U.S. patent application number 10/851153 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for decorative snow guard and attachment device.
Invention is credited to Hockman, Mark.
Application Number | 20050257434 10/851153 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35373813 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050257434 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hockman, Mark |
November 24, 2005 |
Decorative snow guard and attachment device
Abstract
A one piece snow brake which attaches to the vertical leg of a
formed metal roof seam utilizing the formed seam and a movable wall
portion to attach the snow brake without the use of penetrations or
seam deformations. The snow brake is attached to a vertical seam by
the use of threaded screws creating pressure on a movable wall
portion or portions that form a side of a slot for enclosing the
vertical seam. Roof accessories other than a snow brake can be
connected to a raised seam using the disclosed movable wall
attachment device. The location of the screws is such that they
force the movable wall portion(s) to engage the seam.
Inventors: |
Hockman, Mark; (Westtown,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STITES & HARBISON PLLC
1199 NORTH FAIRFAX STREET
SUITE 900
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
35373813 |
Appl. No.: |
10/851153 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/024 |
International
Class: |
E04D 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A snow brake comprising (a) a base with a bottom and a top, the
base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second
longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward
the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through
the first and second ends for receiving a rolled seam of a metal
roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second
opposite sides connected at the top, said first side having (1)
holes extending transversely through at least part of the side for
receiving and holding anchor screws, and (2) a movable wall portion
shaped to interlock with a rolled roof seam, (b) a snow brake plate
connected to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite
sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the
base, said second opposite side being shaped to interlock with a
rolled roof seam to prevent removal of said snow brake from said
seam when said anchor screws force said movable wall portion
inwardly toward said second side and said seam of the roof.
2. A snow brake for attachment to a rolled style of roof seam
wherein said seam has a rolled portion forming an asymmetrical
head, comprising: (a) an inverted, rectangular, U-shaped base
having a central slot for receiving a rolled seam of a metal roof,
first and second sides extending along the central slot and a top
interconnecting the sides, the first side defining openings for
receiving fasteners and a movable wall portion movable toward said
second side, (b) a snow plate extending upward from the base, the
snow plate having a surface portion extending laterally beyond the
sides of the base, said fastener-receiving openings being located
to align the fasteners in said openings with one side of said
movable wall portion to force said wall portion toward the portion
of said seam located below the rolled portion of said seam.
3. A snow brake comprising (a) a base with a bottom and a top, the
base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second
longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward
the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through
the first and second ends for receiving a rolled seam of a metal
roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second
opposite sides connected at the top, said first side having holes
extending transversely through a portion of the side for receiving
and holding anchor screws and a movable wall portion shaped to
protrude below the lowest portion of said rolled seam, and, (b) a
snow brake plate connected to the base and extending laterally
beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to
beyond the top of the base, and said second opposite side of said
base being shaped to protrude below the lowest portion of a rolled
roof seam.
4. An attachment device for mounting a roof accessory to a raised
seam roof comprising (a) a base with a bottom and a top, the base
having a longitudinally extending body with first and second
longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward
the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through
the first and second ends for receiving a raised seam of a metal
roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second
opposite sides connected at the top, said first side having (1)
holes extending transversely through at least part of the side for
receiving and holding anchor screws, and (2) a movable wall portion
shaped to interlock with a raised roof seam, (b) means connected to
said base for connection to said accessory, said second opposite
side being shaped to interlock with a raised roof seam to prevent
removal of said base from said seam when said anchor screws force
said movable wall portion inwardly toward said second side and said
seam of the roof.
5. An attachment device for mounting a roof accessory to a rolled
style of roof seam wherein said seam has a rolled portion forming
an asymmetrical head, comprising: (a) an inverted, rectangular,
U-shaped base having a central slot for receiving a rolled seam of
a metal roof, first and second sides extending along the central
slot and a top interconnecting the sides, the first side defining
openings for receiving fasteners and a movable wall portion movable
toward said second side, (b) means connected to said base for
connection to said accessory, said fastener-receiving openings
being located to align the fasteners in said openings with one side
of said movable wall portion to force said wall portion toward the
portion of said seam located below the rolled portion of said
seam.
