Prefabricated roofing modules
United States Patent 1191 Martin et al.  
 1 PREFABRICATED ROOFING MODULES [76] Inventors: Gerald Martin, 7525 E. Treasure Dr.. Miami Beach, Fla; James A. Baccus, 595 N.W. 91st Rd., North Miami, Fla. 33161; Marvin Gurman, 20221 NE. 25th Ave.. North Miami, Fla.  
 [ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Sept. 24, 1990, has been disclaimed.  
 [22] Filed: June 21. 1973 [21] Appl. No: 372,255  
 Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 174,477. Aug. 24.  
 1971. Pat. No, 3,760.546.  
 1 *Apr. s, 1975 Pope 52/315 Martin et a1 52/94 X [57] ABSTRACT Prefabricated roof modules and associated prefabricated joining members are described for completing on-the-job roofing from the joists out in a single earpentry operation. The modules each comprise a sheet metal upper layer. a foamed synthetic plastic interior insulation layer, and a plywood sheathing lower layer. The sheet metal upper layer is embossed or press formed to simulate any desired roof deck construction, and is coated with a protective layer of vinyl resin of any desired color. The sheathing lower layer projects marginally outwardly of the embossed portion of the sheet metal upper layer at one pair of horizontal and vertical edges of the module, whereat it is overlapped in face-to-face relation with corresponding projecting flange portions of the sheet metal upper layer. Substantially identical marginal flange portions along the opposite vertical and horizontal portions of the sheet metal upper layer provide underlying undercuts in the sheathing for the interfitting reception of adjacent modules upon installation. Sealing finish strips of metal-faced foamed synthetic plastic material serve to both protect the waterproofjuneturc between adjacent modules and cover them in such a manner as to simulate ordinary roof construction.  
 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PREFABRICATED ROOFING MODULES This invention is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 174,477, filed Aug. 24, 1971 and issued as Pat. Number 3,760,546 on Sept. 25, 1973 and is directed particularly to a roof construction comprising a plurality of roofing modules and module joining means adapted to be readily prefabricated at the factory and comprising sheathing, fire-proofing, insulation, outer covering and weather-proofing to enable roof construction from the rafters or trusses out in a single operation.  
  Heretofore, it has been common practice in roof construction to apply the sheathing, insulation, waterproofing and deck or outer covering in a series of individual layers ordinarily applied by different workmen having different skills.  
  It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a prefabricated module in module joining means capable of being economically prefabricated and shipped to the job site for erection directly upon the trusses or rafters of a building under construction to complete roofing in a single constructional operation involving only carpentry skills thereby not only effecting substantial savings in labor, but also enabling com pletion of the roof in a substantially shorter time period than required in ordinary roof construction methods.  
  A more particular object of the invention is to provide an improved roofing module of the character described comprising an outer or deck layer of formed sheet metal the outside of which is press-shaped or embossed to simulate any desired conventional roof construction and the underside of which is provided with successive layers of insulation and sheathing.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated roofing module of the above nature which can readily be press formed and assembled in layers of the individual components in mass production by the use of power press techniques.  
  Still another object of the invention is to provide prefabricated rooftng modules for use in roof construction at the job site wherein the mechanism for joining adjacent modules comprises off-set and inter-fitting layered portions of the module so arranged as to effect a plurality of juncture seals effecting waterand weather-proof integrity of the completed roof under all climate conditions and for long periods of time.  
  Yet another object of the invention is to provide a modular roof construction comprising a plurality of prefabricated roofing modules wherein the junctures between mutually adjacent modules are of such conformation and appearance as to simulate the juncture pattern of the individual simulated roofing units, such as tiles, comprising the roofing, to present the appearance in the finished roof of ordinary unit tile or roofing element construction.  
  Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1n the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:  
  FIG. 1 is an isometric view, as seen from above, of a prefabricated roof module embodying the invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the vertical inter-fitting juncture of a pair of horizontally adjacent roofing modules embodying the invention, including the vertical joiner seal strip used in finishing the modular roofing insulation; and  
  FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the inter-fitting juncture of a pair of vertically adjacent roofing modules embodying the invention, including the horizontal joiner seal strip used in finishing the modular roofing installation.  
  Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral l0 designates, generally, a preferred form of a prefabricated roofing module embodying the invention, the same being comprised of a formed sheet metal outer layer 11, a foamed synthetic plastic interior insulating layer 12 and a plywood sheathing bottom layer 13. The roofing module 10, which will preferably be 8 feet long and 4 feet wide, i.e., 4 feet from the lower to the upper edge, has its sheet metal outer layer 11 stamped to simulate any desired outer covering such as, for example, tile shingles, as illustrated at 14. As such, the sheet metal outer layer 11 is formed with equidistantly spaced, longitudinally extending steps or riser portions 15 simulating the lower ends of simulated tiles 14, and a plurality of spaced depressions l6 simulating the spacing between tiles. The adhesive 22 used in joining the interior insulating layer 12 to the plywood sheathing bottom layer 13 will preferably be of such composition and thickness as to provide a waterproof membrane preventing the migration of moisture in either direction.  
  As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the plywood sheathing bottom layer 13 projects marginally outwardly of the underside of the interior insulating layer 12 along one pair of vertical and horizontal edges thereof as indicated at 17 and 18, respectively, and the formed sheet metal outer layer 11 is provided with corresponding marginal vertical and horizontal flange portions 17a, 18a, respectfully, cemented or otherwise secured in face-to-face abutting relation with respect to said sheathing projections. The plywood sheathing bottom layer 13 is of such size, as is best illustrated in FIG. 2, as to be in registry with the opposite outer edges of the insulating layer 12, and the corresponding vertical and horizontal edges of the sheet metal outer layer 11 project marginally outwardly of the plane of the upper surface of the plywood sheathing layer 13 thereat to provide vertical and horizontal flange portions 20, 21, respectively, of approximately the same width as that of the vertical and horizontal portions 17a, 18a, respectively.  
 FIG. 2 illustrates in vertical cross-section the interfit-- ting juncture of a pair of vertically abutting, side-byside roofing modules embodying the invention in roofing a house under construction. The modules are of such size as to span a multiple of rafters or truss members T, spaced as in ordinary roof framing construction, such as 16 inches on centers. As further illustrated in FIG. 2 the projecting vertical edge 17 and its associated vertical flange portion 17a of the sheet metal outer layer 11 will be received under the outwardlyextending vertical flange portion 20 comprising the sheet metal outer layer of the adjacent modular unit. The overlapping of the sheet metal outer layer 11 thus provides a wide, vertically extending seal between adjacent panels. As indicated at 23 in FIG. 2, a sealing finish strip is provided for the purpose both of protecting the waterproof juncture between adjacent panels and covering such vertically extending junctures to simulate uniform tiling in the finished roof. The sealing strips 23 are applied, as by cementing in place, after the roofing modules have been nailed to the roof rafters or trusses T as by nails N, and comprise an insulating layer 24 of foamed synthetic plastic material cemented or otherwise secured against the top of which is a sheet metal layer 25. The sealing strip upper surface will preferably be formed along its length with inclines and steps, indicated at 26 in FIG. 1, simulating the changes in level from one tile to another in the grout between simulated tiles in mutually adjacent modules, thereby presenting a uniform or monolithic appearance in the finished roof. It will be understood that the sealing strips 23 will be of such width as to press fit firmly in place, and when so applied with a suitable cement will not only be securely retained in place, but will also provide additional water-proofing of the vertically extending junctures between modules.  
  FIG. 3 similarly illustrates in vertical cross-section the interfitting juncture of a pair of horizontally abutting side-by-side roofing modules embodying the invention in roofing a house under construction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the projecting horizontal edge 18 and its associated horizontal flange portion 18a of the sheet metal outer layer 11 will be received under the outwardly extending horizontal flange portion 21 compris ing the sheet metal outer layer of the adjacent modular unit. The overlapping of the sheet metal outer layer 11 thus provides a wide, horizontally extending seal between adjacent panels into which, after nailing in place as by nails N to the roof rafters or trusses along 16 inch centers, a horizontal sealing strip 27 is fitted and cemented by a suitable adhesive to complete the joining of adjacent modules in roofing a house under construc tion. The sealing strip 27 comprises a foamed synthetic plastic material insulating layer 28 covered with a sheet metal outer layer 29, and is of such thickness as to finish flush with the upper surface of the lower simulated tiles to effect the appearance of overlapping tiles. Here again, it will be understood that the joining and sealing strip 27 will be of such width as to require press fitting in place, and when so applied with a suitable adhesive insures a water-proof seal along the horizontal junctures of adjacent roofing modules in the finished roof construction.  
