Roofing panel for concealing a biocidal source

Abstract

Roofing panels for concealing a biocidal source are described. In embodiments, the roofing panels include a body having as top side, a bottom side parallel with the top side, a front edge, a rear edge, and a left edge. The roofing panels may further include a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and one or more standoffs. The first and second sidewalls may have a tapered sidewall height that provides a gap between the body of the roofing panel and underlying material. The roofing panel may be installed over a biocidal source on a roof, concealing the biocidal source from view while still allowing liquid (e.g., water) to flow over the biocidal source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roofing panel, comprising:
 a body having a top side, a bottom side parallel with the top side, a front edge, a rear edge, a right edge, and a left edge;   a first sidewall extending from the bottom side, the first sidewall comprising a first sidewall distal end proximate said rear edge and a first sidewall proximal end proximate said front edge;   a second sidewall extending from the bottom side, the second sidewall comprising a second sidewall distal end proximate said rear edge and a second sidewall proximal end proximate said front edge;   
       wherein:
 the first and second sidewalls each have a sidewall height that tapers from a height HR proximate the rear edge and a height HF proximate the front edge; 
 HF is less than HR; and 
 HF is greater than 0. 
 
     
     
         2 . The roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall height tapers linearly from HR to HF. 
     
     
         3 . The roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls are each substantially perpendicular to said bottom side. 
     
     
         4 . The roofing panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of standoffs, wherein:
 each of the plurality of standoffs extends from the bottom side; and   the plurality of standoffs comprises at least a first standoff and a second standoff spaced laterally apart from the first standoff with a channel therebetween.   
     
     
         5 . The roofing panel of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs:
 comprises a standoff distal end proximate said rear edge and a standoff proximal end; and   is oriented substantially parallel to the first sidewall and the second sidewall.   
     
     
         6 . The roofing panel of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of standoffs has a first standoff side and a second standoff side; and   the first and second standoff sides each have a trapezoidal shape and are oriented substantially parallel to the first sidewall and the second sidewall.   
     
     
         7 . The roofing panel of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of standoffs has a standoff height, wherein said standoff height tapers from HR to a height less than HR. 
     
     
         8 . The roofing panel of  claim 7 , wherein the standoff height is substantially the same as the sidewall height at a corresponding point on said first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The roofing panel of  claim 5 , wherein the standoff proximal end is between the rear edge and the front edge. 
     
     
         10 . The roofing panel of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one tapered spacer, wherein the at least one tapered spacer;
 extends from the bottom side of said body; and   is located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.   
     
     
         11 . The roofing panel of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the at least one tapered spacer comprises a spacer distal end proximate said rear edge and a spacer proximal end;   the at least one tapered spacer and is oriented substantially parallel to the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and   the spacer proximal end is located proximate the front edge.   
     
     
         12 . The roofing panel of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first sidewall and second sidewall each extend past said front edge such that the first sidewall proximal end and second sidewall proximal end are each out of alignment with the front edge.   
     
     
         13 . The roofing panel of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one tapered spacer extends past said front edge such that the spacer proximal end is out of alignment with the front edge. 
     
     
         14 . The roofing panel of  claim 13 , wherein the standoff proximal end is between the rear edge and the front edge. 
     
     
         15 . The roofing panel of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one tapered spacer has a spacer height, wherein the spacer height tapers from HR to HF and is substantially the same as the sidewall height at a corresponding point on said first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         16 . The roofing panel of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of roofing retention elements configured to maintain a position of roofing placed on said top side of said roofing panel. 
     
     
         17 . The roofing panel of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first roofing retention element coupled to said first sidewall proximate said first sidewall proximal end;   a second roofing retention element coupled to said second sidewall proximate said second sidewall proximal end; and   a third roofing retention element coupled to said at least one tapered spacer proximate said spacer proximal end.   
     
     
         18 . The roofing panel of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcements, wherein each of the plurality of reinforcements extends from said bottom side and between said first sidewall and said second sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The roofing panel of  claim 18 , wherein:
 each of said plurality of reinforcements is coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall;   each of the plurality of reinforcements has a first reinforcement height measured at a point at which the reinforcement is coupled to the first sidewall and a second reinforcement height measured at a point at which the reinforcement is coupled to the second sidewall;   the first reinforcement height is less than the sidewall height measured at the point at which the reinforcement is coupled to the first sidewall; and   the second reinforcement height is less than the sidewall height measured at the point at which the reinforcement is coupled to the second sidewall.   
     
     
         20 . The roofing panel of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first sidewall comprises a male coupling element for coupling the roofing panel to a female coupling element of another roofing panel; and   the second sidewall comprises a female coupling element for coupling the roofing panel to a male coupling element of another roofing panel.