6. An attachment device for mounting a roof accessory to a raised
seam roof comprising (a) a base with a bottom and a top, the base
having a longitudinally extending body with first and second
longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward
the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through
the first and second ends for receiving a rolled seam of a metal
roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second
opposite sides connected at the top, said first side having holes
extending transversely through a portion of the side for receiving
and holding anchor screws and a movable wall portion shaped to
protrude below the lowest portion of said rolled seam, and (b)
means connected to said base for connection to said accessory, and
said second opposite sides of said base being shaped to protrude
below the lowest portion of said rolled roof seam.
7. A snow brake comprising (a) a base with a bottom and a top, the
base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second
longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward
the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through
the first and second ends for receiving a rolled seam of a metal
roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second
opposite sides connected at the top, said first and second side
each having (1) holes extending transversely through at least part
of the side for receiving and holding anchor screws, and (2) a
movable wall portion shaped to interlock with a rolled roof seam,
(b) a snow brake plate connected to the base and extending
laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending
upward to beyond the top of the base, said opposite sides being
shaped to interlock with a rolled roof seam to prevent removal of
said snow brake from said seam when said anchor screws force said
movable wall portions inwardly toward said seam of the roof.
8. An attachment device for mounting a roof accessory to a raised
seam roof comprising (a) a base with a bottom and a top, the base
having a longitudinally extending body with first and second
longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward
the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through
the first and second ends for receiving a rolled seam of a metal
roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second
opposite sides connected at the top, said first and second side
each having holes extending transversely through a portion of the
side for receiving and holding anchor screws and a movable wall
portion shaped to protrude below the lowest portion of said rolled
seam, and (b) means connected to said base for connection to said
accessory, and said movable wall portions of said base being shaped
to protrude below the lowest portion of said rolled roof seam.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to decorative snow brakes and
to apparatus for securely mounting a snow brake or other roof
accessories on a raised seam metal roof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Snow brakes are used for preventing large sheets of ice or
snow from sliding and falling from roofs, harming persons standing
nearby or striking objects below such as shrubbery, cars or
property located about the roof drip.
[0003] Typically, snow and ice accumulated on a roof melts or its
weight causes it to fall. The snow may melt from above by warmth
from the sun, or from below by warmth from the roof. Water flows
through the snow and runs along the roof and drips off edges of the
roof. Such water frequently causes loss of adhesion between the
remaining snow and ice and the roof.
[0004] Particularly on standing seam metal roofs, or any metal roof
with raised seams, the water makes the roof surface slick, causing
heavy sheets of snow or ice to slide along the roof. Snow brakes
are used so that the snow bank or ice sheets formed on the roof are
retained until they melt or slide off the roof in small pieces.
Snow brakes have been designed for attaching to the flat surface of
the roof, and some snow brakes have been designed for attaching to
the roof seams. Many of the snow brakes designs found in the prior
art are fashioned to affix to such seams by attachment means which
either puncture or deform the roofing material substantially in the
operation of the device. Other snow brake devices found in the
prior art are of designs which require multiple parts to
function.
[0005] Multi-part snow brakes are expensive. Snow brakes which
attach to the flat surface of the roof make holes through the roof
and promote water entry and destruction of the roof and its
supporting surface. Snow guards which use adhesives to mount to the
roof can work loose from exposure to the elements, discolor the
roofing materials and are not generally preferred. Snow brakes
which attach to the seams of roofs can penetrate the seams or tend
to deform the seams unnecessarily for locking the snow brakes on
the roof. Examples of such snow brakes can be found in prior art
which provides for recesses or detents in the construction of the
snow brake, which are designed to accept the deformed seam.
