Method and means for laying waterproof coverings

July 31/1934. d. c. gale 1,968,281

METHOD AND MEANS FOR LAYING WATERPROOF COVERINGS

Filed Nov. 6, 1930

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Oatro c Cale

BY

ATTORNEY

Patented July 31, 1934

1,968,281

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,968,281

METHOD AND MEANS FOR LAYING WATERPROOF COVERINGS

Dutro C. Cale, Sari Francisco, Calif., assignor to Certain-Teed Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland

Application November 6, 1930, Serial No. 493,785

Claims. (Cl. 108—7) been found advantageous from the standpoint of saving of material and of labor to lay the strips endwise in rows but with the ends overlapping, the rows being laid upon the roof in overlapped arrangement but with the overlapped portions superimposed only to such a degree as to provide a proper surface upon which to apply an adhesive or cement. This adhesive then serves to hold down upon the overlapped surface of the strip below the overlapping edge 65 portion of the strip above or adjacent thereto endwise. Such constructions for surfaces exposed to the weather, such as roofs, have been found to be remarkably advantageous as to cost while providing a thoroughly artistic and pleas- 70 ing shingle-simulating effect.

In view, however, of the relatively small surface to which the cement is to be applied in such constructions it is desirable to control the amount of adhesive or cementing material used 75 so as not to apply an excess which will overrun beyond the edges of the overlapping portions while at the same time applying sufficient to insure a good holding condition in the joint and also a condition suitable for preventing the §0 , leakage of water and _rpreventirig the action of wind and the weather in curling up the edge of the overlapping portion or otherwise disturbing the. construction. In order to properly control the amount applied it has been found desirable 85 to use a device which will produce this result.

One object therefore of the present invention is to provide a method of laying units in lapped arrangement on a surface to be covered which will permit laying with large exposure and little SO lap, thus making possible laying at little cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method by which adhesive may be applied to joints in material used for covering exposed surfaces. . . 9S

A further object of the invention is to provide means which will control the amount of material as it issues therefrom both in amount and in the form of its discharge so that it may be applied in the quantity and form best suited to 10® the surface to which it is to adhere.

A further aim of the invention is to- provide a method of applying the cement by which cement may be discharged from a container through a nozzle upon the overlapped portions 105 of a weather resisting covering whereby the application may be easily controlled by the operator.

One feature therefore of the present invention is the method of applying cement, such as rooftag cement, in plastic form to the joints formed

This invention relates to methods and means for applying weatherproof coverings and particularly to methods and means for applying adhesives for securing the said coverings in po5 sition and rendering them waterproof.

It has heretofore been the practice in applying covering materials in sheets and sometimes in the form of units such as artificial shingles or shingle-simulating strips to fasten such 10 sheets or units by the application of an adhesive to the surfaces to be held together, by means of a mop or brush or a trowel or similar instrument. Such a method provides no adequate control of the quantity of material applied to jig the surfaces to be joined and is a costly and laborious method of making joints in a waterproof covering.

An example of such former practice has been the laying of sheets of roofing felt laid upon _ge the roof with the lower portions of one sheet Overlapping portions of another. To the overlapped portions of the sheet below has been applied with a mop pitch or asphalt which upon hardening binds the overlapping portion to the or sheet below. Such a method'in addition to being expensive necessitates great care to prevent excess material from being applied to the surfaces and from running upon the exposed surfaces of the roof and it has been difficult or impossible to carry on the operation in neat and orderly fashion.

In the laying of. individual units such as / shingles it has been the practice to apply, an adhesive cement upon the back of the shingle or, and place the coated face upon the roof. It then has been necessary' to move the shingle about slightly in its place to insure proper adhesion. This made difficult or impossible an alignment which would produce a pleasing effeet on the roof. ' .

In the application of strip shingles such a procedure would be laborious and costly even though done with a brush of suitable size or with a trowel if-cement of sufficient consistency were used. The practice has therefore been to ⁴⁵ lay the strip with a large overlap so that without cementing water will not flow or be driven in under the overlapping portions and over the overlapped edge of the strip beneath. This, however, necessitates the use of a large amount ⁵⁰ of material and a correspondingly large cost of laying.

In the development of various types of. strips having surfaces simulating groups of shingles as is disclosed in my co-pending application ⁵⁵ Serial No. 493,784, filed November 6, 1930, it has

1,068,381 by overlapping sheets of weatherproof material or to the lap joints of units such as roofing strips or other units used to simulate shingles on roofs or on sides of buildings or to simulate brickwork § or other constructions. Such constructions are usually built up of a plurality of sheets or of units, such as individual shingles of shinglesimulating strips or strips simulating brickwork, with the lower portion of the sheet or unit overfl,© lapping the upper portion of the sheet or unit just below upon the roof or wall. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a method and means for applying to such relatively limited overlapped areas the cement in the form of a jig strand or cord or in some cases as a ribbon, applied preferably lengthwise of said area and of sufficient width and thickness that when the overlapping portions of the superimposed unit or strip bear upon the overlapped portions of the g® unit below, the cement will spread sufficiently upon these contacting surfaces to properly cover the same and hold them upon drying in permanent relationship and also to seal against the water which may otherwise be driven between gg these surfaces and. cause leakage through the covering.

