Weather block for low or high profile tile

Abstract

A weather block for tile roofs. Tile roofs having a plurality of individual tiles configured adjacently to form rows of undulating tiles, with a first row of overlapping tiles, and where each one of the tiles in the first row of overlapping tiles have an upper end and an upper surface, are provided, adjacent thereto with a weather block of unique design. The weather block has an elongate spacer portion adapted to be located longitudinally straddling said upper end of the first row of tiles. The spacer extends laterally between an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion. A backing portion is provided extending downwardly from the upper edge portion of the spacer portion. A weather stop portion is provided extending downwardly from the lower edge portion of the spacer portion. The weather stop portion has a lower edge portion sized and shaped for close fitting engagement with the upper surface of the first row of tiles, to provide high resistance to wind blown water.

1 . A weather block for a tile roof, said tile roof comprising a plurality of individual tiles configured adjacently to form at least a first row of overlapping tiles, each one of said tiles in said first row of overlapping tiles having an upper end and an upper surface, said weather block comprising: 
 (a) an elongate spacer portion adapted to be located longitudinally straddling said upper end of said plurality of said tiles, said spacer portion having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion,    (b) a backing portion, said backing portion extending downwardly from said upper edge portion of said spacer portion;    (c) a weather stop portion, said weather stop portion extending downwardly from said lower edge portion of said spacer portion, said weather stop portion further comprising a lower edge portion sized and shaped for close fitting engagement with said upper surface of said first row of tiles.    
     
     
         2 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said lower edge portion of said weather stop portion is undulating in shape.  
     
     
         3 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said tile comprises a low profile S-shaped tile having an upper surface, and wherein said weather stop portion is sized and shaped complementary to said upper surface of said low profile tile.  
     
     
         4 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said tile roof comprises a plurality of high profile S-shaped tiles having an upper surface, and wherein said weather stop portion is sized and shaped complementary to said upper surface of said high profile tiles.  
     
     
         5 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said tile roof comprises high profile U-shaped opposing tiles having an upper surface, and wherein said weather stop portion is sized and shaped complementary to said upper surface of said high profile U-shaped opposing tiles.  
     
     
         6 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said lower edge portion of said weather stop portion comprise a series of sequential convex and concave curved surfaces, and wherein said series comprises at least one of each of said convex and of said concave curved surfaces.  
     
     
         7 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said weather stop portion comprises, adjacent said concave curved surface, a narrow lip portion, said lip portion sized and shaped for complementary interfitting engagement against said upper surface of said tile roof  
     
     
         8 . The weather block as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said weather stop portion comprises, adjacent said convex curved surface, a downwardly extending tongue portion, said tongue portion sized and shaped for complementary interfitting engagement against said upper surface of said tile roof.  
     
     
         9 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said weather block comprises a generally U-shaped elongate member.  
     
     
         10 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said weather block comprises a thin, elongate metal sheet.  
     
     
         11 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said weather block comprises thin steel.  
     
     
         12 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said weather block comprises a thin aluminum sheet.  
     
     
         13 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said generally U-shaped elongate member is integrally fabricated from a single metal part.  
     
     
         14 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said generally U-shaped elongate member is integrally fabricated as a non-metallic article.  
     
     
         15 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper row of tiles is provided along a ridge line in a roof.  
     
     
         16 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper row of tiles is provided along a hip line in a roof.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of a weather block and a tile roof with ridge vent system, said combination comprising: 
 (a) a roof system comprising (i) a central ridge beam, (ii) opposing roof decks, and (iii) an undulate tile roof, said tile roof having an upper row of tiles adjacent said central ridge beam, said upper row of tiles having an upper surface and an upper end, (iv) a ridge type roof vent, (v) a row of cap tiles, said cap tiles substantially covering said ridge type roof vent; and    (b) a weather block, said weather block comprising (i) an elongate spacer portion adapted to be located longitudinally straddling said upper end of said upper end of said upper row of tiles, said spacer portion having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, (ii) a backing portion, said backing portion extending downwardly from said upper edge portion of said spacer portion, and (iii) a weather stop portion, said weather stop portion extending downwardly from said lower edge portion of said spacer portion, said weather stop portion further comprising a lower edge portion sized and shaped for close fitting engagement with said upper surface of said upper row of tiles.    
     
     
         18 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said tile comprises a low profile S-shaped tile having an upper surface, and wherein said weather stop portion of said weather block is sized and shaped complementary to said upper surface of said low profile tile.  
     
     
         19 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said tile roof comprises a plurality of high profile S-shaped tiles having an upper surface, and wherein said weather stop portion is sized and shaped complementary to said upper surface of said high profile tiles.  
     
     
         20 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said tile roof comprises high profile U-shaped opposing tiles having an upper surface, and wherein said weather stop portion is sized and shaped complementary to said upper surface of said high profile U-shaped opposing tiles.  
     
     
         21 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said lower edge portion of said weather stop portion comprise a series of sequential convex and concave curved surfaces, and wherein said series comprises at least one of each of said convex and of said concave curved surfaces.  
     
     
         22 . The combination as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said weather stop portion comprises, adjacent said concave curved surface, a narrow lip portion, said lip portion sized and shaped for complementary interfitting engagement against said upper surface of said tile roof.  
     
     
         23 . The combination as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said weather stop portion comprises, adjacent said convex curved surface, a downwardly extending tongue portion, said tongue portion sized and shaped for complementary interfitting engagement against said upper surface of said tile roof.  
     
     
         24 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said weather block comprises a generally U-shaped elongate member.  
     
     
         25 . The combination as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said weather block comprises a thin, elongate metal part.  
     
     
         26 . The combination as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said weather block comprises thin steel.  
     
     
         27 . The combination as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said weather block comprises a thin aluminum part.  
     
     
         28 . The combination as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said generally U-shaped elongate member is integrally fabricated from a single metal part.  
     
     
         29 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said undulate tile roof has a peak with an upper surface, and a valley with an upper outer tile surface and with a lower inner tile surface, and wherein said backing portion is provided in an height H of at least approximately the same as the distance between said upper surface of said peak and said upper outer tile surface of said valley.  
     
     
         30 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said undulate tile roof has a peak with an upper surface, and a valley with an upper outer tile surface and with a lower inner tile surface, and wherein said backing portion is provided in an height H of at least approximately the same as the distance between (i) said upper surface of said peak and (ii) the average between (1) said upper outer tile surface of said valley and (2) said lower inner tile surface at said valley.  
     
     
         31 . The combination as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said undulate tile roof has a peak with an upper surface, and a valley with an upper outer tile surface and with a lower inner tile surface, and wherein said backing portion is provided in an height H of at least approximately the same as the distance between (i) said upper surface of said peak and (ii) said lower inner tile surface at said valley.  
     
     
         32 . A weather block as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said weather block has a length L of from about four feet to about ten feet.