[0006] A need exists for snow brakes which may be easily and
inexpensively constructed, and which provide adequate support for
snow and adequate locking to formed seams without utilizing
substantial deformation of the seams as the primary anchoring point
for retention of the snow brake.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,340 issued Feb. 1, 1994 to Cline et al.
illustrates the problem with the prior art. Cline et al. suggest
the use of a set screw which attaches the snow brake to a roof seam
and holds it in place by deforming the opposite of the vertical
portion of the roofs seam and pressing the displaced seam into a
depression or dimple in the snow brake base on the opposite side of
the set screw. Other patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,513
issued to Williams on Mar. 31, 1998, continue to show deformation
of a roof seam by set screws as a primary affixing means of a snow
brake. In the Williams '513 patent, the deformation of the seam is
necessary by the application of set screw pressure on both sides of
a seam thereby creating opposing depressions or displacements of
the roof seam sufficient to effectively hold the roof brake to a
seam by causing a counter displacement immediately adjacent to a
first displacement of the seam by one set screw. In effect, the
Williams '513 patent creates opposing recesses of a roof seam by
displacing the seam in the opposite direction immediately adjacent
to a first displacement by a first set screw.
[0008] Such issued patents, as well as prior art patents which
teach attachment means for snow brakes on existing fabricated metal
roof seams do not teach the firm attachment of snow brakes by
primarily utilizing the geometry of the existing standing seam as
more fully described in the present disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a light weight, easily
attachable, and one piece snow brake for attachment to standing
seams commonly used in fabricated metal roofs. The present
invention provides an improved attachment means, transversely
oriented to the roof seams used at the attachment point of metal
roofs which are comprised of generally rectangular pieces. The
described snow brake attaches through its mounting base by
interlocking with the existing seam to hook the snow brake onto a
standing seam by utilizing set screws and a movable wall portion of
the base. The present invention relies on set screws affixed
through the base of the snow brake to move the movable wall portion
into secure engagement with the standing seam. The disclosed snow
brake can be used by hooking under the roll portion of the standing
seam as more fully described in the following disclosure. The
disclosed snow brake provides an improvement to the state of the
art by not requiring opposing indentations, recesses or openings
within the internal area of the snow brake which would receive any
seam engaging fastener such a set screw.
[0010] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to
provide a snow brake which has a simplified method of attachment of
the brake to a seam in a metal roof which utilizes a folded seam
for attachment.
[0011] It is further the object of the invention to provide a snow
brake in which the attachment does not rely on a depression or a
recess in the snow guard base which is used to compliment the
depression formed by the snow guard attachment means in the seam
being displaced by the attachment means.
[0012] It is still a further an object of the present invention to
provide a roof snow brake which is symmetrical in design such as to
allow the brake to be useable and functional when rotated 180
degrees on its longitudinal axis. In furtherance of such object,
the disclosed snow brake provides a 90 degree angle from the base
of the snow brake to the snow plate of the snow brake thereby
allowing the rotation of the snow brake to match a given roof seam
alignment whether the seam is located to the left or right of the
seam.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an attachment device for attaching accessories to the raised seams
of a roof.
[0014] The novel features that are considered characteristic of the
invention are set forth below in the disclosure and claims. The
invention itself, both as to its construction and its method of
operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,
will best be understood from the description of specific embodiment
which follows when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like parts. These, and many
other objects will become readily apparent to those skilled in the
art of making snow brakes, upon reading the following detailed
descriptions which disclose specific embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention illustrating the entire snow brake.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a ghosted end view of the snow brake base seated
over a standing seam of a typical metal roof.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a ghosted end view of the snow brake base seated
over a standing seam of a typical metal roof showing the disclosed
snow brake reversed 180 degrees from the position illustrated in
FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an end view of one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the embodiment of FIG.
4.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention illustrating an entire snow brake.
