Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof

• US 10,090,801 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Inventors: Stearns, Brian Cecil, Lounsbury, Douglas Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Beth A
• Application Number:
  US15/711,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/66 Sealings damp-proof courses E04B1/644; fire-proof sealings E04B1/948; additions of anti-leak properties to plaster C04B; bituminous sealing masses C08L95/00; sealings for hydraulic engineering work in general E02B3/16; against ground humidity or ground water E02D31/02; coverings against rain or other precipitations of the atmosphere E04D; composition of material or manufacture of sealing foils, see the relevant classes for these foils
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/04 Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the likegutter tiles E04D1/30; gutter slabs E04D3/40; vessels for collecting rainwater E03B3/03; street gullies E03F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/14 Junctions of roof sheathings to chimneys or other parts extending above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/1407 for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/147 specially adapted for inclined roofs trays for cavity walls E04B1/70
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/001 for sealing or insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0258 using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts F16B43/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.

Claims

1. A roof mounting system, comprising:

flashing defining a projection,

wherein a first aperture is defined through the projection;

a bracket having a body portion and a flange portion extending from the body portion,

wherein the flange portion includes a recess,

wherein the flange portion is positionable on the flashing,

wherein a second aperture is defined in the flange portion of the bracket;

a seal that is at least partially installable in the bracket and configured to engage the projection of the flashing,

wherein a third aperture is defined through the seal;

a fastener installable through the seal, the bracket, and the flashing and configured to compress the seal and bracket against the flashing.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the seal includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the central portion is cylindrical.

4. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the central portion is tapered.

5. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the projection of the flashing is receivable within the recess of the bracket.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the seal is one of an elastomeric material or an applied sealant.

7. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the recess is a countersink or a counterbore.

8. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the seal is an elastomeric material.

9. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the seal is configured to compress against the fastener.

10. A roof mount assembly, comprising:

flashing portion defining a projection;

a seal having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion,

wherein the seal is configured to engage the projection of the flashing;

a bracket having a body and a flange, the flange including a recess that is configured to receive a portion of the projection of the flashing;

a washer positionable on the bracket;

a fastener installable through the washer, the bracket, the flashing, and the seal.

11. The roof mount assembly of claim 10, wherein the projection has a tapered profile.

12. The roof mount assembly of claim 10, wherein the central portion of the seal is configured to contact and form a watertight engagement with the fastener.

13. The roof mount assembly of claim 10, wherein the bottom portion of the seal is configured to engage the projection.

14. The roof mount assembly of claim 10, wherein the top portion of the seal is configured to engage the projection.

15. The roof mount assembly of claim 10, wherein the seal is installable in the bracket.

16. A flashing system, comprising:

flashing including a projection,

wherein a first aperture is defined through the projection;

a bracket including a body portion and a flange portion, the bracket installable on the flashing,

wherein a second aperture alignable with the first aperture is defined through the flange portion of the bracket;

a seal having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion,

wherein a third aperture is defined through the seal and is alignable with the first aperture and the second aperture, and

wherein the seal is installable in the bracket and configured to engage the flashing;

a fastener installable through the seal, the bracket, and the flashing.

17. The flashing system of claim 16, wherein the bracket is configured to receive and support of a solar panel racking system.

18. The flashing system of claim 16, wherein the second portion is disposed between and connects the first portion and the second portion.

19. The flashing system of claim 16, wherein the second portion has a cylindrical profile.

20. The flashing system of claim 16, wherein the projection has a tapered profile.