Laminate shingle having a thick butt edge

Abstract

A multi-layer laminate roofing shingle having a first sheet with a first marginal edge, an intermediate sheet with a second marginal edge, and a bottom sheet with a third marginal edge. The first sheet has a defined width (L), the intermediate sheet is about ⅔ the width of the first sheet, and the bottom sheet is about ⅓ the width of the first sheet. The first, intermediate and bottom sheets are arranged so that marginal edges coincide with one another. When applied to a roof, the multi-layer laminate shingle creates the appearance of depth on the roof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A laminate roofing shingle comprising: 
 a) a first sheet having a first length and a first width, wherein said first sheet further comprises a first butt portion comprising a first marginal edge;    b) an intermediate sheet having a length that is substantially equal to said first length of said first sheet and having a second width that is about ⅔ of said first width, wherein said intermediate sheet further comprises an intermediate buff portion comprising a intermediate marginal edge, wherein said intermediate sheet is affixed on the undersurface of said first sheet so that said intermediate marginal edge of said intermediate sheet substantially coincides with said first marginal edge of said first sheet; and    c) a third sheet having a length that is substantially equal to said first length of said first sheet and said second sheet and having a third width that is about ⅓ of said first width, wherein said third sheet further comprises a third butt portion comprising a third marginal edge, wherein said third sheet is affixed on the undersurface of said second sheet so that said third marginal edge of said third sheet substantially coincides with said first marginal edge of said first sheet and said second marginal edge of said second sheet.    
     
     
         2 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 1 , wherein said shingle is an asphalt shingle.  
     
     
         3 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 1 , wherein said first butt portion of said first sheet further comprises a plurality of spaced apart tabs defining cutouts therebetween.  
     
     
         4 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 1 , wherein said first marginal edge of said first sheet comprises cuts.  
     
     
         5 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 1 , wherein said second sheet is affixed to said first sheet with an adhesive material.  
     
     
         6 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 5 , wherein said third sheet is affixed to said second sheet with an adhesive material.  
     
     
         7 . A laminate roofing shingle comprising: 
 a) a first sheet having a length and a first width, wherein said first sheet further comprises a first butt portion comprising a first marginal edge;    b) an intermediate sheet having a second width that is less than said first width and greater than half of said first width, wherein said intermediate sheet further comprises an intermediate butt portion comprising a intermediate marginal edge, wherein said intermediate sheet is affixed on the undersurface of said first sheet so that said intermediate marginal edge of said intermediate sheet substantially coincides with said first marginal edge of said first sheet; and    c) a third sheet having a third width that is less than said second width, and the sum of the second width and the third width is less than or equal to the first width, wherein said third sheet further comprises a third butt portion comprising a third marginal edge, wherein said third sheet is affixed on the undersurface of said second sheet so that said third marginal edge of said third sheet substantially coincides with said first marginal edge of said first sheet and said second marginal edge of said second sheet.    
     
     
         8 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 7 , wherein the sum of the second and third width substantially equals the first width.  
     
     
         9 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 7 , wherein said first butt portion of said first sheet further comprises a plurality of spaced apart tabs defining cutouts therebetween.  
     
     
         10 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 7 , wherein said first marginal edge of said first sheet comprises cutouts.  
     
     
         11 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 7 , wherein said second sheet is affixed to said first sheet with an adhesive material.  
     
     
         12 . The laminate roofing shingle of  claim 11 , wherein said third sheet is affixed to said second sheet with an adhesive material.  
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing a laminate roofing shingle comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a first sheet of roofing material having a first length and a first width, wherein said first sheet further comprises a first butt portion comprising a first marginal edge;    b) providing an intermediate sheet of roofing material having a length substantially equal to said first length of said first sheet and having a second width that is about ⅔ of said first width, wherein said intermediate sheet further comprises an intermediate butt portion comprising a intermediate marginal edge;    c) affixing said intermediate sheet to the undersurface of said first sheet so that said intermediate marginal edge of said intermediate sheet substantially coincides with said first marginal edge of said first sheet;    d) providing a third sheet having a length substantially equal to said first length of said first sheet and said second sheet and having a third width that is about ⅓ of said first width, wherein said third sheet further comprises a third butt portion comprising a third marginal edge; and    e) affixing said third sheet to the undersurface of said second sheet so that said third marginal edge of said third sheet substantially coincides with said first marginal edge of said first sheet and said second marginal edge of said second sheet.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said shingle is an asphalt shingle.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of cutting a plurality of spaced apart tabs and cutouts from said first butt portion of said first sheet further.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of cutting a plurality of cuts from said first marginal edge of said first sheet.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of adhering said second sheet to said first sheet.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adhering said third sheet to said second sheet.