[0021] FIG. 7 is an end view of another embodiment of the present
invention illustrating an attachment device for mounting a roof
accessory to a raised seam roof.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a partial end view of another embodiment of the
present invention illustrating an attachment device for a snow
brake or a roof accessory to a raised seam roof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Reference will now be made to the various Figures wherein
like numbers represent like parts. Referring to FIG. 1, an
embodiment of the snow brake is generally indicated by the numeral
2. The present invention has several parts which include the snow
plate 4, the snow brake base 6, screw receiving holes 8, base set
screws 10 which operate and are inserted through screw receiving
holes 8, and the U shaped seam receiver 12 which includes a top and
bottom. The top of seam receiver 12 is the receiver head 16. Snow
brake 2 operates in a conventional fashion in that it prevents the
movement of snow and ice upon a roof by contacting a sliding snow
or ice mass, thereby interfering with downward movement of the
mass. Snow plate 4 normally contacts snow or ice sliding downward
off a sloping roof. Snow or ice contacts snow plate 4 in a
generally normal direction thereby transmitting such force through
plate 4 to base 6, which is an integral part of the one piece
design illustrated in FIG. 1. Such force is thereby transmitted
through the base 6 to set screws 10 more fully illustrated in FIGS.
2 and 3. Set screw 10 is inserted in screw receiving hole 8 as
shown generally in FIG. 1. When inserted sufficiently deep through
hole 8, it will be appreciated that screw 10 will contact the
outside surface of movable wall portion 18 which is situated within
the U shaped seam receiver 12. Therefore, any force being applied
to snow plate 4 is translated into base 6 and the resulting force
is transmitted to the movable wall portion 18 of the seam receiver
12. In normal operation, snow brake 2 is situated on a vertically
extending roof seam by locking wall portion 22 and friction on the
inner surface of the movable wall portion 18, thereby preventing
movement of snow brake 2 along the seam when the brake is firmly
attached as will be more fully described below.
[0024] One advantage of the snow brake of the present invention is
that it is a reversible design. Whether rolled on the left side or
right side of a given standing seam, as described below, the snow
brake of the present invention can be fixed to the seam.
[0025] Metal roofs are formed from an array of separate roof panels
which interconnect along their lateral edges by what are generally
referred to as standing seams. Whether formed on the site by
automatic machinery or forming brakes, the standing seams are one
of the most commonly found attachment means for connecting adjacent
roofing panels. Roof seams are formed by rolling the edges in a
fashion which provides for a watertight and secure joint. FIGS. 2
and 3 illustrate a roof panel standing seam 30 as shown in the
figures. Roofing material 20 is attached together using well known
procedures to create such a joint. One aspect of the present
invention takes advantage of the asymmetrical shape of the seam 30
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by utilizing the roll joint head 34 to lock
snow brake base 6 into position, utilizing the shape of the fixed
wall portion of base 6 and set screw(s) 10 to force movable wall
portion 18 toward the seam 30. Using the very same snow brake 2,
the snow brake can operate in two different ways depending on
whether it is placed with the movable wall portion 18 on one side
or the other of the asymmetrical roll joint head 34.
[0026] Turning to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that set screw 10
protrudes under the roll joint head 34 when inserted through snow
brake base 6 through screw receiving hole 8. In the configuration
of the snow brake as shown in FIG. 2, it is not necessary that set
screw 10 deform standing seam 30 when the set screw causes the
movable wall 18 to engage the vertical portion of the roof standing
seam. It is not necessary that brake base 6 contain a deformation,
dimple, or any type of recess to receive a deformed portion of the
roof seam. Snow brake 2 remains in place on the roof seam because
of the interference that the standing seam roll joint 34 provides
to any movement of brake base 6 once the set screw causes the
movable wall 18 to be engaged.
[0027] Since snow brake 2 of FIG. 1 is of a symmetrical design,
allowing the guard to be installed in either direction without
regard to a preferred side of the snow plate 4, it can be seen that
installation of snow guard 2 might be such as to cause the
orientation of the brake base 6 to be reversed, as illustrated in
FIG. 3. In such a case, the snow brake still functions normally in
that the set screw causes the movable wall 18 to frictionally
engage the side of standing seam 30 as shown in the illustration.
