Pre-Assembled Ventilated Shingle Set

Abstract

An assembly, and method for constructing the assembly, that provides a much faster and more precise shingle installation with required keyway spacing and offsets, and with built-in ventilation that improves the performance of the shingles and protects the wall assembly. Also providing a pleasing distribution of shingle widths with no apparent patterns.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly of shingles comprising:
 a plurality of side-by-side shingles;   one or more connectors between each pair of shingles;   the shingles and connectors forming a semi-rigid panel,   wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the connectors allow the shingles to expand and contract, and   wherein the shingles and connectors of the semi-rigid panel remain connected to each other throughout handling and installation, and   wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation.   
     
     
         4 . An assembly of shingles comprising:
 a plurality of side-by-side shingles;   one or more connectors between each pair of shingles,   the shingles and connectors forming a semi-rigid panel;   an alignment gauge on the front face of the panel,   wherein the shingles and connectors of the semi-rigid panel remain connected to each other throughout handling and installation, and   wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface, and   wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation, and   wherein the shingles within the panel and the alignment gauge being configured in such a manner that a second row of adjacent panels being placed on top of and overlapping a first row of adjacent panels and offset laterally such that a mark or edge of the panels in the second row aligns with a mark or edge of panels in the first row, the keyways of the second row are offset from the keyways in the first row.   
     
     
         5 . An assembly of shingles comprising:
 a plurality of side-by-side shingles;   one or more connectors between each pair of shingles,   the shingles and connectors forming a semi-rigid panel;   an alignment gauge on the front face of the panel,   wherein the connectors allow the shingles to expand and contract, and   wherein the shingles and connectors of the semi-rigid panel remain connected to each other throughout handling and installation, and   wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface, and   wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles such that the installed assembly functions as a conventional individual shingle installation, and   wherein the shingles within the panel and the alignment gauge being configured in such a manner that a second row of adjacent panels being placed on top of and overlapping a first row of adjacent panels and offset laterally such that a mark or edge of the panels in the second row aligns with a mark or edge of panels in the first row, the keyways of the second row are offset from the keyways in the first row, and   wherein the shingles within the panel and the alignment gauge being configured in such a manner that a third row of adjacent panels being placed on top of and overlapping the second row of adjacent panels and offset laterally such that a mark or edge of the panels in the third row aligns with a mark or edge of panels in the second row, the keyways of the third row are offset from the keyways in the second and first rows.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 4 ,
 wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width, and   wherein the keyways of the second panel are offset laterally at least one and one half inches from the keyways of the first panel.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 5 ,
 wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width, and   wherein the keyways of the second panel are offset laterally at least one and one half inches from the keyways of the first panel.   
     
     
         10 . A ventilation space for cedar shingle installations comprising:
 a multitude of ridges or beads or other spacers installed on the back of the shingles;   the ridges or beads or other spacers providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate,   wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and   wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying.   
     
     
         11 . The ventilation space of  claim 10 , wherein the spacers are comprised of ridges or beads that are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation space of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the spacers are comprised of ridges or beads that are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles, and   wherein the ridges or beads are positioned such that they block moisture from moving laterally between shingle layers into underlying keyway joints.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a ventilation space comprising:
 a multitude of ridges or beads or other spacers installed on the back of the shingles;   the ridges or beads or other spacers providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate,   wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and   wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the assembly includes a ventilation space comprising:
 a multitude of ridges or beads installed on the back of the shingles; 
 the ridges or beads or providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate, 
 wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and 
 wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying, and 
 wherein the ridges or beads are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles and positioned such that they block moisture from moving laterally between shingle layers into underlying keyway joints. 
 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 4 ,
 wherein at least two of the shingles in the assembly have a different width, and   wherein the assembly includes a ventilation space comprising:   a multitude of ridges or beads installed on the back of the shingles;   the ridges or beads or providing a gap between overlapping layers of shingles and between the shingle installation and the substrate,   wherein the gap provides a capillary break between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the capillary break preventing the accumulation and entrapment of moisture, and   wherein the gap provides an airspace between shingle layers and between the shingle installation and the substrate, the airspace enabling airflow that provides faster and more even drying, and   wherein the ridges or beads are parallel to the side edges of the shakes or shingles and positioned such that they block moisture from moving laterally between shingle layers into underlying keyway joints.   
     
     
         16 . A connector for connecting side-by-side shingles to each other;
 the shingles and connectors forming a panel,   wherein the structural integrity of the panel is such that the panel will not break or deform when subjected to normal handling, and   wherein the shingles are aligned when the panel is installed on a flat surface, and   wherein the connectors are substantially contained within the plane of the shingles and allow the shingles to expand and contract normally such that the installed assembly functions as a proper conventional individual shingle installation.   
     
     
         17 . A clip for connecting side-by-side shingles to each other, the clip comprising:
 plates that overlaps the front and back of both shingles;   tabs that extend from the outer edge of the plates into slots in the shingles;   the plates overlapping each shingle connected to each other in a manner such that a spring tension forces the tabs of the clip into the shingle slots when the clip is installed,   wherein the spring tension of the clip is such that the tabs will remain in the shingle slots as the shingles expand and contract normally, and   wherein the spring tension of the clip is such that the tabs will remain in the shingle slots when a plurality of connected shingles are bowed in a manner that would be typical during handling and installation, and   wherein the installed clips are substantially contained within the plane of the connected shingles such that a plurality of connected shingles functions as a conventional individual shingle installation.   
     
     
         18 . The clip of  claim 17 , wherein the clip provides a consistent keyway space between each pair of connected shingles.