Shingle Inserts And Method For Eliminating and Preventing Growth of Algae, Moss, or Lichens on a Roof

Abstract

A shingle insert and method for eliminating and preventing growths on a shingled roof in which a porous copper mesh is installed with an upper edge beneath a course of shingles with the remaining portions of the insert exposed. A confined space is defined beneath a lengthwise hump in the exposed copper strip portions which is filled with a growth toxic material, in solid or granular form which releases a substance toxic to the growths when rainwater runoff passes into the confined space and material and thereafter flows out down the roof.

1 . A shingle insert strip for reducing the growths of algae, moss, lichens, or fungus on roofs comprising:
 an elongated generally planar strip of copper sheet having a lengthwise hump formed therein defining an impoundment and an underspace, said underspace adapted to receive a roof growth control material which releases a substance into rain runoff which is toxic to such growths;   said copper strip having openings allowing penetration of rainwater runoff from above into said underspace and to thereafter flow out onto a roof surface below said strip;   said shingle insert strip having an upper portion adapted to be inserted beneath a shingle course above the other portions said shingle insert strip to position remaining portions thereof exposed to receive rainwater runoff.   
     
     
         2 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said upper portion strip is comprised of a strip of copper mesh affixed to said copper strip. 
     
     
         3 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said copper strip is formed with shallow horizontal indentations to capture water runoff of moisture. 
     
     
         4 . The shingle insert strip according to  claim 2  wherein copper mesh strip is attached to an undersurface of said copper sheet strip. 
     
     
         5 . The shingle insert according to  claim 3  wherein said cover strip indentations have narrow slits at bottom and top edges. 
     
     
         6 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said material is in granular form. 
     
     
         7 . The shingle insert according to  claim 6  wherein said material is a copper complex. 
     
     
         8 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said copper strip has a scalloped lower edge exposed when installed on a shingled roof. 
     
     
         9 . The shingle insert according to  claim 4  wherein said copper mesh strip extends into said underspace and has a lower side formed into a loop adopted to receive a rod of such control material. 
     
     
         10 . The shingle insert according to  claim 1  wherein said material is a double layer of copper mesh. 
     
     
         11 . A method of eliminating growths on shingled roofs comprising:
 installing a series of shingle inserts on said roof, each having an upper portion disposed beneath the lower edge of shingles in a course of shingles so as to leave exposed a lengthwise porous hump formed in a lower portion of said shingle insert;   loading a material into a space defined beneath said hump which releases a substance toxic to said growths when rainwater runoff flow passes into and out of said humps after passing over or through said material; and   confining said toxic substance in said space.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  including forming of copper mesh with a feature able to confine said toxic substance and affixing said copper mesh to an undersurface of a strip sheet of copper formed with said hump with said feature disposed within said hump.