Bracket device for mounting on a roof

• US 20050102958A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laurie Anderson As Trustee of The Anderson Family Irrevocable Trust Established October 1 2020, TRA Snow Brackets, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TRA Snow Brackets, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Terry E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,607,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/698
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/362 by locking the edge of one slab or sheet within the profiled marginal portion of the adjacent slab or sheet, e.g. using separate connecting elements

Abstract

A system is provided for mounting on a standing seam of a roof and supporting a snow fence rail. A first surface of the bracket is oriented toward the standing seam and includes a first plurality of protrusions that are abutted against the standing seam. An opening configured to receive a snow fence rail is located in the bracket above the first plurality of protrusions. A second surface of the bracket is oriented opposite the first surface of the bracket, and a fastener is configured to secure the bracket to the roof by pressing the plurality of protrusions into the standing seam roof.

Claims

1. A bracket for attaching on a standing seam of a roof and supporting a snow fence rail, comprising:

a first surface of the bracket oriented toward the standing seam;

a first plurality of protrusions in the first surface of the bracket, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are configured to be abutted against the standing seam;

an opening in the bracket located in the proximity of the first plurality of protrusions, the opening being configured to receive the snow fence rail;

a second surface of the bracket oriented opposite the first surface of the bracket; and

a fastener configured to secure the bracket to the standing seam roof by clamping the first surface together with the second surface in order to press the first plurality of protrusions into the standing seam of the roof.

2. The bracket as in claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of protrusions in the second surface of the snow bracket, wherein the second plurality of protrusions are clamped onto the standing seam of the roof using the fastener.

3. The bracket as in claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are surfaces on a single piece of material.

4. The bracket as in claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are located on separate plates.

5. A bracket device for mounting on a standing seam of a roof and supporting a snow fence rail, comprising:

a first plate with an opening and a base region, the opening being configured to receive the snow fence rail;

a first plurality of protrusions in the base region of the first plate, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are oriented toward the standing seam;

a second plate with a second opening and a base region, the second opening being configured to receive the snow fence rail;

a second plurality of protrusions in the base region of the second plate, wherein the second plurality of protrusions are oriented opposite the first plurality of protrusions; and

at least one fastener configured to fasten the first plate and the second plate so that the first plurality of protrusions and the second plurality of protrusions are pressed into the standing seam of the roof.

6. The bracket device as in claim 5, further comprising a spacer positioned between the first plate and the second plate.

7. The bracket device as in claim 6, wherein a width of the spacer is a width of a standing seam, the spacer being configured to equalize pressure throughout an area of contact between the standing seam and the first and second plurality of protrusions.

8. The bracket device as in claim 5, wherein the plurality of protrusions further comprises at least two protrusions arranged in a triangular pattern with a secondary fastener.

9. The bracket device as in claim 5, further comprising a snow stop attached to the first or second plate and configured to prevent snow and ice from sliding under the snow fence rail.

10. The bracket device as in claim 9, wherein the snow stop is an integral part of the first or second plate.

11. The bracket device as in claim 9, wherein the snow fence rail supports the snow stop.

12. The bracket device as in claim 5, further comprising a stabilizing foot attached to the bracket at an area where the bracket comes in contact with the standing seam roof.

13. The bracket device as in claim 5, wherein the fastener is a threaded bolt.

14. The bracket device as in claim 5, wherein the first plate and the second plate are made of steel.

15. A snow fence device for mounting on a roof with standing seams, comprising:

a first bracket having an opening configured to receive a snow fence rail;

a first plurality of protrusions in the first bracket, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are configured to be pressed into a first standing seam to affix the first bracket onto the roof;

a second bracket having an opening configured to receive a snow fence rail;

a second plurality of protrusions in the second bracket, wherein the second plurality of protrusions are configured to be pressed into a second standing seam to attach the second bracket onto the roof; and

a snow fence rail that passes through the opening in the first bracket and the opening in the second bracket.

16. The snow fence device as in claim 15, wherein the first bracket further comprises at least one snow stop configured to stop snow from sliding beneath the snow fence rail.

17. The snow fence device as in claim 15, wherein the second bracket is mounted on the standing seam roof within three feet of the first bracket.

18. The snow fence device as in claim 15, further comprising:

a first additional opening formed in the first bracket;

a second additional opening formed in the second bracket; and

a second snow fence rail that passes through the first additional opening and the second additional opening.

19. The snow fence device as in claim 15, wherein the first plurality of protrusions further comprises a plurality of burrs.

20. A bracket for mounting on a standing seam of a roof and supporting a snow fence rail, comprising:

a first portion of the bracket with a first plurality of protrusions oriented toward the standing seam;

a second portion of the bracket oriented opposite the first plurality of protrusions;

at least one fastener connecting the first portion and the second portion so that the first plurality of protrusions are pressed into the standing seam of the roof to attach the bracket onto the roof;

an opening in the bracket in proximity of the first plurality of protrusions, the opening being configured to receive a snow fence rail; and

a first snow stop attached to the bracket and extending away from the standing seam, wherein the snow stop spans a portion of a gap between the roof and the snow fence rail.

21. The bracket as in claim 20, further comprising a second snow stop located at the second portion of the bracket and extending away from the standing seam, wherein the snow stop at least partially spans a gap between the roof and the snow fence rail.

22. The bracket as in claim 20, further comprising a stabilizing foot attached to the bracket in the proximity of the plurality of protrusions.

23. The bracket as in claim 22, wherein the stabilizing foot is an integral part of the snow stop.

24. A method for engineering a snow fence device system, comprising the steps of:

identifying properties of roof sheathing;

determining fail points of roof panels and fasteners that are attached to the roof sheathing;

determining fail points of a bracket configured for attaching on a standing seam of a roof which supports a snow fence rail;

calculating whether a combination of the roof sheathing, roof panels, fasteners and bracket with the snow fence rail are able to support an estimated amount of snow.

25. A method as in claim 24, further comprising the step of determining whether the combination of roof sheathing, roof panels, fasteners and bracket with the snow fence rail are able to support the estimated amount of snow using tested engineering load equations.

26. A method as in claim 25, further comprising the step of using engineering criteria for the roof slope and roofing panel length in estimating the amount of snow the bracket and snow fence rail are able to support.

27. A bracket for attaching on a sloped roof with a thermoplastic membrane and configured for supporting a snow fence rail, comprising:

a base plate configured to be attachable to the sloped roof;

a rib bolt attached to the base plate;

a first surface of the bracket oriented toward the rib bolt;

a first plurality of protrusions in the first surface of the bracket, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are configured to surround the rib bolt;

an opening in the bracket located in the proximity of the first plurality of protrusions, the opening being configured to receive the snow fence rail;

a second surface of the bracket oriented opposite the first surface of the bracket; and

a fastener configured to secure the bracket to the standing seam roof by clamping the first surface together with the second surface in order to secure the protrusions around the rib bolt.