Stacking bar for roofing elements

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide a roofing element that has improved stacking characteristics. According to various embodiments, roofing elements for installing on a sloped roof are provided, and each roofing element includes a body portion that defines one or more batten lugs and/or weather bars and at least one stacker bar that corresponds with each batten lug or weather bar. The batten lugs, weather bars, and the stacker bars extend outwardly from a lower surface of the roofing element, and each stacker bar includes a lower surface and one or more tapered surfaces that extend between the lower surface of the stacker bar and the lower surface of the body portion. The tapered surfaces are adapted for urging the upper surface of a vertically stacked roofing element away from the lower surface of the roofing element.

1 . A plurality of roofing elements for installing on a sloped roof, each of said roofing elements comprising: 
 a head end;    a nose end;    a body portion extending between the head end and the nose end;    said body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being opposite said upper surface, and body portion defining one or more batten lugs disposed substantially adjacent said head end and at least one stacker bar disposed adjacent said each of said one or more batten lugs, said batten lugs and said stacker bars extending outwardly from said lower surface,    wherein each stacker bar comprises a lower surface and one or more tapered surfaces extending between said lower surface of each stacker bar and said lower surface of said body portion, said one or more tapered surfaces adapted for urging said upper surface of a vertically stacked roofing element away from said lower surface of said roofing element and said one or more batten lugs.    
     
     
         2 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one stacker bar is disposed substantially below an engaging surface of said corresponding batten lug.  
     
     
         3 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 2  wherein: 
 each of said at least one stacker bar is elongated and comprises a head end, a nose end, a first side edge, and a second side edge, said head end adjacent said batten lug, said nose end opposite said head end, and said first and second side edges extending between said head end and said nose end of said stacker bar, and    said lower surface of said stacker bar tapers in height relative to said lower surface of said body portion such that said height of said stacker bar is greater toward said head end of said stacker bar than said nose end of said stacker bar.    
     
     
         4 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 1  wherein: 
 each of said at least one stacker bar comprises a head end, a nose end, a first side edge, and a second side edge, said head end being adjacent said batten lug, said nose end being opposite said head end, and said first and second side edges extending between said head end and said nose end of said stacker bar, and    a first tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said first side edge of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         5 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 4  wherein: 
 a second tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said second side edge of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         6 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 5  wherein: 
 a third tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said nose end of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         7 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 4  wherein: 
 a second tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said nose end of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         8 . The roofing elements of  claim 1  wherein hot melt wax is applied to at least a portion of a lower surface of each of said plurality of roofing elements during manufacturing, said hot melt wax being adapted to prevent the lower surface of each of said roofing tiles from damaging an upper surface of a vertically stacked adjacent roofing tile.  
     
     
         9 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 1  wherein stacker bar is disposed substantially horizontally adjacent an engaging surface of said corresponding batten lug.  
     
     
         10 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 1  wherein a first stacker bar is disposed substantially below an engaging surface of said corresponding batten lug and a second stacker bar is disposed substantially horizontally adjacent said first stacker bar, said first stacker bar having a tapered surface extending from said lower surface of said body portion to said nose end of said lower surface of said first stacker bar, said second stacker bar having a first tapered surface extending from said lower surface of said body portion to said nose end of said lower surface of said second stacker bar and a second tapered surface extending from said lower surface of said body portion to said first side edge of said lower surface of said second stacker bar, wherein said first side edge is opposite said second side edge and said second side edge is adjacent said first stacker bar.  
     
     
         11 . A plurality of roofing elements for installing on a sloped roof, each of said roofing elements comprising: 
 a head end;    a nose end;    a body portion extending between the head end and the nose end;    said body portion defining a profile having at least one arcuate portion and having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being opposite said upper surface,    said body portion defining at least one stacker bar adjacent said arcuate portion, each of said at least one stacker bar extending outwardly from said lower surface,    wherein each stacker bar comprises a lower surface and one or more tapered surfaces extending between said lower surface of each stacker bar and said lower surface of said body portion, said one or more tapered surfaces adapted for urging said upper surface of a vertically stacked roofing element away from said lower surface of said roofing element.    
     
     
         12 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 11  wherein said at least one stacker bar adjacent said arcuate portion is a first stacker bar, and said body portion further defines: 
 one or more batten lugs substantially adjacent said head end, and    a second stacker bar disposed substantially below an engaging surface of said corresponding batten lug, said batten lugs and said second stacker bars extending outwardly from said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         13 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 12  wherein said first stacker bar is disposed substantially horizontally adjacent said second stacker bar.  
     
     
         14 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 11  wherein: 
 each of said at least one stacker bar comprises a head end, a nose end, a first side edge, and a second side edge, said head end of said stacker bar oriented toward said head end of said roofing element, said nose end of said stacker bar being opposite said head end, and said first and second side edges extending between said head end and said nose end of said stacker bar, and    a first tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said first side edge of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         15 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 14  wherein: 
 a second tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said second side edge of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         16 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 15  wherein: 
 a third tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said nose end of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         17 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 14  wherein: 
 a second tapered surface of said one or more tapered surfaces extends from said nose end of said lower surface of said stacker bar to said lower surface of said body portion.    
     
     
         18 . The roofing elements of  claim 11  wherein hot melt wax is applied to at least a portion of a lower surface of each of said plurality of roofing elements during manufacturing, said hot melt wax being adapted to prevent the lower surface of each of said roofing tiles from damaging an upper surface of a vertically stacked adjacent roofing tile.  
     
     
         19 . A plurality of roofing elements for installing on a sloped roof, each of said roofing elements comprising: 
 a head end;    a nose end;    a body portion extending between the head end and the nose end;    said body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being opposite said upper surface, and said body portion defining one or more weather bars substantially adjacent said nose end and at least one stacker bar adjacent said each of said one or more weather bars, said weather bars and said stacker bars extending outwardly from said lower surface,    wherein each stacker bar comprises a lower surface and one or more tapered surfaces extending between said lower surface of each stacker bar and said lower surface of said body portion, said one or more tapered surfaces adapted for urging said upper surface of a vertically stacked roofing element away from said lower surface of said roofing element and said one or more weather bars.    
     
     
         20 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 19  wherein each of said at least one stacker bar is disposed substantially below a lower surface of said corresponding weather bar.  
     
     
         21 . The plurality of roofing elements of  claim 19  wherein each of said at least one stacker bar is disposed substantially above a lower surface of said corresponding weather bar.