U.S. patent application number 10/959997 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for snow guard.
Invention is credited to Mark J. Verkamp.
Application Number | 20060075691 10/959997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35851901 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060075691 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Verkamp; Mark J. |
April 13, 2006 |
Snow guard
Abstract
A snow guard including a resilient body with a slot for
receiving a portion of a standing seam of a metal roof. The
resilient body has a pair of apertures on opposite sides of the
slot into which can be inserted the jaws of a tool for manipulating
the resilient body to selectively widen the slot to facilitate the
installation of the snow guard upon the standing seam of a metal
roof. The resilient body also has a number of teeth projecting into
the slot adjacent each of the apertures for gripping the standing
seam of a metal roof positioned within the slot. A pair of wings
extends outwardly from the resilient body for impeding the downward
movement of snow and ice on a roof.
Inventors: |
Verkamp; Mark J.;
(Charleston, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen R. Greiner, Esquire;GREINER LAW OFFICES, P.C.
Suite 110
6701 Democracy Blvd.
Bethesda
MD
20817
US
|
Family ID: |
35851901 |
Appl. No.: |
10/959997 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/024 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/00 20060101
E04D013/00 |
Claims
1. A snow guard, comprising: a resilient body having a slot for
receiving a portion of a standing seam of a metal roof, said
resilient body also having a pair of apertures on opposite sides of
said slot into which can be inserted the jaws of a tool for
manipulating said resilient body to selectively widen said slot to
facilitate the installation of said snow guard upon the standing
seam of a metal roof, said resilient body further having a
plurality of teeth projecting into said slot adjacent each of said
apertures for gripping the standing seam of a metal roof positioned
within said slot; and, a pair of wings extending outwardly from
said resilient body for impeding the downward movement of matter on
a roof.
2. The snow guard according to claim 1 wherein said resilient body
and said wings are integrally formed from a single sheet of spring
steel.
3. The snow guard according to claim 1 wherein said resilient body
further includes a protruding lip beneath each of said apertures
for guiding the jaws of a tool into said apertures.
4. A snow guard, comprising: a resilient body including: a pair of
rectangular plates being positioned side-by-side so as to define a
slot therebetween, each of said plates having: an aperture therein
for receiving the jaws of the tool capable of spreading said plates
away from one another; opposed ends; and, a plurality of teeth
being positioned adjacent said aperture for engaging the standing
seam of a metal roof, each of said teeth projecting into said slot
and toward one of said opposed ends; a crosspiece connecting the
tops of said rectangular plates; and, a pair of wings extending
outwardly from said resilient body, each of said wings being
secured to a respective one of said rectangular plates at the end
thereof away from which said teeth project.
5. A snow guard assembly, comprising: a snow guard including: a
resilient body having a slot for receiving a portion of a standing
seam of a metal roof, said resilient body also having a pair of
apertures on opposite sides of said slot into which can be inserted
the jaws of a tool for manipulating said resilient body to
selectively widen said slot to facilitate the installation of said
snow guard upon the standing seam of a metal roof, said resilient
body further having a plurality of teeth projecting into said slot
adjacent each of said apertures for gripping the standing seam of a
metal roof positioned within said slot; and, a pair of wings
extending outwardly from said resilient body for impeding the
downward movement of matter on a roof; and, a clip releasably
fastened to said snow guard, said clip including: a pair of arms
positioned on opposite sides of said resilient body, each of said
arms having a transverse bore in the top thereof; a crosspiece
connecting the tops of said arms together; a finger projecting from
the bottom of each of said arms into a respective one of said
apertures in said resilient body; and, a snow-retaining rail
slidably extending through said transverse bore in each of said
arms of said clip.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to static structures
and, more particularly, to covers with projecting restrainers,
e.g., snow stops.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Snow and ice have a tendency to slide from sloping roofs.
While it is desirable for a roof to shed frozen precipitation, a
sheet of falling ice can pull a gutter from its moorings and cause
bodily injury to passersby. In an effort to resolve these problems,
snow guards have been developed to prevent large blocks of snow and
ice from sliding rapidly from roofs and putting excessive weight
upon gutters and downspouts.
[0003] Snow guards employed with metal roofs have traditionally
employed set screws driven against the roofs' standing seams to
anchor them in place. While effective, these snow guards are
relatively costly to manufacture and time-consuming to install.
