioning the head element 1 under the contact line 14 between two tiles 11 where a bent tile must be arranged to avoid water infiltration.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the next steps. The head element 1 has the task of anchoring and supporting a first bent tile 15, which is the first of his row. The wings 5 of element 1 can be folded to assure a better tiles gripping.
The gripping element 7 is used to link together all the other bent tiles 16. In fact, his down turned grips 8 anchor the upper edge of the lower tile, whereas the up turned grips 9 anchor the lower edge of the upper tile.
Once all the bent tiles have been placed together, only the grips 9 of elements 7 are visible.
The method is very easy to carry out and it does not require more time than a standard roof laying.
Elements 1 and 7 may be made cheaply and of a suitable material, such as galvanised sheet iron or copper sheet, advantageously coated by a protective plastic film.
The foregoing description of specific embodiments will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such embodiments without further research and without departing from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
1. Method to fix tiles, in the form of bent tiles and plane tiles used to cover a sloped surface of a roof, comprising the steps of:
- arranging the plane tiles on the roof surface, grooves being defined between adjacent plane tiles;
- arranging the bent tiles to cover said grooves, starting from a lower bent tile and overlapping bent tiles in succession on each other,
- wherein said step of arranging the bent tiles comprises placing a head element under the lower bent tile, to anchor the lower bent tile to the roof;
- arranging a gripping element between the upper edge of each bent tile and the lower edge of a successive bent tile;
- characterised in that said head element and said gripping element have a laminar shape with at least a sheet folded end having two parallel C folded wings.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the other end of said gripping element is folded, whereby said gripping element has an S shaped cross section.
3. Element for fixing tiles in the form of bent tiles and plane tiles used to cover a sloped surface of a roof, having an H shaped top plan view, characterised in that it has a sheet folded end with two parallel C folded laminar wings engaging in use with an edge of a bent tile, and another sheet folded end having other two C folded laminar wings engaging in use with an edge of a successive bent tile, the folded ends having the respective C folded laminar wings in opposite planes.
4. Element according to claim 3, characterised in that it is made with a corrosion resistant and foldable material, in particular copper.
5. Element according to claim 3, characterised in that it is coated by a plastic film.
1. Verfahren zum Befestigen von Dachziegeln in Form gebogener Dachziegel und ebener Dachziegel, die zum Decken einer geneigten Oberfläche eines Dachs verwendet werden, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
- Anordnen der ebenen Dachziegeln auf der Dachoberfläche, wobei zwischen angrenzenden ebenen Dachziegeln Nuten erzeugt werden;
- Anordnen der gebogenen Dachziegel beginnend von einem unteren gebogenen Dachziegel derart, dass sie die Nuten bedecken und dass sich die gebogenen Dachziegel aufeinander folgend überlappen,
- wobei der Schritt des Anordnens der gebogenen Dachziegel das Setzen eines Kopfelements unter den unteren gebogenen Dachziegel umfasst, um den unteren gebogenen Dachziegel mit dem Dach zu verankern;
- Anordnen eines Greifelements zwischen dem oberen Rand jedes gebogenen Dachziegels und dem unteren Rand eines darauf folgenden gebogenen Dachziegels;
- dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Kopfelement und das Greifelement eine flächige Form mit wenigstens einem abgekanteten Ende mit zwei parallelen C-förmig abgekanteten Flügeln aufweisen.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das andere Ende des Greifelements abgekantet ist, wodurch das Greifelement einen S-förmigen Querschnitt aufweist.
3. Element zum Befestigen von Dachziegeln in Form gebogener Dachziegel und ebener Dachziegel, die zum Decken einer geneigten Oberfläche eines Dachs verwendet werden, wobei das Element eine H-förmige Draufsicht aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es ein abgekantetes Ende mit zwei parallelen C-förmig abgekanteten flächigen Flügeln aufweist, die bei Verwendung mit einem Rand eines gebogenen Dachziegels in Eingriff gelangen, während ein weiteres abgekantetes Ende zwei weitere C-förmig abgekantete flächige Flügel aufweist, die bei Verwendung mit einem Rand eines darauf folgenden gebogenen Dachziegels in Eingriff gelangen, wobei die abgekanteten Enden die jeweiligen C-förmig abgekanteten flächigen Flügel in entgegengesetzten Ebenen haben.
4. Element nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es aus einem korrosionsbeständigen und abkantbaren Werkstoff, insbesondere Kupfer, hergestellt ist.
5. Element nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es durch eine Kunststoffschicht beschichtet ist.
1. Procédé de fixation de tuiles, sous la forme de tuiles courbes ou de tuiles plates utilisées pour couvrir une surface en pente d'une toiture, comprenant les étapes de :
- disposer les tuiles plates sur la surface de toiture, des rainures étant définies entre des tuiles plates adjacentes ;
- disposer les tuiles courbes de manière à couvrir lesdites rainures, en commençant par une tuile courbe inférieure et en faisant successivement se chevaucher les tuiles courbes entre elles ;
- dans lequel l'étape consistant à disposer les tuiles courbes comprend la mise en place d'un élément de tête sous la tuile courbe inférieure, afin d'ancrer la tuile courbe inférieure à la toiture;
- disposer un élément de fixation entre le bord supérieur de chaque tuile courbe et le bord inférieur de la tuile courbe suivante;
- caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de tête et ledit élément de fixation ont une forme lamellaire avec au moins une feuille d'extrémité pliée et présentant deux ailes parallèles pliées en C.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'autre extrémité dudit élément de fixation est pliée, de sorte que ledit élément de fixation présente une section transversale en forme de S.
3. Elément pour fixer des tuiles sous la forme de tuiles courbes et de tuiles plates utilisées pour couvrir une surface en pente d'une toiture, présentant une forme en H en vue de dessus, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une extrémité pliée en feuille et présentant deux ailes lamellaires parallèles pliées en C, s'engageant, en utilisation, avec un bord d'une tuile courbe, et une autre extrémité pliée en feuille présentant deux autres ailes lamellaires parallèles pliées en C, s'engageant, en utilisation, avec un bord d'une tuile courbe suivante, les ailes lamellaires pliées en C respectives des extrémités pliées se situant dans des plans opposés.
4. Elément selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il est en matériau résistant à la corrosion et pliable, notamment du cuivre.
5. Elément selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il est revêtu d'un film plastique.