Upward travel of base 6 is limited because of the interference of
the roll joint 34 creates on fixed wall portion of base 6. In this
embodiment, it is not necessary that there be a depression,
receiving dimple or other recess in the brake base 6 to receive any
deformation of the standing seam since such deformation of the seam
is not necessary for base 6 to be securely engaged to the seam.
[0028] FIGS. 2 and 3 also depict an attachment device for attaching
roof accessories other than a decorative snow brake to a raised
seam. Thus, the base 6 in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be provided with means
to connect (e.g. threaded holes, etc.) to other roof accessories
(not shown) such as bars for blocking snow/ice from sliding down
the roof.
[0029] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate embodiments of the present
invention. The snow brake 2 of FIG. 4 is made of aluminum metal and
the U-shaped seam receiver 12 is defined by a base 6 with a movable
wall portion 18 and a fixed wall portion 22. In the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the holes 8 are drilled and tapped for
{fraction (5/16)}" diameter stainless steel set screws. As seen in
FIG. 5, the following exemplary dimensions are used, although these
are not to be construed as a limitation on the present
invention:
1 Distance Dimension A .45" B .20" C .20" D .325" E .662" F .10" G
.075" H .060"
[0030] It should be understood that the embodiment of FIG. 5 can be
used as the lower portion of a device to attach roof accessories
other than a snow brake to a raised seam. Although not illustrated
in the drawings, one modification of FIG. 3 would be to provide a
boss on the inner surface of movable wall portion 18 and an
associated depression on the inner surface of the opposing wall of
base 6. The set screw 8 could then force the boss against the roof
seam causing it to dimple into the depression. The lower end of
wall portion 18 may be shaped in various ways to interact with the
exterior surface of the roof seam. Thus, the inner surface of wall
portion 18 of FIG. 5 may be shaped on a bias in a planar fashion to
have more or less face-to-face engagement with the outer surface of
the roof seam when the set screws are tightened against wall 18 and
it bends forward the roof seam's surface.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a snow brake which is a
modified form of the snow brake of FIG. 1. Like parts of FIGS. 1
and 6 are designated with the same number but the numbers of FIG. 6
also have a prime designation (e.g., 2'). The embodiment of FIG. 6
is not designed to be reversible as is the embodiment of FIG. 1.
Thus, the rear side of the snow brake 2' of FIG. 6 can be
substantially planar. Further the base 6' is not as long as the
base 6 of FIG. 1 and ends at the lower portion of the planar rear
surface. Otherwise, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 6 are
similar.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows the end view of an attachment device for
mounting a roof accessory to a raised seam roof. Like parts of
FIGS. 7 and 5 are designated with the same number but the numbers
of FIG. 7 also have a double prime (") designation (e.g., 6"). The
upper portion of base 6" is provided with holes which, for example,
may be threaded to secure mounting bolts for roof accessories.
Exemplary dimensions for the embodiment of FIG. 7 may be found in
connection with the description of FIGS. 4 and 5 above.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows the end view of a further embodiment of a base
for a snow brake as shown, for example, in FIG. 4 or an attachment
device for mounting a roof accessory as shown, for example, in FIG.
7. FIG. 8 shows a design where the portion of the device on the
right side of the centerline is repeated as a mirror image on the
left side of the centerline. The dimensions A, B, C, D, E, F, G and
H may be, for example, the same as those described above for FIG.
5. The embodiment of FIG. 8 includes several parts similar to FIG.
5 and they are designated as a series of numbers with the prefix 3.
Thus, for example, item 6 in FIG. 5 is designated as 36 in FIG. 8.
Further, the embodiment of FIG. 8 includes a base portion 37, a
screw receiving hole 39, and a movable wall portion 319. Wall
portion 322 is sufficiently rigid so that set screws tightened
against movable wall portion 319 will cause the latter to move
inwardly toward the centerline relative to portion 322.
[0034] It can be appreciated from the foregoing description and
various embodiments provided that numerous changes or modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims. Although certain
preferred embodiments are presented for the purpose of describing
the present invention either, other species or derivations from the
specific embodiment of the invention are to be considered within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *