Bracket Assembly for Mounting Rooftop Objects

• US 20110272545A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jun Liu
• Original Assignee: Jun Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/222.14
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/12 Devices or arrangements allowing walking on the roof or in the gutter
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/32 Supports for air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation units
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/615 for fixing to protruding parts of buildings, e.g. to corrugations or to standing seams
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for mounting equipment, such as solar panels, fans, air conditioning units, walkways, signage, facade, or ladders, on corrugated or ribbed metal roofs where the mounting apparatus attempts to provide a leak resistant and stable mounting structure for such equipment. The corrugated or ribbed metal roof includes one or more peak portions and one or more corresponding valley portions. The equipment-mounting apparatus engages the roof with one or more fasteners at least one peak portion and engages by valley portion through a transfer of force from the fastener at the peak portion without requiring additional fasteners to engage the valley portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting equipment to a metal roof, the metal roof including one or more corrugations or ribs with a peak portion and a valley portion, the apparatus comprising:

a bracket including an upper portion, the upper portion including an aperture for receiving a threaded fastener for engaging and securing the peak portion;

the bracket including an equipment-mounting portion extending upwardly away from the bracket; and

the bracket including a plurality of foot portions configured to transfer a downward load force from the threaded fastener vertically through the foot portions to a corresponding valley portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of foot portions extend vertically beneath the bracket.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of foot portions are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further including:

the plurality of foot portions include a first foot portion and a second foot portion;

a first side portion joined between the upper portion and the first foot portion forming a first obtuse angle with the upper portion; and

a second side portion joined between the upper portion and the second foot portion forming a second obtuse angle with the upper portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first side portion and second side portion are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a first channel-shaped gasket and a second channel-shaped gasket;

the plurality of foot portions include a first foot portion and a second foot portion;

the first channel-shaped gasket including a first interior portion configured to engage the first foot portion; and

the second channel-shaped gasket including a second interior portion configured to engage the second foot portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of foot portions extend vertically beneath the bracket.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of foot portions are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further including:

the upper portion including a bottom side;

a sealing gasket including a top side and an aperture for receiving the threaded fastener; and

the top side of the sealing gasket is approximately shaped to conform to the bottom side of the upper portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further including:

a first side portion joined between the upper portion and the first foot portion forming a first obtuse angle with the upper portion; and

a second side portion joined between the upper portion and the second foot portion forming a second obtuse angle with the upper portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first side portion, second side portion, and plurality of foot portions are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

12. An apparatus for mounting equipment to a metal roof, the metal roof including one or more corrugations or ribs with a peak portion and a valley portion, the apparatus comprising:

a bracket including an upper portion, the upper portion including an aperture for receiving a threaded fastener for engaging and securing the peak portion;

the bracket including an equipment-mounting portion extending upwardly away from the bracket; and

the bracket including a plurality of foot portions extending vertically beneath the bracket.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of foot portions are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further including:

the plurality of foot portions include a first foot portion and a second foot portion;

a first side portion joined between the upper portion and the first foot portion forming a first obtuse angle with the upper portion; and

a second side portion joined between the upper portion and the second foot portion forming a second obtuse angle with the upper portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first side portion and second side portion are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further including:

a first channel-shaped gasket and a second channel-shaped gasket;

the plurality of foot portions include a first foot portion and a second foot portion;

the first channel-shaped gasket including a first interior portion configured to engage the first foot portion; and

the second channel-shaped gasket including a second interior portion configured to engage the second foot portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including:

a first side portion joined between the upper portion and the first foot portion forming a first obtuse angle with the upper portion; and

a second side portion joined between the upper portion and the second foot portion forming a second obtuse angle with the upper portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first side portion, second side portion, and plurality of foot portions are not configured to receive roof securing fasteners.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further including:

the upper portion includes a first upper portion and a second upper portion; and

the plurality of foot portions include a first foot portion adjacent to the first upper portion, a second foot portion between the first upper portion and the second upper portion, and a third foot portion adjacent to the second upper portion.