  In the use of the roofing modules 10 and their associated joining strips, it is first to be noted that the size of the modules, being 8 feet from side-to-side, it such as to reach center to center between truss members or rafters spaced 16 inches on centers, as is common in building construction, so that overlapping of the modules occurs along such roof trusses or roof rafters, whereat they can be nailed in place as by the nails N. It will also be understood that whenever necessary to cut a module to fit the roofing job under construction, this can readily be done with a saber saw. The nails N preferably will have their shanks coated with a dry adhesive, and will be hammered in place by the use of a power tool so as tightly to compress overlapping portions of adjacent modules in place against the roof rafters or truss members, and thereby provide effective and permanent sealing against water leakage. The upper surfaces of the vertical and horizontal flange portions 20, 21, respectively, ofthe sheet metal outer layer 11, and/or the upper surface of the vertical and horizontal flange portions 170, 18a respectively, of said sheet metal outer layer, will be coated with a suitable adhesive, either at the factory or at the job site during roof assembly, to enhance the water-tight juncture between modules. As hereinabove described, the vertical sealing strips 23 and the horizontal sealing strips 27 between modules not only mask the junctures to present a uniform tiled appearance in the finished roof, but also provide further water-proofing of the junctures.  
  The various edges, valleys, ridges and eaves in any particular roofing job can be finished or trimmed either in a conventional manner or by use of the various joining strips for these purposes which are illustrated and described in the above-identified patent of which this application is a continuation-impart.  
  It is also to be understood that the outer surfaces of the modules 10 and their associated joining strips 23 and 27, instead of being prefinished at the factory, could be coated after installation has been completed by spraying on a suitable material, with color as desired, such as a mixture ofa cementitious material with an acrylic sealer or paint. By suitable choices of color in the sealer vehicle and texture in the cementitious material added thereto, a wide variety of unit tile roof constructions can be simulated.  
  While we have illustrated and described herein only one form in which the invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, this embodiment is presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.  
  What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:  
  l. A roofing module comprising, in combination, a rectangular, formed sheet metal outer layer, a comparatively thick layer of insulating material attached to the underside of said outer layer, and a layer of sheathing secured against the underside of said layer ofinsulating material, said layer of sheathing having one vertical edge and one horizontal edge projecting marginally outwardly of said layer of insulating material, said sheet metal outer layer having integrally formed therewith a marginal first vertical flange portion and a marginal first horizontal flange portion overlapping said vertical and horizontal marginal portions, respectively, of said layer of sheathing in face-to-face relation with respect thereto, said formed sheet metal outer layer further being integrally formed with a second vertical flange portion and a second horizontal flange portion projecting marginally outwardly of corresponding edges of said insulating layer and said sheathing layer to provide undercuts for the reception of the marginally outwardly projecting vertical and horizontal portions of mutually adjacent modules in roofing assembly.  
  2. A roofing module as defined in claim 1, wherein said layer of insulating material is of foamed synthetic plastic.  
  3. A roofing module as defined in claim 2, wherein said outer layer is formed along its surface to simulate roof shingles.  
  4. A roofing module as defined in claim 3, wherein the marginal projections of said layer of sheathing material and said vertical and horizontal flange portions of said sheet metal outer layer are substantially equal in projecting extent.  
  5. A roofing module as defined in claim 4, including means for joining a pair of such modules placed edgeto-edge in interfitting relation in a roof assembly, said cally extending recess between adjacent modules upon roof assembly.  
  7. A roofing module as defined in claim 6, the length of the sheathing metal of which is a multiple of 16 inches.  
  8. A roofing module as defined in claim 7, wherein the outer surface of the sheet metal is fluidize bed coated with a synthetic resin.  
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