Further, set screws have tendency to damage the roofs that they
engage and may, in some cases, lead to roof leaks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In light of the problems associated with known snow guards,
particularly those used with metal roofs, it is a principal object
of the invention to a provided snow guard that can be attached to a
standing seam without resort to set screws or other threaded
fasteners and is not injurious to metal roofs.
[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a snow
guard of the type described that can be securely fastened to the
standing seam of a metal roof in a matter of seconds. If placement
is not made perfectly the first time, the snow guard can be easily
repositioned.
[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide a snow
guard that is intuitive to use and that can be installed by
unskilled laborers after only a few minutes of instruction.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in a snow guard for the purposes
described that is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to
manufacture, and dependable in use.
[0008] Briefly, the snow guard in accordance with this invention
achieves the intended objects by featuring a resilient body with a
pair of wings extending outwardly therefrom. The resilient body
includes a pair of rectangular plates positioned side-by-side so as
to define a slot. Each of the plates has an aperture for receiving
the jaws of the tool capable of spreading the plates apart. A
number of teeth are positioned adjacent each aperture for engaging
the standing seam of a metal roof. Each of the teeth projects into
the slot and toward one end of the body. A crosspiece connects the
tops of the plates. Each of the wings is secured to a respective
one of the plates at the end thereof away from which the teeth
project.
[0009] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become readily apparent upon further
review of the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention may be more readily described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow guard in accordance
with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the snow guard of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the snow guard with portions
broken away to reveal details thereof.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a snow guard assembly
mounted upon the standing seam of a metal roof with portions of the
assembly and roof being broken away.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the snow guard being pulled open by
a hand tool in preparation for mounting.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a top view of the blank used to form the snow
guard.
[0017] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring now to the FIGS., a snow guard in accordance with
the present invention is shown at 10. Snow guard 10 includes a
resilient body 12 having a slot 14 for receiving a portion of a
standing seam 16 of a metal roof 18. A pair of apertures 20 is
provided in body 12 for manipulating body 12 to selectively widen
slot 14 to facilitate the installation of snow guard 10 upon
standing seam 16. A number of teeth 22 project inwardly from body
12 into slot 14 to firmly grip standing seam 16. A pair of wings 24
extends outwardly from body 12 to impede the downward movement of
snow on roof 18.
[0019] Body 12 includes a pair of rectangular plates 26 that are
positioned side-by-side. Plates 26 have a height that is somewhat
greater than that of seam 16. The width of plates 26 is about one
and one half times their height. Plates 26 have a thickness of
about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm).
[0020] One aperture 20 penetrates the bottom of each plate 26. Each
aperture 20 is configured to easily receive one of the jaws 28 of a
hand tool 30 that is capable of pulling plates 26 away from one
another. Thus, the portion of each plate 26 defining the bottom of
each aperture 20 projects outwardly so as to define a protruding
lip 32 that permits the smooth insertion and withdrawal of one of
jaws 28. Further, each aperture 20 is elongated to permit an even
distribution of force to be applied to plates 26 by tool 30.
[0021] Each plate 26 is provided with a plurality of teeth 22.
Teeth 22 are positioned above aperture 20 to engage seam 16
immediately below its relatively stiff apex. Teeth 22 extend in a
spaced-apart manner from one end of the plate 26 to the other to
ensure a strong grip upon seam 16.
[0022] Teeth 22 are triangular in outline. Each tooth 22 has a wide
base that falls within a plane that is substantially parallel to
wings 24 and that measures about 1/8 inch (3 mm) across. From its
base, each tooth 22 tapers in width to a pointed tip that projects
away from wings 24 and also about 1/8 inch (3 mm) into slot 14. Due
to the relatively great thickness of teeth 22, they are neither
easily deformed nor do they give up their grip upon seam 16 without
difficulty. Thus, it is very hard to dislodge snow guard 10 from
seam 16 without employing tool 30.
[0023] An opening 34 is positioned adjacent to each tooth 22. Each
opening 34 is triangular in outline, being substantially a mirror
image of the adjacent tooth 22. Openings 34 enhance the flow of air
through slot 14 to aid, albeit in a limited manner, in the cooling
roof 18.
