TIRE ROOF
United States Patent 3803792
A method for constructing a roof covering out of automobile tires, said tires being cut and segmented in a certain manner and then attached to the roof decking, and the roof covering resulting from the method. The invention is also in a covering for the outside walls of a building and for other structures.
US Patent References:
Method for making laminated sheet metal from reclaimed tinned metal waste pieces
Walker - December 1968 - 3416217
TRAFFIC BARRICADE
Brown - October 1969 - 3475009
Roofing construction
Willock et al. - October 1934 - 1978519
NESTABLE TRAFFIC MARKER
Clayton - September 1972 - 3692281
Roofing strip
Bell et al. - September 1928 - 1683016
Method for making laminated sheet metal from reclaimed tinned metal waste pieces
Walker - December 1968 - 3416217
TRAFFIC BARRICADE
Brown - October 1969 - 3475009
Roofing construction
Willock et al. - October 1934 - 1978519
NESTABLE TRAFFIC MARKER
Clayton - September 1972 - 3692281
Roofing strip
Bell et al. - September 1928 - 1683016
Application Number:
05/252710
Publication Date:
04/16/1974
Filing Date:
05/12/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
428/903.300, 52/748.100, 52/543, 52/DIG.009, 52/750
International Classes:
E04D1/22; E04D1/26; E04D1/36; E04D1/00; E04D1/12; E04D1/22; E04D1/26; E04D1/34
Field of Search:
52/DIG.9,533,528,748,547,548,543,552,750 293/1,51F,71P,DIG.3 40/125M
US Patent References:
| 2260720 | Lap lock sheathing | October 1941 | Morthland | |
| 2187404 | Roofing structure and tile therefor | January 1940 | Simons et al. | |
| 2274662 | Metal corner bead | March 1942 | Briggs et al. | |
| 2182526 | Asphalt roofing | December 1939 | Rumer | |
| 2830388 | Feature demonstrating device | April 1958 | Goodenberger | |
| 3601935 | SHOCK SHIELDING STRUCTURE | August 1971 | Cadwell | |
| 3544416 | COMBINATION OF A PLASTIC SHEET MEMBER AND FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID MEMBER TO A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE | December 1970 | Gebhard |
Primary Examiner:
Abbott, Frank L.
Claims:
I claim
1. A tire roof comprising
2. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 wherein
3. A tire roof as set forth in claim 2 wherein
4. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 and including
5. A method comprising
6. A method as set forth in claim 5 comprising
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 comprising
8. A method as set forth in claim 5 comprising
9. A method comprising
10. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising
11. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising
12. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising
13. A method of preparing a roof covering material comprising
1. A tire roof comprising
2. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 wherein
3. A tire roof as set forth in claim 2 wherein
4. A tire roof as set forth in claim 1 and including
5. A method comprising
6. A method as set forth in claim 5 comprising
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 comprising
8. A method as set forth in claim 5 comprising
9. A method comprising
10. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising
11. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising
12. A method as set forth in claim 9 comprising
13. A method of preparing a roof covering material comprising
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coverings for structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, roof coverings have been constructed of many types of materials. These materials in part include aluminum shingles, galvanized metal, tin, slate, tile, wooden shingles and asbestos and cement shingles. Other materials used have been composition shingles, which are felts saturated with black asphalt and then coated with asphalt and sprinkled with solid particles, and layers of felt paper and hot asphalt forming the so-called built-up type of roof.
The period of time during which the above mentioned roof coverings remain functional after installation will, of course, vary. The present invention should have a life far in excess of that of many of the above mentioned roof coverings. The invention also disposes of discarded automobile tires which otherwise have been found to be useless. Up to this time, these tires also have created a disposal problem and a health hazard. As an example, tires have often been found to form a breeding place for mosquitoes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in a method for converting automobile tires into roof coverings for buildings, and in the resulting roof covering. The invention is also in coverings for the outside walls of a building and in coverings for other structures.
At the outset, the treads and the sidewalls are separated from the tires and from each other by means of a suitable cutting mechanism. Thereafter, the tread portion is segmented into substantially flat portions and the segments thus formed are used to construct one type of roof covering.
The sidewalls likewise form another type of roof covering. The sidewalls are cut to form substantially flat shingles shaped substantially like trapezoids joined together at their bases by a thin strip of uncut tire material located at the outer edge of each sidewall. This strip is thin enough to be flexible in order that the shingles may be laid in a straight line. The gaps which are located between the shingles are filled by a second overlaying strip of shingles. The rows of shingles overlap the previously attached rows in order to allow for water drainage down the roof.
It can be expected that the roof covering which is constructed from the tire material will have an extremely long useful life. In addition, the use of discarded tires as components in roof construction puts to beneficial use goods which have been previously of no substantial value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an automobile tire;
FIG. 2 is a front view of a sidewall of a tire which has been cut into shingles;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the shingles cut in accordance with FIG. 2 lying in a straight line;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of two rows of shingles according to one embodiment of the invention attached to a roof structure;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the roof of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the roof of this invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the roof of this invention; and
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, taken at line 8--8 of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows an automobile tire having sidewalls 10, tread portion 12, and beads 14, from which the roof covering of this invention may be made. A cutting mechanism is first placed in contact with the outer circumferential edges 16 of the sidewalls 10. This cutting mechanism works to separate the treaded portion 12 of the tire from the sidewalls of the tire by cutting throughout the entire circumference of the outer circumferential edges 16 of the sidewalls 10. A manually operated knife may, for example, be used for the cutting mechanism. Alternatively, those skilled in the art will appreciate that machines for automatically performing such cutting operations may be readily devised.
The beads 14 are separated from the sidewalls 10 by utilizing suitable cutting mechanisms to cut through the entire circumference of the inner circumferential edge 18 of the sidewalls 10.
To make shingles such as those shown in FIG. 2, a cutting mechanism is placed in contact with the inner circumferential edges 18 of the sidewalls. Separations 20 are made in certain locations about the tires by cutting from the inner circumferential edges 18 to a point a short distance from the outer circumferential edges 16. As shown by FIG. 3, the distance between the points where the cuts end and the outer edges of the sidewalls should be small enough to allow the material to flex without any substantial amount of buckling, which will then allow the shingles to be laid in a straight line. The amount of material left may be, for example, one-eighth inch to one-half inch, or preferable no more than about the thickness of the sidewall. Preferably, as shown by the drawing, each sidewall is cut in half, and each half is segmented to form from three to eight shingles, depending on the dimensions of the sidewall.
A roof covering may be constructed from the shingles cut from the sidewalls. To form each row of shingles, two sets of shingles are required. As shown in FIG. 4, in each row of shingles there is an underlying layer 22 and an inverted overlaying layer 24. The overlaying layer 24 is required to cover the gaps between the shingles in the underlying layer existing when separations 20 are spread apart.
FIG. 4 shows the layers of shingles in their positions relative to each other when attached to the roof decking, in one embodiment of the invention. Attachment may be by many means including cementing with a suitable cement such as asphalt, nailing each set of shingles individually to the roof decking, or nailing both sets of shingles at one time to the roof decking by driving the nails at the places where the overlaying set of shingles 24 contact the underlying set of shingles 22. Alternatively, holes for nailing may be prepunched rather than driving nails through the roofing material at the job site. In a preferred embodiment, the nails may be driven through both the overlaying and underlying sets of each row of shingles to bind them together before delivery to the roofer. This greatly facilitates installation of the roofing material, and makes it unnecessary for the roofer to provide nails to secure the material to the roof. The nails should be long enough to pass through the subjacent row and extend into the roof decking to secure the material to it.
In FIG. 4, the shingles of each row are shown aligned with each other. However, alternatively they may be staggered as shown in FIG. 5. As is common in the application of roofing materials, the first set of shingles is attached at the eave of the roof. As shown in FIG. 4, each successive row 26 is caused to overlap the previously attached row 28 lying nearer to the eave of the roof. The overlap is sufficient to allow water to properly drain from the roof without wetting the surface underlying the shingles, and normally three-fourths inch to 1 inch is sufficient.
