Artificial Roofing Shingle

Abstract

An artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and preferably having a rearward attachment flange, preferably having a flat and non-textured upper surface, and a forward body member, the forward body member having a textured upper surface. The shingle further has a front wall and opposing lateral walls, the bottom of the shingle being open such that each component of the shingle is thin in transverse cross-section. The forward body member is configured to visually resemble a shingle composed of a natural material such that when a plurality of shingles are attached to a roof in overlapping manner the roof presents the same visual appearance as that of a natural shingle roof. Preferably the textured upper surface of the forward body member angles upward from the non-textured upper surface of the rearward attachment flange.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and comprising a thin in cross-section rearward attachment flange having a flat and non-textured upper surface, and a forward body member having a thin in cross-section textured upper surface, said rearward attachment flange and said forward body member joined at a transverse interior junction, said forward body member further comprising a front wall depending from said textured upper surface and opposing lateral walls depending from said textured upper surface, the underside of the shingle being open such that an open interior is presented on the underside of the shingle. 
     
     
         2 . The shingle of  claim 1 , wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The shingle of  claim 2 , wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The shingle of  claim 2 , wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall. 
     
     
         5 . The shingle of  claim 4 , wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The shingle of  claim 1 , wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior. 
     
     
         6 . The shingle of  claim 1 , wherein said textured upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay. 
     
     
         7 . An artificial roofing shingle composed of plastic and comprising a forward body member having a thin in cross-section, planar, textured upper surface, said forward body member further comprising a front wall depending from said upper surface and opposing lateral walls depending from said upper surface, the underside of the shingle being open such that an open interior is presented on the underside of the shingle. 
     
     
         8 . The shingle of  claim 7 , wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The shingle of  claim 8 , wherein said upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The shingle of  claim 8 , wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall. 
     
     
         11 . The shingle of  claim 10 , wherein said upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The shingle of  claim 7 , wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior. 
     
     
         13 . The shingle of  claim 7 , wherein said upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay. 
     
     
         14 . The shingle of  claim 7 , further comprising a thin in cross-section rearward attachment flange having a flat and non-textured upper surface, said rearward attachment flange and said forward body member joined at a transverse interior junction. 
     
     
         15 . The shingle of  claim 14 , wherein said front wall and said lateral walls are thin in cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The shingle of  claim 15 , wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The shingle of  claim 15 , wherein said lateral walls are joined to said front wall. 
     
     
         18 . The shingle of  claim 17 , wherein said rearward attachment flange, said textured upper surface, said front wall and said lateral walls are each less than one quarter inch in thickness. 
     
     
         19 . The shingle of  claim 14 , wherein no reinforcing members are present in said open interior. 
     
     
         20 . The shingle of  claim 14 , wherein said upper surface is shaped to resemble a natural roofing shingle chosen from the group of natural roofing shingles consisting of wood, shake, slate, tile and clay.