[0024] Plates 26 are connected together at their tops by a
crosspiece 36 so as to provide body 12 with a cross section
resembling an inverted "U". Crosspiece 36 is provided with a pair
of spaced-apart holes 38 respectively positioned at its opposite
ends. Threaded fasteners (not shown) can be passed through holes 38
for the attachment of a snow-retaining rail 40 to snow guard
10.
[0025] An alternative arrangement for securing rail 40 to snow
guard 10 is shown in FIG. 5. Here, a clip 42 is employed rather
than threaded fasteners. Clip 42 includes a pair of arms 44
connected at their tops by a crosspiece 46 in the manner of an
inverted "U". A finger 48 projects inwardly from the bottom of each
arm 44 and is adapted for snug insertion into an aperture 20. When
fingers 48 are positioned within apertures 20, the tops of arms 44
extend above crosspiece 36 of snow guard 10. Transverse bores 50 in
the tops of arms 44 snugly receive rail 40 so that rail 40 is
rigidly secured to snow guard 10.
[0026] One wing 24 extends outwardly at right angles from the front
end of each of plates 26. Wings 24 are substantially square in
outline, having the same height as that of plates 26 and having
about the same width as their height. The surface area provided to
wings 24 is believed to be adequate to prevent large masses of snow
and ice, capable of causing great bodily injury, from sliding off
roof 18.
[0027] The outer end of each wing 24 has a pair of bores 52. As
shown, bores 52 and are positioned one above the other and have
approximately the same diameter as that of holes 38. Bores 52 are
provided for the attachment of signs, antennas and lightening rods
(none shown) to roof 18.
[0028] Snow guard 10 is formed by cutting and folding portions of a
planar blank 54 that is a single piece of heavy gauge spring steel.
First, apertures 20, holes 38 and bores 52 are made by cutting such
at suitable locations in blank 54. Next, teeth 22 are made by
cutting a plurality of V-shaped notches 56 in blank 54 and, then,
folding the material within notches 56 downwardly along the fold
lines 58 positioned across the front ends of notches 56. (It is the
voids left within notches 56 by the production of teeth 22 that
form openings 34.) Later, lips and 32 are made by folding the
portions of blank 54 bounded by apertures 20 and fold lines 60
slightly upward. Now, body 12 is given its inverted U-shape by
making a right angle bends along fold lines 62 on opposite sides of
holes 38. Finally, outstretched wings 24 are provided to snow guard
10 by pulling the material separated from plates 26 by fold lines
64 outwardly. The resulting snow guard 10 is ready to use although
powder coating is recommended to prolong its useful life.
[0029] The use of snow guard 10 is straightforward. First, the jaws
28 of tool 30 are inserted into apertures 20 on opposite sides of
body 12. Next, the handles 66 of tool 30 are squeezed together,
spreading jaws 28 and temporarily spreading plates 26 from one
another. This action takes slot 14 from its normal, narrow,
seam-clamping width illustrated by the solid line position shown
most clearly in FIG. 4 to a wide, seam-releasing width shown in
FIG. 6. Snow guard 10 can now be easily positioned upon standing
seam 16 with wings 24 on the uphill side. When the pressure on the
handles 66 is released, body 12 springs back to its seam-clamping
configuration. By withdrawing jaws 28 from apertures 20,
installation of snow guard 10 upon standing seam 16 is
completed.
[0030] Snow guard 10 can be enhanced with the addition of
snow-retaining rail 40 and attachment clip 42. To do this, arms 44
are first spread away from one by the application of a prying force
from jaws 28 of tool 30. Next, fingers 48 are positioned within
apertures 20 of the seam-mounted snow guard 10 and tool 30 is
disengaged from clip 42. Finally, rail 40 is extended through
transverse bores 50 in the top of clip 42 and through the clips 42
secured to adjacent snow guards 10 on roof 18. The resulting snow
guard assembly is capable of supporting very heavy loads of snow
and ice without damage to roof 18.
[0031] While snow guard 10 has been described with a high degree of
particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that modifications can be made to it. Therefore, it is to be
understood that the present invention is not limited strictly to
snow guard 10 described above, but encompasses any and all
embodiments of a snow guard within the scope of the following
claims.
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