Tool kit for installing roofing or siding materials

Abstract

A tool for laying sequential courses of tiles on an inclined roof, or sidewall the tool including a rail and several arms sized to extend over a previous course of tiles and to position the rail to define a straight edge for the current or new tile course. The arms extend over the current course and their ends are nailed or otherwise secured to the roof or sidewall. After the course is laid, the rail is moved up for the next course. A kit is formed of one or more rails, sets of arms, each set being sized and/or hinged for a corresponding type of tile, and means of interconnecting and aligning the rails. Two rails may also be used to provide roofing on a roof having two sections joined by a valley. For this configuration, a curved, flexible connector is used which is formed of a rubber pipe.

1 . A tool kit for installing several types of tiles in courses on a roof or a sidewall, each type of tile having a different dimension, said kit comprising: 
 a horizontal rail structured to be mounted on a roof or sidewall; and    a plurality of sets of arms, including a first set of arms sized to fit a first type of tile and a second set of arms sized to fit a second type of tile having a different length than said first type of tile, each arm including a coupling element supporting said arm on said rail;    said rail and said one of said sets of arms cooperating to position said rail along a previous course of tiles to define a straight edge for a present course of tiles with said arms extending from said rail, over said present course of tiles and terminating with an end resting on the roof or wall just beyond said present course of tiles said end being secured to the roof or sidewall.    
   
   
       2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said coupling elements are constructed and arranged to pivotably mount said arms on said rail, whereby the arms can pivot in an arc with respect to said rail.  
   
   
       3 . The kit of  claim 1  further comprising a second rail and a coupling member connecting said first and second rails in a collinear relationship.  
   
   
       4 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said rail includes a skirt for cushioning the tiles.  
   
   
       5 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said arms include a first and a second portion extending longitudinally and joined by a hinge.  
   
   
       6 . A tool for installing tiles in courses on a roof comprising: 
 a horizontal rail resting on the roof and supporting a course of tiles along a line; and    a plurality of arms, each arm having a first member having one end coupled to said rail and a second end arranged to be fixed to the roof; and a coupling element for coupling said first and second members together.    
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said coupling element is a hinge.  
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said second member has a lateral slot to engage a nail in the roof and a slider sliding on said second member to capture said nail.  
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said arms have adjustable lengths to accommodate roofing materials of various sizes.  
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said rail and arms are adapted to be secured to a flat surface defining a roof or wall.  
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said rail and arms are adapted to be secured on parallel beams.  
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said first member of each arm includes an end rotatably attached to the rail.  
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said first member of each arm includes an end slidably attached to the rail.  
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said arm includes a clamp securing said arm to the roof.  
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein said arm includes an intermediate member defining a vertical offset between said first and second members.  
   
   
       16 . A tool for installing roofing material on a roof comprising: 
 a rail a longitudinal slot and a skirt supporting said rail, said rail defining a reference line for a course of roofing materials;    a plurality of arms having one end engaging said longitudinal slot and a second end secured to the roof, said arms having an adjustable length.    
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 16  wherein said arm includes a first member having said first end attached to the rail, a second member having a second end attached to the roof and an intermediate member.  
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein said first member includes a plate slidable in said groove.  
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein said second end is a a clamp.  
   
   
       20 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein said first member includes two telescopic components and a clamp adjustably securing said components to adjust the length of the arms.