Method and roofing strip for retarding moss, fungi, and algae growth on roofs

• US 7,788,870 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Spencer
• Original Assignee: David Spencer
• Inventors: Spencer, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendell; Mark R
• Application Number:
  US12/004,463
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 525/18, 521/73, 521/01, 521/99, 522/76, 525/30, 52/57, 525/15, 525/16
• US Class Current: 52/518
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/002 Provisions for preventing vegetational growth, e.g. fungi, algae or moss

Abstract

A method for inhibiting growths on shingled roofs, one or more of the strips installed along shingle courses. The strips are preferably formed of copper and have an upper portion formed with a pattern of through holes along the length of the strip and pattern of dimples extending along a lower portion of the length of the strips to increase the duration and extent of contact of rain or dew with the copper metal to increase the release of cupric ions effective in inhibiting growths on the roof.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for inhibiting roof growths comprising:

an elongated flat strip of a metal which will release growth inhibiting metal ions into water passing over said strip;

said flat strip having a pattern of dimples formed therein into a surface of one side of said strip, said dimples comprising shallow indentations, said pattern extending over a portion of said surface of said one side along the length thereof, said indentations forming depressions into one side of said strip able to capture and hold small volumes of water draining over said one side of said strip, and said indentation also forming projections on the other side of said strip;

a pattern of through holes also formed into said strip along the length thereof, and wherein said pattern of through holes is formed on portion and extending along the length of said strip separate from said portion formed with said pattern of dimples extending along the length thereof.

2. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein said strip is formed of copper.

3. A method of inhibiting growths on a shingled roof comprising:

installing one or more flat strips along a course of shingles with an upper edge of said strip secured below a lower edge of a respective course of shingles and the remainder of said strip resting on a surface of an adjacent lower course of shingle, said one or more flat strips formed of a metal releasing growth inhibiting ions into water passing over said metal, said strip formed with a pattern of dimples on a lower portion of an exposed surface of said strip, said dimples indented into said exposed surface and forming depressions therein so as to capture temporarily rainwater or dew flowing down said roof and over said exposed surface of said one or more strips, said dimples also forming a pattern of projections on an underside of said one or more strips engaged with said surface of said next lower course of shingles; and

, forming a pattern of through holes in said one or more strips extending along an upper portion of said strip so as to allow water to pass beneath said one or more strips and into contact with said projections formed by said dimples in the lower portion of said strips.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said one or more strips are formed of copper.