Roof batten

Abstract

A roof batten for use in spacing tiles or similar exterior roofing members from a roof overlayment is provided. In one embodiment, the batten includes at least one layer of a corrugated plastic material with a pair of generally planar plies and a convoluted ply cooperating with the planar plies to define a multiplicity of passages. The passages allow drainage of water infiltrating the tiles and further promote drying. REEXAMINATION RESULTS The questions raised in reexamination request no. 90/007,487, filed Mar. 19, 2004 have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U. S. C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e), for ex parte reexaminations, or the reexamination certificate required by 35 U. S. C. 316 as provided in 37 CFR 1.997(e) for inter partes reexaminations.

1. A tile roof system, comprising:
 an overlayment;    a tile; and    a batten disposable between the tile and the overlayment, the batten comprising: 
 at least one layer comprising a generally planar first ply and a second ply, the first and second plies cooperating to define a multiplicity of passages extending generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the batten.  
   
     
     
       2. The batten of  claim 1 ,  A tile roof system, comprising in combination:
   an overlayment;    
   a rigid tile; and    
   a batten disposed between the tile and the overlayment, the batten comprising:      at least one layer comprising generally planar first plies and a second ply, the first and second plies cooperating to define a multiplicity of passages extending generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the batten, and  in which the second ply includes a multiplicity of cross plies extending between the first plies.    
 
     
     
       3. The batten of  claim 1 ,  A tile roof system, comprising in combination:
   an overlayment;    
   a rigid tile; and    
   a batten disposed between the tile and the overlayment, the batten comprising:    
   at least one layer comprising generally planar first plies and a second ply, the first and second plies cooperating to define a multiplicity of passages extending generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the batten, and  in which the second ply is generally convoluted.  
 
     
     
       4. The batten of  claim 3 , in which a pair of first plies is present. 
     
     
       5. The batten of  claim 4 , in which a plurality of layers are present. 
     
     
       6. The batten of  claim 5 , in which adjacent layers are hingably connected by a hingeline extending generally parallel to a  the batten longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       7. The batten of  claim 6 , in which the hingeline is defined by a slice extending through the second ply and one of the first plies. 
     
     
       8. The batten of  claim 6 , in which first and second hingelines are present, the first hingeline defined by a first slice extending through one of the first plies and the second ply, and the second hingeline defined by a second slice extending through the other  another of the first plies and the second ply. 
     
     
       9. The batten of  claim 6 , in which a plurality of hingelines are present, the hingeline is  hingelines defined by alternate severed and intact portions, the severed portions comprising substantially severed first and second plies, the intact portions comprising substantially intact first and second  plies. 
     
     
       10. The batten of  claim 5 , in which the layers are stacked and fastened together. 
     
     
       11. The batten of  claim 10 , further comprising means for fastening the layers together. 
     
     
       12. The batten of  claim 10 , in which the layers are fastened together by stitching. 
     
     
       13. The batten of  claim 10 , in which the layers are fastened together by fasteners selected from the group consisting of staples, glue, hot air welding, stitching, ultrasonic welding, infrared bonding, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       14. A method of installing a tile on a roof with a slope, comprising the steps of:
 providing first and second battens, each batten comprising at least one layer of a material comprising first and second plies defining a multiplicity of air passages therethrough, the passages extending generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the batten;    fixing the first and second battens on the roof such that longitudinal axes of the first and second battens are generally parallel and extend generally horizontally to the roof slope; and    fixing the tile atop the first and second battens.    
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , in which the layer comprises a first and second generally planar ply and a generally convoluted ply disposed between the first and second plies. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , in which the provided battens comprise a plurality of layers. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , in which the layers further comprise means for fixing said layers in a stacked relationship. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , in which the fixing means includes stitching. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , in which the fixing means is selected from the group consisting of staples, glue, hot air welding, stitching, ultrasonic welding, infrared bonding, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , in which the provided battens comprise a plurality of hingably-connected layers. 
     
     
       21. A spacer operatively disposable between a roof decking and an exterior roof material and comprising a plurality of stacked layers, each layer comprising a generally planar first ply and a second ply cooperating with the first ply to define a multiplicity of passages, the passages extending generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the spacer, the layers fastened together by stitching, adjacent layers connected by a hingeline extending generally parallel to the spacer longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       22. A spacer operatively disposable between a roof decking and an exterior roof material and comprising a plurality of stacked, completely separated layers fastened together by stitching, each layer comprising a generally planar first ply and a second ply cooperating with the first ply to define a multiplicity of passages, the passages extending generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the spacer.