In the construction of the roofs mentioned above, in which shingle-simulating strips having a small portion only of the strips overlapping the 3® upper portions of strips adjacent below and having the end edges of such strips in overlapping arrangement, or in similar overlapping construction the present invention provides a method according to which the cement may be applied gg in the form of a strand of circular cross section, for example a strand of ½ inch diameter, which may be forced from a nozzle attached to a cham-: ber such as is provided by the so-called “gun” type of tool by pressure upon the cement cre$$ ated by suitable means. The nozzle when directed at the surface to be covered may be moved over the surface as the pressure is caused to act upon the cement. A cord or strand of cement issues from the nozzle and is laid upon the surface preferably lengthwise thereof and in such position thereon relative to the edge of the over• lapping strip or unit that when said overlapping ¹ unit is pressed in place the spread of the cement will not proceed beyond the overlapping edge but will properly cover the surfaces for adhesive action.

In laying strips of the type referred to the lower edge of the overlapping strip may be lifted and the, cement may be applied with such a “gun” gg type of tool, arranged so that the nozzle may be easily handled, by running the nozzle along the upper edge of the strip while causing the cement to issue therefrom and, upon reaching the end of the strip. where such end overlaps QC the adjacent strip endwise thereof, to coat upon the end of said adjacent strip a similar cord or strand of cement by suitably turning the nozzle and the direction of its movement. This . method of applying the cement has been found 05 to be rapid and less costly than applying it by the usual methods and avoids the difficulty experienced in the usual methods in many cases, namely, that of applying too large an amount of cementing material so that in the spread of the <?® cement this material runs out from under the overlapped portion and becomes exposed upon the roof resulting in an unsightly appearance as • well as causing waste and imperfect sealing. In other cases too little cement may be applied and 76 an improper joint made. The controlled am91Wt>

of cement which may be caused to issue from the nozzle by suitable control of pressure and of control devices on the nozzle or gun itself make possible the advantageous results just described which constitute the features of the present in- 80 vention.

Roofing and roofing strips and other coverings for weather resistance usually are made with a surface covering of granular mineral material such as slate or ground rock to provide a wear- 85 resisting cover and to present an artistic and pleasing appearance. By usual methods it is difficult or impossible to apply cement to such granular surfaces in proper amount to avoid excess while insuring the application of sufficient 90 cement to produce a secure bond and a waterproof joint.

By the method of the present invention, however, it is possible to apply the cement or other adhesive to the granular cover with equal facility 95 as to a smooth surface. The amount delivered and the location of its application on the surface being controlled, it is possible to so apply it that it will fill in .the voids around the granular material and spread over the surface to such 100 a width as to give a proper bond to the overlapping sheet or strip when it is pressed down upon the cement.

The invention includes therefore the method of applying adhesive in suitable form to joints 105 in roof covering or coverings for surfaces exposed to the weather by the use of a tool provided with a nozzle and a device for causing the discharge of the adhesive from said nozzle in controlled amount and in such form that it may be 110 applied by a movement of the nozzle over the extent of the surface so that when the contacting surfaces are joined no substantial excess will have . been applied and sufficient material will have adhered to accomplish the binding and cementing. 115 Other features of the invention will appear from the following description and drawing in which—

Figure 1 shows an assembly of covering units laid upon a surface and the application of adhe- 120. sive with the “gun” type of tool; and

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal view of the “gun” type of tool.

In Figure 1 the covering units 1 are shown as strips of rectangular shape laid in overlapping 125 arrangement upon the surface to be covered. As disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 493,784, filed November 6, 1930, strips surfaced to simulate shingles may be laid With a small amount of lap, the laps being cemented in place. 130

In applying the cement according to the present , invention the overlapping portion ^ of the strips may be lifted and the cement laid upon the overlapped area 3 thus exposed by means of the “gun” type of tool 4 having a nozzle 5, from which 135 the cement is caused to discharge as a strand or cord 6 upon the area 3. It will be seen that the nozzle 5 may be guided across the area 3 while the cement issues therefrom and the proper amount of cement may be laid upon the area 3 140 by control of the amount issuing in relation to the movement of the nozzle over the area. The strand 6 may be laid in any desired direction, preferably lengthwise of the area 3 and by suitable direction of the nozzle and its movement 145 may be turned to cover the portion 7 of the area which is overlapped by the end 8 of the strip 1 adjacent endwise in the row.

By this means may be applied to the surface tp be joined the proper quantity of cement or ad- ioQ

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1,868,281 3 of this grip. If the hand is to be used for forcing the plunger forward the movement is best effected from this same grip or the position of the control device. The application of the pressure to force the cement from the nozzle and the movement of the nozzle over the surface to which the cement is being applied must be under simultaneous control of the operator and preferably under the control of his one hand. The application of adhesive or cement by means of such a tool utilizing one hand only is a feature of the present invention.

A cement for use according to the above described method and especially for use with the “gun” type of tool for applying the same should have the characteristics of suitable plasticity to enable it to be readily discharged from the nozzle of the gun and to “flow” under pressure upon the surface to which it is to be applied. It should not be so fluid in consistency as to run readily under the action of gravity or to run out from under the surfaces to which it is applied before hardening. It further should have the characteristic of hardening in a relatively .short time and to make a firm bond between the 100 surfaces which are to be joined. Further, it should have waterproof qualities which will prevent the seepage and flow of water through the joint. ... ,

While modifications of the composition may be 105 made within limits to provide the above indicated qualities I have found that a cement of a composition containing approximately by weight saturating asphalt 55%, coating asphalt 9%. turpentine substitute 22%, asbestos 14% is prefer- no able for the purpose· of the present invention. A cement of this character therefore falls within the scope of the present invention.