Batten Arrangement for Building Surfaces

Abstract

Battens for mounting on a building surface such as a roof are connected by bendable, lengthwise substantially inelastic connecting members, the length of each connecting member between adjacent pairs of the battens having a predetermined length corresponding to a predetermined batten separation. When deployed on the building surface, the batten separations and thus positions of the battens relative to each other are maintained substantially constant by the connecting members. When stowed, however, the battens lie against or immediately adjacent to each other with the connecting members extending outward from between adjacent ones of the battens. A user may deploy the batten arrangement for mounting by laying it in the stowed configuration on the building surface and pulling it into the deployed configuration.

1 . A batten arrangement for mounting on a building surface comprising:
 a plurality of lengthwise-extending battens;   a plurality of bendable, lengthwise substantially inelastic connecting members, each of which is secured to a plurality of the battens and extends primarily in a direction that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the battens, the length of each connecting member between adjacent pairs of the battens having a predetermined length corresponding to a predetermined batten separation,   spacer elements providing both points of attachment between the connecting members and the respective battens, and also vertical spacing between the battens and the building surface;   in which,   in a deployed configuration on the building surface,   the battens lie in and are supported within a recessed portion, extending between lateral side walls formed in an upper surface the respective spacer elements;
 a bottom surface of each of the spacer elements is in contact with the building surface; 
 the batten separations and thus positions of the battens relative to each other are maintained substantially constant by the connecting members; and 
   in a stowed configuration, the battens lie against or immediately adjacent to each other with the connecting members extending outward from between adjacent ones of the battens;   whereby a user may deploy the batten arrangement for mounting by laying it in the stowed configuration on the building surface and pulling it into the deployed configuration, such that the battens are distributed on the building surface with the respective predetermined batten separations.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which the building surface is a roof. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which the connecting members extend underneath the respective spacer elements. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , in which, in the deployed configuration, the battens are parallel, such that the batten separations are equal. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , in which at least two of the battens are of different lengths. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which, in the deployed configuration, at least two of the battens are non-parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which at least two of the battens have different widths. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which the connecting members have a non-constant separation. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which an upper surface of each spacer element is provided with a recessed groove for receiving and laterally securing the batten to which it is attached. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which a bottom surface of each spacer element is provided with a recessed groove for receiving the respective connecting member so that the bottom surface of the spacer element may lie flush against the building surface when the battens are in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , in which side surfaces of each spacer element are provided with recessed grooves for receiving and laterally securing the respective connecting member and with a depth at least equal to a thickness of the connecting member so that adjacent portions of the connecting member do not rub against each other in the non-extended configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which each spacer element is provided with a vertically extending hole through which the respective batten may be fastened to the building surface with a fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , in which the connecting members extend through a slot within respective ones of the spacers. 
     
     
         14 . A spacer for maintaining separation between a batten and an underlying building surface, characterized by
 an upper surface of the spacer is provided with a recessed groove for receiving and laterally securing the batten;   a bottom surface of the spacer is provided with a first recessed groove for receiving a connecting member that connects the batten to an adjacent batten, said groove enabling the spacer to lie flush against the building surface when the batten is fastened to the building surface; and   side surfaces provided with second recessed grooves for receiving and laterally securing the connecting member and with a depth at least equal to a thickness of the connecting member.   
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a batten arrangement to be mounted on a building surface, comprising:
 inputting parameters defining dimensions of the building surface and desired separation profile between the battens when in a deployed configuration on the building surface;   attaching to the battens a plurality of bendable, substantially inelastic connecting members, in a direction that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the battens, the length of each connecting member between adjacent pairs of the battens being such that, in a deployed configuration on the building surface, batten separations and thus positions of the battens relative to each other are maintained substantially constant by the connecting members, said batten arrangement thereby conforming to the input building surface dimensions when in the deployed configuration;   providing the batten arrangement in a stowed configuration in the battens lie against or immediately adjacent to each other with the connecting members extending outward from between adjacent ones of the battens;   whereby a user may deploy the batten arrangement for mounting by laying it in the stowed configuration on the building surface and pulling it into the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the parameters defining dimensions include batten width. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the parameters defining dimensions include a separation profile between the connection members. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the parameters defining dimensions include batten material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the building surface is a roof.