Mechanism for preventing snow from sliding off roofs

• US 5,271,194 A
• Filed: 06/09/1992
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Action Manufacturing LLC
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Drew
• Inventors: Drew, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENT, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US07/895,897
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25, 52/127.2, 52/697, 248/231.7, 248/316.1, 256/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 52/25
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

Snow accumulating on sheet metal roofs may fall in large masses, causing damage to property and persons in its path. A method of impeding snow from sliding off metal roofs is provided. The method involves installing a series of attachment mechanisms which are generally U-shaped, so that each attachment mechanism straddles a roof seam. Each attachment mechanism is secured by screwing a blunt edged screw into a hole in a prong of that attachment mechanism to tighten that mechanism against the roof seam, without penetrating the seam. Each attachment mechanism is provided with a bar receiving channel to hold a bar perpendicular to the seams, to prevent large masses of snow from sliding off the roof.

Claims

1. A mechanism to prevent snow or ice from sliding off a sheet metal roof with a plurality of standing roof seams, wherein each roof seam has two sides, comprising:

a. a plurality of attachment mechanisms, each generally U-shaped having two prongs and an apex, each attachment mechanism being capable of being secured to one of said roof seams with one of said prongs adjacent to each side of the roof seam, without penetrating the roof seam,

b. a bar extending parallel to an apex of one of said attachment mechanisms,

c. a plurality of bar receiving channels, each one of said bar receiving channels being attached to an apex of one of said attachment mechanisms, each bar receiving channel shaped and aligned to snugly receive said bar,

d. a channel hole formed in at least one of said bar receiving channels to receive a securing screw, and

e. a securing screw inserted in said channel hole and tightened into said bar to secure said bar within said channel,

f. wherein each channel hole is aligned with an apex hole formed in an apex of an attachment mechanism, so that said securing screw is inserted through said apex hole and through said channel hole, securing said apex to said bar receiving channel and to said bar.

2. A mechanism as described in claim 1, each attachment mechanism further comprising:

a. a screw receiving hole formed in at least one of said prongs, said hole aligned to receive a screw inserted generally parallel to said bar, and

b.an attachment screw inserted into said hole so that said attachment screw is adapted to be held securely against the roof seam to be secured to said attachment mechanism.

3. A mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein said attachment screw has a blunt tip, in which said blunt tip is adapted to not penetrate the roof seam against which said attachment screw is adapted to be securely held.