As shown in FIG. 5, the ridge at the apex of the house may be covered by a row of individual shingles 30 each overlapping an adjacent shingle. Alternatively, the ridge may be covered by other conventional materials.
A roof covering may also be constructed from the tread portion of the tires. A cutting mechanism is placed in contact with the tread portion 12 of the tire and the tread portion is cut into one or more segments. As shown in FIG. 6, the segments are attached to the roof decking. Each successively installed row 32 may be lapped over each previously installed row 34 as discussed above to allow for proper drainage of water. In addition, as a crevice 36 may be formed between the abutting ends of the segments of the tread portion, as shown in FIG. 7 the tread segments may be overlapped on the ends also. Plastic cement may be used within the laps. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, drainage pans 38 having a width at least equal to the width of the segments and upturned end lips 40 may be provided as an alternative. These pans, which may be made of any material such as galvanized steel sheet, would be located underneath the crevices and operate to direct the water down the roof. Preferably, the pans are held in place by a suitable cement such as tar, but may also be held in place by nails or other means. These pans may be attached to one end of each segment at the plant to insure that they are used for every joint.
It will be appreciated that instead of being on a roof, the material of this invention may be used on a sidewall, or in Hansard roof construction, or in locations where other roofing materials may be used.
Many variations to the above preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is impractical to show and describe all the variations included within the invention and as a result the embodiments described should be considered illustrative only, and not limiting -- the scope of the invention being as broad as is defined by the appended claims. The form of the claims and the specification, including the abstract, is adopted solely for explanation and should not be considered in interpreting the scope of the invention as claimed.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coverings for structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, roof coverings have been constructed of many types of materials. These materials in part include aluminum shingles, galvanized metal, tin, slate, tile, wooden shingles and asbestos and cement shingles. Other materials used have been composition shingles, which are felts saturated with black asphalt and then coated with asphalt and sprinkled with solid particles, and layers of felt paper and hot asphalt forming the so-called built-up type of roof.
The period of time during which the above mentioned roof coverings remain functional after installation will, of course, vary. The present invention should have a life far in excess of that of many of the above mentioned roof coverings. The invention also disposes of discarded automobile tires which otherwise have been found to be useless. Up to this time, these tires also have created a disposal problem and a health hazard. As an example, tires have often been found to form a breeding place for mosquitoes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in a method for converting automobile tires into roof coverings for buildings, and in the resulting roof covering. The invention is also in coverings for the outside walls of a building and in coverings for other structures.
At the outset, the treads and the sidewalls are separated from the tires and from each other by means of a suitable cutting mechanism. Thereafter, the tread portion is segmented into substantially flat portions and the segments thus formed are used to construct one type of roof covering.
The sidewalls likewise form another type of roof covering. The sidewalls are cut to form substantially flat shingles shaped substantially like trapezoids joined together at their bases by a thin strip of uncut tire material located at the outer edge of each sidewall. This strip is thin enough to be flexible in order that the shingles may be laid in a straight line. The gaps which are located between the shingles are filled by a second overlaying strip of shingles. The rows of shingles overlap the previously attached rows in order to allow for water drainage down the roof.
It can be expected that the roof covering which is constructed from the tire material will have an extremely long useful life. In addition, the use of discarded tires as components in roof construction puts to beneficial use goods which have been previously of no substantial value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an automobile tire;
FIG. 2 is a front view of a sidewall of a tire which has been cut into shingles;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the shingles cut in accordance with FIG. 2 lying in a straight line;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of two rows of shingles according to one embodiment of the invention attached to a roof structure;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the roof of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the roof of this invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the roof of this invention; and
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, taken at line 8--8 of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows an automobile tire having sidewalls 10, tread portion 12, and beads 14, from which the roof covering of this invention may be made. A cutting mechanism is first placed in contact with the outer circumferential edges 16 of the sidewalls 10. This cutting mechanism works to separate the treaded portion 12 of the tire from the sidewalls of the tire by cutting throughout the entire circumference of the outer circumferential edges 16 of the sidewalls 10. A manually operated knife may, for example, be used for the cutting mechanism. Alternatively, those skilled in the art will appreciate that machines for automatically performing such cutting operations may be readily devised.
