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  Repair swatch for hail damaged asphalt roofingUSPTO Application #: 20070199251Title: Repair swatch for hail damaged asphalt roofing Abstract: A repair swatch (such as a patch) is provided that is preferably covered with appropriate granules on one face, with an opposite (back) face having an adhesive that allows the material to be placed over and adhere to small damaged areas of shingles and/or other types of roofing. The size, shape and color of the patch are such that it closely matches that of the existing shingle. Further, the size and shape of the patch are similar to shapes on laminated shingle products rendering the repair essentially invisible on such products. (end of abstract) Agent: Gaf Materials Corporation Attn: William J. Davis, Esq. - Wayne, NJ, US Inventors: Frederick W. Sieling, William R. Carroll, David A. Harrison USPTO Applicaton #: 20070199251 - Class: 052058000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070199251. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to the repair of damaged roofing, particularly roofing referred to as steep slope, and more specifically, to a repair swatch for the protection of part of a roofing that has been damaged, such as by extreme weather, hailstorms, foot traffic equipment installation or removal, or the like. [0003] 2. Prior Art [0004] Asphalt-based roofing materials, such as roofing shingles, roll roofing and commercial roofing, are installed on the roofs of buildings to provide protection from the elements. Typically, the roofing material is constructed of a substrate such as a glass fiber mat or an organic felt, an asphalt coating on the substrate, and a surface layer of granules embedded in the asphalt coating. [0005] The typical roofing material construction is suitable under most circumstances. However, sometimes a roofing material is subjected to environmental conditions that may damage the roofing material. For example, storms are responsible for billions of dollars in damage to roofing materials every year. During storms, hailstones may impact the roofing material, which may cause tears or punctures in the roofing material. The hailstone impacts may also cause an immediate loss of some granules from the impacted areas of the roofing material and a further loss of granules from those areas over time. The loss of granules creates an unattractive appearance and leaves the asphalt coating in those areas unprotected from the degrading effects of the elements. Even in cases where there are no obvious fabric ruptures the roof may be compromised since the exposed asphalt may prematurely age compromising the roof and/or adversely affecting the esthetics. Similarly foot traffic in hot weather can "scuff" the roof surface affecting the esthetics and ultimate durability of the roof. The installation of equipment or its removal can put holes in the roof with the potential to leak. [0006] Losses sustained to building roofs caused by climatic conditions such as hail storms has focused development of roofing materials having increased impact resistance, and having an improved ability to withstand the destructive forces of storms. This need in the art is particularly acute in those geographic areas which are subject to these climatic conditions. Specifically, such areas as the Plain and Rocky Mountain states are particularly subject to roofing damage caused by hailstorms and the like. Indeed, the insurance laws of the state of Texas provide cash rebates to homeowners insurance policies wherein the insured property's roof employs Class 4 roof covering materials. [0007] Further, roofing material that is storm proof has been developed in response to damages sustained by rooftops in geographic areas such as those described above. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0110679 provides for a storm proof roofing material where a protective coating is applied to the upper surface of the asphalt coating. [0008] It is known to apply a surface coating onto a roof after the roofing shingles have been installed to protect the shingles from granule loss and other damage. Unfortunately, surface coatings require additional labor to apply after the roofing shingles have been installed, they are relatively expensive, and they may create safety problems by producing a slick roof. It is also known to manufacture roofing materials with polymer-modified asphalt to provide some improvement in impact resistance. Unfortunately, roofing materials made with polymer -modified asphalt are more difficult to manufacture, handle, store and install, and they are more expensive, than roofing materials made with conventional roofing asphalt. Also, the rubber-modified asphalt shingles are not completely effective in resisting impacts. [0009] Also, when damage is sustained by the roofing, whether the impact resisting and storm proofing materials are used or not, the entire roofing of the structure may need to be replaced. This is a very expensive project for the owner, and can also take a long period of time for the complete replacement of the roof. [0010] The above remarks establish the need in the art for a cheap and easy to install type of replacement for roofing material that has been damaged by hail storms or other conditions, and that does not require replacement of the entire roofing when the roofing has been partly damaged. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention provides a repair patch that protects and covers damaged areas of shingles or other roofing materials. Accordingly, a repair swatch for a damaged area of a roofing material is provided, the repair swatch comprising a front face having granules, and a back face having an adhesive to secure the repair swatch onto the roofing material. Further, the granules on the front face match granules on the roofing material. The roofing material can comprise a shingle. The adhesive is selected from a group consisting of a rubber polymer-modified asphalt, an acrylic, a polyurethane, a silicone and a rubber polymer. The repair swatch can be of a size that covers the damaged area of the roofing material. The shape of the repair swatch can be selected from a group consisting of square, rectangular, circular and dragon tooth. [0012] Further, a method of repairing a damaged area of a roofing material is provided, the method comprising covering the damaged area of the roofing material with a repair swatch having a front side with granules, and securing a back side of the repair swatch to the roofing material. [0013] The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: [0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of roof laid with shingles, with one or more shingles being damaged; [0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a repair swatch in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and [0017] FIG. 3 shows an application of the repair swatch of FIG. 2 to a section of roof laid with one or more damaged shingles as shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] Although this invention is applicable to numerous and various types of roofing materials, it has been found particularly useful in the environment of roofing shingles. Therefore, without limiting the applicability of the invention to the above, the invention will be described in such environment. [0019] With reference now to the drawings, the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a roof is generally laid out with many shingles in a formation such as shown in the figure. Each roofing shingle 10 generally includes a rectangular sheet 11 of asphalt-impregnated substrates, including webs, scrims, and felts of fibrous material, such as mineral fibers, cellulosic fibers, rag fibers, synthetic fibers and mixtures thereof. The asphalt coating employed in the production of roofing shingles encompass any type of bituminous material suitable for use as a roofing material. Thus, asphalts, tars, pitches and mixtures thereof are all encompassed within the meaning of the term "asphalt coating." The asphalt can be either a manufactured asphalt, produced by refining petroleum, or a naturally occurring asphalt. The asphalt coating can include various additives and/or modifiers, such as inorganic fillers, mineral stabilizers, organic materials including polymers, recycled streams or ground tire rubber. [0020] Each rectangular sheet 11 has a headlap portion 12, and a butt portion 13 which is divided into spaced apart tabs 14. An elongated strip 16 is secured to the sheet 11 at a position underlying the tabs 14. Preferably, a lower marginal edge 17 of the headlap portion 12 slightly overlaps an upper marginal edge 18 of the strip 16 and is secured thereto by asphaltic adhesive or other suitable means to ensure a watertight seal between the sheet 11 and strip 16. Each tab 14 is further secured to the strip 16 by adhesive or other suitable means. Continue reading... Full patent description for Repair swatch for hail damaged asphalt roofing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Repair swatch for hail damaged asphalt roofing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Repair swatch for hail damaged asphalt roofing or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Rain gutter debris prophylactic Next Patent Application: Roofing products and methods and apparatus thereof Industry Class: Static structures (e.g., buildings) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Repair swatch for hail damaged asphalt roofing patent info. 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