The beads 14 are separated from the sidewalls 10 by utilizing suitable cutting mechanisms to cut through the entire circumference of the inner circumferential edge 18 of the sidewalls 10.
To make shingles such as those shown in FIG. 2, a cutting mechanism is placed in contact with the inner circumferential edges 18 of the sidewalls. Separations 20 are made in certain locations about the tires by cutting from the inner circumferential edges 18 to a point a short distance from the outer circumferential edges 16. As shown by FIG. 3, the distance between the points where the cuts end and the outer edges of the sidewalls should be small enough to allow the material to flex without any substantial amount of buckling, which will then allow the shingles to be laid in a straight line. The amount of material left may be, for example, one-eighth inch to one-half inch, or preferable no more than about the thickness of the sidewall. Preferably, as shown by the drawing, each sidewall is cut in half, and each half is segmented to form from three to eight shingles, depending on the dimensions of the sidewall.
A roof covering may be constructed from the shingles cut from the sidewalls. To form each row of shingles, two sets of shingles are required. As shown in FIG. 4, in each row of shingles there is an underlying layer 22 and an inverted overlaying layer 24. The overlaying layer 24 is required to cover the gaps between the shingles in the underlying layer existing when separations 20 are spread apart.
FIG. 4 shows the layers of shingles in their positions relative to each other when attached to the roof decking, in one embodiment of the invention. Attachment may be by many means including cementing with a suitable cement such as asphalt, nailing each set of shingles individually to the roof decking, or nailing both sets of shingles at one time to the roof decking by driving the nails at the places where the overlaying set of shingles 24 contact the underlying set of shingles 22. Alternatively, holes for nailing may be prepunched rather than driving nails through the roofing material at the job site. In a preferred embodiment, the nails may be driven through both the overlaying and underlying sets of each row of shingles to bind them together before delivery to the roofer. This greatly facilitates installation of the roofing material, and makes it unnecessary for the roofer to provide nails to secure the material to the roof. The nails should be long enough to pass through the subjacent row and extend into the roof decking to secure the material to it.
In FIG. 4, the shingles of each row are shown aligned with each other. However, alternatively they may be staggered as shown in FIG. 5. As is common in the application of roofing materials, the first set of shingles is attached at the eave of the roof. As shown in FIG. 4, each successive row 26 is caused to overlap the previously attached row 28 lying nearer to the eave of the roof. The overlap is sufficient to allow water to properly drain from the roof without wetting the surface underlying the shingles, and normally three-fourths inch to 1 inch is sufficient.
As shown in FIG. 5, the ridge at the apex of the house may be covered by a row of individual shingles 30 each overlapping an adjacent shingle. Alternatively, the ridge may be covered by other conventional materials.
A roof covering may also be constructed from the tread portion of the tires. A cutting mechanism is placed in contact with the tread portion 12 of the tire and the tread portion is cut into one or more segments. As shown in FIG. 6, the segments are attached to the roof decking. Each successively installed row 32 may be lapped over each previously installed row 34 as discussed above to allow for proper drainage of water. In addition, as a crevice 36 may be formed between the abutting ends of the segments of the tread portion, as shown in FIG. 7 the tread segments may be overlapped on the ends also. Plastic cement may be used within the laps. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, drainage pans 38 having a width at least equal to the width of the segments and upturned end lips 40 may be provided as an alternative. These pans, which may be made of any material such as galvanized steel sheet, would be located underneath the crevices and operate to direct the water down the roof. Preferably, the pans are held in place by a suitable cement such as tar, but may also be held in place by nails or other means. These pans may be attached to one end of each segment at the plant to insure that they are used for every joint.
It will be appreciated that instead of being on a roof, the material of this invention may be used on a sidewall, or in Hansard roof construction, or in locations where other roofing materials may be used.
Many variations to the above preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is impractical to show and describe all the variations included within the invention and as a result the embodiments described should be considered illustrative only, and not limiting -- the scope of the invention being as broad as is defined by the appended claims. The form of the claims and the specification, including the abstract, is adopted solely for explanation and should not be considered in interpreting the scope of the invention as claimed.